Queen's Cane

Originally published as a website article, Jan 15 2019.

QUEEN'S CANE

Magical Tool - One-Handed - Wooden

By tapping the tip of this wooden cane against a surface (including your open hand), you can create fresh beeswax. It was originally used to help build this hive, and was then used to seal individual honeycombs or otherwise perform ceremonial bee-duties.

Cost: 1 Stamina (Bind or Burn)

Range: Self

Effect: You create or destroy a single dollop of beeswax, up to 1 cubic square. Created wax persists until your next Short or Extended Rest. This can be used in a number of ways, limited only by your creativity. Some possibilities include: • (Bind) Seal an opening (up to 1 sq. in size) with thick, hard wax. This seal is water-tight, but is not heat resistant (it will hold back water, but not lava). The wax is sufficiently sturdy to support a person's weight. A wax-sealed square can be broken through with a test of Athletics v. the cane-user's Arcana, or upon contact with any Fire attack or fire source. If the wax is destroyed, the Bound Stamina is Burned. • (Burn) Create a single Candle or bar of Soap. Items created this way last until your next Short or Extended Rest. The item is ephemeral, and obviously both magical and temporary to anyone who observes or handles it. • (Burn) Seal a letter, Bottle, or package with a crest or sigil of your devising. This seal persists until the object is opened. (The seal doesn't prevent anyone from opening the item, but may reveal if it was tampered with.) • (Bind) Coat a single object in a thin layer of wax. This functions somewhat like using Oil on a piece of equipment, preventing (but not removing) Rust, or lubricating the moving parts of a machine. This wax coating persists until your next Short or Extended Rest.