Manshoon's Xorn Talons

This spell, also known as stony hands, creates an invisible half-moon arc in front of the caster, set from 10 feet to 70 feet distant. The arc is 12 feet broad at its center, and the tips of its curving “horns” are 20 feet apart. To function at all, the spell must be cast on a solid, level surface, such as a floor, lawn, clearing, or flat roof (the surface can be covered by water no more than a foot deep). If solid, non-living, objects (such as walls, furniture, or stalagmites) are in the area of casting, or if the space is too small to permit the half-moon to fully form, the spell does not take effect and is wasted.

Any living being except the caster who enters any part of the crescent-shaped area of effect is instantly attacked by 2d4 stony taloned arms. These non-living, unintelligent magical constructs resemble the upper limbs of living xorn. They erupt from the ground and grasp at any targets for 1d2 points of crushing damage each (THAC0 6); a successful hit means the clawed arm holds its victim fast, inflicting no further damage on it. (The talons rise only where an intruder steps, not all across the half-moon, so the area of effect can be determined only by trial and error.)

Once they've grabbed victims, the arms simply hold on until the spell expires. Trapped individuals cannot move beyond the stretch of their limbs. They suffer -2 penalties to all attack, damage, and saving throw rolls, and lose all Dexterity-related Armor Class bonuses.

The talons do no more damage, but a trapped individual can try to tear free of all of them once per round. A single successful open doors roll is required; each failed attempt inflicts 1 point of damage upon the victim. Once free of the talons, the individual can leave the area unhindered.

The talons are AC 0, and each must be dealt SS points damage to shatter it. Spells that affect stone can be used against the talons (stone to flesh and rock to mud both affect the talons for 1d4+2 rounds, lowering their effective AC to 7, and making them suffer double damage from all attacks), and a passwall spell destroys all talons in a pathway equal in extent to its usual area of effect (even talons that have not manifested). Spells such as move earth, which physically affect terrain, do not work against the talons. Dispel magic spells shorten the duration of talons by one round per spell, but have no apparent immediate effect-they do not cause talons to open, pause, or fade away. A dispel magic cast in an area does not prevent this spell from functioning if no talons have yet manifested, but does shorten the spell duration as noted.

The material component of this spell is a piece of xorn flesh, bone, talon, or hide.