Nondetection and Divination Spells

[Ogrork the Mighty]

A creature under the effect of nondetection steals a gem. The spell expires. The gem's owner casts a divination spell (e.g., commune) and asks, "Who stole my gem?"

Is the thief identified or not? Does the nondetection make subsequent divination attempts fail? Or does nondetection have to be active at the time the divination spell is cast?

From the SRD:

Nondetection

Abjuration
Level: Rgr 4, Sor/Wiz 3, Trickery 3 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Touch Target: Creature or object touched Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless, object) Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless, object)

The warded creature or object becomes difficult to detect by divination spells such as clairaudience/clairvoyance, locate object, and detect spells. Nondetection also prevents location by such magic items as crystal balls. If a divination is attempted against the warded creature or item, the caster of the divination must succeed on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against a DC of 11 + the caster level of the spellcaster who cast nondetection. If you cast nondetection on yourself or on an item currently in your possession, the DC is 15 + your caster level.

If cast on a creature, nondetection wards the creature’s gear as well as the creature itself.

Material Component: A pinch of diamond dust worth 50 gp.

 

[Infiniti2000]

A creature under the effect of nondetection steals a gem. The spell expires. The gem's owner casts a divination spell (e.g., commune) and asks, "Who stole my gem?"

First of all, commune is not a divination spell like "clairaudience/clairvoyance, locate object, and detect spells." So, IMO it would not protect against it. Otoh, keep in mind that the answer "a thief" is possible, albeit useless, depending on the deity's interests.

Is the thief identified or not? Does the nondetection make subsequent divination attempts fail? Or does nondetection have to be active at the time the divination spell is cast?

I quite honestly don't understand the reason for your question. Do you really think that nondetection continues to function after it ends? How is that even possible?

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

I quite honestly don't understand the reason for your question. Do you really think that nondetection continues to function after it ends? How is that even possible?

No need to be snarky. :\

The question came up at our last session. Someone wants to steal an item but doesn't want to be tracked down by divination spells later on. They hit upon the idea of casting nondetection at the time the item was stolen. So the question came up, will subsequent divination spells work since the answer involves someone who was protected from divination at the time the incident in question occurred. Think of it as watching a video surveillance tape after the fact; if the thief wasn't "captured" on tape at the time, he/she wouldn't show up later on.

 

[Infiniti2000]

No need to be snarky. :\

My apologies, I really didn't intend to. I can now see that tone in my post and I honestly didn't mean it.

The question came up at our last session. Someone wants to steal an item but doesn't want to be tracked down by divination spells later on. They hit upon the idea of casting nondetection at the time the item was stolen. So the question came up, will subsequent divination spells work since the answer involves someone who was protected from divination at the time the incident in question occurred. Think of it as watching a video surveillance tape after the fact; if the thief wasn't "captured" on tape at the time, he/she wouldn't show up later on.

The simple answer is no. Nondetection only works while it's "running." There's no exception noted in the spell that it works during some specific act(s) committed in the past.

 

[Bad Paper]

Commune

A creature under the effect of nondetection steals a gem. The spell expires. The gem's owner casts a divination spell (e.g., commune) and asks, "Who stole my gem?"

"Yes."

You contact your deity—or agents thereof —and ask questions that can be answered by a simple yes or no.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

"Yes."

"In cases where a one-word answer would be misleading or contrary to the deity’s interests, a short phrase (five words or less) may be given as an answer instead."

Thats's why it pays to read the rest of the spell.