Telepathic Bond
School divination; Level sorcerer/wizard 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (two eggshells from two different creatures)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets you plus one willing creature per three levels, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apart
Duration 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You forge a telepathic bond among yourself and a number of willing creatures, each of which must have an Intelligence score of 3 or higher. Each creature included in the link is linked to all the others. The creatures can communicate telepathically through the bond regardless of language. No special power or influence is established as a result of the bond. Once the bond is formed, it works over any distance (although not from one plane to another).
If desired, you may leave yourself out of the telepathic bond forged. This decision must be made at the time of casting.
Telepathic bond can be made permanent with a permanency spell, though it only bonds two creatures per casting of permanency.
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Okay, here are the questions:
1) Lets say your party just encountered a creature who has yet to attack you. However, sadly this creature does not speak any language that your party understands. My question is this:
Can you cast Telepathic Bond and include that creature, so all of you can properly communicate? (keep in mind that the spell does not allow a save, but only stipulates that the target must be willing)
2) Question 2: let us say that your party encounters another group of creatures who are acting somewhat 'hostile' towards you, but have yet to actually attack (they are essentially shouting and/or motioning for the party to leave the area for instance). Would telepathic bond work then (basically as a means of establishing communication)?
3) Let us say that this group of creatures is already attacking you (for reasons you and your party don't understand, obviously due to the language barrier). Would telepathic bond work then?
I guess what I'm really asking is this: what exactly constitutes a 'willing creature'?
From the "Aiming a Spell" section of the Magic rules...
Unconscious creatures are automatically considered willing, but a character who is conscious but immobile or helpless (such as one who is bound, cowering, grappling, paralyzed, pinned, or stunned) is not automatically willing.
This still doesn't necessarily answer your questions, but it should form the basis.
Since telepathic bond requires verbal and somatic components, unless the casting is somehow hidden or its intent somehow made clear before it is cast--as you pointed out, it may result in the situation getting worse.
I would allow my players to attempt Diplomacy at a -5 to attempt to communicate the intention of the spell through non-verbal clues--though in the case of certain creatures, they may not be receptive to magic of any kind.
I would think it works like a telephone call.
You cast the spell, and they either answer it, or hangup.
This.