Blashphor's Magical Diapers and Crib of Pushing (Magic Item)

Blashphor was a kindly and studious wizard who lived with his wife, Atrina, in the tiny village of Spinyon, a poor farming community many miles from the nearest trade route. Blashphor eventually left Spinyon for a wilderness retreat where he could do his research without interruption. Atrina, pregnant with their first child, was less than eager to go, but Blashphor convinced her that he needed her help. Besides, he argued, there could be no better way for their child to come into the world than surrounded by the magnificent splendor of nature. Reluctantly, Atrina agreed.
Six months later, in a small cabin deep in a beautiful remote woodland, Atrina gave birth to triplets. Sadly, Atrina died in childbirth, leaving Blashphor alone with his three new sons. The grieving Blashphor chose to return to the village and continue his research, while raising his sons the best he could. However, Blashphor's research went very slowly, and caring for three infants proved all but overwhelming. Able to transmute only the simplest of gases and minerals, he developed diapers as an experimental novelty that kept his babies dry and clean-a great help to an overburdened father, but hardly the breakthrough he desired.
Believing himself a failure, Blashphor was surprised when new parents in the village took an interest in his magical diapers. Intrigued, he begun to tinker with another of his seemingly minor magical experiments and soon came up with a baby cradle that completely provided for an infant's needs. The cradles were made available at harvest time, much to the delight of the overworked parents.
The diaper resembles an ordinary white diaper, but the cloth is somewhat softer and silkier and sparkles slightly in the sunlight. Small leather straps in the corners serve as fasteners. The cradle is a rectangular box made of polished wood typically oak or maple. Colorful caricatures of animals and babies are painted on the sides, and two wooden rockers are attached to the bottom. A small platform extends from the foot of the cradle and holds a medium-sized flowerpot containing sweet-smelling mini plants, Daisies, violets, and other flowers grow in boxes attached to the sides of the cradle.
A long wooden rod extends upward from the flowerpot at the foot of the cradle, and a second rod crosses it at the top to make a perch. A brightly feathered parrot sits on the perch, softly chattering and chirping as it overlooks the cradle. At the end of the perch is a wooden tube containing food for the parrot. A small cup at the base of the tube is filled with seeds.
Another wooden rod is attached to the head board. Two objects are attached to this rod and hang over the cradle. One is a large, leathery bag ending in a long tube. The other is a delicately balanced mobile made of several pieces of bamboo and crystal. The mobile produces a soothing tinkle at the slightest touch. A string extends from the mobile to the parrot's food tube.
Construction: Blashphor was responsible for the magical diaper and the crib of pushing. Each has its own construction requirements. Because of the time and expense involved, it is a good idea to create a large number of diapers of enchantment at the same time. Using this method, up to 15 yards of cloth can be enchanted at the same time (12,000 gp, 30 days), enough to make as many as 30 small to medium-sized diapers. A newly woven bolt of cloth made from any natural fiber interwoven with 10% butterfly silk must first be hung outside and blow in the wind for 30 days. A permanent transmute foul to fresh spell (2nd level) is then cast on the cloth. Spell components include a handful of crushed lilacs, an ounce of talcum, and a vial of green slime. A baby cradle (8,000 gp, 8 days) first requires the construction of a basic crib out of wood. The crib is varnished, polished, and decorated to taste, then enchanted to become a crib of pushing. Components for this enchantment include a pinch of powdered brass, a baby's fingernail clipping, and the pendulum from a clock. The crib is then lined with the same kind of cloth used to make diapers of enchantment.
Flowers of the maker's choice are planted in the flower boxes, and mint sprigs are planted in the pot containing the parrot perch. A trained parrot, preferably one with a large vocabulary, should be secured from a reputable trainer. (Adequate training for this purpose takes a minimum of 10 weeks.) The food tube can be made from a small, hollow log. This is attached to the perch along with a cup to receive the food as it spills from the tube. A string hooked to a latch inside the tube releases the food when pulled by the parrot.
A milk bladder is hung from the wooden rod suspended over the cradle. The top end of the bladder has a stopper or valve that can be opened to pour in fresh milk. The tube end has a valve that opens at the slightest pressure from an infant's lips, but otherwise remains closed. The bladder is adjusted so that the tube end dandles within easy reach of a reclining infant. The milk bladder may be made from a leather flask, but an air bladder from an aquatic creature makes a better one-cleaned and dried, air bladders won't leak, and come equipped with natural valves. (In his original cradle, Blashphor used the bladder of a giant carp.) A mobile constructed of attractive bits of crystal, bamboo, and other baubles is hung next to the milk bladder. The mobile should have no sharp edges and hang just out of the baby's reach. A string from the parrot's food tube is connected to it.
==Statistics==
* Diaper: size varies but averages 2' square. Up to 30 diapers can be made 15-yards of enchanted cloth.
A diaper of enchantment is secured to an infant with small leather straps. When the baby relieves himself, the waste products are instantly transmuted into a mixture of 95% pure oxygen and 5% powdered talcum.
* Crib: 4'x2'x3'; parrot perch reached 5' from ground. Weight of entire cradle: about 50lbs. Provides up to 12 hours of complete care for a single infant (suggested age; 3–15 months). Milk bladder holds about one gallon. The parrot food tube holds one week's supply.
The crib of pushing is activated by the sound of crying from its occupant. It will continue to gently rock back and forth as long as the baby cries. If the baby is hungry, the tyke may suckle milk from the milk bladder suspended overhead. The crib is lined with cloth made from the same material as the diaper of enchantment and transmutes any milk that leaks from the bladder or dribbles from the baby's mouth.
At the base of the crib is a flowerpot of fresh mint, fertilized by the droppings of the parrot perched above. Colorful flowers grow from boxes on each side of the crib. The mint and the flowers keep the air smelling sweet and also add to an aesthetically pleasing environment. 
The specially trained parrot keeps an eye on the infant and provides entertainment and speech lessons. A string runs from its feeder to the mobile; when the parrot pulls the string to fill its cup, the string tugs on the mobile to amuse the baby. The parrot's songs and chatter provide entertainment while its repetition of words and phrases helps the baby learn to talk.
Most importantly, the parrot has been trained to alert the parents in case of an emergency. If specific cues occur which indicate the baby may be in trouble, such as gasping for air or extended crying, the parrot flies like a homing pigeon to the parents or a specified neighbor and squawks out a warning.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Cradels
Category:Magic Nurseries
Category:Magic Diapers