Shadow Bolt

(See also: Shadow Burst (Wizard Spell))

Pages From the Mages Version

By means of this spell, the caster brings into being a semi-real phantasm of an onrushing missile. The large, gray, teardrop-shaped illusory projectile can be made to glow with a faerie fire radiance of any hue the caster desires; it appears behind the caster and rushes at any one creature the caster chooses. The caster must be able to see the target as the spell is cast.

The projectile begins as a tiny, silent mote that rapidly grows in size with a frightening, increasing moan of rushing air, so that it appears to have come from a great distance at great speed (the bolt actually travels at a movement rate of 27).

A shadow bolt strikes in the round following casting. It will swerve to follow the target creature, even if the creature escapes the caster's view. The bolt can be stopped only by a magical barrier, though it can be dodged by shifting to another plane of existence. If this occurs, the bolt pauses at the creature's last location and flashes back during the next round to strike at its caster.

The bolt inflicts 1d8 damage +1 hp/level of the caster. If disbelieved (contingent on a successful save vs. spell) a bolt inflicts half damage. A being unfamiliar with the details of magical illusions who encounters a shadow bolt for the first time will have little reason to disbelieve such an attack.

The strike of a shadow bolt is a considerable blow; the creature struck must make a Strength check to avoid being knocked prone, and fragile items might be damaged by the character's fall.

Wizard's Spell Compendium Version

By means of this spell, the caster brings into being a semi-real phantasm of an onrushing missile. The large, gray teardrop-shaped illusory projectile glows with a faerie fire-like radiance of any hue the caster desires; it appears behind the caster and rushes at any one creature the caster concentrates upon (the caster must be able to see the target as the spell is cast). The projectile begins as a tiny, silent mote that rapidly grows in size with a frightening, increasing moan of rushing air, so that it appears to have come from a great distance at great speed (a shadow bolt actually travels at a movement rate of 27). It swerves to follow the target even if the target teleports or otherwise escapes the caster's view.

Any other creature struck by the moving bolt en route to its target suffers its effects instead- but if the target creature shifts to another plane, the bolt returns to strike at its caster. A shadow bolt is otherwise affected only by magical barriers, not by spells or physical attacks. It inflicts 1d8 damage, plus one point per level of the caster. If disbelieved (the target creature makes a successful saving throw vs. spell), a bolt inflicts only half damage. (Note that a being unfamiliar with magical illusions who encounter a shadow bolt for the first time has no reason to disbelieve such an attack).

The shadow bolt strikes in the round following casting-unless the target shifts out of range, in which case it will travel for a second round to strike (or return upon the caster). A shadow bolt will apparently teleport to follow a target that does so, but if the target thus, evades the bolt for the full two rounds, the shadow bolt dissipates harmlessly. The strike of a shadow bolt is a considerable blow; the victim must make a Strength check to avoid falling, and a successful Dexterity check is required to protect exposed fragile items (otherwise, these must make saving throws vs. crushing blow to escape damage from the character's fall).