Unbound Scroll

Description:

As the heirs to the Mark of Scribing, the gnomes of House Sivis understand the power of the written word. The ability to share ideas not just over distances, but over generations is invaluable. The presence of magic within these words and symbols makes this power even more present and there are those within the House that not content with just copying messages and reports for the sake of documentation. When the House needs something found or accomplished that cannot be done through diplomacy and blackmail alone, they look to the Unbound Scrolls, agents of arcane power to see the task complete.

Role: Unbound scrolls are unique among the gnomes of House Sivis in that they actively look for adventure and trouble. Due to the need for aptitude to the mystical arts, wizards and artificers are actively cultivated within the House for this prestige class, but the occasional sorcerer has been known to succeed as well.

Source: DGM, pg. 127

Alignment: Unbound scrolls are typically lawful, but any alignment that can see the benefit of literacy, wordplay and documentation is acceptable.

Hit Dice: d8

Requirements:

To qualify to become an unbound scroll, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Race: Gnome.

Skills: Profession (scribe) 5 ranks.

Feats: Least True Dragonmark (Mark of Scribing, Arcane Mark option), Scribe Scroll.

Special: Ability to cast 3rd level arcane spells or 3rd level infusions.

Class Skills:

The unbound scroll's class skills (and the key abilities for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Chr), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Chr), Knowledge (all, taken individually) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int) and Use Magic Device (Chr).

Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.

Table: The Unbound Scroll

Class Features:

All of the following are class features of the unbound scroll prestige class.

Weapons and Armor Proficiency: Unbound scrolls do not gain any new weapon or armor proficiencies.

Spells per Day / Spells Known: At the indicated levels, an unbound scroll gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. He does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if he is a spontaneous caster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If he had more than one spellcasting class before becoming an unbound scroll, he must decide to which class she adds the new level for the purpose of determining spells per day. Once this decision is made, it cannot be changed. Artificers and their infusions count as an arcane spellcasting class for this prestige class.

Improved Dragonmark (Su): At 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th levels, the caster level of your dragonmark spell-like abilities increases by +1. This stacks with other sources that increase the caster level of your dragonmark spell-like abilities.

Word Mastery (Ex): Starting at 1st level, the unbound scroll gets a competence bonus to Linguistics checks and to Use Magic device checks to activate scrolls equal to one half his class level, round down, to a minimum of +1. The unbound scroll is also capable of drawing a scroll as part of a move action.

Increased Dragonmark (Su): At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th levels, the unbound scroll gains one additional use of his Arcane Mark dragonmark spell-like ability per day.

Spread the Word (Su): At 2nd level, the unbound scroll gains the ability to expend one use of his Arcane Mark dragonmark spell-like ability to make a scroll usable by anyone, regardless of spellcasting capability. To do this, the unbound scroll must examine the scroll in question and place an Arcane Mark with his Least True dragonmark spell-like ability in the form of a command word. He then makes any necessary check to activate the scroll. If he is successful, the scroll is now triggered by the command word, clearly visible in the Arcane Mark, allowing others to cast the spell without the need of spellcasting, known spells or a Use Magic Device check. If he is not successful, the scroll prematurely activates as per a scroll mishap.

There is no limit to the number scrolls that the unbound scroll can make available in this manner, but if the Arcane Mark is ever removed from the scroll, like through a targeted dispel, the benefit of this class feature is also removed.

Power of the Written Word (Su): At 3rd level, the unbound scroll gains the ability to expend one use of any of his dragonmark spell-like abilities, as a swift action, to increase the caster level of a scroll he activates that turn. If he uses a Least True dragonmark spell-like ability, the caster level is increased by +1. If he uses a Lesser True dragonmark spell-like ability, the caster level is increased by +2 and if he uses a Greater True dragonmark spell-like ability, the caster level is increased by +3. This stacks with other abilities that would increase the caster level of an activated scroll. If the scroll is not activated in the same turn, the effect is wasted. This ability cannot be used on any other spell-completion or power-completion item, only scrolls. This is an exception from the standard magic-psionic transparency rule.

Bonus Feat: At 4th, 7th and 10th levels, the unbound scroll gets a bonus, chosen from the list below: Greater True Dragonmark (Mark of Scribing), Lesser True Dragonmark (Mark of Scribing), Master Linguist, Quill of Sivis or Skill Focus (Linguistics or Use Magic Device). He must still qualify for the feat normally.

Charged Words (Su): At 8th level, the unbound scroll gains the ability to expend one use of any of his dragonmark spell-like abilities, as a swift action, to increase the saving throw DC of a scroll he activates that turn. If he uses a Least True dragonmark spell-like ability, the saving throw DC is increased by +1. If he uses a Lesser True dragonmark spell-like ability, the saving throw DC is increased by +2 and if he uses a Greater True dragonmark spell-like ability, the saving throw DC is increased by +3. This bonus to the saving throw DC is considered an insight bonus. If the scroll is not activated in the same turn, the effect is wasted. This ability cannot be used on any other spell-completion or power-completion item, only scrolls. This is an exception from the standard magic-psionic transparency rule.

The unbound scroll is also capable of using his Charged Words class ability and his Power of the Written Word class ability during the same swift action, provided that both effects are being applied to the same scroll activated in the same turn.