The Rod of Power was a magical conduit for the dark energies gathered and harnessed by the ancient sorcerer, C'th.
History
The rod was empowered through ritualistic blood sacrifice.[1][2]
The Original Rod
C'th's original rod was a large, purple shard of crystal that he used to subjugate the ancient Babylonians, ruling with fear as a demigod king. His daily lust for virgins eventually led to the people rising against him. C'th was obliged to flee, taking him as far West as the Americas where, he was overpowered by the Native shamans, aided by the British druids. His rod was taken from him, and he was entombed alive.[2]
A thousand years later, C'th re-emerged in Gotham City, and managed to reclaim his power rod, only to have Batman destroy it by throwing it over a cliff.[1]
The Second Rod
C'th was eventually resurrected by Klarion the witchboy to aid him against the Demon. While preparing at The Jolly Roger bar, Klarion removed a femur from the skull-and-crossbones wall display and magically transmuted it into a crystal conduit, giving it to C'th as his new Rod of Power. Though C'th was not impressed, he tested its destructive capabilities on the television set,[2] and later on a homeless man, complaining it needed virgin blood to reach its full potential.[3]
After C'th's second death at the hands of Lobo, Klarion claimed the rod in order to amplify his power and send Etrigan to the Beyond Region.[4] It is unknown if the rod was destroyed by the strain of the spell, whether Klarion kept it, or if was abandoned at Woodside Military Base for anyone to find.