Staff of the Couatl (Magic Staff)

The staff of the couatl is a device much appreciated and used by good priests, particularly those who follow the good-aligned deities of the Central American mythos. The lawful neutral priests of Quetzelcoatl, however, may use staves of this sort normally. A staff of the couatl is about 7' long, with the top 3' of the staff fashioned in the shape of a winged couatl. Such staves are usually made from precious materials such as ivory over a silver core, and are magically strengthened so they can be used in combat (as quarterstaves). This powerful staff has the following abilities:
* It can be used to summon one couatl a month to serve the needs of the priest possessing the Staff. The couatl has randomly determined hit points and psionic abilities. It fights on behalf of the summoning priest until the opponent is vanquished or escapes, or until the user of the staff commands the attack to cease. If the couatl is summoned to fight against insurmountable odds, or if the combat does not seem to be favoring the side of the couatl and the priest, the couatl will wrap its tail around the priest and transport both of them to a place of safety elsewhere on the Prime Material Plane (by traveling through the Ethereal Plans). The destination is not under the control of the priest. In any event, the couatl vanishes back into the Ethereal Plane 1d4+4 turns after being summoned, or sooner if the priest commands it. This power may be used only by lawful good priests who follow Quetzalcoatl.
* So long as the staff is carried, the priest gains a -2 bonus to saving throws vs. spell, including magical effects, and a -4 bonus to saves vs. poison. These bonuses are cumulative with those offered by other devices, like a ring of protection.
* The staff is +1 on attack and damage rolls when used in combat.
* The staff may be used to affect the casting of certain spells: detect evil and snake charm each three times a day: neutralize poison and sticks to snakes each once a day: and wind walk once a week. All spell effects are at the 8th level of ability.
A priest of neutral alignment, with the exception of neutral good priests, (that is, lawful neutral, chaotic neutral, or neutral evil) who grasps the staff is never harmed, hm cannot use any of its powers (except for priests of Quetzalcoatl). An evil priest who picks it up takes 1d4+1 points of damage each round the staff is held. If a priest of Tezcatlipoca, Quetzelcoatls chief rival, is struck by or picks up this Bluff, damage is doubled, and the priest must save vs. poison each round the staff is held or die.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Staves
Category:Magic Weapons