Hissing Sand

This spell causes sand or loose earth to flow 10 feet per round in a general direction chosen by the caster. This spell moves only natural sand or loose soil (the latter includes mud, dust, gravel, or topsoil with virtually no plant cover). Cultivated soil cannot be affected.

The sand hisses softly as it drifts. It can't bury large objects or creatures, nor creatures that can move to evade it. The sand can cover small objects and corpses of man-size or less, and can obliterate tracks or markings.

If used on slopes or dune slip faces, the spell can start sandslides. In this case, a creature at the bottom may be buried, just as it would by a normal sandslide. Sand running down a cliff face forces creatures clinging or climbing there to make a successful Strength check each round. Failure means they lose their holds and fall (the moving sand provides no cushion against normal falling damage).

When casting hissing sand, the wizard must pour out roughly a cup of any liquid, which disappears.

Notes: Common in Arabian settings; otherwise very rare.