Enchant Phylactery
- SchoolEnchantment
- SphereGuardian, Protection
- ComponentsV, S, M
- RangeTouch
- Area1 phylactery
- Casting time1 rd.
- DurationUntil the phylactery is opened
- SaveNone
A phylactery is a small box that can be opened, and is frequently attached to straps or fine chains that allow it to be worn on the body. The enchant phylactery spell allows the priest to enchant the item with a spell that takes effect when the phylactery is opened. If the phylactery is to be destroyed upon opening, the second spell can be fire- or electricity-based. If the phylactery is meant to survive, neither of those attack forms should be employed.
The phylactery can be previously enchanted. If it is attuned to a being, however (the phylactery of a lich, for example, is specific to that one lich), the second spell does not take effect if that being opens the phylactery, nor will the spell take effect if the caster opens the phylactery.
The second spell must be cast by the same priest who cast the enchant phylactery spell, and this must be done in the immediately following round. The level at which the second spell takes effect is the same as that of the priest at the time the phylactery was enchanted. Thus, if the second spell was cast by a 9th level priest, the spell takes effect as if cast by a 9th level priest, regardless of how long it has been since the phylactery was enchanted. The second spell requires its usual material components, but if it needs a visible target or operates by touch, the phylactery itself serves that purpose. Only one spell can be placed on a given phylactery with the enchant phylactery spell. A subsequent casting of enchant phylactery replaces a previous casting.
The material components are a strand of spider-web and an eyelash and sliver of fingernail from the caster.
Notes: Granted by Mystra, Mother of All Magic, of the Forgotten Realms setting. (This spell has been updated.)
Sources: Priest's Spell Compendium