Scribe Profession

Scribe being distracted by the Demon of Typos

The scribe is, of course, incredibly useful for any spell-caster profession to create scrolls and wards, but any class can benefit from learning the first few Ranks. However, since the profession is geared more towards casters, they’re unlikely to benefit from learning Rank 4.

Major Stat: INT or WIS        Minor Stat: none

Apply INT or WIS depending on whether the spell is Arcane or Divine, respectively. If one is creating a forgery or a Ward scroll, only INT should be used.

Rank 1: Requires a desk, sheets of paper, vellum, parchment, quill, inks. 50gp initially.

• At Rank 1, choose to also specialize in Forgery or in Wards.
• Can create illuminated texts at a rate of 1 page / day without a skill check.
• Forgery: Make a skill check to create a forgery of a simple document. Requires materials equal to 200gp divided by level. The DM will decide how much time is required to create the forgery, but it must take at least one day of effort. Failure means that the forgery is immediately discovered by anyone who examines it.
• Examples include a letter from someone with mild importance, a writ of passage from a minor noble from a very distant location, or a fake item that would normally be worth the base value above (200gp).
• Wards: Make a skill check to create a Scroll of Protection Against Evil. Failure means that, once cast, the spell fails automatically.

Rank 2:

• Make a skill check to create magical scrolls based on 1st level spells. The Scribe must be able to cast the spell. Failure means that the time and money spent are wasted.
• Forgery: Make a skill check to create a forgery of a more complex document. Requires materials worth 500gp divided by level. Examples include a licence to practice magic, a letter from someone of significant authority, or a fake item worth as much as the base value above (500gp).
• Make a skill check to create a message that will appear to be something else, but will only become visible to the recipient.
• Wards: Make a skill check to create a Ward Against Undead, a Ward Against Lycanthropes, and a Ward Against Elementals.
• Creating a Scroll of Protection from Evil does not require a skill check.

Rank 3:

• Make a skill check to create magical scrolls based on any spell he can cast.
• Can create scrolls of 3rd level or lower without a skill check.
• Forgery: Make a skill check to create a forgery of a complex nature. Requires materials worth 2000gp divided by level. Examples include a pardon written by another city’s magistrate, a letter written by a high nobleman, or a fake item normally worth the base value above (2000gp).
• If the Scribe is a caster capable of casting Illusion spells, all those trying to disbelieve one of his illusions does so at a -2.
• Ward: Make a skill check to create any Ward Scroll. In addition, a Ward Against Demons and a Ward Against Devils can be created.

Rank 4:

• Can create magical scrolls with no skill check at a 25% discount to time and money required.
• Make a skill check to create a scroll case that will protect your scrolls from harm for 2000gp and 1 week of creation time.
• Forgery: Make a skill check to create a forgery of a very complex nature. Requires materials worth 5000gp divided by level. Examples include a royal pardon, a letter written by someone of legendary fame, or a fake item normally worth the base value above (5000gp).
• If the Scribe is a caster capable of casting Illusion spells, all those trying to disbelieve one of his illusions does so at a -4.
• Wards: Can create Rank 2 Wards with no skill check. All Wards are created at a 25% discount to time and money required.
• If the Scribe is a caster, he can prepare a Ward in any spell slot (during his spell-preparation) and cast it without retrieving the scroll, though it is used up as normal.