Staff of Charming

This walking staff, roughly five and a half feet in length, is exquisitely carved from ebony and inlaid with gold. The wood and the filigree intertwine from the base of the staff to its top, where it ends it the bust of a slim, androgynous humanoid with eyes closed and mouth agape. Ten onyx gems are scattered throughout the humanoid's hair, faceted into the gold inlays. These gems shine faintly under their own power. A golden crest crowns the staff, set into the figure's back and spine - it resembles an ankh split in two.

Though its origins are unknown, it was found underneath the grave of Vara Ryleth, a mage of unknown origin and doubtful repute. The heroes of Garatome discovered this staff after exhuming and summarily executing the animate remains of Vara Ryleth, and the staff is currently in Isen Silversmoke's possession.

This staff has powerful enchantment properties; when attuned to a capable mage, he, she, or it can draw on the staff's power to charm weaker minds, deliver commanding orders, or divine a litany of tongues. The staff also protects its wielder from such enchantments and can even return such hexes from whence they came.

Each time the staff's power is invoked, an inlaid onyx gem is rendered inert. Oftentimes, once the staff's last charge is spent, some arcane influence returns to it; however, the staff is, on occasion, fickle, and completely expending the staff's power can exhaust its abilities permanently.