Deathshroud
Deathshroud draws upon the Negative Material
Plane to surround the caster in a dark and shadowy
aura of life-draining energy. While the spellcaster
suffers no ill-effects from this baneful radiance, it
may have dire consequences for anyone who comes
into contact with the aura.
The deathshroud can be used actively in offense
and passively in defense. In combat, the wizard may
activate the deadly power of the spell by touching a
victim (requiring a successful attack roll). Any creature touched must immediately save vs. death magic
with a -4 penalty. If the roll is successful, the victim
is unharmed. If the save is failed, a black haze forms
around the victim, draining 20% of his or her current
hit points each round until the unfortunate individual dies at the end of the fifth round. The deathshroud
also serves as a passive ward or protection for the
caster. Anyone who touches the wizard or attempts
to strike him or her with any hand-held object or
melee weapon must make a saving throw vs. death
magic (with no penalties) or be stricken by the deathshroud in a similar manner.
The following spells remove the deathshroud from
an afflicted individual: Cure Critical Wounds, Heal, Limited Wish, Wish, or a successful dispel magic. Lesser curing spells and healing potions delay death only by
one round. Multiple applications of these spells or
potions may prolong a victim's life until the duration
of the spell expires. The spell may also be ended prematurely by killing or successfully employing dispel
magic on the caster (this immediately releases all
creatures afflicted by the spell).
The deathshroud remains in effect until the wizard
has successfully attacked or been attacked by a number of creatures equal to his or her current level (or
the spell's maximum duration of two rounds per
level has elapsed). Undead are not affected by this
spell. In fact, if an undead creature is attacked by a
deathshroud, it immediately gains 1 HD, and the wizard must save vs. death magic or suffer the effects of
the death shroud him- or herself.
This dreadful spell is known only to a select cadre of
necromancers who purportedly learned it from a mysterious, bronze-bound book of extraplanar origin.
The material components are consumed in the casting.
[Complete Book of Necromancers]
School: Necromancy
Level: 8
Rarity: Very Rare; Known to be in the book Oerthmagick by Nazralte G.C.
Level: 8
Rarity: Very Rare; Known to be in the book Oerthmagick by Nazralte G.C.
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special (2 rounds/level maximum)
Casting Time: 8
Area of Effect: 1 creature/ level
Saving Throw: Negates
Components: V, S, M
Duration: Special (2 rounds/level maximum)
Casting Time: 8
Area of Effect: 1 creature/ level
Saving Throw: Negates
crushed black opal and diamond (worth 5,000 gp each), dust from a corporeal undead with strong ties to the Negative Material Plane (such as a vampire or wight), and a hunk of smoky quartz
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