Dictum
School: Evocation [Lawful, Sonic]
Tier: 7
Casting
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 CL)
Effect
Target: Radius burst, centered on caster
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will partial, see text
Spell Resistance: Yes
Description
Any nonlawful creature within the area of a dictum spell suffers the following ill effects:
| HD | Effect |
|---|---|
| Equal to caster level | Deafened |
| Up to caster level -1 | Staggered, deafened |
| Up to caster level -5 | Paralyzed, staggered, deafened |
| Up to caster level -10 | Killed, paralyzed, staggered, deafened |
The effects are cumulative and concurrent. A successful Will save reduces or eliminates these effects. Creatures affected by multiple effects make only one save and apply the result to all the effects.
- Deafened: The creature is deafened for 1d8 rounds. Save negates.
- Staggered: The creature is staggered for 2d6 rounds. Save reduces the staggered effect to 1d6 rounds.
- Paralyzed: The creature is paralyzed and helpless for 1d10 minutes. Save reduces the paralyzed effect to 1 round.
- Killed: Living creatures die. Undead creatures are destroyed. Save negates. If the save is successful, the creature instead takes 1d6 points of damage + 1 point per caster level (maximum 20d6 + 20).
Furthermore, if you are on your home plane when you cast this spell, non-lawful extraplanar creatures within the area are instantly banished back to their home planes. Creatures so banished cannot return for at least 24 hours. This effect takes place regardless of whether the creatures hear the dictum or not. The banishment effect allows a Will save (at a -4 penalty) to negate.
Creatures whose Hit Dice exceed your caster level are unaffected by dictum.