Gallop was a useful cantrip that beginning wizards could learn.[3] It caused a creature to gain a burst of speed and travel in a chosen direction for a short time.[1][2]
Effects[]
This spell worked on any land-based creature within 10 feet (3 meters) of the caster, but if the creature had above animal intelligence and was unwilling, it had a chance to resist the effects. If successfully cast, the creature moved at twice its normal rate of travel in the direction pointed by the caster and maintained this speed for one minute. Rate of movement was adjusted for encumbrance. That is, a horse without a rider could move considerably faster than one pulling a heavily laden cart. Travel was in the indicated direction without deviation unless an obstacle was successfully avoided. If the target creature or its rider were aware of any obstacles in the path, there was an improved chance to avoid them, but if not, then the creature and whatever it was carrying suffered the consequences. Likewise, casting gallop on an injured, sick, lame, or exhausted creature could cause a shock to its system and possibly result in death.[1][2][note 1]
Choosing a direction with no path, such as directly into a wall, the ground, or the sky, negated the spell.[1][2] When cast, this spell gave off a small cloud of harmless blue sparks.[4]
Components[]
This cantrip required verbal and somatic components. The caster made clicks with their tongue or kissing noises through pursed lips while pointing in the desired direction of travel.[1][2]
History[]
The Alcaister, a spellbook with a dangerous reputation, contained this cantrip and two others.[note 2]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four limited the duration of this spell as originally described in Dragon magazine to one round with no extension based on the level of the caster, and expanded the possible targets from "one quadruped" to "one creature". It also removed the requirement that the caster had to touch the target creature.
- ↑ The three cantrips described in Dragon #100 were replaced with the cantrip spell when the 2nd-edition Pages from the Mages was published. The Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four describes all the 1st-edition cantrips as examples of what you could do with cantrip.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Mark Middleton et al (September 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four. (TSR, Inc), p. 1063. ISBN 978-0786912094.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ed Greenwood (August 1985). “Pages from the Mages V”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #100 (TSR, Inc.), p. 19.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (September 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Four. (TSR, Inc), p. 1048. ISBN 978-0786912094.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Tim Beach (November 1995). Pages from the Mages. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0183-7.