Staff of the Black Raven (Patreon)

Staff, uncommon (requires attunement)

This staff has a crystalline black raven perched at its top. It can be wielded as a magic quarterstaff. While holding it, you can speak one of the staff's four command words using an action to animate the raven:

"Attack!" The raven flies out and makes a melee weapon attack against a target that you can see within 30 feet of you, using an attack bonus of +5. On a hit, it deals 1d10 magical piercing or slashing damage (your choice) as the raven pecks and slashes at the target. The target gains no benefit from cover, as the raven flies around any obstacle to attack. The raven then returns and perches atop the staff.

"Collect!" The raven flies toward an object that you can see within 30 feet of you that isn't being worn or carried and collects it in its beak or talons. The object can be no more than 6 inches in any dimension and weigh no more than 5 pounds. The raven then flies back to you carrying the object, dropping it either in your empty hand or at your feet (your choice) before perching atop the staff again.

"Mimic!" The raven opens its beak and replays the last 6 seconds of sound. The raven records this sound for the next 24 hours, playing it again each time this command word is spoken for the duration.

"Watch!" The raven leaves the staff, flying or remaining perched within 30 feet of you for 8 hours or until you speak this command word again. For the duration, the raven keeps watch, using a passive Wisdom (Perception) score of 13. The raven caws loudly when a creature other than one you've designated comes within 30 feet of you, at which point it flies back and returns to the top of the staff.

The detached raven has AC 13, 10 hit points, and its movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks. If it's reduced to 0 hit points, it splits apart into a handful of pieces and stops moving. A mending cantrip can restore the broken raven to its hit point maximum. If the raven returns to the staff, it regains any hit points it lost. Otherwise, the raven magically rematerializes on the staff the next day at dawn, at which point any of its broken pieces are turned to dust and are destroyed.

"What are you doing, men? Safeguard the prince's chamber!"

The two guards shot to their feet as their captain's voice—not to be taken lightly—rang out. They scrambled down the passage away from their post opposite the statue hall entrance, rounding a corner to be faced with the captain himself. Snapping to a salute, they said in unison, "Headed to the chambers now, sir! Won't be long, sir!" "Chambers? What do you mean?"

"But I hea… you said to go…"

"I said nothing! And, were I not already relieving you, I'd like to make that relief permanent!"

The guards scuttled off in shame and confusion as the captain took up watch, frowning as he noted the guards' empty key hanger. No mind; he had his own set.

He missed the flap of glassy wings as the keys, held in unseen claws, vanished around a corner.

Bowed under the weight of an unconscious serpentfolk, Alistair Rook thanked his predecessor for the crystal raven. Mimicking the captain's voice at the party earlier had been instinct, now buying just enough time for the raven to collect the keys as he dashed out-of-sight. At a new corridor, his quiet call to watch assured him of the safety to press on.

And so the Ravenheart wove out through a locked back gatehouse, aid from an old companion the tool to rescue a new one.