Divine Bloodline (P&P)

Divine Bloodline (Divination)

Sphere: Divination

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M

Duration: Instantaneous

Casting Time: 4

Area of Effect: One Creature

Saving Throw: Neg.

The spell enables the spellcaster to ascertain any trace of noble lineage in the target of the spell. A successful saving throw vs spell negates the attempted divination, and the saving throw cannot be foregone, even voluntarily.

By means of a divine bloodline spell, the spellcaster can determine if the target is descended from any noble bloodlines and how close the target is to inheriting a noble title. A noble bloodline is created by any culture (no matter how insignificant) that recognizes a class of nobility commonly passed on to blood relatives. This spell even ascertains noble bloodlines of cultures long forgotten and extinct. For example, if the spell is cast upon an orc, it might determine that the orc is a descendant of the kings of the Screaming Banshee tribe and that is the third surviving son of the reigning monarch.

By means of this spell, the spellcaster can divine bloodlines for titles which have been actively held within 100 years per experience level. For example if the last king of Athalantar reigned within the past 900 years, the spellcaster would have to be at least 9th level to recognize any noble descendants of that bloodline. Even though Elminster, last prince of the first royal family of Athalantar still lives, neither he nor anyone else has held that throne or considered themselves "in exile" for approximately nine centures.

In cases where the spell target is a descendant of multiple noble bloodlines, the spellcaster can ascertain one such bloodline for every three experience levels. The order in which such bloodlines are ascertained is ranked first by proximity in terms of how close in line the spell target is to inheriting the corresponding title, second by the relative rank or importance of the titles, and third by whether a bloodline is active or dormant (that is, whether the culture or kingdom it is from is still extant or essentially extinct).

The material component of this spell is the priest's holy symbol.

Source: Boyd, E. L. (1997). Powers & Pantheons. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, Inc.