A Wizard Staff, It is not unusual for a wizard in lore to carry a magic wand, but the really cool ones—the aged and impressive ones—usually carry a staff. Since they are a peripatetic club, it serves as a walking stick. But at need, the wizard’s staff is an extension of his arm, amplifying the power of his intentions, and focusing energy toward the thing he is aiming at.
Who has not gotten chills at Gandalf’s stand-off with the Balrog in Lord Of The Rings, hollering, “You shall not pass!” as he uses his enormous staff to bar the way? Or seen pictures of a wizard raising his staff against some structure or foe, zig-zags of lightning streaming out of its point? In my mind, the staff is one of the essential tools of wizardry, but perhaps is an earned and prestigious gift; one which might be acquired by a demonstration of skill and mastery.
