Chapter Five: The Vale of Stars
that they are doing it. And because it is subliminal, no one else usually realizes the fact, either. For example, a carpenter with unknown inherent magical talent and the ability of inadvertent subliminal spellcasting might, through the language of the slow chant he makes to himself while he works, and in his movements as he runs his hands over the wood and manipulates his tools, cast a subliminal spell that improves the quality of his work. Or a thief with this ability, caught red-handed, might speak and gesture wildly trying to convince the authorities to let her go—and, thus weaving a charm spell over them, she succeeds. She thinks she’s just good at “fast talking her way out of things,” but she’s actually casting spells. Subliminal spellcasting is always subtle and slow, the main reason why those around the caster do not notice it. These inadvertent casters have no named spells or books or anything of the sort. They may not even know the first thing about the theories and practices of magic—in fact, they probably don’t, since they’ve never observed any of the telltale signs someone trained in the art of Spellcraft might notice. Their spells are usually very minor cantrip-level effects or, at most, the equivalent of a 1st-level spell. Basically, these people are mainly commoners or experts, with at least one unknown level of sorcerer.
A few spellcasters who have learned that subliminal spellcasting exists have researched the phenomenon and have learned to accomplish it themselves, intentionally. Only those interested in casting spells without others knowing it, slowly and subtly, gain any benefit. It is not a useful talent to have in a fight or while exploring a dungeon. The feat below allows the practice of subliminal spellcasting.
Subliminal Spellcasting (Eldritch) You cast a spell so subtly as to make it extremely difficult to detect that it even happened. Prerequisites: Charisma 11, caster level 3rd, Bluff skill Benefit: You can cast any spell so that the casting has no visible effects. Further, the somatic and verbal components (if any) remain so subtle that unless someone makes a Spellcraft check (DC 10 + your Bluff skill check), they cannot tell you are casting a spell and not simply moving and talking normally. The casting time for the spell is 10 times the normal casting time. Unlike with a normal spell, even if a character must make a saving throw to resist the spell’s effects, he is not aware that he is making the save. Succeed or fail, a target does not know a spell has been cast upon him. Likewise, you do not know whether a spell succeeds or fails.
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