Item: Ishgaran Items of Power

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

Each Ishgaran Item of Power gives a slight boost to one of the abilities of the wearer. The items listed below all include a fragment (a dap of sap or a twig) from the famed Ishgara Tree, or silk from the Ishgara Moth that inhabits it. Each item imparts to its wearer +1 enhancement bonus to the respective attribute. In the case of the Ishgaran Headband of Intellect, it does not bestow more skills points gained at new levels.

• Ishgaran Gauntlets of Strength
• Ishgaran Periapt of Wisdom
• Ishgaran Amulet of Constitution
• Ishgaran Gloves of Dexterity
• Ishgaran Cloak of Charisma
• Ishgaran Headband of Intelligence

Slight Transmutation; 8th CL; Craft Wondrous Item, eagle's splendor, bull's strength, cat's grace, owl's wisdom, fox's cunning or bear's endurance, and a component taken from the tree and/or the moth; Price 2,000gp.

BACKGROUND:

The Ishgara Tree and Moth. The Ishgara is a magical tree usually found deep in the Culverwood, but the Tree has the ability to relocate itself to different places, so it is very hard to find. It is the only known Ishgara Tree in the Culverwood, but many saplings have been found.

The moths that rely on it are not rare -- these orange with black lightning-bolt-striped moths are primarily found near the Ishgara Tree and its saplings. Generally, that's the area surrounding the deep Culverwood; however, they have been discovered in other areas because of the tree's relocation.

Twice per year the adult moth migrates to the tree to breed and lay its eggs. Eggs hatch within one week, releasing a small green caterpillar with red lightning-bolt stripes down its back. Once hatched, the caterpillars feed on the leaves and sap runnels of the Ishgara Tree. Within three weeks, each caterpillar has grown to three inches in length and forms a chrysalis. After another two weeks, the moth emerges and flies away.

Magical Qualities - The moth is able to locate the Ishgara tree (or the saplings) wherever the trees may be found. The moth has also been seen emanating a dim light in the early evening hours, like that of a firefly. Scholars say this could be a mating dance of sorts. The caterpillar's silk has magical properties, but the caterpillar itself is simply an insect.

The moth on the other hand, has transformed. It shows some minor sense of self preservation and awareness. This has prompted initial classification of the magical insect -- due to its nature, scholars are calling them Fey (creature type). [For game purposes, these Fey have a 3 Int and no form of communication that is known.]

Magical Uses -- Not much is known about the magical nature of the Ishgara tree and its sap, other than it is very powerful. And because the tree is able to protect itself fairly well through its translocational abilities, very little of the pure sap is readily available for research or use. It has been determined that the tree has the ability to render itself immune to magical scrying or divination, so it is often invisible to human eyes. It is speculated that the Trees have the ability to draw Woldsblood directly from the source. Research has, however, been done on the moths and caterpillars that feed on the tree, and it has been found that diluted forms of the Tree's magic can be created from the silk of these insects, but only for use in specific low-level personal magics.

Developed by Jay Barber (no character commission), with creative inspiration provided by Kent, approved by Cayzle Jan 2005.