Backlash

Backlash was a single target spell that affected only spellcasters, such as wizards and clerics. It was similar to the death link spell, but not as potent. If placed upon non-spellcasters, the spell was entirely nullified.

Effects
Upon casting the spell, a barely detectable dweomer was placed upon the target. However, there was no immediate effect. Instead, the dweomer would last until the target cast a spell that failed. Backlash could not be removed by standard measures, such as dispel magic.

When backlash magically detected a spell failure cast by the target, it was reversed on the target themselves. It also ignored any of the target's resistances or immunity to the effect of the reversed spell.

Interestingly, the spell could be cast several times on a target. This wouldn't, however, cause a single spell failure to backlash several times. Instead, only the earliest backlash was triggered and the others waited their turn, in order of oldest to newest.

Components
Only verbal and somatic components were required to cast this spell.

History
This spell was used amongst the drow, and it was said that some accomplished drow wizards had invented a higher level version of the same spell. Rumors said this "improved" backlash would wait for a second spell failure—even up to five failures—before triggering.

Appearances

 * Computer games:
 *  Menzoberranzan