Vylja's Ball Lightning
(Evocation)(Protection, Weather)

Range:  10 yards per level
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 round per level
Casting Time:  7
Area of Effect:  One creature per level
Saving Throw:  1/2

Upon casting this spell one or more flying balls of lightning appear before the priest. Their diameter depends on their electrical charge: 4 inches for each 1d6 worth of damage (a ball with a diameter of one foot will cause 3d6 points of damage), but no single ball lightning can be larger than 40 inches at the time of casting (but see below). The caster can cause 1d6 of damage for each level he has attained.
When the priest has cast ball lightning he points at the target creature or creatures. The balls teleport to their destinations if they are within range, but disappear otherwise. No more than one ball can be sent to a single creature. If a ball lightning reaches its target, it starts to swirl around it extremely rapidly, coming as close as 1 foot but never actually touching the target. If the creature does not move, the ball disappears with a small but harmless implosion at the end of the duration, which is 1 round per level of the priest casting the spell.
If, however, the target creature tries to move, he inevitably comes into contact with the ball lightning which then explodes. The creature is allowed a saving throw versus spell for half damage. If the target creature wants to cast a spell with a somatic component it first has to make a successful Dexterity check in order to avoid coming into contact with the ball lightning unintentionally. If another creature than the one targeted tries to pass the swirling ball lightning containing the target, the ball will explode in its face, causing the appropriate amount of damage (1d6 HP), unless a successful saving throw for half damage is made. The target creature is not harmed by such an explosion.
When a spell based on electricity is cast at a creature contained in a ball lightning, it is absorbed into the ball. For each 1d6 HP of damage the spell would have inflicted on the contained creature, the ball lightning grows another 4 inches and increases its charge. It does not touch the target however, even if becomes more than 40 inches in diameter. If the creature inside the ball lightning casts an electricity based spell it is also absorbed with similar effects.
The spell cannot be used against flying or rapidly moving targets (moving at MV 12 or more), as the lightning ball fails to take form in such cases. The material component is a rock crystal with a value of at least 200 gp.

The spell can be used to immobilize one or more creatures, or to protect the party from an angry crowd or the breath weapon of a blue dragon.

