Know Faction

(See also: Know Faction (Priest Spell))

The Planewalker's Handbook Version

Developed by an Indep mage, this spell enables a wizard to determine a character or creature's faction simply by looking at him. The spell lasts one round per level of the caster; each round, the caster can determine the faction of one creature within range.

Most faction members don't bother to hide their affiliation, but on occasion factols order covert missions or infiltration of other groups. If a target is trying to conceal his faction, the DM secretly rolls a saving throw versus spell for the target. Success means that the target has foiled the wizard's efforts to reveal his true faction affiliation. (For roleplaying purposes, the DM makes the roll so that the target doesn't know if his true faction's been detected or not.) Note that Anarchists posing as members of other factions aren't detected by this spell, as they take their assumed roles to heart.

This spell is virtually unknown outside of Sigil. It obviously has no effects on creatures without faction affiliation, and also doesn't work on subjects belonging to factions or sects of which the caster has no knowledge. On occasion, however, creatures with deep-rooted philosophical beliefs may be incorrectly identified as factioneers by this spell. For example, a high-level priest who worships a power of death may be mistaken for a Dustman.

Wizard's Spell Compendium Version

This spell enables a wizard to determine the faction of a character or creature simply by looking at him. Most faction members don't bother to hide their affiliation, but on occasion factions will order covert missions or infiltrations of other groups. The spell lasts one round per level of the caster, and the caster can determine the faction of one creature within range every round. A creature trying to conceal its faction is allowed a saving throw vs. spell to foil the wizard's efforts.

On occasion, creatures with deep-rooted philosophical beliefs will be revealed by this spell. For example, a high-level priest who worships a power of death may be mistaken for a Dustman.

Notes: Common in the Planescape setting; otherwise very rare.