Steelskin (Chant)

(See also: Skin Spells) Sidebar Heart of the Forge When this chant is completed, the affected dwarf gains complete immunity to any normal attack by cut, blow, projectile, or similar impact. Magical weapons and spells still have their normal effect, but all mundane weapons are turned aside.

According to some dwarves, objects can also be protected by steelskin chants of longer duration (4d6 hours casting time), but this protection does not apply to an object's wearer or owner. Armor protected by steelskin does not melt in a dragon's breath or crack under a giant's blow, but it provides no additional protection to its wearer.

The chant blocks 1d3 attacks, plus one attack per three effective levels of the caster. This limit applies regardless of attack rolls; whether the attack would have hit or not, the spell's potency is reduced by one for each possible attack in a round. These attacks inflict no damage on the chant's recipient. The chant's effects last until the chant's recipient is attacked and the magic is invoked. No more than a single steelskin can ever be active on a single dwarf at the same time; repeated castings have no additional effect.

Repeated rumors that a dwarven armorer somewhere has enchanted armor with steelskin have proven false time and again, but the story persists among the gullible. Less scrupulous smiths sometimes sell armor that they claim is protected by this magic. Dwarven priests and smiths seldom employ this chant for the benefit of anyone but dwarves of their own clan.

The material component of this chant is a pouch of steel filings, which must be scattered over the recipient.