Auditory Illusion

Spell — see Magic and Spellcasting for the rules and the Spell Index for the full list.

Arcane 1 Type: illusion

Range: 30’ Duration: 1 round per level

This spell creates a false sound. The sound can be centered anywhere within range, and within that range the sound can fluctuate and move, imitating approaching or receding footsteps, laughter, voices, and other possibilities. The caster can dynamically control the sound if he is within range of it. The sound produced can be as loud as the noise produced by thirty man-sized creatures. The auditory illusion does not have to be human-like; it can replicate animal cries, monstrous roars, trickling water, and other sounds. The Judge should determine how much sound and how many individuals it might represent. For instance, the sounds of thirty adult humans might be approximately that of sixty children, or eight ogres.

A creature who has reason to be suspicious about the reality of the sound can make a Spells saving throw to disbelieve it at the start of its initiative. If the save succeeds, the creature learns that the sound is an illusion and can hear any sound it might be concealing. If the save fails, the creature continues to believe it is real. The creature cannot attempt to disbelieve the auditory illusion again until it has further evidence of its illusory nature (e.g. a friend tells him “it’s an illusion,” etc.)

At the caster’s discretion, the spell can be cast so that its duration does not begin until a particular trigger is met. The trigger can be as general or as detailed as desired, although only visual and audible triggers can be used. Triggers react to what appears to be the case. Disguises and illusions can fool them. Normal darkness does not defeat a visual trigger, but magical tenebrosity or invisibility does. Silent movement or magical silence defeats audible triggers. Audible triggers can be keyed to general types of noises or to a specific noise or spoken word. Actions can serve as triggers if they are visible or audible. The trigger cannot distinguish level, Hit Dice, or class except by external garb. The illusion can respond to triggers as far as 45’ away. Regardless of range, the illusion can respond only to visible or audible triggers and actions in line of sight or within hearing distance.

When the spell is cast with a trigger, the caster must specify sound that it will make in advance in case he is not there to dynamically control it. (If he is within range when it is triggered, he can dynamically control the sound.) The point at which the auditory illusion is centered will be noticeable with discern magic and the effect can be dispelled by targeting that point.