Polaris Magistrate Codex

This gilded book of law is a rare magic item that's filled with detailed ordinances regarding Polaris, a city held aloft by astral magic. Through the city's dedicated magistrate, this book has been given the following magical properties.

The book can be used as an improvised light hammer, which you are proficient with while attuned to it. On a hit, the target takes an extra 1d6 psychic damage, or half as much psychic damage if it's lawful.

While holding the book, you can use an action to read from it aloud and wrack nearby creatures with guilt for their wrongdoing. When you do, each creature within 15 feet of you must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d6 psychic damage. On a success, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours. If a creature is lawful, it has a +5 bonus to the saving throw.

Original copies of a Polaris Magistrate codex are almost unheard of, but the ones that exist have spent centuries steeped in their own powerful scripture—intensifying their magic. The following codex variant is a legendary item with additional properties:

Amendments. The book deals an extra 2d6 psychic damage on a hit, instead of 1d6, and returns to your hand immediately after making a ranged attack with it. In addition, the saving throw DC for when you read from the book increases to 17, and deals 4d6 psychic damage instead of 2d6.

Bound by Law. You can use an action while holding the book to cast the hold person spell (save DC 17). On a success, the creature is immune to this effect for 24 hours. If a creature is lawful, it has a +5 bonus to the saving throw.

Objection. While holding the book, you can use your reaction to cast counterspell (5th-level version) from it. If the triggering spell was cast at 6th level or higher, the counterspell automatically fails. Once the book has been used to cast this spell, it can't do so again until the next dawn.