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 Your character's list of casting-based options isn't complete without Complete Mage. Get a taste of what's in store by looking at some excerpts from the book, which include some character options, a list of feats, a look at the ultimate magi, and an entry about Bigby's tomb.
Bigby's Tomb
 Though he is immortalized for the distinctive spells he created, the great wizard Bigby knew all to well that (barring lichdom) death would eventually claim him. With the help of a small group of trusted apprentices and stoneworkers, he designed and built a suitable final resting place. Hidden far from prying eyes or light-fingered hands, Bigby's tomb has acquired a persistent arcane magic of its own, which manifests in the style of spells that the great wizard invented. To those intrepid enough to seek it out, the tomb can offer a bit of the great wizard's power. An arcane spellcaster who finds the tomb and spends significant time within its walls gains the power to use one or more of the spells that carry Bigby's name as a spell-like ability.
Such a discovery, though, is easier said than done, for the location of Bigby's tomb changes from time to time. To ensure that his mortal remains would stay undisturbed, the wizard created an entirely new spell that would literally pick up his tomb (with a pair of hands made of arcane force) and transport it to a new location each time anyone visited it. Magically protected from the ravages of the elements, the tomb can be found anywhere -- in a subterranean vault, in an undersea grotto, at the heart of a volcano, in the catacombs beneath a forgotten city, or any other location large enough to accommodate it.
Any character who comes within 100 feet of the tomb feels as though dozens of invisible hands are propelling him forward, though his speed is unaffected and he can turn away without penalty. Over time, the tomb also works subtle changes in the surrounding terrain, causing nearby rocks, vegetation, clouds, or flames to take on the vague shapes of hands.
Lore: Characters can gain the following pieces of information about Bigby's tomb by making Knowledge (arcana) checks at the appropriate DCs, as given below.
Knowledge (arcana)
DC Information Gained
Bigby's Slapping Hand
Evocation [Force]
Level: Sorcerer/wizard 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect: One Tiny hand
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
You complete the spell and blow into the leather glove. Immediately a blue-white, translucent hand appears next to the enemy and smacks it across the side of the head -- not enough to hurt it, but hard enough to give others nearby a chance to attack.
This spell distracts the subject, causing it to immediately provoke attacks of opportunity from creatures threatening its space. The spell allows no saving throw, but a slapped creature can negate the effect with a DC 20 Concentration check.
Focus: A leather glove. |
10 Bigby built his tomb while he still lived.
15 The final resting place of the great wizard Bigby is infused with the power of his most famous spells.
20 Those who seek out the tomb can gain the power to use some of the Bigby's hand spells.
25 Bigby's tomb shifts its location from time to time, carried by hands of arcane force.
Description: The door to Bigby's tomb looks like the back of a giant hand, positioned with fingers upward. To open it, a visitor must seize the tops of the fingers and pull down. The open door then forms a ramp into the tomb.
Bigby's tomb consists of a single, square chamber about 100 feet on a side that appears to be hollowed out of whatever substance surrounds it. Against one wall of this room is a dais supporting an ornate sarcophagus whose surface is covered with relief sculptures of hands of all shapes and sizes -- young hands, old hands, tapered hands, and rough hands. Some of the hands grasp others, some seem to be pushing something away, some are balled into fists, and some are outstretched in invitation. The walls of the tomb are covered with frescoes of similar design, and the floor carries on the theme in mosaics.
Magical hands of arcane force appear to move about the chamber, dusting, cleaning, and creating new artwork, but these are permanent images. The tomb is silent except for the sounds of the hands at work. A sense of excitement pervades the place, giving the visitor the impression that infinite possibilities exist for those willing to seize them.
The never-used sarcophagus remains empty to this day. When the sarcophagus is touched, a permanent magic mouth on the skeleton says, "Take my hand."
Prerequisite:Bigby's tomb can confer its special ability only on an arcane spellcaster with an Intelligence score of 12 or higher who has access to spells of the evocation school and can cast 2nd-level or higher spells.
Location Activation: To gain the ability conferred by Bigby's tomb, a qualified creature must grasp one of the hands sculpted on the sarcophagus. Doing so causes the hand to detach from the wrist and meld with the visitor's hand, making it larger and stronger-looking than the other.
Only one creature at any given time can possess the special ability granted by Bigby's tomb.
Recharge: Once it has granted one spellcaster its special ability, Bigby's tomb cannot do so again until the detached hand has returned to the sarcophagus.
 Special Ability (Sp): Bigby's tomb grants the ability to use one of the Bigby's hand spells (caster level equals creature's character level) as a spell-like ability once per day upon detaching the stone hand. The specific spell granted depends on the user's spell ability.
- A character who can cast arcane spells of 4th level or lower gains Bigby's slapping hand (see the sidebar).
- A character who can cast arcane spells of 5th, 6th, or 7th level gains Bigby's interposing hand.
- A character who can cast arcane spells of 8th or 9th level gains Bigby's clenched fist.
Once granted, this ability cannot be changed for the duration of the effect. The use of this ability causes the character's hands to glow with arcane power.
Duration: The ability to use the selected Bigby's hand spell lasts for one year. At the end of that time, the spellcaster's hand returns to normal, and the stone hand reappears on the sarcophagus.
Aura: Strong evocation.
Ability Value: 1,200 gp (Bigby's slapping hand); 8,000 gp (Bigby's interposing hand); 20,000 gp (Bigby's clenched fist).
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