The witch hunt trials in Salem were a series of events that took place in the late 17th century in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. These trials were a dark chapter in American history and resulted in the execution of 20 people, mostly women, who were accused of practicing witchcraft. The hysteria began in 1692 when a group of young girls claimed to have been possessed by witches. This sparked a wave of accusations, and soon many people in the community were being accused of witchcraft. The trials relied heavily on spectral evidence, which was the testimony of the possessed girls claiming to see the accused witches in the form of a specter or ghost. The trials were conducted in a highly religious and superstitious environment, with the Puritan church playing a significant role in fueling the hysteria.
Whether you can counterspell spell-like abilities is still stuck in errata. One place in the rule book says you can, another place says you cannot.
The hard way is to plan ahead, ready an action for a spellcaster to begin casting a spell, then when he does, you interrupt him by cating the same spell as a counterspell, or by casting Dispel Magic as a counterspell. I believe what the rules are trying to say about instantaneous spell effects is that say the wizard goes and casts fireball, and does its damage, and then it s your turn, you cannot cast dispel magic on it.
The trials were conducted in a highly religious and superstitious environment, with the Puritan church playing a significant role in fueling the hysteria. The accused witches were seen as agents of the devil and were believed to have made a pact with Satan in exchange for supernatural powers. In an attempt to prove their innocence, the accused witches were subjected to various forms of torture, including being dunked underwater or tied up and left out in the cold.
Dispel Magic
School abjuration; Level antipaladin 3, bard 3, cleric/oracle 3, druid 4, inquisitor 3, magus 3, medium 3, mesmerist 3, occultist 3, paladin 3, psychic 3, shaman 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, spiritualist 3 , summoner/unchained summoner 3, witch 3; Domain magic 3; Subdomain entropy 3; Bloodline arcane 3; Elemental School void 3; Mystery spellscar 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target or Area one spellcaster, creature, or object
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You can use dispel magic to end one ongoing spell that has been cast on a creature or object, to temporarily suppress the magical abilities of a magic item, or to counter another spellcaster’s spell. A dispelled spell ends as if its duration had expired. Some spells, as detailed in their descriptions, can’t be defeated by dispel magic. Dispel magic can dispel (but not counter) spell-like effects just as it does spells. The effect of a spell with an instantaneous duration can’t be dispelled, because the magical effect is already over before the dispel magic can take effect.
You choose to use dispel magic in one of two ways: a targeted dispel or a counterspell.
Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make one dispel check (1d20 + your caster level) and compare that to the spell with highest caster level (DC = 11 + the spell’s caster level). If successful, that spell ends. If not, compare the same result to the spell with the next highest caster level. Repeat this process until you have dispelled one spell affecting the target, or you have failed to dispel every spell.
For example, a 7th-level caster casts dispel magic, targeting a creature affected by stoneskin (caster level 12th) and fly (caster level 6th). The caster level check results in a 19. This check is not high enough to end the stoneskin (which would have required a 23 or higher), but it is high enough to end the fly (which only required a 17). Had the dispel check resulted in a 23 or higher, the stoneskin would have been dispelled, leaving the fly intact. Had the dispel check been a 16 or less, no spells would have been affected.
You can also use a targeted dispel to specifically end one spell affecting the target or one spell affecting an area (such as a wall of fire). You must name the specific spell effect to be targeted in this way. If your caster level check is equal to or higher than the DC of that spell, it ends. No other spells or effects on the target are dispelled if your check is not high enough to end the targeted effect.
If you target an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by summon monster), you make a dispel check to end the spell that conjured the object or creature.
If the object that you target is a magic item, you make a dispel check against the item’s caster level (DC = 11 + the item’s caster level). If you succeed, all the item’s magical properties are suppressed for 1d4 rounds, after which the item recovers its magical properties. A suppressed item becomes nonmagical for the duration of the effect. An interdimensional opening (such as a bag of holding) is temporarily closed. A magic item’s physical properties are unchanged: A suppressed magic sword is still a sword (a masterwork sword, in fact). Artifacts and deities are unaffected by mortal magic such as this.
You automatically succeed on your dispel check against any spell that you cast yourself.
Counterspell: When dispel magic is used in this way, the spell targets a spellcaster and is cast as a counterspell. Unlike a true counterspell, however, dispel magic may not work; you must make a dispel check to counter the other spellcaster’s spell.
Dispel Magic, Greater
School abjuration; Level bard 5, cleric/oracle 6, druid 6, inquisitor 6, magus 6, occultist 5, psychic 6, shaman 6, sorcerer/wizard 6, spiritualist 6 , summoner/unchained summoner 5, witch 6; Domain liberation 6; Bloodline celestial 6; Elemental School void 6
Target or Area one spellcaster, creature, or object; or a 20-ft.-radius burst
This spell functions like dispel magic, except that it can end more than one spell on a target and it can be used to target multiple creatures.
You choose to use greater dispel magic in one of three ways: a targeted dispel, area dispel, or a counterspell:
Targeted Dispel: This functions as a targeted dispel magic, but it can dispel one spell for every four caster levels you possess, starting with the highest level spells and proceeding to lower level spells.
Additionally, greater dispel magic has a chance to dispel any effect that remove curse can remove, even if dispel magic can’t dispel that effect. The DC of this check is equal to the curse’s DC.
Area Dispel: When greater dispel magic is used in this way, the spell affects everything within a 20-foot-radius burst. Roll one dispel check and apply that check to each creature in the area, as if targeted by dispel magic. For each object within the area that is the target of one or more spells, apply the dispel check as with creatures. Magic items are not affected by an area dispel.
For each ongoing area or effect spell whose point of origin is within the area of the greater dispel magic spell, apply the dispel check to dispel the spell. For each ongoing spell whose area overlaps that of the greater dispel magic spell, apply the dispel check to end the effect, but only within the overlapping area.
If an object or creature that is the effect of an ongoing spell (such as a monster summoned by summon monster) is in the area, apply the dispel check to end the spell that conjured that object or creature (returning it whence it came) in addition to attempting to dispel one spell targeting the creature or object.
You may choose to automatically succeed on dispel checks against any spell that you have cast.
Counterspell: This functions as dispel magic, but you receive a +4 bonus on your dispel check to counter the other spellcaster’s spell.
Mythic
When used as a targeted dispel, this spell can end two spells affecting the target instead of just one. If the targeted dispel successfully dispels at least one spell, you heal 1d4 points of damage for every spell level of the dispelled spell. If you dispel two spells, this healing applies only to the highest-level spell dispelled. If you use this spell to counterspell, roll your dispel check twice and take the higher result.
Section 15: Copyright NoticePathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. © 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Mythic Adventures © 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors: Jason Bulmahn, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, Sean K Reynolds, Dennis Baker, Jesse Benner, Ben Bruck, Jim Groves, Tim Hitchcock, Tracy Hurley, Jonathan Keith, Jason Nelson, Tom Phillips, Ryan Macklin, F. Wesley Schneider, Amber Scott, Tork Shaw, Russ Taylor, and Ray Vallese.
Pg 209
Dispel Magic as a Counterspell: You can usually use dispel
magic to counterspell another spell being cast without
needing to identify the spell being cast. Dispel magic doesn’t
always work as a counterspell (see the spell description).
The trials were heavily biased and manipulated, with the court often assuming guilt before innocence. One of the most infamous cases of the Salem witch trials was the execution of Rebecca Nurse, an elderly woman known for her piousness and good character. Despite having a strong reputation in the community, she was found guilty based on spectral evidence and hanged. The trials eventually came to an end when the governor's wife was accused of witchcraft. This accusation forced the governor to put an end to the hearings and release the remaining prisoners. The witch hunt trials in Salem left a lasting legacy of the dangers of mass hysteria, religious fanaticism, and the importance of due process and rule of law..
Reviews for "The Salem Witch Trials and the Development of American Legal Practices"
- John Doe - 2/5 stars - The play "Witch Hunt Trials in Salem" was a disappointment for me. The storyline seemed predictable and lacked depth. I expected to be captivated by the historical context and the dramatic events surrounding the witch trials, but instead, it felt like a superficial retelling. The acting was mediocre, and the characters lacked believability. Overall, it failed to evoke any strong emotions or leave a lasting impression. I wouldn't recommend this play to those seeking a thought-provoking or immersive experience.
- Jane Smith - 1/5 stars - "Witch Hunt Trials in Salem" was a complete waste of my time and money. The production was poorly staged, with minimal effort put into the set design and costumes. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. The pacing was off, and it felt like the story dragged on unnecessarily. I found it difficult to stay engaged throughout the entire performance. Overall, it was a lackluster production that failed to live up to my expectations. I would strongly advise against seeing this play if you're looking for an enjoyable theater experience.
- Sarah Johnson - 2/5 stars - I was excited to see "Witch Hunt Trials in Salem" because I find the historical period fascinating. However, the play didn't live up to my expectations. The acting was decent, but the script lacked depth and failed to explore the complex themes surrounding the Salem witch trials. I left the theater feeling unsatisfied and wanting more. The production could have delved deeper into the psychological aspects of the characters and the societal pressures that led to the witch trials. Overall, it was an underwhelming experience for me.