Scroll of Shifting Realities

From: Vesperons Enigmatic Sanctum

Lore: The Scroll of Shifting Realities is a relic steeped in the ancient magic of chaos and dimensional manipulation. It is said to have been created by an enigmatic archmage known as Xanthar the Veiled, who sought to push the boundaries of arcane knowledge and test the limits of reality itself.

According to legend, Xanthar was a master of both arcane and chaos magic, delving into the chaotic energies that lurk beyond the known realms. In a daring experiment, he infused his profound understanding of chaos into the intricate array of arcane symbols found on the scroll. By doing so, he succeeded in creating a spell that could temporarily warp the fabric of reality within a localized area.

The Scroll of Shifting Realities became a testament to Xanthar’s daring and a source of fascination for other mages seeking to harness the unpredictable power of chaos. However, the scroll also bore a warning about its potential risks—the spell’s use could intensify the inherent chaos of a dungeon, making it even more treacherous and unpredictable for all within its boundaries.

Throughout the ages, the scroll’s existence remained known only to a select few, safeguarded in hidden vaults or secured by secretive organizations. Its use was considered both alluring and perilous, making it a tool of immense power for those willing to embrace the chaos within.

The Use of The Scroll of Shifting Realities — The Scroll of Shifting Realities holds the following significant abilities:

• Localized Reality Distortion: When cast, the scroll creates a localized field of shifting realities within the designated area. This causes the dungeon’s environment to become highly unstable and chaotic, disorienting enemies and making their actions less predictable.
• Unsettling Foes: The spell can disorient and confuse enemies caught within its effects. It may cause them to make erroneous decisions or hinder their coordination, creating openings for adventurers to exploit.
• Increased Dungeon Unpredictability: While the spell affects enemies, it also intensifies the chaos of the dungeon itself. Traps might trigger unexpectedly, passages may shift, and new dangers could emerge, adding a level of risk and unpredictability to the adventurers’ path.

Specific Level One Stats:

• Area of Effect: 20-foot radius (The spell’s effect covers an area with a 20-foot radius from the point of casting.)

Skills:

• Chaos Magic Affinity: The caster must possess a high level of proficiency in chaos magic to successfully wield the Scroll of Shifting Realities.
• Spatial Awareness: The user should have excellent spatial awareness and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments while under the influence of the spell.

Cost: The Scroll of Shifting Realities is an incredibly potent artifact, possessing the power to manipulate reality within a defined area. Its value is closely tied to the rarity and the risks it presents. Acquiring the scroll may involve significant quests, powerful favors, or striking deals with elusive entities.

Requirements: To successfully cast the spell from the scroll, the user must be a skilled and experienced practitioner of chaos magic. Additionally, they should be mentally prepared to handle the challenges posed by the chaotic and unpredictable environment created by the spell.

Tags: Chaos Magic Artifact, Reality Warping Scroll, Xanthar’s Experiment, Unpredictable Spell, Dimensional Distortion

Where and How it Might be Sold — The Scroll of Shifting Realities is an artifact of immense power, but its use comes with inherent risks. Due to its chaotic nature, the scroll is likely to be sold or acquired through secretive and elusive means, involving those who appreciate the allure of chaos and the potential rewards it offers:

• Arcane Black Markets: Hidden markets catering to forbidden and dangerous magical artifacts may occasionally have the Scroll of Shifting Realities available for sale. The identities of buyers and sellers are often obscured to protect the scroll’s true nature.
• Cults of Chaos: Cults or organizations devoted to embracing the chaotic forces of the universe may hold the scroll as a prized artifact. They might offer it to members who have proven their dedication to chaos and who seek to create an even more unpredictable environment for their adversaries.
• Rogue Mages: Reclusive and powerful mages with a fascination for chaos magic might keep the scroll within their secret sanctums. These mages might choose to offer the scroll for sale to those who demonstrate a deep understanding of the risks and rewards associated with using such power.

In What Environment — The Scroll of Shifting Realities is closely associated with chaos magic and the manipulation of reality. As such, it is likely to be found in environments that reflect these themes:

• Chaos Sanctums: Hidden sanctums or temples devoted to chaos magic and experimentation may safeguard the scroll. These places could be situated in remote and treacherous locations, challenging seekers to prove their worthiness.
• Unstable Realms: Rumors speak of demiplanes or regions where reality is already in flux, acting as natural conduits for chaotic energies. The scroll might manifest within such realms, where reality shifts and twists in unpredictable ways.
• Chaos-infused Dungeons: The scroll could be hidden deep within dungeons or labyrinths where chaos reigns supreme. Adventurers seeking to acquire it would need to navigate through constantly changing and hazardous environments.

How the End Results are Used — The Scroll of Shifting Realities offers significant advantages and risks to those who dare to use it:

• Tactical Advantage: When cast, the spell creates an environment of chaos and confusion, disorienting enemies and making their actions less predictable. This can give the user and their allies an upper hand in battles and confrontations.
• Distraction and Evasion: The spell’s effects can distract and disorient foes, allowing the user to evade or avoid direct confrontations. The scroll can be a valuable tool for stealthy approaches and escaping from perilous situations.
• Increased Danger: The chaotic environment created by the scroll amplifies the unpredictability of the dungeon or battleground, making it more hazardous for everyone involved. This can lead to unintended consequences and unforeseen challenges.
• Arcane Experiments: Scholars and mages with a penchant for research and understanding chaos magic may use the scroll as a means of studying the effects of reality manipulation and its impact on the environment.

While the Scroll of Shifting Realities provides powerful advantages, its chaotic nature demands caution and skill in its use. It can create opportunities for victory and surprise, but its uncontrolled effects can lead to peril and unpredictable outcomes. As such, acquiring and employing the scroll requires great foresight and understanding of the ever-shifting nature of chaos.

Activation Perception of the Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Sight
  • Perceived:
    • The scroll unfurls and glows with an eerie, shifting light that dances across its surface, projecting brief glimpses of alternate realities.
  • Description:
    • When activated, the symbols on the scroll come to life, emitting a pulsating, multi-colored light that seems to change with each passing second. The light creates shifting patterns and illusions around the area of effect, making it appear as though reality itself is being warped and twisted.
  • Positives:
    • Visually captivating and clearly indicates the activation of the scroll.
    • Provides a visual cue to allies and enemies that the spell is in effect.
  • Negatives:
    • The bright, shifting light can draw unwanted attention.
    • The visual distortions may disorient allies as well as enemies.
• Sound
  • Perceived:
    • A low, resonant hum that builds into a chaotic symphony of whispers and echoes.
  • Description:
    • As the scroll activates, a deep hum fills the air, accompanied by faint whispers that seem to come from all directions. The sound fluctuates, creating an unsettling auditory landscape that enhances the sense of reality being distorted.
  • Positives:
    • Adds to the atmospheric effect of the spell, making it more immersive.
    • Can disorient and distract enemies caught within the area of effect.
  • Negatives:
    • The noise may also confuse or unsettle allies.
    • Loud enough to alert nearby creatures or enemies to the presence of the scroll’s effects.
• Smell
  • Perceived:
    • A mix of ozone and exotic, unidentifiable fragrances.
  • Description:
    • The air around the scroll takes on a sharp, electric scent reminiscent of ozone, combined with strange, otherworldly fragrances that shift and change unpredictably.
  • Positives:
    • Enhances the perception of the scroll’s activation and its magical nature.
    • The sharp scent of ozone can help heighten alertness and focus.
  • Negatives:
    • The exotic fragrances may be distracting or overwhelming to those with sensitive noses.
    • The smell of ozone can be associated with danger or unnatural phenomena.
• Taste
  • Perceived:
    • A metallic tang in the mouth, as if tasting raw magic.
  • Description:
    • Those in proximity to the activated scroll might notice a faint metallic taste on their tongues, as if the very air is charged with magical energy.
  • Positives:
    • Adds another layer to the sensory experience of the scroll’s activation.
    • Can serve as a subtle indicator of the scroll’s effects for those attuned to magical phenomena.
  • Negatives:
    • The metallic taste can be unpleasant and distracting.
    • Not everyone may be able to detect this subtle change.
• Touch
  • Perceived:
    • A tingling sensation on the skin, like static electricity.
  • Description:
    • When the scroll is activated, the air around it feels charged, causing a tingling sensation on the skin similar to the buildup of static electricity. This sensation fluctuates, mirroring the chaotic nature of the spell.
  • Positives:
    • Provides a tactile cue that the scroll is in effect.
    • The tingling sensation can heighten alertness and awareness.
  • Negatives:
    • The sensation can be uncomfortable or distracting.
    • Those with heightened sensitivity might find the tingling overwhelming.
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions
  • Temporal Displacement
    • Perceived:
      • A fleeting sense of déjà vu or the feeling of time shifting momentarily.
    • Description:
      • The scroll’s activation creates a subtle temporal distortion, causing those within its range to experience brief moments of déjà vu or a sense that time is moving irregularly.
    • Positives:
      • Adds to the overall disorienting effect of the spell on enemies.
      • Can provide a unique and memorable experience for players.
    • Negatives:
      • The temporal distortion can be confusing for both allies and enemies.
      • Prolonged exposure might lead to feelings of nausea or disorientation.
  • Reality Flux
    • Perceived:
      • A strong sense of reality shifting or multiple layers of existence overlapping.
    • Description:
      • As the scroll takes effect, there is a palpable sense that the boundaries between different realities are becoming blurred, making it feel as though multiple versions of the same place are coexisting and shifting in and out of focus.
    • Positives:
      • Significantly enhances the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the spell.
      • Can lead to creative and dynamic storytelling opportunities.
    • Negatives:
      • The intense reality flux can be overwhelming for those not prepared for it.
      • Might lead to unintended consequences or complications during gameplay.

Crafting Recipe: Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Materials Needed
  • Chaos Ink: A rare and volatile ink infused with chaotic energies, typically harvested from chaotic planes or distilled from the essence of chaotic creatures.
  • Ethereal Parchment: Special parchment that can withstand the infusion of chaos magic, often made from the fibers of plants found in the ethereal plane or magically treated vellum.
  • Arcane Crystals: Small crystals that can store and channel arcane energy, preferably those aligned with chaos magic.
  • Binding Glyphs: Magical symbols inscribed with precision to bind the chaos energy within the scroll, requiring gold dust and powdered gemstones.
  • Essence of Reality: A vial of distilled essence from a reality-warping creature or location, such as a shard from a plane of existence where reality is fluid.
• Tools Required
  • Enchanter’s Quill: A magical quill capable of channeling and controlling chaotic energies during the inscription process.
  • Chaos Altar: A dedicated workspace attuned to chaos magic, ideally located in a place of inherent chaotic energy.
  • Arcane Focus: A powerful focus item to help channel and stabilize the magic during the crafting process, such as a staff or orb.
  • Protective Wards: Protective enchantments to shield the crafter from the unstable energies involved in the process.
  • Inscription Tools: Fine brushes, pens, and etching tools for the detailed work of inscribing the binding glyphs.
• Skill Requirements
  • Mastery of Chaos Magic: Extensive knowledge and proficiency in chaos magic to safely harness and control its unpredictable nature.
  • Arcane Inscription: Skill in the delicate art of inscribing magical texts and symbols.
  • Alchemy: Proficiency in creating and handling volatile magical substances, particularly those associated with chaos.
  • Ethereal Crafting: Experience working with materials from the ethereal plane or other dimensions.
• Crafting Steps
  • Preparation of Materials:
    • Begin by preparing the Ethereal Parchment. Lay it out on the Chaos Altar and perform a ritual to attune it to the chaotic energies. This process may take several hours and requires the use of the Arcane Focus to maintain stability.
    • Grind the Arcane Crystals into fine powder and mix them with the Chaos Ink, creating a potent mixture capable of binding chaotic energies to the parchment.
  • Inscribing the Glyphs:
    • Using the Enchanter’s Quill, inscribe the Binding Glyphs onto the Ethereal Parchment with meticulous precision. These glyphs will form the framework that binds the chaotic energy within the scroll.
    • Dust the glyphs with a mixture of gold dust and powdered gemstones to enhance their potency and ensure they can contain the chaos energy.
  • Infusing the Scroll with Chaos Energy:
    • Carefully pour the Chaos Ink over the inscribed parchment, allowing it to soak in and bond with the Binding Glyphs. The parchment should begin to glow faintly, indicating the successful absorption of the chaotic energy.
    • Place the Essence of Reality at the center of the parchment and perform a binding ritual to merge its reality-warping properties with the scroll. This step requires precise control and focus to prevent the energies from destabilizing.
  • Stabilizing the Scroll:
    • Once the Essence of Reality is fully absorbed, use the Arcane Focus to stabilize the energies within the scroll. This process involves channeling steady, controlled magic into the scroll, ensuring that the chaotic energies are properly contained.
    • Seal the scroll with additional Binding Glyphs, reinforcing the containment and preventing any leakage of chaotic energy.
  • Final Blessing and Protection:
    • Perform a final blessing ritual to ensure the scroll’s integrity and enhance its protective wards. This step involves invoking protective enchantments to shield the scroll from external influences and maintain its stability.
    • Allow the scroll to rest on the Chaos Altar for a full lunar cycle, ensuring that the chaotic energies are fully integrated and stabilized.
  • Completion:
    • After the resting period, the Scroll of Shifting Realities should be carefully rolled and stored in a protective case to prevent accidental activation. The scroll is now ready for use, imbued with the power to warp reality and create a localized field of chaos.

This crafting process is intricate and demanding, requiring a deep understanding of chaos magic and precise control over volatile energies. Only the most skilled and knowledgeable practitioners should attempt to create the Scroll of Shifting Realities.

Tale of the Shifting Scroll

In the days when the stars were but young in the sky, there lived a mighty sage known by the name Xanthar the Veiled. Xanthar, with mind sharp as blade and spirit boundless as sea, sought the mysteries beyond mortal grasp. With magic both arcane and chaotic, he wandered the realms of time and space, ever searching, ever curious.

One day, deep in the heart of the shifting sands of the Nameless Desert, Xanthar stumbled upon an ancient tomb, whispered in legends to house the secrets of the universe. There, hidden beneath layers of dust and shadow, he discovered a scroll, its surface adorned with symbols that danced like flames in the wind.

With hands steady and mind sharp, Xanthar began to inscribe upon this scroll the essence of chaos itself. He gathered the ink of the night sky, the parchment of the ethereal trees, and the essence of reality from the heart of the great Ether Beast. Days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, as he toiled, binding the forces of chaos into the delicate weave of the scroll.

Upon completion, the Scroll of Shifting Realities, as it came to be known, possessed the power to warp the very fabric of existence. Xanthar, in his wisdom, inscribed upon the scroll a warning: “To wield this power is to dance with chaos, for reality will shift like sands in the wind.”

In the centuries that followed, the scroll passed from hand to hand, its power both revered and feared. Tales were told of heroes who used its magic to turn the tide of battle, and of fools who unleashed chaos upon themselves, swallowed by the very forces they sought to command.

One such tale tells of a warrior named Kael, who, upon hearing of the scroll’s power, sought it to save his kingdom from a shadowy threat. Braving the trials of the Forbidden Forest and the traps of the Lost Temple, Kael finally grasped the Scroll of Shifting Realities. With its power, he bent reality to confuse and scatter his enemies, securing victory for his people.

Yet, in his triumph, Kael forgot Xanthar’s warning. The scroll’s chaotic magic began to warp his kingdom, turning allies to enemies and friends to foes. Kael, in his desperation, sought to destroy the scroll, but the chaos had already taken root. His once-great kingdom fell into ruin, a testament to the scroll’s unpredictable might.

Moral of the Story: In the tale of the Shifting Scroll lies a lesson for all: To seek power without wisdom is to invite chaos, for the forces that shape our world are not to be trifled with. The balance of reality is fragile, and those who seek to alter it must tread with caution, lest they become victims of the very chaos they seek to control.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: A chaotic scroll inscribed with symbols that seem to shift and dance.
• Use: Creates a localized field of shifting realities, disorienting enemies and making the environment unpredictable.
• Mechanics:
  • Casting Time: 1 round
  • Area of Effect: 20-foot radius
  • Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
  • Sanity Loss: 1d4/1d8
• Effects:
  • Enemies within the area must make a POW roll or suffer a -20% penalty to all actions due to disorientation.
  • The environment becomes unpredictable; traps may trigger randomly and pathways might shift.
• Skills Required: Occult (50%) and Chaos Magic (40%)
• Cost: Rare, often acquired through black markets or ancient occult texts.

Blades in the Dark

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: A scroll that warps reality, creating chaos and confusion.
• Use: Distorts a localized area, making it difficult for enemies to coordinate and act effectively.
• Mechanics:
  • Type: Arcane Implement
  • Usage: One-time use, must be attuned before use
• Effect:
  • Create an area of chaotic energy for one score (or scene).
  • Enemies in the area take a -1d penalty to all actions.
  • The environment becomes unpredictable, potentially triggering hidden traps or shifting terrain.
• Attunement: Requires a successful Attune roll (risky/standard)
• Stress Cost: 2 stress to activate
• Cost: Extremely rare, typically found in hidden arcane repositories or stolen from rival mages.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Wondrous Item (scroll), very rare (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
• Description: A scroll inscribed with chaotic symbols that shift and change.
• Use: Creates a field of chaotic energy that disorients enemies and alters the environment.
• Mechanics:
  • Casting Time: 1 action
  • Range: Self (20-foot radius)
  • Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute
• Effects:
  • Enemies within the area must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 16) or suffer disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects such as triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in Arcana
• Cost: 10,000 gp, often sold in arcane black markets or hidden mage academies.

Knave

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: A scroll that, when read, warps reality around the user, creating chaos and confusion.
• Use: Distorts the immediate area, disorienting enemies and altering the environment.
• Mechanics:
  • Usage: One-time use, must be read aloud to activate
• Effect:
  • Creates a 20-foot radius area of chaotic energy for 1d6+1 turns.
  • Enemies must make a Wisdom save or take -2 to all actions.
  • The environment shifts unpredictably; the GM determines specific effects like triggering traps or moving objects.
• Skills Required: Knowledge in arcane lore
• Cost: Priceless, typically traded among high-level wizards or found in ancient ruins.

Fate (Core/Accelerated)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: An ancient scroll imbued with chaotic magic that distorts reality within a localized area.
• Use: Creates a field of chaotic energy, disorienting enemies and making the environment unpredictable.
• Mechanics:
  • Aspect: “Reality Distortion Field”
  • Invoke: To create confusion, disorient enemies, or alter the environment unpredictably.
  • Compel: To cause unintended chaotic effects, such as traps triggering or pathways shifting.
  • Duration: One scene
• Skills Required: Lore or Arcana to properly activate and control the scroll.
• Cost: Extremely rare, typically found in hidden arcane libraries or acquired through significant quests.

Numenera & Cypher System

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: A scroll containing ancient symbols that manipulate the fabric of reality.
• Use: Alters reality in a localized area, creating chaos and confusion.
• Mechanics:
  • Level: 6
• Effect:
  • Creates a 20-foot radius area of chaotic energy for 10 minutes.
  • Enemies in the area must make an Intellect defense roll (DC 18) or suffer a -2 penalty to all actions due to disorientation.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects like triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Understanding of chaos magic (training in Occult or Arcana).
• Cost: Priceless, usually found in ancient ruins or traded among high-level mages and scholars.

Pathfinder (2nd Edition)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Wondrous Item (scroll), very rare (requires attunement by a spellcaster)
• Description: A scroll inscribed with chaotic symbols that shift and change, creating a field of distorted reality.
• Use: Creates a field of chaotic energy that disorients enemies and alters the environment.
• Mechanics:
  • Casting Time: 1 action
  • Range: 20-foot radius
  • Duration: 1 minute
• Effects:
  • Enemies within the area must make a Will saving throw (DC 25) or suffer a -2 status penalty to attack rolls, AC, and skill checks.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects like triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Proficiency in Arcana
• Cost: 5,000 gp, typically found in arcane black markets or hidden mage academies.

Savage Worlds

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: An ancient scroll that warps reality, creating chaos and confusion.
• Use: Creates a field of chaotic energy, disorienting enemies and making the environment unpredictable.
• Mechanics:
  • Type: Magic Item
  • Usage: Single use, must be read aloud to activate
• Effect:
  • Creates a 20-foot radius area of chaotic energy for 3 rounds.
  • Enemies within the area must make a Spirit roll (at -2) or be Shaken.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects like triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Knowledge (Arcana) d8
• Cost: Rare, often found in hidden arcane repositories or acquired from powerful mages.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: An ancient scroll infused with chaotic magic, distorting reality in a localized area.
• Use: Creates a field of chaotic energy, disorienting enemies and making the environment unpredictable.
• Mechanics:
  • Type: Magical Item
  • Activation: Simple Action
  • Duration: 1 minute
  • Area of Effect: 10-meter radius
• Effect:
  • Enemies within the area must make a Willpower + Logic (3) Test or suffer a -2 dice pool penalty to all actions due to disorientation.
  • The environment becomes unstable, causing random effects such as traps triggering or pathways shifting. GM discretion on specific effects.
• Skills Required: Arcana skill rating of at least 5
• Cost: 50,000¥, found in high-security black markets or guarded by powerful magical organizations.

Starfinder

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: A scroll inscribed with chaotic runes, creating a field of distorted reality when activated.
• Use: Distorts reality in a localized area, causing disorientation and environmental instability.
• Mechanics:
  • Type: Magic Item (Scroll)
  • Activation: Standard Action
  • Duration: 1 minute
  • Area of Effect: 20-foot radius
• Effect:
  • Enemies within the area must succeed on a Will save (DC 20) or suffer a -2 penalty to attack rolls, AC, and skill checks due to disorientation.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects like triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Mysticism 5 ranks
• Cost: 10,000 credits, typically found in hidden temples or exclusive magic item shops.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: An ancient scroll capable of warping reality within a localized area, creating chaos and confusion.
• Use: Creates a chaotic field, disorienting enemies and altering the environment unpredictably.
• Mechanics:
  • Type: Ancient Relic
  • Activation: 1 round
  • Duration: 3 rounds
  • Area of Effect: 6 meters
• Effect:
  • Enemies within the area must make an Intellect check (8+) or suffer a -2 DM to all actions due to disorientation.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects like triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Science (Psionicology) 1, or Psionics (Telepathy) 2
• Cost: MCr 1, often found in ancient ruins or traded by reclusive scholars.

Warhammer (Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition or Warhammer 40,000 RPGs)

Scroll of Shifting Realities

• Description: A powerful scroll that bends reality, creating chaos and confusion in a localized area.
• Use: Distorts reality, disorienting enemies and making the environment unpredictable.
• Mechanics:
  • Type: Magical Item (Scroll)
  • Activation: Half Action
  • Duration: 1 minute
  • Area of Effect: 10-yard radius
• Effect:
  • Enemies within the area must pass a Willpower Test (Hard -20) or suffer a -10 penalty to all tests due to disorientation.
  • The environment becomes unstable; GM discretion on effects like triggering traps or shifting terrain.
• Skills Required: Language (Magick) skill
• Cost: 500 gold crowns, often found in arcane libraries or sold by powerful wizards.