[A to Z April] L is for Ladder, Nature's (spell)

Nature’s Ladder, Lesser

Transmutation
Level: Brd 1, Drd 1, Rgr 1
Components: V,S,M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Area of Effect: 10 ft./2 levels; see text
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates; see text
Spell Resistance: Yes (object)

This spell causes hand- and foot-holds to spontaneously grow from a wooden source to create a ladder. It also magically reinforces the wooden source object to be able to sustain a climber or climbers with a maximum weight of 500 pounds.

The wooden source may be either harvested wood or a still-growing and living wood source. The area effected can be any wood source that is in continuous contact up to the maximum area; i.e., a series of wooden poles lashed together or a latticework of intertwined branches. The handholds spring out from the sides of the wood source as a series of small, alternating pegs just large enough to grasp and on which to stand.

Creatures made from wood are granted a saving throw to resist the effects of this spell. Magic items aren’t affected by this spell.

Components: the wood source being affected and a strand of cobweb
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Nature’s Ladder, Greater

Transmutation
Level: Brd 2, Drd, 2, Rgr 2
Component: V,S,M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Area of Effect: one wooden object
Duration: 10 min./level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates; see text
Spell Resisitance: Yes (object)

This spell has two effects. When cast upon a single, solid piece of wood (such as a quarterstaff or 10' pole) that is planted firmly against the ground or floor, it will cause the wood source to first grow and extend by the maximum length desired by the caster, two feet per caster level (up to 40' maximum). Simultaneously, it will cause hand- and foot-holds to sprout as with the lesser version of the spell.

For example, Alakin, a cleric, and Naotil, a 10th-level bard, need to scale a 30' cliff. Alakin removes a ten-foot-pole from the straps on his back and braces it against the ground and leans it against the wall. Noatil casts nature’s ladder and the ten-foot-pole begins to grow, extending to a full thirty feet in length. Three inch handles sprout from each side of the pole, allowing them to scale the wall.

Components: the wood source and a small metal rod.

**Many thanks to my buddy Simonathi Starym for a bit of game testing, advice, and tweaking on this year's A to Z.

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Previous "L"s:
2012: L is for Lung Leech Swarm
2011: L is for Lehman Caves