Spells: The Book of the Black Rose

[Not a "book" at all, in reality, but an ebony box suited for containing such a book. Carved all over delicately with knotworks of barbed briars, the two halves of the box are solid pieces of ebony and the seam between them can scarcely fit a hair.

Inside the box rests a handful of dried rose petals, a handful of tiny bones, and a sheaf of impossibly thin vellum sheets inked with the following spells]


Black Rose Talon
Level: 1
Range: 0
Duration: 5 rounds
Effect: A thorn weapon that impairs what it injures

Casting this spell conjures to the Magic-User's hand a long, curved and razor-sharp spur resembling a gigantic briar thorn. It may be used to attack as if it were a dagger, and every successful attack inflicts a -2 penalty to all rolls on the target as a magical toxin floods their veins. The penalty fades after two hours.


Dead Rose Heart
Level: 1
Range: 150'
Duration: 1 turn
Effect: A rose blossom that stuns and frightens

This spell creates a small, blackened bit of energy resembling a long thin thorn or needle that moves with the Magic-User until directed at a target. It then flies towards the target's heart, blossoming upon impact into a blackened rose and biting into the flesh. The target is stunned for one round, unable to act; and then must save vs. spells or flee from the Magic-user for two rounds.


Thorned Retribution
Level: 2
Range: 0
Duration: 1 turn
Effect: Thorny vines in the flesh attack the caster's attackers

Thorned retribution creates a lace of thin ruby-black energy vines bearing fanglike thorns that slowly move across – or perhaps under – the Magic-User's skin. The first successful attack on the Magic-User in a round activates the vines, causing them to lash out and strike the attacker for 1-4 hit points of damage. Wounds caused by the vines continue to bleed at a rate of 1 hit point per round until the wound is seen to.


Iron Briar Embrace
Level: 3
Range: 50'
Duration: 6 rounds
Effect: Traps a target in life-draining briars

This spell creates a tangle of coiling, clawing metallic black briars studded with fanglike thorns. The briars erupt from the ground beneath the target and wrap themselves around it -- effectively immobilizing it -- and inflict 2-5 hit points of damage per round as the thorns drain blood (or other fluids). Targets trapped in the briars may be cut free in 1-4 rounds.