Dancing Lights

Ability Type: Spell, Difficulty 14
Provided By: Simple Light Magic

Spell Type: Elemental, Light
Form: Static
Function: Illusion
Power Cost: Minimal to 4
Duration: Conditionally Maintainable (line of sight required)

By manipulating light and (to a limited extent) other forms of energy, Dancing Lights allows its caster to craft a detailed illusion, complete with movement, sound, some temperature control and even the faint sensation of touch. Despite these impressive capabilities however the magical origin of the vision remains clear, since the image created is glowing, insubstantial and partially transparent and the sound it produces is somewhat distorted and distant-sounding. As a result the true utility of Dancing Lights lies generally not in trickery, but rather in entertainment, communication and education – in essence the spell excels at conveying information in one form or another.

Rather than conjuring forth a single, specific illusory object, Dancing Lights allows its caster to create any number of changing forms within the affected area, for as long as the spell is maintained. It should be noted however that while the long casting-range of the spell makes it potentially useful for delivering messages (and even more so for jokes, threats and taunts) the illusion does not convey any information back to its caster, so interactions at range will typically be one-way. Controlling the illusions created by the spell is potentially a very demanding task and counts as an action for the caster whenever he wishes to produce anything beyond simple, repeating patterns. Dancing Lights can only be maintained so long as its caster is able to clearly see at least part of the spell's affected area.

Penalty to Any Check to Appear Real: -5
Maximum Illumination: 1 (Minimal), or 2 x Power
Affected Volume: Sphere with radius of 1m (Minimal), or 2m x Power
Creation Range: 30m (Minimal), or 50m x Power (limited by line of sight)