Arcane Lexicon (Arcanist/Bard)

While most arcane wizards focus on mathematics and understanding to make their spells work, those who are less mathematically inclined seek other ways to make their spell function. One of these alternate branches of magic is a school of wizardry that focuses on the lexicon of the universe. It is arcane lexicons who study this form of magic, using logic in an attempt to force the universe to obey carefully written rules. The memorization of these rules is nigh impossible, and as such, must they must be kept in written form and spoken while casting for the spells to be successful. (Original Concept by Bandw2)

Primary Class: Arcanist.

Secondary Class: Bard.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d6.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The arcane lexicon may select three bard skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal arcanist class skills. The arcane lexicon gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Table: Arcane Lexicon

Table: Arcane Lexicon Spells Prepared

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The arcane lexicon is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, short sword, shortbow, and whip. She is also proficient with light armor, but not with shields. An arcane lexicon can cast arcane spells while wearing light armor without incurring the normal arcane spell failure chance.

Spellcasting

The arcane lexicon learns, prepares, and casts spells like an arcanist and gains bonus spells if she has a high Intelligence score. However, every spell the arcane lexicon casts has a verbal component (singing, reciting, or music). In addition, the arcane lexicon adds the following bard spells to her list of spells at the indicated spell level: 

0th–lullaby, unwitting ally

1st–chord of shards, confusion (lesser), fumbletongue, restful sleep, solid note, timely inspiration

2nd–allegro, anonymous interaction, bladed dash, cacophonous call, distressing tone, focused scrutiny, hidden speech, honeyed tongue, 

marching chant, muffle sound, piercing shriek, resounding clang, silence, sound burst

3rd–coordinated effort, haunting choir, thundering drums

4th–kiss of the first world, zone of silence

5th–bard’s escape, bladed dash, dance of a hundred cuts, deafening song bolt, disconcordant blast, friend to foe, frozen note, hymn of 

mercy, primal scream

6th–brilliant inspiration, cacophonous call (mass), music of the spheres, song of discord

7th–dance of a thousand cuts, pied piping, sympathetic vibrations

8th–dirge of the victorious knights.

Bardic Knowledge (Ex)

At 1st level, an arcane lexicon gains the bard’s bardic knowledge ability, but adds Linguistics to the list of skills he can affect using the ability. This ability replaces consume spells.

Bonded Spellbook (Su)

At 1st level, an arcane lexicon forms a powerful bond with her spellbook. This bond allows the arcane lexicon to use her spellbook to cast additional spells or to serve as a magical item. The arcane lexicon begins play with a spellbook at no cost. This spellbook is always masterwork quality, but is not made of any special material. The spellbook must be held in one hand for it to have any effect. If a clocked schemer attempts to cast a spell without her bonded spellbook in hand, she must make a concentration check or lose the spell. The DC for this check is equal to 20 + the spell's level.

A bonded spellbook can be used once per day to cast any one spell that the arcane lexicon has in her spellbook and is capable of casting, even if the spell is not prepared. This spell is treated like any other spell cast by the arcane lexicon, including casting time, duration, and other effects dependent on the arcane lexicon's level. This spell cannot be modified by metamagic feats or other abilities.

A wizard can add additional magic abilities to his bonded spellbook as if she has the required Item Creation Feats and if she meets the level prerequisites of the feat. For example, an arcane lexicon with a bonded spellbook must be at least 3rd level to add magic abilities to the spellbook (see Craft Wondrous Items feat). The magic properties of a bonded spellbook, including any magic abilities added to the spellbook, only function for the arcane lexicon who owns it. If a bonded spellbook's owner dies, or the spellbook is replaced, it reverts to being an ordinary masterwork spellbook.

If a bonded spellbook is damaged, it is restored to full hit points the next time the arcane lexicon prepares her spells. If the spellbook is lost or destroyed, it can be replaced after 1 week in a special ritual that costs 200 gp per arcane lexicon level plus the cost of the masterwork item. This ritual takes 8 hours to complete. Bonded spellbooks replaced in this way do not possess any of the additional enchantments of the previous bonded spellbook. An arcane lexicon can designate an existing spellbook as her bonded spellbook. This functions in the same way as replacing a lost or destroyed bonded spellbook except that the new spellbook retains its magical properties and abilities while gaining the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a bonded spellbook.

While not intelligent, the arcane lexicon has a link with her bonded spellbook to a 1 mile distance. The arcane lexicon can communicate empathically with the spellbook, but cannot “see” anything nearby. This allows the arcane lexicon to prepare her spells, even if the spellbook is not open or out of reach, as long as it is within 1 mile of her location. At 10th level, an arcane lexicon is no longer required to have her spellbook in hand when casting spells, but it must be within 10 feet, or she must make concentration checks to cast her spells.

This ability replaces the arcanist exploit gained at 1st level.

Arcanist Exploits

The arcane lexicon may select from the following new exploits, restricted to the Arcane lexicon multiclass archetype.

Analyze Scroll (Su): As a free action, the arcane lexicon can automatically discern the contents of a magic scroll, as if she were using read magic. She gains an insight bonus equal to her arcane lexicon level on Use Magic Device checks made to cast spells from scrolls.

Bypass Symbol (Su): When the arcane lexicon makes a save against a magical glyph, symbol, sigil, or similar written trap, as an immediate action she spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir and attempt a Spellcraft check against the same DC to delay the trap’s effects for 1d6 rounds. Once the delay is over, the trap has its normal effect. The arcane lexicon must be at least 9th-level to select this exploit.

Defensive Scrollcaster (Ex): The arcane lexicon gains a +4 bonus on concentration checks to cast defensively when casting spells from scrolls.

Enhance Scroll (Su): As a swift action, the arcane lexicon can cause any scroll spell he reads to function using her caster level rather than the scroll’s caster level. This exploit expends 1 point from her arcane reservoir.

Extended Scroll (Su): As a swift action, the arcane lexicon can double the duration of any scroll spell she reads as if the spell were modified by the Extend Spell metamagic feat. This exploit expends 1 point from her arcane reservoir.

Focused Scroll (Su): As a swift action, the arcane lexicon can add a bonus equal to twice her Intelligence modifier on any caster level checks made with a scroll spell, including checks to overcome SR. This exploit expends 1 point from her arcane reservoir.

Glyph Finder (Ex): The arcane lexicon can locate glyphs of warding, symbols, and similar magical spell traps that utilize writing as if he were a rogue. By spending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, she can use Perception or Knowledge (arcana) to notice such traps, and can use Disable Device or Spellcraft to disable these types of traps.

Insightful Scroll (Su): As a swift action, the arcane lexicon can spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to alter a spell she’s casting from a scroll to use her own spellcasting ability score (Intelligence) and relevant feats to set the DC for the spell.

Lore Master (Ex): The arcane lexicon gains the bard’s lore master ability, and can use the ability once per day. The arcane lexicon must be at least 5th level to select this exploit. She can select this exploit once at 5th level and again every six levels thereafter, up to a maximum of three times at 19th level. Each time this exploit is selected, the arcane lexicon can use lore master one additional time per day.

Magic Trap (Su): The arcane lexicon chooses one of the following magic glyph traps to learn: acid trap, burning trap, distraction trap, exploding trap, fire trap, freeze trap, poison trap, rust monster trap, sleet trap. By spending 1 point from her arcane reservoir, she can create one magic trap that she knows. Once a magic trap is learned, it can’t be unlearned and replaced with a different type of magic trap. The arcane lexicon cannot select an individual magic trap more than once. This exploit can be taken multiple times. Each time she selects this exploit, it applies to a different magic trap.

Rune Trap (Ex): Whenever the arcane lexicon casts a spell that creates a trap that uses magical writing (such as explosive runes, illusory script, sepia snake sigil, or a symbol), as a swift action she spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to include runes in the writing. This adds +4 to the Perception DCs to notice it, Disable Device DCs to disarm it, and caster level DCs to dispel it. The arcane lexicon must be at least 5th-level to select this exploit.

Swift Scrivener (Ex): By spending 1 point from his arcane reservoir, the arcane lexicon may scribe up to two scrolls per day, so long as the total market price of all scrolls scribed that day does not exceed 1,000 gp. The arcane lexicon reduces the casting time of all symbol spells to 1 minute.

Swift Scroll (Ex): By spending 1 point from his arcane reservoir, the arcane lexicon does not provoke attacks of opportunity when retrieving a stored scroll. If the arcane lexicon moves at least 10 feet, he may retrieve a scroll as a free action as part of her move.

Well-Versed (Ex): The arcane lexicon gains the bard’s well-versed ability. In addition, she can spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to change energy type of a single spell to sonic.

Word of Command (Su): The arcane lexicon can use his verbal expertise to give commands to other creatures. Choose one of the following spells: command, command undead, liberating command, murderous command. As a standard action, the arcane lexicon can spend 1 point from her arcane reservoir to cast her chosen spell. This exploit can be taken multiple times. Each time it is selected, it applies to a different spell.

Greater Exploits

Arcane lexicon may select from the following new exploits, restricted to the Arcane lexicon multiclass archetype.

Greater Word of Command (Su): The arcane lexicon can use his verbal expertise to give greater commands to other creatures. Choose one of the following spells: apparent master, control summoned creature, dominate animal, greater command. As a standard action, the arcane lexicon can spend 2 points from her arcane reservoir to cast her chosen spell. This greater exploit can be taken multiple times. Each time it is selected, it applies to a different spell.