False North

School illusion (glamer); Level bard 3, druid 3

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S, M/DF (a broken compass)

EFFECT

Range 1 mile/level

Area 1 mile/level radius circle centered on you; see text

Duration 1 day/level (D)

Saving Throw Will disbelief; see text; Spell Resistance no

This spell distorts the true location of the planet’s magnetic poles as well as bending light to distort the actual position of stars and other heavenly bodies in the sky, making it impossible to accurately navigate within the spell’s area of effect. At the time of casting, you must designate the cardinal direction of the false magnetic pole. If you alter the false magnetic pole’s direction by more than thirty degrees from true magnetic pole, all creatures receive a Will save to disbelieve the illusion upon first entering the area.

Creatures very familiar with the area or those using an accurate map of the area relying upon geographical landmarks gain a +4 bonus on the preceding Will save. Divination spells such as know direction also grant the caster a Will save to disbelieve this spell. On a failed save, the spell points toward the false magnetic pole.

Multiple castings of the same spell by the same caster do not grant the creature a new Will save and yield the same results as the initial attempt.

If the actual magnetic pole is anywhere within the spell’s area of effect, all creatures take a –4 penalty on their saving throws against this illusion. Otherwise, all Survival checks made within the area of effect to avoid getting lost automatically fail. Nonmagical compasses and other navigational devices relying upon the location of the magnetic pole or the positions of heavenly bodies also provide false information, leading the user astray.