Escape of Ravens
(Alteration, Necromancy)
Level: 4
Range: 3 miles/level
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 4
Duration: 1 turn/level
Area of Effect: The caster
Saving Throw: None
This spell is similar to the 5th-level wizard spell teleport, except that the travel to the other destination is not instantaneous. Escape of ravens allows the caster to assume the form of a flock of ravens (crows), one bird for every hit point he possesses. These birds that the caster changes into are all sentient creatures as per the caster is normally, and are otherwise normal ravens in every other respect. Any short lasting magical effects that the caster has active on his person are in turn retained by the birds that the caster changes into for a period of four rounds; although long lasting effects and magical items that grant protections of any kind still bestow their full effects on each individual bird of the flock. Any bird that is killed only reduces the caster's current hit point total by 1 hit point, thus only inflicting 1 point of damage even though it will take more than that amount of damage to kill each individual bird.
Alternately there is also a variant of this spell (some say the spell that inspired this version) called escape of bats; it is identical to the above spell, except that the caster changes into a large amount of normal bats, instead of a flock of ravens.
The material component for this spell is a wing feather from a giant raven (or for the alternate spell version, a wing claw from a subterranean bat), freely given.
Notes: Uncommon spell.
