Myrtle's Ribcracker

This spell was crafted in the year X.512 by Myrtle the Meddler, a wizard of Stock.

Level 3

School: Evocation

Range: 100 yds.                     Components: V, S, M

Duration: 1 rd/level               Casting Time: 4

Area of Effect: 40 ft radius    Saving Throw: Negate effect, not damage

When speaking the words of this spell, the caster must expend a handful of powdered giant’s flesh; this flesh must be prepared beforehand, by means of a special, laborious process. One frost giant can provide approximately 10 castings of this spell after their flesh is desiccated, boiled, pulped, and ground.

On the first round this spell is cast, the area in the chosen area of effect suddenly changes pressure; an invisible, but immense, force is called into being somewhere overhead. This force slams down like a tidal wave, smashing into everyone and everything in the area. Fragile objects must save or be destroyed. Most creatures in the area will be flattened, crushed to the ground. Those that save manage to throw themselves out of the area, taking the initial damage but not suffering the lasting effects.

Anyone and any creature within the area takes 1d4 points of damage per caster level, to a maximum of 12d4 points of damage at level twelve. They are then pressed by a powerful force from above. The strength of this force is determined at the time the spell is cast—it has a strength equivalent to 1d10+2/caster level. Each round the spell is in effect, creatures pressed to the ground may make a strength check to stand again, against that static strength score. Any creature that stands breaks the effect of the spell.

Once the creatures are pressed down, only those creatures are effected for the duration of the spell.