Spells of Mass Destruction

[William Ronald]

While it is true that the original versions of these spells were never detailed, it's a little-known fact that there were personalized versions developed that did receive some detail.

In Reverse Dungeon, one of the last 2E products, there's a false Mace of St. Cuthbert that has, in the hollow part of the mace, the writings for invoked devastation and rain of colorless fire as 10th level spells. It goes on to stress that these are not the original versions, but less-powerful ones meant for use by only a single caster. Casting these spells kills the caster, but also utterly destroys everything in a half-mile (or was it a mile?) radius.

Of course, as William pointed out, the original Rain of Colorless Fire did indeed leave cities behind, but then, these are close approximations, and not the original spells.

The Rain of Colorless Fire, which the Baklunish cast in retaliation for the Invoked Devastation, left some ruins in the middle of the Sea of Dust, where the Suel Imperium once stood. The Invoked Devastation, apparently, destroyed the cities of the Baklunish Empire, many rivers, and many people. There were some survivors, including the man who would one day become the Baklunish demigod Al'Akbar. So, no cities left on either side, one empire (the Baklunish) largely made into desert, and the other turned into the nearly uninhabitable Sea of Dust. The Suel that went into the Flanaess were generally those fleeing their empire years earlier or only hours earlier, such as the founders of the Scarlet Brotherhood.

There are many ways to destroy a world.

Alzrius, I remember knowing that Reverse Dungeon was released, but I did not know the spells were in the adventure. Thanks for bringing that up!