Call of the Galloping Herd
Spell — see Magic and Spellcasting for the rules and the Spell Index for the full list.
Divine 4 Type: summoning (call)
Range: special Duration: 1 day
This spell calls one or more horses to the caster to serve as steeds for him and his companions. The number of horses called by the spell is determined by the type of horse called and caster level, as shown on the adjoining table. The caster can freely choose the type of horses called, but all the horses must be of the same type.
No. Called by Caster Level
| Horse | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Horse | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| Medium Horse | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Heavy Horse | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
As soon as the spell is cast, the horses begin to travel to the caster’s destination at their expedition speed. If the spell is cast in a hex of inhabited terrain, or in a borderlands or unsettled hex of clear, grass, hills, or scrub terrain, the horses will take 1d6 turns to arrive. If the spell is cast in any other type of hex, the time to arrive is increased by 9 turns per 6-mile hex between the caster’s hex and the nearest such hex. The time to arrival may be much shorter if the Judge has determined that a herd of horses is nearby. If called while the caster is unreachable (deep in a dungeon, for example), the horses will travel as close as they can to the caster and then wait in that vicinity.
For the duration of the spell, the horses will understand the caster’s speech and serve as if they were the caster’s henchmen. They can be handled as mounts, war mounts, or workbeasts as if trained in the role. The spell persists until all the horses are slain, the spell is dispelled, or one day passes (at which time the horses depart). If the spell is cast again when the horses are about to depart, they will remain for another day. Call of the galloping herd can only be cast once per day.
This spell does not conjure up saddle and tack, nor does it automatically grant the rider the equivalent of Riding proficiency, so unproficient characters who ride the horses into battle do so at their own risk.
A prayerful caster who uses a call with ill intent towards the creatures called immediately becomes disfavored. He cannot cast the spell again until he has restored himself to favor. A studious caster or ceremonialist who uses a call with ill intent immediately loses the spell or ceremony from his repertoire. (He can re-learn it if he has the formula.) In neither case do the called animals arrive.