Flame Shield (Evocation)
Level: 3
Range: 0
Duration: 1 round/level
Area of Effect: Special
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 3 segments
Saving Throw: None
This spell brings into being a pulsing 6' high shield of darkness at the end of the druid's hand. The shield is weightless and has no solid existence. Missiles and other weapons and solid objects (including parts of the caster body) pass harmlessly through it. The shield remains attached to one of the druid's hands (chosen in the casting) unless the druid touches another creature's hand and wills control of the shield to pass to the other creature (who must agree to the transfer or it cannot occur).
The shield works against flame. Its touch extinguishes normal torches, flaming oil, and candles instantly. Larger fires are diminished. A fireball striking or exploding around the bearer of a flame shield, for example, does only half damage.
A flame shield coming into contact with a flame shield is harmlessly destroyed. A flame shield can prevent a flame strike only if it is directly in the path of the strike (i.e., over the target head). Flame related illusions, hypnotic patterns, and the like have no effect on any being viewing them through a flame shield.
A magical flaming sword striking through a flame shield encounters no resistance and does normal weapon damage (but not flaming damage). The shield doesn't permanently affect the blade in any way. But the part of the blade that has passed through the shield remains free of flames while any part of the blade is in contact with the shield; thus a flaming sword striking through a flame shield cannot ignite a scroll or other flammable object by touch.
The material components for this spell are a piece of phosphorous, a drop of mercury, and a cobweb.