Shadow Gauntlet

A shadow gauntlet is a more powerful version of a shadow hand that can wield weapons, snatch at items, or act as a shield for the caster or other creatures. The spell effect appears in midair, as a gleaming, silvery metal gauntlet. Its size may range in proportion from human to gargantuan (12 feet long), and its luminosity can range from dark to the intensity of faerie fire.

These specifics, the handedness (right or left), and the initial location of the gauntlet are chosen by the caster during the casting. Thereafter, the gauntlet moves as the caster wills, up to 240 feet per round. The caster need not concentrate upon the spell to maintain it, but he cannot cast a spell in any round in which the gauntlet attacks or shifts to a new opponent or function.

The gauntlet can strike weaponless once in a round for every three levels of its caster (normal attack rolls apply). All weaponless attacks in a given round must be directed at a single opponent. Successful hits inflict 1d4+1 points of damage. An individual who disbelieves the existence of the gauntlet and makes a successful saving throw vs. spell takes only 2 points of damage from a weaponless hit by the gauntlet. The gauntlet can wield a weapon, striking once per round, using the caster's THAC0. Magical weapons can be employed by a shadow gauntlet, but it cannot use any special abilities of the item (for example, powers triggered by empathy or command words).

Inattention will cause a previously attacking shadow gauntlet to hang motionless in midair until control is reapplied. If the caster falls unconscious, the gauntlet ceases its actions; if the caster dies, the gauntlet silently vanishes. If a caster goes insane, the gauntlet wildly attacks random living beings within range, at double speed (six attacks per round, three at one opponent, three at another).

Alternately, a gauntlet can snatch at items held by others. It lacks the strength or solidity to dislodge an object from any grasp, but it can foil telekinesis and hamper enemy weapons as described below. It can carry objects weighing up to one pound (e.g., a key, a ring, a gem) for up to two rounds.

A gauntlet can hamper one creature in a given round, slowing it to half its movement rate, temporarily worsening its Armor Class by one point, causing any attacks made by the creature to be at a -2 penalty to hit, and ruining all of the creature's spellcasting except verbal-only spells (magical item command words can be used also).

Finally, a gauntlet can be interposed between a specific creature and foes attacking it. The gauntlet adds a +1 bonus to saving throws against special attacks from the protected side. It also absorbs 1d2 points of damage from any attack that strikes the protected side, and the absorbed damage counts against the gauntlet itself.

The shadow gauntlet can perform only one function during a round. If its caster does not concentrate on it, it will continue to perform the last function it was directed to do (other than attacking), moving about as necessary to perform its function.

If the gauntlet is attacked, it has an effective Armor Class of 2 (AC 4 if interposing). The gauntlet has as many hit points as its caster; when these are expended, it is destroyed and the spell ends. The spell has a maximum duration of one round per level of the caster.