"Enigma's Variations":
by Carl QuaifThis is a small spellbook, 4"x6" in dimension, bound in blue velvet-covered wooden boards. It contains half a dozen 1st-level spells, one to a page, written by the flamboyant dilettante mage, Enigma.
Enigma (born Mabel Skeen) was raised on the Minrothad Isles by a merchant father and former-actress mother. Recognising both her innate magical talent and disruptive, theatrical sense of humour, her parents packed her off to the Great School of Magic in Glantri at age 13, to learn both magical theory and self-restraint. The plan half-worked; she was near the top of her class for the next three years, until she was expelled for a series of embarrassing magical pranks played on fellow pupils, teachers, and the occasional visiting dignitary. Unabashed, she toured the countries of the Known World and the Alphatian Empire as a performing mage, leaving admiring fans, angry creditors and (occasionally) outstanding warrants for her arrest wherever she went. Enigma's particular talent was not in creating new spells, but in adapting existing ones to her own purposes. "Enigma's Variations", written some years after leaving Glantri, includes spells she "created" during her time at the Great School. The spells are as follows:-
Enigma's Umbrella
Level: 1
Range: personal
Duration: 1d6+6 turns
Effect: creates a glowing disk
One of the most useful spells Enigma ever devised, the Umbrella is
nothing more than a Floating Disk spell which manifests 6" above
the caster's head. Enigma enjoyed walking in the rain, but disliked
having to wear a heavy rain cloak (which would spoil the effect of
her latest eye-catching outfit). The spell proved a very popular
one with many of her peers, many of whom continue to use the spell
years later. The Umbrella has all the carrying abilities of the
standard spell, and can be particularly useful as a "bunk up" to
enable colleagues standing on it to reach the tops of walls,
etc.
Enigma's Headless Ghost
Level: 1
Range: touch
Duration: 1d6+6 turns
Effect: partial invisibility
Created to make a shocking entrance at a party, this peculiar
variation on the Invisibility spell renders the recipient's head
and neck completely invisible, while making the rest of the body
and any items of clothing worn at the time translucent (clothing
donned after the spell is cast retains full visibility so, for
instance, a heavy cloak could be used to disguise the Headless
Ghost until ready). While rather silly, it is still an impressive
effect, and has some limited adventure uses; apart from the shock
value (under this spell, the recipient always gets surprise in
combat against human or humanoid foes if the opponent fails a Save
vs. Death), the spell makes a concealed user harder to spot (seen
on a roll of 1 on 1d6 if partially concealed by undergrowth in
woodland areas, adds 15% to Hide in Shadows attempts).
Enigma's Evil Eyes
Level: 1
Range: touch
Duration: 1d6 turns
Effect: makes the recipients eyes glow
Created for an unprepossessing fellow student who wanted to make an
impression when applying to join an adventuring party, this altered
Light spell causes the recipient's eyes to glow. The brilliance of
the Evil Eyes may be adjusted at any time from a simple glow (for
effect) to the equivalent of a Light spell (in a 180 degree-arc
only). The Evil Eyes can, if desired, be used as standard
illumination when dungeon delving, although the light can shift
violently if the bearer turns suddenly, and attacking creatures
will often go for the bearer of the Evil Eyes in preference to
other targets. Enigma's Evil Eyes can be used in conjunction with
Enigma's Headless Ghost, giving a -1 adjustment to the opponent's
Save vs. Death surprise roll. This spell cannot be used to blind
others.
Enigma's Flattery
Level: 1
Range: 20'
Duration: 1 day
Effect: 1 human or humanoid
This peculiar version of a Charm Person spell has little or no
combat use. If the target fails to Save vs. Spells, he or she
becomes fascinated with the first caster, and attempts to imitate
her in any way possible - mode of speech, mannerisms, dress sense
(or lack of), etc. This can be amusing or embarrassing, depending
on the circumstance. Enigma also created a slightly variant spell
(only three words are changed in the formula) which makes the
target imitate the first person he sees, whether it is the caster
or not. This version of the spell is part of reason Enigma was
expelled from the Great School; she was able to cast it on one of
her tutors, who proceeded to ape the mannerisms of a particularly
pompous and overblown visiting mage, nearly causing a major riot.
Both versions of the spell last only a single day before
expiring.
Enigma's Bullseye
Level: 1
Range: 60'
Duration: 3 rounds
Effect: 1 glowing missile
Unusually, considering its inventor, this spell actually has some
combat use. Enigma's Bullseye, a Magic Missile variant, creates a
glowing arrow which must be fired at a living target within one
round; it hits automatically. Instead of causing damage, the spell
creates a series of three glowing, concentric circles centred on
the point of impact, resembling a bullseye target. This bullseye
lasts for three rounds; any archers firing at the affected target
during this time gain +1 to their "to hit" rolls. The spell was
originally designed to assist fellow conspirators in aiming
pea-shooters and toy catapults at an unpopular tutor....
Enigma's Lethargy
Level: 1
Range: 20'
Duration: 2d6 turns
Effect: This weaker form of the Sleep spell nevertheless has a
range of useful applications. The affected creature(s) become weary
and lethargic, suffering -1 to hit and damage rolls for the
duration - unlike the Sleep spell, the effects of Enigma's Lethargy
are not broken by non-fatal damage. In non-combat situations, the
spell can make guards less observant or aware of their
surroundings, cause affected listeners to believe things they are
told and be more easily swayed to another's point of view, or - as
used by Enigma, during boring lectures - make tutors uninterested
in continuing the class, letting students sneak away
early!
Enigma's current whereabouts are
unknown; if she is still alive, no doubt she is merrily causing
havoc somewhere.