Manual of Strength

This appears as a typical magical tome, perhaps even a spell book.

Once read, this book appears to be a mundane treatise on muscular fitness. However, if studied carefully for 1 full day, the character will gain a magical knowledge of muscular exercise, and, if this knowledge is used (exercising as proscribed for at least 4 hours per day) over the next month, at the end of that time, the character will gain 1 point of Strength permanently. This can be done while traveling or adventuring, but any break in exercise cancels out the magic (the ability point will not be gained). Once studied, the book vanishes (and one like it can never be used by that character again). Only one character can benefit from this item.

Ability Score Improvement. Ability score points gained can be over racial maximums and only full points are gained.

Exception. A character with Exceptional Strength will increase to a 19 Strength. A character with a 17 Strength will increase to an 18 Strength and, if that character would qualify for Exceptional Strength due to class, they may roll for Exceptional Strength.

MAGICAL BOOKS, MANUALS, OR TOMES

• All detect as magical with a strong aura of alteration.

• A successful identify spell (or the bard ability) can be used to understand the general nature of the work without opening or reading the book: It is meant for a particular class (ex. mages, priests, etc.) or it affects a reader's ability scores (but not the exact score). Wish-type magic will also give the same information with automatic chances for success. In any case, alignment considerations cannot be determined. A legend lore effect is ineffective when used to determine the powers of non-unique magical tomes. All other methods to divine the contents of a magical book, manual, or tome will fail. If two wish-type magic effects are used in succession, a book's exact contents will be revealed.

• The writing in these items can be read by any creature that speaks a language (regardless of the specific language or the creature's ability to read).

• If designed for a particular class, a multi- or dual- class character is treated as if having the class granting the most beneficial result possible (from their existing set of classes).

• Once a book is used and it's powers pass into the reader, the book disintegrates and cannot be used again.

• If a book delivers only a negative to a reader, that reader is cursed and becomes the item's host as per the rules for minor cursed items.