Mystic starfish appear to be normal living starfish, aside from the eerie eye in the center of their body. While worn, these animate psionic items can maintain concentration on their owner’s psionic powers even when their owner cannot.
Physical Description: The well-known visage of a mystic starfish is that of a very organic looking starfish, about 6 inches in diameter, of many possible species, colors, and variations. In addition, all mystic starfish feature a life-like eye staring from its center. The life of the object, however, is entirely artificial and maintained through its connection with its owner. Once separated, the mystic starfish returns to its inactive form within a few hours − that of an ornate crystal star with a precious gemstone center.
Despite its appearance, an active and inactive mystic starfish share the same statistics: It weighs approximately 1 lb., has AC 9, 12 hit points, a hardness of 8, and a break DC of 14.
Activation: The intended owner must merely hold or have an inactive mystic starfish on his person for a period of at least 10 minutes (which is long enough to attune oneself to the starfish). The starfish will then attempt to attach itself to the skin of its owner. Only one mystic starfish can attach at a time. The starfish capable of maintaining the highest level power is the one that remains (or a random starfish if they are equal in level), while the other drops off and becomes inactive.
Once a mystic starfish attaches, the starfish’s eye grants a +2 enhancement bonus to Perception skill checks (which is the only benefit that it can confer to a non-psionic owner). Thereafter, a psionic owner can use the starfish to fulfill the concentration requirement listed in the duration of certain powers. In addition, as long as he maintains his focus, the owner may use a swift action to command the starfish to move to any location on his body.
In many ways, the starfish becomes an extension of the consciousness of the manifester. The manifester may will the starfish to maintain any power that he is currently maintaining, provided it is equal or less than or equal to the maximum level that the starfish can maintain. Concentration checks made by the starfish are made as if the manifester was consciously making them, even if the manifester himself has been rendered unconscious.
The starfish also automatically takes over powers that the manifester is maintaining concentration on if the concentration is suddenly broken (such as a failed Concentration check, or the manifester being rendered unconscious). The starfish is still subject to any Concentration checks the manifester would be (and in the case of taking over a power from a failed check, the starfish must immediately make one of the same DC). The starfish makes decisions about powers it is maintaining exactly as the manifester would. For example, if the manifester was using a particular power to keep an enemy from attacking an ally, the starfish will continue this effort as if it were the manifester himself. The mystic starfish can even fulfill the concentration requirement on more than one power at a time, provided that the sum of the levels of each power does not exceed its maximum power level.
For example, a mystic starfish capable of maintaining a 5th level psionic power, can instead maintain a 3rd level power and a 2nd level power at the same time, or even five first level powers simultaneously. The starfish, however, cannot manifest powers on its own. If the manifester is not concentrating on a power of his own though is able to do so, he may make a successful Concentration check (with a DC of 12 + the level of the power) to regain active control of any power that his mystic starfish is maintaining.
Faint to strong telepathy; ML equal to 7 + the maximum level of power it can maintain; Craft Mystic Starfish; Weight 1 lb.
| Minor | Medium | Major | Max. Power Level | Market Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-50 | − | − | 1st | 500 gp. |
| 51-75 | − | − | 2nd | 2,000 gp. |
| 76-95 | − | − | 3rd | 4,500 gp. |
| 96-100 | 1-5 | − | 4th | 8,000 gp. |
| − | 6-55 | − | 5th | 12,500 gp. |
| − | 56-90 | 1-40 | 6th | 18,000 gp. |
| − | 91-100 | 41-75 | 7th | 24,500 gp. |
| − | − | 76-95 | 8th | 32,000 gp. |
| − | − | 96-100 | 9th | 40,500 gp. |