The Edu'sascar (Magic Item)

These magical placards are painted with the hallowed symbols of the monks of old S'tung Monastery. Each is a cream-colored card two hands tall by one and a half wide, with a powerful, magical symbol painted in black and etched with gold. The ink of the giant river squid was used to pen the signs, and it was purified and blessed by the monks. The cards were formed of flax and silk fibers, mixed with bamboo pulp, a local tuber called tocara root, and dried flowers of the dogwood tree. This mixture was rolled out flat and cut with a holy blade from the S'tung Temple. The five cards are kept wrapped in silks and stored in a dragon leather satchel made to hold them. The dragon leather is from the throat of a river dragon and it resembles alligator skin. It is a very soft and pliable leather, but it is highly resistant to scratches and cuts.
The five Edu'sascar were made by the founder of the S'tung Monastery in 894. This shukenja-turned-monk's real name is lost, but his posthumous title is “Sky Father,” for he was an avid astronomer and left many charts of star paths and records of shooting stars and comets. He had his followers create the placards, then the ancient abbot carried the blank cards and ink on a purging journey into the wilderness. When he returned four months later, he had drawn the magical symbols. The golden highlights were added by later generations of adoring and pious monks.
The Edu'sascar have always been held by the monks of S'tung, and the few times they were stolen, a terrible curse hounded the thieves and they returned the plaques. The curse causes everything alive that is touched by the cursed person to soon die by a stroke of bad luck. Plants are trampled, trees are struck by lightning, horses stumble and break their backs, people are drowned or killed in accidents. The weights of the deaths and anticipation of a dismal future or guilty consciences drove the criminals back to the monastery to return the holy relics.
The Edu'sascar are brought out to the walls of the monastery for the yearly ceremony honoring the gods of the seasons, held on the winter equinox. At this time, they are held out and their combined powers sweep the sky with colorful rays of light, like an aurora borealis. All the cards are invoked by concentrating on the ink image. The placards can be used individually and their symbols and powers are as follows:
Ki, the symbol of the Power Within. With this card a monk or shukenja can the increase the ki power of a congregation one level for one round. The number of people affected increases by three per level of the character using the card. It does not work in the hands of laymen or women.
Mo, the sign of the Calm Sea, the symbol of Inner Calm. This card can be used by any character of any class or level to calm storms. It is reversible by inverting the card, which calls winds and thunderstorms. This placard's side effects cause the wielder's skin to pale to an ashen white. It can return to normal only after a long and restful sleep.
Di, the sign of Flowers of Spring, the symbol of Nature's Strength. This allows a shukenja, monk, or wu jen to speak with plants and cast the spell quickgrowth with no prior training in this sort of magic. Laymen have no ability with this card.
Po, the sign of Cloudy Sky, the symbol of Hidden Power. This card works only for monks of neutral good alignment. All others receive an electrical shock that causes 1d4 points of damage. By focusing on this card, the monk can cast immunity to weapons and invisibility to enemies. A monk can also hold this card over his head and pronounce the word symbolized on the card, and it is as if the word were a holy word, as in the spell.
La, the sign of Bridges over the Depths, is the symbol of Strength in Brotherhood. This card can only be wielded by a shukenja of at least 10th level. It allows the manipulator to mass heal, a particularly handy battlefield skill. The spell heals a total of 100 hit points per casting, and can be spread among as many individuals as desired by the caster in increments of 5. In other words, 10 characters would get 10 points, or 20 would receive 5, or 1 might receive 20 points while another got 80, at the caster's whim. This powerful card is the most coveted of the Edu'sascar-it has been used to support and rally T'u Lung troops when joined by the monks of S'Tung. Its side effect is that it ages its wielder by 1d6 years each use, so it is used sparingly.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Magic Placards