Spells of Wilhelm Bhes

Greater Geas

Level: 9

School: Enchantment/Charm

Range: 25 feet + 5 feet/2 levels

Duration: 1 year/level

Area of Effect: 1-4 creatures

Components: V

Casting Time: 1 minute

Saving Throw: None

This spell is identical to the geas and lesser geas with a few more powerful features. Its duration is much longer. It can affect more than once creature at a time, if they are all within range and given the same instructions. And the command of geas itself can be as complex as needed.

The greater geas cannot be removed by dispel magic, remove curse, limited wish, or remove geas. It can only be dispelled by miracle or wish. But like its lesser counterparts, this powerful enchantment cannot give targets instructions that are obviously self-destructive or in opposition to their ideals.

Mental Probe of Sighs

Level: 4

School: Divination

Range: 1 foot/level

Duration: 1 round/level

Area of Effect: 1 creature

Components: V,S

Casting Time: 5 rounds

Saving Throw: Negates

This spell was crafted by the Master of Divination, Wilhelm Bhes, and originally named Wilhelm's scrutiny of wits. It was taught in the Great School as part of the curriculum in divination magic, and the Constabulary of Glantri got hold of this spell and used it frequently in the interrogation of criminals, until, its horrible side effects were soon discovered. Master Wilhelm tried to correct the spell, but could not remove the flaw, and thus merely rescinded his name from it. The Glantrian Constabulary, not minding its deleterious effects, still uses it for interrogation of their captives, guilty and innocent alike.

The mental probe of sighs can only be used against one helpless or willing victim. A subject can easily resist the spell by moving his head at least inch in any direction (and thus, the Constabulary is known to strap down its targets). It cannot be used against a sleeping or unconscious victim, nor can it effect undead or mindless creatures.

This spell sends a deep probe into the subject's psyche. Surface thoughts (usually facts the subject is not trying to hide) are automatically read, with no saves allowed. The caster may choose to probe the subjects mind further and dig out deeper thoughts. For each thought (the knowledge of a single fact) the caster must concentrate for at least one round. The caster may probe the subject multiple times for the same thought or fact. Each probe takes a minute to achieve and gets a separate saving throw.

The subject may resist the probing (save vs. spells, Wisdom bonuses apply), but a successful roll results in tremendous pain, and the character loses 1d4 temporary points of Constitution (and the resulting HP loss). Each time the subject saves successfully, it counts for a specific fact the subject knows. If a Constitution score drops below 3 the subject loses consciousness for 2d6 hours. When the subject awakens it will have already "healed" up to 50% of his regular Constitution score. Further points of Constitution heal at a normal rate.

When the subject succeeds in a saving throw against this spell, he often cannot stop himself from screaming or crying. But such sounds are not uncommon coming from the Tower of Sighs…

Author: Ohad Shaham