Canonfire! - Postfest IV: The Invoked Devastation

From Xodast’s Tome of Research comes a spell steeped in Suel arrogance. The very harbringer of their own doom. The Invoked Devastation!

The Invoked Devastation
By: duicarthan
Used with Permission. Do not repost without obtaining prior permission from the author.

History of the Invoked Devastation

The Invoked Devastation was a spell developed by Xodast Xuel-Crix, arguably one of the most brilliant minds of the last two millennia. Xodast, used an ancient and mysterious tome, titled the Codex of Infinite Planes. Within this tome, Xodast discovered the means to temporarily transpose one plane over another, effectively producing a major planar bleed. During this “bleed”, properties of the transposing plane would affect the entire area. Early experiments were tested within the confines of his various laboratories, with varying though staggering results. Though, it was not until he had tapped the Gray Wastes, that he discovered the true destructive power of such a planar conjunction. He quickly, scribed several scrolls on the process, and entered the entire experiment into his spellbook, (now called Xodast’s Tome of Research). Years later, while pouring over these notes, Xodast, developed a wondrous artifact used to enhance the effects of all spells that involve extraplanar activity or planar transposition. Fearing the epic implications of using such a device, he quickly secreted the device away with the vaults of the Royal Academy of Magic, and warned the headmasters that it was not to be used, for it was the bringer of all doom.

Many years passed and Xodast’s work was all but forgotten until, the Suel, forewarned of impending cataclysm sought out the arcane device. The greatest of all the Suel wizards from each house (As listed below) were hastily summoned to the Imperial Council Chamber at the city of Xaxaellen. As the hour grew dim, they finally agreed to remove Xodast’s Tome of Research from the vaults and to activate the Bringer of Doom. Assembled in the grand Council Chamber, many of the spellcasters used various scrying devices to determine the width and depth of the magical assault they had been planning. Finally after much consultation, Xolan began casting of the ritual, aided by the other eleven wizards. Within minutes, a gout of grey smoke emitted from the bringer of doom as the spell struck the Baklunish Empire.

Meanwhile, on the Baklunish plain, thick clouds of virulent grey vaporize all living matter they touch. As the decaying nature of the Gray Wastes bled into the Baklunish Empire, all life for hundreds of miles was annihilated in a single strike, leaving no trace of habitation. As the two planes bled into one nightmarish realm, thousands of hordlings of the Gray Wastes suddenly found themselves on the Prime Material Plane along with their master, the god Incabulos, whose realm was within the area. During this time, Incabulos delighted at the invitation to this realm, tore, rampaged and razed through the Baklunish capital of Udrukanka, on his gaunt nightmarish mount. He left a path of fallen souls under his great scythe.

As horrible as this was, the Bakluni were not completely annihilated. Gathering at the sacred site of Tovag Baragu, they gathered and prepared their counterstrike.

The Twelve Suel Mages of Power
1. Slerotin, House Zelred
2. Rellimirck, House Rhola
3. Xiomara, House Malhel
4. Maquel, House Zolax
5. Saeryn, House Neheli
6. Itzal, House Cruski
7. Xolan, descendant of Xodast, House Xuel-Crix
8. Ferrelen, House Shnai
9. Jekova, House Fruztii
10. Mareena, House Lerera
11. Gargerenis, House Linth
12. Kevellian, House Maure

Invoked Devastation (Ritual)
Conjuration [destruction]
Spellcraft DC: 56 or with artifact boost 65
Components: V, S, Ritual, XP
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: (See below)
Effect: 1d6 damage/ level (60ft. radius) or with artifact boost 1d6 damage/ level per round (900 mile radius)
Duration: Instantaneous or with artifact boost 1 round/ level.
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
To Develop: 360,000 gp; 8 days; 14,400 XP. Seed: destruction (DC 29). Factors: Vaporization (+10 DC), No Spell Resistance +10, 1d6 Damage/ Level, max 35. (+15 DC), Range (Long 400ft. + 40ft./ level), 60ft. radius (+2 DC); Mitigating Factors: burn 1,000 XP (-10 DC)

Factors with artifact boost: Vaporization (+10 DC), No Spell Resistance +10, 1d6 Damage/ Level per round (+45 DC), Extended Duration (+20 DC), Unlimited range on current plane (+200 DC), 900 mile radius (+200 DC); Mitigating Factors with artifact boost: eleven additional casters contributing an epic-level spell slot (–209 DC), burn 2,000 XP per caster (-120 DC), Artifact contributor (-120 DC).

Casting this spell invokes the decaying nature of the Gray Wastes to transpose over the current targeted plane area. (In this case boosted by the bringer of doom, a device rumored to intensify spell effects that involve planar bleeds from one plane to another. As detailed in Manual of the Planes pg. 220).

The spell completely destroys anything it touches, whether it is plant or animal. A near invisible gray mist sweeps through an area obliterating all life. Any target hit by this spell suffers 20d6 points of damage/ round for 1 round per level of the spellcaster. If a target is reduced to –10 hit points or less (or a construct, object, or undead is reduced to 0 hit points), it is utterly destroyed as if disintegrated. Yet in this case even the dust is vaporized leaving behind no remains whatsoever.
XP Cost: 1,000 or 2,000 XP (per caster).

Exceptional thanks to the following reference: Secrets of the Twin Cataclysms by Denis “Maldin” Tetreault