clasp on the side, and they will come with a matching key. If Detect Magic is utilized, the books and key will radiate Alteration, Divination, Conjuration, and Summoning. If Identified, the caster may discover that the books are 90% resistant to Fire, Electricity, Cold, and Acid. Also, the key, which is attached to a gold chain, will grant a +1 bonus to all saves when worn around the neck, provided at least one spell has been entered into the books. The DM may rule that as a Cursed item, nothing else may be discovered. If preferred, more of the item’s properties may be discovered by making a Saving Throw vs. Magic, or, an ego check vs. a lvl 16 MU with the same stats as the character, but, adjusted for age at the DM’s discretion.If the character opts to use the spellbooks, the following will occur. If the character is evil, there will be no further effect, there being no way for the item’s other properties to activate. If the MU is good or neutral, then, when next the MU gains a level, any unused slots in his Maximum Number of Spells bank will be filled and recorded in the book, up to and including those gained by his level increase. It will not be necessary to check his Chance to Know these spells, it will be as if the character already made the check (he did.) Furthermore, as long as he is using the book, he will always be able to Know the maximum number of spells possible. The spells which appear in the book (to be chosen by the DM) will contain some of the usual, popular choices, as well as some utility spells and one or two (more if many slots are available) of a dark, or evil nature. This phenomenon will occur whenever the MU gains a level. Furthermore, entries will begin appearing in the books, written in the Character’s hand, detailing and discussing various things related to magical research, including some of the darker aspects of the art.
At any time, the MU may rid himself of the books, by availing himself of Remove Curse and similar methods. If he does so, the spells known slots which were filled will be emptied, save for in any cases where the MU memorized the spell. All other phenomenon associated with the books will cease. Otherwise…
The second time the MU gains a level with the books in his possession, in addition to the other phenomenon, he will experience the following:
1. A higher percentage of evil spells will begin appearing. Necromancy,
conjuration/summoning spells, bindings, etc. The research and notes appearing will take an even darker turn.2. A strange Augury like experience will assail him up to once a day, wherein the MU will know the result of an action he could take. This will only be in cases where such an action would be advantageous.
3. The MU will begin sensing the presence of another consciousness when using the book. Once per week the MU may Commune with this other consciousness, per the spell. It will have the knowledge and experience of a 16th to 18th lvl MU. The other awareness will not answer any questions regarding its origin, identity, or the books. It will promise a great destiny, wealth and power, and give useful advice to this end. There is a 1% cumulative chance that instead of the normal Commune, the MU will suddenly be assailed by a feeling of dread, and a desire to destroy the Spellbooks; this feeling will seem to come from both himself and the other awareness, and the MU may make an Ego check vs. his own stats and level, with a 5% bonus added for each time the dreadful experience has previously occurred. If successful, the MU will instantly know the nature of the books and the awareness he has been communicating with.
After a third level has been gained, if the MU still has not rid himself of the item and has not changed his alignment to evil, he will find himself assailed by situation after situation, where acting in an evil fashion will produce very personally beneficial results. (He is being influenced at other than conscious levels and that it what is leading him into such situations.) If he is still trying to hold onto a good alignment, the situations will tend to be ones where “the ends justify the means,” could easily come into play. Images and Dreams of attaining great wealth and power will assail him constantly. Furthermore, the following will occur:
1. The new spells appearing will be of the sort a truly evil magician would prefer and choose. The notes will begin giving formulae for Lichdom, true names of demons, and similar details.
2. The Augury sensation will continue, but it will only suggest and show forth results of decidedly evil actions, unless the MU has become evil, in which case, the augury will function as above.
If the MU still retains the books, this phenomenon will continue until he reaches 12th level. At this point, he is stuck with the spells known, regardless of what he does with the books. He will also gain enough experience with magic-use, and the other awareness, to realize what has happened. The other awareness is an evil
variant of himself, a consciousness whose origin lies in a parallel dimension, one possible version of the MU amongst many. He has slowly been becoming this version of himself (if he still has the books at this point, he’s going to be doing some nasty things with the spells in his head.) The auguries will still be useful, the commune less so, as he now has much of the knowledge and experience his future self was sharing. The process will continue until the MU reaches 16th level, at which point it will cease, as he has attained his destiny and become that evil manifestation of himself. He will learn spells as normal; the spellbooks will still retain their resistance and the key will still provide the +1 bonus to saves.
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