Axiom Level: 12
Skill: conjuration/water 13
Backlash: 15
Difficulty: 8
Effect Value: 0
Bonus Number to: effect
Range: touch
Duration: 22 (six hours)
Cast Time: 9 (one minute)
Manipulation: control, duration
The existence of this spell is officially denied by the College of Magic. They claim that they only teach the conjuration of potable water and the occasional spell component. But like most institutions of learning, there is the knowledge passed from teacher to student, but there is also the shadowy oral traditions passed from one generation of student to the next. "Ale" is just such a tradition, seen as a necessary tool by some, and act of rebellion or a badge of kinship by others.
Ale ("Ayslander for Beer", or so the CE joke goes) is exactly what it sounds like. It summons a volume (value of effect in liters) of a strongly fermented liquid. The caster is able to control the amount of liquid summoned during the duration of the spell, up to the maximum allowed by the effect, though if she is rendered unconscious during this time, any remaining "ale" is immediately summoned. The exact nature of the liquid is rarely discussed, and the taste leaves more than enough to be desired, but what the heck, it is free.
Ale was originally the graduation spell of a semi-talented mage hoping to impress his family, a well respected clan of brewers. The spell was ignored however, and after graduation no record of its creator's exploits are known. The spell itself was written down in the records and filed away, quickly to be forgotten as well. But as with most things, knowledge cannot be uninvented [see "Erase from Mortal Memory"],and the spell was eventually found by a group of student who had been sent to organize the records in punishment for casting synonymous air conjurations during the speech of one of the less understanding Magisters. It quickly spread to the rest of the population, and has been passed from student to student to this day regardless of the efforts of the College. It has become quite a common feature in the small pubs and taverns that ring the college, with students making many friends through their generosity, or more often, paying off their debts by filling mugs behind the bar.
One of the more interesting aspects of the spell was actually not discovered until some of these student mages were "volunteered" into Ultherions service and began to encounter other realities. In Aysle, the Law of Observation says "you drink, you get drunk, you have a hangover". (Also note that while the spell is "illusiory" - using only Magic as it's mechanism - and can be disbelieved at a difficulty of 8 - this observation means disbelief will only "banish" the Ale, and not it's effects. See below.) This is what was expected, and so this is what always occurred. But the true fact is that like all other conjured substances, the "ale" disappears at the end of the duration of the spell, and subsequently the imbiber finds themself instantly sober (though in most cases all those involved have since passed out). In those cosms that could support it, expediency quickly overcame good taste, and "ale" became the drink of choice among spell casters. Many of the more unscrupulous types have been able to turn this "instant sobriety" to their own advantage (prior attempts at sobriety spells tended to fail because by the time the mage needed them, she was too drunk to cast even the smallest cantrip), and with the application of target and duration controls, what began as a minor party trick is quickly becoming a combat spell in its own right!