Aquillion
2007-03-20, 10:07 PM
I was browsing the internet a while back when I came across this (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/dyingearth.html), a random spell-name generator for Jack Vance's Tales of the Dying Earth. Those books were the inspiration for much of D&D's magic--both the memorization system, and several individual spells. The Excellent Prismatic Spray is from there, as is The Spell of Forlorn Encystment, which D&D renamed to the much less enthralling Imprisonment.
...but, anyway, enough background. Try clicking on that link and resisting the temptation to come up with spells (or at least the broad outline of spells) to fit some of the random spell-names it produces, I dare you. I'll do a few just to start the ball rolling; if you have better ideas for effects for these, go ahead...
Gurusko's verbose inaction
This would probably be a variant of Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter, only it makes the target talk endlessly about meaningless, useless, and boring things. They have a vague control over the subjects on which they speak, but not enough to say anything directly. Characters with any high knowledge skills get a penalty on their saving throw.
Hanth's dark paper
Cantrip, illusion. Causes a single page or piece of paper to temporarily become completely and totally black, making it impossible to read anything written on it for the duration unless the illusion is seen through.
Dadhruki's flat benefactor
This would probably work best as an alternate name for Tenser's Floating Disk.
The call of the parallel stronghold
Sorc/Wiz 9. This spell can only be cast inside of a castle, keep, tower, or other large man-made stronghold. It functions exactly like Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion except that rather than a mansion, its door leads to a ghostly, pale-bluish duplicate of the building in which it is cast. Objects in the building that have been in their locations for long periods of time (candlesticks, books on bookshelves, and so forth) are duplicated as well, but are vaguely translucent, and return to their original positions in the mansion 1d4 rounds after being moved. Creatures are not duplicated, but Unseen Servants, furnishing, and foodstuffs are provided (per Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) if (and only if) earthly equivalents are present in the building being duplicated. As a standard action, while inside either the original stronghold or the one created by this spell, the caster may move the entrance to anywhere in the building; it moves on both sides, so this effectively allows the caster to get anywhere in the original building by travelling through the parallel stronghold.
Topouldou's abhorrent rose
Cantrip. This spell, created by love-scorned mage, creates a temporary, beautiful-looking rose of a color chosen by the caster. The rose looks and smells like a perfect rose in all regards, until someone sniffs it from directly beneath their nose. At that point, they must make a fort save or be Nauseated for 1d4+1 rounds; characters of more than 4 HD are merely Sickened. Whether this succeeds or fails, the rose then crumbles to dust. A helpless character can be forced to smell the rose, but otherwise the victim must smell it willingly.
Sudur's offhand censor
Brd 3, Clr 3. 10 min/level. This spell prevents a single word, chosen at casting, from being spoken, written, read, or otherwise communicated within a 100-foot radius from the point where the spell was cast. This spell can also be used to prevent the casting of a specific spell requiring a verbal component, but the caster must be able to cast the spell (either by having it in their spellbook, possessing it as one of their bard/sorceror spells, being granted it by a diety, or otherwise gaining it from a class ability; items don't count). Feats or abilities that allow verbal components to be ignored bypass this spell.
Cugol's exclusive patent
Sorc/Wiz 9. This spell, which must be cast immediately following the successful creation, by the caster, of a completely new magical object or the research of a completely new spell, renders the creation unique and irreplicable; no spells or items that substantially duplicate the effect of the object or spell may be created on the plane in which this spell is cast, and any brought there from other planes immediately cease to function for their trip. This spell fails if any substantially similar spells or magical items created by others already exist on the caster's plane. This spell does not prevent deities from replicating the protected effect or object, but does prevent them from granting it to mortal followers in the form of spells. The caster may always reproduce their work, and may allow (or deny) others the right to do so as a free action, though they still need the necessary abilities and work themselves.
Vulinaspa's laconic quotation
Cantrip. This spell causes a ghostly voice to speak a single, brief quote. The quote spoken is completely random; the caster has no control over it, and it is unlikely to be relevant to their current situation.
Majungo's gigantic definition
Cantrip. This spell causes a ghostly voice to define, at length, a single word of the caster's choice, in any language. The caster must be able to speak the word; if they are not fluent in the language in question, speaking it correctly requires an intelligence check of DC 15, with a +1 bonus for every language they speak already; if they fail, the spell is wasted. This spell can never provide definitions of any proper names or other information that would require a knowledge check.
Marring's spheroidal solvent
Possibly another name for Acid Orb?
Irritz's vicarious assistant
Unseen Servant, natch.
Thiduso's impassive vowel
Cantrip. This spell causes a ghostly, impassive voice to speak the sound of a single vowel at the point of casting, at a single period of time up to ten minutes after the casting (as specified by the caster.) The caster may select the vowel spoken, but has no other control over it.
Basajidon's indefensible slander
Sorc/Wiz 3. 1 day / level. This spell causes a ghostly voice to speak, for the duration, ceaseless slander of a single person, organization, or other entity specified by the caster. Only the name of the victim may be specified; the content of the voice's words are totally outside of the caster's control. The voice may be centered either at a single location, on an object, or on a person; if cast on an unwilling person or attended / magical object, however, they receive a will save to negate.
Ibaleye's celestial clause
Cleric 9. This spell releases a willing target from all of the effects of a single pact or bargain that they have made with an evil outsider, provided they relinquish any benefits they gained from the pact and make sacrifices equivalent to whatever services or gains they received that they can no longer relinquish. In addition, the caster must pay 500 xp. Once a person has benefited from the effects of this spell once, they can never do so again. This spell also prevents the thwarted evil outsider from directly seeking revenge, so long as the beneficiary never attempts to contact or deal with them again. Evil characters cannot benefit from this spell.
I came across a few other names that looked neat if anyone else wants to try their hand without going over a randomly-generated list themselves:
Baman's misanthropic bias
Sfetz's hideous strength
Ederatz's lawful snap
The spell of remote intrusion
Suudon's material ignition
The spell of the dangerous brand
Sanzu's serpentine revelation
Taminjaun's subjective evolution
Sanon's painful sleep
Berio's eloquent monologue
Lauritzol's indifferent fire
The spell of penitential mediocrity
The spell of rakish exposure
Olede's exhaustive liquefaction
Eriza's contingent exchange
The spell of abhorrent diffusion
Sarra's talkative breath
Gaxettle's mute evasion
...but, anyway, enough background. Try clicking on that link and resisting the temptation to come up with spells (or at least the broad outline of spells) to fit some of the random spell-names it produces, I dare you. I'll do a few just to start the ball rolling; if you have better ideas for effects for these, go ahead...
Gurusko's verbose inaction
This would probably be a variant of Tasha's Uncontrollable Hideous Laughter, only it makes the target talk endlessly about meaningless, useless, and boring things. They have a vague control over the subjects on which they speak, but not enough to say anything directly. Characters with any high knowledge skills get a penalty on their saving throw.
Hanth's dark paper
Cantrip, illusion. Causes a single page or piece of paper to temporarily become completely and totally black, making it impossible to read anything written on it for the duration unless the illusion is seen through.
Dadhruki's flat benefactor
This would probably work best as an alternate name for Tenser's Floating Disk.
The call of the parallel stronghold
Sorc/Wiz 9. This spell can only be cast inside of a castle, keep, tower, or other large man-made stronghold. It functions exactly like Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion except that rather than a mansion, its door leads to a ghostly, pale-bluish duplicate of the building in which it is cast. Objects in the building that have been in their locations for long periods of time (candlesticks, books on bookshelves, and so forth) are duplicated as well, but are vaguely translucent, and return to their original positions in the mansion 1d4 rounds after being moved. Creatures are not duplicated, but Unseen Servants, furnishing, and foodstuffs are provided (per Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion) if (and only if) earthly equivalents are present in the building being duplicated. As a standard action, while inside either the original stronghold or the one created by this spell, the caster may move the entrance to anywhere in the building; it moves on both sides, so this effectively allows the caster to get anywhere in the original building by travelling through the parallel stronghold.
Topouldou's abhorrent rose
Cantrip. This spell, created by love-scorned mage, creates a temporary, beautiful-looking rose of a color chosen by the caster. The rose looks and smells like a perfect rose in all regards, until someone sniffs it from directly beneath their nose. At that point, they must make a fort save or be Nauseated for 1d4+1 rounds; characters of more than 4 HD are merely Sickened. Whether this succeeds or fails, the rose then crumbles to dust. A helpless character can be forced to smell the rose, but otherwise the victim must smell it willingly.
Sudur's offhand censor
Brd 3, Clr 3. 10 min/level. This spell prevents a single word, chosen at casting, from being spoken, written, read, or otherwise communicated within a 100-foot radius from the point where the spell was cast. This spell can also be used to prevent the casting of a specific spell requiring a verbal component, but the caster must be able to cast the spell (either by having it in their spellbook, possessing it as one of their bard/sorceror spells, being granted it by a diety, or otherwise gaining it from a class ability; items don't count). Feats or abilities that allow verbal components to be ignored bypass this spell.
Cugol's exclusive patent
Sorc/Wiz 9. This spell, which must be cast immediately following the successful creation, by the caster, of a completely new magical object or the research of a completely new spell, renders the creation unique and irreplicable; no spells or items that substantially duplicate the effect of the object or spell may be created on the plane in which this spell is cast, and any brought there from other planes immediately cease to function for their trip. This spell fails if any substantially similar spells or magical items created by others already exist on the caster's plane. This spell does not prevent deities from replicating the protected effect or object, but does prevent them from granting it to mortal followers in the form of spells. The caster may always reproduce their work, and may allow (or deny) others the right to do so as a free action, though they still need the necessary abilities and work themselves.
Vulinaspa's laconic quotation
Cantrip. This spell causes a ghostly voice to speak a single, brief quote. The quote spoken is completely random; the caster has no control over it, and it is unlikely to be relevant to their current situation.
Majungo's gigantic definition
Cantrip. This spell causes a ghostly voice to define, at length, a single word of the caster's choice, in any language. The caster must be able to speak the word; if they are not fluent in the language in question, speaking it correctly requires an intelligence check of DC 15, with a +1 bonus for every language they speak already; if they fail, the spell is wasted. This spell can never provide definitions of any proper names or other information that would require a knowledge check.
Marring's spheroidal solvent
Possibly another name for Acid Orb?
Irritz's vicarious assistant
Unseen Servant, natch.
Thiduso's impassive vowel
Cantrip. This spell causes a ghostly, impassive voice to speak the sound of a single vowel at the point of casting, at a single period of time up to ten minutes after the casting (as specified by the caster.) The caster may select the vowel spoken, but has no other control over it.
Basajidon's indefensible slander
Sorc/Wiz 3. 1 day / level. This spell causes a ghostly voice to speak, for the duration, ceaseless slander of a single person, organization, or other entity specified by the caster. Only the name of the victim may be specified; the content of the voice's words are totally outside of the caster's control. The voice may be centered either at a single location, on an object, or on a person; if cast on an unwilling person or attended / magical object, however, they receive a will save to negate.
Ibaleye's celestial clause
Cleric 9. This spell releases a willing target from all of the effects of a single pact or bargain that they have made with an evil outsider, provided they relinquish any benefits they gained from the pact and make sacrifices equivalent to whatever services or gains they received that they can no longer relinquish. In addition, the caster must pay 500 xp. Once a person has benefited from the effects of this spell once, they can never do so again. This spell also prevents the thwarted evil outsider from directly seeking revenge, so long as the beneficiary never attempts to contact or deal with them again. Evil characters cannot benefit from this spell.
I came across a few other names that looked neat if anyone else wants to try their hand without going over a randomly-generated list themselves:
Baman's misanthropic bias
Sfetz's hideous strength
Ederatz's lawful snap
The spell of remote intrusion
Suudon's material ignition
The spell of the dangerous brand
Sanzu's serpentine revelation
Taminjaun's subjective evolution
Sanon's painful sleep
Berio's eloquent monologue
Lauritzol's indifferent fire
The spell of penitential mediocrity
The spell of rakish exposure
Olede's exhaustive liquefaction
Eriza's contingent exchange
The spell of abhorrent diffusion
Sarra's talkative breath
Gaxettle's mute evasion