Explanation/Description: By means of this spell the druid is able to show any animal which is of at least animal intelligence (but not above semi-intelligent rating) that the druid is disposed to be its friend. If the animal does not make its saving throw versus magic immediately when the spell is begun, it will stand quietly while the druid finishes the spell. Thereafter, it will follow the druid about, and he or she can teach it 3 specific "tricks" or tasks for each point of intelligence it possesses. (Typical tasks are those taught a dog or similar pet, i.e. they cannot be complex.) Training for each such "trick" must be done over a period of 1 week, and all must be done within 3 months of acquiring the creature. During the training period the animal will not harm the druid, but if the creature is left alone for more than 3 days it will revert to its natural state and act accordingly. The druid may use this spell to attract up to 2 hit dice of animal(s) per level of experience he or she possesses. This also means that the druid can never have more hit dice of animals so attracted and trained than are equal to or less than twice his or her levels of experience. Only neutral animals can be attracted, befriended, and trained. The material components of this spell are mistletoe and a piece of food attractive to the animal subject.

Explanation/Description: The druidic ceremony spell is similar to the clerical spell of the same name. It has a number of applications within the hierarchy of druids. The effect of a ceremony spell does not leave behind an aura of magic, although a know alignment spell or similar magic might reveal the force of true neutrality involved in the magic. Druidic ceremonies include the following, which can be cast by a druid of the indicated or lower level:

1st-level druid: coming of age, rest eternal, marriage
3rd-level druid: dedication, investiture
7th-level druid: initiation, special vows
9th-level druid: hallowed ground
12th-level druid: cast out

The characteristics of the various types of druidic ceremony spells are as follows:

Coming of age is performed upon young people in druidic societies, usually when they reach the age of 14, and is symbolic of the young mans' or young womans' entrance into adulthood. Effects of the spell are the same as for the clerical version (+1 bonus to a single saving throw); see the cleric text for other details.

Rest eternal is cast upon the body of a deceased being, by means of which the soul/spirit of the creature is hastened in its journey to its final resting place. The spells raise dead and resurrection will not restore life to a character who has been the object of this spell, although a wish spell would serve that purpose.

Marriage is essentially identical to the clerical ceremony of the same name.

Dedication allows the recipient of the spell to be taken into the ranks of the druids' followers/worshipers, provided that the character is true neutral in alignment. A recipient of this spell is charged, as are druids, with the responsibility to preserve and protect nature and the balance of forces in the world. In other respects it is similar to the clerical ceremony of the same name.

Investiture is a rite that must be performed upon a character before he or she can become an Aspirant (1st-level druid). It conveys no other benefit.

Initiation imbues the druid with the shape-changing and immunity to woodland charm powers that become available to the character upon attaining 7th level. This ceremony must be performed upon a druid immediately after he or she begins to advance upward through the 7th level of experience; if cast earlier than this, it will not work, and the druid will not have the benefit of the above-mentioned special powers until receiving initiation. Usually a druid must seek out another druid of 7th or higher level to perform the rite, but in unusual cases a druid may cast it upon himself or herself.

Special vows is a ceremony that operates in the same fashion as the clerical rite of the same name. It does not work upon paladins, but will function upon cavaliers of any alignment.

Hallowed ground is cast by the druid on his or her permanent grove. This ceremony ensorcels the trees of the grove so that they will never be affected by disease or other natural disasters. The ground remains hallowed for as long as the druid maintains this grove as his or her permanent base.

Cast out is a form of excommunication or punishment that can be performed by a druid upon someone who has committed sacrilege upon the natural environment or in some other way violated the principles and standards of druidism. Its effects may be lessened at a later date by the casting of a reversed version of this ceremony, either by the same druid or another one of at least as high a level as the original caster, but the casting out can never be completely neutralized except by a Hierophant Druid of any level. A character who has been cast out exudes a powerful negative aura, causing any natural creature encountered to react negatively to the character. This includes all normal (non-magical) animals, monsters native to the woodlands, domesticated beasts such as horses and dogs, and all druids and their followers.

Casting out is a very powerful form of punishment, and can only be performed by a druid who has received permission from his or her Archdruid to do so. Similarly, an Archdruid must get permission from the Great Druid, and the Great Druid from the Grand Druid. The Grand Druid does not need to obtain permission, but his or her actions may be reversed by a Hierophant Druid at any time.

This ceremony is usually only used on occasions where the severity of an offense warrants such extreme punishment; a druid who asks for and is denied permission to perform it, or one who later has his or her actions offset by another druid, may be subject to punishment by higher-ranking members of the hierarchy. An intended recipient of this ceremony who is unwilling receives a saving throw versus spell, at -4, to negate its effects.

The components of a ceremony spell always include mistletoe, and the rite (of any sort) must be performed in a druid grove or some other natural, healthy patch of forest. Such ceremonies are normally conducted at either dawn or dusk, the times when night and day are in balance.

Explanation/Description: This spell allows the druid to determine if non-neutral forces and alignments are at work in the area of effect (upon or in the object or creature being scanned). An alignment that is partly neutral (such as that of a neutral good cleric) will radiate a mild aura, while an alignment that has no neutral component (such as that of a chaotic good fighter) will give off a strong aura. The spell does not determine exact alignment, but only tells the druid if the object or creature being examined is something other than true neutral; a paladin and a chaotic evil thief, for instance, will radiate the same aura at the same strength.

The spell will not function upon non-living items that do not have a natural aura (such as a vial of poison), but will work upon an object such as an aligned magical sword. Creatures that are under the effect of an unknowable alignment spell or similar magic will not radiate any aura when this spell is used upon them. If the magic is used upon something or someone that exudes a true neutral alignment (such as another druid), it will produce a smooth, well-balanced aura identifiable as one of neutrality.

Explanation/Description: Except as noted above, this spell is the same as the first level cleric spell, detect magic (q.v.).

Explanation/Description: By means of this spell the druid is able to determine if some object, creature, or area contains poison or has been poisoned. In general, the area which can be perused by the dweomer of the spell is about 1 cubic yard of space. Therefore, the druid cannot determine if an entire pond is poisoned, but he or she could tell if a portion - or something within the portion - scanned during the round contained poison. There is also a 5% chance per level of experience of the caster that the type of poison used or contained in the area scanned will also be discovered by the spell, i.e., contact poison (insinuative), ingestive, or respirative (gas).

While more than one area can be scanned with a detect poison spell during the duration of the spell, it is almost fruitless to attempt to determine poison type for all of those areas; any single failure on the "5% chance per level" roll to detect poison type makes this spell useless for this purpose for the remainder of the duration of that particular casting. In addition to mistletoe, the druid needs a yew leaf as a material component for this spell. The latter item will turn brown if poison is present, so that several will possibly be needed to fully utilize the entire spell duration.

Explanation/Description: Upon casting this spell, the druid is able to detect snares & pits along the 1" wide by 4" long area of effect path and thus avoid such deadfalls. Note that in the underground only simple pits, not all forms of traps, would be detected by means of this spell. Outdoors, the spell detects all forms of traps - deadfalls, missile trips, snares, etc. The spell lasts 4 melee rounds for each level of experience of the druid casting it, i.e. 4 rounds at the 1st level, 8 at the 2nd, 12 (1 turn plus 2 rounds) at the 3rd, etc.

Explanation/Description: By means of this spell the druid is able to cause plants in the area of effect to entangle creatures within the area. The grasses, weeds, bushes, and even trees wrap, twist, and entwine about creatures, thus holding them fast for the duration of the spell. If any creature in the area of effect makes its saving throw, the effect of the spell is to slow its movement by 50% for the spell duration.

Explanation/Description: When the druid casts this spell, he or she outlines an object or creature with a pole glowing light. The completeness of the lining is dependent upon the number of linear feet the druid is able to affect, about 12' per level (i.e. one 6' man or two 3' kobolds). If there is sufficient power, several objects or creatures can be covered by the faerie fire, but one must be fully outlined before the next is begun, and all must be within the area of effect. Outlined objects or creatures (including those otherwise invisible) are visible at 8" in the dark, 4" if the viewer is near a bright light source. Outlined creatures are easier to strike, thus opponents gain +2 on "to hit" dice. The faerie fire can be blue, green, or violet according to the word of the druid at the time he or she casts the spell. The faerie fire does not itself cause any harm to the object or creature lined.

Explanation/Description: When an invisibility to animals spell is cast by a druid, the recipient of the magic becomes totally undetectable with respect to normal animals with intelligence under 6. Normal animals includes giant-sized varieties, but it excludes any with magical abilities or powers. The magicked individual is able to walk amongst animals or pass through them as if he or she did not exist. For example, this individual could stand before the hungriest of lions or a tyrannosourus rex and not be molested or even noticed. However, a nightmare, hell hound, or winter wolf would certainly be aware of the individual. The material component of this spell is holly rubbed over the individual.

Explanation/Description: The druid with a locate animals spell is able to determine the direction and distance of any of the desired animals within the area of effect. The sought after animal can be of any sort, but the druid must concentrate on the sort desired. The cleric faces in a direction, thinks of the animal desired, and he or she then knows if any such animal is within spell range. During a round of spell effect duration, the druid must face in only one direction, i.e., only a 2" wide path can be known. The spell lasts 1 round per level of experience of the druid, while the length of the path is 2" per level of experience.

Explanation/Description: When this spell is cast, the recipient can move through any type of terrain - mud, snow, dust, etc. - and leave neither footprint nor scent. Thus, tracking a person or other creature covered by this dweomer is impossible. The material components of this spell are a leaf of mistletoe (which must be burned thereafter and the ashes powdered and scattered) and a sprig of pine or evergreen. Note: The area which is passed over will radiate a dweomer for 6-36 turns after the affected creature passes.

Explanation/Description: This spell is identical to the 1st level clerical spell of the same name, except that the druid needs mistletoe as an additional material component.

Explanation/Description: When a predict weather spell is cast by a druid, he or she gains 100% accurate knowledge of the weather (sky, temperature, precipitation) in a nine square mile area centering on the druid. For each level of experience of the druid casting the spell, two hours advance weather can be forecast. Thus, at 1st level the druid knows what the weather will be for two hours; at second level he or she knows the weather for 4 hours in advance, etc.

Explanation/Description: This spell makes dirty, contaminated water clean and pure, suitable for consumption. Up to one cubic foot per level of the druid casting the spell can be thus purified. The reverse of the spell, contaminate water, works in exactly the same manner, and even holy/unholy water can be spoiled by its effects.

Explanation/Description: This spell enables the druid to change his own oaken cudgel into a magical weapon which is +1 to hit and inflicts 2-8 hit points of damage on opponents up to man-sized, 2-5 hit points of damage on larger opponents. The druid must wield the shillelagh, of course. The material components of this spell are on oaken club, any mistletoe, and a shamrock leaf.

Explanation/Description: Except as noted above, this spell is the same as the second level cleric spell, speak with animals (q.v.).