Spells of House Marais

Prince Malachie du Marais designed this specialized version of the 6th-level geas spell, with the express purpose of geasing himself into loving no other woman but Dame Suzanne, despite his political marriage to the Vicomtesse of Malinbois. Only one copy is known to exist, although it could become very popular to lovers all over Mystara. But given the circumstances Malachie and his "sister" Suzanne are in, they will probably not share the spell for the time being.

The spell must be cast by the caster on himself, and make a promise to his lover, which he will not break, at the risk of a great punishment (usually a painful death). Like any geas, the wording must be precise. But unlike any geas, there is another way to dispel this spell, besides remove geas and wish: If the lover's love for the caster ends, the caster is then free from his promise.

The material component of this spell is a drop of blood from both the caster and the lover, given knowingly and freely.

Prince Malachie rushed his crafting of this spell, to make it in time for the eve of his wedding, and missed out one flaw, which he later discovered. Only one unbreakable lover's promise can be in effect for a person at a time. This means, when he cast this spell for Suzanne a second time, promising never to harm Noussoir, the spell didn't work and he is not bound to keep that promise. (Of course, Malachie never let Suzanne know this).

Dame Diane got the idea of this spell from another alteration spell, fool's gold. Instead of giving inexpensive materials like wood and iron the appearance of gold, this spell transforms a certain amount of gold, silver, gems and other precious materials into lead, iron, and stone. The shape of the object remains unchanged. A successful save vs. spells negates the effect, and magical objects have a +2 bonus to their saves.

The duration of this spell would depend on the material components used. If vinegar is used, the spell lasts for 1 round per level of the caster. If acid is used, the duration lengthens to 1 turn per level. If a magical acid (i.e. black pudding acid) is used, the spell can last up to 1 hour per level. The spell can also be dispelled normally.

Dame Diane crafted this spell for the purpose of acquiring the jewelry of other nobles, under pretense of appraising them. Its original name was Diane's unerring appraisal of the cherished treasure, and Diane claimed it was a divination spell to reveal the true nature of a piece of jewelry. Diane would then prepare a special acid bath and other alchemical mixtures and then cast this spell, which of course, "reveals" that the jewelry is made of cheap material and therefore fake. Diane would then take the jewelry, before the spell wears off.

These days Diane seldom uses the spell herself, but she has sold copies of it (with the new name that does not include her own!) to the Fellowship of the Pouch. The spell has been known to have been used in Darokin and Thyatis, under the name philosopher's gold.

Dame Diane crafted this spell for the sole purpose of spoiling all the food at a banquet or party. When this spell is cast, all food and drink within the area of effect begin to rot and spoil, making them inedible, nauseating, and potentially poisonous.

Furthermore, anyone who has eaten any of the food has a possibility of getting sick with food poisoning. There is a 5% chance per level of the caster to become sick for 1d6 days, unless a cure disease or neutralize poison spell is cast on the victim. There is also a 2% chance per level of the caster that the victim actually becomes fatally poisoned in 1d4 days, unless a neutralize poison is cast.

Purify food and drink can restore the spoiled food, but has no effect on the victims. Magical potions also look, taste, and smell disgusting, but their magical properties are otherwise unaffected.

Dame Diane has mastered the casting of this spell, such that the changes in the food are subtle and gradual at first. The food and drink merely tastes different, then becomes unpalatable, but still edible. Afterwards, they unmistakably look, smell and taste spoiled. The nauseating finale is that the sight and odor of the food becomes unbearable, and the people must leave the vicinity, or mass vomiting will ensue. The putrefied food must then be gotten rid of, magically or mundanely.

Dame Diane originally cast this spell using a moldy piece of Malinbois cheese, the smelliest of the Sylaire cheeses, and a glass of the finest Averoignian champagne that had turned to vinegar. Later, she found that any kind of rotten cheese and sour wine would suffice as spell components.

This spell is another of Dame Diane's favorite, which she likes to use at the glamorous Glantrian balls and parties, to which she has been invited—or not invited. The spell requires the carcass of a frog- or toad-like creature that has been alchemically preserved and shrunken in a jar of brine. The caster must break the jar, releasing a sickening vapor that quickly wafts through the area of effect.

All creatures within the area, who fail a saving throw vs. polymorph, are then transformed into ugly mockeries of themselves. Facial features become warped and bestial. Limbs become gnarled, stunted or ungainly. Skin grows slimy scales or disgusting boils. Body hair becomes wiry, tangled, unmanageably long or disappears altogether (Diane's favorite effect!). Even clothing becomes faded, moth-eaten, and garish.

All affected creatures will lose a certain number of Charisma points, depending on the kind of creature used.

Charisma Loss
1d4 points:	Normal frog or toad
1d6 points:	Magical frog or toad (i.e. giant frog, killer frog, ice toad)
2d4 points:	Frog-like or toad-like monster (i.e. grippli, bullywug, slaad)

Other physical traits, attack and defense forms, special abilities, or mental attributes are otherwise unaffected, but the psychic shock of the transformation is often damaging enough.

The caster can end the spell before its duration, and the spell can also be dispelled normally. Natural shapeshifters are affected only for one round, and can then resume their normal form.