Extremely rare and valuable, grimoires are an adept's greatest treasure. With them they can study and learn spells in addition to the ones they already possess. They are usually written on fine parchment and encased in well-sealed scroll cases or well-bound books. Often, these are of fine quality and inlaid with gems or cloisonné, and are treasures in themselves even after the spells within them are exhausted. They are so constructed because they are usually gifts from one magician to another, or from a teacher to a student.
They may, however, be written on anything and with any type of ink, as long as the spells are written with the proper magical intention. Usually, a magician does not achieve the strength necessary to scribe down spells until they reach the equivalent of about rank 6 in their art.
Spells must be scribed while in the state of mind required for casting the spell, and written in the particular magical language necessary for the type of spell. By reading the spell's description, reagents, and effects, the adept is infusing their mind and memory with the feeling required to collect, harness, and focus the specific energies required.
When the spell is read by a magician who is in the proper receiving mindset, the thoughts in the paper are actually transferred to their mind, leaving the spell within the grimoire empty. Thus, each spell can be learned but once. After that, the inscription is considered "dry", and will be nothing more than unidentifiable references which were once infused with meaning. For instance, the spell for Alter Form translates roughly into Caradorian in its eighteenth line --
Rising towers linger, soft winds, soils turned by the sliding movements of worms. Roundish of sorts, with a heat pulsing out in cool rolls. Ever clear is the vision of Trolls, sight without end, turning leaves in the breeze.
These words, of course, are combined with potent feelings which give them relevancy and instill in the reader the feeling necessary for casting the spell.
If a grimoire is found, first roll for the Type-
Roll a 1d20-
1-15 Magical ScrollIf Type is Scroll, Personal, or Study, first find the Order --
1-9 Substance 10-19 Invocative 20 CeremonialThen find the Discipline-
If Substance or Invocative, 1-2 Necromantic, 3-7 Trans, 8-12 Conj., 13-14 Enchantment, 15-17 Elemental, 18-19 Illusion, 20 Divination (Invocative only).
If Ceremonial, 1-10 is Deity, 11-17 is Summoning, and 18-20 is Ritualistic.
Roll 1d6 for number of rituals and go to Spell Number Chart below to determine which spells.
Now, if it is a Scroll, there is but a single spell. If Substance, you will need to determine the Degree -- 1-3 is 1st, 4-5 is 2nd, 6 is 3rd.
Then consult the Spell Number Chart below.
If it is a Personal, roll a 1d10 to determine the number of viable spells. For the first spell, roll as for a Scroll, and then roll a 1d10. If you roll 8 or 9, roll for a different Discipline for the next spell. If 10, roll for a different Order for the next spell. Stay with the same Order and Discipline for each new spell unless 8, 9, or 10 is rolled.
If the spells are Substance and you roll 6 or 7, roll for a different Degree.
Consult the Spell Number Chart to determine which spells are found inside.
If it is a Study Grimoire, roll to get Order and Discipline, and all spells of that type are in the Grimoire. Now figure out how many are viable. Roll a 1d20. 1, all viable. 2-6, 1d6 are not viable. 7-11, 1d10 are not viable. 12-19, 1d20 are not viable. 20, none are viable. Then consult the Spell Number Chart below to determine which spells are there.
Finally, if the Grimoire is an Arcane Grimoire, roll a 1d100.
This chart has each Discipline listed, and the number of spells in each one. To select a spell, simply determine a random number within the given range and turn to the spell listings under specific Disciplines. Then count up to your number. For Substance listings, each Degree is listed separately with the number of spells in each listed across from it.