Misdirection (spell)

Misdirection is a spell that confounds detection spells within an area, rendering them entirely ineffective for the duration. Detection spells affected include such examples as penetrate disguise, find the path, detect invisibility and malevolence, among others of similar purpose.

Misdirection

Range	30 ft.
Duration	1 hour per level
Area of Effect	120 ft. diameter circle
Casting Time	1 round
Saving Throw	none
Level	illusionist (2nd)

Within the bounds of the spell, such dweomers do not merely return false or misleading results; they fail to function at all, as though their means of perceiving or interpreting the environment has been cut off. Attempts to locate, reveal or interpret hidden truths yield nothing of value, regardless of the strength or precision of the detection employed. The effect is indiscriminate, applying equally to all qualifying spells that rely upon magical perception within the affected space.

In the case of spells that detect illusion, poison or magic, nothing of the kind will be found, even if an illusion, a quantity of poison or an active dweomer is present within the area. The absence is absolute, offering no trace or suggestion that anything exists to be detected. Detect life may betray the presence of misdirection indirectly, as when a caster can plainly see a growing plant, yet the spell reports no life at all. In the case of know intent, the failure to return any answer likewise suggests that something is interfering with the spell's function.

Countermeasures

To restore the effectiveness of detection spells, the presence of misdirection must first be recognised and then dispelled. Once removed, detection dweomers resume normal operation without lingering effect.

Divination spells or abilities, such as augury, locate object or portent, are not affected by the dweomer, as they do not rely upon direct detection within the space but upon other means of inquiry.