Zlapstick

The Staff of Taavea Tai

Did you hear what happened? The Emperor just blasted someone with a bolt of lightning! Apparently, he used some sort of magic staff.

— Little Loik

The Zlapstick, or the Staff of Taavea Tai as its called by the higher classes and the intellectuals, is a unique item currently in the hands of Empress Sofia Pentiwichen of Pallernia. Nearly all of the scholars who have taken a look at it believe that it's an ancient weapon, embued with eldritch magic. The Pentiwichens, and the staff's previous owners, have used the weapon to blast their foes with thunderous lightning bolts that can kill with ease.

Crystal by Mihkel Rand

Characteristics

The Zlapstick is a two meters long staff that is made from unknown materials. Most of the shaft is covered by a dark grey material that provides excellent grip retention. At the bottom of the staff and near the top are metal rings. The metal resembles steel but it's completely immune to corrosion.

Around the middle of the shaft is an orange handle that can slide upward and down. Sliding it against the upper ring causes the staff to shoot out a bolt of lightning. The lightning comes out of a large blue crystal. The crystal's temperature ranges from warm to burning hot, depending on how much sunlight the object has absorbed.

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History

The Zlapstick has been around for a while. The first records that mention it date back to the Ascension of Hillen. According to the legends, the staff was used by a soldier who accompanied Saint Hillen, Taavea Tai. They had found the powerful staff from the bottom of Lake Amber and believed it to be holy.

Escape from Athe

When Hillen sacrificed himself to save Southern Lethea from aberati occupation, few of his companions managed to escape. Taavea Tai was one of the lucky ones. The escape from Athe had injured them. On the way to the nearest intact settlement, Taavea collapsed and soon after, died.

Weeks later, travellers stumbled across the body, and they buried Taavea on the spot. The staff then moved from family to family, eventually making its way back south.

Pentiwichen's Purchase

In the year 785 AA, the powerful artefact had reached the young Empire of Pallernia. The Emperor, Ferten of House Pentiwichen heard the news soon after.

The man who had brought the staff with him was down on his luck. Emperor Ferten offered to give him wealth and land in exchange for the staff. He agreed to the terms of the arrangement and from that day, the staff has been safely in under the protection of House Pentiwichen.

Staff of Taavea Tai by Mihkel Rand

Item type

Weapon, Other

Current Location

Aurkustel

Current Holder

Sofia Pentiwichen

Rarity

Unique

Sun-Powered

Over the years the owners of the Zlapstick have noticed that the staff's crystal seems to change temperature. When it has stayed out in the sun, the crystal is scorching hot and touching it can leave severe burns. Keeping it indoors, however, seems to make the crystal cooler.
Eventually the Pentiwichens had hired a team of scholars to experiment on the staff. They discovered that the strength of the lightning bolts scale with the heat of the crystal. The hotter the crystal, the greater the bolt.