Quori Monolith

Aura: Overwhelming Metacreativity and Telepathy; ML: 20th

Slot: Slotless; Wgt: -

Special Notes / Rules: Artifact (see text)

Source: EB, pg. 132, SoS, pg. 62

Description: A Quori Monolith is an artifact only in the sense that the method of their construction is a closely guarded secret among the Inspired and their quori masters. While all but unknown on Xen'Drik and completely absent on Argonessen and Khorvaire, they are littered all across Reidra, which covers much of the Sarlona continent. These towers are made entirely of Reidran Crysteel and stand anywhere between 250 to 500 feet tall with a diameter between 100 to 120 feet wide. While the walls of a Quori Monolith are 10 feet thick and the material is psionically reinforced (hardness 30, 1,440 hp per section), the base is always ringed with eight, equally spaced open archways, 20 feet wide by 20 feet high. The interior of the tower is, for the most part, hollow, with the exception of a central shaft, 20 feet in diameter that rises to just below the conical top of the tower. Along the interior walls, two spiral staircases make their way, clockwise, along the wall up to the central chamber at the top of the shaft. The interior of a Quori Monolith is always psionically illuminated to normal light and maintains a comfortable 65 degrees, regardless of conditions outside. The openings do not prevent rain, wind or other debris, however.

Regardless of the size of the Quori Monolith, at the top is a conical shaped room, 20 feet in diameter, with eight, equally spaced open windows, 5 feet wide by 5 feet high. The spiral staircases both enter the room through the floor on opposite sides. In the center of the room is the Quori Monolith Control System, there is a podium of Reidran Crysteel, 3 feet in diameter. The Quori Monolith Control System has a hardness of 10 and 600 hit points. Destroying the control system has a 50% change of causing it to explode in a 30 foot radius, reaching out of the windows and down the staircases by 10 feet. If this happens, it deals 20d6 force damage, Reflex DC 25 for half.

The primary function of the Quori Monolith is act as a giant psionic battery, acting as a Cognizance Crystal with 17 power points that naturally recharges 1 point per minute. However, it also has many other uses. In order access any of the Quori Monolith's abilities, someone must be at the Quori Monolith Control System at the top of the tower and make a Use Magic Device check. All of the following options provoke attacks of opportunity. Increasing the DC by 5 results in half the time required (standard action or 5 rounds). Increasing the DC by 10 results in one quarter of the time required (move action or 2 rounds). Any result of a natural 1 on the Use Magic Device check, except to activate it, results in the immediate deactivate of all effects and starts a self-destruct sequence.

Activate / Deactivate Quori Monolith: By default, a Quori Monolith is always active. If, for various reasons, the Inspired decided that keeping a Quori Monolith active is a problem, it can be shut down and reactivated as needed. A deactivated Quori Monolith cannot maintain or activate any of its abilities. A deactivated Quori Monolith does not recharge power points

Activate / Deactivate Sustained Effects: Any area of effect psionic power with a duration longer than instantaneous that is manifested while activating this function is sustained indefinitely and has its area of effect increased to a radius of 10 miles. Use of this ability automatically alerts any quori within 10 miles of the Quori Monolith. For each sustained effect, the maximum power points of the Cognizance Crystal function is reduced by 2, so no Quori Monolith can sustained more than 8 simultaneous effects. Any limitations of the effect still applies as normal, although the citizens of Reidra are usually considered willing creatures, if not allies, to the Inspired.

Draw Power Points: Anyone with a power point pool can draw from the reserves, refilling his power pool by up to 17 points per use, to his normal maximum. Given that the Quori Monolith must recharge itself at the rate of 1 point per minute, this prevents a near-continuous use of power points. When drawing power points, any quori within 10 miles of Quori Monolith is automatically telepathically alerted to the action.

Lure / Stop Luring Psionic Creatures: The Quori Monolith can send an intense telepathic effect, covering a radius of 10 miles and affecting everything within that radius that either has the psionic subtype, a psi-like ability, a power point pool or has been in physical contact with Quori Monolith in the past week with a persistent Attraction effect. While the Will save is easily resisted (DC 15), the effect can be maintained indefinitely, with a save every round. While a Quori Monolith is being used to lure psionic creatures to the tower, it cannot be used for any other function. It is considered an intrinsic part of the Path of Inspiration to pray with both hands against a Quori Monolith.

Open / Close Portal to Dal Quor: A Quori Monolith can be used to open a portal to Dal Quori. This portal is weak and only 5 feet in diameter, but does allow quori to enter the Material Plane. It is considered a 9th level pyschoportation power and can be dispelled or cancelled as such. The portal requires 1 power point from the Quori Monolith per round it is maintained and the Quori Monolith cannot recharge while a portal is opened. Use of this ability automatically alerts any quori within 10 miles of the Quori Monolith.

Start a Self-Destruct Sequence: A Quori Monolith can be commanded to self-destruct, or can have it occur accidentally. When the self-destruct sequence starts, the walls begin to glow brighter and brighter. Ten minutes after the process starts, everything inside the Quori Monolith and within 1,000 feet of it takes 40d6 force damage. Those outside of the Quori Monolith are allowed a Reflex save for half damage. The DC starts at 50, with a -1 for every 50 feet they are from the outside edge of the tower. The tower explodes at the end of the initiative order for that final round. This will destroy the Quori Monolith's abilities and will usually be enough to severely crack the shell, but not usually enough to cause it to collapse. Use of this ability automatically alerts any quori within 10 miles of the Quori Monolith.

Shut Down a Self-Destruct Sequence: A Quori Monolith that has started its self-destruct sequence can only be saved by shutting down the self-destruct sequence.