Insect Plague (spell)

Insect plague conjures a horde of hopping, creeping an flying insects that form in a thick cloud, obscuring vision and causing 1 hit point (h.p.) of damage to all creatures within the area of effect, per round.

Insect Plague

Range	360 ft.
Duration	10 rounds per level
Area of Effect	360 ft. circle, 60 ft. high
Casting Time	3 rounds
Saving Throw	none; see text
Level	cleric (5th); druid (5th)

The caster is able to designate the centre of the cloud, which must be within the spell's range — thus the caster could affect areas as far as 540 ft. away.

The radius of the swarm is huge, 36 combat hexes; once the plague has been conjured, however, it cannot move. Within the swarm, visibility is limited to 4 hexes, or 20 ft. Spellcasting inside the cloud is impossible, as the caster cannot hope to concentrate.

Effect

The swarm terrifies creatures with less than 12 h.p., causing them to flee the swarm once the first bite has occurred. All others must make a morale check or do likewise. Very few creatures will choose to ignore the insects — though very large creatures and those who can only be hit by magic will ignore them.

Spells vs. Swarm

Heavy smoke will drive off insects within its influence. Fire will also drive insects away. A wall of fire and other lasting fire spells will form a shield against the insects, but a fireball will simply clear the insects in its blast area—the empty circle afterwards filling at a rate of 10’ per round. Other spells affect the insects similarly. If used in conjunction with summon insects, both spells operate unaffected by each other.

Dispel magic will disperse the cloud, if it can be cast at the insect swarm’s center point. Invisibility, protection from malevolence, shield or other similar spells will offer no resistance; the spells armour and phantom armour will soak up damage caused by the insects; withdraw will enable the cleric to bat away insects and take no damage each round provided they do nothing else and sanctuary will provide complete immunity.