Halaster's Spare Grimoire

The Weave isn't that hard to understand. It's your sanity that's getting in the way, that's all. Go on, take my spare spellbook. That'll make it all clear.

— Halaster Blackcloak

Appearance

This spellbook is bound in faded leather with Halaster's rune embossed on the front in red thread. More runes are etched into the front and back covers of the spellbook. The sheets look yellowed and loosely bound, though they never seem to fall out. Despite this unassuming appearance, any arcane spellcaster who holds it can sense its power.

Mechanics

Wondrous Item, Very Rare, Requires Attunement by a Wizard

This spellbook has apparently infinite capacity; though its pages always appear finite, there are always more blank pages to be filled with new spells.

While holding this leather bound book, you can use it as a spellcasting focus for your wizard spells, and you gain a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls and to the saving throw DCs of your wizard spells.

If attuned to the spellbook, the wizard's mind becomes...flexible. This allows for two abilities.

• By spending one minute studying the runes and pages of the spellbook, you can replace one of your prepared wizard spells with a different spell in the spellbook. This feature cannot be used again until you complete a long rest.
• When you cast a wizard spell, you can choose to cast it without verbal, somatic, and/or material components of up to 100 gp in value. This feature cannot be used again until you complete a long rest.

Expanded Abilities

The following additional abilities have been granted to Beelz specifically, via the Grimoire:

Untangle The Knot

Through your connection to Halaster, you can briefly tap directly into the Knot in the Weave that resides at the bottom of Undermountain. Using the ability is taxing, and the twisted pathways of Undermountain are difficult to perceive while retaining sanity.

Once per long rest, you may use this ability to cast any spell of 5th level or lower without expending a spell slot, and components of 500 gp or less. Otherwise, the spell functions as normal (verbal/somatic components, casting time, duration, etc.).

After casting the spell, make a DC 20 Wisdom Saving throw. On a failure, roll a d6 and consult the table below.

1-2: Gain 2 levels of exhaustion

3-4: Gain Short Term Madness which which lasts 5 minutes.

5: Gain Long Term Madness which lasts 48 hours.

6: Gain Indefinite Madness which lasts until removed.

A creature afflicted by madness from this source may attempt a DC 20 Wisdom Saving throw at the end of a long rest, ending the effect on a success. It can also be removed with Greater Restoration or similar magic.

If you are under the effects of a type of madness and are forced to roll again for that same type of madness, the new effect replaces the first (For example, if you are already under Indefinite Madness when you use this ability again and gain another type of Indefinite Madness, the newer effect replaces the olde one)

History

This spellbook was found by Beelz in Dweomercore, the ninth level of Undermountain. He was invited to take it by Halaster as a reward for breaking into the mage's office.

Halaster's Rune