Thursday, May 18, 2017

Divine scrolls - a consideration...

I've been pondering divine scrolls and their synthesis.  A common thread of the rulesets for scrolls is time plus a certain value of consumable components to create the scroll. Based on the trope of the arcane class, the scroll is created via research or transcriptions, and the material components are likely associated with spellcasting or using rare materials for ink/illuminations to bind the spell to the scroll.

However, cleric/divine spells are not traditionally held within a spellbook, but are granted via prayer or inspiration from the cleric's deity.  So how would a divine scroll be transcribed?  And how is the monetary equivalent used?

Is the material value may be spent in tithes or proper sacrifices to curry the deity's favors (e.g. the 'fatted calf')? That could work.  Or...

Source
Perhaps, since the cleric is the recipient or conduit for spells, then they may also act as the catalyst for scroll creation.  Therefore, that 'conduit' must be expanded to generate the energies necessary to transcribe divine forces onto a scroll.  And a common traditional method for a priest/shaman/cleric to get into strong and direct communion with the divine was through mind-altering substances.

So, like the above arcane components necessary to create a scroll, the cleric may require a rare drug (its quantity/value/rarity proportional to the level of the spell) to descend into a trance to best prepare themselves as the device through which the spell is communicated.  The spell is then transcribed via automatic writing or some similar trance-device.

Just came up with this while theorizing on what might inspire a cleric to be searching out loot or rare materials, which then descended into a thought-experiment of how were they going to transcribe those scrolls, anyway?  So feel free to take it or leave it...

"Yes, I'm Br'er Rombur of the Divine Zhiver.  I understand that you plan to delve the Caverns of Leromos.  I understand there are stands of a certain fungus found there that I use in my, umm, worship..."

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