| Natan Linggod 327 |
Inspired by the Book of Friends (Yuujinchou) from the anime Natsume Yuujinchou
I'm trying to decide if it should be a major magic item, in which case I need to price it and work out creation requirements, or if it should be a minor artifact, which means players can't make it but I also don't need to do the math.
In either case, what do you guys think?
Description:
This book is a long, slim book with unlined pages. It has an unassuming appearance, and looks like a simple drawing/note book.
Each page has the truename of a yokai. For this purpose a yokai is a being connected to the spirit world and nature, Kami, Oni, Ghosts (and similar incorporeal undead), Dragons, Fey, Outsiders(native). Other beings may count at the DMs discretion.
History:
The book was created inadvertently by a young girl, long ago. Being lonely and having great natural spiritual and psychic power, this girl would challenge yokai she met to competitions, with the yokai writing their name in her book if they lost. There is no known instance of this girl ever having lost any of these competitions. Over time and with constant exposure to such powerful spiritual energy the book became a powerful magical item. While the girl, who became a powerful exorcist, was not known to have used the book for anything other than calling for the company of the yokai, the reputation of the books power drives many to seek it out.
Possession of the book gives it’s wielder tremendous influence over beings of the spirit world.
This allows the wielder to function as though they were a Wizard 20 with the Wizard True Name discovery, using the truenames written in the book. In addition, the book allows the wielder to use the name as a substitute for any spell or ritual that requires a piece of the target, or would be enhanced by such, such as Scrying.
Names written in the book are more than simply written records. Such names cannot be used by anyone other than the owner of the Book and are forgotten by any other being who may also know them, even the original being whose name it is. Even other written records are erased or otherwise obscured. A name cannot be returned without the cooperation of the books wielder, who may return the name to a being within 20 feet as a full round action. If this occurs, the memory of the name as well as any other written record of such, returns to normal.
A true name can only be written into the book by it’s original owner who must do so knowingly and willingly. Forcing a being to write it’s name in the book, even through magical compulsion, causes the written name to blur and become useless. The same occurs if a creature tricked into writing their name in the book unknowingly. Threats or bargains do work however.
A creature that does not know it’s own True Name, and simply writes it’s common name, will have it’s written name transform into the True Name by the Book.