Corpse Link

Necromancy, Alteration
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Close
Effect: Caster
Duration: 10 minutes/caster level
Saving Throw: No
Spell Resistance: No

With this versatile spell, you establish a sensory link between yourself and a corpse or freshly animated zombie of a human, demihuman, or humanoid within 10 yards per level of the caster. This link allows you to gather sensory information from the vicinity of the cadaver or undead being. For every three levels of experience past the 1st, you gain the ability to collect information from an additional sense via the corpse link. At 4th level, for instance, you may choose up to two senses (up to three at 7th level, four at 10th level, and all five at 13th level).

         Sight: You can see what the corpse or undead creature sees as if looking through one of the creature's eyes.

        Sound: You can now hear through one ear, exactly as if standing at the corpse's current location (you can use your listen skill too).

         Smell: With one nostril, you can now smell things exactly as if standing at the corpse's current location. The spell conveniently masks the putrefying stench of the cadaver (if any) so that subtle variations of aroma (like the scent of a rose) can easily be detected.

         Taste: You can taste any substance which is introduced into the corpse's mouth. The substance (which may be solid or liquid) tastes exactly as if you had placed it on one side of your own tongue. This can be especially useful when checking for poison in food or identifying unknown potions. Thankfully, the taste of the corpse's own rotting flesh can be masked out by the spell.

          Touch: You gain the ability to sense the textural and environmental conditions, with a single hand, as if standing at the corpse's location. You can gauge the surface texture and temperature of any object or substance which is placed in contact with the corresponding hand of the corpse.

The type and number of sensory signals is chosen by you at the time of casting, and cannot be changed for the duration of the spell. You collect all the sensory information through a single organ (eye, ear, nostril, half of the tongue, or hand) belonging to the corpse or undead recipient. This organ need not be attached to the rest of the cadaver for the spell to function properly.

While the spell is in effect, you can still see/hear/smell/taste/touch normally through other (unlinked) organs. For example, you harvest the left eye from a fresh cadaver (with a successful Anatomy ability check) and places it on a high ledge, with a strategic view of a front door. If the spell is now cast, your left eye would be able to see through the left eye of the corpse and spy on any visitors, while your right eye remains normal.

Furthermore, if the target of the spell is a zombie, the magic enables you to issue simple commands to the undead creature via this link. The commands can be no longer than four words and can deal only with the creature's movement (turn left, walk forward two steps, and so on) If either you or the undead creature moves beyond the range of the spell, the effects are negated. Corpse link does not impart any animation to dead tissue; if cast on a regular cadaver, it remains stationary for the duration of the spell.

The material component is a fresh corpse or a newly-animated zombie. Unless some form of preservative magic has been employed to protect the corpse's decaying sensory organs (such as embalm or spirit bind), this spell cannot be employed on the remains of one who has been dead for longer than 1 day per level of the caster. This spell also requires the appropriate sensory organ of an animal or monster noted for its keen senses (such as the eyes of a hawk, ear of a rabbit, snout of a pig, and so on).

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