Black Swords

School evocation; Level: sorcerer/wizard/summoner 4, witch 4

Components: V, S, F (a miniature obsidian sword worth 100 gp)

Casting Time: 1 round

Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)

Effect: 3 swords

Duration: 1 round/level (D)

Saving Throw: None; Spell Resistance: yes

This spell summons a trio of black, eldritch longswords. Each sword occupies a 5 ft. square (though other creatures can move through their space without penalty), and each sword must always be adjacent with at least one other sword. The swords strike at any opponents within range, as you desire, starting in the round that they appear. Each sword attacks its designated target once each round on your turn. Its attack bonus is equal to your base attack bonus with an additional +2 enhancement bonus. Each sword is considered a magic, cold iron weapon and deals 1d8+2 points of slashing damage, with a threat range of 20 and a critical multiplier of ×2.

The swords always strike from your direction. They get no flanking bonuses and cannot help a combatant get one. If any of the swords go beyond the spell range from you, go out of your sight, or you are not directing them, all three return to you and hover.

Each round after the first, you can use a standard action to switch one of the swords to a new target. If you do not, each sword continues to attack the previous round’s target.

Each sword’s AC is 12 (10, +0 size bonus for Medium object, +2 deflection bonus), has a hardness of 10 and has 5 hit points.

If an attacked creature has spell resistance, the resistance is checked the first time one of the swords strikes it. If the sword is successfully resisted, that sword is dispelled. If not, the sword has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell.