Mind Tracker
The mind tracker is a magically-created creature which exists only on the Ethereal plane. It is
called into existence when the first portion of this
spell is cast.
When seen (which is seldom), the mind tracker
has an indistinct body. It seems to be a near-solid
coalescence of the vaporous atmosphere of the
Ethereal plane itself. It is a roughly elliptical body
with three or more limbs protruding at seemingly
random locations. The number and size of these appendages shifts slowly, however, as new ones appear from the mist and old ones disappear. The
body of the creature averages 2 feet across and 3
feet long, though this, too, tends to vary from minute to minute. The mind tracker has no discernible
eyes, ears, nose, or other organs. It cannot be engaged in combat; if attacked, it simply disappears,
to reappear after the danger has passed, or somewhere else entirely if its quarry has moved on.
The ceremony which creates the mind tracker
takes one turn to perform.
Once the tracker is manifested, it must be assigned a quarry within one hour. If no quarry is
designated, the tracker dissipates and the spell is
wasted.
To assign a quarry to the tracker, the priest must
have the quarry within his sight. This includes magical sight such as true seeing, but not remote sighting devices such as crystal balls. With the quarry in
sight, the priest mouths the final phrases of the
spell. From that point on, the mind tracker is mentally tethered to the victim. It follows its quarry
(staying always in the Ethereal plane) wherever it
goes. It constantly relays information about the
subject to the priest: what it is doing, where it is.
The priest does not actually see an image of the
quarry, he receives 'reports' from the mind tracker.
These reports contain only such information as the
tracker can gather by looking. It cannot identify
people the quarry is talking to, but can describe
them in great detail. Nor can it hear anything the
quarry or anyone else says, or read writing, but it
recognizes and can report the fact that speaking or
reading is happening.
While the tracker is dogging its quarry, its presence can be felt as an eery, creepy sensation of being
watched. If the victim makes an initial save vs. paralyzation, each of the following stages lasts three
hours instead of two. For the first two hours, the
quarry has a general feeling of ill ease. In the third
and fourth hours, the victim is distracted and nervous, and suffers a -1 penalty on all saving throws.
In the fifth and sixth hours, the victim is convinced
someone or something is following him and suffers
a -3 penalty on saving throws and a -2 (or -10%)
penalty on all other dice rolls. After six hours the
victim is near his breaking point. He is unable to
concentrate to cast spells or use any of his class's
special abilities. All die rolls have a -5 (or -250/0)
penalty. After eight hours, he must make a saving
throw vs. paralyzation. If he fails, he collapses, fevered and delirious. This state persists until the
tracker ceases to exist.
The mind tracker continues to exist for as long
as the priest remains conscious of its input. If the
priest is knocked out or falls asleep, or simply
dismisses his creation, the tracker dissipates.
[Tome of Magic]
Sphere: Divination
(Divination)
Level: 7
(Divination)
Level: 7
Range: Special
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 1 turn/ 3 (??)
Area of Effect: One creature
Saving Throw: Special
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 1 turn/ 3 (??)
Area of Effect: One creature
Saving Throw: Special
a whiff of the Ethereal plane's atmosphere and the brain of a lizard
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