Focus Fear (Reversible)

Similar in function to the aura of terror spell, focus fear increases the potency of the dragon's panic and fear auras. It is useful for all dragons of adult age or older, and it can be used in conjunction with an aura of terror.

By means of this spell, the dragon reduces the radius of its fear aura, focusing the power of that fear. For every 5 yards the dragon reduces its aura, the saving throw modifier against the dragon fear gains an additional -1. However, a dragon cannot reduce its fear aura to a radius of less than 15 yards in any case. An adult dragon, with a normal fear radius of 20 yards and a saving throw modifier of +2, can reduce its fear radius to 15 yards and change the modifier to +1. Likewise, a great wyrm could condense its fear radius to 15 yards from 50 yards, changing its usual -4 save modifier to -11. A natural 20 saves regardless of the modifiers.

The reverse of this spell, extend fear, allows the dragon to enlarge its fear radius to a maximum of 50 yards. An extended aura is weaker, with saving throw modifiers changing in an opposite manner from that of focus fear. The reverse can be used by dragons as young as "young adults" (if they possess the required spellcasting ability) but is useless to a great wyrm.

Both versions of this spell allow the dragon such fine control of the fear radius that it can alter the dimensions of its fear radius on a round-by-round basis. Of course, the aura can be altered only within the parameters of the version employed (that is, any radius between the dragon's normal radius and the limits of the appropriate version of the spell). To change the radius while the spell is in effect, the dragon must stop what it is doing and concentrate; it cannot engage in other activities in that round. Otherwise, the dragon is free to cast spells, fight, fly, use its breath weapon, and so on, as the spell requires no concentration. The dragon can cancel the spell at any time. A dispel magic has no effect on either version of this spell, though spells such as wish, limited wish, and the like can end the dweomer immediately.

Both versions of this spell are fairly common among dragons capable of casting a spell of this level.

Notes: Restricted to dragons; uncommon. (Updated from Dragon Magazine.)