Spell Engine

In casting this spell, the wizard calls into being the spell engine, a great wheel that absorbs magical energy—in particular, cast spells. When initially cast, the engine is unactivated and remains invisible in the location where the wizard cast it. Once a spell is cast in the area of effect around the engine, the spell engine activates. A great intangible wheel 12 feet in diameter and 2 feet thick shimmers into existence. Magical energies used in the area of effect causes the great wheel to turn, shining with a glowing white light from the energy present. Once activated, the spell engine will not deactivate; rather, it eventually slows down from lack of spell energy and becomes ghostly and translucent.

When activated, the spell engine absorbs all spell energy cast in the area of effect, reaching through solid objects to do so. Wizard and priest spells, spell-like abilities of monsters and individuals, and magical items with castable charges will not function in this area. Their energy is sucked into the wheel, which glows brighter and spins faster with every addition. Unlike spelltrap, the spell engine cannot be overloaded.

An engine can be destroyed by direct contact with a magical item (excluding potions and scrolls but including artifacts and unique magical items). The engine explodes on contact with such an item, inflicting 1d20 points of damage to everyone within 10 feet and 1d8 points to everyone between 10 and 20 feet away from the wheel itself. The magical item is destroyed along with the spell engine in the explosion. Artifacts and unique items (such as special purpose swords) are not destroyed, but they (and their wielders) are bodily moved to another plane or dimension. Getting home from there is the wielder's problem.

A dispel magic spell does not destroy a spell engine, as its energy is sucked up by the engine. Symbols, glyphs, and abjuration magics already in place at the time the spell engine is activated are not absorbed, though new spells of that variety cast in the area are. A disintegrate spell causes the engine to explode as if it contacted a magical item.

A detect magic spell reveals the presence of an unactivated spell engine, as does the ability to detect invisibility, though neither activates the engine if cast before entering its area of effect or if they are natural abilities. An operating spell engine has one beneficial sidelight—if a spellcaster studies or prays in its light, the amount of time required to learn or receive spells is halved. The required amount of rest is not reduced, only the time needed to memorize spells.

Other than the powers listed above, the spell engine does not affect living beings. Individuals with magical items do not affect an unactivated spell engine. Only the casting of a spell in the area of effect calls an existing spell engine into being.

The material components of this spell are a disc of polished marble, shell, or bone, a tear from the caster, and a gem worth at least 1,000 gp.