Geras’ Cane – New Magic Item / A to Z Blogging Challenge [G]

Geras

Old man Virgis kept getting older and older and meaner and meaner.  Yet somehow the old man always remained in surprising health that some of his slaves went missing surprised no one.  That one day when someone stole his ratty old walking stick was terrible, with himshouting and beating the servants until it was finally returned.

What a miserly and miserably bastard Virgis is, I will be glad when he is dead.

Geras’ Cane

This twisted and age-stained walking stick seems barely able to hold together but is in face remarkable hardy.  It is easy to overlook such an inoffensive looking item.

Geras’ Cane can be used as a masterwork club but its primary use is not as a weapon. If the owner is old or venerable, by making weekly sacrifices and a major yearly sacrifice, he can stave off the further ill-effects of age.  This does not allow the possessor to cheat death, just to make their decline less precipitous, and they still die when their life is up.  Additionally, as long as the sacrifice are maintained, the owner gains a +3 profane bonus to saves against disease and a +1 profane bonus to saves against poison.

The weekly sacrifice must be goods worth at least 50, preferably fresh and new, while the yearly sacrifice must be of a living animal worth at least 500 and performed on the first new moon of each year.  If the sacrifices are not performed or the cane stolen or destroyed, the owner continues to age as normal from that point.  Only the owner insulting or denying Geras will cause their deferred age to come crashing back down upon them.

Aura strong necrourgy [evil]; CL 11th
Slot none; Price 5,300; Weight 2 lbs
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, animate, death knell, remove disease, resistance, creator cannot be a follower of a good god; Cost 2,500 + 300 for the club (+200 xp for D&D)

Notes: Image from Theoi Greek Mythology, an excellent resorce site.

Geras is the personification of old age and is considered to be one of the misfortunes of life.

An odd item to price out and obviously more suited to a villain that a player character.