Serenade (spell)

Serenade is a form of charm spell that produces feelings of love in one intended listener. The casting time includes the performance of song, poetry or played music, which softens the heart of the listener. Upon the tenth round, the spell is discharged and the recipient is permitted to make a saving throw. The caster may attempt to serenade a specific listener under these conditions but once per day.

Serenade

Range	60 ft.
Duration	10 rounds or 1 day per level
Area of Effect	1 creature
Casting Time	10 rounds
Saving Throw	negates
Level	bard (2nd)

The spell requires uninterrupted performance for the full casting time. If the caster is silenced, distracted or forced to stop playing or singing before the tenth round, the spell fails. While the spell's effect is similar to a standard charm, it instills affection rather than mere obedience. The affected individual does not become a mindless servant but instead develops an emotional attachment to the caster, behaving in a manner consistent with infatuation or deep admiration.

If the charm fails, the magic is negated — however, the intended recipient gains no awareness that a spell has been cast. The caster may then attempt a charisma check. If successful, the target will be open to reconsidering their feelings, allowing the possibility of another serenade the following night — one that may yet succeed should their resolve waver.

Should the charisma check fail, however, the would-be amour becomes enraged, rejecting the caster outright and refusing contact for no less than three months.

Interruptions may arise from a family member, a servant, a suspicious patrol or even a well-aimed flower pot. The recipient of the serenade, however, remains transfixed once the performance begins, compelled to listen until its conclusion.

Magical Love

If the saving throw fails, the listener will fall in love with the caster. They will behave as a person in love — seeking the caster's attention, offering gifts and assistance and remaining near whenever possible. However, they do not become mindlessly obedient. They will not follow unreasonable commands, nor will they act against their own principles or safety. If instructed to flee with the caster, they will do so immediately; otherwise, they will wait patiently for the caster's return, with the enchantment lasting for one day per level of the caster.

When the duration expires, the recipient must reconcile their feelings unless they are serenaded again before the magic fades. Once a person has fallen under serenade and later regained their senses, they cannot be affected by the spell again.

However, experiencing magical love does not mean those emotions will entirely vanish. There remains a chance that, upon reconciling their feelings, the recipient will develop a genuine attachment to the caster. This probability is equal to 5% per caster level, plus the caster's charisma score. Thus, a 5th-level caster with a 17 charisma would have a 42% chance of leaving a lasting romantic impression after the spell's effects wear off.

Scandal

There is no limit to how many listeners may be serenaded over the caster's lifetime, nor to how many of them may ultimately fall completely in love with the caster as a result. Since the spell may be cast once per day and its effects can extend beyond a single day, it is possible for multiple charmed lovers to exist at the same time. At the moment of "reconciliation," the number of enchanted or unenchanted lovers present has no effect on the percentage chance of the recipient developing true love.

However, once a lover has come to their senses, they will demand the removal of all other romantic rivals, whether charmed or not. If the caster refuses, the spurned lover will bide their time, waiting for the caster to leave — at which point the rejected lovers will violently turn on one another. The confrontation will continue until at least one has suffered four or more damage, at which point a temporary truce will be declared. These fights may occur daily, with the very real possibility of someone being killed unless steps are taken to keep the competing lovers apart when the caster is not present.

Meanwhile, the number of friends and family members of those who are cast aside — or who continue to write home about the scandalous multi-lover arrangement — will steadily grow. The more individuals affected by serenade, the greater the likelihood that word will spread, attracting unwanted attention from concerned relatives, protective siblings or outraged parents.

As a result, the caster may find themselves facing increasing opportunities for confrontation, ranging from heated arguments and social ostracization to outright duels or ambushes. Townsfolk may whisper, reputations may suffer and in some cases, entire families may take it upon themselves to put an end to the caster's romantic entanglements by force. The longer serenade is used indiscriminately, the greater the risk of unintended consequences — especially if multiple affected lovers hail from the same region, noble house or community.

The spell, therefore, has far-reaching consequences — though this is hardly unexpected, as affairs of the heart often lead to complications.

Bringing the Spell into Play

The spell offers a tactical advantage even if the caster does not intend for it to succeed. Since the recipient is compelled to listen once the performance begins, serenade can be used as a means of distraction, delaying an opponent's response for the full ten rounds of casting. During this time, the listener is unable to take any action that would interrupt the spell.

This delay can serve several purposes. If an adversary is about to intervene in a situation, whether by raising an alarm, attacking or interfering in some way, the spell ensures they remain passive, caught in the performance. This can provide the caster or their allies with enough time to maneuver, whether by sneaking past unnoticed, repositioning for an ambush or taking an action that would otherwise be met with immediate resistance. If the situation calls for escape, serenade may prevent a pursuer from following long enough to allow the caster's retreat.

Once the spell has begun, even outside interruptions must occur externally — through bystanders, environmental hazards or direct interference — since the listener will not willingly stop the performance themselves. The enchantment creates a momentary lapse in the target's ability to react, which can be exploited by a clever caster who recognizes that serenade is as much a tool for misdirection as it is for manipulating emotions.

Breaking the Spell Intentionally

If the caster interrupts the magic before the tenth round, the spell ends immediately without reaching its full effect. Since the charm is only discharged upon completion, the recipient is never required to make a saving throw, and as a result, there are no lingering consequences. The listener remains unaffected, apart from having spent their time passively listening to the performance.

This allows the caster to deliberately control the risk of serenade. If the situation changes — if the distraction has served its purpose, if danger arises or if the caster simply reconsiders — they may cease performing at any time, negating any magical influence before it takes hold. This ensures that serenade can be used purely as a delay tactic without forcing an unwanted magical entanglement.

However, since the listener is unaware that a spell was being cast, they will not recognise that magic was involved, nor will they be hostile as a result. In most cases, they will simply assume they were momentarily captivated by the music or words, allowing the caster to avoid suspicion while still benefiting from the spell's ability to occupy the target's attention.