Read Banned Letters

(See also: Read Banned Letters (Wizard Spell))

This spell exists in both priestly and wizardly forms. It is used when the caster must read a document or object that is suspected to be cursed (as in some magic scrolls) or trapped with a spell such as explosive runes or sepia snake sigil. The caster merely touches the document, and the words are revealed to his thoughts safely, without triggering any protective magic attached to them. The dweomer upon the words is in no way dispelled; it will activate, as according to the spell, when the document is read normally.

The document need not be open and apparent; the priest may read the banned letters of a rolled scroll or closed book. However, no special understanding is imparted by the spell, so if the writings are in a language unfamiliar to the caster, he simply sees an image of the script in his mind, nothing more. Thus, a tablet with the confuse languages dweomer (the reverse of comprehend languages) remains unfathomable to the caster.

Note that the casting of this spell also does not ensure that any real information is learned. A cursed scroll may simply be gibberish upon a rolled piece of parchment and would be revealed as such. Also, this spell does not allow the caster to read a passage written with illusionary script.

The material component for the Priest version of this spell is the caster's holy symbol laid upon the document or object to be read. The material component for the Wizard version is a small, wire-wrapped glass lens that is clutched in the caster's hand, which he lays upon the document. Otherwise, the spell description is the same for both Wizards and Priests.