Spell scrolls
- For information about Song Scrolls, see here.
Spell Scrolls are items found in the treasure system or sold in magic stores such as the one on Ratha. They contain a spell that may be learned either permanently (STUDY) or temporarily (INVOKE). Scrolls from the treasure system are found in varying states of disrepair, with more decrepit scrolls being harder to learn. One's arcana skill affects the success of being able to read the scroll and INVOKE it. You generally need around 100 ranks in Arcana to be able to invoke a scroll, although boosts to Arcana such as Constellation Jewelry can aid in invoking.
IC Lore
The spells are stored as both written notation on the mental contortions necessary to shape it and as technical drawings of the spell pattern. In addition, the scrolls themselves are magical items that act to confer a measure of understanding that would otherwise be impossible through purely mundane script, which is not only why the scroll will become ash eventually, but also why a level of attunement is required to maintain the spell.[1]
Scroll Appearance
Illustrations of complex, three-dimensional shapes cover much of the parchment, which you immediately recognize as a spell pattern taken from different angles and cross-sections. Esoteric words are written in the margins and label the diagrams, but their meanings are not immediately obvious. or Familiar words are written in the margins and label the diagrams, immediately identifying this as a <your mana> pattern.
Use
Look/Read
A magic user can tell by looking at a scroll if it belongs to their mana type. Anyone can read a scroll's title and spell description if they have enough arcana skill.
Study
A magic user can permanently learn a spell by STUDYing it if the caster meets all of the below criteria:
- You have an empty spell slot.
- The spell falls within one of the guild-sanctioned spellbooks (i.e. the ones your Guildleader will tell you about) even if the spell itself does not.
- You have enough TDPs (generally 65 for lower-tier spells and 125 for more complex ones) if the spell is not taught by your Guild. There is no TDP cost if it's something you could learn from a Guildleader or if is an Analogous Pattern spell.
While Teleologic Sorcery is not sanctioned by the Moon Mage Guild, Moon Mages are able to permanently learn Teleologic spells. It has been promised for many years that Warrior Mages will eventually be able to memorize Blackfire Sorcery spells in a similar manner, but has yet to come about.
Invoke
A magic user can temporarily learn a spell by using INVOKE if either:
- The spell is first tier (has no other spell requirements) or,
- You have permanently learned all of the required spells. IE: Invoking a Fire Shard scroll will not make it possible to then invoke a Fire Ball scroll.
Bards ignore the above requirements and can temporarily INVOKE almost any spell scroll. They still can't learn any spells that are considered exclusive to a guild.
Moon Mages can also cast Unleash at most scrolls to prepare a single cast of the spell on it at minimum mana. They will have to use cambrinth or held mana to increase the strength of the cast. There is a chance that the scroll will be destroyed in the process. They are unable to Unleash spells that are considered exclusive to a guild.
Spells
The material that a scroll is made of will affect its difficulty. From hardest to easiest they are:
- hhr'lav'geluhh bark
- smudged parchment
- tattered papyrus
- wax tablet
- faded vellum
- moldering scroll
- tattered scroll
- yellowed scroll
- clay tablet
- papyrus roll
- fine scroll
- illuminated scroll
- ostracon
- seishaka leaf
A list of scroll-exclusive spells may be found here. The rarity of spells dropping is:
- Ultra Rare: Limb Disruption, Venom (spell) and Incinerate
- Rare: Mana Disruption, Shadow Web and Ethereal Shield
- Uncommon: Energy Manacles, Huldah's Pall, Darkness and Manifest Force
- Common: Seal of Deflection, Shape Moonblade, Tenebrous Sense, Sever Thread, Vigil, Glythtide's Gift, Bitter Feast, Compost, Air Bubble, and Strange Arrow