Deadwood (3.5e Equipment)

= Deadwood =

In the doldrums of the negative energy plane, rare fragments of life (or unlife) make their home. Even plant life attempted to place a foothold there, but its presence quickly was corrupted into new and unwholesome form. Summary::Deadwood, as it was called, is the unliving flora which grows in the quieter parts of the negative energy plane, drawing energy from the victims which perish there. Appearing as gnarled long-dead wood, it is actually living, in the same sense that zombies still "live". Deadwood lays dorment for long periods of time, growing only during the rare times it can feast on the dying energies of other beings passing by and perishing. Deadwood forests would grow in locations of mass slaughter and bloodshed within the negative energy plane, clung onto the few chunks of stone and metal which drift in that endless void.

Any weapon primarily composed of wood can be made as a deadwood weapon. Creatures killed by a deadwood weapon become corrupted, and if sufficient amounts of onyx are applied within 1 minute of their demise, they will rise as a zombie or skeleton under the wielder's control as if animate dead had been cast, using the wielder's character level as the caster level. The amount of onyx needed is the same as if casting animate dead. It takes on a disturbing appearance and natural flora grays slightly in its presence. Weapons made of deadwood gain a 10% discount on any enhancements which deal with ability damage, ability drain, energy drain, or negative energy. Deadwood has 10 hit points per inch of thickness and hardness 6.

Armor can also be made with deadwood. Such armor has heavy scarring and rough bark. The armor produces a constant desecrate effect. The effect is the same regardless of armor or shield type. Armor made of deadwood gain a 10% discount on any enhancements which deal with turn resistance, protection against positive energy, or bolstering undead.

Deadwood needs special preparation so all weapons and armor made from it are always of masterwork quality; the masterwork cost is included in the prices given below. Thus, deadwood weapons and ammunition have a +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls, and the armor check penalty of deadwood armor is lessened by 1 compared to ordinary armor of its type.