Personal Reading
Divination
Level Bar 1, Cle 1
Components V, S, F
Casting Time 20 minutes
Range Personal
Target One creature
Duration See text
Saving Throw None
Spell Resistance None
This spell allows the caster to analyze personal information about one humanoid creature. To cast the spell the caster must know the subject’s real name (the name the subject was given at birth) or the date and place of the subject’s birth. The caster is then able to build a rough picture of the character’s life history and personal specifics.
The historical information discovered through this spell is generally vague. For example, the caster might learn that the subject was born in the woods and moved to the city only after hardship made his life untenable. Specific information is up to the GM. The GM might provide some or all of the following information:
The subject’s character class(es) or career.
The subject’s approximate level (stated in terms such as "novice", "highly skilled", "moderately competent", etc. If more than one class, each class is given a descriptor.)
The subject’s standing in the community ("highly respected", "mistrusted", "considered an enigma:, etc.)
The subject’s success or failure in his profession.
The subject’s prevailing character traits or mannerisms
If the caster casts this spell based on an alias or incorrect birth information, the reading will be inaccurate. The GM should develop a history and personality at odds with the truth. This might allow the caster to determine whether the name of the subject is correct if a reading is giving information the caster knows is not the truth.
The subject need not be present during the casting. The caster can cast the spell without ever having met the subject. A GM may rule this spell can be cast to get a reading on a monstrous creature, though words such as "profession" will mean something different when applied to an ogre. This spell will categorically fail on creatures that have no concept of a personal name.
Material Focus: A book containing numerological formulae. Bards will also have musical scores in distinct mathematical patterns while clerics will have various prayers and (un)holy words.This spell was originally from the 2e Tome of Magic