Lower Water (spell)
| Range | 20 ft./level |
| Duration | 10 rounds per level |
| Area of Effect | 8000 cub.ft. per level |
| Casting Time | 2 rounds |
| Saving Throw | none |
| Level | cleric (4th) |
Lower water causes the surface of a body of water to lower in the desired area of effect; likewise, this effect can be reversed, so that the level of water is raised. The water is neither destroyed nor compressed; it is best to think of it as temporarily transferred to the plane of water, from which it will return when the duration ends or the effect is dispelled. If only part of the surface is lowered or raised, the effect will be to create a wall of water surrounding the raised or lowered section. The surrounding water will not be disturbed, but a steady flow will be evident, so that floating objects within 10 feet of these walls will tend to drift towards the edge and fall off.
The caster may affect square or rectangle that cannot be less than 4 ft. wide, nor sink any part of surface greater than 20 ft. per level. For example, a 10th level caster could create a hole that was 4 ft. by 4 ft. in area, and 200 ft. deep, but no narrower and no deeper. The same caster could create a passage 4 ft. wide and 20 ft. deep, that would run for 250 ft., perhaps enabling passage across a river or a pond; this is permitted by the spell.
WORKING...
instead, it will hold its place, so that the cleric will be able, in effect, to create a pathway between walls of water for the duration of the spell.
The sinking process will require 1 round per 8,000 cubic feet to be lowered.
If the source of water is sufficiently shallow enough that all the water may be driven away to the bottom, then the ground revealed will be dry as a bone. Otherwise, a trough or ‘hole’ will be created which shows water as its bottom.
Once the duration ends, the water lowered (and any adjacent water) will sweep back into the emptied area — sufficiently fast enough to sink rowboats or drown persons unable to swim — those who can swim, who are caught in the wake, must make a dexterity check or be drown also.
RAISING: The raising process, if done from an inexhaustible open water source, will require 1 round per 4,000 cubic feet to be raised. If done from a water table beneath the ground, the raising process will require 1 round per 1,000 cubic feet to be raised.
This water will hold its cubic shape for the duration of the spell, but when the duration is past (or the magic dispelled), the water will rush outwards in every direction. The following will occur per 20’ x 20’ x 20’ cube able to have an effect (i.e., is higher than the person or thing affected).
Medium or small-sized creatures will be swept d4 x 5’ and suffer 1-3 damage; large creatures will be swept zero or 5’ (d2) and suffer 1 damage. Sailboats or rowboats on water have a 5% or 15% chance of floundering; large ships on water will be pushed back but otherwise unaffected. Constructions of wood on the ground smaller than 10’ cubed will be destroyed 10% of the time and will lose doors, shutters, windows and their interiors be flooded; larger wooden constructions will suffer likewise but will not be destroyed. Stone structures will turn the water aside.
