Programmed Amnesia (Wizard Spell)

This particular spell was the last and most powerful spell developed by the archmentalist Rheizom. It allows the wizard to selectively destroy, alter, or implant memories in the subject creature as he sees fit. He can completely reprogram a character, inventing a new persona, a new alignment, and assigning a new class as he sees fit. Only sentient beings can be affected; if the subject is not human, humanoid, or demihuman, he gains a +4 bonus on his saving throw.
As described above, programmed amnesia can be used to achieve several different effects. The wizard may choose to make use of any or all of the effects listed below:
A. Memory erasure. Any or all memories possessed by the subject can be erased at the caster's will, including knowledge of specific events, people, or places.
B. Memory implant. The caster can create false memories in the subject's mind as he sees fit. Imaginary friends, events that didn't really take place, betrayals by people the subject regards as his friends, or the friendship of an enemy could all be implanted in the subject's mind.
C. Skill erasure. The subject can be made to forget any or all class-based skills or proficiencies, including all or part of his THAC0 (it resets to 20), thief abilities, spellcasting, turning undead, or any other ability that stems from knowledge. About the only characteristics that can't be affected by this usage of Rheizom's programmed amnesia are hit points, saving throws, and ability scores. A character's native language cannot be erased, either.
D. Persona erasure. Combining the effects of a skill erasure and a memory erasure, this leaves the subject as a clean slate. Only his ability scores, hit points, saving throws, and native language remain. The character may assume any class or alignment available, beginning as a 1st-level character just as if he had decided to dual-class. (Even demihumans can dual-class in this fashion, since they forget all skills of their previous class.)
E. Persona implant. By erasing the existing personality and implanting a false set of memories, the wizard can build a new persona for the mind-wiped character. In effect, he can decide what class, alignment, and personality the subject will assume after his persona erasure. If the new persona is an adventurer, the character dual-classes, as described above.
F. Programmed erasure. The subject can be programmed to suffer a memory, skill, or persona erasure when a certain event takes place. For example, the wizard could set the subject to be wiped clean as a slate when the subject receives a coded message or arrives at some destination. Optionally, the wizard can decide to have an erasure partially or totally lifted when the programmed condition comes to pass.
The casting time of this spell varies according to what effects the wizard wishes to impose on the subject. To cast just one of the listed effects, the wizard must spend two days secluded away from any distractions—a personal laboratory is a good example of a secluded place. In between the intense eight-hour casting sessions, the wizard can sleep and eat in the area he chose to seclude himself in. If the wizard breaks his seclusion for any reason, the spell is lost. Also, for every effect over the first, another day (with its eight-hour intense casting period) must be spent in seclusion.
The wizard must be able to see the spell's subject. At the end of each day of casting, the subject makes a saving throw vs. spell to negate the effect.
Programmed amnesia is normally permanent, unless the wizard cares to specify a set of conditions or parameters that will end the effect (see F, above). Its effects can only be undone by a restoration or wish spell, or by successful use of the psionic science psychic surgery. A character who picks up new skills or class abilities while amnesiac must make a saving throw vs. spell when his own real memories return; if he fails, the skills he learned as an amnesiac are gone forever, replaced by his former abilities, but if he succeeds he retains any new skills, and may even choose to continue in his new class as a dual-classed character. Dungeon Masters should keep in mind that an amnesiac character should still meet the new class's full prerequisites before he can become that class.
Obviously, this is a very powerful spell, and the DM should very carefully examine a PC's use of this magic. Dungeon Masters, take note—there are dozens of excellent plot vehicles hiding here if an NPC wizard uses this on a player character! Also, be aware that destroying a creature's personality and replacing it with one more amenable to the wizard's designs is never a good act.
This particular spell was the last and most powerful spell developed by the arch mentalist Rheizom.
Notes: Uncommon spell (PO:SM).
Category:Spells from Spells and Magic
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Spells
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium