Taunt (spell)

Taunt

Range	self
Duration	1 attack; see below
Area of Effect	1 creature per level; see below
Casting Time	1 round
Saving Throw	negates
Level	bard (1st); mage (1st)

Empowers the caster to “get under the skin” of a would-be enemy, encouraging them with japes and jeers to forsake their positions and attack directly and openly. This attack would be with such anger that it ensures the caster and allies would gain initiative.

Further, the first attack against the taunted creatures will be done at +3 to hit, as the creature is infuriated so that they are less able to defend themselves.

Creatures that are taunted must be within the voice range of the caster (12 combat hexes, or 60 ft.) and are entitled to a saving throw. Additionally, creatures with less than 5 intelligence are unaffected by the spell.

Taunted creatures will never act with a missile weapon, but will always seek hand-to-hand combat. If they can, they will prefer to attack the caster; if large enough, they are large enough to simply overstep smaller opponents. In all cases, they will continue to move forward until they can attack the source directly.

Note the spell duration is listed as “1 attack” — once the affected creature makes their first attack, they are free to act as they will. NPCs will often be subject to morale checks, if their situation is suddenly very bad.