Alpha's Spectral Hound
(Conjuration, Phantasm)

Range:  Special
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  6 turns per level
Casting Time:  1 turn
Area of Effect:  Special
Saving Throw:  None

This spell brings into being a quasi-real beast appearing as a war dog with black fur, grey ruff and tail, milky grey eyes, and insubstantial paws which make no sound. The creature will have average (8-10) Intelligence and can converse with the wizard in the common tongue. The creature can fight, attacking as a 2+2 HD monster and inflicting 2d4 points of damage per hit. It can, however, affect creatures struck only by magical weapons. The beast itself is AC 0, and can take up to half the wizard's full hit points (rounding up) before being dispelled.
The spectral hound can track any creature known to the wizard, provided the wizard concentrates on a mental picture of the figure for 2 full rounds. The hound can follow the trail of such a creature with 100% certainty, -5% per hour the trail is old. The hound also has infravision to 90 feet, can spot hidden (such as in shadows) things 80% of the time, invisible objects 65% of the time, and astral, ethereal, or out-of-phase things 50% of the time. The hound normally moves at 12, though it can run at 24 for 3 rounds each hour. Further, the hound may cross muddy or swampy ground, or even water, as if were solid, dry ground. The hound leaves no tracks.
By concentrating for one full round, the wizard can make use of the hound's sensory abilities for as long as desired, though this does not allow communication beyond normal vocal range.
The hound is unaffected by any spells which alter its form (flesh to stone, polymorph, etc.) or restrict or affect its movement (haste, slow, hold monster, etc.). If a mind control spell is cast upon the creature and it fails its saving throw (saving throws of the hound are as for the wizard), then it wills itself out of existence. It is further immune to poison and death magics. The hound will speak only to the wizard, and, if the wizard is killed, feebleminded, charmed, or otherwise mentally incapacitated, then the hound will immediately cease to exist.
The material components of this spell are three canine statuettes; one of ivory or alabaster, one of silver or platinum, and one of jet, onyx, obsidian, or ebony. These statuettes must be worth at least 200 gp each, and, in the course of the spell, the three merge to become the spectral hound. When the spell ends, the hound simply fades slowly out of existence.

