Rods of Control

The rods of control were originally developed by the slavers of Kur Maeth, several centuries before the Storm Wars. The design was so popular, that it quickly spread to the Alekdan Principalities, Nathel's lands, and into every dark and dingy corner of civilization.

The basic concept is simple: by draining life from a particular species, the rods can then inflict pain upon that species. Most of the rods were designed for use with captured dwarves by the mostly human city-state of Kur Maeth, but many were also designed to work with elves, tomanths, and other, rarer peoples, such as the mold men of the Laekenala Jungles. Most of the rods have been destroyed in recent years, with wave upon wave of Crusade, the near destruction of Nabrol's lands, and the Inquisition. So many of them were made, however, that they still turn up in fair numbers, and are still in use.

Each rod appears as a simple length of sanded and stained wood, with a wooden globe glued onto one end, and a rune carved and stained into the surface of the rod. The wooden globe at the end was sealed, and held inside of it a body part of the target species. Pressing the rune with any finger discharged a bit of magic from the rod, inflicting pain in any members of the target species within thirty-five feet. The amount of pain varied from rod to rod, and the ranges were approximate, but most of the rods were generally the same, simple design. The rods recharged whenever the target species was at rest, within range of the rod -- generally while they were sleeping.

A rod of control inflicts 1d8 points of subdual damage against all members of one specific race, each time it is activated. The range is 35 feet, and all members of that race within range of the rod, when it is discharged, are subject to the subdual damage. A Fortitude save versus DC 20 drop the subdual damage to 1d4 points. When found, a rod may have 2d6 charges in it, and regains charges at the rate of 1 charge per hour, so long as it is within range of a sleeping member of the target species. For species that do not sleep, the target must be resting or entranced. Such sleeping or resting targets do not lose hit points, but neither do they regain them, be it real or subdual damage. The recharge range for the rods of control is 35 feet.

Destroying a rod of control results is a small shower of sparks, and little else.

Caster Level: 9th. Prerequisites: Craft Rod, ray of enfeeblement, slow, creator cannot be good. Market Price: 13,500gp.

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