Originally posted on the Realms of Evil forums (Womb of Creation), January 31, 2002. Sarelth posted it as a reply in Aron Figaro's "Card Mage Core Classkit" thread, as a suggested item for the Card Mage's monster-sealing ability. Shown as written, with light spelling and formatting fixes only.

These magic items are created with a special ritual. The device can be any item that can be held in one or both hands (a key, staff, or sword, for example), but nothing that could easily break. This ritual is taught to each new Card Mage during their training period. Other magic users may use this item, but never have as full an understanding as the original creator, and cannot create more than one card with it.

Abilities: The staff may be used to "seal" the soul of a defeated enemy into a specially prepared card. If successful, whenever the card is activated it summons that creature from the card to do the bidding of the Card Mage. The staff can only be used for creating cards like this once per day.

The Card Mage can only create cards from creatures whose HD are equal to or lower than the Card Mage's current level. These card creatures can gain levels from being summoned, and will slowly get more powerful if the Card Mage lets them. They are completely loyal to whoever controls the card that their soul is in.

When creating such cards the Card Mage must spend XP equal to the creature's HD x 500. The target gets a Will save (DC 15 + 1 per 2 levels of the Card Mage) to resist becoming trapped in the card.

To create the staff itself, the ritual takes a full day and 300 gp worth of materials, in addition to the item to be enchanted, which must be a masterwork item. The ritual drains the Card Mage of 100 XP and 1 Constitution point.

Caster Level: 12th (3rd if Card Mage); Required Feat: Craft Staff, or Craft Wondrous Item if Card Mage; Required Spells: summon monster II, charm person.