Campaign Design - Spells: Rune of Seeing

Rune of Seeing (from Relics & Rituals)
Divination

Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 10 minutes or 1 minute (see text)
Range: Touch

Target, Effect, or Area: 1 rune

Duration: 1 hour per caster level

Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

When this spell is cast, the caster etches or traces the outline of a strange and complex rune in charcoal or sulfur paste on the desired surface. When the spell is completed, the rune fades into the surface and becomes nearly invisible.

As a standard action, until the end of the spell, the caster may switch his sensory input between his current surroundings and the area surrounding the rune. Changing his sensory focus to the rune requires a DC 10 Spellcraft check. If successful, the caster views the area where the rune was traced as if he were standing on the rune. The caster can turn 360 degrees in place, and he has full use of all of his senses. Any magical enhancements to his senses remain in effect, including such spells as comprehend languages, darkvision, read magic, see invisibility, and tongues. The caster cannot use any detection magic through the circle, even if it was cast on his person prior to using the circle, nor may he use magic to affect anything he or she sees or overhears through the circle. The caster may be affected by certain sensory-damaging or sensory-influencing spells while he is scrying through the rune. For example, he might be affected by a troglodyte's odor if such a creature were within smelling distance of the rune.

The caster may also cast this spell without placing a new rune. To do so, the caster rolls a Spellcraft check (DC 8 + 1 for each day since he contacted his last rune) and attempts to reestablish a link to the most recent rune of seeing he has placed, provided that rune was a silver etched, permanent rune. A successful check treats the prior rune as if it had just been drawn. A failed check means the spell is wasted and that prior rune can never be re-contacted. The distance from the runes of seeing to the caster is not a factor, and the rune may even be on another place of existence.

This spell may also be used in conjunction with the minor circle of seeing and greater circle of seeing spells.

The casting time of this spell depends on whether the rune is being drawn anew or whether a previously placed, permanent rune is being empowered (see below). Drawing a new rune takes 10 minutes. Empowering a previously placed permanent rune takes one minute.

Magical runes such as this one are hard to detect. When the rune is active, that is when the caster is scrying through it, it becomes a magical sensor. Any creature nearby with an Intelligence of 12 or higher may make a DC 20 Intelligence check to notice the sensor. Detect scrying will also detect an active rune of seeing. A rogue can use his Search skill (DC 27) and Disable Device skill (DC 27) to locate and remove these runes. Runes that are located can be identified with read magic and a successful DC 12 Spellcraft check. A rune of seeing that has been located may be erased or dispelled. If the rune is disabled, erased, or dispelled, the spell ends and such a rune can never be reused in subsequent castings. If this happens, the caster knows that his spell was cancelled in this manner.

Material components: Charcoal of sulfur dust  or paste must be used to draw or trace the rune. To make the rune physically permanent (though not magically permanent) requires 250 shillings worth of silver inlay and requires a DC 8 Craft: Stonework check to carve the intricate patterns of the rune. Failure means all components are lost and the carving must be attempted again.

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