Scouring Wind

This spell creates a roaring rush of air, drawn from some undefined elsewhere and emitted from the caster's mouth. When active, it is in a cylindrical shape as tall as the caster and extending to the limits of its spell range that is of short duration and centered on one target, such as a specific being or a spot such as a doorway, window, throne, or hallway. This magical force can whirl away dust, vapors, leaves, papers, and the like in the same manner as a magical gust of wind, but has no effect on living creatures. A scouring wind can have one of three effects, chosen by the caster (once made. the choice cannot be altered): destroy barrier, destroy armor, or augment missiles.

When used against any magical barrier created by a 5th level or lesser spell, a scouring wind automatically destroys the barrier. Against barriers of higher levels, it has an 8 in 10 chance of destroying them, minus 1 point for each level they are above 5th. (Thus, it has a 7 in 10 chance of destroying an antimagic shell or a wall of thorns, and a 4 in 10 chance of destroying a prismatic sphere.)

When a scouring wind is used against any form of enchanted armor (including shields) or clothing. the armor must make an item saving throw vs. disintegration with a bonus equal to the item's enchantment level (its “plus”). Success means the item is unaffected: failure means its magic ceases to function for five full days. When nonmagical armor or clothing is scoured, it must save vs. spell or be entirely torn away and disintegrated. Living things (such as peltasts) worn as protective garb are entirely unaffected by a scouring wind.

When a scouring wind is used to augment missiles, they must be launched or introduced into it. If of a smaller volume and mass than the caster's head, they are hurled away by this spell and strike for triple damage at +3 above the caster's THAC0 (not that of the launcher, if a different person). If larger, they fall out of the wind. Any number of missiles (from the traditional arrows, sling stones, and darts to spears or even clubs and other hand weapons) can be hurled in this manner, so long as they can be put into the path of the wind. A scouring wind directed to augment missiles that sweeps them into a barrier pulverizes them and does not shatter the barrier or permit them to fly onward.

A scouring wind can also be commanded to negate a natural wind or magical gust of wind. If so employed, the scouring wind negates the latter completely and creates an area of calm 100 yards in diameter for 1d4+1 rounds when used against a natural wind (even over tornadoes, gales, or hurricane-force storms).