AD&D 2nd Edition

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Category Archives: 3rd Level


Water Walk

Sphere: Elemental (Water)
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 turn +1 turn/level
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell, the caster is able to empower one or more creatures to tread upon any liquid as if it were firm ground; this includes mud, quicksand, oil, running water, and snow. The recipient’s feet do not touch the surface of the liquid, but oval depressions of his appropriate foot size and two inches deep are left in the mud or snow. The recipient’s rate of movement remains normal. If cast underwater, the recipient is borne toward the surface.

For every level of the caster above the minimum required to cast the spell (5th level), he can affect another creature. The material components for this spell are a piece of cork and the priest’s holy symbol.

Water Breathing

Sphere: Elemental (Water, Air)
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour/level
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: Creature touched
Saving Throw: None

The recipient of a water breathing spell is able to breathe under water freely for the duration of the spell – i.e., one hour for each experience level of the caster. The priest can divide the base duration between multiple characters. Thus an 8th-level priest can confer this ability to two characters for four hours, four for two hours, eight for one hour, etc., to a minimum of 1/2 hour per character.

The reverse, air breathing, enables waterbreathing creatures to survive comfortably in the atmosphere for an equal duration. Note that neither version prevents the recipient creature from breathing in its natural element.

Tree

Sphere: Plant
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 6 turns + 1 turn/level
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: The caster
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell, the caster is able to assume the form of a small living tree or shrub or that of a large dead tree trunk with but a few limbs. Although the closest inspection cannot reveal that this plant is actually a person, and for all normal tests he is, in fact, a tree or shrub, the caster is able to observe all that goes on around him just as if he were in normal form. The Armor Class and hit points of the plant are those of the caster. The caster can remove the spell at any time, instantly changing from plant to his normal form and having full capability for any action normally possible (including spell casting). Note that all clothing and gear worn or carried change with the caster.

The material components of this spell are the priest’s holy symbol and a twig from a tree.

Summon Insects

Sphere: Animal
Range: 30 yards
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 round/level
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Saving Throw: None

The summon insects spell attracts a cloud or swarm of normal insects to attack the foes of the caster. Flying insects appear 70% of the time, while crawling insects appear 30% of the time. The exact insects called are bees, biting flies, hornets, or wasps, if flying insects are indicated; biting ants or pinching beetles, if crawling insects are indicated. A cloud of the flying type, or a swarm of the crawling sort, appears after the spell is cast. This gathers at a point chosen by the caster, within the spell’s range, and attacks any single creature the caster points to.

The attacked creature sustains 2 points of damage if it does nothing but attempt to flee or fend off the insects during the time it is attacked; it suffers 4 points of damage per round otherwise. If the insects are ignored, the victim fights with a -2 penalty to his attack roll and a +2 penalty to his Armor Class. If he attempts to cast a spell, an initiative roll should be made for the insects to see if their damage occurs before the spell is cast. If it does, the victim’s concentration is ruined and the spell is lost.

The insects disperse and the spell ends if the victim enters thick smoke or hot flames. Besides being driven off by smoke or hot flames, the swarm might possibly be outrun, or evaded by plunging into a sufficient body of water. If evaded, the summoned insects can be sent against another opponent, but there will be at least a 1 round delay while they leave the former opponent and attack the new victim. Crawling insects can travel only about 10 feet per round (maximum speed over smooth ground) and flying insects travel 60 feet per round. The caster must concentrate to maintain the swarm; it dissipates if he moves or is disturbed.

It is possible, in underground situations, that the caster might summon 1d4 giant ants by means of the spell, but the possibility is only 30% unless giant ants are nearby. This spell does not function under water.

The materials needed for this spell are the caster’s holy symbol, a flower petal, and a bit of mud or wet clay.

Stone Shape

Sphere: Elemental (Earth)
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: 3′ cube plus 1′ cube/level
Saving Throw: None

By means of this spell, the caster can form an existing piece of stone into any shape that suits his purposes. For example, a stone weapon can be made, a special trapdoor fashioned, or a crude idol sculpted. By the same token, it enables the spellcaster to reshape a stone door, perhaps so as to escape imprisonment, providing the volume of stone involved was within the limits of the area of effect. While stone coffers can be thus formed, stone doors made, etc., the fineness of detail is not great. If the shaping has moving parts, there is a 30% chance they do not work.

The material component of this spell is soft clay that must be worked into roughly the desired shape of the stone object, and then touched to the stone when the spell is uttered.

Starshine

Sphere: Sun
Range: 10 yd/level
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 turn/level
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: 10-foot square/level
Saving Throw: None

A starshine spell enables the caster to softly illuminate an area as if it were exposed to a clear night sky filled with stars. Regardless of the height of the open area in which the spell is cast, the area immediately beneath it is lit by starshine. Vision ranges are the same as those for a bright moonlit night – movement noted out to 100 yards; stationary creatures seen up to 50 yards; general identifications made at 30 yards; recognition at 10 yards. The spell creates shadows and has no effect on infravision. The area of effect actually appears to be a night sky, but disbelief of the illusion merely enables the disbeliever to note that the 11Stars” are actually evoked lights. This spell does not function under water.

The material components are several stalks from an amaryllis plant (especially Hypoxis) and several holly berries.

Spike Growth

Sphere: Plant
Range: 60 yards
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 3d4 turns +1/level
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: 10-foot square/level
Saving Throw: None

Wherever any type of plant growth of moderate size or density is found, this spell can be used. The ground-covering vegetation or roots and rootlets in the area becomes very hard and sharply pointed. In effect the ground cover, while appearing to be unchanged, acts as if the area were strewn with caltrops. In areas of bare ground or earthen pits, roots and rootlets act in the same way. For each 10 feet of movement through the area, the victim suffers 2d4 points of damage. He must also roll a saving throw vs. spell. If this saving throw is failed, the victim’s movement rate is reduced by 1/3 from its current total (but a creature’s movement rate can never be less than 1). This penalty lasts for 24 hours, after which the character’s normal movement rate is regained.

Without the use of a spell such as true seeing, similar magical aids, or some other special means of detection (such as detect traps or detect snares and pits), an area affected by spike growth is absolutely undetectable as such until a victim enters the area and suffers damage. Even then, the creature cannot determine the extent of the perilous area unless some means of magical detection is used.

The components for this spell are the priest’s holy symbol and either seven sharp thorns or seven small twigs, each sharpened to a point.

Speak With Dead

Sphere: Divination
Range: 1
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 1 turn
Area of Effect: 1 creature
Saving Throw: Special

Upon casting a speak with dead spell, the priest is able to ask several questions of a dead creature in a set period of time and receive answers according to the knowledge of that creature. Of course, the priest must be able to converse in the language that the dead creature once used. The length of time the creature has been dead is a factor, since only higher level priests can converse with a long-dead creature. The number of questions that can be answered and the length of time in which the questions can be asked depend on the level of experience of the priest. Even if the casting is successful, such creatures are as evasive as possible when questioned. The dead tend to give extremely brief and limited answers, often cryptic, and to take questions literally. Furthermore, their knowledge is often limited to what they knew in life.

A dead creature of different alignment or of higher level or Hit Dice than the caster’s level receives a saving throw vs. spell. A dead creature that successfully saves can refuse to answer questions, ending the spell. At the DM’s option, the casting of this spell on a given creature might be restricted to once per week.

The priest needs a holy symbol and burning incense in order to cast this spell upon the body, remains, or a portion thereof. The remains are not expended. This spell does not function under water.

Caster’s Level of Experience    Maximum Length of Time Dead    Time Questioned    Number of Questions
up to 7th 1 week 1 round 2
7th-8th 1 month 3 rounds 3
9th-12th 1 year 1 turn 4
13th-15th 10 years 2 turns 5
16th-20th 100 years 3 turns 6
21st and up 1,000 years 1 hour 7

Snare

Sphere: Plant
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Permanent until triggered
Casting Time: 3 rounds
Area of Effect: 2′ diameter circle plus 1/6′ per level of the spellcaster
Saving Throw: None

This spell enables the caster to make a snare that is 90% undetectable without magical aid. The snare can be made from any supple vine, a thong, or a rope. When the snare spell is cast upon it, the cordlike object blends with its surroundings. One end of the snare is tied in a loop that contracts around one or more of the limbs of any creature stepping inside the circle (note that the head of a worm or snake could be thus ensnared).

If a strong and supple tree is nearby, the snare can be fastened to it. The magic of the spell causes the tree to bend and then straighten when the loop is triggered, inflicting 1d6 points of damage to the creature trapped, and lifting it off the ground by the trapped member(s) (or strangling it if the head/neck triggered the snare). If no such sapling or tree is available, the cord-like object tightens upon the member(s), then wraps around the entire creature, causing no damage, but tightly binding it. Under water, the cord coils back upon its anchor point. The snare is magical, so for one hour it is breakable only by cloud giant or greater Strength (23); each hour thereafter, the snare material loses magic so as to become 1 point more breakable per hour – 22 after two hours, 21 after three, 20 after four – until six full hours have elapsed. At that time, 18 Strength will break the bonds. After 12 hours have elapsed, the materials of the snare lose all magical properties and the loop opens, freeing anything it held. The snare can be cut with any magical weapon, or with any edged weapon wielded with at least a +2 attack bonus (from Strength, for example).

The caster must have a snake skin and a piece of sinew from a strong animal to weave into the cord-like object from which he will make the snare. Only the caster’s holy symbol is otherwise needed.

Remove Paralysis

Sphere: Protection
Range: 10 yards/level
Components: V, S
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: 1d4 creatures in a 20′ cube
Saving Throw: None

By the use of this spell, the priest can free one or more creatures from the effects of any paralyzation or from related magic (such as a ghoul touch, or a hold or slow spell). If the spell is cast on one creature, the paralyzation is negated. If cast on two creatures, each receives another saving throw vs. the effect that inflicts it, with a +4 bonus. If cast on three or four creatures, each receives another saving throw with a +2 bonus. There must be no physical or magical barrier between the caster and the creatures to be effected, or the spell fails and is wasted.