Enc: -	IS:	Aura: -	XP: 2500	GP: 25,000
-	-	-	-	DMG

This clerical candlestick is a specially
alloyed metal holder with two branches.

One is of silver and
mithral, the other arm of iron and adamantite - as dark and dead-looking
as the first branch is bright and glittering. The two branches
intertwine to form a twisting stem of intermittent bright and dull bands.
The base is likewise formed of alternating projections of the silvery
and ebon metals spreading to form eight legs. The whole object is
about 1 foot tall and just over half as broad, with a weight of between
30 and 40 gold pieces. Although the dicerion of light and darkness
gives off a faint dweomer of its own, it must have specially manufactured
candles to function magically. When a pair of candles made
from purest wax with finely powdered obsidian and crystal layered
within, and then both blessed and consecrated (see 1st-level cleric
spell ceremony), are put within the sockets of the dicerion’s arms, the
whole radiates a powerful magical aura. When both special candles
are alight, the cleric touching or holding the device can see into any
form of darkness or the brightest of lights as if the illumination were
normal daylight. Furthermore, upon command of the cleric, the candles
will emit a strange, metallic illumination which dispels all
shadows (of the natural sort, not the undead creature) within a 30-foot
radius. However, when the latter power is employed, the cleric’s vision
is then not specially endowed with respect to seeing in darkness
or light. A special candle will burn for 5-8 turns in a gentle draft such
as that created by walking while holding the dicerion. A strong draft
will reduce this burning time by 1-2 turns. If the candle remains still
and unaffected by breezes, it will last for 9-16 turns.
If only the candle held in the black arm of the dicerion is lighted, then
the cleric will effectively be englobed by a sphere of darkness of 15-
foot radius. This lack of illumination will not hamper the cleric’s vision
or movement, but will affect any other creatures within the 15-foot radius.
If a bright light strikes the cleric’s eyes while so conditioned, he
or she will be blinded for 1-4 rounds. Conversely, when only the candle
in the bright branch is lighted, a sphere of brilliant light will surround
the cleric, who will not have his or her vision impaired as long
as the dicerion is touched or held, but whose radiation will blind creatures
of darkness (evil) for 2-8 rounds, those of light (good) being unable
to look at the area without being blinded for 1-4 rounds. If
magical darkness envelops the cleric while the dicerion is functioning
in this manner, he or she will be unable to see for 1-4 rounds. In either
case, even though only one candle is burning, both branches of the
dicerion must actually contain tapers.