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The spells of Astoroth

Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Courtesy Wikimedia

Bedknobs and Broomsticks features two very important spells that are a major part of the plot. Presented below are two of those spells: mass animate objects and lesser baleful polymorph.

Animate Objects, Mass
Transmutation

Level: Arcane 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Targets: One Medium object per caster level; see text
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

You imbue inanimate objects with mobility and a semblance of life. Each such animated object then immediately attacks whomever or whatever you initially designate.

An animated object can be of any nonmagical material. You may animate one Medium or smaller object or an equivalent number of larger objects per caster level. A Large object counts as two Medium objects, a Huge object as four, a Gargantuan object as eight, and a Colossal object as sixteen. You can change the designated target or targets as a move action, as if directing an active spell.

The animated objects have an Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores of 10 each. They are capable of following orders and organizing themselves into groups as appropriate to their nature; objects of a similar type (e.g., brooms or armor) will work together, riding regalia will mount barding in combat, and armor will wield weapons as appropriate.

An animated object's creator can command it if the golem is within 60 feet and can see and hear its creator. If uncommanded, an animated object usually follows its last instruction to the best of its ability, though if attacked it returns the attack.

When an animated object enters combat, there is a cumulative 1% chance each round that it goes berserk. The uncontrolled object goes on a rampage, attacking the nearest living creature or smashing some object smaller than itself if no creature is within reach, then moving on to spread more destruction. The object's creator, if within 60 feet, can try to regain control by speaking firmly and persuasively to the object, which requires a DC 19 Charisma check. It takes 1 minute of inactivity by the object to reset the animated object's berserk chance to 0%.

This spell cannot animate objects carried or worn by a creature. 

Verbal Component: Treguna, Makoidees, Trecorum, Sadis Dee!

Baleful Polymorph, Lesser
Transmutation
Level:
Arcane 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates, Will partial; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes

You change the subject into a Small or smaller animal of no more than 1 HD (such as a dog, lizard, monkey, or toad). To choose which animal you wish to convert the subject, you must make a Spellcraft check (DC 20).  Failure means the subject becomes a rabbit. The subject takes on all the statistics and special abilities of an average member of the new form in place of its own except as follows:

  • The target retains its own alignment (and personality, within the limits of the new form’s ability scores).
  • The target retains its own hit points.
  • The target is treated as having its normal Hit Dice for purpose of adjudicating effects based on HD, such as the sleep spell, though it uses the new form’s base attack bonus, base save bonuses, and all other statistics derived from Hit Dice.
  • The target also retains the ability to understand (but not to speak) the languages it understood in its original form. It can write in the languages it understands, but only the form is capable of writing in some manner (such as drawing in the dirt with a paw).

With those exceptions, the target’s normal game statistics are replaced by those of the new form. The target loses all the special abilities it has in its normal form, including its class features.  All items worn or carried by the subject fall to the ground at its feet, even if they could be worn or carried by the new form.

If the new form would prove fatal to the creature (for example, if you polymorphed a landbound target into a fish, or an airborne target into a toad), the subject gets a +4 bonus on the save.

Incorporeal or gaseous creatures are immune to baleful polymorph, and a creature with the shapechanger subtype (such as a lycanthrope or a doppelganger) can revert to its natural form as a standard action (which ends the spell’s effect).

Verbal Component: Filigree, apogee, pedigree, perigee!

For more info: See my review of the film here.

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Michael "Talien" Tresca is a game designer, author, communicator, and artist. Michael has authored numerous supplements and adventures for publishers of Open Game License and D20-compatible games, including AEG, MonkeyGod Enterprises, Goodman Games, Otherworld Creations, Privateer Press,...

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