Wing Gifting (Wizard Spell)

This spell allows the caster to gift a creature otherwise unable to fly with a pair of usable wings, which sprout from the creature's back. The spell gives the creature full knowledge and proficiency with the wings. The creature must have a clearly definable back for the spell to take effect. The creature cannot have wings already. Only one casting of this spell is effective on a creature at any time, although wings from a pre­viously cast spell can be replaced by a new wing type. The wings are comparable to the size of the creature. The caster chooses the de­sired wing type from the following:
Butterfly: MV 24 (MC: C); flutter
Dragon: MV 30 (MC: C); wing buffet
Dragonfly: MV 36 (MC: B); hover, dart
Eagle: MV 48 (MC: D); dive
Hummingbird: MV 36 (MC: A); hover
Once the spell has been cast, the subject crea­ture must pass a system shock roll. Failure indi­cates that its body has rejected the wings, which fail to appear; however, the creature is otherwise unharmed. Unwilling creatures receive a saving throw vs. spell to avoid the wings as well. This spell has no effect on polymorphed creatures. Finally, those affected by a wing gifting spell are subject to all the applicable rules of aerial combat (see the DMG).
The above wing types all impart advantages beyond flying movement. The rules for these abilities are as follows:
Dart: A dragonfly-winged creature can, after hovering for one round, completely change direction and move one-and-a-half times its normal flying speed the next round (round fractions up). This abil­ity cannot be used more frequently than every three rounds and can be used only from hovering.
Dive: An eagle-winged creature that dives can double its flying speed for the distanced dived (thus, a dive at MV 6 can carry the creature a dis­tance equal to MV 12). At the end of the dive, the creature can attack at a +2 attack bonus for double normal damage.
Flutter: A butterfly-winged creature moves in such an erratic fashion that opponents trying to strike it have a -2 penalty to their attack rolls. The winged creature moves and attacks normally, but never receives bonus movement when it loses altitude (it does not dive).
Hover: A dragonfly- or hummingbird-winged creature can hover in place for one round and change direction completely in the next round. The creature also has some versatility in perform­ing tasks such as retrieving or placing stationary objects, attacking slow-moving aerial targets, or surveying the ground below. The creature can attack normally while hovering as well.
Wing Buffet: A dragon-winged creature can use its wings to buffet opponents to its front with a short burst of air. The creature using this ability must be on the ground, not flying, and cannot otherwise attack. The buffeting has no effect on a creature larger than the winged creature. Buffets inflict no damage, but opponents within 5 feet may be are knocked prone (use a Dexterity check with a penalty of +2 on the 1d20 roll, or a saving throw vs. paralysis at -2 for creatures not rated for Dexterity).
The wings vanish at the end of the spell's duration. However, creatures that are airborne when the spell ends are affected for 1d2 rounds by a feather fall spell. This small safeguard allows time to cast a new spell to maintain flight, select the best place for a landing, or make other preparations for the fall. Once the feather fall wears off, a non-flying creature plummets to the ground, taking normal falling damage.
Notes: Very rare spell. (Updated from Dragon Magazine.)
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium
Category:Spells