Flying Fist
(Evocation)

Range:  0
Components:  V, S
Duration:  1 round per level
Casting Time:  2
Area of Effect:  Special
Saving Throw:  None

Invented by the wizard Alcimer (and once known as Alcimer's flying fist, ere he died and his apprentices all made use of it), this spell enables the caster to create a "fist" of force. Forming at the end of the round in which the spell is cast, the hand is invisible to all but the caster. It can move 12 yards per round, but cannot pass beyond 10 yards per level of the caster away from the caster. The fist can hover in mid-air, swoop, swerve, and dart through openings as the caster directs, but it will disappear if the caster casts another spell or is rendered unconscious. Physical combat, speech, climbing, movement, and other activities on the caster's part will not destroy the fist. Although the fist can exist for one round per level of the caster, it can perform only three things. It can grab falling, floating, or levitating objects of hand-size or less, any 10 gp weight or less and carry them about for up to 2 rounds ere it drops them. Such objects (keys, ioun stones, etc.) may be in the possession of another creature, but the fist does not have the strength to tear weapons free of fastenings, material components or scrolls out of a being's grasp, etc. It can overcome magnetic pulls, but can only hold its own against a gust of wind or other severe opposing air disturbance. It can push or slap a single creature sufficient to cause a missile attack to be at -1 to-hit, a catching attempt by the being to be 20% more likely to fail than otherwise, and to delay (not ruin) spellcasting for one round. It can also attack, striking as a blow (not a missile, and hence unstoppable by a shield or any protection from missiles magic), as though it was the caster (but at +2 to-hit), and doing 1d2 points of damage. A successful punching attack by the fist ruins spellcasting during the round it strikes. A flying fist can be readily dispelled by a dispel magic cast on the fist or on its caster, and cannot penetrate walls of force, anti-magic shells, or more powerful magical barriers. It is AC 4 (AC 7 to opponents who can see invisible as an ability or by means of temporary magic), and can be destroyed by any attack that deals it 5 or more points of damage, or any combination of attacks dealing it at least 5 hit points of damage in a single round (cumulative damage does not apply to the fist).

