Shadow Serpents

By means of this spell, the spellcaster creates a horde of tiny serpents composed wholly of shadowstuff. The number of shadow serpents created is 10d8+caster's level (maximum of 100). Each shadow serpent is semiautonomous and cannot be destroyed except by means of a dispel magic spell or similar incantation or by exposing them to direct, bright light with no area of shadow or darkness within 5 feet of their current location. Shadow serpents are not intelligent, nor are they actually alive or even physical beings, and they have no attacks or defenses. Shadow serpents by nature flit about mindlessly, never leaving areas of shadow or total darkness and all the while observing everything that goes on around them. Shadow serpents have an effective movement rate of 36, but only if directed by the spellcaster. Otherwise they mill about in one location, typically in a circle or sphere approximately 30 feet in radius.

The spellcaster can direct his or her horde of serpents collectively, but not individually For example, a spellcaster could direct the entire group of shadow serpents created by his or her incantation to explore a house, or a room, or an alley, or follow a specific person, but a spellcaster could not specifically direct a subset of the entire group to do one task while other group(s) do something different.

By means of this spell, the spellcaster can scry a scene from afar through the myriad eyes of his or her shadow serpents (unlimited range, but always within the same plane of existence). However, the constantly shifting and overlapping images preclude easy comprehension of what is being observed. As a result, in any given round, there is a percentage chance equal to the number of serpents in existence that the caster can discern what is being observed from the myopic montage.

A casting of shadow serpents lasts until the spellcaster wills it to cease, the spell duration expires, or all the serpents have been destroyed. Some claim that the faint sound of slithering serpents can be heard in an enclosed area infested with shadow serpents, but others claim this is madness.