Necropus Laruascriptum (Lesser)

Necropus Laruascriptum
Necropus Laruascriptums are evil magic items, powerful spellbooks of necromancy generally considered to be minor artifacts (though in truth, not all are). The flesh-covered tomes bind spirits within their pages, subjecting them to serve the owner of the book. Found within the pages of a necropus laruascriptum are a plethora of necromantic spells, preparation rituals and study guides designed for (optimal) use by necromancers.

There are two versions of these volumes; the more common “lesser” version, and the coveted, more powerful “greater” version (which is extraordinarily rare to find even in the possession of the most powerful of mages and is a true artifact in its own right).

 

Necropus Laruascriptum

Necropus Laruascriptum (Lesser)
Aura moderate necromancy; CL 5th
Slot none; Price 159,564 gp; Weight 6 lbs.
Alignment If any volumengeists are bound within the spellbook it is considered to have an alignment of Chaotic Evil with a faint aura for 1-2 spirits and a moderate aura for 3 spirits.
Opposition Schools (Special) All other than Necromancy

DESCRIPTION
Bound in thick, leathery human flesh, this volume contains one hundred pages of vellum crafted from the skin of various humanoids. Its front and reverse covers are seared with various arcane sigils. The book is bound shut with a simple leather cord toggled by a single humanoid finger bone. In the alphabet of the common language, the words “et Necropus Laruascriptum minores” are emblazoned in gold flake along the spine.

All text and illumination within the book is inscribed in blood.
A DC 10 Knowledge (arcana) skill check reveals that the sigils burned upon the binding are necromantic in origin, suggesting that the contents of the book are related to the necromancy school of arcane magic.

CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Ability to create a spellbook, Craft Wondrous Item, Spell Focus (necromancy), skins of various humanoids, blood of living creatures, bleed, cause fear, command, disrupt undead, ghoul touch, halt undead, ray of enfeeblement, spectral hand, touch of fatigue; Cost 79,782 gp

Page Number(s) Page Contents
1-5          (5) 0th/1st-level spells (all necromancy)
6-11        (3) 2nd-level spells (all necromancy)
12-17      (2) 3rd-level spells (all necromancy)
18-20      (1) Preparation Ritual: Breath of the Grave
21-30      (1) Study Guide: Introduction to Necromancy
31-35      Ritual for Volumengeist Binding
36-100    Blank Pages

Spells in the Necropus Laruascriptum
0th     bleed, disrupt undead, touch of fatigue
1st     cause fear, ray of enfeeblement
2nd    command undead, ghoul touch, spectral hand
3rd     halt undead, ray of exhaustion

Preparation Rituals in the Necropus Laruascriptum
When a spellcaster prepares spells using the preparation rituals contained in the Necropus Laruascriptum, as long as he prepares at least three spells from within he gains a temporary boon. The boon lasts until its effect is spent (as specified by the boon description) or the spellcaster prepares spells again (at which time it can be reapplied by preparing at least three spells from the spellbook). A spellcaster can only take the effect of one preparation ritual when she prepares spells.

Preparation Ritual: Breath of the Grave (Su) A character may, as a swift action, spend this boon’s effect to breathe a 15-foot cone of rotting stench. Creatures within the cone must succeed at a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + caster level) or be sickened for 1 round. This spends the boon. After this boon has been spent, you take a –4 penalty on Diplomacy and Stealth checks until the character prepares spells again.

Study Guides in the Necropus Laruascriptum
When a character uses the study guides contained in the Necropus Laruascriptum in tandem with performing specific skill checks (as determined by the effects of the study guide) they receive a bonus to their skill check roll.

Introduction to Necromancy
If using this book as a reference when performing a Spellcraft check to determine a necromancy spell being cast or to identify the properties of a magic item that has an aura of necromancy, the character receives a +3 bonus to that skill check.

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Spirit Binding
Up to 3 lesser page spirits (See Volumengeists)

Scribe Rejection
Any non-necromancy spell scribed in the spellbook magically vanishes. Any writing applied to the pages of the spellbook magically vanish if they are not scribed in the blood of a creature that was living at the time of the writing.

 

[The Necropus Laruascriptum was submitted by Justin Andrew Mason!]

 

Do you have an idea for an enchanted sword, arcane-empowered armor or unique magic item? Take a look at the submission rules and send a brief summary of your proposed enchanted item titled ‘Armory of Adventures submission’ to submit(at)adventureaweek.com with the following:

  • the nature of the item (weapon, armor or wondrous)

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  • the components and spell(s) used in its construction

1 thought on “Necropus Laruascriptum (Lesser)”

  1. This has a great flavor! You might also note in the ‘Study Guide’ section that if someone does not have levels in Wizard (necromancer) the book has enough information to guide the reader to take a level in that class without further assistance (if such is required in the readers’ campaign), which would fit. Just a suggestion.

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