Apparition Insidiae (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell)

Level: Sorcerer/Wizard 7

School: Illusion

Casting

Casting Time: Standard Action, or the first attack of a Full Attack Action

Components: V, S, M (A sheer handkerchief, worth 1gp.)

Effect

Range: 40 foot Line

Target or Area: one target creature, plus one per 10 character levels (drop fractions; max 4 at level 30)

Duration: Instantaneous

Saving Throw: No saving throw granted
 Save DC: -

Spell Resistance: Yes

Description

Upon intoning the resonant passages of the Apparition Insidiae spell, the caster calls forth a wavering, obviously unreal, and utterly terrible image. The exact form of an Apparition is hard to say, as they only exist for a mere instant, appearing in a square adjacent to the caster's space and then darting forth with incredible, unreal, flickering speed. An Apparition is an illusion, yes, but it is not an illusion that seeks to trick anyone. It is not meant to look like anything other than what it is: the sheer killing power of lies made manifest.

In the shuddering instant that it exists, an Apparition Insidiae traces out a line, moving forty feet (eight squares) before it flickers out. Each square of its path must be adjacent to (either corner to corner or edge to edge) its previous square, and also further away from its caster. The Caster determines the line it traces as it moves.

As it races along its brief, frenzied existence, the insidious apparition may pass adjacent to or through any creature's space as if it does not exist, which in truth, it does not. The illusionist may make a Melee Touch Attack, using their own stats to do so, against any creature to which any space in the apparition's path passes adjacent, however the spell only damages one target per ten full caster levels they possess (dropping fractions). Thus, at ninth level and below, even if the illusionist can somehow cast this powerful spell, it fails to affect any creatures in the real world.

Touch attacks that miss do not expend the energy of the apparition. Instead, the caster can try again against a different target adjacent to the apparition's path. However, no creature can ever be damaged more than once by a single casting of this spell, even if the caster can arrange an opportunity to do so.

If a creature is successfully touched, they take (Circle 5 damage): 1d6+1 points of damage per character level (max 15d6+15 at character level 15) of psychic (energy, uncommon) damage. Far worse, the sly, deceitful power of the Apparition Insidiae removes the ability to tell friend from foe, casting those touched into a nightmarish world of paranoia, filled with menacing faceless enemies. To reflect this, each successful touch attack inflicts the Startled condition on the creatures touched, until the beginning of the caster's next turn, unless otherwise removed.

Once the apparition has made its full allotment of touch attacks, or reaches the end of its 40 foot path, it dissipates back into nothingness.

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Mana Burn Circle Damage

Spell Circle	Burn Cost	Req'd Char Level	Base Dice	Max Dice
0	N/A	N/A	1d4 per 2 character levels	max of 4d4 at character level 8
1	N/A	1st	1d6 per character level	max of 4d6 at character level 4
2	+1	3rd	1d6 per character level	max of 6d6 at character level 6
3	+1	5th	1d6 per character level	max of 10d6 at character level 10
4	+1	7th	1d6+1 per character level	max of 12d6+12 at character level 12
5	+1	9th	1d6+1 per character level	max of 15d6+15 at character level 15
6	+1	11th	1d6+2 per character level	max of 16d6+32 at character level 16
7	+1	13th	1d6+2 per character level	max of 20d6+40 at character level 20
8	+1	15th	1d6+3 per character level	max of 21d6+63 at character level 21
9	+1	17th	1d6+3 per character level	max of 25d6+75 at character level 25
10	+1	19th	1d6+4 per character level	max of 25d6+100 at character level 25
11	+1	21st	1d6+5 per character level	max of 25d6+125 at character level 25
12	+1	23rd	1d6+6 per character level	max of 27d6+162 at character level 27
13	+1	25th	1d6+7 per character level	max of 27d6+189 at character level 27
14	+1	27th	1d6+8 per character level	max of 29d6+232 at character level 29
15	+1	29th	1d6+9 per character level	max of 29d6+261 at character level 29
16	+1	31st	1d6+10 per character level	max of 30d6+300 at character level 30
17	+1	33rd	1d6+11 per character level	max of 30d6+330 at character level 30
18	+1	35th	1d6+12 per character level	max of 30d6+360 at character level 30