Fiendish Spellbooks
As a new type of article for Obscure Arcana, we’re going to expand your arcane library with some exciting new spellbooks. While it’s always handy to have a few generic collections of spells lying around when handing out loot, these spellbooks come with the full package, including new preparation rituals and other special properties. Today’s collection of books focuses on spellbooks associated with three lower-planar races.
LIBER TENEBRIS DESIDERIIS
Despite its very slim spine and conveniently small size, this book seems to contain nearly two entire spellbooks’ worth of pages. The spells are written in a clear, easily read hand, and there are large images every few pages depicting a spell’s effects. For some inexplicable reason, the book is always slightly warm to the touch.
Value 11,510 gp (11,760 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—imprisonment, wish
8th—demand, greater planar binding, maze
7th—crime waveUI, limited wish, simulacrum
6th—geas/quest, legend lore, mass suggestion, planar binding, unwilling shield, vengeful outrageUM
5th—contact other plane, damnation strideARG, dominate person, lesser planar binding, vile dog transformationHA
4th—complex hallucinationUI, dimensional anchor, eyes of the voidACG, greater infernal healingISWG, lesser geas
3rd—magic circle against law, secret page, suggestion, tongues, vision of hellUM
2nd—create treasure mapAPG, darkness, darkvision, detect thoughts, misdirection, euphoric cloudACG, unnatural lustAPG
1st—charm person, infernal healingISWG, interrogationUM, obscure poisonUI, protection from law, youthful appearanceUM
PREPARATION RITUAL
Infernal Charm (Su): When you make a Bluff or Diplomacy skill check, or an opposed Charisma check, you can gain a +4 bonus on that check.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Corrupted Magic (Su): Some spells included in this book are copied incorrectly, and designed to cause complacent spellcasters to accidentally summon devils when they did not intend to. For each spell contained in the book, there is a 5% chance that it is corrupted, and if that spell is ever prepared from this spellbook and cast, the spell will not have the intended effect, but instead summon a random devil of the GM’s choice whose CR is no greater than twice the spell’s level, which is free to act as it pleases and remains indefinitely. A successful Spellcraft check (DC 20 + twice the spell’s level) identifies the nature of the spell. Versions of the book that have been confirmed not to have any corrupted spells cost twice as much as what is listed here.
Devil Summoning Specialty (Su): In addition to the spells listed above, this book contains special versions of summon monster I –IX. These spells can be used to summon any creature with the devil subtype whose CR is less than or equal to 1.5 times the spell’s spell level, but cannot be used to summon any other type of creature.
MANUALS OF CORRUPTION AND DESTRUCTION
This two-volume set of books is bound in red leather, with dull leaden fastenings. The first book in the set, the manual of corruption, features an image on the cover of a putrid corpse decomposing in a blasted hellscape, while the other book, the manual of destruction, shows an image of an angel being disintegrated in a fiery explosion.
Protection superior lock (DC 40), explosive runes (Reflex DC 16) and fire trap (Reflex DC 17)
Opposition Schools enchantment, illusion
Value 19,400 gp (20,200 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—massacreHA, tsunamiAPG
8th—death clutchHA, greater planar binding, supreme curse terrainHA, wall of lavaAPG
7th—caustic eruptionUM, scouring windsUM, waves of exhaustion
6th—beast shape IV, chain lightning, eyebite, greater curse terrainHA, planar binding, transformation
5th—acidic sprayUM, beast shape III, blight, fire snakeAPG, hungry earthMC, lesser planar binding, mass pain strikeAPG
4th—acid pitAPG, beast shape II, contagion, curse terrainHA, fire shield, hunger for fleshHA, wall of fire
3rd—beast shape I, fireball, howling agonyUM, nauseating trailACG, pain strikeAPG, twilight knifeAPG
2nd—blood blazeARG, bloodbathHA, burning gazeAPG, disfiguring touchUM, fiery shurikenUC, lesser curse terrainHA
1st—burning hands, corrosive touchUM, gravity bowAPG, true strike
PREPARATION RITUAL
Festering Wound (Su): When you successfully deal damage to a creature with a spell, as a swift action, you can cause the wounds inflicted by the spell to fester and rot. The damage cannot be healed normally, and can be healed magically only if the caster succeeds on a caster level check (DC = 11 + your caster level).
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Demon Summoning Specialty (Su): In addition to the spells listed above, this book contains special versions of summon monster I –IX. These spells can be used to summon any creature with the demon subtype whose CR is less than or equal to 1.5 times the spell’s spell level, but cannot be used to summon any other type of creature.
THE BOOK OF ENDINGS
This oversized book, just over twice the size of a normal spellbook, is bound in leather made from human skin that has been scorched and burned until it is coal-black. The cover of the book is made from the unfortunate donor’s face, though the eyes, lips, and nostrils have all been sewn together. A red silk bookmark is attached to the interior of the spine, with a miniature golden skull dangling from the end.
Protection Good lock (DC 30) and a symbol of death (Fortitude DC 22) on the 13th page of the book.
Opposition Schools abjuration, divination
Value 19,480 gp (21,010 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—mass suffocationAPG, power word kill
8th—greater planar binding, horrid wilting, prediction of failureAPG, trap the soul
7th—epidemicUM, finger of death, insanity, power word blind
6th— circle of death, cruel jauntHA, decapitateHA, disintegrate, phobiaHA, planar binding
5th—charnel houseHA, cloudkill, lesser planar binding, pessimismHA, sloughHA, suffocationAPG
4th—bestow curse, crushing despair, dreadscapeHA, enervation, fleshworm infestationUM, phantasmal killer
3rd— deep slumber, healing thiefUM, locate weaknessUC, sands of timeUM, slow, vampiric touch
2nd—blindness/deafness, boneshakerHA, haunting mistsUM, shatter, spontaneous immolationUC, touch of idiocy
1st—chill touch, erase, ray of enfeeblement, shadow weaponUM, touch of gracelessnessAPG, wizened appearanceUI
PREPARATION RITUAL
Lasting Death (Su): When you successfully slay a creature with a spell that has the death descriptor, as a swift action, you can attempt to destroy the creature’s soul utterly, preventing it from moving on to the afterlife or being resurrected. The creature must succeed on a Will save (DC equal to the spell’s saving throw DC), or its soul is destroyed. A destroyed soul can be returned to existence with a wish or miracle spell.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Daemon Summoning Specialty (Su): In addition to the spells listed above, this book contains special versions of summon monster I –IX. These spells can be used to summon any creature with the daemon subtype whose CR is less than or equal to 1.5 times the spell’s spell level, but cannot be used to summon any other type of creature.