Phantasmal Horror

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

Arcane 5 Type: illusion

Range: 45’ Duration: 1 round/caster level

This spell creates an illusion of whatever a target living creature fears most. The spell uses the target’s own nightmares to create the most terrifying beast it can imagine. Only the caster and the target can sense the phantasmal horror**,** which “appears” next to the target. On each subsequent round after it appears, the phantasmal horror attacks the target on the caster’s initiative. It has the attack throw of a 4 HD monster. If its attack throw succeeds, the target immediately dies of fright.

Because it exists only as a hallucination in the target’s mind, the phantasmal horror is invulnerable to attacks, cannot be affected by spells (other than to be dispelled), and ignores physical laws. It can pursue the target across any distance and through any barriers. Even a caster who teleports to his own sanctum will find the horror there waiting for him! The only defense against the phantasmal horror is to flee into an anti**-**magic sphere, to disbelieve the illusion, to dispel the illusion, or to avoid being hit for the duration of the spell.

The target of the phantasmal horror can make a Spells saving throw to disbelieve it at the start of its initiative. If the save succeeds, the phantasmal horror vanishes. If the save fails, the target fully believes the phantasmal horror is real (and is almost certainly doomed). The target receives only one chance to disbelieve the phantasmal horror.