Merkridan's Misplayal
(Alteration)

Range:  2 yards
Components:  V, S
Duration:  2 rounds per level
Casting Time:  1 round
Area of Effect:  One instrument
Saving Throw:  Special

This spell causes music emanating from a musical instrument to become twisted and harsh. The musical notes effectively become interchanged. The target instrument may be either magical or non-magical. Only magical instruments gain a saving throw (as if the attack were magical fire) to avoid the spell effects. If a bard is playing an affected instrument, all bard abilities directly resulting from the playing of his instrument are lost until the spell expires (or the bard uses a new instrument). The spell has no effect on sounds from living creatures, although it could effectively garble communication through instruments (i.e., signalling drums). It only works on items which are emitting music at any time while (or up to one round after) the spell is being cast.
The origins and history of the spell Merkridan's misplayal are unknown. This spell was discovered in a lost laboratory complex on the deserted island of Arremara.

