The Staff of the Lower Planes

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elderbrain's picture
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The Staff of the Lower Planes

This item (an Artifact?) used to be in the possession of the Oinoloth Anthraxus. What were its powers? I can't find my copy of the old MMII, and I was suprised to find that they neglected to list it in Encyclopedia Magica. Also, does Anthraxus still have the Staff, or did it pass to the next Oinoloth, Mydianclarus?

Karsus's picture
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Re: The Staff of the Lower Planes

Here's what Dragon Annual #2 has to say about it:

Quote:
The Staff is an artifact made from the defiled bones of a pit fiend and a balor that functions as a staff of beguiling, casts mass charm (3/day), and fulfill another's wish (1/day). The staff causes 3d6+14 hp damage to any being hit in combat. Fiends struck by the staff must save vs. death magic or be instantly polymorphed into a larva (MR applies at half). Only Anthraxus or a night hag can use the staff's powers. Any other being touching the staff must save vs. polymorph at -6 each round of contact or be transformed into a larva.
The staff was fashioned by Anthraxus's hag creators at his request when he lost the title of Oinoloth. Some in the Merkant sect have speculated that the price for the hags' cooperation in making the staff would secure more than a few Prime worlds.

Given that it hadn't been crafted until after he left Khin-Oin, it wouldn't have been passed along to Mydianchlarus. I didn't see anything noting whether or not it was still in Anthraxus's possession, but with its price being so high, I can't imagine he would let it out of his sight.

elderbrain's picture
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Re: The Staff of the Lower Planes

Hmm. But wasn't Anthraxus the Oinoloth in MMII, where he had the staff? Is the info in the Dragon article a ret-con? Anyway, thanks for the info.

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Re: The Staff of the Lower Planes

Oh, you're right, he did have it back then. Hm. I suppose that bit from Dragon is probably a retcon then. Still, the MMII entry says that until Anthraxus's death, the staff won't function for other 'loth, so I can't imagine there are any others attempting to use it.

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