[3.5e] - Scorching Ray spell?

[Plane Sailing]

The latest "In the Works" at WotC http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20030511a describes a beholder-like creature called the Gauth.

One of the eye rays has this interesting description:

Scorching Ray:This works like the spell, dealing 4d6 points of fire damage (no save). A gauth creates only one fiery ray per use of this ability.

I wonder if this is a new spell for 3.5e? Or possibly a re-write of the flaming arrow (bolt) spell? Gosh, I love speculating!

If it was only one bolt, I could imagine it as a 2nd level spell (like a scaled down flaming arrow), but the second clause gives me wonder whether the spell it refers to can provide multiple rays at higher levels...

 

[Frostmarrow]

Could it be a renamed Searing Light?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Could be, although that normally does d8's (up to 5d8) and only ever has one ray.

 

[Duke Frinn]

Note that the barbed devil (hamatula) has this spell too, and it has 2 rays.

At will -- greater teleport (self plus 50 pounds of objects only), hold person (DC 16), major image (DC 17),scorching ray (2 rays only) . 1/day -- order's wrath (DC 18), unholy blight (DC 18). Caster level 12th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

At will, too. Seems like a really cool spell.

"Taelin stepped foward and swung Surkil, the holy sword, to the barbed devil's head. Although he managed to hit the fiend, he himself was hurt by a long spike that reached out from the green shoulder.

Taelin heared the barbed devil laughe inside his head. Then it reached foward, and two plasts of blazing fire sprung from the clawed hand.

Barely alive, Taelin the ranger used his camouflage ability to hide, and run away. But that was before he met the hugh, unnatural gauth..."

 

[Noldor Elf]

As the spell does xD6 damage, could it be neutral named Aganna's Scorcher, which has always been a ray?

 

[Taluron]

Aganazar's Scorcher is not a ray. It is a 5" line extending to close range. Catches everything in the path with no touch attack required. Also, it uses d8's.