By means of this spell, the caster can change 1d4 sticks, plus one stick per rank (all of which must be within a 10 ft cube), into snakes; thus, a rank 9 priest can change 10-13 sticks into an equal number of snakes. These snakes attack as commanded by the priest. There must, of course, be sticks or similar pieces of wood (such as torches, spears, etc.) to turn into snakes. Such a stick cannot be larger than a staff. Sticks held by creatures are allowed a saving throw equal to that of the possessor (i.e., a spear held by an orc must roll the orc's saving throw vs. magic). Magical items, such as staves and enchanted spears, are not affected by the spell. Only sticks within the area of effect are changed.
The type of snake created varies, but a typical specimen is level 2, PROT 3, a TMR of 8, and either constricts for 1d6+1 points of damage per round or bites for 1 point plus poison (if any). The chance of a snake thus changed being venomous is 5% per rank, if the spellcaster desires. Thus, a rank 11 priest has a maximum 55% chance that any snake created by the spell is poisonous. The spell lasts for two rounds for each rank of the spellcaster.
The material components of the spell are a small piece of bark and several snake scales.
The reverse spell changes normal-sized snakes to sticks for the same duration, or it negates the sticks to snakes spell according to the level of the priest countering the spell (for example, a rank 10 priest casting the reverse spell can turn 11-14 snakes back into sticks). |