With this abjuration spell, the wizard provides a protective barrier similar
to that created by the spells protection from evil or protection from vermin, warding the recipient against creatures that possess venom or poison of some
kind. Poisonous monsters or poison-using characters of 4 or less Hit Dice or
levels are prevented from making physical contact with the spell recipient,
while venomous creatures of 4+1 Hit Dice or poison-using characters of five levels
or more suffer a –2 penalty on their attack rolls against the protected
character. Only injected or contact poisons from natural or innate sources (such as
compounds made from plants or the venom from a snake) in a position to possibly
injure the character are protected against; a thief carrying a vial of ingestive
poison in his pouch is not counted as a venomous character while a character
that is brandishing a poisoned short sword is counted as venomous. The spell
recipient can still be poisoned by a spitting attack or a thrown dagger smeared
with poison.
If the spell recipient attacks a creature he has been warded against or uses
the resistance of the spell’s aura to force his antagonist to give ground, the
spell ends. Regrettably, reaching out to drink from a poisoned cup dispels the
effect, so this spell offers no protection against ingested poisons. The spell
functions normally if cast upon a poison-using creature or character.
Table of Contents