The Measured Stars
A meticulous wizard's prized codex holds practical arcane formulae and a hidden star-map that points toward the vanished observatory where its first owner disappeared.
Spellbook · Wizard · Level 5
The Measured Stars
A meticulous wizard's prized codex holds practical arcane formulae and a hidden star-map that points toward the vanished observatory where its first owner disappeared.
Ex librisVesper ValeAcademic wizardry
At a glance
Level
5
Wizard
Spells
9
3 cantrips, 2 signature
At the table
A margin note
Plot hook
Spells
9 spellsCantrips
3- Flick a bead of colored magical light toward a point or creature. It illuminates a small area briefly and can ignite an unattended flammable object.
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Target
- One creature or point in range
- Components
- V, S
- Save or attack
- Ranged spell attack
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the spark can be made brighter or divided into several harmless motes.
- Source
- Original Creation
- Create a small, steady magical glow on a touched surface or object. The glow sheds enough light to read nearby writing but deals no damage.
- Duration
- Up to 10 minutes
- Target
- One touched object or surface
- Components
- V, S
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the writing can remain visible for longer.
- Source
- Original Creation
- Launch a concentrated lance of force at one creature. On a hit, it deals force damage.
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Target
- One creature
- Components
- V, S, a pinch of iron filings
- Save or attack
- Ranged spell attack
- Damage
- force damage
- Higher levels
- Damage increases by at character levels 5, 11, and 17.
- Source
- Original Creation
1st level
2- Sense nearby active magic and faint lingering magical traces. A thin shimmer indicates the direction of the strongest aura.
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 10 minutes
- Target
- Self; senses nearby magical auras
- Components
- V, S, a clear glass bead
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the caster can distinguish more details about a detected magical aura.
- Source
- Original Creation
- Surround one willing creature with a faint geometric ward. The first time during the spell that it takes damage, reduce that damage by , then the ward ends.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Target
- One willing creature
- Components
- V, S
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the ward can protect one additional willing creature per tier spent above 1.
- Source
- Original Creation
2nd level
2- A luminous pattern snaps around one creature. On a failed save, it is restrained until it succeeds on a repeat save or the spell ends.
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Target
- One creature
- Components
- V, S, a brass pin
- Save or attack
- Target makes a Dexterity saving throw; repeat the save at the end of each of its turns
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the caster may target one additional creature for each tier spent above 2.
- Conditions
- Restrained
- Source
- Original Creation
- Create a shifting illusory double that mimics the caster's movements. It occupies the caster's space and has no physical substance.
- Duration
- Concentration, up to 1 minute
- Target
- Self
- Components
- V, S, a small silver mirror
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the caster may create one additional image per tier spent above 2.
- Source
- Original Creation
3rd level
2- A web of interlocking force-lines flashes at a point you choose. Creatures in a small area take force damage.
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Target
- Creatures in a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on a point
- Components
- V, S, a polished copper disk
- Save or attack
- Creatures in the area make a Dexterity saving throw, taking half damage on a success
- Damage
- force damage
- Higher levels
- Damage increases by for each tier spent above 3.
- Source
- Original Creation
- Instantly teleport yourself to an unoccupied space you can see within range.
- Duration
- Instantaneous
- Target
- Self
- Components
- V, S, a silver compass needle
- Higher levels
- At higher tiers, the maximum distance increases by 10 feet per tier spent above 3.
- Source
- Original Creation
In the margins
4 notes
FormulaA clean circle is not a perfect circle. Leave one deliberate gap, or the energy has nowhere to breathe.
WarningDo not test the little brass star on the clasp indoors again. The ceiling still remembers.
DiaryI found the observatory's coordinates beneath the binding. Someone has been erasing the same constellation from every chart.
DiagramDiagram: three nested rings, each marked with a different phase of the moon. The innermost ring is scratched out.
The book itself
Silver ink glimmers when a spell is spoken nearby.
The book's diagrams are annotated in three different hands, though its owner denies sharing it.
A tiny brass star is pressed into the page beside each spell its owner has mastered.
The caster
Academic wizardryVesper Vale
Studies: Arcane geometry and force manipulationManner: Courteous, observant, and quietly intense; she asks precise questions before committing to a plan.Focus: A brass stylus used to trace geometric sigils in the airQuirk: She counts doorways, windows, and visible stars under her breath whenever she enters an unfamiliar place.Wants: Locate the vanished observatory and learn why its original star charts were deliberately changed.Vesper Vale apprenticed in a city observatory, where she learned to treat magic as a language of shapes, measures, and carefully tested rules. She left after discovering that a senior scholar had been altering the observatory's star charts.
The book
A narrow, midnight-blue codex bound in dark leather, its silver-ink diagrams shifting subtly when viewed by candlelight. The pages smell faintly of rain and hot metal.
Its wards · GM only
About the book
FormatPocket-sized arcane codex with brass clasps and foldout star charts
ThemeArcane
Written by aWizard
Caster level5
SystemGeneric Fantasy
Plot hooks
1The codex's hidden star-map begins glowing whenever its owner travels near the ruins of an observatory whose last wizard vanished decades ago.
2A rival scholar claims that one spell in the book was stolen from their family archive and demands its return.
3The brass clasps have started clicking open at midnight, revealing fresh annotations in handwriting that resembles Vesper's own.
Media
0 imagesNo images yet.
Visual sheet
Turn The Measured Stars into a sheet
A high-res, share-ready sheet you can post or print.