Immurk's Distraction
4th-level illusion (wizard)
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S, M (a pinch of sand and diamond dust worth at least 500 gp, which is consumed upon casting)
Duration: 1 hour
Description:
This spell creates an illusion that clouds the minds of those searching for a specific hidden item within 60 feet of it, making it difficult to find. The item must be concealed (e.g., under a blanket, in a chest, behind a painting) for the spell to function. The caster can choose to exclude specific individuals from the spell's effects at the time of casting; all others within the area who attempt to find the item must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be unable to locate it.
Affected creatures will not realize the item is hidden where they are searching and will fail to look in the right places. Even if directed to look exactly where the item is concealed, they will make small mistakes in their search and miss it. The spell does not affect individuals who are not actively searching for the item, and someone who stumbles upon the item by accident can still find it.
The spell does not protect items that are in plain sight—if the item is out in the open, the spell has no effect. The enchantment ends immediately if the item is touched by someone (other than those the caster exempted from the spell's effects).
At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, the duration increases by 1 hour for each slot level above 4th.
Additional Notes
- The spell’s primary function is to misdirect or cloud the judgment of those actively searching for the hidden item. It doesn’t make the item invisible or ethereal; rather, it affects the mental perception of the searchers, ensuring they overlook or fail to find it.
- It has the same limitations as the original: it cannot hide items that are openly visible, and creatures not looking for the item are unaffected. The spell is also broken if the item is physically interacted with.
This version preserves the spirit of the original AD&D spell, converting it into 5th edition mechanics with the addition of a Wisdom saving throw, as per the standard for illusions affecting mental faculties.