Elminster's Multiple Mouths

This spell creates one magic mouth per level of the caster. These are akin to those created by the 2nd-level wizard spell of the same name. The mouths can appear on specific items or float in midair just above the head of a chosen recipient. A recipient must be personally known to the caster or met and clearly seen at least once; however, the being's current location need not be known. The multiple mouths even can be made to appear in a chorus in the same locale, usually in a ring around a specific point.

The mouths can speak any message uttered by the caster during casting, duplicating tone of voice, hesitations, volume, and the like, and can pass on magical words of activation and instructions. An actual spell incantation uttered by a multiple mouth would not function, nor can its utterances trigger magical items. Someone who heard the mouth and repeated its words could activate a magical item, however.

This spell has often been used to spread a warning-of an attack or fire, for example- in multiple locations throughout a castle or to share information between widely scattered beings (such as all of the Seven Sisters at once). The multiple mouths can appear anywhere on the same plane of existence, regardless of magical barriers or distance.

A caster of this spell who possesses 10 or more experience levels can, by increasing the casting time of the spell by one round per message, cause the multiple mouths to each speak different messages. In doing so, the caster can also vary their speaking times so that those mouths that appear in the same place can be made to speak one after another in a particular sequence. A caster of this spell who is 10th level or greater can alternatively elect to create only a single mouth, but have it repeat the same message once per round until the spell expires.

The duration of the spell determines how long the mouths remain visible if the caster wants them to wait before triggering their speech (each mouth vanishes after it has spoken once).

This spell is named for its creator, the famous Old Mage of Shadowdale. It is used by some senior Harpers and by the Seven Sisters, who usually change its manifestation from bearded mouths with Elminster's dry voice to ruby-red female lips accompanied by a husky voice.

Notes: Restricted to the Elminster, the Seven Sisters, Khelben, and those trained by them; uncommon.