The wizard can cause the affected area of ground to raise and lower its height. The ground cannot sink below its original height. A creature attempting to use a missile weapon from the moving terrain suffers a -2 penalty to the attack roll if the caster is causing the area to change height. When the height is constant no penalty occurs. Crossbow can be cocked from atop the pillar.
Sand flies all around the area of effect obscuring all vision.
When this spell is cast the wizard creates an unmoving hollow sphere of dirt around his person. The dirt slides out of the way to allow anyone to enter or leave the sphere without harm, but if the spellcaster is removed from it, the spell dissipates. Hurricane force winds and greater do not destroy it. The fields is not transparent making combat difficult although missiles, weapons, and most spell effects cause the dirt to move aside. The material component is a piece of a stalagmite.