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Art of the SPELLSPHERE

Maddgoth's Servitor‡
(Alteration)

Level: 8
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Instantaneous
Casting Time: 1 day
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None

This spell allows a wizard to create a special homunculus without the need for an alchemist. This spell combines all the processes used to create homunculi into one spell with an extended casting time. In addition, this spell creates homunculi with additional abilities beyond their norm, since its casting involves at least one other alteration spell during the casting of this greater spell.

All benefits of having a servitor homunculus are exactly the same as detailed in the MONSTROUS MANUAL tome, such as telepathic links to its creator, wings for mobility, a minor bite that causes sleep, and its usefulness as a living tool to aid the wizard. Servitor homunculi created by this spell are also 20% magically resistant in addition to sharing their creator and master's saving throws. However, this spell also incurs all the drawbacks of a homunculus, from its muteness as small size to the greater link incurred between creature and creator: If a servitor is destroyed, its creator suffers 6d4 points of damage in sympathetic pain.

Only six known alteration spells work within the confines of this spell and within the form of the final servitor homunculus. Listed below are the six spells and their effects in the servitors.

  • Burning Hands: The servitor can project a 1-foot-wide, 5-feet-long jet of flame out its mouth twice a day for 1d6+6 points of fire damage to one target within its area of effect. The servitor can also use this flame breath to ignite combustible materials. When biting an opponent, flames still flicker in its mouth, accounting for an increased bite of 1d3+1 points of damage. This servitor has no magic resistance, but it is immune to fire.

  • Darkness 15' Radius: This spell alters the look of the homunculus, giving it a shiny-black scaled hide rather than its usual olive tone. The dark scales grant it a 90%-effective hide in shadows ability. The servitor also has 90' infravision that remains effective even within magical darkness of any kind.

  • Light: The homunculus created with this added spell is an albino with only light tinges of green at the edges of its ears and wings. Its eyes are enlarged and rounded, similar to those of a cavefish, and it emits light equal to a torch from its eyes (10' radius globes of light surrounding it) at will.

  • Message: By casting this spell into a forming homunculus, this ties the casting wizard far more closely to it than normal. The wizard can now speak through this homunculus up to the range of their telepathic link. With this link, a servitor can wield magical wands activated by vocal command words, though it cannot use any other magical items. A wizard cannot cast spells or actively use scrolls through one of these homunculi either.

  • Spider Climb: The most distinct of the servitor homunculi, this spell alters its form so it grows four arms and four legs rather than wings. Its additional limbs allow it to carry up to 30 pounds of material. Also like a spider, it can stick to and move across vertical surfaces, even when carrying additional weight. Its bite poison is also slightly altered to cause paralysis for 1d6 turns.

  • Strength: As expected, this spell alters the form of the homunculus to create a larger, bulkier servitor (24" tall). Unlike other homunculi, it has claws that do 1d2 points of damage each (claw/claw/bite attacks per round). With this increase in size, strength and offensive capabilities, it has a lower maneuverability and speed [6, Fl 12 (C)] than a regular homunculus.

    During the casting, the mage must draw a pint of his own blood into a specially-prepared receptacle, and then add 2 ounces each of the "perspiration of an illithid," "tears of a drider," the "saliva of a grimlock," and 5,000 gp worth of rare herbs and spices that grow only in Calimshan and Raurin. Once all the component ingredients are in the receptacle, the wizard must continue the casting. Mages who study this spell discern that it involves castings similar to mending, mirror image, and wizard eye, the three standard spells used in creating homunculi. As the homunculus coagulates slowly within the receptacle, the mage casts the final alteration spell to give the servitor its special powers. With the final spell, the servitor homunculus slowly coagulates into its final form (far more slowly than a standard homunculus) over the course of an hour.

    Notes: Known to Arkon Zutat and Lord Piper of the FORGOTTEN REALMS setting.

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