Planar binding (originally called Valdick's snare[1] and later ensnarement[9]) was a powerful and dangerous conjuration spell used by arcane casters to call a being from another plane and bind it.[3]
Effects[]
The spell took a full ten minutes to cast and could call forth up to three elemental creatures or outsiders. Upon casting the spell, the requested individuals or types of creatures were pulled from another plane, somewhere within close range and usually into a prepared trap. A creature ensnared or bound in such a manner could be compelled to complete a task for the caster. In such cases, the magic released the being back to its own plane.[3]
Components[]
Verbal and somatic components were required to cast this spell. The verbal component included the individual creature's proper name if a specific being was called.[3]
The trap that actually bound the called entity was not a part of the spell. Such a trap must have been prepared beforehand and usually involved a magic circle. The trap could be strengthened by use of a dimensional anchor to prevent the called being from using planar travel to escape or by the use of a calling diagram when setting up the magic circle.[3]
History[]
The spell was invented by the Netherese arcanist Valdick in −1800 DR, the same year that he also created his enigma spell.[10]
In the month of Eleasis, of the Year of the Unstrung Harp, 1371 DR, the city of Ravens Bluff's Ministry of Art and Wizards Guild jointly declared it illegal to cast ensnarement within city limits due to a raging unnatural storm at the time called the Soulstorm. In addition to threatening arrest for those that broke this decree, it was declared that breaking this prohibition would result in a permanent expulsion from either organization.[11][note 1]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Gallery[]
![The spell symbol of the planar binding: air elemental]] spell.](/wiki/File:Planar_Binding-_Air_Elemental.png "Planar Binding- Air Elemental.png (138 KB)")
Appearances[]
Adventures
Video Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Notes[]
- ↑ The events of the Living City Ravens Bluff campaign took place on a timeline that advanced together with the real world's time. Even though all Living City adventures and issues of Ravens Bluff Trumpeter were dated with real-world dates, there were events that received a DR year. The Living City timeline can be derived from Myrkyssa Jelan's historic events of the late 14th century DR. Myrkyssa Jelan attacked Ravens Bluff in 1370 DR, according to The City of Ravens Bluff and Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition; these events are chronicled in an in-and-out of universe issues of Ravens Bluff Trumpeter. This places the real world year 1997 as 1370 DR, and in 1998 (1371 DR), Myrkyssa was at last arrested and tried and said to have been executed, only to reappear in 1372 DR in The City of Ravens novel. As the real world's months and the Calendar of Harptos are virtually identical, we can also date all events of the Living City Ravens Bluff as close as an in-universe month.
External links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Planar Binding article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.
Planar binding article at the NWNWiki, a wiki for the Neverwinter Nights games.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–211, 265. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 261. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 189. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 176. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ Barry A. A. Dillinger (May 1996). “The Dimensional Wizard”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #229 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 50–52.
- ↑ Sam Witt (March 1994). The Complete Sha'ir's Handbook. Edited by Dezra D. Phillips, C. Terry Phillips. (TSR, Inc.), p. 126. ISBN 1-56076-828-2.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Skip Williams (2000). Conversion Manual. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 15.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Daniel S. Donnelly ed. (August 1998). The Trumpeter 2, no. 8 (link). (RPGA), p. 2.