Pillar of Sand

This spell creates a cylindrical pillar of sand that rises from the desert floor, carrying the target creature up toward the sky for a “bird's eye” view. Those within 10 feet of the creature also rise, unless they manage to jump clear. The spell works only in a sandy region, since the sand that makes up the pillar is drawn from the surrounding area. The top of the pillar is a level circle with a 10-foot radius, centered on the recipient of the spell. After the pillar is formed, the creature can move from it.

A successful saving throw vs. spell prevents the pillar from forming beneath an unwilling recipient. Once the pillar is formed, no saving throw can hinder its progress. The pillar can rise as high as available sand allows, or as high as the caster desires, to a maximum of 10 feet per level of the caster.

Beings atop the pillar can see far away, reach high things, and possibly escape spells that are cast at ground level. However, if the sand pillar or those upon it strike another resisting object (a cave ceiling, for example), the pillar automatically stops rising. Otherwise, the caster can raise and lower the pillar 10 feet per round at will, as if it was an elevator. The pillar has 50 hit points and is Armor Class 5. If physical attacks on the pillar destroy it, or a dispel magic or dig spell is used on it, the pillar collapses. Beings atop a pillar can leave and return to it (e.g., stepping onto a castle wall, moving inside the castle, and then returning to the pillar) without affecting its continued existence. An individual atop the pillar also may fall if knocked from his perch by high winds or other means, or if the pillar collapses; in any case, normal falling damage applies.

The caster can collapse the pillar at any time by deliberate act of will; the pillar also falls when the spell's duration has expired. Even if the caster dies before that period ends, the pillar will not collapse unless the caster makes a conscious choice to destroy it.

This spell requires enough sand to create the pillar, such as that found on a beach or in desert terrain.