Splitshade (Wiz 7; Alteration, Illusion/Phantasm)
(Shadow)
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Duration: 1 turn/level
Casting Time: 1
Area of Effect: The caster
Saving Throw: None
This spell is both similar to and vastly different from the more common mirror image spell. For the duration of this spell, every time a slashing weapon cuts the caster, he is literally cut into two separate and fully functional beings! While this spell is in effect on the caster, he is covered in a dark gray shadow-like aura. Therefore, as the caster gets weaker, he also gets harder to kill.
Every time the caster takes damage from an edged weapon he splits into another form of himself, up to 1d4+1 shadow-selves. This other wizard has all the physical abilities of the original wizard and disappear when the caster dies or the spell duration expires. These shadow selves of the caster can grasp and use the items of the caster with full proficiency of that of the caster. For example, Cabal is specialized in the katana, thus if one of his shadow-selves picked one up, it would also be specialized in the katana.
The shadow-selves created by this spell have all the physical attributes of the caster as well as half his current level. (This only reflects the physical skills of the caster, as the shadow-selves cannot cast spells themselves, nor can they use psionics if the caster possesses the Invisible Art.)
Note: Restricted to shadow mages; very rare.
