Sunstroke – Old Empire

(See also: Sunstroke (Priest Spell))

Sunstroke afflicts the target with the effects of heat stroke for the duration of the spell. While suffering from the effects of insolation, the target's internal body temperature rises by 1 ° Fahrenheit per round, to a maximum of 8° higher than normal.

Undead and creatures immune to heat or fire are totally unaffected by this spell. Cold-blooded animals simply move slower and slower. For every degree of increased temperature, cold-blooded creatures have a -1 penalty to initiative.

Warm-blooded creatures display increasingly feverish side effects while under the effects of this spell. For every degree of increased temperature, warm-blooded creatures suffer 1 point of damage and suffer a -1 penalty to their attack, damage, saving throw, and initiative rolls, to a maximum penalty of -5. If the target 's body temperature rises 6° or more above normal, the target is wracked by convulsions and cannot attack, defend, or cast spells. If the target's body temperature rises 8° above normal, it immediately lapses into a coma and cannot be revived until the spell effect expires.

A successful saving throw vs. spell negates this spell immediately. Targets are entitled to a saving throw when the spell is cast and once every second round thereafter. An endure heat spell in effect on the target when sunstroke is cast grants the target a + 1 bonus to its saving throw; a resist fire grants the target a + 3 bonus; and a protection from fire grants immunity to the spell's effects.

Sunstroke's effects can be halted immediately by means of a dispel magic, remove curse, cure disease, or heal spell. Other healing spells have no effect.

The material components of this spell are the priest's holy symbol and a small piece of flammable material (paper, cloth, dry wood).