Teratism I

(See also: Teratism)

As opposed to the more powerful merlane spell, lusus nature spell, which allows the mage to breed unnatural animals and creatures, teratism transmutes an animal instantly with permanent effects.

The first version of this spell is the weakest, causing only minor changes in the animal. Some of the following aspects of an animal may be altered with a touch of the caster’s hand:

* Minor changes to hide can be made. This will lower (or raise) a creature’s natural AC by only 2 levels. But a tiger whose skin is like striped leather would be a remarkable sight. A shark whose skin is furred may fetch a great deal to some menageries. * Strange coloration can be added to any feature of the animal. Thus the merlane can cause a hound’s eyes to glow a sinister orange or endow a songbird with bright silver plumage. * Unnatural sounds can be added. Though the animal is incapable of intelligible speech, it could be made to say a phrase over and over again. Or its normal cries would be changed into something different. Strange sounds can be linked to the animal’s movements, so that when the hawk flaps its wings a resonance of thunder is heard.

Other minor changes can be made in accordance with the DM.

This spell has no effect on animals that have already been magically altered by anyone other than the casting merlane. So a giant insect cannot suddenly have its carapace changed to scales unless it was enlarged by the same merlane. Of course the spell (or its more powerful variants) can be cast multiple times on an animal, the end result being something that rarely resembles its source stock.

This spell allows Alteration magic spells below 3rd level to be cast upon an animal (such as enhance trait or enlarge) with permanent effect.

The altered animals, known as teratisms, are sterile.

Note that in no way does the casting of this spell ensure that the creature will obey the merlane. If the wizard is wise he will only make trained pets into teratisms.