Detect Charm (spell)
Detect Charm is a spell that allows the caster to identify whether a creature is under the influence of a charm or similar enchantment. This detection extends to a range of magical effects, including suggestion, enthrall, hypnotism and hypnotic pattern, as well as the effects of magical items such as love potions and a staff of command.
Range | self |
Duration | 10 rounds |
Area of Effect | 10 ft. wide, 60 +10 ft. per level path |
Casting Time | 1 round |
Saving Throw | none |
Level | cleric (2nd) |
The spell provides insight into the nature of the charm affecting the target, including its form and method of influence, but it does not reveal the identity of the charmer or the source of the enchantment.
Once the spell is cast, it immediately reveals the presence of enchantment upon all creatures within its area of effect. The detection is instantaneous and cannot be adjusted or redirected once the spell is discharged. Any individuals within range who are subject to a charm effect will be identified, making the spell highly useful in uncovering magical manipulation and coercion.
The spell does not break the charm or dispel its effects; it only provides knowledge of its existence. However, this information can be invaluable in determining how to proceed, whether by seeking to remove the enchantment through other means or by confronting the source of the influence. Given the subtlety of charm magic, Detect Charm is a crucial tool for identifying magical deception and manipulation, especially in political or social encounters where coercion may be at play.
Bringing the Spell into Play
Because charm effects can subtly manipulate the minds of individuals, its use is particularly valuable in situations where loyalty, trust or autonomy may be compromised. The spell is particularly useful when investigating rulers, nobles or other figures of authority whose decisions seem out of character. In many cases, enchantment does not come in the form of overt domination but rather a subtle change in behavior, as when a king falls under the sway of an ambitious court magician, a conniving advisor or an otherworldly seductress like a succubus.
The spell can also play an important role in uncovering magical influences in urban and social settings. A merchant swindling customers in the marketplace may not be acting of his own volition, but rather under the influence of a magical debt collector or a rival merchant looking to ruin his reputation. A city watch captain who refuses to investigate a string of disappearances may be ensorcelled by a powerful criminal who wishes to keep law enforcement at bay. In these cases, the spell serves not only as a means of discovery but also as the first step in unraveling a larger web of magical corruption.