This basically changes Truenaming from a stand-alone magic system to one that can be glued on to any character to give them access to the abilities, at the cost of a single feat.
Truespeak
(INT; TRAINED ONLY)
Use this skill to master the tortuous pronunciation of truenames, each of which involves a dozen syllables, precise timing, and vocalizations foreign even to the most multilingual character. If you’re a truenamer, you use this skill every time you deliver an utterance or make a recitation. If you’re a spellcaster with a truename spell at your disposal, you make a Truespeak check to cast the spell properly. Members of prestige classes such as the fiendbinder, acolyte of the ego, and brimstone speaker make Truespeak checks to activate their class features.
You can also make a Truespeak check as a free action to identify an utterance being spoken, even when it’s not your turn. The DC of this check is equal to the DC to speak the utterance you wish to identify.
Of the standard classes, only the truenamer has Truespeak as a class skill. Other characters can avoid the high cost of cross-class skills by taking the Truename Training feat.
This skill doesn’t represent your ability to learn and know truenames so much as it represents your ability to say them aloud. Each truename is complex and exacting enough that just overhearing a truename—even a personal truename—doesn’t give you any particular facility for pronouncing it yourself. That takes continuous vocal exercises and endless study.
Check: You can pronounce the truename of a creature (such as “orc,” “horse,” or “red dragon”) by succeeding on a Truespeak check with a DC of 15 + (2 × the creature’s CR). For creatures that don’t have Challenge Ratings, such as player characters, use a DC of 15 + (2 × the creature’s HD). Speaking the truename of a magic item has a DC of 15 + (2 × item’s caster level).
You gain a +4 competence bonus on Truespeak checks for saying your own personal truename.
Because saying a truename is such an idiosyncratic, exacting task, you can’t take 10 or take 20 on Truespeak checks.
Action: Speaking a truename is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
Try Again: Yes.
Synergy: If you have 5 ranks in Truespeak, you gain a +2 bonus on any Knowledge checks made to conduct truename research.
Adjustments
Law of Resistance and Law of Sequence are removed.
For every skill point invested into the Truespeak skill, you learn one truename. Refer to the chart below to see what you can learn. At any level when a truenamer gains access to a new level of utterances, he can also replace a utterance he already knows with another utterance of the same or a lower level, and from the same lexicon. For example, when he gains access to third level utterances, the truenamer can, if he chooses, either replace a 1st level utterance he knows with another 1st level utterance or replace a 2nd level utterance he knows with a utterance of either 1st or 2nd level.
Table 1: Maximum Utterance Level Known
Level Evolving Mind Crafted Tool Perfected Map
1st 1st — —
2nd 1st — —
3rd 2nd — —
4th 2nd 1st —
5th 2nd 1st —
6th 3rd 1st —
7th 3rd 2nd —
8th 3rd 2nd 1st
9th 3rd 2nd 1st
10th 4th 2nd 1st
11th 4th 3rd 1st
12th 4th 3rd 2nd
13th 4th 3rd 2nd
14th 5th 3rd 2nd
15th 5th 4th 2nd
16th 5th 4th 3rd
17th 5th 4th 3rd
18th 6th 4th 3rd
19th 6th 5th 3rd
20th 6th 5th 4th
Utterance Specialist [Truename]
Prerequisite: Able to use Utterances, Truespeak 5
Benefit: You reduce the DC of your Utterance checks by -5.
Utterance Master [Truename]
Prerequisite: Able to use Utterances, Truespeak 8, Utterance Specialist
Benefit: You reduce the DC of your Utterance checks by a further -5.
