Similar to Artificers rather than casting spells directly on a character Chirographers instead infuse magic into scrolls, walls, floors or objects via the use of written letters, runes, wards, symbols and circles. These can be done by an enchanted stylus using brush strokes, engraving or chiselling.
| Step 1: Attributes | ||
| Roll attributes as normal but raise INT to 15 and DEX to 14, or if already over add +1 to each one which is over. Hit points = CON +4, +4 per level. | ||
| Step 2: Skills | ||
| Choose skills in
the normal manner but also gain the following free ones; Cryptography Engrave Forgery Knowledge Artifacts Knowledge Geomancy Knowledge Magic |
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| Step 3: Abilities | ||
| Chirographers gain all
the following free; Spellcast - The first sphere the Chirographer learns from is free and must be Caligramancy, each subsequent sphere costs 5 points. He starts with one spell per INT point over 9, he can learn an equal amount per level. Thus INT 13 = 4 spells +4 per level. The spells can come from any sphere of magic and in any combination (except Divine). This is one of the few mages who can learn nearly any spell. However; spells can only ever be embedded into objects, never cast externally like other mages. Artificers can tap into the world’s natural mana at a rate of INT + WIS x4. +10 Mana at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. +1 Spell save at levels 2, 5, 9, 11, 13 and 17. +1 Sanity save at levels 7, 11, 15 and 19. +1 Willpower save at levels 1, 4, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 20. +1 Spell Bonus at levels 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18. Pick 1 extra spell at levels 3, 7, 10, 13, 17 and 19. Additionally Chirographers start with 35 Points to spend on any of the following abilities. As they earns more experience they may buy or rebuy more abilities. |
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| Ability | Cost | Notes |
| Bibliomancy | 5 | This is a special ability which allows the Chirographer to instantly find the information he needs from a book. All he need do is pick up the book, concentrate for a minute on what it is he is looking for, then drop the book. It will then fall open on the exact page which has the information he is looking for. |
| Contact | 5 | The player may have 1 contact per 5 CHA and this may be in any country. The player should determine this with the GM. Add an equal amount of contacts each time rebought. The contacts should be involved in writing or print somehow. |
| Create Scroll | 5 | The ability to impart a spell onto a
scroll (including tablets, cloth, paper or any other written media) which
can then be read out by anyone. A scroll is a spell (or collection of
spells) that has been stored in written form. A spell on a scroll can be
used only once. The writing vanishes from the scroll when the spell is
activated. Using a scroll is basically like casting a spell.
A scroll is a spell (or collection of spells) that has been stored in written form. A spell on a scroll can be used only once. The writing vanishes from the scroll when the spell is activated. Using a scroll is basically like casting a spell. The character must have prepared the spell to be scribed, the act of writing triggers it making it unavailable for casting until finished. Time required is (one day minus one hour per INT over 12) multiplied by (the amount of enchantments + the amount of mana). Mana cost is 10 + the cost of each spell or enchantment. |
| Create Stylus | 5 | This is the special ability to create a magical pen to write magic words, wards, circles, symbols, numbers, music and drawings. It can write underwater and is unaffected by gravity, pressure or other conditions in atmospheres. It will mark any object. It is used as a focus to directly transfer the Chirographer's mana onto the object he is scribing on. |
| Create Tarot | 5 | The tarot is typically a set of seventy eight cards, comprising twenty one trump cards, one fool, and four suits of fourteen cards each. Each card has a different symbolic meaning and together they are used for fortune telling. The Chirographer has the ability to magically inscribe cards for use by others for divination. While there is a standard suit of cards used he may of course use different images on the cards, tailoring them to suit each client. |
| Damage Bonus | 10 | +1 or +25% damage each time bought (whichever is highest) and only applies to one sphere of magic. Must be rebought for each additional sphere. |
| Extend Duration | 10 | Spell duration increases by +1 round and only applies to one sphere of magic. Must be rebought for each additional sphere. |
| Psychography | 5 | Psychography is a technique for channelling written messages from a spirit. There are 4 different levels for this and the character must pick which level he is when he first takes this ability. There is no real difference ability wise, but it may make the character more vulnerable to possession. Level 1 - A spirit may take control of the character's arm and writes independently from his awareness. Level 2 - The character keeps relative control of his limb, but still feels a foreign influence on its movement. Unlike level one he knows all that is being written and can stop to rest or to turn the page whenever he sees fit. Level 3 - A spirit may communicate with the character's subconscious resulting in him writing what is on his mind, though it is something different from what he would normally think. Sentences come formed, but he can amend them with richer vocabulary or a better syntax before writing them down. This is the most common type, but is less reliable and is usually marred by the interference of the Chirographer's conscience. Level 4 - The least intrusive level allows the character to receive vague notions in his mind which writes in his own words. This type of psychography is very difficult to tell apart from the regular thinking process especially in people with a literary talent. |
| Range Boost | 10 | +25% range for spells and only applies to one sphere of magic. Must be rebought for each additional sphere. |
| True Sight | 10 | Can see the true image of any person or object regardless of any form of concealment, disguise, illusion or invisibility. This also includes the ability to detect whether it is magical, and the exact nature of the magic. |
| Step 4: Careers | ||
| Possible related careers include; Poet, Novel Writer, Journalist, Painter, Editor, Public Relations, Script Writer, Columnist, Teacher and Researcher. | ||