Level: 4
Range: 1"
Duration: 4 rounds/level of caster
Area of Effect: Special
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 8 segments
Saving Throw: None

When
this spell is cast, the tracer --a continuous
continuous,
luminescent pathway akin to a
light spell--comes into being within a
1" radius of the caster.

It shows the
most recent path of any single creature
whose path the caster wishes to trace,
described verbally by the caster over
the material component (a pinch of
phosphorus or a glowing life-form such
as a fungus or glowworm). The creature
must have been present in the 1"
radius area about the caster within a
period of 1 day per level of the caster
for the tracer to appear. The tracer will
show the route of the creature within
the 1" area, and then expand (at a rate
of 60"/round) along the route taken by <check ">
the creature, moving in that direction
for the duration of the spell. Once
beyond the 1" initial radius, it will only
show the path of the creature?who
need not have been seen by, or be
known to, the spellcaster?as long as it
remains in physical contact with the
ground. Pass without trace and similar
magics will not confuse the tracer, and
it will follow the creature?s route
through physical barriers (i.e., doors)
and across gaps (i.e., the results of a
jump or dimension door, to purely
physical acrobatics) of up to 14". It will
not otherwise show aerial travel, but
will shine in and under water.
The path will end when the target
creature is reached, when the spell
expires, or at any place to which the
target creature teleported, left the
plane of the caster, or embarked upon a
mount or conveyance such as a cart,
ship, or carpet of flying. In the latter
case, an individual reaching the path?s
end will receive a clear mental picture
of the destination traveled to, even if on
another plane. If the target creature
took a mount or conveyance, the mental
picture will be of the destination
reached. Portions of the tracer can be
negated by dispel magic, continual
darkness, and the like, but it cannot be
physically disturbed (i.e., a gust of wind
would not shift it). When the spell
expires, the tracer will have slowly faded
into nothingness; no one not having
reached its end will receive any mental
picture of the target's destination. The
tracer is intangible and cannot be
walked upon. It may be passed through
or traveled within without harm and
does not activate magic upon contact or
distort magic or physical phenomena
passing through it.
 
 

The Workbook

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Books of the Forgotten Realms