Hold Metal (Priest Spell)

By casting this spell, the priest causes all fer­rous metal (iron, iron alloys, and steel) within the spell's area of effect to be held fast, just as a person would be by a hold person spell. Swords being swung, pendulum blades arcing, and other metal­lic objects stop in midstrike. Although these metal objects can be touched, they cannot be moved for the duration of the spell, as if the metal weighed tons or was held fast by sovereign glue.
This spell is often used to prevent individuals from drawing weapons or from removing metallic or partially metallic objects from the affected area. The spell is especially useful against individuals clad in chain or plate mail. Beings wearing any ferrous armor find that while under the effects of this spell they cannot move. Furthermore, anyone wearing metal or carrying metal items that enters the area of effect of an already operating hold metal spell finds that such metal is instantly ren­dered immobile – from weapons to metal buttons, from buckles to cloak clasps.
Nonferrous metals are unaffected by hold metal, so an individual wearing bronze plate mail or picking up a silver candelabrum is able to pro­ceed normally if the item in question does not have iron or another ferrous metal hidden within it
iron). Note that most nonferrous metals are not sturdy enough for use in heavy tools without some ferrous metal alloyed with them.
Notes: Rare spell from the Forgotten Realms setting. Very early sources list this spell as 3rd level
Category:Priest Spells
Category:Spells from Priest's Spell Compendium
Category:Spells