Ground Fog

This spell creates a ground fog or mist that rises only knee high on a normal human (about two feet). The mist fills an area defined by the spellcaster, laid out as 50-foot x 50-foot squares. The first square must be centered on the caster. The others can be laid out in any pattern so long as every square shares a complete border with another square. Indoors, the fog fills only the level or floor where the caster stands. It cascades down stairs and into pits but evaporates after a few feet.

The fog is full of moving swirls and eddies. An invisible individual moving through the fog does not create enough of a stir to reveal his presence more readily than normal. The ground is generally not visible beneath the fog. It is quite possible for a corpse to be lying on the floor and be completely covered by the fog. A detect magic spell will reveal an aura of invocation.

This spell may seem innocuous, but to a vampire spellcaster it is a deviously simple trap. The gaseous form of the vampire is easily concealed by the fog. In effect, he can rise up out of the fog anywhere and attack with surprise. Alternatively, the spellcaster or undead minions can lie down under the fog cover, then leap up to attack or strike at passing legs.

The material component of the spell is a pinch of lamb's fleece.

Notes: Common for undead spellcasters; uncommon for mages of Air, Water, Frost, and Weather; very rare for others.