Khelben's Suspended Silence

This spell, devised by the famous archmage Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunson of Waterdeep, brings into being a magical field of silence on any non-living object of smaller size than the caster (for example, a stone, weapon, or corpse of a being smaller than the wizard). Once cast, the spell is inactive until the command word is spoken. This spell field can be detected as a faint aura until the spell is triggered, and can be dispelled with a dispel magic spell.

When the focal object is touched and a command or trigger word (chosen and uttered during casting) is spoken, the spell takes effect, expanding into a 20-foot radius spherical field centered on the midpoint of the focal object. Within this field, absolute magical silence reigns for six rounds. The field moves with the object (for example, a thrown stone), and its effects can be avoided only by creatures employing dispel magic (to end the spell effects), vocalize, or a similar spell.

The material components for this spell are a feather and a handful of dust, which must be held in the cupped palm of the caster, while the caster's other hand touches the focal object. The focal object is in no way harmed or altered by the spell.

Notes: Known to Khelben of the Forgotten Realms setting and a few of his apprentices.