Staff of Decay

The Staff of Decay was forged over a thousand years ago by the would be lich Veythar the Withered. Veythar sought to cheat death itself, channeling the lifeforce of his enemies and commonfolk alike to sustain his own existence. In a ritual to provide him another tool for his hunger, he bound the essences of small improvised commune, including a poor beggar named Chalyth, into the staff’s blackened wood.

The ritual succeeded, but Chalyth’s nature could not be contained. Having known nothing but an entire life of daily hunger and misery, Chalyth twisted the staff into a cursed artifact that hungers eternally, draining vitality from anything nearby. Its first victim was the wizard Veythar gruesomely consuming his life energy.

The staff’s hunger is not merely magical—it is sentient. Chalyth’s essence fuels its power, but in return, it demands near constant nourishment. It craves the warmth of life, seeking to rot forests, sicken beasts, and leech the strength from mortals. Those who wield it hear faint whispers urging them to feed it, promising strength and longevity in exchange. Over time, even the strongest souls are tempted or broken.

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This is a cursed magical staff made of gnarled twisted dark green roots topped with a wooden flower of red and white which requires a DC 20 Constitution saving throw to hold and resist its desire to consume. It functions as a +2 quarterstaff when used in melee.

When fully attuned and wielding the staff, the bearer feels a sickly energy coursing through their body and gain temporary hit points equal to half their level and gain a +2 to attack and damage rolls.

Sentience. The Staff of Decay is a sentient staff of evil alignment, with an Intelligence of 20, a Wisdom of 15, and a Charisma of 18. It has hearing and darkvision out to a range of 120 feet, and it can communicate telepathically with any creature that is holding it.

Necrotic Strike. On a hit, the staff deals an extra 1d8 necrotic damage.

Wither Touch. As an action, you may cast Blight (DC 15) once per long rest.

Curse. As long as you remain cursed, you are unwilling to part with the weapon, keeping it within reach at all times, the owner’s flesh changes a slight hue of greenish gray, and are infused with a desire to have others touch the staff. Those who do and fail the constitution check will suffer 1d10 necrotic damage.

• If you slay a living creature (CR 1 or higher) with the staff or within 30 ft of you, the staff is sated for the day.
• If you fail to feed it, make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or suffer 2d4 necrotic damage and gain one level of exhaustion as your life force is drained.

Hunger of Chalyth. Track the staff’s growing hunger whenever it is fed or denied. Begin at Hunger Level 0. Increase the level by 1 each day you fail to feed the staff. Decrease by 1 when it consumes a creature of CR 2 or higher.

Hunger Level	Effect of Hunger
0	No additional effects. Staff whispers faintly when idle.
1-2	While holding the staff, you take a -1 penalty to Constitution saving throws. Staff whispers grow clearer, suggesting violence.
3-4	The staff’s necrotic damage increases to 2d8, but you have disadvantage on death saving throws.
5-6	The staff begins to dominate your will: at dawn, make a DC 16 Wisdom saving throw or become compelled to slay the nearest creature (as compelled duel).
7+	Chalyth awakens: You gain the benefits of Blight at will (no spell slot), but your maximum hit points are reduced by 2d8 each night. If reduced to 0 max HP this way, Chalyth consumes you, using your body as a vessel (DM takes control of the character as an NPC).