100 Books Found in the Strange Library


Homebrew and House Rules

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This thread was one of my favorites several years ago. So glad it's still going.
I'll offer ...
621:
Wheel & Whoa! - an oracle's guide to the "Common" tongues by Addicus Mithrilwit
This large leather-bound tome is full of the nuanced differences in similar sounding words from Taldane, Polyglot, Draconic, and Tien. Each section is prefaces by humorous examples taken from the travels of the lore oracle who penned it. In his preface he advises he decided upon the name from a rather frustrating argument regarding common prophetic outcomes and the terminology usage in Taldan horsemanship. Referencing this tome grants a +2 circumstance bonus to Linguistics checks when translating phrases which might be found in any of the four listed languages or a +1 bonus when attempt to decipher word-based puzzles written in other languages.

The Exchange

622: Journal
This much abused compact paper maroon hardcover Journal has the name DarDar scratched into it. It is pocket sized with the binding is broken barely held together from much use. The journal lies forgotten shimming one of the tables in the library.

Should someone peruse it they will find in neat Dwarven shorthand, the drawings and notes of Dar, an Architect journeyman. Dar writes of his ambitions, professional trade notes, and current projects. Some projects take up many pages, others barely a sentence acting more as timekeeping prompts. Professionally speaking nothing is incriminating or gossipy, however, there is sensitive structural details here that some clients would prefer not exist.

Dar is a habitual note taker, and there are indications that multiple journals exist throughout his career, as this is already a decade into his journeyman license, dated just inside the cover.

Dar is alive although likely living his elder years in a clanhome of his own creation. He might appreciate the return of his youthful records.


623: Tempus Fugit's spellbook.
There is a working calendar clock built into the front cover. The clock does radiate magic. It contains the following spells.
Temporal School :Anything that stops, slows, or even reverses events can fit in this variant school. Also any spell that gathers information from the past or future.
0 level: Mending.
1st level: Hold Portal, Identify, True Strike, Erase, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Negate Deathblow- New Spell
2nd level: Make Whole, Knock
3nd level: Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Gentle Repose, Halt Undead, Haste, Slow
4th level: Dimensional Anchor, Remove Curse, Break Enchantment, Dismissal
5th level: Hold Monster, Permanency, Dispel Magic Greater, Contingency, Nap-Sort of new spell
6th level: Dispel Magic Greater, Legend Lore, Time Walk-New Spell, Mage’s Lucubration
7th Level: Phase Door, Vision, Hold Person, Mass, Limited Wish,
8th level: Discern Location, Moment of Prescience, Clone, Horrid Wilting, Temporal Stasis,
9th level: Mage’s Disjunction, Foresight, Hold Monster, Mass, Time Stop, Wish
A temporal mage could give up any school except abjuration or alteration.
3 times a day they can give anyone a new roll, second result cannot be redone.
A temporal mage could indeed make a wand of knock.
Negate deathblow would be a new spell.
Level: Sorcerer/Wizard1, Bard 1.
Casting Time,: One standard action
Components: S,M(Cloth Bandage)
Range: Touch
Target: One creature, slain less than one round ago.
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None. Spell resistance, no.
The fatal wound vanishes as if it never happened. Regardless of actual damage, the victim becomes stable at -1 hits. It can be used to stop poison or bleeding that threaten to kill someone.

Nap
Level: Sorcerer/Wizard:5 Bard:5
Casting Time,: One standard action
Components: S,V
Range: average
Target: 1 person per 3 levels
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: None. Spell resistance, no.
Like sleep but it’s voluntary and 8 hour sleep is reduced by 1 hour per 3 levels. Healing, regeneration of spell slots wake up the spell ends., and other benefits of a good night’s sleep are gained in record time.

Tempus Fugit has given up the illusion school. Also in this book is Charm person, Detect magic, Read Magic, all the summon monster spells, and permanency.

GM notes: The book is a soul anchor, so anyone trying to use the book or just carry it is subject to possession by Tempus's Ghost. Depending on how you use magical spell books, there may be additional spells in the book and more room for new spells.


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624. On the Nature of Moral Behavior. This is a rather plain-looking book, regardless of its printing, except it always has Saranrae's symbol on the cover; some copies this is enough to qualify the book as a holy symbol. Detailed within are a number of stories about a wandering knight of Saranrae and the various challenges they face. The challenges are not physical in nature but spiritual, ranging from the 'goblin babies' to 'attacking the evil guy in the bar' to more complicated situations. Different copies of the book have different answers to each quandary; some have none, leaving it to the reader to come to their own conclusions. The book is actually a common book for paladins of various faiths to own and supposedly Iomadae and Abadar in particular have variations for their faiths. Sometimes they are handed down from an older paladin to their squires as they take their holy oaths.

625. How Magic is the Solution to All Problems. This diary is leatherbound and finely crafted, with a bookmark of fine silk. Detailed within are a series of entries made by a wizard named Suvius the Great, detailing his many adventures. The writer comes across as arrogant and condescending, downplaying the roles of his compatriots in his adventuring band and how his magic (or occasionally, the cleric's or bard's) was key to resolving their issues. The last chapter is cut off by a massive bloodstain covering several pages. Following that there is an entry in another hand, written by someone identifying himself as 'the fighter Loreth'. Loreth tells how Suvius insulted a group of orcs and was cut down out of nowhere by a half-orc riding a giant bat. It concludes with this:

'Who are you?' I asked the muscular barbarian, eyeing him warily. Suvius' body was impaled still on his lance.
The half-orc shrugged and tipped his lance, letting the wizard's body fall to the ground with a thump.
'I AM BARBARIAN', was all the warrior said. Without another word, he lightly kicked his heels and the bat he rode returned to the skies overhead, soon lost from sight.

We promptly left Belkzen, vowing to go somewhere safer like the Worldwound after that.


626What Did I Just Step In: A Guide to Jellies, Pooh, Puddings, Puddles, and Oozes. An informative pocketbook that is an easy read. easy to note with extra paper to wipe your shoes off and collect samples.


627.Bump up your Health!+5 Manual of Bodily Health.


628. Serpent With A Goal A presumably fictional story about a serpentfolk ur-priest whose driving goal is to restore the serpentfolk magicks that humanity stole to begin its ascension ages ago. Believing this to be the cause of the degeneration and decline of the serpentfolk majority into uncivilized savagery, the protagonist infiltrates well-known churches and cults of human gods and worshippers and siphons of divine energies from the believers and relics of humankind's deities. Storing and channeling this energy into ancient crystals concealed in ancient caverns, he hopes to perform a ritual that will both weaken humanity's gods and the arcane power of all human spellcasters and simultaneously uplift and restore all serpentfolk. The ending chapters involve the aging protagonist's struggles against human adventurers and eventually hint at the achievement of immortality through lichdom or a similar reward from ancient serpent gods. The end of the story seems to be open-ended, with no definitive conclusion of what will occur other than the mention that humanity's downfall is incredibly close and that the next stage awaits a specific time.

Though a few years out of date, all locations and churches are accurately described (including some obscure details that only a truly familiar person to rituals or a church would recognize) and some of the characters mentioned seem to have actually existed at the times of the story in each place. If somehow one is still alive, none remember the protagonist, though in the story he's always in disguise and a name or description is never mentioned. The obscure reference to the coming time of ascension is not accurately described, but hints about it always seem to involve astrological movements or arrangements that could be quite soon if anyone truly delves into research.


629) A Necromancer's Etiquette Guide to Thread Raising

Believed by many scholars to be a practical joke, a hilarious mistranslation, or the work of someone with a mental illness, this books talks about the proper polite way to use to bring "dead" threads back to "life" in public forums. The title seems to be a later addition, as the "necromancy" talked about in the book is clearly a metaphore. A few paranoid researchers insist it's a guidebook to a secret information-sharing society that intends to kill everyone to obtain their wealth.

Note: I'm not taking a dig against anyone. I just really like meta-humor.


SilvercatMoonpaw wrote:

629) A Necromancer's Etiquette Guide to Thread Raising

Believed by many scholars to be a practical joke, a hilarious mistranslation, or the work of someone with a mental illness, this books talks about the proper polite way to use to bring "dead" threads back to "life" in public forums. The title seems to be a later addition, as the "necromancy" talked about in the book is clearly a metaphore. A few paranoid researchers insist it's a guidebook to a secret information-sharing society that intends to kill everyone to obtain their wealth.

Note: I'm not taking a dig against anyone. I just really like meta-humor.

Some necromancers and spiritualists can use this book to summon the dead to a public forum to bring back topics(threads) of discussion. Some cultists keep using this to try to bring back Aroden, but only shadowy echos of his past quotes are gained.


630) The Veteran of a Thousand Battles

This rather thick tome is a collection of skirmishes accounts, mainly recollecting the deeds of the Taldan Legion's VIth company, prevailing against insurmountable odds. Each recollection has been written by a different legionary, but they all involve a legendary fighter, first among his peers in the cohort. Designated as "The Veteran of a Thousand Battle", this legionary name is seldom mentionned, and seems to vary from one chapter to the other, as does the time period the story takes places in.

Any martial class reading through the entirety of the book can figure on a DC 12 Intelligence that the Veteran is in fact a tradition of the company, the title being held by the oldest and most seasonned member at the time, to inspire new recruits and impart them the accumulated wisdom of the company.

If the owner is a martial class character that figured out the book true content, they can skim through the book for 10 minutes each day. Doing so allows them to treat, for one round, all allies as possessing the same teamwork feat as the owner for the purpose of determining whether the owner receives a bonus from their teamwork feats.


631) Malizack’s Guide to Wkdjekd Pqerx
This thick book has had its title partially scribbled over. All writing contain in its pages is in an incomprehensible language. The book is actually the phylactery of the lich Malizack who lost it decades ago. He would pay the party handsomely if they return it. However, the lich’s lair is in the middle of a thick jungle filled with dangerous beasts.

632) The Complete Encyclopedia of Crabs
This 900 page encyclopedia of types of crabs. Grants +2 bonus to any knowledge check relating to crabs.


Tribble13 wrote:

632) The Complete Encyclopedia of Crabs

This 900 page encyclopedia of types of crabs. Grants +2 bonus to any knowledge check relating to crabs.

And it probably bankrupt the people who printed it....


SilvercatMoonpaw wrote:
Tribble13 wrote:

632) The Complete Encyclopedia of Crabs

This 900 page encyclopedia of types of crabs. Grants +2 bonus to any knowledge check relating to crabs.
And it probably bankrupt the people who printed it....

They made it back selling books at Crab Con. Also, every doctor who treats crabs needs a copy. :)


633)False Gods!
This cube shaped book is a convincing treatise on how old ones and pseudo divine Lamia's are cunning fakes. It posits that they use weak minded individuals as wedges to take over planes, and that they have no power of their own. Using the mental exercises within, you can recover from insainities and banish mythos. Some passages can be quoted aloud and add +4 to the DC of banishment spells. One chapter describes a flump's journey to becoming a magical creature and changing his name to Mr Jones.


To create a random spell book you can roll on this, successively adding 100 more each time till you get something who's contents could be replaced with spells. Note the holy books that contain spell descriptions that clerics could pray for.


634. The Comprehensive Book of Lists: 14,987 most common lists, indexed (i.e. listed). Gnomish best-seller.

635. How to glitz the unpredictable. A sure fire way to glitterdust the rogue.

636. Most Chewy Monster Morsels: 1001 monsters rated by chewyness. Written in Orcish.

637. Dwarven Barber and Braiding Techniques explained. Comes with hidden razors.


638. Douglas Hofstadter's Fluid Concepts And Creative Analogies: Computer Models Of The Fundamental Mechanisms Of Thought.

639. A book of limericks that subtly teaches the reader all the secret scandals going on at court for the last decade.


640. The Legendary Tome of Arcane Verses.

A thick book (four inches at that), bound in high-quality leather, the cover is embossed with a variety of arcane sigils. When the book is opened, it emits an absolutely obnoxious limerick (think of Mary Had a Little Lamb, the Macarena, Never Gonna Give You Up, and more) audible to sixty feet. All in earshot must make a DC 23 Will save or have the song stuck in their head permanently. A wish, miracle, or break enchantment spell is required to remove the song. A bard that makes a caster level check while using countersong can also negate the song (caster level 15). This tome is the revenge of a master bard that was offended by a wizard who declared that bardic magic isn't true arcane power. Wizards save at -4 against the book's power. On the plus side, while under the effects of the tome, all saves against compulsions or telepathic effects are made with a +2 circumstance bonus (having songs stuck in your head makes it hard to get through). The other downside is that concentration checks take a -2 circumstance penalty (who wants to find out what happens when you try to cast a spell while being rick-rolled?).


641.Ancient Egyptian Scroll of Life
This scroll is written in hieroglyphs. When read aloud near a preserved corpse such as a mummy, it will animate as an appropriate undead. If the scroll comes into the mummy's possession, it will be true resurrected temporarily. if it loses possession of the scroll, it turns back into a mummy. If the scroll is ever destroyed, all mummies it animated turn back into embalmed corpses.


642. The Dangers of Enchantment
This book is bound with wood covered in a green felt. There is a black outline of an outstretched palm, facing the viewer on the cover. The ring finger of the hand is severed at the knuckle, leaving a one inch stub. The title of the book is written on the first page. The pages are well-stitched to the spine.

This book contains a listing of 10 cursed items and a short description of their common appearances, typical causes, notable histories, heroes, or people that have been affected by them, and some theoretical speculation on removing or even utilizing their powers in a positive or beneficial way.

It also contains a foreword and introduction by the scholar Timeus Galstar, known for his studies into magical items
Knowledge (Local) to know anything about him, based on information I am not providing here. The DC is 10 minimum; increase DC based on distance or world from where Timeus Galstar is from or operates.

This book is magical (faint Transmutation), having been treated with an unguent of timelessness. It's also cursed, but the magic prevents that from ever being detected while the unguent of timelessness is in effect. Fortunately, the curse only activates when the book is destroyed or rendered unreadable or if the effects of the unguent are dispelled or removed permanently (which causes the book to crumble). At that time, one random item (even a non-magical item if no magical ones are available) belonging to the perpetrator becomes a cursed item of a random type. Even if a victim has no possessions on their immediate person, the curse will find one if they own one.

Curse:
-----------------------------------------------------
While the specifics of the cursed item vary, in general, they either cannot be removed any longer or constantly reappear if discarded or even destroyed. A remove curse spell is ineffective until the victim commissions the creation of a new copy, requiring a scribe, a copy of the book to reference and a dose of unguent of timelessness. After that, a remove curse on the item is automatically successful.

A limited wish or stronger spell can attempt to remove the curse from an affected item without meeting the above conditions but even such spells are unable to remove the curse from one of these books without triggering it on the caster.

No other actions, spells, or creation feats are needed to implant the curse into a newly commissioned book. Strangely, any accurate copy of this work gains the same curse as all others when the unguent is applied. Equally strangely, there are no copies of this work that haven't been anointed with unguent. The brief time between where a book is completed and the unguent is added is the only known time this occurs. No one knows, or seems to remember, what happens to copies that aren't immediately anointed within a short time.

----------------------------------------------------

Copies of the book can found in certain bookstores or the libraries of certain sages 75% of the time. Timeus Galstar has many copies which he sells at their appraised value of 100 gp. He knows all about the curse and freely shares how to cure it. Note that he is not the author or creator of the books, just having been asked to write the foreword. He does know the creator, but will not share that information.


643. Strange Utterances: A critique. Cynical deconstruction of prophecies and vagiely meaningful utterances throughout history.

644. Unstrange Utterances: A critique. A deconstruction of banal understatements throughout history.

645. 'You know you can stick those thieves picks...' Illustrated.


646) Book of Do Not Open This Under Any Circumstances, Not Even To See What Happens

This book only has a handful of pages, bound between two slabs of black iron, each more than 1/3rd the book's thickness. Four clasps with locks bind it closed. Closer examination reveals each clasp strap is made from the skin of an Outsider of one of the four pure Alignments (NG, LN, NE, CN). Occasionally, the book jumps and makes a grunting noise.


647:My Little Codebook. The title looks like gibberish with a question mark in the middle. Comprehend languages decode it. The first chapter, letter substitution, will also tell how to read it. Using this book adds +8 to break codes. The title is a DC25 code, while codebreaking requires languages + intelligence bonus + any spy or ninja levels. As the code for the title is an example, translation is automatic.


648. Wild Megafauna Illustrated Magazine, vol. 112

This 112th installment of the widely renowned magazine Wild Megafauna Illustrated features an article written by Great Thinker Thaddeus Stokes regarding Kragkoviathans see 1001 Inconsequential Flora & Fauna entry #249, noting that Kragkoviathans have a gill-breathing larval stage, and then transition to breathing via lungs during their adult stage; so he concluded that these creatures are technically amphibians, and not lizards or dinosaurs as previously believed.

Although this magazine focuses mainly on providing pictures of megafauna in all their majestic splendor, Great Thinkers often write columns for their avid readership. Kragkoviathans were not the only hot topic for discussion in this volume, as the eating habits of Mammoth Narwhal Rays by Great Thinker Oristyl'ailas Vyrnadyl and successful husbandry strategies for breeding Dire Tuskiloxodons by Great Thinker Eleanor Featherstone were also discussed.


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649. Wild Megafauna Illustrated Magazine, vol 113.
This 113th installment is the much awaited yearly swimsuit edition. No, the megafauna are not in swimsuits, but it focuses on coastal and aquatic megafauna.

It also contains articles by Great Thinker Desbin Hawkpipe on the theories of tsunamis being the result of geologic undersea activity and not the mating practices of megafauna pods in the oceans as well as illustrations and comics by acclaimed artist (and honorary Great Thinker) Rob Boss, author of The Joy of Painting Megafauna.

The volumes highlighted centerfold megafauna is the Rapazian Intercoastal Reef Serpent (Aka, the Coral Leviathan), illustrated while sunning and entwined in the shattered hulk of a frigate upon the shoals of Argomedesi Atoll. The centerfold illustration is 4 folds in length, perfect for placing upon the walls of a study, library, or bedroom alongside motivational cat posters.

Scarab Sages

650: "The life and Death of (your name)"
A disturbingly detailed account of your life including things you know you were alone for. What's most worrying however is the part about you reading the book is on the 2nd last page . . .

651: Fictional Fun
A series of spells by an Archmage that allow one to physically enter into books and other documents. Starting with ones that have you as an observer unable to interact and ending with one that allows you to bring things out of the book into the real world. The pages detailing the last spell are charred and bloodstained.

652: The sun orchid elixer a flawed potion for fools.
This curious text not only details the sun orchid elixirs creation method but also how it can be improved to grant eternal youth. Of especial note is that 3 times as much space is used up ranting about the breeding, intelligence and personal habits of both the order managing it and those who use it.

653: The philosophers stone, I have wasted my life.
A detailed description of one alchemists attempts to create the philosophers stone. The last page contains the following.

"I have done it, I have created the philosophers stone and it is worthless to me as I will soon die of old age. Take heed young alchemist while I will not share the secret I will give this advice. Seek not the stone for wealth becomes valueless as the cold of the grave approaches. Instead turn your attention to a means of extending your life beyond its natural span."

654: The collected works of Ian Martin Scammer
Dozens of books containing great and thrilling tales of wizards, warriors and strange lands. Too most these are nothing but a marvelous read but to those rare few with the ability to travel through time and space they may note every single book was actually written by someone else in another world.

655: The book of masculinty and femininity revisited
A prank by a powerful wizard this book functions like a girdle of masculinity/feminity affecting anyone who reads it.

656: Choose your own adventure - Wrath of the righteous
At first glance this book seems typical for its ilk you read a story of yourself as a hero who lead a crusade against demons and closed their entry into your world. However the choices you make and the pages you turn too are also transforming you giving you new skills, powers and even transforming you physically. However a powerful effect (will save DC 30) keeps the person reading it from noticing these changes until they put the book down or someone else draws their attention to it. Of course that other person may find it concerning their formerly male human friend responds "What do you mean I'm a Kitusne, I've always been a Kitsune. I hope you've at least noticed I'm a girl since your species also has male and female sexes." This book often vanishes from the library appearing in other worlds and plans trying to entice people to read it.

657: A ladies guide to manners and deportment.
This ornate book is bound in white leather with gold ornamentation. It contains detailed descriptions on proper maanners for a young lady in most of the lands of Golarion. From kimonos, tea ceremony and the correct way to sit in Tien Xia to which fork to use for each course of a meal in Absalom.

It grants a permanent untyped +3 bonus to diplomacy, Knowledge Noble, Knowledge Local, Knowledge Religion, Perform Dance (plus any other skills the GM deems apporpriate e.g. Perform Tea Ceremony). However it also transforms the reader into a 17 year old girl and forces her to always behave like a proper lady for the land and culture she's currently in (whether this is as a demure girl obedient to the men in her life and who practices flower arranging as her main hobby or a raging barbarian warrior who will kick the balls in of any guy who tells her what to do and views a good way to pass the time as practicing her arhcery skills on serfs doesn't matter she is compelled to behave in the manner that cutlure thinks a proper young noble woman should act). Any attempt to deviate from this behaviour requires a DC 20 will save each time she does so.

Two wishes or miracles can undo the effects of reading this book. One is required to remove the compulsion to act like a lady (and the untyped boost to skills) a second one is required to change the reader back into a man if they were one originally. Note reversing the gender change first will not remove the compulsion to act like a lady.

There is an empty spot next to it indicating someone may have "borrowed" a gentleman's guide to manners and deportment.

658: Unnamed book
This book is bound with some uknown form of flesh and is locked shut, chained to its bookshelf and glows faintly green with what can be determined to be a powerful dimensional anchor spell. The section of the bookshelf it sits on is etched with multiple protective runes. A perception check (DC 24) can note that there are signs these runes have been renewed many, many times. Approaching within a meter causes you to become sickened and nauseated no save, touching it causes fear DC 25. Actually opening it . . .

EDIT
At pizza lord, no I missed several pages updated with correct numbers.

EDIT
At Goth Goru hopefully its right now.


Senko, still have 2 653s.

Scarab Sages

I just noticed in the editing part of 656 has gone missing and changes where lost its meant to be . . .

However a powerful effect (will save DC 25) keeps the person reading it from noticing these changes until they put the book down or someone else draws their attention to them. An even more powerful effect (Will save 30) is required to resit continuing to read in order to find out how it ends even after noticing these changes. Of course that other person may find it concerning enough to force the reader to stop after their formerly male human friend responds "What do you mean I'm a Kitusne, I've always been a Kitsune. I hope you've at least noticed I'm a girl since your species also has male and female sexes." Because while inside she's panicking at the changes she's just noticed, she can't resist her new overwhelming urge to prank her friend.


659. Jericho Fury and the Jade Serpent

This novel is enjoyed by adult and child alike, and features the 12 yr old sky pirate Captain Jericho Fury aboard his airship the Endeavor with his motley crew of pirates as they take on an evil Nightshade named Shad Shau Racondra. Racondra is currently in possession of an artifact called the Jade Serpent's Armguard that allows him to control the sands, and roughly 10 years ago, he cleverly usurped the throne of the desert fortress-city Malachi.

This is an actual book I want to write about my nephew Jericho because he's obsessed with pirates


660. A tiny red book, no larger than a book of matches, with a yellow border along its spine. Within this yellow border is the silohuette of a slender, if not petite, female humanoid.

The title, written in Common with letters matching the yellow border against the red cover, says "HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT" in all capital letters.

Although there are several pages in the book, only one contains any texts... it simply reads, "Don't Eat", also in Common, but lacking any further punctuation.

PS. This is a real book that used to be included with Barbie dolls in the 60's. Lol.


I don't recommend that as I once tried to subsist on prune juice for 2 weeks but my brain started to malfunction. The author of the book I was trying to emulate walked in front of oncoming traffic and his widow had to complete the book. 2 weeks is plenty long for a cleanse.


661. Tea-leaves, nuances of leaf and purity of leaf. The Difference between a level 10 and a level 11 Diviner...'
662. 'Are Visionaries Dangerous? A defence of conformist thinking.' For those of a HIGHLY lawful bent.
663. 'Are Conservatives dangerous?' A counter volume to the previous but based more upon real events than unproven fears. For those of a rationalist neutral bent.
664. 'Of course conservatives are dangerous!' For those of a highly chaotic nature.


665. Are Preservatives Dangerous?
The reprinted version of a misprinted treatise that was copied and disseminated with a glaring typographical error in the title before the author could get ahold of the scribes.

While several reactionary writings, essays, counter-works were quickly churned out in opposition to the perceived contents of the work, it was quite clear that those who responded never read the book and were basing all their vehement objections and rhetoric on the cover, since anyone actually reading the book can see that it has nothing to do with politics or philosophy.


665:So A:That's the title and it's about preservatives?
B:It has the title of 662 or 663 but is about preservatives?
C:It has the title of 665 but text 0f 663?
D: It's so full of misspellings that it's unreadable?


666. Lathiira's Travelogue, volume 167. Written in a flowing elvish script, this simple leather book describes a variety of creatures common and rare from all across the world and beyond. Written by a noted master bard nicknamed 'the Wanderer', it contains an incredibly esoteric variety of creatures, such as these:

Inconsequential Flora and Fauna

667. A guide to arcane colleges, universities, and bardic colleges. This simple leather book is covered in various arcane symbols that identify as the markings representing a variety of arcane institutions. Within, the reader finds details about the curriculum and programs of an assortment of schools well-known or obscure. The information is detailed to the point of describing entrance exams and perks of the schools, not to mention key notes about the staff. (Consult Inner Sea Magic and other sources for information about joining these schools.)


668. Lathiira's Travelogue, vol 168.
This 168th installment is the much awaited yearly swimsuit edition.
No, wait... we did that already.

668. 'Nody' Nocturnal's Guide to Arcane, Divine, and Bardic Collages
This magical treatise discusses a little-known technique for creating magical artwork of similar power to runes and symbols. It discusses a brief history of various collages made by magisters and arcane artisans throughout the years, as well as discussing the pros and cons of various materials used to make them.

The collages in this work are typically shifting collages, ones that appear to be one or more images but, when viewed a certain way or at a certain distance appear different. For example, from up close a simple house or couple embracing could resemble a skull or elephant from 30 feet away.

Magical Collages:
---------------------------------------------
Magical collages must be at least 4 ft. x 4 ft. in dimension and may either be directly applied to a wall or surface or placed upon a backing to be hung or placed as a painting would. They have a cost equal to spell level x caster level x 150 gp. Additionally, the collage requires materials in value of 100 gp per spell level of the symbol it emulates (the creator must pay 1/3rd this cost in materials as per normal crafting).

When this treatise is disassembled and its materials used to create a collage, the creator can emulate a symbol spell (or possibly other similar spells at GM discretion). The collage will function as a symbol of that type.

These magical collages have more limitations than a comparable symbol spell, however. The function only when viewed, not touched or passed by. They also only trigger or affect creatures in the direction it's facing in a roughly 90 degree cone. Beyond that angle of viewing, the collage's 'trigger image' is not clear or discernible enough to trigger.

Additionally, they only trigger at a certain distance, as that is where the 'trigger image' is visible to most viewers. The creator determines a 10 foot range out to 60 feet within the collage's 90 degree viewing arc (or less if the particular symbol spell would be shorter), such as between 0 and 10 feet or between 35 and 45 feet. At that point, viewers note that the collage appears to be a different image and anyone in that area has a potential to be affected by the collage's effect (even if they weren't looking at it when triggered). Such effects are limited to that area although mobile effects, such as a creature summoned by the symbol, can move from it, though they must appear in the designated area if possible.

A magical collage contains 10 charges, after which it crumbles away. Prior to this, it may be recharged by its creator with 1 day of work restoring it physically and magically at a cost of spell level x caster level x 15 per charge restored (up to 10).
-------------------------------------------------------------

Similar to a golem manual, this treatise allows a user with the proper training to create such a work of art by cutting it into pieces and colored shapes to form a collage from its own material.
It grants a +5 competence bonus to Craft checks made to construct the collage it's used to make and it also counts as having material components for the symbol spell up to 5,000 gp. Each 1,000 gp of material cost, however, reduces the competence bonus provided by 1.


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Pizza Lord wrote:

668. Lathiira's Travelogue, vol 168.

This 168th installment is the much awaited yearly swimsuit edition. No, wait... we did that already.

No one said there was just one swimsuit issue in the series!


669. Book of genesis
This artifact book contains an epic spell that allows creation of a demi plane that grows. Saying the verbal component backwards triggers an apocalypse. The means of destruction is leaving it in a plane being destroyed.


Goth Guru wrote:

669. Book of genesis

This artifact book contains an epic spell that allows creation of a demi plane that grows. Saying the verbal component backwards triggers an apocalypse. The means of destruction is leaving it in a plane being destroyed.

There is a 50% chance that any demi-plane created by Genesis is actually a land of confusion, affecting all creatures as though under the effects of insanity during any times of stress, combat, or when the GM determines appropriate. In these cases, the plane also prevents any form of dancing, voluntary or otherwise, including magical effects like irresistible dance. In the land of confusion, you can't dance.

Rumors that men without hats are able to perform one specific dance for safety reasons, are unconfirmed.

670. The Book of Knock-Knock Joke (<--- not a typo.)
This thin book is only about a quarter-inch thick, most of which is taken up by the front and back covers, which are beautifully etched wood. The front cover shows the title in detailed design and the back cover depicts a corridor with two doors, one of which bears the mask symbol of comedy while the other depicts tragedy.

Four Average (DC 25) locks are arrayed around the book's cover and a protective wooden guard edges around the inner covers, preventing anyone from pulling pages out, or even seeing how many it contains, without opening it.

If the book is opened, it's revealed to be a spellbook containing only six pages. The first is a title page, revealing the name of its author, 'Flavius Impertinus'. An appropriate Knowledge or bardic knowledge check might reveal that he's a well-known scribe, author, and magical dabbler with apparently too much time on his hands.

The next four pages contain two identical knock spells (2 pages each). Either can be used to prepare spells like any other spellbook, but strangely, attempts to scribe spells from it always fail (with no loss of materials).

The final page merely says, '... to get to the other side.'

Book notes:
-------------------------------------------------
This book is magical (moderate abjuration). Its four locks all appear to be Average quality to Appraise or inspection, however, when someone attempts to open or pick each one, a d20 is secretly rolled and a modifier is added or subtracted from this DC equal to the difference between the result and 10 (a 1 results in –9 to the DC (DC 16) while a 10 means no change (DC 25) and a 20 would mean DC 35). Once rolled, the locks maintain this adjusted DC until the book is opened. Once opened, the book remains open for only 1 hour before magically closing and relocking itself despite any known attempts to prevent this, at times seeming to just become closed and locked as though a switch were thrown that changed its state.

If there are any keys to these locks, only the author might know or possess them. The locks are all magically trapped and any failed attempts to open the locks will automatically damage any tools used in the attempt, requiring a Fortitude save (DC 18) or destroying them. On a successful save, they take damage equal to half their maximum (which could still destroy them if already damaged) and gain the broken condition. This magical protection cannot be disabled without destroying the magic of the book and if the book is ever made non-magical, it cannot even be opened until its magic is restored.

Anyone reciting a novel knock-knock joke while holding the book (it requires both the question and answer, though the holder need only participate in one side, if reciting the joke to another), causes any opened locks to relock and all four locks to secretly reroll their adjusted DCs, which could make some easier or harder.

Anyone holding the book (even closed) and saying "... to get to the other side" finds themselves dimension door'd (CL 15) to the opposite side of the nearest door or closed portal within 1,000 feet. Doors the reciter is facing take priority in cases of equal distances. Anyone else touching the book or the reciter is also brought along (up to 5 medium creatures or their equivalent). The reciter receives no save but others may resist if unwilling. This effect only occurs once for any individual per book, including those brought along by the reciter. Further attempts will exclude and ignore them. There is no indication of or clue to this ability, even to identify or similar spells. Only accidental triggers or knowledge of this ability from another book or its previous owner might reveal it, though Use Magic Device attempts have been known to trigger it when activated blindly.

Special: Note that while the knock spell does not typically work on books, this book is a special case (as though it were a trick box), though note that a single knock spell will only open 2 locks, requiring two knocks.
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671. The top 100 most likely ways the world is going to end and the 'easy to understand and apply' ways to prevent them - part 1

part 1 lists all of the 100 different apocalypses and classify them for easy recognition. part 2, which is currently missing on loan by one 'Mr Cath Ulu', lists the ways to prevent said world endings.


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Pizza Lord wrote:
Goth Guru wrote:

669. Book of genesis

This artifact book contains an epic spell that allows creation of a demi plane that grows. Saying the verbal component backwards triggers an apocalypse. The means of destruction is leaving it in a plane being destroyed.

There is a 50% chance that any demi-plane created by Genesis is actually a land of confusion, affecting all creatures as though under the effects of insanity during any times of stress, combat, or when the GM determines appropriate. In these cases, the plane also prevents any form of dancing, voluntary or otherwise, including magical effects like irresistible dance. In the land of confusion, you can't dance.

Rumors that men without hats are able to perform one specific dance for safety reasons, are unconfirmed.

..

The fact that there are not hundreds of "Lands of confusions" indicate that the safety dance cures a plane of that curse. If someone tries to cast the spell from the book using Use Magic Device, they run the risk of triggering a random curse effecting the entire demiplane.


[b]672.Book of last resort{/b]
Written by Narl Osgood Hotep it describes how to summon certain deities to send you back into the past to prevent an apocalypse.

GM notes: Performing the ritual indeed sends you back in time, but gives the timeline you left over to Narlotep, so you had best take any fellow survivors with you.

Scarab Sages

Goth Guru wrote:

669. Book of genesis

This artifact book contains an epic spell that allows creation of a demi plane that grows. Saying the verbal component backwards triggers an apocalypse. The means of destruction is leaving it in a plane being destroyed.

Wait that's my grimoire got too, I had to spend money rescribing that spell you know.

673: A seers guide to flora and fauna from around the planes.

This book contains a comprehensive and exhaustive listing of various plants and animals encountered by the author in their travels. To date no one else has seen any of the subjects of these entries though.


Goth Guru wrote:

672.Book of last resort

Written by Narl Osgood Hotep it describes how to summon certain deities to send you back into the past to prevent an apocalypse.

GM notes: Performing the ritual indeed sends you back in time, but gives the timeline you left over to Narlotep, so you had best take any fellow survivors with you.

Fixed it.


Goth Guru wrote:

672.Book of last resort

Written by Narl Osgood Hotep it describes how to summon certain deities to send you back into the past to prevent an apocalypse.

GM notes: Performing the ritual indeed sends you back in time, but gives the timeline you left over to Narlotep, so you had best take any fellow survivors with you.

Yes, and in those hellish, apocalyptic abandoned timelines...

survivors have their lives cut into pieces, and they're suffocated; no breathing. Losing their sight... losing their minds...
Also, there are endless swarms of roaches. Big daddy, papa roaches.


674 - The Art of Courtly Love
675 - The Deeds of Beowulf
676- The Boke of the Duchess
677 - Froissard's Chronicles
678 - The Dream of Scipio
679 - The Legend of Good Women
680 - Raphael Hollinshead's Chronicle
681 - The Iliad

These were found in the library in the module In the Phantom's Wake, just in case anyone thinks these don't fit in D&D.


No real world politics or religion so they fit in Pathfinder. :P


No real world politics?
Froissart's chronicles are the Hundred Years War, Holinshed's stuff is a chronicle of England, and The Legend of Good Women was probably revised due to feminism issues under Queen Anne.

The Iliad and Beowulf are full of real world religion, but I suppose one can argue since these are framed in poems they won't ruffle any feathers here.

Scarab Sages

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Bjørn Røyrvik wrote:

674 - The Art of Courtly Love

675 - The Deeds of Beowulf
676- The Boke of the Duchess
677 - Froissard's Chronicles
678 - The Dream of Scipio
679 - The Legend of Good Women
680 - Raphael Hollinshead's Chronicle
681 - The Iliad

These were found in the library in the module In the Phantom's Wake, just in case anyone thinks these don't fit in D&D.

To be fair Baba Yaga is from Earth and not in a adapted from folktales manner she's literally from Earth and there's at least one AP and Scenario you visit Russia in. So books from at least the 1920's and earlier are fair game for someone to have brought them over. Add in the scepter of ages and you could have books that are yet to be printed in our world.

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