The scroll took force damage, so I'd expect there to be a lot of tiny bits of scroll all over the place, writing intact. Mending should be enough provided that you still have all of the pieces. It wouldn't restore any missing parts, though. You might be better off with several hours and some adhesive.
Mu.
If such obfuscation works (as in, make whole cannot restore the hidden message), then a BBEG might use this technique. If simple repair spells can restore the original message, then BBEG would not use this technique.
Thus the usage of the method guides us in knowing if it works. A DM who includes it in their adventure has decided it works to make communications safe... or has a BBEG deliberately seeding false information... or has not thought out the consequences of low-level magic (and the game is doomed).
Pathfinder 1st edition fiddly rule question....
Hello hivemind, I have a question for how different DM's would approach a situation.
Scenario- BBEG is sending a note with sensitive information back and forth with someone, BBEG protects information on scroll by writing explosive runes on one side so if anyone intercepts and reads it the message is destroyed. PC's kill BBEG take scroll and read it, runes detonate and scroll is completely destroyed. Now if a player tried to cast make whole in this situation, would it work?
My stumbling blocks...
1. There doesn't seem to be a defined "destroyed" condition like there is for broken.
The object on which the explosive runes were written also takes full damage (no saving throw).
It does not "destroy", but only does "damage". The damage is tagged as "force" damage. This does not change the nature of the object other than to rip it apart. It is not burned or chemically altered by acid.
2. The make whole spell does say it can be used on destroyed "magic items", now it doesn't say it can work on destroyed non-magic items but I could see how you could assume that if it works for magic, then it would work for more easily repaired non-magical items.
Make whole can fix destroyed magic items (at 0 hit points or less), and restores the magic properties of the item if your caster level is at least twice that of the item. Items with charges (such as wands) and single-use items (such as potions and ) cannot be repaired in this way.
While this spell can restore the paper into a scroll form, with writing, it explicitly states scrolls do not have their magic properties restored. If this was some form of "eternal" scroll that allowed use 1/day, then it would restore the proprieties subject to your CL.
Note that Greater Make Whole lacks this text, and has a lower needed CL for restoration. In my opinion, GMW should work.If the BBEG does not have to worry about GMW, then it is a viable way for secets to be kept.
3. HOWEVER under the damaging objects section of the SRD it says " Damaged (but not destroyed) objects can be repaired with the Craft skill and a number of spells. (eg. make whole or mending) " where it implies that destroyed items cannot be fixed with those spells
The spells referenced above define "destroyed" as "at 0 hit points or less".
A damaged object remains functional with the broken condition until the item’s hit points are reduced to 0, at which point it is destroyed.
Damaged (but not destroyed) objects can be repaired with the Craft skill and a number of spells. (eg. make whole or mending)
This repeats the definition of "destroyed".
The implication of the spells not working on a "destroyed" object is not there. The craft skill cannot repair a "destroyed" object. The spells explicitly call out that they can.4. Would there be enough remnants of the scroll to even target with a spell like make whole? (the piece of paper took 26 points of damage)
Up to the GM.
5.
So what are everyone's thoughts?Wierdthought, if it does work and you did repair the scroll, would it still have writing on it?
As per the spells, it should have writing, but may or may not have magic.
/cevah