Staff of Low Magic

This staff stores charges of four Low Magic spells: Protection from Spirits, Lesser Spirit Force, Power and Returning. It wards off spirits, lets bound spirits hold foes back, lifts Strength, Dexterity, Constitution or Will to the human peak, and returns the bearer to a place visited earlier that day. Staves are usually wooden, 5-7 ft. long and 1-1/2 to 2 in. thick, carved with marks at the head by primitive casters or fitted with metal bands or a headpiece by civilized ones. A staff holds up to 21 charges, can be recharged, and may 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 staff of superior quality) 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. Since Lesser Spirit Force and Power are reserved for shamans, other casters may not make or wield it.