Adventuring Gear

Varies

A complete set of the Nether Scrolls was discovered by the Netherese arcanists in –3500 DR, comprised of fifty rolled golden sheets that describe the nature of magic, discuss the structure and properties of the Weave, and provide extensive instructions for manipulating both the Weave and raw magic. Silvery script flows across its golden surface as the scrolls are read, obscuring just how much information each of the sheets contains.

While the scrolls’ origins are unknown, the prevailing modern theory is that they originated among the celestial eladrin, given that the sheets themselves are written in the dead Elvish language of Seldruin. They also function similarly to elven lore gems, as both are magical interfaces for storing and quickly accessing vast amounts of information. It takes 2d4+4 workweeks of dedicated study to study a single sheet of the Nether Scrolls, but this time is reduced by a number of workweeks equal to the character’s Intelligence modifier (minimum 1; an Intelligence penalty doesn’t increase the time needed).

The only known complete sets of the Nether Scrolls have been broken up or lost for centuries, but several pages can be found in arcane libraries throughout Faerûn. These sheets are highly sought after, and stolen sheets are routinely sold for fortunes on the black market.

If you study all ten sheets in a chapter, you gain a minor boon:

Arcanus Fundare (Foundations of Magic).

Studying this complete chapter grants you proficiency in the Arcana skill. If you already have proficiency, you instead gain expertise in it, doubling your proficiency bonus.

Magicus Creare (Spells of Creation).

Studying this complete chapter gives you insight into how items can be imbued with lasting magical power. Whenever you craft a magical item, the time required is halved.

Maior Creare (Major Creations).

Studying this complete chapter allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the Intelligence and Wisdom scores of any constructs you create or conjure. These scores can’t exceed your own.

Planus Mechanus (Studies of the Planes).

Studying this complete chapter grants you insight into teleportation and dimensional travel spells such as misty step, teleport, and gate. Whenever you cast such a spell, if it has a casting time of 1 action, you can choose to cast it as a bonus action instead, or if it has a casting time of 1 bonus action, you can choose to cast it as a reaction instead.

Ars Factum (Of the Creation of Artifacts).

This chapter is believed to explain how to create artifacts, but all known sheets from this chapter are magically locked, and the key has never been discovered.