Goad of Misfortune

This spell creates a hooked metal rod 4 feet in length, similar in appearance to an elephant goad, although it has no blade or sharp point. A goad of misfortune functions in all respects as an iron footman's mace, except that it inflicts 4d4 points of damage per blow (save for half).

It can be set aside to free the caster's hands for doing other things (such as unrelated spellcasting), but vanishes instantly but if touched by a being other than the cater, it vanishes instantly unless the caster is also in direct contact with it.

When a goad of misfortune is specifically used to strike against any armor, weapon, or item (that is, if its wielder tries to harm the item and not its wearer or carrier, or if the item is successfully used to parry a goad attack), the item must make a successful item saving throw vs. crushing blow or be destroyed. Whenever the goad deals damage to a creature, its wielder is healed of 2 points of damage (but cannot gain extra hit points in this fashion, even temporarily).

An attack that deals damage to a being also empowers the goad to dimension door itself and its wielder (as the wizard spell, but with a 90-yard maximum distance and no recovery time necessary). This power vanishes if not used within 1 turn of the attack that enabled it. Successful multiple attacks can build up multiple dimension door trips to a maximum of three, which the caster can use later or even in succession, so long as a full turn does not elapse between the strike and teleportation.

When created, a goad of misfortune normally coalesces in the hand of its caster. The spell range refers to an alternative version of this spell in which the goad is rendered invisible and set above a specific spot (typically a doorway or over a chair). It hangs in midair, waiting to strike any being except the caster who enters its 10-foot by 10-foot by 20-foot high area of activation. It attacks only once, striking with the caster's THAC0 and dealing 4d4 points of damage (no saving throw). This form of the goad has none of the additional powers possessed by the caster-wielded form.

The material component is an iron rod of at least the length of the caster's arm and the thickness of a thumb. This rod must have been forged, shattered and reformed. It is consumed in the casting.