Introduction

My players found a book which contains knowledge mortals probably shouldn't have. Amongst other things, it details why patrons have warlocks, what their primary function is, and how to make a warlock. That is, it contains a series of spells and rituals which if used together would allow a sufficiently powerful spell caster to (in theory) become a Patron to a low level Warlock. Here are 4 of the spells contained in the book (with commentary on each one). I'm looking for feedback on the balance of these as standalone spells.

The Bound Item spell is mainly used to create the bond warlocks typically have with their pact item (a weapon, a tome, or a familiar). Their patrons will make this bond permanent via Permanency.

Imbue with Spell Ability

5th level Evocation (Wizard, Sorcerer, Bard)

Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (an arcane focus, 10gp worth of gems for each spell slot level expended which the spell consumes, and any material components normally required for the imbued spells)
Duration: Until Dispelled

Arrange the gems and any other material components close to the arcane focus. Trace arcane symbols representing each unique spell you are imbuing on the ground near the arcane focus. Expend any number of spell slots each of which is of a lesser level than the spell slot you used to cast this spell. For each spell slot you expended, choose a spell you have prepared of a level equal to or less than the spell slot level (a cantrip counts as a level 0 spell for this purpose). Once the spell is complete, the arcane focus is imbued with the spell slots you expended and the spells you selected while casting this spell. Any creature with an intelligence of at least 6 can use this arcane focus to cast one of the imbued spells at its lowest level, expending the corresponding spell slot. The spells are cast using your spell casting ability modifier and your spell casting attack bonus. Cantrips are cast as if the wielder was level 1.

You cannot regain any of the spell slots you expended by casting this spell until either all the spell slots in the arcane focus are consumed, or the arcane focus is destroyed. If you cast this spell on the same arcane focus for 1 year, selecting the same spells each day, then the arcane focus becomes a magic item which recharges its expended spell slots each day at dawn.

At Higher Level: Casting this spell at higher level allows you to expend spell slots of any level below the level you cast this spell at. For example, casting this spell at level 7 and expending an additional level 6 and level 5 spell slots allows you to imbue the arcane focus with the Arcane Gate and Modify Memory spells.

The Permanency spell is what really brings it all together. Notice the use of Souls as a material component. In my campaign it would be extremely difficult and evil to obtain someone's soul, let alone destroy it in the process of casting a spell.

Permanency

6th level Evocation (Wizard, Sorcerer, Bard, Warlock)

Casting Time: 24 hours
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (either a number of souls equal to 1 plus the level of the target spell, or a dagger, a vial of holy water, and a number of 500gp gems equal to 1 plus the level of the target spell (Everything but the dagger is consumed in the casting of this spell))
Duration: Until dispelled

During the casting of this spell, you channel the divine energy of one or more souls into your magic. If you offer souls (trapped in various magical items such as a Night Hag's Soul Bag) as a material component for this spell, they are consumed and destroyed by the casting of this spell.

The creatures they belonged to can never be revived, even by a Wish spell.If you don't offer souls as a material component, part of your own soul will be siphoned off into empowering your magic. This will result in severely weakening the tie your soul has to your body, making it easier to fall into death and harder to bring you back to life. After casting the spell in this way, make a single death saving throw. If you succeed, nothing happens. If you fail, then every time you are reduced to 0 hit points and forced to make death saving throws, you automatically fail one death saving throw. This effect can stack from multiple castings of Permanency. In addition (regardless of whether you passes or failed the death saving throw), your soul is weakened as if you had died and been resurrected a number of times equal to the number of souls that would normally be needed to cast this spell. Only the will of a god can undo the side effects of casting Permanency in this way.

Choose a spell of 5th level or lower that you can cast, that does not require concentration, and that has a duration of at least 24 hours. You cast that spell --called the target spell-- as part of casting permanency, expending spell slots and material components for both. In order to successfully cast permanency, whatever the target spell is effecting must be within the normal range of the spell for the full 24 hours used to cast permanency. The target spell comes into effect upon the successful completion of the permanency spell with the following changes:

• The target spell can only effect one target, even if casting the spell at that level would normally be able to effect multiple targets.

• If the effects of the target spell can normally be changed after casting (such as with Disguise Self), they cannot be changed when cast in this way.

• The duration of the target spell is changed to "until dispelled".

If the target spell is cast at a level which normally effects multiple creatures (such as Water Breathing), you can choose to instead create a magical item imbued with this spells effects. As an additional material component you need a non-magical item whose value is equal to 500gp times 1 plus the level at which you're casting the target spell. After the spell is complete, the item becomes a magical item which requires attunement. While attuned, the wearer gains the benefits of this spell.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a 7th level spell slot, the target spell can be of level 6 or lower and its duration need only be 8 hours. Every other restriction on casting this spell applies. Using an 8th level slot, you may select a spell of level 7 or lower and with a duration of only 1 hour. Using a 9th level slot, you may select a spell of level 8 or lower with a duration of only 10 minutes.

There are other spells present in this book, but I'm not sure where to being writing them. The spell that's giving me the biggest trouble is a spell which can create "Magically Binding Contracts" similar to those used by devils or the strange binding deals that take place in the Fey Wild. If anyone has advice on how to write that spell, it'd be greatly appreciated.