This magical rod is indistinguishable from a +1 Mace (footman's). It has eight flanges on its macelike head. The rod bestows +1 to the possessor's PER, and in combat the possessor gains +1 on initiative die rolls when using the weapon. If it is grasped firmly, and the wielder concentrates on a particular object or person, the rod enables the character to detect alignment, evil, good, illusions, invisibility, lie, or magic. The use of these detect powers does not expend any of the charges in the rod.
If the rod of alertness is planted in the ground, and the possessor wills it to alertness, the rod will "sense'' any creature who intends to harm the possessor. Each of the flanges on the rod's head then cast a light spell along one of the main directions (N, NE, E, etc.) out to a 60-foot range. At the same time, the rod creates the effect of a prayer spell upon all creatures friendly to the possessor in a 20-foot radius. Immediately thereafter, the rod sends forth a mental alert to these friendly creature, warning them of possible danger from the unfriendly creature(s) within the 120-foot radius. If the alertness is activate, one charge is used from the rod.
Lastly, the rod can be used to simulate the casting of an animate object spell, utilizing any 16 (or fewer) objects specially designated by the possessor and placed roughly around the perimeter of a 6-foot-radius circle centered on the rod. The selected objects can be 16 shrubs, 16 specially shaped branches, or whatever.
All of the rod's protective functions require one charge. The animate object power require one additional charge, so, if all of the rod's protective devices are utilized at once, two charges are expended. |