Rod of the Dragon Heart

This is an iron shaft about 1 foot long with a small cage at the top. Within the cage is a purple crystal shaped like a dragon’s heart. When its bearer is engaged in battle, fleeting but unsettling and sinister apparitions of tiny dragons appear in the air above the rod.

Enemies within 30 feet of the wielder of a rod of the dragon heart when he activates it (or who come within 30 feet of an already active rod) must attempt DC 16 Will saves. Foes who fail their saves are shaken as long as they remain within 120 feet of the rod. Foes who make their saves are immune to the effects of the rod of the dragon heart for 24 hours. Creatures immune to a dragon’s frightful presence are immune to the rod’s effect.

To activate a rod of the dragon heart, the wielder’s current hit points must equal or exceed half his full normal hit points. He must hold the rod in one hand and utter the command word (a standard action), which is often an ancient dragon’s name, such as "Paelchronithrax" or "Tueranachtrus." The rod is active for a maximum of 10 rounds per day, split up however the wielder likes. He can turn off the rod with a mental command (a free action).

While the rod is active, if the wielder’s current hit points tall below half his full normal hit points, the rod immediately turns off.

Prerequisites: Craft Rod, fear.

Cost to Create: 4,000 gp, 160 XP, 8 days.

Source: Dragon Magic, page 95.