Druid's Curse
(Abjuration, Alteration, Conjuration/Summoning)(Wards)

Range:  100 feet per level
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  Until triggered
Casting Time:  1 week
Area of Effect:  Slayers of the druid
Saving Throw:  1/2

This spell is one of the last defences a druid has. It triggers the most powerful curse a druid can cast, but only upon the death of the druid by unnatural forces or by what he considers unnatural forces (this does not include the forces of an avalanche triggered by opponents unless knows it was triggered by his opponents). When this curse is triggered any persons, who actively participated in the slaying (including giving the order to slay) of the druid (even if he was killed as an innocent bystander), and who are still within an area of a hundred yards per level of the druid will be affected by the curse. This curse causes a reduction of any physical abilities to 3 and any mental abilities to one half unless the creatures succeed at a saving throw versus spell. In that case, they suffer only a reduction of their physical abilities to a 9 (no effect if already less) and a reduction of their mental capabilities by a quarter. Mental capabilities include number of spells and the ability scores of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. In addition to this, their hit points are halved or quartered if they succeed or fail at a second saving throw versus spell, respectively. These effects last until remove curse and atonement of a druidic deity have been cast. The quest for the atonement has to be in the druidic sense of piety.

The material components are the holy symbol of the druid, plus the amount of mistletoe the druid usually needs during one year. In addition, the druid has to create a clay pot which is inlaid with rare barks from an oak which has to have died by natural causes in its first year of growth. Into this he has to fill a mixture of soils from the farthest points of the earth from all four cardinal directions (calculated from the druid's groove), a mixture from several types of water (again from the four cardinal points), and the crushed remains of the oldest scarabs still existing that died of natural causes (this is the real bug). This mixture has to be sealed for a full year with a cork plug and waxed paper. The whole pot including mixture must not be kept within 100 feet of something magical for the whole year. After that, the pot is ready to be a material component for this spell. As long as this pot is kept unopened within the druid's grove the spell can be kept active. Once the pot is opened or taken from the druid's grove it becomes completely worthless and a new pot has to be begun. A druid can have a maximum of one of these pots at once. Note: after the one-year ageing time the pot can be kept within 100 feet of something magical or it can be enspelled itself to be protected from others. Even if the spell is triggered the pot may be reused. This reusage (we could also say recycling) of the pot requires a ritual of one day per druid level so it becomes attuned again to the druid.

