Words

The following new mystery may be selected by an oracle upon taking her first level, and complements the Occult Philologist multiclass archetype.

Deities: Any.

Class Skills: An oracle with the words mystery adds Linguistics, Perform, and Spellcraft to her list of class skills.

Bonus Spells: comprehend languages (2nd), codespeak (4th), glyph of warding (6th), illusory script (8th), spellcasting contract (lesser) (10th), glyph of warding (greater) (12th), spellcasting contract (14th), word of recall (you must write the word instead of saying it) (16th), spellcasting contract (greater) (18th)

Revelations: An oracle with the words mystery can choose from any of the following revelations.

Automatic Writing (Su): Once per day, you can spend a full hour in uninterrupted meditation. During this period, your hands produce mysterious writing that pertains to the future. At 1st level, the prophetic writing manifests as an augury spell with 90% effectiveness. At 5th level, the writing takes the form of a divination with 90% effectiveness. At 8th level, the writing manifests as a casting of commune with no material component required.

Counterword (Su): You may counter magic effects and spells that depend on language or written texts, like a bard does with sound–based ones. This works otherwise as the countersong bardic performance, but may rely on audible or visual components, depending on the countered effect. You could, for example, prevent a symbol spell from working by designing a counter–symbol upon it, or write a counter–poem upon an explosive rune; but also reciting a soothing oration to counter a command spell. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.

Esoteric Research (Su): Your knowledge of the magic languages allows you to learn incantations usually prohibited to your class. Choose any one class spell list. You may research spells from that list to add to your list as divine oracle spells, as if they were 2 levels less in terms of cost, time and difficulty; any esoteric spell researched is added to your list as if it were 1 level higher (for example, you could research a 7th–level wizard spell as if it were a 5th–level spell for the purpose of research cost, time and difficulty; it should be added to your spell list as an 8th–level spell). You must be at least 7th level to select this revelation.

Inspired Interpreter (Su): You may read and understand written texts in any language as if you were wearing an helm of comprehend languages and magic reading. You don’t gain the ability to speak or understand spoken words in other languages. With a successful Linguistics check, you can activate any spell from a scroll or a book, whether it’s of the correct type and in your spell list, or not. You use your Charisma in place of the requisite ability score for spells.

Read Between the Lines (Su): Reading any script, you can discover many things about its author. You must read a text carefully from beginning to end. You gain information on whoever wrote it as if you made a Diplomacy skill check to gather information, with a result equal to 15 + your oracle level + your Charisma modifier. At 5th level, you know what the author thought and meant when the text was written as if using seek thoughts; at 11th level, you know many things about the author, as if you cast legend lore. This ability works also on text written by long–dead authors. You may use this ability a once per day, plus one additional time per day for every five oracle level you possess.

Say the Word (Ex): You’ve become adept to cast spells just with your words. You gain Eschew Materials as a bonus feat. At 7th level, you gain Still Spell too. At 11th level, thrice per day, you may apply the Still Spell metamagic feat to a spell without increasing the level.

Spontaneous Symbology (Sp): Your knowledge of the secret history of the world has unveiled the mysterious symbols that govern reality. You can cast any “symbol” spell using a spell slot of the appropriate level, even if the spell is not on your list of spell’s known. A symbol spell is any spell with the word “symbol” in its name. You must be at least 11th level to select this revelation.

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword (Su): As a swift action, you can enlarge a quill, pen or other tiny writing instrument into a blade similar to a longsword. You can then strike with it as if it were a weapon making a melee attack. For the purpose of this ability, you are proficient with this weapon. You can use the weapon to perform combat maneuvers. You may use with this weapon any combat feats that could be used with a longsword. If you hit, the weapon deals 1d8 points of slashing damage + 1 point for every two oracle levels you possess. After this attack, the quill returns to normal. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Charisma modifier.

Wall of Text (Su): You begin an endless litany which takes the form of a compact wall of solid written words protecting you and your allies from hostile attacks. The wall deflects arrows, bolts, loose debris, and Small or smaller flying creatures like a wind wall spell, except these things rebound harmlessly rather than being directed upward. The relentless flow of words forces creatures within 10 feet of you to a Will save; if they fail, they’re stunned for 2d4 rounds. Touching and passing through the wall stuns a creature for 2d6 round +1 per oracle level. If you evoke the wall so that it appears where creatures are, each creature takes damage as if passing through the wall. An erase spell suppresses the wall within its area as if it were magic writing, but only for a round. This is not a language–dependent effect. You may summon a wall of text a number of times per day equal to your Charisma bonus, and it last as long as you concentrate. The wall works otherwise as a wall of sound. You must be at least 7th level to select this revelation.

Whirlwind Lesson (Ex): You can quickly browse through a magical tome or manual, gaining its benefits with only a single 8-hour study session (rather than the usual 48 hours over a period of 6 days). At 7th level, you may allow another character to join in your study; both of you gain the full benefit of having read the book. At 15th level, you may share your whirlwind lesson with a number of characters equal to your oracle level. The benefits to you are permanent, whereas your students gain the tome or manual’s benefits for a number of days equal to your Charisma modifier but then forget what they have learned.

Final Revelation: Upon reaching 20th level, you have understood the full power of words. You become immune to spells and effects that rely on spoken or written words (like power word, runes or glyph spells). You can use the True Name wizard discovery once per day as if you had cast greater planar binding.