Cantorian Spring

Cantorian Spring

(Magic item)

Aura (1E)

Powerful transmutation

Caster Level (1E)

20th

Type

Staff

Slot (1E)

None

Origin

Cantorys

Affiliation

Canzoriant

Source: Gods and Magic, pg(s). 62–63 (1E)
Ancestry Guide, pg(s). 33 (2E)

Ⅰ

The Cantorian Spring is an ancient artifact created by a goddess of life for mortal use, but was most famously wielded by a devil to create the hobgoblin ancestry before being lost to history.

Appearance

The Cantorian Spring is a long staff topped by a rough-hewn crystal that appears to contain an unknown liquid, and is wrapped in wire that extends to its base. When left unattended, the staff rights itself to stand on its lower end; it is easily toppled but inevitably returns to its upright position within minutes if not disturbed.

History

During the Age of Darkness, the goddess Cantorys crafted the Cantorian Spring and hid it on Golarion with the expectation that a mortal would find and use it. However, after learning of the staff, the infernal duke Canzoriant killed Cantorys and claimed it for himself.

Either Canzoriant or his cultists used the staff to transform goblins into the first hobgoblins and instilled in them a hatred for elves. Canzoriant's goal was the creation of an army that would tear through elven defenses and raze their cities.

The plot was discovered by a band of elven adventurers, who attempted to recover and destroy the Cantorian Spring. While they successfully reacquired it, they failed to destroy it before their pursuers caught up to them. The staff was lost in the ensuing battle and has been missing since, inadvertently freeing the hobgoblins from outside control in the process.

Usage

The staff functions similarly to a staff of transmutation and is capable of polymorphing masses of creatures, with a slight chance of also transforming the wielder.

When balanced upright, the staff's crystal can be tapped and told a command word, and it will bury itself into the ground beneath it until only its crystal remains visible. The ground then bubbles up with pure water that pools or forms a spring, with the water being optionally infused with a magical effect that also confers side effects, such as taking on aspects of the appearance of a creature related to the intended effect.

Such springs must be reattuned over time to retain their powers, and the staff has also created such springs without any wielder's command. Tales of magical springs with an obscured crystal at their center factor into several cultures' legends, and some heritages of ancestries might have unknowingly originated from interacting with the Spring.

Fate

The staff has reportedly reappeared in the centuries since its disappearance, most often wielded by another being attempting to create a slave race. This includes the zhug, purportedly bred from halflings and now extinct. It was also reportedly used by the Bandit King Anfax to transform an opposing army into catfish, and being the subject of the Three Generations War in the River Kingdoms, where it is said to have changed hands four times.

The Cantorian Spring's fate and location were unknown since at least 4708 AR and remained so as of 4722 AR. The Bouldertop Oasis in northern Osirion has properties and a faintly reminiscent aura as the Cantorian Spring.