Candle of Invocation

• Category: Wondrous Item
• Rarity: Very Rare (Requires Attunement)

This candle's magic is activated when the candle is lit, which requires a Magic action. After burning for 4 hours, the candle is destroyed. You can snuff it out early for use at a later time. Deduct the time it burned in increments of 1 minute from its total burn time.

While lit, the candle sheds Dim Light in a 30-foot radius. While you are within that light, you have Advantage on D20 Tests. In addition, a Cleric or Druid in the light can cast level 1 spells they have prepared without expending spell slots.

Alternatively, when you light the candle for the first time, you can cast Gate with it. Doing so destroys the candle. The portal created by the spell

links to a particular Outer Plane chosen by the GM or determined by rolling on the following table.

1d100	Outer Plane	1d100	Outer Plane
01-05	Abyss	55-59	Gehenna
06-10	Acheron	60-64	Hades
11-17	Arborea	65-69	Limbo
18-25	Arcadia	70-77	Mechanus
26-33	Beastlands	78-85	Mount Celestia
34-41	Bytopia	86-90	Nine Hells
42-46	Carceri	91-95	Pandemonium
47-54	Elysium	96-00	Ysgard

Tactical Applications

Combat Strategy: Provides significant advantages for extended encounters and divine spellcasting support. Most effective when used strategically for important battles or challenging situations.

Class Synergies:

• Clerics and Druids: Exceptional synergy with free level 1 spellcasting within the light
• Any Class: Universal benefit from advantage on all D20 tests
• Support Characters: Excellent for characters who coordinate group activities and provide assistance

Build Considerations: Most valuable when the party can position around the light source for extended periods. The Gate option provides extreme utility or escape potential.

Acquisition Methods

Crafting Requirements: Requires rare waxes imbued with planar energy, divine blessing, and master-level candle-making. Typically costs 25,000-40,000 gp.

Common Sources:

• Rewards from divine quests or religious ceremonies
• Inheritance from high-ranking clergy or planar travelers
• Commission from enchanters with divine connections
• Gifts from celestial beings or powerful religious organizations

Alternative Acquisition: Some temples create these candles for critical missions or as rewards for exceptional service to divine causes.

Value & Trade

Estimated Value: 30,000-50,000 gp, with extreme variation based on the buyer's need for planar travel or divine magic.

Trade Considerations: Incredibly rare and valuable, often traded only among the most powerful magical practitioners or religious organizations.

Character Integration

Roleplay Elements: Suggests connections to divine magic, planar travel, or high-level magical research. May indicate exceptional status or special missions.

Character Concepts:

• High-ranking cleric or druid with access to exceptional divine magic
• Planar researcher studying the connections between planes
• Adventurer preparing for an extremely dangerous mission requiring planar escape
• Character with divine patronage or celestial connections

Adventure Hooks

The Planar Expedition: A mission requires travel to specific outer planes, making the Gate function essential.

The Divine Ritual: A religious ceremony requires the candle's divine enhancement to succeed.

The Desperate Escape: Characters need emergency planar travel to escape an insurmountable threat.

The Extended Siege: A prolonged battle or challenge requires the sustained advantages the candle provides.

Variants & Customization

Greater Candle of Invocation (Legendary): Provides longer burn time, specific planar destinations, or enhanced divine spellcasting benefits.

Candle of Specific Invocation (Very Rare): Connects to a specific outer plane chosen at creation rather than random determination.

Eternal Candle of Blessing (Artifact): Never burns down but provides constant lesser benefits within its light.

Specialized Variants:

• Combat Candle: Enhanced benefits for battle situations and tactical advantages
• Ritual Candle: Specific benefits for divine ceremonies and religious magic
• Scholar's Candle: Benefits for research and study of planar magic

Lore & History

Origins: Created by ancient divine casters who sought to bridge the gap between Material and Outer Planes.

Historical Significance: Several legendary quests and divine interventions involved the strategic use of these candles.

Cultural Impact: In religious communities, these candles represent the ultimate expression of divine favor and planar connection.

Planar Magic: The candles serve as focal points for planar energy, reflecting deep understanding of inter-planar connections.

Balancing Notes

Introduction Timing: Best introduced at high levels (15+) when planar travel becomes relevant and the advantages are balanced by encounter difficulty.

Campaign Impact: Provides extraordinary utility that can dramatically alter campaign direction. The Gate function can serve as an emergency escape or major plot device.

Resource Management: The limited burn time and destruction after use creates meaningful choices about when to employ the candle.

Encounter Design

Recommended Challenges:

• Extended encounters where the sustained advantages justify the resource expenditure
• Planar travel scenarios where the Gate function becomes necessary
• High-stakes battles where the advantage on all tests provides crucial benefits
• Divine or religious challenges where the spiritual nature of the item matters

Tactical Adjustments: Enemies may attempt to extinguish the candle or force the party out of its light radius.

Related Items

Planar Magic: Other items that facilitate travel between planes or provide connections to outer planes.

Divine Enhancement:

• Items that boost divine spellcasting or provide religious benefits
• Equipment that enhances spell slot efficiency or magical resources
• Tools that provide sustained advantages for extended challenges

Complementary Equipment: Items that work well with sustained positioning or benefit from the candle's advantages.

Roleplay Opportunities

Divine Connection: Characters using the candle may experience visions, divine communication, or spiritual insights.

Planar Awareness: The Gate function introduces the party to planar travel and the politics of outer planes.

Resource Tension: The limited and valuable nature of the candle creates meaningful decisions about when its power is worth using.