Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

Decay
(Alteration)
Level: 3
Sphere: Time (Bhaal)
Range: Touch
Components: V,S,M
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: 1 cubic foot/level
Saving Throw: Special
This spell accelerates the aging of any item. It has
no effect on living matter. For every hour that
passes, the object decays a day. Equally, any abrasion
or strain to the article is increased twenty-fold. After
an appropriate amount of time has passed, most objects
break, rust, corrode, or decay into uselessness.
A successful dispel magic halts the accelerated decay
process and return’s an item’s aging to normal rates;
aging that has already taken effect is permanent,
however.
Normal items do not receive a saving throw
against this spell’s effects. Magical items receive a
saving throw against the spell; they must make a successful
saving throw vs. lightning at a -2 penalty or
be affected by the spell. Artifacts and relics are unaffected
by this spell. To affect an item being carried or
worn by someone, the casting priest must make a
successful attack roll with his or her hand.
The material component of this spell is the holy
symbol of the casting priest.
Handfang
(Alteration/Necromancy)
Level: 2
Sphere: Combat, Necromantic (Moander)
Range: 0
Components: V,S
Duration: 1 round/level
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: The caster’s palm
Saving Throw: Special
This spell creates a fanged, biting mouth in the
palm of the caster’s hand. It can readily be concealed
by curling the hand into a fist or by placing the palm
of the hand against something. Its bite is under the
control of the caster; it does not automatically snap
at anything it touches. The caster can deliver the
hand’s attack only by slapping his or her palm
against a target, requiring a normal attack roll; it can
bite once per round.
The bite of a handfang does 1 point of damage
and forces the victim to make two saving throws;
one vs. paralyzation and the next vs. spell. If the
saving throw vs. paralyzation fails, the victim is
paralyzed for 1d3 rounds; if it succeeds, this effect is
negated. If the saving throw vs. spell fails, the
mouth’s saliva poisons the victim, doing 3d4 points
of additional damage. If this saving throw succeeds,
this damage is reduced to ld6 points. These twin
saving throws must be made against every bite of a
handfang; saving successfully against one attack
does not mean that the victim is immune to these
effects. Paralyzed victims who are not actively protected
by compatriots or somehow moved beyond
the reach of the spell’s caster are automatically
successfully attacked by the handfang on subsequent
rounds while they are paralyzed if the spellcaster
targets them.
Mace of Xvim
(Evocation)
Level: 2
Sphere: Combat (Iyachtu Xvim)
Range: 0
Components: V,S,M
Duration: 5 rounds
Casting Time: 5
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: Special
This spell conjures up a short-lived glowing mace
in the caster’s hand that strikes with a +3 attack
bonus, deals 1d12+2 points of damage at a strike, and
forces all struck items to succeed at an item saving
throw vs. crushing blow or shatter. The mace vanishes
if it leaves the possession of the caster and cannot be
wielded by any other being. All magical items and enchanted
substances or surfaces bearing a dweomer get
a +4 bonus to their saving throws against the shattering
power of the mace. Any item that succeeds at its
saving throw once against a particular mace of Xvim
need not do so again, even if struck repeatedly.
The mace has a reach of 5 feet but is almost
weightless; casters of any size or strength can easily
wield it. It appears as a black, spiked, one-piece rod
surrounded by a dim, flickering, blue radiance.
The material component of this spell is an iron or
steel nail, sliver, or fragment.
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