When this spell is cast, the priest causes a volume of wood to bend and warp, permanently destroying its straightness, form, and strength. The range of a warp wood spell is 10 yards per rank. It affects approximately a 15-inch shaft of wood of up to 1-inch diameter per rank of the caster. Thus, at rank 1, a caster might be able to warp a hand axe handle or four crossbow bolts; at rank 5, he could warp the shaft of a typical spear. Note that boards or planks can also be affected, causing a door to be sprung or a boat or ship to leak. Warped missile weapons are useless; warped melee weapons suffer a -20 penalty to their attack rolls.
Enchanted wood is affected only if the spellcaster is of higher rank than the caster of the prior enchantment. The spellcaster has a 20% cumulative chance of success per rank of difference (20% if one rank higher, 40% if two ranks higher, etc.). Thus, a door magically held or wizard locked by a rank 5 wizard is 40% likely to be affected by a warp wood spell cast by a rank 7 priest. Wooden magical items are considered enchanted at rank 12 (or better). Extremely powerful items, such as artifacts, are unaffected by this spell.
If this spell is used against a plant-based "monster" (e.g., shrieker, shambling mound, etc.) it causes 1d4 damage per rank to the target. The target is allowed a magic save for half damage.
The reversed spell, straighten wood, straightens bent or crooked wood, or reverses the effects of a warp wood spell, subject to the same restrictions. |