Suspend

by Rob McDonald () on 5/17/96

From the Spellbook of Rafe von Morborund

Half-elf, Wizard/Rogue, 9/10

Level
1
School
Alteration
Sphere
Range
Touch
VSM
V, S
Dur
1 turn/level
CT
1
AE
1 object, 5 lb. maximum wt.
ST
None

Spell description

A weaker form of the LEVITATE spell, SUSPEND allows a wizard to temporarily hang an object in midair. The object must be easily handled (be of 0 encumbrance) and of no more than five pounds in weight. The mage simply holds the object in one or both hands, casts the spell and releases the object, where it will remain unsupported for the spell's duration. Alternately, the caster may throw the object straight up over his own head, in which case it will remain SUSPENDED at the apex of its trip.

The distance between the ground and the object is irrelevant. Once the object is SUSPENDED the caster has no further control over it - he cannot command it to rise or sink, nor to move horizontally, etc. If the object is disturbed from its position (grabbed, hit by a projectile, caught by a GUST OF WIND spell, etc.) the spell is foiled; for the purposes of determining if an object is disturbed, assume it is resting on a pedestal just as wide as the object - any force that could remove the object from such a position could remove it from the SUSPEND spell. SUSPEND is utterly unable to affect living creatures of any size, non-corporeal objects, or those already in motion (e.g. thrown at or dropped on the caster). SUSPEND might affect parts of objects that are otherwise too large for the spell, e.g. a large knot at the end of a 100' rope, but sufficient disturbance of or by the unaffected portion of the object will likely end the SUSPEND (for instance, the sheer weight of the remainder of the rope may prove too much for the spell.

Unless spoiled, the spell lasts 1 turn per caster level. The caster can end the spell with a single word.

This spell was discovered in use among a savage people in their game "KeztŽ," the "kez," or game ball, could be placed well out of the reach of opposing players until the caster's teammates arrived. The spell was brought to the "civilized" world where it quickly became popular among thieves - stolen loot could be "hidden" on short notice above the heads of searching guards, or used as red herring targets during chases, etc. SUSPEND can also be well-employed in a trap or prank (for instance, the ever-popular "tankard-of-ale-over-the-door" trick.)


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