Curiologist (Bard)

*A curiologist is an artist that incorporates runic patterns into their art. Using clay, brush, and chisel, they create mystical patterns to influence minds and inspire others.*

### **Rune Magic**

A curiologist’s arcane power comes through his understanding of scripts, an esoteric form of magic that involves the creation and empowering of mystic symbols called “runes”.

A curiologist is an intermediate scribe (see Scribe Types), which determines the number of runic scripts the curiologist can learn and prepare each day, as well as how many scripts he can use. Refer to Table: Scripts Known (Intermediate) to determine how many scripts he learns (and what level), as appropriate for his level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a curiologist’s script is 10 + the script’s level + the curiologist’s Charisma modifier. The curiologist uses the bard script list, as found at the end of this chapter.

Unlike a typical spellcaster that has spell slots each day, a curiologist can cast each script he prepares a number of times each day based on the level of the script, as shown in **Table: Castings per Script (Intermediate)**. In addition, he receives bonus scripts per day if he has a high Charisma score (see Casting a Script). These extra castings can be applied to any script he has prepared of the appropriate level.

A curiologist must choose and prepare his scripts ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and scribing his runes. While scribing, the curiologist decides which scripts to prepare. Once a script is written, it remains prepared until the curiologist chooses to replace it.

This ability replaces the bard’s spell class feature. A curiologist does not gain his normal spell abilities and cannot activate spell trigger or spell completion items from the bard spell list unless he uses Use Magic Device to do so.

### **Fundamentals**

All curiologists learn a number of fundamentals, scripts that are so simple that they require little effort to cast. A curiologist begins play knowing any two fundamentals of his choice. He continues to learn more fundamentals as he advances, as shown on **Table: Scripts Known (Intermediate)** under “Fundamentals Known” (see Scribe Types). Unlike other runic scripts, a fundamental can be cast an unlimited number of times per day. While fundamentals can be overloaded like any other runic scripts, the magic is too weak to generate much energy: casting a fundamental does not grant the curiologist any runic charges. This replaces cantrips.

### **Artistic Inspiration**

A curiologist influences those around him not with typical performance, but with artistic expression. Whenever a bardic performance calls for a Perform check, he must instead substitute it with a Craft check of his choice. All of the curiologist’s bardic performances require visual components only, and requires him to have a free hand to present a piece of artwork. This alters bardic performance.

### **Unbreakable Craft (Su)**

At 1st level, the curiologist gains Runebound Equipment as a bonus feat, though it only applies when his runes are scribed onto or incorporated into artistic pieces (pottery, paintings, etc.). For this purpose, weapons, armor, wands, rods, and staves do not benefit from this ability, but clothing, rings and wondrous items can.

At 6th level, the curiologist gains Improved Runebound Equipment as a bonus feat, even if he doesn’t meet the prerequisites. It is also limited to artistic items, as described above.

At 18th level, any artistic item that the curiologist has scribed a rune onto is virtually indestructible and cannot be damaged or sundered.

This ability replaces countersong, suggestion, and mass suggestion.

### **Versatile Artistry (Ex)**

At 2nd level, a curiologist can choose one type of Craft skill. He can use his bonus in that skill in place of his bonus in associated skills. When substituting in this way, the bard uses his total Craft skill bonus, including class skill bonus, in place of its associated skill’s bonus, whether or not he has ranks in that skill or if it is a class skill. At 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, the curiologist can select an additional type of Craft to substitute.

The types of Craft and their associated skills are: Books (Linguistics, Sense Motive), Calligraphy (Diplomacy, Linguistics), Cloth (Disguise, Sleight of Hand), Glass (Diplomacy, Intimidate), Jewelry (Disable Device, Sleight of Hand), Paintings (Bluff, Sense Motive), Pottery (Bluff, Diplomacy), and Sculptures (Disable Device, Intimidate).

This replaces versatile performance.

### **Curio Lore (Ex)**

At 2nd level, a curiologist gains a bonus on Appraise checks, Spellcraft checks to identify magic items, and Use Magic Device checks equal to half his bard level and can take 10 on such checks. He can use Disable Device to disarm magical traps as per a rogue’s trapfinding ability and gains a +4 bonus on saves against magical traps and symbols, glyphs, and magical writings of any kind. This ability replaces well-versed.

### **Object Reading (Su)**

At 5th level, a curiologist gains the ability to read objects and determine their function and history. This acts as the object reading occultist class feature, using his curiologist level as his occultist level. This replaces lore master.