This spell allows the mage to obscure his own tracks so that he cannot be tracked by normal means such as a ranger finding his tracks on the ground or in the snow. The obscurement happens as the mage is walking (or, at higher ranks, riding). The tracks will automatically continue to obscure for the duration of the spell.
Initially only the tracks of the mage are obscured. At rank 2, the mage can obscure the tracks of his horse or other mount that he is riding. Starting at rank 3, he may obscure one pair of footprints (hoofprints, etc.) per rank above 2nd, providing that the target to be obscured remains within 10 feet per rank. Thus, at rank 3, he can obscure the tracks of the horse he is riding, plus one other, two-legged creature within 30 feet. At rank 4, he can obscure the tracks of the horse he is riding, plus one more horse, or the horse he is riding, plus two two-legged creatures within 20 feet.
The tracks are permanently obscured such that, for example, if the target is walking through the snow, they will make footprints in the snow but as soon as their foot moves forward, the footprint is compltely obscured such that normal examination will not reveal that someone has stepped there. This is equally true in mud, grass, sand or any other normal material. |