Blackstaff Spells
The following is simply a small collection of the sorts of unique spells known to be employed by Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, the Archmage of Waterdeep. These spells are considered to be available to any apprentice of Khelben's to learn without the need for research.
1st Level
Know Protections
1st-level divination
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: 60 ft
Components: V, S
Duration: Instant
This spell grants the caster immediate knowledge of the target's Immunities and Resistances.
3rd Level
Amanuensis
3rd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 ft
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
This spell causes writing from one source (such as a book) to be copied into a book, paper, or parchment. It copies as much or as little of the text as the caster wishes, producing one page per second, creating a perfect duplicate of the original. The spell copies only nonmagical text, not illustrations or magical writing. If the target text contains both nonmagical and magical writing (such as a book trapped with runes), it copies only the nonmagical text, leaving conspicuous blank spaces where the magical text is in the original text. It does, however, trigger any such writing-based magical traps being copied.
The caster must provide sufficient blank surface for the spell to copy onto; the spell ends if it runs out of such material. Once a work has been copied, the caster may direct the spell to begin copying other text, if sufficient duration and available scribing material is on hand.
If this spell is used to copy a spell from a spellbook, the caster must still provide the rare inks and other materials that permit the recording of such notations. This spell does not translate copied writing.
Variant: This spell is also a cleric spell of 3rd level, granted by any of the Gods of Knowledge (Oghma, Deneir, Gond, or Milil)
Khelben's Suspended Silence
3rd-level illusion
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Permanent, until discharged; then 6 rounds
The caster imbues the touched object with a magical effect. When the object is touched and the designated command word given, the object becomes the target of a silence spell. The effect of the silence spell moves with the object and lasts exactly 6 rounds. The caster may prepare as many such objects as they desire, but each such object after the first prevents the recovery of one third level spell slot until the effect is discharged.
4th Level
Thunderlance
This spell creates a staff of faint, grey shimmering force in the caster's hand, which can be lengthened or reduced in size from one foot to twenty. It can be used to make mighty melee attacks, whose strikes can sometimes disrupt fields of force (including shield and mage armor spells), and can smash inanimate objects with great power.
Tirumael's Energy Spheres
A useful spell that creates five spheres which orbit the caster's head like a halo. The caster may launch any of these spheres at enemies within range, inflicting one of five kinds of damage (acid, cold, lightning, fire, or thunder). If a caster is attacked by an attack that matches the type of a still-existing sphere in his arsenal, he may cause the sphere to absorb part of that attack's intensity, protecting him and destroying the sphere.
6th Level
Gemjump
This spell provides the ability to teleport to the location of a specially prepared magical stone. Though the caster may possess only a single stone, wizards may exchange the "details" of their stones in order to permit others to use the location of their stones as viable targets for these spells.
Prismatic Eye
This spell creates a visible, scintillating orb roughly the size of a crystal ball that floats in mid-air and fires beams of brilliant colors, with different effect depending on the hue of the beam. It is under the mental command of the caster, though it can itself be attacked.
7th Level
Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion
Khelben's version of this spell does not differ from the normal casting of the enchantment. Being the fastidious person he is who prefers order (a tendency others have grossly mischaracterized as "appallingly predictable"), Khelben simply uses the same configuration for the mansion every time he casts it.
- It features a comfortable tavern, stables and hot baths on the first floor, a parlor, dining hall, and card room on the second floor, and a drawing room on the third floor, as well as eleven bedrooms, most of which have a pair of comfortable beds (Bed 11 has only one, and is usually Khelben's domicile), as well as barracks-style Garrett Quarters that can hold up to a dozen comfortably.
- It also generates a bevy of pleasant, androgynous human servants dressed in crisp white and light blue livery marked with Blackstaff's sigil, and rich, heavy food of the sort that is favored by hunters and foresters, featuring plenty of meat, warm cheeses, roasted vegetables, rich stews, and piled loaves of crusty, nut-and-cheese filled breads.
8th Level
Blackstaff
Khelben's signature spell enchants a staff as a potent weapon, surrounding it with crackling black lightning. Strikes from this staff damage magic as well as bodies. He shares this spell only with his apprentices and those he trusts implicitly, and expects his apprentices to likewise keep these spells to themselves.
9th Level
Alamanther's Return
A potent spell allowing the caster to duplicate the effect of any one spell or magical ability. Alamanther of Aglarond, its creator, was once a consort of the Simbul, the Witch-Queen of Aglarond. He was slain in battle with the Red Wizards of Thay.
Khelben's Dweomerdoom
A potent variation on counterspell, the dweomerdoom does not dispel spells as they are cast - it dispels them before that. It has the ability to excise spells prepared by casters that prepare their spells, or simply deny access to certain spells to those who do not.
