The Wizard's Closet

Seaver's Swirling Spheres

By Squire Sean O'Connor



(Evocation, Abjuration) 6th-level Magic-user spell
Range: 6' + 2'/level
Components: V, S, M
Duration: See below
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: Caster
Saving Throw: None

This spell creates magical spheres which allow extra protection for the caster, since they directly absorb physical or magical damage directed at the caster.

Upon casting this spell, the mage creates a pair of Seaver's Swirling Spheres. These spheres are roughly six inches in diameter, made of swirling energy, and glow faintly, one with green light and the other of the pair with red light, as they swirl about the caster out to a distance from his body proscribed by the range of the spell.

The red sphere is able to absorb 5 points of physical damage per caster level, while the green is able to absorb 5 points per level of magical energy directed against the caster. These spheres move automatically to intercept attacks of the appropriate type, absorbing the full damage from the attack. For purposes of melee or spell combat, the spheres are considered AC10, so that they are always hit (except, of course, on a roll of 1 on a d20 "to hit") since this is their function, to intercept damage before the caster is harmed.

If a green sphere is dealt more magical damage than it can negate the balance is dealt to the caster as "spill over" energy, and the green sphere is dispelled. If a red sphere is dealt more physical damage than it can fully absorb, then it is dispelled but there is no "spill over" of physical damage to the caster from that particular hit. The spheres remain swirling about the caster until they have been dispelled, destroyed, or until a number of turns equal to the caster's experience level have elapsed.

Note that magical damage from artifacts, gods, or extra-planar creatures automatically penetrates this defense, bypassing the spheres to directly affect the caster. If such an attack is made, it will also automatically dispel the spheres 75% of the time. A spell of dispel magic will also, if successful, terminate the spheres.

The material components for this spell are a hollow, sphere of high quality, green-colored glass, one inch in diameter, and a sphere of fine rose marble of similar size.

The Wizard's Closet


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