Originally posted on the Pits of Evil forums (Forgotten Realms), March 7, 2008. It is one of the unique possessions of Rhangaun, master of the Twisted Rune, from the author's "Personalities of the Realms" NPC thread. Shown as written, with light spelling and formatting fixes only.

Major Artifact

Price (Item Level): -
Body Slot: Held
Caster Level: 40th
Aura: Strong (DC 24); abjuration, conjuration, divination, evocation, necromancy
Activation: Standard action
Weight: 2 lb.

This staff is composed of a straight shaft of yew wood crowned with four small skulls made of black gemstones. An orb, blazing with indecipherable, yet obviously magical runes, rests upon them.

The staff of the Twisted Rune is a +5 mage-tuned, soulbreaking quarterstaff of unholy power that delivers a greater dispel magic with every successful strike. It allows use of a variety of powers that are invoked by consuming charges.

• Enhance magical flow* (continuous)
• Mage armor (continuous)
• Nondetection (continuous)
• Detect magic (continuous)
• Icebolt* (1 charge)
• Melf's acid arrow (1 charge, burns for 5 rounds)
• See invisibility (1 charge)
• Daylight (1 charge)
• Lightning bolt (1 charge)
• Coldscream* (2 charges)
• Flaming corrosion* (2 charges)
• Cross of lightning* (2 charges)
• Electrical deluge* (3 charges)
• Forcecage (3 charges)
• Gate (3 charges)
• Dominate monster (4 charges)
• Prismatic sphere (4 charges)
• Soul strike** (4 charges)
• Wall of force (4 charges)
• Black blade of disaster (5 charges)
• Mordenkainen's disjunction (5 charges)
• Wail of the banshee (5 charges)

* Book of Eldritch Might   ** Eldritch Sorcery

The staff of the twisted rune allows its powers to be modified by its wielder's metamagic feats without increasing its casting time. The usual limitations still apply to spells modified in such a manner, such as the caster being unable to apply a spell level adjustment that exceeds the caster's maximum spell level.

The staff can also be used to absorb arcane spell energy directed at its wielder, as a rod of epic absorption does. Unlike the rod, this staff converts spell levels into charges rather than retaining them as spell energy usable by a spellcaster. If the staff absorbs enough spell levels to exceed its limit, it explodes as if a retributive strike had been performed (see below). The wielder knows how many spell levels are cast at him, as the staff communicates this knowledge as a rod of epic absorption does.

Retributive Strike: The staff of the twisted rune can be broken for a retributive strike. Such an act must be purposeful and declared by the wielder. All charges in the staff are released in a 30-foot spread. All within 10 feet of the broken staff take hit points of damage equal to 8 times the number of charges in the staff, those between 11 feet and 20 feet away take points equal to 6 times the number of charges, and those 21 feet to 30 feet distant take 4 times the number of charges. A DC 40 Reflex save reduces damage by half. The staff reforms in its wielder's hands 2d12 + 6 days after being destroyed.

Symbolic Magic: The staff of the Twisted Rune enhances all power word and symbol spells cast by the wielder. Such spells have their hit point limits quintupled.