Defiler Metamorphosis (Wizard Spell)

This spell is universal to human and half-elf defilers, but must be researched sometime after reaching the 20th level of experience as a wizard. The spell allows human or half-elf defilers who have earned sufficient experience points to advance to the next stage of the dragon metamorphosis, provided the casting is successful. Each casting of the spell mutates the defiler's physical form drastically; each time, the defiler becomes less human and more dragon. The caster must meet stringent ability score requirements:
Intelligence 18, Wisdom 17, and Constitution 15, or the spell fails. The defiler can begin the preparation at any time as the next level is approached: building structures, gathering components, studying, and so on. However, the spell cannot be cast before all the necessary experience points have been earned. The defiler gains no benefits of the new level until the defiler metamorphosis spell is cast. Each time the spell is cast, the defiler must make a successful system shock or die in the mutation process. Any divergence from the letter of the spell description or interruption of the casting process kills the caster immediately.
The exact components, preparation time, and casting times differ, depending on the level the defiler is about to achieve, grouped by level into low, middle, high, and final metamorphosis. In all cases, living creatures used in the casting must be within one mile of the caster. All castings of this spell, except that for the first at 21st level, require the caster's dragon orb as a focus as well.
Low Metamorphosis (21st-23rd levels): The preparation time for each of these levels is one year, during which time the caster must have access to ancient documents, tablets, and scrolls that have never been studied by another defiler. Such material must be discovered by the defiler or his minions and must be studied for at least 8 hours every day for the entire year. Acquisition of such documents will usually be a quest in and of itself; once used, these documents cannot be used for this spell again.
The material components must include vast riches (10,000 gp value of gems, jewels, coins, and or artistic treasures), a vast structure where the transformation must take place, and no fewer than 1,000 Hit Dice of living creatures for the life-leeching process. The riches vanish and the living creatures are slain one heartbeat after the defiler begins casting. The structure, which must cost more than 50,000 to build, is not destroyed and can be reused to cast this spell when attaining other /on' levels. The spell is cast from the deep interior of the structure, where the caster will ac­tually transform—no other beings may be present at the instant of casting. The casting time is a full 24 hours.
Middle Metamorphosis (24th-26th levels): At the middle levels, the process is similar. The preparation time is two years per casting, during which time the caster must befriend and visit a powerful creature from an Elemental Plane. The caster must visit the planar creature three days of every 15 for the entire preparation period. The DM creates and plays the elemental creature—it is likely that it will force the defiler to perform difficult missions, more often than not for its own amusement, all through the preparation period.
The material components include fewer riches (at least 5,000 gp) but more living creatures (at least 2,000 Hit Dice). A new structure must be built, which is usable for the three middle trans­formations. This structure must be of stone, take at least three years to construct, and must be or­nately decorated, costing no less than 125,000 gp. The casting time is three days.
High Metamorphosis (27th-29th levels): This process actually must take place on an Elemental or the Astral Plane. No structure or riches are re­quired, but the caster must travel to the plane of choice with no fewer than 200 Hit Dice of living creatures from the Prime Material Plane. The creatures must be of no fewer than 10 Hit Dice each, and must willingly travel to the plane and participate in the casting. The actual casting time is 24 hours, and the caster must have the full co­operation of at least three powerful beings from that plane from the entire time. Locating such beings willing to cooperate requires exchanges of favors, quests, and so forth. The preparation time is equal to the time it takes to convince the planar beings to cooperate.
Final Metamorphosis (30th level): The final stage of metamorphosis requires no preparation time and a single material component, the slain body of a good creature defeated in single combat. The victim must be intelligent, have at least 20 Hit Dice, and be capable of casting 9th-level wizard spells or 7th-level priest spells. The defiler metamorphosis spell must be cast over the fallen individual within one hour of the victim's defeat; the casting time is merely one turn. Success transforms the caster to full dragon form.
Notes: Restricted to human and half-elf de-filers, common. This spell is sometimes called dragon metamorphosis. Other notes on Athasian Dragons are given on the next page.
Athasian Dragon Notes
Regardless of level, the dragon makes saving throws as a 21st+level wizard. The dragon's level as a psionicist advances with its metamor­phosed level.
21st Level: Body mass increases to 350 pounds, and the caster may grow to a height of 8 feet (or may not grow at all). Unpredictable physical changes may occur, though the face and nostrils always elongate. The spine becomes more pronounced and rudimentary scales appear on the shoulders and back.
22nd Level: Mass increases to 450 pounds and the caster's height may increase to 10 feet. The face elongates further, and first hints of scales appear on the lengthened snout. The spine becomes more pronounced, and the stub of a tail appears. Base THAC0 improves to 10
23rd Level: Mass increases to 650 pounds and the caster's height may reach 11 feet. The caster's limbs lengthen drastically, including fin­gers and toes. The neck lengthens, lifting the reptilian head and face far above the shoulders. All hair vanishes. Base THAC0 improves to 9.
24th Level: The caster's humanoid origins are almost unrecognizable. Mass increases to 900 pounds, and the caster's length can be 12 feet. Tough scales everywhere but underbelly and un­derside of limbs give a base Armor Class of 4. The caster's legs develop huge thighs, hard-angled, bony calves, and taloned feet. A severe hunch might develop at the shoulder and waist. Movement upright or on all fours at a rate of 15 is possible. Base THAC0 becomes 8; claws allow two attacks per round for 2d10 damage each.
25th Level: Size reaches 12 feet, mass 1,600 pounds. Scales become AC 0 and require +1 or better magical weapons to hit. Jaws develop, al­lowing a bite attack for 4d12. Base THAC0 be­comes 7. The pain of continuing changes drives the dragon to uncontrolled savagery in an effort to end the process. From now until the 29th level, the caster's reason is often superseded by a lust for destruction. Vegetation and animals not di­rectly serving the dragon's purpose are targeted and laid waste in illogical rampages. A defiler character run by a player may be taken over by the DM until 30th level is achieved.
26th Level: The 2,000-pound form is now completely hunched, but still stands erect at times to a full 16-foot height. Scales harden to AC -2. Hind legs strengthen to allow a jump of 5. Base THAC0 becomes 5; claw damage in­creases to 2d10+5 points of damage each.
27th Level: Mass nearly doubles to 4,000 pounds (2 tons) and length grows to 20 feet. Scales harden to AC -4. A breath weapon devel­ops: a cone of superheated sand 5 feet wide at the base, 50 feet long, and 100 feet in diameter at the far end, inflicting 10d12 points of damage. Base THAC0 improves to 3.
28th Level: Mass increases to 10,000 pounds (5 tons) and length grows to 25 feet, mostly due to tail growth. Scales harden to AC -6, requiring +2 or better magical weapons to hit. Natural magic resistance of 20% develops. THAC0 im­proves to 1. Claws now inflict 2d10+10 and a tail attack is gained for 5d10 points of damage.
29th Level: The dragon is now 30 feet long and weighs 10 tons. Wings sprout, allowing a move of 18 (MC: C). Scales improve to AC -8 and magic resistance to 40%. Breath weapon damage increases to 20d12. THAC0 becomes -1.
30th Level: The caster's form becomes com­pletely draconic, 40 feet long and weighing 10 tons. Wings are fully developed, allowing flight at a rate of 45 (MC: A). Scales harden to AC -10 and magic resistance improves to 80%. The breath weapon inflicts 25d12 points of damage. THAC0 becomes -3. Claw attacks improve to 2d10+15 points of damage each. Cold cunning and reason once again take control. The meta­morphosis is complete.
Category:Psionic Enchancements
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Psionic Enchancements from Dragon Kings
Category:Spells from Dragon Kings
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium
Category:Spells