Ring of Swords

This ward establishes an area defended by animated metal-bladed weapons, usually swords. The spell is often used by wizards to defend a sanctum or sleeping area, but is expensive and requires preparation. The spell range is the distance from which the spell can be cast on the prepared location (see Preparation). A ring of swords typically has four or more blades, with an upper limit defined by the caster's willingness to spend money on components.

The spell causes the blades to levitate and drift into a ring of any size desired, up to a maximum radius of 10 feet per level, as set by the caster. They orbit slowly around the boundaries of the invisible protected area, forming a protected sphere (MV 9). Intruders are attacked and pursued as far as 70 feet from the protected area.

The protected area can be safely entered and left repeatedly by the caster, and by any who were in the area at the time of casting. In addition, the area can be entered by anyone who correctly speaks a certain pass-phrase upon coming within 10 feet of a warding blade. The pass-phrase, set at the time of casting, must be at least four words long. Authorized beings can even touch or handle the blades without activating their magic. When released, a blade flies back to the ring to resume its place.

Another being assuming the caster's shape never successfully fools the magic. Any intruder who enters or reaches into the protected area (including casting spells into it) triggers the magic, and the swords then attack.

When activated, the blades from a ring of swords fly at a rate of 21 (Maneuverability Class B). They strike twice per round with a THAC0 of 4. The blades attack only those who trigger them; and an intruder's companion who strikes at, tries to divert, or attempts to restrain an activated sword instantly becomes a target, as well. The swords cease attacking and return to their drifting ring when all intruders have perished or withdrawn more than 70 feet from the ring. The activated swords are AC 0. One can be rendered inanimate by dealing it 29 points of damage in melee combat. Swords rendered inanimate are not damaged. The spell ends when all of the swords are rendered inanimate, destroyed (by disintegrate, rust touch, etc.), the caster ends the magic by uttering the pass-phrase in reverse (only the caster can end the magic this way), or 29 years to the instant have passed since the caster of the ring of swords died.

A dispel magic has no effect on a ring of swords other than to cause a single blade to fall inanimate for one round per level of the caster of the dispel. Magical barriers can be thrust through the ring, but the swords seek to fly around them, attacking ceaselessly.

The blades in a ring of swords often vary in size and shape, as the caster uses what weapons are available. Magical blades retain their powers, and always strike to inflict the most potent result. The spell preserves the blades from the elements and does not harm them in any way.

Preparation: The material component of the spell is one sapphire, of not less than 4,000 gp value, for each blade. These are powdered; some powder is then touched to each blade and some is sprinkled at the center of the area to be protected, whereon it vanishes. Any attempt to use magic to substitute for or bypass the material component causes the spell to fail.