Make Whole + Mending Spell? For Books?

[kevin video]

So I'm currently running Delzomen's Iceforge from Frostburn, and they just entered the library. The books there have been damaged from the ice and snow over the past 100 years. However, if the party can restore them, they'd either get a +4 bonus to various knowledges, or if they can fix them for 6000 gold, two months of work, and a Craft 25 (bookbinding). Mending and Make Whole do not work as these have just aged badly over time.

The wizard is not impressed with needing to spend that long fixing the books, nor is the rogue. The original idea was to grab empty books and copy them via spells, but the wizard is now looking to design his own spell that would specifically fix the books. Then he'll patent it, and sell it to archeologists who unearth ancient tomes.

Any idea how one would design this, of if there's already a spell that basically does this?

Also, for anyone who's ran this adventure, what did you do this situation?

[sirpercival]

I would make it a low-level spell.  Combine Scholar's Touch with Amanuensis.  You need a blank book; touch the offending tome to store the knowledge contained within, then touch the blank to copy out said knowledge into a more robust medium.

[kevin video]

I would make it a low-level spell.  Combine Scholar's Touch with Amanuensis.  You need a blank book; touch the offending tome to store the knowledge contained within, then touch the blank to copy out said knowledge into a more robust medium.

Normally, I'd be okay with that because that's what they suggested, but the book's aged to the point where it's almost unreadable. Not sure a spell like that could just magically make all the print re-appear in another book.

It's why it's costs 6000 gold, two months, and Craft 25 bookbinding. And if you fail, you lose that time and money. It's not meant to be easy. I definitely wouldn't let it be that low a level for this specifically.

[Nytemare3701]

I would make it a low-level spell.  Combine Scholar's Touch with Amanuensis.  You need a blank book; touch the offending tome to store the knowledge contained within, then touch the blank to copy out said knowledge into a more robust medium.

Normally, I'd be okay with that because that's what they suggested, but the book's aged to the point where it's almost unreadable. Not sure a spell like that could just magically make all the print re-appear in another book.

It's why it's costs 6000 gold, two months, and Craft 25 bookbinding. And if you fail, you lose that time and money. It's not meant to be easy. I definitely wouldn't let it be that low a level for this specifically.

If there is information in the book, Scholar's Touch pulls it. If there isn't, then restoring the book wouldn't give you anything. The rest is up in the air though.