Atonement

Abjuration
Level: Blackguard 5, Chaos 5, Evil 5, Good 5, Law 5, Paladin 5
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes
Spell Points: 9, XP

“You knelt as a sinner. Rise now as a righteous man.”

This spell removes the burden of evil acts or misdeeds from the subject. The creature seeking atonement must be truly repentant and desirous of setting right its misdeeds, or the spell fails.

Some casters first assign a subject of this sort a quest (see Geas (Quest)) or similar penance to determine whether the creature is truly contrite before attempting to cast the atonement spell on its behalf.

Atonement may be cast for one of several purposes, depending on the version selected.

  • Reverse Magical Alignment Change: If a creature has had its alignment magically changed, atonement returns its alignment to its original status.

  • Restore Power: A Cleric or Paladin who has lost access to its class features by violating a code of conduct may regain his abilities by seeking atonement from another Cleric of the same deity or a Paladin of the same order.

  • Redemption or Temptation: You may cast this spell upon a creature in order to offer it a chance to change its alignment to match yours. The prospective subject must be present for the entire casting process. Upon completion of the spell, the subject freely chooses whether it retains its original alignment or acquiesces to your offer and changes to your alignment. No duress, compulsion, or magical influence can force the subject to take advantage of the opportunity offered if it is unwilling to abandon its old alignment. This use of the spell does not work on outsiders or any creature incapable of changing its alignment naturally.

    In the case of Clerics and Paladins that have switched to an inappropriate alignment, this use of the spell may be required in order to restore their abilities.

Though the spell description refers to evil acts, atonement can also be used on any creature that has performed acts against its alignment, whether those acts are evil, good, chaotic, or lawful.

Note: Normally, changing alignment is up to the player. This use of atonement simply offers a believable way for a character to change his or her alignment drastically, suddenly, and definitively.

Experience cost: 500 XP