Price (Item Level): 48,000 gp (17th)
Body Slot: — (held)
Caster Level: 18th
Aura: Strong; (DC 24) conjuration
Activation: As spell used
Weight: 4 lb.
This staff is made of polished ebony topped with a tarnished iron claw at either end.
A runestaff of fiendish darkness bestows one negative level on any good-aligned creature as long as it carries or holds the runestaff. The negative level never results in actual level loss, but cannot be overcome in any way (including restoration spells) while the runestaff is held.
This staff allows you to cast any of the following spells (each three times per day) by expending a prepared arcane spell or arcane spell slot of the same level or higher.
Prerequisites: Craft Staff, animate dead, darkness, dispel magic, summon monster IX, evil alignment.
Cost to Create: 24,000 gp, 1,920 XP, 48 days.
Source: Magic Item Compendium, page 178.