DESCRIPTION

This spell consumes the essence of an entity trapped in a soul gem to draw out aspects it possessed as a living creature, producing one of the following effects.

A   Unless otherwise noted, these effects last 1 minute per caster level and apply only to the spell's caster.

• Knowledge: You inhale a spectral vapor that curls out of the gem, gaining the benefit of trapped soul's knowledge until you exhale.  For each round you hold your breath, you may make one Intelligence-based skill check using the trapped entity's modifier.  Spellcraft checks made to identify a spell or the properties of a magical item can be modified by this ability, but the latter takes up 3 rounds instead of 1.
  
  
• Counsel: You place the gem under your tongue.  

A soul gem can be used as the material component for this spell once per 10gp of its value (see The Soul Trade) before it is consumed and the soul inside is utterly destroyed.