Rod of Animal Control

This rod stores charges of three Elemental Magic spells: Influence Animals, Speak with Animals and Animal Control. It can make nearby animals friendly or set them against chosen foes, let the bearer talk with one species, and put a single animal fully under his command. Rods are usually metal or wood, 2-3 ft. long and about an inch thick. Few are decorated, though some primitive casters carve figures or signs along it. A rod holds up to 36 charges, can be recharged, and may also be enchanted +1-3 to hit.

It needs a minor magic item's materials (1,000 G.P. or more of incense, herbs and other offerings, a rod of superior quality and another 2,000 G.P.) and a month plus a day per charge of enchanting, about 12 hours daily. Success is 99%, but missing a day spoils that week's work and missing two spoils everything. It sells for at least double its materials, plus 1,000 G.P. per week of work and 500 G.P. per storable spell.

A spoken command word fires a charge instantly, though no magic item works more than once a round; non-casters need Read Magic.