Ointment of Mage Smelling (Magical Liquid)

The secret formula for this herbal lotion has never been committed to writing, but passed down orally from master to initiate for generations. When rubbed on the nose of a mage, it bestows the ability to detect the exact number of spells held within another Spellcaster's mind. A non-savage mage must practice five times with the ointment before being able to use it properly. Only savage mages, because of their years of experience using this ointment, can use it to its fullest potential.
The user senses the magical force stored when a mage has memorized a spell. It doesn't detect devices, spells stored because of a ring of wizardry or spell storing, items like a Book of Infinite Spells, or innate magical abilities. It also cannot distinguish between types of spells, although a savage mage can decide the number of spell levels the smelled character has, within a range of 2d4. For instance, a civilized mage with one 4th-level, two 3rd-level, three 2nd-level, and four 1st-level spells (a total of 20 spell levels) will be sniffed out by a savage mage as having 15+2d4 levels (20 being the center point of the 2d4 range, reached by adding 15 to 5, the mean of a 2d4 roll). If the snuffed-out character is a wild mage, the savage mage must guess spell levels within a range of 2d6 instead (note that wild mages, like all specialist wizards, have extra spells per level). A minimum of 1 spell level is always detected.
The ointment detects only current stored spells. A 12th-level mage who has cast all but three 1st-level spells shows up as a weak Spellcaster. Ointment of mage smelling is found in small gourds. If tasted, it acts as a mild poison (save at +4 or be nauseated and unable to attack or defend for one round). A savage mage recognizes it at once if allowed to sniff the substance. Enough is usually found (if in a treasure hoard) for 5+1d20 applications. Each application lasts for six turns. It takes one full turn to detect a mage using this method, and the user must get within 5' of the mage to smell anything.
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Ointments