Implements of Rule
Many rulers across Golarion wield specific symbols of their power, such as crowns or scepters. These items are often heavily ornamented and legitimize the ruler’s authority when worn or wielded in public, and some of them have been signs of rulership for many generations. More than mere items (even for magical ones), these implements represent the rightful authority to rule and can be priceless within the ruler’s domain.
Emblems of Royalty
The following items are emblems of royalty that might be found in a variety of courts.
Bastion Crown
Source Heroes of the High Court pg. 30
Aura faint conjuration and conjuration; CL 5th
Slot head; Price 4,500 gp; Weight 2 lbs.
Description
Often worn by paranoid rulers, this simple iron crown is thick and heavy. The wearer is immune to ninja, rogue, and slayer talents that add effects to a sneak attack, such as bleeding attack or crippling strike, though the wearer takes the extra damage from sneak attacks as normal. In addition, the wearer gains a +4 insight bonus on saving throws against death effects and an assassin’s death attack ability. Finally, the wearer can cast neutralize poison on himself once per day, using the caster level of the item for any caster level check required.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, death ward, neutralize poison, stoneskin; Cost 2,250 gp
Booming Scepter
Source Heroes of the High Court pg. 30
Aura moderate evocation CL 7th
Slot none; Price 34,000 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
Description
This bejeweled scepter constantly emits a low hum that amplifies the wielder’s voice. A booming scepter acts as a +1 thundering light mace that grants the wielder a +5 competence bonus on Intimidate checks and the ability to use shout, as per the spell, once per day. When a booming scepter is held in both hands, the wielder’s voice carries far enough to be heard by all creatures within 1 mile, regardless of ambient noise or intervening obstacles, although this feature cannot penetrate the area of a silence spell.
Construction
Requirements Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Rod, shout, ventriloquism; Cost 17,000 gp
Chastising Baton
Source Heroes of the High Court pg. 30
Aura moderate necromancy CL 7th
Slot none; Price 5,000 gp; Weight 3 lbs.
Description
This short metal rod is etched with the outlines of various weapons and is usually owned by strong-armed rulers who keep a tight rein on their nation’s military. A chastising baton adds 1 to the saving throw DC of any compulsion spell cast by the wielder and adds the painUM descriptor to the spell. Creatures that succeed at a Will save against a compulsion spell cast by the wielder are racked with pain, taking 1d6 points of nonlethal damage and becoming sickened for 1 round.
Construction
Requirements Craft Rod, pain strikeAPG; Cost 2,500 gp
Crown of False Rule
Source Heroes of the High Court pg. 30
Aura faint illusion; CL 5th
Slot head; Price 30,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
Description
This item appears to be a crown studded with gems, but its valuable metals are only veneers and its gems are clever fakes. The wielder can alter the crown’s appearance at will to that of any crown or circlet she has seen before, but only for as long as she wears the crown. In any form, the crown is detectable as a valueless fake with a successful DC 30 Appraise check. The wearer of a crown of false rule is considered the rightful political ruler of wherever she is for the purposes of magical spells or effects; for example, the wearer can receive the benefits of a magic throne, draw a sword that can be removed only by a king, open a vault that unlocks at the duchess’s touch, and so forth. This ability does not function in areas without a monarch or similar ruler (such as in a democracy), and it is not effective against discern location or the actions of deities or similarly powerful beings. For the purposes of detect spells (and spells with similar capabilities), a crown of false rule does not appear to radiate a magical aura.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, magic aura, veil; Cost 15,000 gp
