Encyclopedia Creature Obscura
There are fourteen unique entries in this classic, hard-to-find series of encyclopedic tomes, which were originally written by renowned hunters and archdruids. When found, roll a d20 or choose from the table below to determine which encyclopedic volume it is.
If you have at least 5 levels in the ranger class and spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the book's contents and practicing its guidelines, you gain the favored enemy and language (or similar effect) associated with your volume of the encyclopedia. If you have 5 or more levels in the druid class and spend that same time reading it, you can use an action to expend 2 uses of your Wild Shape to transform into the volume's associated Wild Shape option or cast the listed spell. A benefit gained from the book is permanent.
| d20 | Volume Title | Favored Enemy and Language | Wild Shape Option (Costs 2 Uses) |
| 1 | Aberration: A Speculation on Aberrant Physiology | Aberrations; Deep Speech | Gibbering Mouther |
| 2 | Beast: Wild Beasts and Their Domestication | Beasts; beasts can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return | Giant Scorpion |
| 3 | Celestial: The Divinity of Celestials, a Testament | Celestials; Celestial | Pegasus |
| 4 | Constructs: The Inner Workings of Automatons | Constructs; your choice of language | Rug of Smothering |
| 5 | Dragon: The Draconomicon | Dragons; Draconic | Gold Dragon Wyrmling |
| 6 | Elemental: Fire and Water, a Primordial Project | Elementals; Primordial | Gargoyle |
| 7 | Fey: An Interpretation of Fey Minds | Fey; Sylvan | Dryad |
| 8 | Fiend: A Transcript of Fiendish Habits | Fiends; Abyssal or Infernal | Hell Hound |
| 9 | Giant: A Documentation of Giant Culture | Giants; Giant | Ogre |
| 10 | Humanoid: A Study of Humanoid Behavior | Humanoids (any two races); your choice of language | You cast the alter self spell (no concentration required) |
| 11 | Monstrosity: From under the Bed. Monsters and Their History | Monstrosities; your choice of language | Owlbear |
| 12 | Ooze: An Analysis on Ooze Composition | Oozes; oozes you touch can understand the meaning of your words, though you have no special ability to understand them in return | Ochre Jelly (without the Split reaction) |
| 13 | Plant: A Publication on Arboretum | Plants; your choice of language | Awakened Tree |
| 14 | Undead: An Examination of Undeath | Undead; your choice of language | Minotaur Skeleton |
| 15 – 19 | Roll again | — | — |
| 20 | Roll two d20s, rerolling any 20. The book you find contains handwritten notes in the margins detailing concepts found in the second volume: you gain the benefits of both books upon reading it. | — | — |
Once you gain the book's benefits, the book loses its magic, but regains it in 10 years.
To understand is to destroy, to understand is to become.