Level
1st
Casting Time
1 Minute
Ritual
Range/Area
Touch
Components
S, M *
Duration
10 Days
School
Illusion
Attack/Save
None
Damage/Effect
Communication
You write on parchment, paper, or another suitable material and imbue it with an illusion that lasts for the duration. To you and any creatures you designate when you cast the spell, the writing appears normal, seems to be written in your hand, and conveys whatever meaning you intended when you wrote the text. To all others, the writing appears as if it were written in an unknown or magical script that is unintelligible. Alternatively, the illusion can alter the meaning, handwriting, and language of the text, though the language must be one you know.
If the spell is dispelled, the original script and the illusion both disappear.
A creature that has Truesight can read the hidden message.
* - (ink worth 10+ GP, which the spell consumes)
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Posted Sep 12, 2024They should have gotten rid of the gold cost of this. What a wasted opportunity to revisit the spell.
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Posted Feb 13, 2025I think its unfortunate there wasn't any disappearing ink or possible permanent option allowed. Neat secret messages and the like using it that way.
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Posted Jan 16, 2026Why is there no blasted way to extend the duration to be "until dispelled"? What is the actual, functional downside or power creep involved? Does anyone really think it is game breaking to be able to mail a letter with an illusory script to a place that is over 10 days journey away? Is it truly over powered to be able to have an expensive notebook that is undecipherable except for creatures with true-sight? Why in god's name are people so intent on making sure this spell is so rarely used?
As a reminder, magic mouth can be cast in exactly the same way using a level 2 spell slot with the same material cost and casting time but lasts forever and has the added benefit of having a specific trigger to relay the message rather than "obscuring it less they have true-sight". This makes magic mouth even SAFER to cast if you dont want an enemy to be able to decipher the message you leave (such as powerful creatures with true sight). You may as well lay down a piece of paper on a table, cast magic mouth onto it and then mail it to your intended recipient to serve as the better "Illusory Script". But this sucks, since it means you can never have a persistent, traditional "hidden written message" or "coded notebook" in this way.
This is super lame and I am always going to home brew this spell to last until dispelled.