Quipu Mystic (Wizard/Bard)

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

The quipu mystic is proficient with all simple weapons. A quipu mystic is not proficient with any type of armor or shield. Armor interferes with a quipu mystic’s gestures, which can cause his spells with somatic components to fail.

Spellcasting

A quipu mystic casts arcane spells drawn from the wizard spell list. He also adds spells from his arcane school to this list. A quipu mystic can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Quipu Mystic. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score. A quipu mystic otherwise learns, prepares and casts spells as a wizard equal to his quipu mystic level.

Quipus

A quipu mystic does not record his spells in a spellbook. Instead, he records them in his quipu. The quipu, also called “talking knots”, is a mystic device upon which the quipu mystic records the oral history, tales, and mystical spells of his people. A quipu is a special collar that consists of colored, spun, and plied cords. Each cord contains a sequence of knots; the number, type, and design of which conveys a specific spell. A quipu can have any number of cords, with each containing one spell of 1st level or higher, or two 0–level spells.

A quipu mystic begins play with all 0–level wizard spells, plus three 1st–level spells of his choice. The quipu mystic also selects a number of additional 1st-level spells equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to the quipu. These are each knotted into his quipu, and become part of the daily recitation of his tribal lore.

At each new quipu mystic level, he gains two new spells of any spell level or levels that he can cast (based on his new quipu mystic level) and adds them to his quipu. At any time, an quipu mystic can also add spells found on scrolls, in another wizards’ spellbooks, or directly from another spellcaster (arcane or divine) through oral recitation. A quipu mystic can only learn new spells that belong to the wizard’s spell list, but may learn a spell from another spellcaster if it is on both of their spell lists.

To learn a spell from another spellcaster, the quipu mystic must spend 10 minutes for each level of the spell, reciting it with the spellcaster. These minutes do not need to be consecutive, but must be spent in 10–minute increments. Once the required time has been invested, the quipu mystic must make a Spellcraft skill check (15 + spell level) to see if he has learned the spell. If he fails, he must wait at least 1 week before he tries again. If he succeeds, he can add the new spell as a cord with the appropriate knots to his quipu. While a wizard can have multiple spellbooks from which to study his spells, a quipu mystic cannot have more than one quipu at a time.

A quipu mystic must prepare his spells in advance (see Table: Quipu Mystic Spells Prepared), like a wizard. To prepare his spells, the quipu mystic must wear his quipu and perform the daily recitation of his tribal lore, at which time, all his spells are brought to his memory. This allows him to prepare any spell that has been knotted into his quipu, up to his daily allotment of spells per day, as shown on Table: Quipu Mystic. The quipu mystic must get 8 hours of rest and recite his tribal lore for 1 hour per day to regain his daily allotment of spells.

While a quipu mystic can study a wizard’s spellbook to learn any spell from the wizard spell list that the spellbook contains. However, a wizard cannot learn spells from a quipu mystic’s quipu, unless he deciphers the arcane knots before copying them. To do so, he must make a successful Spellcraft check, but at a –8 penalty. If the wizard has ranks in Use Magic Device, this penalty is reduced to –4.

In addition, the cost of adding a spell to a quipu is the same as adding a spell to a spellbook. A quipu is also subject to appropriate wards, special material costs, and protections as a spelbook. The quipu otherwise functions as and replaces the wizard’s spellbook.

Arcane Bond (Su)

This is exactly like the wizard’s ability of the same name, except that if the quipu mystic chooses to bond with an object, she must choose her quipu as that object. A bonded quipu is subject to the same benefits and drawbacks as a bonded spellbook.

Arcane School

This is exactly like the wizard’s ability of the same name, except that the quipu mystic must select the Oral Mysticism school.

Bardic Performance

At 3rd level, a quipu mystic gains the bardic performance class feature except that the quipu mystic's effective bard level is 2 lower than his quipu mystic level. Levels in quipu mystic stack with levels in any other class that grants a similar ability to determine his effective bard level. Each round, the quipu mystic can produce any one of the following types of bardic performances that he has mastered, as indicated by his level. The quipu mystic must also meet the Perform (oratory) rank prerequisites. This ability replaces the wizard’s bonus feats.

Tribal Enemy (Ex): At 3rd level, a quipu mystic with 1 or more ranks in Perform (oratory) who has identified a creature with a Knowledge check appropriate to its type can use this performance to share strategies for defeating it with allies in combat. The quipu mystic and any allies within 30 feet gain a +1 morale bonus to AC and on attack rolls and saving throws against extraordinary, supernatural, and spell-like abilities used by creatures of that specific kind of monster (e.g., frost giants, not all giants or all humanoids). This bonus increases by +1 at 7th level and every six levels thereafter. This performance lasts as long as it continues. This language-dependent ability requires audible components.

Lore of the Ancients (Su): At 5th level, a quipu mystic with 3 or more in Perform (oratory) can enter a trance that allows him to search through time to recall some bit of forgotten lore or information. He can retry any Knowledge skill check he has made within the past minute, using his Perform (Oratory) skill bonus in place of his knowledge skill bonus. This effect requires 2 continuous rounds of bardic performance. This performance requires audible components.

Council of Ancestors (Su): At 10th level, a quipu mystic with 8 or more in Perform (oratory) can use his bardic performance to call upon the spirits of his ancestors to provide council. This advice grants the quipu mystic a +2 insight bonus on any one saving throw. Once the performance has ended, this effect lasts for 1 minute. This effect consumes 4 rounds of bardic performance. This performance requires audible components.

Spirit of the Tribal Champion (Sp): At 15th level, a quipu mystic with 12 or more ranks in Perform (oratory) can summon the spirit of a great warrior ancestor to guard and champion him in battle. This ability duplicates the effect of a summon monster spell, except the quipu mystic summons forth either a barbarian, fighter, or ranger with Hit Dice equal to 1/2 the quipu mystic’s level + his Charisma modifier. The warrior arrives with the starting equipment for an NPC of its class. This effect consumes 5 rounds of bardic performance plus 1 additional round per level beyond 15th. This performance requires audible components.