Witchcraft • Legacy Fear Cry
Schreck
Schreck is a supernatural scream that overwhelms weaker creatures with fear. It is preserved as a legacy d20 Witch and Sorcerer/Wizard spell.
Schreck at a Glance
| 5.5e / 2024 | No direct conversion published here |
|---|---|
| 5e / 2014 | No direct conversion published here |
| Pathfinder 1e | Not on the Pathfinder Witch list by default |
| D&D 3.x Legacy | Witch 5, Sorcerer/Wizard 5 |
Spell Rules by Edition
5.5e / 2024
Status: no direct conversion is published here. Use modern fear magic and the Frightened condition.
5e / 2014
Status: no direct conversion is published here.
Pathfinder 1e
Status: not a Pathfinder Witch spell by default.
D&D 3.x Legacy
| School | Enchantment (Compulsion) |
|---|---|
| Level | Witch 5, Sorcerer/Wizard 5 |
| Components | V |
| Casting Time | 1 action |
| Area | 20-foot area in the legacy text |
| Duration | Instantaneous |
| Saving Throw | See text |
| Spell Resistance | Yes |
Creatures of 5 Hit Dice or fewer are affected by fear automatically under the original rules. Creatures above 5 HD can save to resist; creatures above 10 HD are unaffected.
Constructs, undead, elementals and outsiders are immune under the legacy text. The scream itself is the verbal component; there is no separate material component.
What Changed?
No modern conversion is assumed. The Hit-Dice thresholds, automatic fear and creature-type immunities belong to the older d20 rules.
Using Schreck in Play
Schreck is crowd-control magic aimed at weaker enemies. Against stronger foes the spell becomes less reliable and eventually ineffective.
Mythical Context
The terrifying face of Medusa became a protective symbol because fear itself could be turned back against an enemy. Schreck can evoke that instant when courage fails at a sight no ordinary foe could produce. See the Metropolitan Museum’s essay on Medusa.
Historical Context
Roman protective gems could carry images intended to avert hostile powers, including the evil eye. Their survival documents the symbolic uses of fear and protection, not a historically demonstrated fear spell. See the Metropolitan Museum’s Roman protective carnelian.
Rules Sources and Licensing
Legacy source: Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks.
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