Bittermaw’s Spell Tome

SOURCE: Bittermaw’s Spell Tome is the spell book of Bittermaw (agent of the Lich Lords). It is written in a complex cypher, crated by Thebadoux himself. This Bittermaw – Agent of the Lich Lords material is part of the Hoarwind Summoning adventure.

> i20 > DC 22 Cipher

Item Platform: i20™ 2021
Value: 10,000 silver crowns?

Requirements to Wield/Use: Occult Aptitude / spell-casting ability.

Common Understanding/Perception

Item Origins/Purpose: This is an occult Codex for spells known by Bittermaw (Thebadoux). This volume is inscribed on the flesh of his victims. It was re-created when he was “taken” into the cold embrace of the Lich Lords. Its obvious this spell book is not his original – It could not have survived in the climate of the north. The exact fate of that book is unknown.

Initial Appearance: The pages are made from humanoid flesh. It is inscribed with red-black blood ink. It stinks of decayed flesh, but never deteriorates. The cover is inscribed with Bittermaws personal sigil.

Attributed Author(s): Bittermaw/Thebadoux.

Power and Knowledge

Spell Formulae:

  1. Comprehend Languages, Long Strider, Fog Cloud, Mage Armor, Ray of Sickness, Cause Fear, Color Spray, False Life, Illusory Script, Silent Image, Unseen Servant
  2. Detect Thoughts, Blindness, Misty Step, Ray of Enfeeblement, Binding Ice, Blur, Levitate
  3. Animate Dead, Counter Spell, Black Pall (Fireball; DC 25 to understand Necrotic version – Necromancer or undead only), Fear, Feign Death
  4. Fabricate, Ice Storm, Arcane Eye, Hallucinatory Terrain, Dimension Door
  5. Dominate Person, Contact other Plane, Dream
Minor Powers

Inscription Requirements: Only a character possessing the Cold Embrace of the Lich Lords can inscribe in it. It requires special ink, using blood of victims killed by the inscriber.

Damage Proof: Normal mundane sources of damage do not harm it. Any character harming it will take take Necrotic damage, and gain the enmity of The Lich Lords, gaining a brand upon the back of their left wrist or the back of their neck.

Major Powers

Requirements: 1 Attunement + Undead

  • False Life Improvement: The spell, if cast with book in hand, is maximum.
  • Stinking Cloud Improvement: The spell, if cast with book in hand, increases the spell save by 1.
  • While attuned, the owner is immune to the secondary effects of Chill Touch.

Chronicle of Bittermaw’s Spell Tome

Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore

Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/accessibility. If nothing is indicated, assume it is Pervasive.

Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty

The spell book of Bittermaw (agent of the Lich Lords). It is written in a complex cypher, crated by Thebadoux himself.

Initial Appearance: The pages are made from humanoid flesh. It is inscribed with red-black blood ink. It stinks of decayed flesh, but never deteriorates. The cover is inscribed with Bittermaws personal sigil. It resists any mundane destruction by attacks or elements. The book is written in Dundarian with a custom cypher, known only to its creator.

Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty

Further Appearance: The back is inscribed with the symbol of the Lich Lords. It resists inscription upon the few pages in the back. The book is written in Dundarian with a custom cypher, known only to its creator. It is dedicated to the masters of the cold embrace.

Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty

The back cover is made from the back skin of his once apprentice Falaca.

Warning
Obscure/Hidden Knowledge is not generally available in known references; It is not necessarily Forbidden.
DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT unless a character has the capability to gain such knowledge [through association, organization, or relation] if they do not possess it themselves or the reader intends to participate in scenarios using this material as a PLAYER! GM Narration will typically provide relevant information by check or story.