Beyond Diamond Staves (optional rules)

"Not even Merlin had a solid diamond staff..."

A mage's staff - it is both one of the most powerful items a mage can create, and also one of the most problematic.
When a mage creates a staff, he creates a physical embodiment of his own mystical power by seperating that power from himself. In doing so the power becomes purer. The advantages are that the staff acts a battery and focus, allowing the mage to cast more powerful spells with greater success, the disadvantage is that in doing so the mage partially disassociates himself from the physcial universe in which he resides and brings himself closer to the magical forces which lie outside the normal laws of space and time. This creates the so-called "anti-technology field" around the mage. The field is what makes interaction with the technology (which is anchored firmly in the physical universe) problematic at best.

Every mage knows that his will staff change its size and composition over time as it's owner gains magical knowledge and power, eventually reaching the point where the entire staff appears to be made of diamond. Few have ever even heard of a mage with a solid diamond staff and it has long been believed that diamond is the end of the scale for staves. At present, no one can claim to have seen a mage with a staff beyond solid diamond composition. Some highly knowledgeable people believe that once a mage gains enough knowledge and power to go past "diamond stage" the mage gains control over the form of his staff and can alter it to make it appear as anything he desires.

This is not true.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENS:

Upon reaching that critical point* (14 spell categories known at level 6 or better each) something remarkable happens.
When the mage next goes to charge his staff with magical power the spell will fail and the staff will begin to pulse with power, slowly at first, then faster and faster as it draws in power from the surrounding area. The staff will fill with power at the rate of 1d10 WKM per round (2 seconds) until it reaches its maximum capacity, then the staff will begin to melt from both ends simultaneously and the meltings will flow towards the mage and will eventually flow over the mages body, coating him in a thin glass-like substance (the substance feels very cold as it coats the mage). This substance will then soak into the mage's skin (painfully) and vanish into his body. Once the staff substance has been fully absorbed the mage will discover he has become one with the staff, that which was seperated from him has been joined once more, and his power is greater than before.

Upon joining with the staff the mage gains the following benefits...

MCD is permanently increased by 10

WKM maximum is permanently increased by the WKM maximum of the staff

MRE is permanently increased by 6

WKM Recovery rate is permanently doubled

All future WKM gains from advancing in character levels are rolled as 4d10 +8 (instead of 1d10 +2)

The Anti-technology field is permanently dispersed. (hello microwave!)

Additionally any required spell components are downgraded 1 level in rarity/cost. Any that were already in the Inexpesive category are dropped completely, the mage has gained a mastery over his power and he no longer needs the simpler items.

* Note: For this to occur the mage must have learned at least 7 of the spell categories AFTER making the staff and must have possessed the staff for at least a year and a day. If these requirements are not met, the staff stays in its normal form until such time as the mage advances enough to qualify.

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Source Material: William Travis