An enigmatic spell scroll is a mysterious and powerful object in the world of magic. These scrolls hold ancient and arcane spells that have been passed down through generations. They are often written in cryptic and symbolic languages, making them difficult to decipher and understand. The main characteristic of an enigmatic spell scroll is its aura of secrecy and mystique. They have a certain allure that draws both seasoned spellcasters and curious individuals alike. The allure lies in the potential hidden within these scrolls – the promise of uncovering hidden knowledge and unlocking extraordinary magical abilities.
The two free spells must be of levels the wizard can cast. If she has chosen to specialize in a school of magic, one of the two free spells must the from the wizard's specialty school.
If the caster was not the intended recipient, the spell goes off in the general direction of the original recipient or target, up to the spell s maximum range, if the target has moved away. You may need to spend some extra time balancing encounters and coming up with fresh challenges that account for the party s extra spellcasting abilities.
The allure lies in the potential hidden within these scrolls – the promise of uncovering hidden knowledge and unlocking extraordinary magical abilities. However, unlocking the power of an enigmatic spell scroll is no easy feat. It requires deep knowledge of magic, linguistic expertise, and an understanding of the underlying symbols and meanings.
Scrolls & Spellbooks
A scroll is a spell (or collection of spells) that has been stored in written form. A spell on a scroll can be used only once. The writing vanishes from the scroll when the spell is activated. Using a scroll is basically like casting a spell.
Physical Description: A scroll is a heavy sheet of fine vellum or high-quality paper roughly the size of a piece of modern notepaper (about 8 1/2 inches wide and 11 inches long), which is sufficient to hold one spell. The sheet is reinforced at the top and bottom with strips of leather slightly longer than the sheet is wide. A scroll holding more than one spell has the same width (about 8 1/2 inches) but is an extra foot or so long for each extra spell. Scrolls that hold three or more spells are usually fitted with reinforcing rods at each end rather than simple strips of leather. A scroll has an AC of 9, 1 hit point, a hardness of 0, and a break DC of 8.
To protect the scroll from wrinkling or tearing, the scroll is rolled up from both ends to form a double cylinder. (This also helps the user unroll the scroll quickly.) The scroll is placed in a tube of ivory, jade, leather, metal, or wood. Most scroll cases are inscribed with magic symbols (see the arcane mark spell and Arcane Magical Writings), which often identify the owner or the spells stored on the scrolls inside. The symbols often hide magic traps such as glyph of warding or fire trap spells.
Activation: To activate a scroll, a spellcaster must read the spell written on it. Doing so involves several steps and conditions.
Decipher the Writing: The writing on a scroll must he deciphered before a character can use it or know exactly what spell it contains. This requires a read magic spell or a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + spell level).
Deciphering a scroll to determine its contents does not activate its magic unless it is a specially prepared cursed scroll. A character can decipher the writing on a scroll in advance so that he or she can proceed directly to the next step when the time comes to use the scroll.
Activate the Spell: Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the writing on the scroll.
Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the scroll.) Note that some spells are effective only when cast on an item or items (for example, Drawmij's instant summons and snare). In such a case, the scroll user must provide the item when activating the spell. Activating a scroll spell is subject to disruption just as casting a normally prepared spell would be.
To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the caster must meet the following requirements:
- The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) cannot cast divine spells from a scroll, nor can divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) cast arcane spells in this manner. (The type of scroll a character creates is determined by his or her class. For example, clerics create scrolls of divine spells, wizards create scrolls of arcane spells, and so forth.)
- The user must have the spell on his or her class list (see Chapter 11: Spells in the Players Handbook for which classes can cast which spells).
- The user must have the requisite ability score (for example, Intelligence 15 for a wizard casting a 5th-level spell).
If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell's caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell's caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll's caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully. If she fails, she must make a Wisdom check (DC 5) to avoid a mishap (see Scroll Mishaps, below). A natural roll of 1 always fails, whatever the modifiers.
Determine Effect: A spell successfully activated from a scroll works exactly like a spell prepared and cast the normal way. Assume the scroll spell's caster level is always the minimum level required to cast the spell for the character who scribed the scroll (usually twice the spell's level, minus 1), unless the caster specifically desires otherwise. For example, a 10th-level cleric might want to create a cure critical wounds scroll at caster level 10 rather than the minimum for the spell (caster level 7), in order to get more benefit from the scroll spell. (This scroll would, however, be more costly to scribe.)
The writing for an activated spell disappears from the scroll.
Scroll Mishaps: In a mishap, the spell on the scroll has a reversed or harmful effect. The DM determines what sort of mishap occurs, with a surge of uncontrolled magic energy that deals 1d6 points of per spell level being the default. The DM can use the default, decide what happens, or select an effect from the following list:
- Spell strikes the caster or an ally instead of the intended target, or a random target nearby if the caster was the intended recipient.
- Spell takes effect at some random location within spell range.
- Spell's effect on the target is contrary to the spell's normal effect. For example, a fireball might produce a blast of non-damaging cold or release a burst of healing energy.
- The caster suffers some minor but bizarre effect related to the spell in some way. For example, a fireball might cause smoke to pour from the caster's ears, a fly spell might turn the caster's arms into nonfunctional wings, or a clairaudience/clairvoyance spell might cause the caster's eyes and ears to grow to ten times their normal size. Most such effects should last only as long as the original spell's duration, or 2d10 minutes for instantaneous spells.
- Some innocuous item or items appear in the spell's area. For example, a fireball might cause a rain of lit torches to fall in the target area; a feather fall spell might produce a cloud of feathers; a passwall spell might cause a (nonfunctional) door to appear.
- Spell has delayed effect. Within the next 1d12 hours, the spell activates. If the caster was the intended recipient, the spell takes effect normally. If the caster was not the intended recipient, the spell goes off in the general direction of the original recipient or target, up to the spell's maximum range, if the target has moved away.
Many have tried and failed to unravel the secrets held within these scrolls, leading to frustration and disappointment. Yet, those who persevere and devote themselves to the study of these scrolls often find themselves rewarded with profound insights and extraordinary abilities. The enigmatic spell scroll becomes a key to unlocking a world of possibilities and unleashing untapped magical potential. The journey of unraveling an enigmatic spell scroll is not merely a quest for power, but also a test of character and dedication. It requires patience, discipline, and an unwavering curiosity. As the scroll reveals its secrets, the spellcaster is transformed, gaining wisdom and humility. In the end, an enigmatic spell scroll transcends its physical form and becomes a metaphor for the mysteries of life and the pursuit of knowledge. It reminds us that there is always more to discover and comprehend, and that the journey itself is as valuable as the destination. Whether one is a novice or an experienced spellcaster, an encounter with an enigmatic spell scroll is a reminder of the vastness and beauty of the magical world. It beckons us to dive deeper into the realms of magic and to embrace the unknown..
Reviews for "Archaic Spells Revived: Rediscovering the Enigmatic Spell Scroll"
1. Jane - 1 star - I was really disappointed with the "Enigmatic spell scroll". The description made it sound like it contained mystical and powerful spells, but when I opened it, it was just a bunch of random words and symbols. I couldn't make any sense of it at all. It was extremely misleading and a waste of money. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for actual spells.
2. Michael - 2 stars - I was intrigued by the concept of the "Enigmatic spell scroll", but it fell short of my expectations. The scroll was beautifully crafted and had an air of mystique about it, but the content inside was just gibberish. I was hoping for some sort of ancient incantations or magical rituals, but all I got was a jumble of meaningless symbols. It was more of a decoration piece than a functional spell scroll.
3. Emily - 1 star - The "Enigmatic spell scroll" was a complete letdown. I was excited to try out the spells and see the results, but there were no instructions or explanations provided. The scroll was filled with symbols and drawings that made no sense to me. I felt like I wasted my money on something that was supposed to be magical and transformative, but turned out to be nothing but an incomprehensible piece of parchment. Save your money and look for a better spell scroll with actual instructions.
4. David - 2 stars - I'll be honest, I didn't understand a thing about the "Enigmatic spell scroll". It looked intriguing and mystical, but when I tried to decipher the symbols, it was like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. There was no guidance or explanation to help me unlock the meaning behind the symbols. It was frustrating and made me question if this was just a creative hoax. I wanted to believe in the power of the scroll, but it left me feeling confused and disappointed.
5. Sarah - 1 star - The "Enigmatic spell scroll" was a total waste of money. I couldn't make any sense of the nonsensical symbols on the scroll. It was infuriating to spend my hard-earned cash on a mystical parchment that turned out to be nothing more than a fancy art piece. I don't recommend it to anyone who is actually looking for real spells with instructions and understandable content. Don't be fooled by its enticing appearance.