Description
Used by
Olsír to shape the Aether and create constellations, this staff has been a closely guarded artifact in her greatest city for generations. It has remained unused for many years; waiting for the day, and the wielder, that needs it most.
The bulk of the staff itself is formed from a dark purple metal that always feels slightly cold to the touch; when one looks at it closely enough, it seems the surface is almost glass-like and seethrough, revealing a double helix of nebulae and starlight twisting around itself. At its head rests a glowing star that has 8 points shining out like a compass rose, as well as a much smaller 9th point, looking as though it is just beginning to grow out from the centre.
History
Hydra's Fall
Stories tell of ancient heroes standing defiant against The First Hydra,
Fidain's firstborn child and Empyrean of all monsterkind. Countless sacrificed their lives that day, but the heroes of old were victorious, largely in thanks to Nova's great power.
Shadow Eclipse
Centuries ago a shadow fell across the world for weeks on end, lasting far longer than any eclipse before or after. The cause remains unknown, but the results threatened an apocalypse of necromancers and monsters running rampant, emboldened by the dark. While the Immortals dealt with the greatest threats, a group of mages sought out the source, and put an end to it with aid from this Stardust Staff.
The War God Cowed
The last historical champion of Olsír to use the staff is shrouded in mystery, but thought to have been an aasimar, or even demigod, child of The Aether herself. When Praelos turned against the Republic some 230 years ago they announced their decision with an army on the borders of Teráka, ready to invade the nation that had been theirs but a day before.
Ready to invade with the advantage of surprise, Praelos' advance was halted by the lone champion brandishing Nova, though sources differ one the exact nature of the confrontation. Some say they dealt in diplomacy and secrets, while Praelos claims the champion fought as a true warrior and earned the respect of generals. Either way, the Praelan army turned around, and the nation's split ended much less violently than it would have otherwise.
The Last Assembly Rebellion
Nearly 70 years ago the Mages of Ósa attempted to dethrone the Immortals after laws were enacted that forced lesser mages to share their knowledge and power, while allowing Immortals to continue hoarding their own.
After the leaders were killed and peace talks began, Nova, which had been hidden away in an Immortal vault for over a hundred years, was given over as a vital show of good faith - one of the most powerful magical relics in the world was promised to never again be held by Immortal hands, to be held and used only by mortal mages. It was a vital offering, and instrumental to ending the rebellion while minimizing casualties.
Mechanics
Might of the Cosmos
This staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that grants a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While you hold it, you gain a +3 bonus to spell attack rolls and your spell saving throw DCs. You may only benefit from the abilities of one such spellcasting focus at a time.
The staff has 50 charges for the following properties. It regains 3d10 expended charges daily at dawn. If you expend the last charge, roll a d20. On a 20, the staff regains 1d10 + 3 charges. Whenever you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may expend up to three charges, dealing an extra 1d6 force damage per charge expended.
Starlight
The star at the head of the staff can be summoned or dismissed as a bonus action. While the star is active, the staff sheds dim light for 30ft.
Aetherius Spellcasting
While holding this staff, you can use an action to expend some of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it (Save DC 18, +10 to hit):
- Guiding Bolt (1 charge per spell level, up to 3)
- Magic Missile (5th level version, 5 charges)
- Thunderwave (1 charge per spell level, up to 3)
- Dispel Magic (3 charges)
- Fly (5th level version, 5 charges)
- Arcane Eye (4 charges)
- Dimension Door (4 charges)
- Circle of Power (9 charges)
- Summon Celestial (7 charges)
- Telekinesis (7 charges)
- Globe of Invulnerability (13 charges)
- Crown of Stars (11 charges)
- Reverse Gravity (11 charges)
- Astral Projection (27 charges)
You can also use an action to cast one of the following spells from the staff without using any charges:
- Dancing Lights
- Guidance
- Prestidigitation
- Detect Magic
- Identify
- Magic Missile
- Nystul's Magic Aura
Arcane Absorption
While holding the staff, you have advantage on saving throws against spells. Additionally, if you pass a saving throw against a spell that only targets you, you can choose to absorb the spell as a reaction, cancelling its effects against you and regaining charges equal to the level of the absorbed spell. Finally, you can charge the staff yourself by expending a spell slot as an action, again regaining charges equal to the level of the expended spell slot.
Starfall
As an action you can use the staff to shake the foundations of Heaven, causing stars to fall from the sky and devastate an area you can see. You expend all of the staff's remaining charges doing so, and all creatures within a 60ft radius pillar that extends 300ft upwards must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they take radiant damage equal to four times the number of charges you expended, or half as much on a success.
Once this property has been used, it cannot be used again until the beginning of the next Season.
Blessing of the Stars
If you are a worshiper of
Olsír, you gain all the following benefits for which you have the required piety:
- Piety 3: If you are not proficient with this weapon, you become proficient.
- Piety 10: The staff has 1 randomly determined minor beneficial property
- Piety 25: The staff has 1 additional randomly determined minor beneficial property
- Piety 50: The staff has 1 additional randomly determined minor beneficial property. Also, when you use this staff to cast a spell or use its Starfall ability, you can now use your own spell saving throw DCs and attack rolls instead of the staff's base of DC 18, +10 if you wish.
If you aren't a worshiper of Olsír, the staff has 2 randomly determined major detrimental properties.
Mechanics V2 - WIP
Might of the Cosmos
This staff can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff that grants a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While you hold it, you gain a +3 bonus to spell attack rolls and your spell saving throw DCs. You may only benefit from the abilities of one such spellcasting focus at a time.
The staff has 50 charges and regains 3d10+10 charges each dawn. Whenever you hit a creature with a melee attack using this staff or a spell cast through it, you may expend up to three charges, dealing an extra 1d6 force damage per charge expended.
Starlight
The star at the head of the staff can be summoned or dismissed as a bonus action. While the star is active, the staff sheds dim light for 30ft.
Starfall
As an action you can use the staff to shake the foundations of Heaven, causing stars to fall from the sky and devastate an area you can see. You expend all of the staff's remaining charges doing so, and all creatures within a pillar that extends 300ft upwards must make a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, they take radiant damage equal to five times the number of charges you expended, or half as much on a success. The pillar has a radius equal to five foot times the number of charges you expend.
Once this property has been used, it cannot be used again until a month has passed.
Arcane Absorption
While holding the staff, you have advantage on saving throws against spells. Additionally, if you are targetted by a spell that affects only you, you can choose to absorb the spell as a reaction, cancelling its effects against you and regaining charges equal to the level of the absorbed spell (Absorbed cantrips give no charges.) Finally, you can charge the staff yourself by expending a spell slot as an action, again regaining charges equal to the level of the expended spell slot.
Aetherius Spellcasting
While holding this staff, you can use an action to expend some of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it (Save DC 18, +10 to hit), requiring only somatic components and a number of charges equal to the level of spell being cast (spells may be upcast, increasing the number of charges as needed):
- Magic Missile (2nd Level or Higher)
- Bless
- Guiding Bolt
- Thunderwave
- Invisibility
- Dispel Magic
- Fly
- Arcane Eye
- Banishment
- Circle of Power
- Far Step
- Summon Celestial
- Telekinesis
- Globe of Invulnerability
- Crown of Stars
- Project Image
- Reverse Gravity
- Astral Projection
You can also use an action to cast one of the following spells from the staff without using any charges:
- Magic Missile (1st Level)
- Dancing Lights
- Guidance
- Prestidigitation
- Detect Magic
- Identify
- Nystul's Magic Aura
Siphon Power
When you cast a spell you know with your own spell slots, you may choose to expend a number of charges from Nova equal to twice the level of spell used in order to avoid expending the slot.
Alternatively, when an allied spellcaster you can see within 30ft of you casts a spell, you may use your reaction to choose to expend a number of charges from Nova equal to twice the level of spell used in order to have them avoid expending the slot.
Master of Eight
After a long rest, you may select one or more of the core eight schools of magic to emulate the abilities of, provided your level is high enough. You gain one additional subclass ability of your choice at level 2, level 6, level 10, and level 14. For example, you may emulate the Sculpt Spells ability from Evocation for level 2, Benign Transposition from Conjuration for level 6, Shapechanger from Transmutation at level 10, and Overchannel from Evocation again for level 14.
After a short rest, you may swap a single one of your chosen features for another one.
You may not emulate abilities that require earlier features, without also having taken those features. For example, you may not take Greater Portent from Divination at level 14 without also taking Portent at level 2.
Aetherial Augmentation
When you cast a spell using this staff as a focus, you can choose to augment it as if using a sorcerer's metamagic. You have the following options for augmentation - Twinned Spell, Extended Spell, Distant Spell, Subtle Spell, Transmuted Spell. Each use of this feature requires as many charges as the traditional metamagic would require sorcery points.
When you Transmute a Spell with this feature, you add Radiant damage to the list of available types to swap to/from.
Pinnacle of Mortal Magic
Once per day when you cast a spell that requires concentration, you may choose to have Nova concentrate on the spell in your stead. This does not require charges if it is a spell cast using Nova's Aetherius Spellcasting feature, and a number of charges equal to the spell level otherwise.
Nova's concentration cannot be broken as a result of you taking damage.
Blessing of the Stars
If you are a worshiper of
Olsír, you gain all the following benefits for which you have the required piety:
- Piety 3: If you are not proficient with this weapon, you become proficient.
- Piety 10: The staff has 1 randomly determined minor beneficial property
- Piety 25: The staff has 1 additional randomly determined minor beneficial property
- Piety 50: The staff has 1 additional randomly determined minor beneficial property. Also, when you use this staff to cast a spell or use its Starfall ability, you can now use your own spell saving throw DCs and attack rolls instead of the staff's base of DC 18, +10 if you wish.
If you aren't a worshiper of Olsír, the staff has 2 randomly determined major detrimental properties.
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