The Arcane Reliquary

The Arcane Reliquary is a student of the magical essence found only in the purest of gems. Using the many facets and veins of rubies, diamonds, opals and other gemstones, the Arcane Reliquary imbues these precious gems with arcane energy, to be stored and used later. The art of gemmancy can be learned by any arcane spellcaster, but the Arcane Reliquary is a specialist devoted to the field.

Hit Dice: 1d4

Class Skills: The Arcane Reliquary’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Alchemy (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge [Geology] (Int), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int), Spot (Wis), and Spellcraft. Skill Points at each level: 2+ Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An arcane reliquary does not gain proficiency with any weapons or armor.

Gemmancy (Sp): Gemmancy allows an arcane spellcaster to imbue gems with magic energy to be used in augmenting future spells, much as certain Metamagic feats augment spells. Any gem can be used, but must be at least 50gps per level of energy to be stored, e.g., 5th level=250gps value minimum. Imbuing a gem takes only as long as memorizing a spell or preparing spell slots per day does. The spell slot is considered used for the day. To imbue a gem with energy, the spell caster expends a daily spell slot of the level of energy she wishes to imbue in the gem. The spell slot is considered cast for that day, but the gem holds the energy one day for each caster level. Multiple spell slots can be imbued upon a gem, as long as the gem meets the required GP value. When used, all “spell energy” in a gem must be expended. To use the stored energy to augment a spell requires a full-round action.
The gem’s stored energy is used to augment spells; the caster may simulate the effects of any Metamagic feat she knows as long as there is sufficient spell energy to do so. Spell energy requires the same amount of “spell power” as casting or memorizing the spell with the Metamagic feat would. For example, to use the Quicken Spell feat on a 1st level spell normally, a caster would have to memorize or cast the spell four levels higher, or at 5th level. With Gemmancy, you can prepare ahead of time a gem with 5 levels of “spell energy” to augment any 1st level spell you choose. After a gem has been used to store spell energy, its value is reduced by 90%, and it can no longer be used to store spell energy. If the duration expires before the gem is used, it does not lose any value.

Prismatic Burst (Sp): At 2nd level the Arcane Reliquary gains the ability to release the energy stored in a gem in a Prismatic Burst that does 1d10 points of damage per level of stored energy in a 15’ radius with a range increment of 30’. The gem is destroyed from and explosion of colorful evocation energy (without descriptor). The caster must make a ranged touch attack DC 10 to accurately throw the gem; should the gem miss, use the grenade burst rules to determine where the gem lands. A successful reflex save DC 15 + spell energy will halve the damage. Using a gem in this manner is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The damage increases at 4th level to 2d6 per level of stored energy.

Facet Repair (Ex): At 3rd level an Arcane Reliquary is skilled enough in gem lore to preserve the value of a gem used to store energy. After stored energy is released from a gem, a successful Gemsmithing check DC = (15 + spell energy released) to saves 50% of the gem’s value (as opposed to the standard 10%).

Gemsmith Mastery (Ex): At 5th level the Arcane Reliquary’s is skilled enough to potentially re-use gems, albeit at a reduced value. When making a Gemsmithing check to preserve the gem’s value, if the check exceeds the DC by 10 or more, the value of the gem is only reduced by 10% (90% value preserved) and the gem may be re-used to hold spell energy.

Greater Gemmancy (Sp): The Arcane Reliquary’s ability to imbue gems is advanced enough to enchant gems with specific spells, must like a scroll can hold spells. To store a specific spell, the caster imbues the gem as normal, but instead of generic energy a specific spell (including the effects of metamagic feats, if any) is imbued. This process takes as long as casting the spell normally would. The gem, once imbued, is considered a Spell Completion magic item; follow the rules for casting from a scroll to cast from an imbued gem. A character must have the Gemmancy ability or its equivalent to learn a spell from an imbued gem; follow the rules for learning spells from a scroll to learn a spell from a gem. Once a spell is stored in the gem, any character capable of using a spell completion magic item can cast the stored spell. Follow the rules for casting form a scroll.

Bonus Feat: The Arcan Reliquary must choose a Heritage, Item Creation or Metamagic feat as a bonus feat. Similar spellcaster-oriented feats are acceptable at the DMs approval, such as Draconic, Demonic, or Bloodline feats.

Effective Spellcaster Level: Any levels the characters possess in an arcane spellcaster class can have these bonus levels added to them. The Arcane Reliquary can choose to add bonus levels to different classes they may possess, but once a bonus is assigned, it cannot be changed.