Thunderlance (Wizard Spell)

Upon casting this spell a faint, gray, shimmering force comes into being in the general shape of a staff or spear. The force can extend up to 20 feet from the caster's pointed finger and retract or grow to the desired size, but it always remains a straight lance of force. Any creature that touches or is touched by the thunderlance takes 4d6 points of damage.
Upon discharge, the thunderlance vanishes with a loud clap of thunder. The thunderlance can also be willed out of existence by the caster at any time without hitting anyone. The thunderlance will disappear without inflicting any damage if the caster dies, loses consciousness, or casts any other spells. Full conscious control is not necessary to command the thunderlance, so the mage is still able to move and fight normally while carrying it.
The lance can be used as a barrier or a trap against attacking creatures but is most often used as a weapon. The lance attacks creatures at their lowest unarmored Armor Class (a dragon would still be AC 2 but a mounted knight would be AC 10). Any non-innate armor is ignored, but Dexterity and magical bonuses do apply to the target's Armor Class.
The touch of a thunderlance will destroy a shield spell, a wall of force, a minor globe of invulnerability, and similar minor abjuration magics of 5th level or less. Higher level abjuration spells are unaffected by the thunderlance. In either case, the thunderlance is discharged and fades upon striking such a magical barrier. It can pass through fire and water (including ice) unharmed, even if the fire, water, or ice is the result of magic spells.
As a bonus, the thunderlance absorbs magic missiles directed at the wielder and for every magic missile so absorbed, the lance will inflict 1d4+1 additional points of damage when discharged. The thunderlance can absorb and then discharge one magic missile for every three levels of the caster. Additional magic missiles are absorbed but do not increase its discharge. "Magic missiles" include other spells with similar properties such as Snilloc's major missile and Snilloc's snowball. Each of these spells, if absorbed in the thunderlance, inflicts 1d4+1 more points of damage, regardless of the typical damage of the spell.
The material component of this spell is a small, silver spear.
Notes: Uncommon spell from the Forgotten Realms setting. Known to be in Aubayreer's Workbook.
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Spells from Pages From the Mages
Category:Spells
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium