Aura of Terror

(Spell Compendium, p. 18)

Necromancy [Fear, Mind-Affecting]
Level: Sorcerer 6, Wizard 6,
Components: V,
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 30-ft.-radius emanation centered on you
Duration: 1 minute/level
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes

You speak a few curt words and your face is briefly overlaid with the image of a violet-shaded skull. The skull fades, but the nimbus of violet light remains around you.

You become surrounded by an aura of fear, granting you a frightful presence not unlike that of a dragon. Whenever you charge or attack, you inspire fear in all creatures within 30 feet that have fewer Hit Dice than your caster level. Each potentially affected opponent must succeed on a Will save or become shaken—a condition that lasts until the opponent is out of range. A successful save leaves that opponent immune to your frightful presence for 24 hours.

If you cast this spell when you already have the frightful presence ability or a fear aura, the existing ability becomes more effective in the following ways:

  • The radius of the area affected by the ability increases by 10 feet.
  • The DC of your frightful presence ability increases by 2.
  • Creatures that would normally be shaken by your fear aura are frightened instead, and creatures that would normally be frightened are panicked.