Tulrun's Tracer (Wizard Spell)

When this spell is cast, the a continuous, luminescent pathway comes into being within 10 feet of the caster. It shows the most recent path of any single creature described verbally by the caster. If the creature hasn't been in the initial 10-foot radius within one day per caster level, the spell fails. If two or more identical creatures are indicated, the caster must focus on one path within a round or the tracer will follow all paths, with a proportionate decrease in spell duration.
The tracer shoots a luminous line at a rate of 60 feet per round along the route taken by the creature. Once beyond the initial 10-foot radius, the tracer only shows the path of the creature where the creature remained in physical contact with the ground, or rode a living mount that remained in contact with the ground. Pass without trace and similar spells of 4th level or less do not confuse the tracer, and it will follow the creature's route through physical barriers and across gaps of up to 15 feet. It will not otherwise show aerial travel, but it will trace into and under water.
The tracer is intangible—it can be passed through or traveled within without harm. It does not activate magic upon contact nor does it distort magical or physical phenomena passing through it.
The tracer path ends when the target creature is reached, the spell duration expires, or at any place from which the target creature teleported, left the plane of the caster, or embarked upon a conveyance such as a cart, ship, or carpet of flying. In the case of teleportation or plane shifting, the caster, upon reaching the path's end, receives a clear mental picture of the creature's destination. If the creature took a conveyance, the mental picture is only of that act and not of the eventual destination. When the spell expires, the path slowly fades into nothingness; if it has not reached the target creature, there is no mental picture of the target's destination.
Portions of the revealed path can be destroyed or concealed by dispel magic, continual darkness, and the like, but the pathway cannot be physically disturbed (a gust of wind would not shift it).
The material component is a pinch of phosphorus or a glowing life form such as a fungus or glowworm, over which the caster verbally describes the creature to be traced.
Notes: Very rare spell. Known to be in The Wizard's Workbook.
Special Note: Occasionally, Tulrun's tracer may encounter identical creatures (due to magical doubling, doppelgangers, and so on). If two or more identical creatures are indicated, the caster must focus on one path within a round or the tracer will follow all paths, with a proportionate decrease in spell duration.
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Spells from Pages From the Mages
Category:Spells
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium