Zala was interested in knowledge from a young age. She devoured every book she could get her hands on, from history to heroic tales to accounts of wars past. Fortunately for her, her family lived in a city with ready access to a large library, so she spent much of her free time there. When she turned 13, her parents sent her to an academy, where she happily spent the next four years excelling in her studies.
Her instructors there noted her interests and suggested she apprentice herself to a bard. While she had a passable singing voice and no inclination at all for instruments, she could tell amazing stories that drew the listener in and made him feel a part of the tale. At 17, she applied to the bardic academy and was accepted and apprenticed to an older bard, a man named Soshin. They traveled the length and breadth of the kingdom, learning the craft while they entertained the masses.
About a year later, Soshin, impressed by Zala's prodigious memory and quick mind, asked her an odd question one night: How would she like to serve the king in a capacity that would enable her to gather even more knowledge? She warily said that it sounded like a good idea to her, but she knew there had to be a catch. As it turned out, Soshin was a member of the Grey Shadows, the king's intelligence network. They had been watching Zala for years, since shortly after she had entered the academy, and had decided to recruit her. She asked for some time to think it over, and he agreed.
It took her only two days to accept their offer. She was inducted into the ranks of the Gray Shadows a week later, but little really changed - she remained as an apprentice to Soshin, but this time he taught her all the tricks of the trade. It was during this time that she started developing new spells, much to the delight of her superiors. When her preliminary training was complete, she was set free to undertake her own missions. She quickly became known for her cryptography skills and her ability to pass information through even the tightest screens.
As she rose through the ranks, she gravitated toward the path of the Loremaster, and her studies there led her to even greater secrets than before. She currently heads a cell of operatives, some of whom use the spells she developed to pass information to her. Most of her time is spent in the city collating and sorting reports, but she occasionally still embarks on a mission or two that is too important to entrust to an underling. Most of her spells see use only within the ranks of the Shadows (and are known only to them); she donated copy, book search, her document spells, highlighter, and scribe to the bardic academy and the city library, however, in thanks for all that she learned there.
Zala is a pretty but otherwise unremarkable woman; she stands a few inches over five feet, with a slim build and long brown hair. She is ever watchful - her eyes miss very little - and a font of knowledge; there is little she doesn't know or can't find out.
Zala's Spells
Copy. Copies one page or 1 sq. ft. of text/level.
Decrypt. Decodes 1 page/level.
Encrypt. Encodes 1 page/level.
Pagewipe. Erases the contents of a protected page.
Scribe. Records caster's words, 1 minute/level.
Zala's Altered Text. Changes the appearance of one page/level of text, maps, etc.
Zala's Book Blank. Erases one book, up to 10 pages/level.
Zala's Book Lock. Seals one book closed, 1 day/level.
Zala's Document Preservation. Preserves one page/level so they can be handled.
Zala's Document Restoration. Makes one page or square foot of text readable.
Zala's Eraser. Erases selected parts of a book or scroll.
Zala's Hidden Page. Hides one page in a book.
Zala's Highlighter. Marks out passages in a book.
Zala's Invisible Writing. Turns one page of text/level invisible.
Zala's Pagewipe. Erases the contents of a protected page.
Zala's Reading Lens. Enchanted lens enables the caster to read illusory, invisible, encoded text.
Secrets Domain
Granted Power: Cast undetectable lie 3/day.
Secrets Domain Spells
1 Undetectable Alignment. Conceals alignment for 24 hours.
2 Encrypt. Encodes one document.
3 Nondetection. Hides subject from divination, scrying.
4 Zala's Book Blank. Erases one book, up to 10 pages/level.
5 Private Sanctum. Prevents anyone from viewing or scrying on an area for 24 hours.
6 Mislead. Turns caster invisible and creates an illusionary double.
7 Sequester. Subject is invisible to sight and scrrying; renders creature comatose.
8 Mind Blank. Subject is immune to mental/emotional magic and scrying.
9 Screen. Illusion hides area from vision, scrying.
Copy
Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Wiz 1
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Up to 1 page/level or 1 sq. ft./level of text
Duration: Special
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell copies the contents of one page or other medium (see below) to another. The contents can be pictures, text, symbols, or any combination thereof, but they cannot be magical in any way (not even a sepia snake sigil or similar spell). The contents of up to one page per level or up to one square foot of space (writing or paintings on a wall, e.g.) per level can be copied in this manner. The medium to be copied to can be anything that can be written upon – paper, metal, stone, etc., but the caster must have the proper utensils to create the writing (see focus) and enough space to receive the text (painting, map, etc.). The spell copies one page or one square foot of text per round. If the target medium is not large enough to contain the entire area to be copied (not enough pages, e.g.), or if the target text has magical writings (runes, symbols, etc.), the spell fails.
While copying with this spell, the caster's eyes flash with white light.
Focus: A quill, pen, brush, chisel, or other implement suitable for writing on the destination surface.
Decrypt
Transmutation
Level: Brd 2, Wiz 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Area: One object, up to 1 sq. ft./level, or 1 page/level
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell grants the ability to decrypt any encoded writing on an object – a book, scroll, wall, etc. It decrypts magical and nonmagical codes of all types, but does not enable the caster to read the writing if it is in a language he does not understand. It also does not grant instant understanding of the writing decrypted; riddles and obscure phrases appear exactly as they are written.
Focus: A miniature magnifying glass.
Encrypt
Transmutation
Level: Brd 2, Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Instantaneous
Target: 1 page or 1 sq. ft. of text/level
As decrypt, but encrypt encodes up to one square foot (or one page) per level of writing, to include hieroglyphics, carvings, or other forms of communication. The writing appears to be gibberish to anyone reading it, though a successful Decipher Script (DC 30) will crack the code, as will casting decrypt.
Material Component: 50 gp of diamond dust per square foot or page, which is sprinkled over the writing to be encrypted.
Pagewipe
Abjuration
Level: Brd 2, Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Area: 1 page/level
Duration: Permanent until triggered (D)
Saving Throw: See below
Spell Resistance: No
This spell is often used by wizards to guard their spellbooks, though it is also employed by others, especially court types, to protect royal couriers, sensitive documents, and maps. Anyone who is not the caster or someone designated by him at the time of casting (up to four other people), who attempts to read a page or document protected by this spell triggers the ward - the page immediately and irrevocably goes blank. This will affect even magical writings, but not any pages or scrolls that are already protected by a glyph of warding, sepia snake sigil, or similar warding. The writing must be in ink of some sort - engravings, etchings, and carvings are not affected. The reader can make an Int check (DC 30) to read the entire page before it was erased. A failed save means he only caught 10-60% of the page. Dispel magic has a chance of removing the glyph; if it fails, it sets the glyph off, erasing the page.
Material Component: 100 gp of diamond dust per page to be enspelled, which is sprinkled over the page as the spell is cast.
Scribe
Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Wiz 1
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One quill
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell enchants one quill, pen, or other writing utensil to write down everything the caster says for the duration of the spell. He must remain within 30 feet of the quill for it to record his speech, and it must have sufficient paper to write upon. The quill does not need ink, and can write up to 250 words per minute. It cannot draw pictures or glyphs of any kind, nor can it record command words, magical phrases, or spells.
Zala’s Altered Text
Illusion (Figment)
Level: Brd 2, Wiz 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One page or 1 sq. ft. of text/level
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell changes up to one page or one square foot of text per level – writing or maps, but not pictures. The default is a dry treatise on some extremely boring subject (the life cycle of the Cerillian sea slug, for instance), but the caster can dictate the end result also. Maps are changed to show a totally fictional locale or a place of the caster’s choosing, as appropriate. The caster can also choose to change only select words or passages, or parts of a map; this does not change the amount of text she can affect. The only way to change it back is via a dispel magic or similar spell, though true seeing or similar effect will enable the reader to see the original (unaltered) writing.
This spell has no effect on magical writings - scrolls, tomes, librams, etc., including any writing warded with spells like sepia snake sigil, explosive runes, or other effects.
Zala's Book Blank
Transmutation
Level: Brd 4, Secrets 4, Wiz 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Book touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell erases the contents of an entire book of up to ten pages per level in length. It does not damage the book in any way – it merely wipes the pages clean, rendering the book reusable. It works on books, tomes, and librums of any size or composition, so long as they have two covers and pages in between. Zala's book blank does not affect magical scrolls, nor does it affect spellbooks or magical books of any type (though it will affect books warded with protection spells). It will affect any other type of book, including stone tablets connected by rings, metal discs bound with wire, or any other form of nonmagical book or scroll.
Zala's Document Preservation
Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 5 ft.
Target: 1 page/scroll per level
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell is invaluable to researchers, bards, mages, and archaeologists, as it is used to preserve documents – paper, scroll, parchment, or pages from a book – so it can be handled without fear of crumbling to dust. While the spell is in effect, the affected documents are treated as normal paper or parchment – they can be still be torn, burned, etc., but won't fall apart as would normal documents of their age. Scrolls can be unrolled and rerolled, books can be opened, etc. In the case of books with more than one page per caster level, it affects the first page in the book and works downward; if the book is open, it starts at the open page and works down from there (either toward the beginning or end of the book, as the caster chooses).
This spell has limited effect on waterlogged documents – in this case, the documents can be handled (and pages in a book can be turned normally) but this spell does not enable someone to read them more easily. Burned documents are treated similarly – they can be handled without fear of falling apart, but other means are needed to be able to read them, like Zala's document restoration.
This spell can be made permanent.
Material Component: A pinch of crumbled parchment dust.
Zala's Document Restoration
Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: 1 page/level, or 1 sq. ft. of text
Duration: 10 minutes/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
Like Zala's document preservation, this spell is valued by those who sift through old books and records seeking knowledge. It is used to restore the writing of old, faded, or waterlogged scrolls, parchments, or books, making them readable once more. Once the spell is cast, the writing slowly (over the course of a full round) grows darker until it is restored to its original state.
This spell can also be used on writing on walls or tablets; in this case, it affects up to 1 square foot of text. "Writing" in this case constitutes any form of written medium used to convey information – hieroglyphs, cuneiform, pictograms, etc., whether they are scribed in ink, blood, paint, or something else. It even affects images or words carved in stone, if they have been worn or chiseled away, but not if they have been destroyed by magically altering the stone.
Restore document can even make burned pages readable (though it will not restore their original form), but it cannot reverse the effects of a spell that erases or alters text.
This spell can be made permanent.
Material Component: A pinch of fine sand used to blot ink, which is sprinkled over the pages to be affected.
Zala's Eraser
Transmutation
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Book touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell erases certain information from up to 10 pages per level of a book while leaving all other parts of the book intact. For example, one could cause all pictures of a certain person, all passages mentioning a city, or a complete chapter to vanish. If the book does not contain the information the caster wishes to erase, the spell has no effect. This spell does not work on magical tomes of any kind, including spellbooks.
Zala's Hidden Page
Transmutation
Level: Brd 2, Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Book touched
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
By use of this spell, the caster merges one page (front and back) of a book with the page next to it - it cannot be read or even seen by any means unless the reader knows a command word, set during casting (which must be uttered before the book is opened). Other than a faint aura of transmutation on the book itself, there is no indicator that the book is missing any pages - the numbering is automatically changed to cover up the missing page, and anyone reading through the book can read the page holding the hidden page just fine.
The page to be hidden cannot have any enchantments on it like sepia snake sigil, invisible writing, etc., but it can hold spells. A book can have multiple hidden page spells cast on it (1 per 10 pages).
Material Component: 50 gp of diamond dust, which is sprinkled over the page to be hidden.
Zala's Highlighter
Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Book touched
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
In order to cast this spell, the caster must read the book to be affected, then make DC 15 Knowledge check related to that book (for instance, if it's a book on castles, the check would be architecture and engineering; if it were a treatise on the third dynasty of a lost kingdom, it would be either history or nobility and royalty). If the check succeeds, she can then highlight any passages of interest in it in a bright color – yellow, orange, blue, green, or pink – for future reference. If the check fails, she could not find enough relevant material to highlight (though she can try again when she gains another rank in the knowledge skill). Anyone using that book for research or reference at a later time (including the caster) gains a +4 insight bonus to the appropriate check; a given person can gain up to +20 total from highlighted books.
The highlighting does not affect the book or its text in any way and can be removed easily via dispel magic. Erasing or otherwise destroying the text also eliminates the highlighting. Magical text (altered, illusionary, or invisible text, or explosive runes), or text that is already under the effects of a spell (hidden page) cannot be highlighted, even if the caster can read it.
Material Components: A glowworm, a few drops of ink, and a pinch of powdered crystal.
Zala's Invisible Writing
Illusion (Glamer)
Level: Brd 2, Wiz 2
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: One page or 1 sq. ft. of text/level
Duration: Permanent (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell renders up to one page or one square foot of text (including runes, symbols, maps, pictures, etc. but not magical writing) invisible. The page, scroll, or other medium bearing the writing is not itself invisible; only the text is. The text is easily readable by creatures able to see invisible objects and creatures; as well as with true sight and other spells that see invisible objects. Otherwise, the caster can stipulate conditions under which the text appears (such as when it is illuminated by the light of a full moon, when the light of the setting sun strikes it, or when a flame from the Elemental Plane of Fire is held behind it). The conditions must contain a light setting of some sort, as noted above, however.
Material Component: 10 gp worth of silver dust, which is sprinkled over the text to be rendered invisible.
Zala's Reading Lens
Divination
Level: Brd 4, Wiz 4
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Duration: 10 minutes/level (D)
This spell combines the effects of several others, making it quite effective for bards and scholars searching for lost or hidden texts. It must be cast on a crystal lens; when reading through the lens, the caster can read encoded documents and invisible text, and pierce illusory script or altered text (see Zala's altered text); the lens also reveals the presence of protective spells like sepia snake sigils and explosive runes without setting them off (as long as they are viewed through the lens; the effects appear in glowing silvery script).
Focus: A crystal lens worth 100 gp.
