Meld Into Stone

This spell enables the priest to meld his body and possessions into a single block of stone. The stone must be large enough to accommodate his body in all three dimensions. When casting is complete, the priest and not more than 100 pounds of nonliving gear merge with the stone. If either condition is violated, the spell fails and is wasted.
While in the stone, the priest remains in contact, however tenuous, with the face of the stone through which he melded. The priest remains aware of the passage of time. Nothing that goes on outside the stone can be seen or heard, however. Minor physical damage to the stone does not harm the priest, but its partial destruction, if enough so that the caster no longer fits, expels the priest with 4d8 points of damage. The stone's destruction expels the priest and slays him instantly, unless a successful saving throw vs. spell is rolled.
The magic lasts for 1d8+8 rounds, the variable part of the duration rolled secretly by the DM. At any time before the duration expires, the priest can step out of the stone through the stone surface he entered. If the duration runs out, or the effect is dispelled before the priest exits the stone, then he is violently expelled and suffers 4d8 points of damage.
The following spells harm the priest if cast upon the stone that he is occupying: stone to flesh expels the priest and inflicts 4d8 points of damage; stone shape causes 4d4 points of damage, but does not expel the priest; transmute rock to mud expels and slays him instantly unless he rolls a successful saving throw vs. spell: Passwall expels the priest without damage.

Sphere: Elemental (Earth)
(Alteration)
Level: 3

Range: 0
Components: V. S, M
Duration: 8 rounds + 1d8 rounds
Casting Time: 6
Area of Effect: Caster
Saving Throw: None

Material Components:
the priest's holy symbol