One Artifact Wizard

 

Vaati's not really relevant here, I just like him

 

At the request of the inestimable CosmicOrrery on the OSR discord, here is a class for a kind of wizard. Unlike the many and varied tools of the Scribe Wizards, these wizards (perhaps more truly petty occultists) possess a single powerful artifact whose magic they continually work to unlock, perhaps losing themselves along the way. I'm going to call them thaumaturges from now on, not because I think it overwhelmingly apt, but I just don't want to call them artifact wizards

The Artifact

The artifact that a thaumaturge might possess deep magic from the dawn of time, such as a Ring of Power or Demonic Wishing Eye; or might be a relatively minor item, simply a crack in the impenetrable wall of scholarship that is magic. Regardless, these madmen form their whole identity and worldview around the damn thing. Obviously the most common are wands left behind by more skilled magicians, but I will not talk about that here. Instead I will talk about thaumaturges who gain their power from 4 clades of magic items: Artifacts of Wishing, Invisibility, Speed, and Seeing. I invite others to make more clades for their tables.

Spellcasting for the Thaumaturge

There are two variants of the thaumaturge which determine how often they can cast per day. The Greater Thaumaturge is the one who wields dangerous power far beyond mortal ken, while the Lesser is one who loses themselves in the studies of some curio. The Greater Thaumaturge may cast a number of times safely per day equal to their level-1. If they exceed that, see Last Gasp Grimoire's mishap tables. The Lesser Thaumaturge may cast a number of times equal to their level+1, but no more than that. Going against the nature of the artifact by ignoring its mental effects may also make you mishap.

Clades

An Artifact may perhaps belong to two clades if it makes sense. In that case, the when the Thaumaturge progresses one level, they must choose which clade spell to learn. Previous clade spells are prerequisite to higher level ones.

Wishing

 

Wishing Artifacts are among the most highly sought after and wonderous, for obvious reasons.

 

A: Least Wish

With your current understanding, you can create objects that can fit in your hand which are worth less than one gold*. Any larger or more expensive and they are merely shaped smoke and delusion.

 

B: Lesser Wish

You can create objects which are as large as you, or creatures that are about cat sized, and can change one handheld object into another of the same value. If something isn't expected or beneficial to you, you must try and change it.

 

C: Greater Wish

You can create objects as large as a house, creatures your size, can change one creature into another, and can make lesser magic items. You change things, even people, for comfort, for convenience, for whims.

 

D: True Wish 

Your wishes are palaces, wonders, and great monsters. You know how the world Ought to be, and you will remake it. You shall even remake yourself.

 

Invisibility

 

In this famous clade is the Cloak of Invisibility and the Ring of Gyges, items of the unseen

A: Not Seen

As long as you stay still, you are invisible. You may still be felt and heard.

 

B: Not Heard

As long as you don't attack, you are invisible and inaudible. You may still be felt. You hate people knowing more about you than you'd like.

 

C: Not a Whisper

As long as you wish, you are invisible, inaudible, and can pass through any surface. You feel physical discomfort and murderous impulse when someone looks at you too intently, and you hate people recognizing the results of your actions.

 

D: Not a Word 

You are omnipresent in a way that cannot be known. Your plans are subtler than anyone could guess, but everyone is being very cooperative.

 

 

Speed

 

The clade of the Seven-League-Boots and other incredible, sometimes incomprehensible items

A: Swift as a hare

For one minute, you can run faster than any human.

 

B: Swift as a mare

For ten minutes, you run faster than any animal. You cannot abide by people constraining you by oath or chain.

 

C: Swift as a quail

For one hour, you fly faster than any bird. The mere implication of imposition is intolerable to you.

 

D: Swift as a gale 

Everything is but a step away for you. None may hold you, you are free from all fetters.

 

 

Seeing

 
Knowledge is power, as they say.

A: You hear

You may ask a yes-or-no question and receive a truthful answer.

 

B: But cannot understand

You may ask a may ask a who, what, when, where, or why question, and receive a truthful answer. Being asked a question you cannot answer causes you distress.

 

C: You see

You can see the immediate area (in both time and space around an object of your choice. Of course you know the answer. But first solve this riddle.

 

D: But cannot perceive. 

You know all and can see all. Such knowledge is not for people who cannot even understand your words. They are mere pawns.

 

Other fruitful Clades that I didn't cover here: Healing, Fire, Ice, Charming, Blasting.