From a tradesman's tools to a guards armor to a musician's tuning fork, metal abounds in civilized lands. Indeed, many facets of civilization would be impossible without iron. It is for this reason that one of the most damning curses that can afflict civilized folk is the dreaded curse of rust.

From a tradesman's tools to a guards armor to a musician's tuning fork, metal abounds in civilized lands. Indeed, many facets of civilization would be impossible without iron. It is for this reason that one of the most damning curses that can afflict civilized folk is the dreaded curse of rust.

CURSE OF RUST

School necromancy; Level druid 5, sorcerer/wizard 6, witch 5, anti-paladin 6

Casting Time 1 standard action

Components V, S, M (a rusted nail driven through a poppet) or DF

Range touch

Target creature touched

Duration permanent

Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance yes

Any ferrous object the subject touches, wears, or physically contacts in any way is affected as if by a rusting grasp spell. However, the effects of this curse do not allow the subject to inflict damage upon ferrous creatures with a touch. Instead, ferrous creatures touched become hostile to the subject, gaining the benefits of the ranger's favored enemy class feature against the subject with an effective ranger level equal to the caster level of the curse of rust's caster.

Ferrous weapons that hit the subject are affected to the curse's rusting grasp effect, but the subject must also make an immediate Fortitude saving throw on each hit to avoid contracting tetanus (treat as exposure to red ache).

The wearing of thick gloves, heavy undergarments, and the covering of exposed skin can "insulate" the curse and allow the subject to handle, wear, and use ferrous objects. However, this is uncomfortable and restrictive, inflicting a -1 armor check penalty, a 10% chance of spell failure when casting spells with somatic components, and a -2 penalty on all Craft, Profession, and Disable Device skill checks.

The curse of rust cannot be dispelled, but it can be removed with a break enchantment, limited wish, remove curse, or wish spell.