Hold Metal

By casting this spell, the priest causes all ferrous metal (iron, iron alloys, and steel) within the spell’s area of effect to be held fast, just as a person would be by a hold person spell. Swords being swung, pendulum blades arcing, and other metallic objects stop in midstrike. Although these metal objects can be touched, they cannot be moved for the duration of the spell, as if the metal weighed tons or was held fast hy sovereign glue.

This spell is often used to prevent individuals from drawing weapons or from removing metallic or partially metallic objects from the affected area. The spell is especially useful against individuals clad in chain or plate mail. Beings wearing any ferrous armor find that while under the effects of this spell they cannot move. Furthermore, anyone wearing metal or carrying metal items who enters the area of effect of an already operating hold metal spell finds that such metal is instantly rendered immobile-from weapons to metal buttons, from buckles to cloak clasps.

Nonferrous metals are unaffected by hold metal. so an individual wearing bronze plate mail or picking up a silver candelabrum is able to proceed normally if the item in question does not have iron or another ferrous metal hidden within it (such as a plating of nonferrous metal over steel or iron). Note that most nonferrous metals are not sturdy enough for use in heavy tools without some ferrous metal alloyed with them.