Candle of Invocation question - No, it is not about 'gate'

[Simkiria]

Hi there,

me and my fellow adventurers are midway through the Kingmaker campaign and have defeated one of the baddies. This brought us quite a large amount of gold that we are now able to spend, around 20K for each charakter.

I play a neutral priest of Abadar and wondered how to spend the loot. I looked up the wondrous items in came aross the Candle of Invocation.

Each of these special tapers is dedicated to one of the nine alignments. Simply burning the candle generates a favorable aura for the individual if the candle's alignment matches that of the character. Characters of the same alignment as the burning candle add a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks while within 30 feet of the flame.

A cleric whose alignment matches the candle's operates as if two levels higher for purposes of determining spells per day if he burns the candle during or just prior to his spell preparation time. He can even cast spells normally unavailable to him as if he were of that higher level, but only so long as the candle continues to burn. Except in special cases (see below), a candle burns for 4 hours. It is possible to extinguish the candle simply by blowing it out, so users often place it in a lantern to protect it from drafts and the like. Doing this doesn't interfere with its magical properties.

In addition, burning a candle also allows the owner to cast a gate spell, the respondent being of the same alignment as the candle, but the taper is immediately consumed in the process.

I do not care much for the first ability and would not use the third one. I am pretty sure my DM would disallow it anyway and I consider it to be too much of a game-breaker (or a quick suicide).

But I have a question about the second ability. As I read the ability

a)the candle can be used more than once

b) the candle only needs to burn while preparing and casting the spells. The spell effects still remain, even after the candle has been extinguished/snuffed out.

Do you agree with this?

Preparing divine spells takes one hour or less. The mininum is 15 minutes. Does this mean that my character would be able to spend 15 minutes preparing the spells from the new spell level(say Wind Walk and Find the Path for a normally 10 level Cleric) cast the spell in a few rounds round and then frolic around in the air for a few hours? And essentially do this on about 15 days using the candle in 15-minute-segments?

Thanks

[Simkiria]

Me again,

any feedback if the candle could be used more than once or not would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Alitan]

The description you just quoted SAYS 'but only so long as the candle continues to burn.' So, no, you can't keep the bonuses without burning the candle.

HOWEVER...

I see no reason you couldn't blow it out before the full duration is used up. So, light the candle, memorize your spells. Cast the ones you'll lose ASAP, then blow out candle and function as your normal clericky self. :)

[Adam Moorhouse 759]

If I were your GM, I would randomly determine which of your spells was an "extra" spell, when the candle goes out. You might lose an expended spell slot, you might lose an uncast spell.

[HappyDaze]

As a GM I only allow the benefits while the candle is burning. In addition, I rule that the candle loses all magical properties when the flame is extinguished, whether that's at the end of it's full 4-hour burn or much sooner. It's a nice single-use item, but what you're asking to do with it (multiple short uses) is quite abusive.