Sinkhole
(Alteration)

Range:  30 feet
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  6 rounds
Casting Time:  4
Area of Effect:  Up to 4 creatures in a 10-foot radius
Saving Throw:  Negates

Upon the casting of this spell, a section of ground that the wizard targets becomes a sinkhole, 10 feet in radius. Up to four creatures (caster's choice of number affected) must be in range, and they are counted out from the centring point of the of the spell (thus, PCs or friendly NPCs may be caught in the area of effect if they are closer to the centre than a hostile creature is). Those in the area of effect must make a saving throw versus spell to negate the spell straight off. The saving throw is modified by the number affected.

	Creatures Affected	Modifier
	1	-2
	2	-1
	3	0
	4	+1

Should the creatures affected make their saving throw, then they are assumed to have thrown themselves out of the area as the sinkhole started. This saves them from the spell, but also causes them to automatically lose initiative for the next round, being last in the round. If they fail their saving throw, the spell takes effect and the next round begins the duration of the spell. Note that the modifiers above apply to all saving throws listed below as well.
•	First round: if they have failed their initial saving throw (see above) they are effectively held (as per hold person, even if they aren't a person) and start to sink.
•	Second round: they must save again at -2 (plus any additional modifiers above). If they succeed, they cease to sink, but are still effectively held. If they fail, they continue to sink.
•	Fourth round: they must save again at -4 (plus modifiers). If they succeed, they cease to sink, but are still effectively held. If they fail, they go under the sands. They die in 2 rounds (last round of the duration) if they are not rescued.
Should a dispel magic be cast successfully on the sinkhole, at any time before the duration expires, all trapped creatures are ejected from the ground, and may act the next round. Should the duration end with the victims effectively held and above the surface, they may get back on their feet as their action for the next round.
The material component for the spell is an egg timer, which is destroyed in the casting of the spell.

