Bird Of Prey

This spell creates a hawk-shaped region of force that hovers above the targeted being. Every other round, beginning the round after the spell is cast, the bird of prey dives down upon the spell target. It attacks with the spellcaster's base THAC 0, with a +2 bonus to hit, and has a +3 initiative bonus over the initiative rolled by its caster in a round. (Thus, if the casting priest or the casting priest's group rolled an initiative of 5, the bird of prey would have an initiative of 2.) If the phantom bird of prey strikes its intended target, it inflict 2d4+2 points of damage. Whether it hits or misses, it immediately circles back upward and prepares for another attack until the spell effect expires. When possible, the bird of prey likes to climb to 30 to 40 feet above the spellcaster, though such a height is not necessary for the spell to function. The intended target of a bird of prey cannot be changed once the spell is cast, and the spellcaster need not concentrate to maintain the effect. The target of the spell need only be in range when the spell is cast; if the target being moves out of range using normal movement while the spell is in effect, the bird of prey continues its pursuit.

While a bird of prey can be perceived as a hawk-shaped shimmering region by those who look carefully, attacks against it have no effect. Only a dispel magic or similar incantation affects a bird of prey, ending the spell immediately. Otherwise, the only way to escape the attacks of a bird of prey is to employ blink, dimension door, teleport, or other forms of magical travel. If the intended target escapes in such a fashion, the bird of prey automatically looses track of its target and immediately dissipates. Invisibility offers no protection, assuming the spellcaster could detect the target to begin with. Shield spells do not negate a bird of prey, but they cause it to automatically miss while they are in effect.