Elemental Spellbooks
While, personally, I find maintaining large volumes of spells a huge hassle, spellbooks are important to both the flavor and the function of any game involving wizards. Going beyond a simple collection of spells, this week’s new spellbooks offer incredible power, flavorful descriptions, special preparation rituals, and unique properties which make these elementally-themed spellbooks something truly special. Slip these into your game as treasure, or use them as inspiration to create your own unique spellbooks, and you will be sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.
AQUIS ARCANIS
This ancient blue tome is encrusted with barnacles and held shut with brass chains. Though it appears soaked with water, the pages, made from dried seaweed, remain intact and the ink remains legible. In addition to containing the complex arcane formulae for various water-themed spells, the book contains annotations in Aquan concerning ways to use water to improve spellcasting.
Value 11,000 gp (12,000 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—tsunami (APG)
8th—polar ray, seamantle (APG)
7th—ice body (UM), plane shift, vortex (APG)
6th—control water, fluid form (APG), freezing sphere
5th—cone of cold, geyser (APG), icy prison (UM)
4th—solid fog, wall of ice
3rd—aqueous orb (APG), water breathing
2nd—ice slick (MC), slipstream (APG)
1st—icicle dagger (UM), touch of the sea (APG), wave shield (ACG)
PREPARATION RITUAL
Flow Like Water (Ex): You gain a +2 bonus on all concentration checks. Further, you do not need to make concentration checks in order to cast spells prepared from this book while underwater.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Aquatic Affinity (Su): The spells in this spellbook were designed to function on the Plane of Water and utilize the waves as part of their secret components. While above water, in order to cast a spell prepared from this spellbook, the spell must first be decoded. A successful Spellcraft check with a DC equal to 10 + twice the level of the spell is required to decode the spell. Once the spell has been decoded, it can safely be cast above water. Attempting to cast an undecoded spell from the book is difficult and has a 50% chance of failing.
Ocean Spells (Su): Any spells prepared from this book have their caster level increased by +1 if cast by a spellcaster who is currently at least halfway submerged in water.
INFERNUM
This short, heavily charred spellbook smells of freshly burning paper and is uncomfortably warm to the touch. Each page is heavily blackened and illegible, unless held by a character capable of preparing a spell from that page. For such a character, instructions on how to prepare and cast the spell bloom in a deep crimson light which flashes across the charred pages.
Value 10,790 gp (11,790 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—meteor swarm
8th—incendiary cloud, wall of lava (APG)
7th—delayed blast fireball, firebrand (APG), plane shift
6th—chains of fire (ARG), form of the dragon I
5th—fire snake (APG), shadow evocation
4th— fire shield, firefall (APG), pyrotechnic eruption (HA), wall of fire
3rd—ash storm (UM), fireball, firestream (ARG), flame arrow
2nd—flaming sphere, scorching ray
PREPARATION RITUAL
Fire Power (Su): Whenever you cast a spell that deals hit point damage, that spell deals an additional 1 point of fire damage per spell level to each of its targets.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Uncontrolled Power (Su): The magic of this book is eager to destroy and consume anything in its path. Whenever you cast a spell with an area that you prepared from this spellbook, if the spell’s area could be changed so that it would include more creatures (while staying within the spell’s range), then when the spell is cast, there is a 5% chance that the placement of the spell’s area is changed so that it includes the maximum number of creatures.
Explosive Spell Power (Su): The spells in this book are designed to be as destructive as possible, and they elicit greater power as they deal more damage. Whenever you prepare a spell from this book that deals damage, for each creature beyond the first that is included in the spell’s area at the time it is cast, the spell’s caster level is increased by 1.
TERRAN TOME
This deep green heavy leather-bound tome contains well over 1,000 pages ,but is bogged down with secret algorithms and complex illustrations and drawings. The runic language is full of plodding poetry and commentary on appropriate use of the powerful spells contained within. In all, the number of pages containing actual spells are equal to that in a typical spellbook, though finding that information can be a time-consuming process.
Value 11,060 gp (13,060 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—clashing rocks (APG)
8th—iron body, protection from spells
7th— grasping hand, statue, plane shift
6th—move earth, stone to flesh, wall of iron
5th—transmute mud to rock, transmute rock to mud, wall of stone
4th—earth glide (ARG), stone shape
3rd—earth tremor (UW), heart of the metal (ACG), shifting sand (APG)
2nd—mud buddy (MC)
1st—mudballARG, stone shield (ARG)
PREPARATION RITUAL
Earth Power: Whenever you cast a spell prepared from this spellbook, you gain a +2 natural armor bonus to AC for a number of rounds equal to twice the spell’s level.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Natural Harmony (Su): Each spell recorded in this tome has a special significance and a harmonic resonance with the other spells. Whenever you prepare spells, if all the spells you prepare are from this book, you gain a +2 bonus to your caster level until the next time you prepare spells. If you prepare a spell from this book and a spell from one or more other sources, your caster level is reduced by 1 until the next time you prepare spells.
ZEPHYR
This collection of sacred scrolls forms a single spellbook. Each scroll is made of the finest silk and contains stylish writings on magical principles relating to the Plane of Air. Spells of wind and lightning fill the pages, written in an elegant hand.
Value 9,880 gp (11,880 gp with the preparation ritual)
SPELLS
9th—winds of vengeance (APG)
8th—screen, storm bolts (APG)
7th—control weather, scouring winds (UM), plane shift
6th—path of the winds (ARG), sirocco (APG)
5th—fickle winds (UM), overland flight, suffocation (APG)
4th—cloud shape (ARG), river of wind (APG), tailwind (UW)
3rd—air geyser (ACG), cloak of winds (APG), fly, wind wall
2nd—gust of wind
1st—gentle breeze (ACG)
PREPARATION RITUAL
Concealing Winds (Su): Whenever you cast a spell from this book, you gain concealment for a number of rounds equal to the spell’s level.
SPECIAL PROPERTIES
Air power (Su): You gain a +1 bonus to your caster level as long as both you and the target of the spell (if any) are not touching the ground.