Blackstaff (staff)

The Blackstaff was the name for a series of powerful magical staves, created and used by Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun and/or his successor.

Description
It was believed that Khelben Arunsun, who carried the first Blackstaff title, selected a new Blackstaff every time he left Blackstaff Tower. However, it always appeared as a long wooden staff. It was longer than an average human was tall, roughly seven feet from base to tip. A ring of bulbs circled the staff at about eye level, and the staff was topped by a curved claw shape. The entire staff was pure black in color.
 * Khelben's Blackstaff:

Samark Dhanzscul, the sixth Blackstaff, carried a staff known as the Duskstaff, which was a twisted metal staff with a crystal on top that flashed various colors. It was unknown whether this was an iteration of a Blackstaff or a different staff. The Duskstaff could only be moved by the current Blackstaff or by someone wielding Ncral's Ring.
 * Samark's Staff

Vajra Safahr, the seventh Blackstaff, carried a silver-shod Blackstaff. The Blackstaff she carried when proclaiming her status as the new Blackstaff was the "true blackstaff", a large rune-inscribed duskwood staff with silver veins. The whole staff was blackened by use. Atop the staff was a large axe head in the shape of snarling wolf head, which had glowing green eyes.
 * Vajra's Blackstaff:

Known powers
The Blackstaff had all the powers of a staff of power.

The staff also had a permanent blackstaff (spell) upon it that could&hellip;
 * &hellip;grant an enhancement when used in melee combat,
 * &hellip;dispel magic with a touch,
 * &hellip;cause a spellcaster to loose a spell or expend a bit of their magical power, and
 * &hellip;channel various mind-affecting spells.

A Blackstaff's Heir needed to touch the Blackstaff in order to be centered in his or her new powers. Only a Blackstaff or the Blackstaff's Heir could safely carry and wield a Blackstaff. As long as a Blackstaff's Heir was touching the Blackstaff, the powers of the actual Blackstaff (person) could be channeled through the staff.

Appearances

 * Waterdeep: Dragon Heist