Help me make a magic item

[Gilladian]

One of my players is starting out a 1st level cleric and she would really really like to have a Staff of the Python. What I'd like to do is give her an itty bitty snake staff now that would be a trivial help to her and could grow over time to become a full staff when it's appropriate.

Any suggestions as to how this could work, what abilities it might start with, etc...

Thanks,
Gilladian

 

[reason]

...

What's the domain of the faith? Should be something appropriate. e.g. of a range of

a) spy-snake-stick: much like a short-duration familiar, send it off to spy and report back
b) dart-snake-stick: throw at people, weak poison
c) sign-of-office-snake-stick: bonus to influence over the faithful when transformed, hisses at liars
d) healing-snake-stick: first aid bonus when transformed, sheds healing scales

Reason
Principia Infecta

 

[Herobizkit]

Sure. Make it wand-sized and treat it as a familiar. Have it change into a common snakey (posion optional) and off you go.

Optionally, why not just "lend" her a SotP with the charge that it must be delivered to another/back to her church upon reaching X level. Then gouge her to make one herself.

You could look at it like the jedi needing to make his own lightsaber... he gets one to train with, but has to make his own later?

 

[Gilladian]

I didn't mention that this is gonna be a "World's Largest Dungeon" campaign. She's actually a Cleric/Rogue gestalt character. I like the idea of the sneaky snake a lot. And the healing scales as well.

I need to come up with some sort of progression of advancement. Maybe something like this, off the top of my head;

Her level, snake abilities
1, can scout up to 30' from her, returns and hisses to warn of danger. Can shed 1 scale per day for 1d8 of healing. Has diminutive snake stats.

3, can scout up to 40' from her, she can sense when it spots danger. Can shed two scales per day. Has tiny snake stats.

Etc... but I'm still not sure what would be fair and what would be too generous.