Alpha's Saint Elmo's Fire
(Evocation)

Range:  5 yards per level
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 round per 2 levels
Casting Time:  5
Area of Effect:  Special
Saving Throw:  Special

This spell ionises the air around the target of the spell, surrounding him with a blue-white, glowing nimbus of electrically charged air in a 5-foot radius. The target of the spell may save versus breath weapon at -2 to avoid the spell. This saving throw is at an additional -2 if the target is carrying large, mostly metallic weapons (eg.: swords, battle axes) or wearing partially metallic armour (eg.: studded leather, ring mail), and at -4 if wearing full metal armour (scale mail or heavier). If successful, the target will suffer only 3d6 electrical damage as he dodges out of the area of effect, and the spell will then dissipate that round without a focus to coalesce about. If the saving throw is failed, the victim will suffer 5d6 damage every round until a saving throw versus breath weapon (with modifiers as for the initial saving throw, but with a +1 cumulative per round bonus) is successful, at which point the spell will dissipate.
Any creature entering the 5-foot radius nimbus suffers 1d6 electrical damage with no saving throw. Any creature that touches or is touched by the victim of the spell will suffer 3d6 damage with no saving throw if the contact was skin-to-skin, or 2d6 if it was through a conductor. If the target is in water, the electricity will inflict 3d6 damage with any contact, 2d6 within 5 feet, and 1d6 within 15 feet. The target of this spell may, if desired, intentionally try to use the nimbus of electricity and the personal electrical charge as a weapon. The wizard may end this spell at any point, if desired. The material components are phosphorus, a bit of fur, amber, and a bit of cold iron.

