Subschool of infernal challenger.


Rules Questions


So... while trying to give hopeful advice to someone asking whether infernal challenger should have a would-be Hellknight fighting TWO barbed devils instead of one, my advice was countermanded by a "specific overrides general." So I'm looking for clarification now.

The spell

Quote:

School conjuration (calling) [lawful]

Casting Time 1 round
Components V, S, F/DF (an iron badge or medallion)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect one called bearded devil and testing ground; see text
Duration 1 minute/level
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no

This spell summons a bearded devil, causing it to appear where you designate. The area within a 50-foot radius of where the devil appears is ringed with a smoldering, red glow. This area is the testing ground. To successfully cast this spell, no creature other than the devil’s challenger (see below) can be within this area while the spell is being cast.

On the round it appears, the devil identifies itself (typically by name and with a brief recitation of honors) and states it is prepared to do battle with a sole mortal champion. In the same round, either you or a creature you designate while casting the spell must identify the devil’s challenger. For the duration of the spell, the devil does everything in its power to kill the challenger. You do not control the devil or have any influence over how it conducts itself in battle, but the devil cannot leave the testing ground. Unlike with summon monster and similar spells, you cannot dismiss the devil. Rather, the conjured devil remains until any one of the following criteria is met: it is reduced below 0 hit points or otherwise defeated, its challenger is slain, its challenger leaves the testing ground, or it takes damage from any source other than its challenger. Upon any of these occurrences, the devil vanishes.

Conjuring a devil is typically an evil act. If cast for any purpose besides the administering of a Hellknight test, this spell has the evil descriptor.

The confusion is this.

1. Is the devil considered to be summoned or called?
This matters because bearded devils have a summon ability that can bring forth another of their kind. If the infernal challenger is summoned, then the rule that summoned monsters can't summon should(?) apply; if called, however, it's a different story.

2. Is the spell supposed to be (calling) or (summoning)?
Everything about the description, from having a duration (calls are usually instant) to abjuring the creature at 0 hp (universally true of summons, but definitely not of calls) indicates a summon spell.

Thanks all.


1. Taking it as written, ecause the description states that the devil is summoned rather than called, specific does indeed override general, and the devil cannot use its innate summoning abilities. But I wouldn't take it as written, because . . .

2. The spell subschool says "(calling)", but the description screams "(summoning)", right down to the devil vanishing at the end. I'd consider "(calling)" an editing mistake.

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