stay the hand

• School enchantment (compulsion) [
  • mind-affecting
  ]
• Spell Lists
  • paladin 4
• Casting Time 1 immediate action
• Components V, S, DF
• Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
• Target(s) one creature
• Duration 1/round per level and special; see text
• Saving Throw Will partial
• Spell Resistance true

You cause a creature’s arm to waver and prevent it from striking another creature. You can cast this spell when the target is about to make a melee attack against another creature. On a failed saving throw, the target does not follow through with its attack, and its entire action is wasted for the round. On a successful saving throw, the target can make its attack, forcing its strike though the compulsion but losing both accuracy and power, taking a –5 penalty on its attack and damage rolls. Whether or not the target makes its initial save or not, it is subject to a –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls against the creature it originally targeted for the duration of the spell.