The spell creates a globe of absolute protection, centered on and mobile with the creature touched. The sphere protects those within from any attack by creatures from the Lower Planes. These include baatezu, tanar'ri, yugoloths, gehreleths, night hags, and similar creatures. Their magic resistance is not a factor, nor can they dispel the protection by any means. Unlike most other protection spells, protected individuals can launch attacks from inside the sphere on creatures that are hedged out. Forcing the protection against a trapped fiend still ends the protection immediately. Otherwise, the effect of the spell varies with the caster's level.
At 9th level, the protection cannot be penetrated by creatures with fewer Hit Dice than the caster's level.
At 12th level, the protection cannot be penetrated by creatures of less than demipower status.
The material component is a powder containing a substance inimical to the type of fiend to be hedged out; for example, silver (baatezu) or iron (tanar'ri). The powder is scattered in a circle around the protected creature during the casting.
Notes: Uncommon priests with major access to the sphere of numbers; otherwise, rare.
Errata: add missing text: This spell fails instantly if the creature it is centered on crosses a planar or dimensional boundary of any sort; for example, plane shift, teleportation, phase shifting, entering or leaving an extradimensional space, or using a dimensional gate or portal.