Dream-Quest: Poet-Seer Spells (Levels 1 and 2)
Added 2025-09-23 04:00:07 +0000 UTC
As promised, here are the 1st and 2nd-level Poet-Seer spells I've currently created. Levels 3 and 4 will follow on Thursday (September 25, 2025). They all follow the format used in Old-School Essentials, so their meaning should be fairly obvious to anyone playing any version of old school Dungeons & Dragons or something similar. Like all the other Dream-Quest material presented here, this is a draft, meaning that nothing is final. There are undoubtedly errors and other problems that I've overlooked. If you see anything that looks questionable, feel free to make a comment below to let me know. Of course, I expect most of the most egregious mistakes will reveal themselves during playtest, which I hope to begin sometime after the end of October. I'll have more details about that here and on Grognardia when the time comes.
1st Level Spells
Echo of Memory
Range: 30’ Duration: Instant
The Poet-Seer or one creature within range vividly recalls a past event he personally experienced. The referee provides a truthful description of what was seen, heard, or felt at the time, as if the memory were being relived. Illusions, forgetfulness, and enchantments cannot obscure the recalled moment. Only one memory may be recovered per casting.
Levels 1–3: Recall an event from the last 24 hours.
Levels 4–6: Recall an event from the last week.
Levels 7–9: Recall an event from the last month.
Level 10+: Recall any event from the creature’s life.
Gleam of Meaning
Range: 30’ Duration: 1 turn
One creature within range instantly understands a single short phrase (no more than a sentence) spoken by the Poet-Seer, even if it is in an unknown or incomprehensible language. The understanding is literal and may lack cultural nuance. The spell does not allow the Poet-Seer to understand replies, nor does it grant lasting knowledge of the language.
Lull to Rest
Range: 30’ Duration: 1 turn
Up to 1d6 creatures within range are overcome by drowsiness. Affected creatures sit or lie down, unable to take aggressive actions but still aware of their surroundings. They awaken if attacked or otherwise roughly disturbed.
Only creatures who are already physically weary (e.g., injured, sleep-deprived, or fatigued from travel) may be affected.
Creatures with more than 4 HD, undead, and mindless beings are immune.
A successful save vs. spells negates the effect.
Mirror Rhyme
Range: 30’ Duration: Instant
The Poet-Seer perceives hidden truths within range as symbolic, dreamlike images. This may reveal:
Invisible or concealed objects.
Magical or enchanted auras.
Hidden doors, symbols, or writings.
The referee describes the revelation in metaphorical terms (e.g., “a faint silver glow clings to the archway”). The spell does not identify the exact nature or power of what is revealed, only that it is present.
Word of Heart
Range: 30’ Duration: 1 turn
One creature within range is emboldened by the Poet-Seer’s verse. The target gains:
+1 bonus to morale checks.
+1 bonus to saving throws against fear or charm effects.
+1 bonus to reaction rolls if interacting socially during the duration.
Only willing creatures may benefit.
2nd Level Spells
Harmonic Cadence
Range: 30’ Duration: 1d6 rounds
One intelligent creature within range is pacified by the Poet-Seer’s resonant verse. The target will not take hostile action or attack for the duration, though it may defend itself if harmed. If the target is attacked or directly threatened, the effect ends immediately.
A successful save vs. spells negates the effect.
Creatures of 5 HD or greater, undead, and mindless beings are immune.
Mask of Verse
Range: 30’ Duration: 1 turn
Through artful verse, the Poet-Seer cloaks one creature in a glamour that alters how others perceive him. To observers, the target appears harmless, beautiful, holy, or otherwise unthreatening, as chosen by the Poet-Seer.
The glamour affects sight and sound but not touch or physical evidence (e.g., tracks, weight).
Directly hostile actions (such as attacking) immediately break the illusion.
A successful save vs. spells negates the effect.
Creatures of 6 HD or greater, undead, and mindless beings are immune.
Prophetic Glimpse
Range: Self Duration: Instant
The Poet-Seer receives a brief vision of a danger that lies ahead, expressed as a single line of gnomic verse provided by the referee. The vision is truthful but symbolic, metaphorical, or obscure.
The referee must phrase the vision in a way that gives warning without guaranteeing certainty (e.g. “A blade in a friend’s hand shall draw your blood.”).
Silver Thread
Range: Touch Duration: 24 hours
The Poet-Seer weaves a silvery bond between himself and one willing creature or small object touched. For the duration:
The Poet-Seer always knows the direction of the bound target, regardless of distance, as long as both remain within the Dreamlands.
If the bond is broken by dispelling or by the creature’s death, the Poet-Seer immediately senses it.
Only one silver thread may be maintained at a time. Casting it again severs any previous bond.
Voice of Dream
Range: 30’ Duration: 1 round
The Poet-Seer addresses a creature that is asleep, entranced, or otherwise in a dreamlike state. The creature must answer one question posed by him.
The answer is always truthful, but may be delivered in riddles, symbols, or dreamlike imagery at the referee’s discretion.
If the creature has no knowledge of the answer, it instead provides an answer shaped by its subconscious fears, desires, or associations.
No save is permitted if the creature is genuinely asleep or entranced. If merely dazed or subdued, a save vs. spells may be allowed at the referee’s discretion.
