IC passing secret messages

[Bowbreaker]

What is the simplest and cheapest way for an undercover agent to pass a secret message longer than 25 words, assuming he can cast spells up to the second level.

[Zanthy1]

What is the simplest and cheapest way for an undercover agent to pass a secret message longer than 25 words, assuming he can cast spells up to the second level.

Smoke signals? or like a light in a tower doing morse code. My view on the latter is that he has a light and covers it and such to represent morse code. Lots of people would see it, so it would have to be a different form of morse code that is specific for his message. Also it would be cool if he could deliver said message by covering the light with his body, making it appear that he is dancing, and while doing so steps in front of the light to block it and such.

There are tons of ways to do this without magic, if you just work it like an actual spy would have done. Leaving a piece of tape on a mailbox, depending on what corner its in, it means something different. Or like the Paul Revere lights warning whether the Brits were coming by land or by sea.

[Bowbreaker]

What I want to do is pass on new information enough to fill a short letter. That is why I said more than 25 words. 4 scrolls of sending are too expensive at this point. I hoped to be able to find a way without actually leaving the party for too long (they don't know what's up).

[Answerer]

I assume the distances required are larger than message can handle?

[Bowbreaker]

Maybe not. I'm very new to D&D and I actually don't know the specifics on that spell. Let me look it up.

EDIT: Hmm... that travels only 43 metres. I don't think its very useful at this point but it may be helpful in other situations. Thanks.

[Diarmuid]

Would Whispering Wing meet your needs?

[mattie_p]

Animal messenger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/animalMessenger.htm), perhaps? Disadvantage, the animal goes to a single place and lets anyone take the message.

[Bowbreaker]

Would Whispering Wing meet your needs?

I have no clue. I don't know that spell

[Answerer]

I believe he means whispering wind (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/whisperingWind.htm).

[Matticussama]

I have no clue. I don't know that spell

Whispering Wind (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/whisperingWind.htm)

Animal Messenger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/animalMessenger.htm)


You might also want to consider a longer solution, if you need to send multiple messages quite frequently. If you have access to psionics, you should consider Mindlink. (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/mindlink.htm)

[Story]

Get a high enough int to invent basic cryptography.

[Bowbreaker]

Get a high enough int to invent basic cryptography.
How high would that be? Is a +4 modifier enough?

[nedz]

Charm Person on a courier.
This might be too slow, but that rather depends upon whom you charm and how fast they can move.

[Story]

How high would that be? Is a +4 modifier enough?

Well obviously, that's up to the DM, but I think so. Cryptography was used historically after all. Admittedly, they weren't very sophisticated, but they didn't have superhuman intelligence either.

[Diarmuid]

I did mean whispering wind, sorry for the typo.

I seem to remember seeing some rules in Complete Scoundrel for using Decipher Script to write and understand codes.

[mattie_p]

Write it in an ancient language that no one speaks anymore. You know, one of those languages you need to use decipher script (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/decipherScript.htm) on. Buy a scroll of secret page (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/secretPage.htm).

EDIT: Ohh, for more skills, Bluff and Sense Motive to encrypt and decrypt.

[Cicciograna]

Various castings of Magic mouth (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/magicMouth.htm) on the same object, each one set to trigger when it hears the last word from the previous message.
The first mouth activates when hearing a keyword transmitted via a safe communication mean (and it's easier and cheaper to transmit a single coded word than a complete, long message).

[mattie_p]

I make no judgement on its merits or balance, but homebrew has a cipher skill (http://dnd-wiki.org/wiki/Tome_of_Prowess_(3.5e_Sourcebook)/Ciphers).

[nedz]

This reminds me of a question which came up recently in a game for which I do not have the answer.

Does Comprehend Languages allow you to read a cypher ?

I think not, but it is probably arguable.

Ed: though if you consider substitution cyphers to be just another alphabet, well maybe ?

[Story]

No, it does not.


You can understand the spoken words of creatures or read otherwise incomprehensible written messages. In either case, you must touch the creature or the writing. The ability to read does not necessarily impart insight into the material, merely its literal meaning. The spell enables you to understand or read an unknown language, not speak or write it.

Written material can be read at the rate of one page (250 words) per minute. Magical writing cannot be read, though the spell reveals that it is magical. This spell can be foiled by certain warding magic (such as the secret page and illusory script spells). It does not decipher codes or reveal messages concealed in otherwise normal text.

[Emperor Tippy]

A Permanent Telepathic Bond.

It's simply and relatively cheap. Although you are limited to only being able to contact a single individual.

[fryplink]

Invent a language (only one person has to invent and speak it, as long as it has formal rules) and then use comprehend languages?

Mutual Detect Thoughts.

See Invisibility, as well as an invisible object. Or an Invisible Spell Minor Image of what you want. Just cast the illusion with the metamagic in the text you desire, and use See Invisibility to "decode" it. Or use a more dynamic illusion spell to hold a conversation.

Ventriloquism, with the direction the voice comes from altering them messages meaning. If it comes from the speaker, it's truth, it is comes to you from the opposite direction of the speaker, he means the direct opposite. If it comes from the speakers left, it is a lie to throw off other listeners who might be listening. Coming from the right of the speaker means other things (pre determined). You also have below and above the speaker, as well as use it to whisper in the ear of someone nearby.

This is all for shorter range communication. For the comprehend languages one, you can send it long distances via writing in the mail. For the Illusion based one, that might just have to be short to medium range. Ventriloquism, if made loud enough, could be used across a large battlefield if you adjusted the rules

EDIT: For the Illusion, just aim it up in the air, and make the message large enough to see in the air. This will give you a few miles of message maybe? depending on the size of the message (and the quality of their spot check), they might need binoculars or a telescope.