Page Guardian

(See also: Page Guardian (Wizard Spell))

The page guardian is a rare and potent spell. It protects an entire library when cast on a single volume. Whenever a creature other than the caster approaches within 100 feet of the ensorcelled document, a guardian is conjured forth from the script to attack the intruders. The spell can lay dormant for years until being triggered, after which the page guardian lasts for a number of days equal to the caster's level.

The guardian is normally a nondescript humanoid figure whose lower limbs fade off to wispy trails. However, if this spell is cast upon a page that features illustration, the guardian's appearance mimics that of the most prominent drawing.

A page guardian adopts some of the dweomer from the writings from which it rises. Thus, it may possess special attacks and defenses depending upon the exact nature of the document. For example, a guardian that rises from a scroll of protection is invulnerable to the same force that the scroll would ward off. A guardian from a scroll of protection from swords suffers no damage from a long sword, no matter what its enchantment. A guardian from a spell-book can cast up to five random spells, launching each spell but once from the tome. The DM decides what abilities are received by the guardian should this spell be cast upon other magical books, such as those that increase ability scores or a manual of the golems.

A common error among opponents of the guardian is that it can be damaged by the destruction of the source writing. This is untrue, because when the guardian rises, it automatically absorbs any enchantment upon the document: it erases clean that from which it springs.

A page guardian attacks until all intruders within sight are slain. However, it does not leave the chamber in which its source writings are located. If no foes are left, the guardian slowly fades back into the writings that spawned it.

Thereafter, the magic fades away after a number of days equal to the caster's level, leaving the books unprotected but intact.

The material component is a special ink made from rare components that cost 500 gp. A virgin hawk feather must be used to draw the single sigil that the document bears as proof of this spell's dweomer.