Fury
(Alteration)(Combat)

Range:  0
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  Special
Casting Time:  5
Area of Effect:  The caster
Saving Throw:  None

Casting of this spell fills the priest with the fury of berserker rage. It is favoured by many of the priesthoods of gods of war and battle. When cast, it raises the priest's Strength to 18/00 (thus giving him a +3 to-hit and a +6 to damage), and it hastes the priest as 3rd-level wizard spell (thus the priest functions at double its normal movement and attack rates and gains a -2 initiative bonus). While in this fury, the priest cannot cast any spells, for he is completely enveloped in this berserker rage and in the battle at hand.
There are two drawbacks to this spell. One drawback is that the priest receives no bonus to Armour Class for Dexterity, he even suffers an additional penalty of 1 to his Armour Class. The priest is completely on the offensive, defense is not in his vocabulary. The second and more dangerous drawback is the strain put upon the body of the priest. For every round the priest remains in the fury, he loses 1d4 HP from physical strain (muscles tearing, blood vessels popping, chemical imbalance caused by too much adrenaline).
The duration of this spell is up to a maximum number of rounds equal to the priest's Constitution. If the priest goes down to 0 or less hit points during the fury, he will still remain conscious because of the fury created by this spell. But if the priest maintains the fury to 0 or less hit points, then when the priest dispels the spell or the maximum duration is reached, a system shock roll must be made or the priest dies instantly. If the system shock roll is made, the priest is barely alive and can only be healed magically. The physical strain has put the body beyond its normal healing capacity. If the fury is released before the maximum duration and the priest is still above 0 HP, then the damage can be healed normally. This spell is normally only cast in dire circumstances or by fanatical priests of war and battle.
The material component of this spell is the priest's holy symbol.

