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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ElectricDragon" data-source="post: 7235147" data-attributes="member: 10778">Jasper,The Western Shield Lord, Viceroy Tameron, received me on the battlements as he was inspecting the recent repairs of the keep walls. He confided that he no longer trusted the Royal Messenger service. All missives he has sent to his majesty have been neither answered nor acknowledged. Other messages to other persons had gotten through and he even received replies; until he mentioned his inability to receive communications from the king, and then no reply from any message since. He said that these 5 pages arrived here by private messenger just a fortnight ago. He claimed they were an answer to his prayers. It seems the frost giants are starting early this year, but their raids seem stronger and more focused than ever before. Instead of running off with a herd of sheep or goats, they have been bombarding the castle then fading away into the mountains. He said he is barely able to keep up with the repairs and has no one to spare to track down and harass the raiding party, much less send them to the capitol for a month-long journey. Winter is not here yet and he cannot hold this border without a castle in the winter. He claimed his majesty would be well-advised to have plenty of those scrolls made,  magicked, and distributed, along with enchanted rubies aplenty, for something sinister is going on.He asked that I take a sealed message from him to the king with due haste; he can spare no one at the moment. He told me that contained within the message was a copy of the spell for his majesty’s eyes only. He also retained a copy for himself. He claimed such a spell was necessary for the protection of the empire and that the king would reimburse the chef for its use.I realized that I had used the Royal Messenger service when I sent a message to the curate from the Earl of Eastwich. So I am including a copy of that message along with these pages; I’ll just have to use two rubies tonight. AmbroseInstant MessageConjuration (Teleportation)Level: Brd 5, Clr 5, Sor/Wiz 5Components: V, S, M, F; see textCasting Time: 1 hour/1 round/1 standard action (see text)Range: TouchTarget: 2 scroll cases/1 scroll case/1 ruby (see text)Duration: InstantaneousSaving Throw: NoneSpell Resistance: NoThis spell can be used in three ways:First, the spell can be cast on a pair of identical scroll cases to link them magically forevermore. This is the only version that requires both scroll cases as focus components; but no other version of the spell will work except on a scroll case prepared with this version.Second, the spell is targeted at one scroll case (of a previously enchanted pair) and has a casting time of 1 round. This version of the spell is used to transfer one to five pages placed in it to the other scroll case no matter how far the two are separated. This spell can be used to transfer non-magical writings and/or magical writings (up to 5 spell scrolls, no level maximum, any number of spells per scroll; magic item recipes;  magical maps; or even up to 5 pages of a spellbook thus limiting it to a maximum of 5th level spells or lower from spellbooks). The material component in this version is not consumed, rather it is transferred to the other scroll case. Only one scroll case is needed as a focus component for this version.Third, the spell is instead targeted at a 1,000 gp ruby and has a casting time of 1 hour. The gem then stores the spell until the gem is crushed. When crushed, a scroll case, which must be within 5 feet and already prepared with the first version of this spell, is the target of the gem’s magic. The spell from the gem then operates as the second version. Crushing the gem is a standard action. (This version allows the gem and scroll case to be given to anyone, and they can activate it; whether they can cast spells or not).Material Components: 1 to 5 sheets of parchment, papyrus, or paper: rolled up and placed inside one jeweled ivory scroll case.Focus Component: A pair of identical jewel-encrusted, ivory scroll cases (worth 500 gp each)/one such scroll case or a 5,000 gp ruby.Cook's Note: No one but Eric and my beautiful wife even know it is my birthday. Eric has presented me with this special spell that he created to improve my communication with my scouts and ambassadors. This spell will remove my need to have several Royal Messengers on stand-by, speed missives to and from my scouts, and thus will leave increased investments for more important ventures. I have requisitioned 15 pairs of jeweled scroll cases from Ambrose and he assures me he will have them in my hands by spring’s end. I am dispatching tradesmen to acquire rubies from the dwarven mountains, I fear that will seriously deplete my gold reserves initially, but the savings should be quickly apparent.</blockquote>

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