Water Trap

With a water trap spell, the caster turns a normal body of water, no more than 20 feet in diameter, into a deathtrap. The spell magnifies the natural surface tension of the water, giving it the strength to pull size M and smaller creatures to a murky death. Whenever a creature of affected size attempts to drink from a pool, oasis, or watering hole altered by this spell, it must make an immediate saving throw vs. death magic. Failure indicates that the creature is instantly pulled under the surface and trapped.

Creatures pulled under by this spell will find that the surface of the water now has a tough, rubbery consistency (at least from below) that makes escape very difficult. A trapped creature can escape by attempting a second save at a -6 penalty.

Friendly creatures outside the pool add +1 to the creature's save every round, and are in no danger of being sucked under themselves once the trap has been sprung. Beings of size L and larger can free one trapped creature per round. This spell is most often used to trap desert oases and private wells.

The material component is a small wooden or stone figure of a man trapped in a hardened bit of amber or other translucent stone.