Spectral Legion

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

Arcane 5 Type: illusion

Range: 360’ Duration: concentration

This spell was created for use by war-wizards on the field of battle. It creates a multi-sensory illusion of a complete military unit of up to 120 man-sized creatures, 60 large (cavalry or ogre-sized) creatures, 20 huge creatures, 5 gigantic creatures, or 1 colossal creature. The unit can be of any type, equipped with any arms or armor desired, wearing whatever colors, insignia, and unit markings the caster wishes. It can appear fresh and well-ordered, or bloodied and demoralized, or anything in between.

Once the spectral legion is conjured, it can be moved anywhere within range at the same speed as an actual unit of its type. The spectral legion moves on the caster’s own initiative. The illusion is fully dynamic, so the unit will seem to march, trot, gallop, fly, or otherwise actually move, and as it does so its boots will seemingly kick up dust, its banners will seemingly wave in the breeze, and so on. The spectral legion will remain on the battlefield for as long as the caster maintains concentration.

If attacked, the illusory creatures that make up the spectral legion appear to have the AC of a real unit of their type. If damaged, the creatures will appear to suffer wounds but are never slain and do not vanish. If the spectral legion attacks, the illusory attack and damage should be resolved by the Judge as if it were real. However, any creature affected by illusory damage receives a Spells saving throw to disbelieve the illusion. If the save succeeds, the creature takes no damage and realizes the spectral legion is an illusion. If the save fails, the creature believes it has been damaged, possibly fainting into unconscious if it believes its hit points have been reduced to 0 or fewer. However, the illusory damage is not real. A “killed” or “injured” creature realizes it is unharmed at the end of its initiative in 1d6 rounds, and thereafter knows the spectral legion is an illusion.

A creature who encounters a spectral legion and has reason to be suspicious about its reality can make a Spells saving throw to disbelieve it at the start of its initiative. If the save succeeds, the creature confirms that the spectral legion is an illusion and can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel anything it is concealing. If the save fails, the creature continues to believe it is real. The creature cannot attempt to disbelieve the spectral legion again until it has further evidence of its illusory nature (e.g. a friend tells him “it’s an illusion,” he notices that no matter how often he hits an illusory creature it never dies, etc.).