True Nightmare (Wizard Spell)

When this spell is cast, the subject suffers nightmares-not illusions, but genuine terrors from the subconscious. The subject remains asleep, but upon waking remains exhausted, en­joying no natural healing from rest. Until sleep­ing undisturbed by nightmares, the subject suffers a 1-point penalty to surprise and initiative rolls, and a temporary reduction in all ability scores of 1 point. These penalties are cumulative for each night spent in the throes of a true nightmare, but even one night of undisturbed sleep (at least six hours) cancels the ill effects. Spellcasters who suffer from a true nightmare cannot refresh their spells until they have had a night's undisturbed sleep.
The material components of this spell are a pinch of ground dreamwillow bark and a small amount of iron filings (1 gp value).
Notes: Common for Dream mages, rare for enchanters; otherwise, very rare.
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium
Category:Spells