Rod of Melting (Magic Rod)

This item, usable by a member of any character class, is the bane of all magical swords, particularly those with innate intelligence. It destroys magical swords through heat, which an intelligent sword perceives as pain. If used to destroy a sword when not in combat, the user simply touches the rod to the sword and gives the command word to activate it. If the sword fails a saving throw vs. disintegration (as hard metal), the sword melts within a single round. Anyone touching the liquefied sword or holding the sword as it melts takes 4d6 points of damage (save vs. rods for half damage).
In combat, the wielder of the rod must concentrate on striking the opponent's sword, which is considered to have a base AC 0 (with bonuses for magical protective devices applicable, such as from a ring of protection, but not from bracers of defense). Any misses against the sword do not strike the sword's wielder. If a sword is struck while in combat, it gains a +2 bonus to its saving throw due to the circumstances of combat. If this save fails, however, the sword quickly accumulates dangerous thermal energy, and the wielder takes the damage and drops the weapon (no saving throw). The sword often sprays a 5 foot area around it with sparks and pyrotechnic light as it melts, though this display is not dangerous. A sword with speech capability emits a death shriek that deafens all within 30 feet of it for 1d6 turns, if the effected creatures fail to save vs. wands.
There is a 5% chance per ego point of a given sword that it explodes when it fails to save against the rod of melting. Such a blast causes 1 point of damage per ego point the sword possessed to all beings within 30 feet of it. If this occurs, the rod must save vs. disintegration (as hard metal), or it, too, is destroyed, forcing its wielder to take 4d4 points of damage and drop it as well.
A rod of melting cannot be recharged. Each time an attempt is made to destroy a sword, whether successful or not, a charge is used for every point of ego that the sword possesses, if it is intelligent. If the sword is mundane, the rod uses one charge per attack bonus of the sword. The rod does not affect nonmagical swords or any other magical or nonmagical weapons or items. If used against a living creature, it may be treated as a jo stick for damage. It has no effect at all against iron golems.
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magical Rod
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items