Laruin's Blinding Blizzard [[Alteration]], [[Conjuration-Summoning]] | | | |---|---| |**Level:**|8| |**Components:**|V, S,| |**Range:**|0| |**Casting Time:**|2 rounds| |**Duration:**|2-6 hours| |**Saving Throw:**|None| |**Area of Effect:**|2-5 mile radius| This variant of the [[Control Weather]] spell allows the caster to more reliably bring about chilly, snowy weather, for it summons magical cold through a temporary conduit connected to the elemental plane of ice. In the first half-hour black and gray clouds begin forming and the temperature drops by 50F per turn. The winds, meanwhile, start picking up within 3 turns of casting the spell, increasing from a strong breeze in the first hour to a gale by the second hour. Snow begins to fall within 1 turn of the spell's casting, very light at first, but increasing to a blinding fury at the end of the second hour (1' of snow drops to the ground per hour). Creatures caught within the blizzard's 2-5 mile radius can move at -6 their normal rate at best, will have their vision limited to 10' in front of them, and must either have very thick clothing or be impervious to the cold or else suffer a -1 penalty to attack and damage rolls as well as 1-2 hp cold damage per turn (Those with padded armor, hide, and heavy armors with AC values of 4 and below suffer 1-2 hp damage every other turn, but the attack penalties remain). NPC's without adequate protection must make Morale checks before attempting to enter the blizzard's area of effect. The caster, meanwhile, is protected from the blizzard's effects in a 15' radius, his vision unhampered, and can move through the snow at his normal movement rate (these benefits also accrue to his companions, if they're within the 15' radius). The blizzard begins to lessen only during the last half-hour of the spell, and if the conditions were already favorable then the snow continues (lightly) for another 2-3 hours. Lastly, there is a 10% chance per hour that an ice elemental or some other cold creature is encountered (choose from the list of creatures found under the [[Summon Ice Mephits]] spell, or roll on the Arctic Encounters table). The material component of Laruin's blinding blizzard is a ring of silver enclosed around a piece of smoky white quartz.