Mystic Lash

Casting this spell creates a long whip of ghostly, glowing red force that emanates from the priest's hand. With this lash of lightning, the caster can attack once per round at a +3 bonus to his or her attack roll. Whenever this lash strikes a being, the caster can release it to attack that being repeatedly, fighting on its own until the spell expires (using the priest's THAC0). The caster can then engage in spellcasting or other activities. If the target of a lash dies, falls unconscious, or becomes immobilized, the following round it returns to the casting priest's hand. If the casting priest does not grasp it that round, the spell ends; otherwise, the priest may again attempt to hit a new target and then release the mystic lash to once more attack on its own.

A mystic lash does 2d8 points of electrical damage per strike. Targets who are hit by the lash are entitled to a saving throw vs. spell to take half damage (round up). The strike of the lash also has a magical effect. If the lash is directly wielded by its caster, that priest mentally chooses the effect from those listed below. If the lash is fighting by itself, die effect is chosen at random by rolling 1d6 and consulting the list below.

Mystic Lash Table 1d6 Roll | Effect -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 | The struck victim is stunned (reeling and unable to think coherently or to act) for the rest of the current round and the following round. 2 The struck victim forgets any one spell or command word held in memory. If none are known or memorized, treat this result as result 1. | 3 | The struck victim is wracked with pain, takes an additional 1d4 points of damage, and any held weapons or other items are dropped. 4 | The struck victim is paralyzed. This lasts until the victim makes a successful saving throw vs. paralyzation. The victim may first attempt a saving throw two rounds after being hit and is entitled to one attempt a round after that until she or he succeeds. 5 | The struck victim suffers an additional 2d4 points of damage. In addition, any one metal item or weapon carried or worn by the victim is vaporized; it is instantly and irrevocably disintegrated in a blue cloud of arcing electricity. Magical items are entitled to an item saving throw vs. lightning at a +2 bonus to avoid this effect. Artifacts and relics cannot be harmed by this effect. 6 | The mystic lash entwines the struck victim in a helix of lightning, and the being is propelled helplessly 1d4x10 yards in a straight line away from the caster, taking an additional 2d6 points of impact damage when arriving at the new location (or, if in midair, taking falling damage instead). No damage is suffered from the entwining lash.

A mystic lash is destroyed instantly by a successful dispel magic, but cannot be affected or guarded against as though it were a purely electrical attack.

Its material components are the priest's holy symbol and a piece of amber.