Dardan's Desolation
(Evocation)

Range:  0
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 round per 3 levels
Casting Time:  8
Area of Effect:  25-foot radius
Saving Throw:  Special

The casting of this spell causes an incandescent sphere of blistering dry heat to envelop a 25-foot radius around the spell caster. All vegetation in the area of effect will instantly wither and die from the seething temperature as the ground buckles and cracks like hardened clay. Any flesh exposed to this incinerating hellfire will stiffen and crack like old leather and quickly peel away from the body. This crematorium-like effect will continue until all that remains are the creature's bleached and crumbling bones on the barren and lifeless ground.
All creatures caught in the spell's area of effect must save versus death magic or have the spell's torrid fervour snuff the life out of them. If a creature saves, it takes 1d8 points of damage and loses one point of Constitution for a turn. A creature must continue to save each round they are in the ardent sphere with a cumulative penalty of -1. The incandescent sphere doesn't harm the caster and follows him as they move for the duration of the spell.
Certain aqueous beings are highly susceptible to the effects of this spell. All amphibious creatures, slimes, jellies, molds, and water-using creatures under 6 HD are automatically destroyed when exposed to this spell, creatures over 6 HD suffer a -2 on their saving throw. Only fire-using and related creatures are immune to the spell (undead are not immune to the spell).
The material component of this spell is ground diamond (500 gp) and a drop of the caster's blood.

