These mace-like metal batons end with a pyramid shaped tip, with three flat surfaces containing grooves near the end. Each groove can hold one light crossbow bolt, which magically adheres if snapped into place. With a command word, the uppermost bolt can be propelled as if fired from a light crossbow, and, with a twist of the wrist, the baton can be turned so that one of the remaining bolts is now facing upright and is ready to fire. The baton can be used as a light mace as well, but any bolts currently anchored will be dislodged (and likely destroyed) by such activity. The most basic version of this weapon can only propel one bolt per round. Enhanced versions can throw multiple bolts in a round, when wielded by a user who can take advantage of this feature (one with a high enough BAB to have iterative attacks, or one with Rapid Shot training). While having the range and firepower of a regular light crossbow, the bolt-thrower only requires a single hand to operate (either as mace or bolt-thrower).
Commonly, these bolt-throwers are further enhanced with a cantrip-level conjuration effect that allows them to replenish their ammunition with a downward gesture towards the ground. The most basic versions can only create a bolt once per round, in place of attacking, and will run out of ammunition within three rounds (if fully loaded when combat begins) in even the best cases. More expensive versions can generate a bolt once per round as a free action in addition to throwing bolts, and may still run out of ammunition if used with the Rapid Shot feat, or by a user who has a high enough BAB to have multiple attacks in a round.
The most rudimentary versions are mundane, and produce mundane ammunition. More sophisticated designs function as masterwork light maces and / or produce masterwork ammunition, with some specialized designs being made of silver, cold iron or even adamantine, and producing ammunition of that sort. Many of the more expensive versions are also further enhanced magically, and one might expect to see a captain of men wielding a +1 Flaming Silver Bolt-Thrower.
A bulkier model functions as a heavy mace in melee, and requires two hands to use as a missile weapon, due to the weight of its head, but fires bolts with the force of a heavy crossbow (it still only requires one hand to wield in melee combat). Since these weapons preclude the use of a shield, they tend to be made only for specialized 'archer' units that defend castle walls or other fortified positions.
The 'standard issue' Nexian Bolt-Thrower is treated as steel light mace that can throw one bolt per round as a light crossbow for range and damage (but requiring only a single hand to use) or reload one bolt per round, and costs 100 gp (and weighs 4 lbs).
The 'poor mans' Nexian Bolt-Thrower does not generate its own ammunition, and can only throw a single bolt per round, costing only 60 gp.
The 'advanced model' Nexian Bolt-Thrower can throw as many bolts per round as it's user is capable of firing, and also create one reload bolt per round as a free action, and costs 200 gp.
A Masterwork Nexian Bolt-Thrower is treated as both a Masterwork Light Mace and a Masterwork Light Crossbow and costs +300 gp.
The 'standard issue' Nexian Heavy Bolt-Thrower functions as a heavy mace in melee and throws bolts as a heavy crossbow (requiring two hands to use as a ranged weapon), costing 200 gp and weighing 8 lbs. If able to throw multiple bolts per round, add 100 gp to the cost, and if masterwork, add 300 gp to the cost.
Anyone considered proficient in Simple Weapons as a group, or Light Mace and Light Crossbow (or Heavy Mace and Heavy Crossbow, for Heavy Bolt-Throwers) can be treated as proficient in Nexian Bolt-Thrower after a few hours of practice (-2 to attack rolls until this time is spent). The weapons were specifically designed to provide both simple ranged and melee utility, without requiring excessive amounts of specialized training, and using spells no stronger than cantrip-level magics, for economical mass production.
Weapon Focus (bolt-thrower) will give the bonus to both the melee and ranged faculties of the weapon, but will not stack with bonuses from Weapon Focus (light mace) or Weapon Focus (light crossbow), if the user has those.
Assassin's version can have up to three doses of poison placed in the hollow handle, and automatically applies poison (can select from doses available, if there are different types) to bolts created, if desired (no chance of poisoning user). +250 gp.
Another assassin oddity is a concealable bolt-thrower that only produces hand crossbow sized bolts, and appears as an otherwise innocuous item, such as a pipe or wristband.