Dictation

(See also: Dictation (Wizard Spell))

This spell causes any words spoken by the priest or anyone within 10 feet of him to appear on a piece of paper or the blank page of a book. It is useful for recording conversations, verbal agreements, interrogations, or even notes or observations if the priest doesn't want to take the time to write them down himself. Generally, a person reading aloud takes about one to five minutes to read a page, depending on the size of the writing and density of the words.

Foreign languages are not translated, although foreign words are given the correct alphabetic spelling in the priest's native tongue: for example, the phrase c ‘est la vie would appear as it does here, with no English translation, but a phrase or name in Arabic or Chinese would not be transcribed in those alphabets. Magical spells and invocations are not recorded, so this spell can't be used to create a copy of a scroll as it is read, but a clever priest may be able to record a magical item's command word if an enemy within range uses it while the spell is in effect. The material component for this spell is the blank page, scroll, or paper on which the dictation will appear. This must be prepared with a special wash of vinegar, costing 10 gold pieces per page.