Wood Sword

This spell transforms its material component into a temporary weapon: a sword that can be wielded by the caster or be directed to attack a particular target by the caster from afar. In either case, it strikes with the caster's normal THAC0, deals 1 hit point of damage per level of the caster at every successful strike, and vanishes instantly when the spell expires or it comes into contact with any flame. If released to fight on its own, a wood sword is AC —1, has 22 hp, and moves at MV Fl 16 (A). It strikes once per round at a single target.

The target of a wood sword can be indicated during casting or determined later and can be changed at any time. The caster can choose any visible creature or item within range and silently will the wood sword to attack it. A wood sword hangs motionless if its designated target dies or vanishes if not given a new target. The caster can bid the weapon go and attack a certain target or return to be directly wielded as often as desired during the life of the spell.

A wood sword is supple, but can be broken by successful edged weapon chopping attacks that do more damage than it has hit points or by being caught in a closing stone or metal door; such destruction ends the spell instantly. The caster can fight with another weapon and leave the wood sword to fight on its own, but if its creator casts any other spell, the wood sword vanishes the instant that new magic takes effect. Caster use of magical items does not destroy a wood sword.

A wood sword can do no harm to nonliving wood or to stone or metal, but can readily be employed to smash glass flasks, topple items, and even to stir mixtures in distant bowls. (A clever caster could direct it to knock over the rearmost bottle in a cluster of glass objects, thereby making it smash or knock over the other glass objects in its way.) If the caster has the leisure to enact precise control, a wood sword can perform quite delicate tasks. It need not merely attack things. If used to carry things (such as satchels or ropes across chasms, or rings of keys to prisoners), it breaks if burdened with a greater weight than the caster can lift (the caster's maximum press amount, dictated by his or her Strength ability score).

The material component of this spell is a twig, branch, or any fragment of wood that still retains some bark and has not been cut, stained, varnished, or otherwise altered by tools. (This means the wood must be picked up as fallen wood or snapped off rather than cut.)