Spell: Animate Dead Upon Death

[Chaldfont]

I need a spell that acts exactly like animate dead except that the targets are one or more creatures. When these creatures die, they are animated as either a zombie or skeleton. One could allow a Will save if the target is unwilling. I have not decided if the duration would be instantaneous or "until triggered" (which would make it subject to dispelling).

Any reason why this could not be a third level spell, just like animate dead? Or should it be a 4th level spell?

[DreamChaser]

Well, you've pretty much described your spell. Here are some stats. (btw, Animate Dead already wooks on one or more targets)

Rise Again
Necromancy (Evil)
Level: Sor/Wiz ?, Cl ? (depends on other things)
Components: V, S, M, (F) (DF)
Casting Time: 1 action or 10 minutes
Range: touch or special
Targets: one creature touched or one creature per level
Duration: instantaneous
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates or none
Spell Resistance: Yes

I figure that the spell could have two forms: the quick one and the more ghastly one. The quick one requires an incantation and touch but it is not really designed for combat (instant duration...touch range). The other form is designed as something akin to a curse.

You can make subjects doomed to rise as skeletons or zombies (your choice) 10 minutes after they die. If the bodies are completely destroyed by the death or in the minutes immediately after, the spell has no effect. In addition, raising or resurrecting the corpse before this spell is triggered does not invalidate the spell, it simply pushes its function back.

There are two versions of this spell: the touch and the curse. The touch can be used on only one creature that must be touched but that creature gets a Forititude save to resist the spell. The curse can only be used on creatures that the caster has some sample from (hair, skin, etc) and a single casting can affect a number of targets up the the casters level. If this version is cast, the targets are not allowed saving throws but SR can still protect them.

This spell can not be dispelled normally, although a remove curse cast by a caster of a level at least equal to yours can end its effect but only after the target's death. A wish or similar spell can remove the spell completely.

Material Components: The material component of the touch version of this spell is black onyx dust worth at least 100 gp which must be wiped on the target when the spell is cast. The curse version of the spell requires a tissue sample from each of the targets, 100 gp of onyx dust per target, and the skull of a skeleton animated by you.

Focus: for the curse you need a black diamond bowl worth at least 2,500 gp that has been soaked in blood for at least 1 month. The other materials are placed in the bowl for the casting of the spell. The bowl must be undisturbed for 1 week after it is used to cast this spell or the spell is undone.

I am thinking that maybe level 5 or 6 would be good for this. What do you think.

Hope that helps you out.

[Chaldfont]

There are indeed two, very fun ways to go about this spell, and maybe they should be two different spells. The one I need for my next session will be used specifically for shock value. The vision of recently-slain foes rising as undead to fight again is playing in my mind alongside the shocked looks on my player's faces.

I don't care how long it takes to cast the spell--my evil orc cleric is going to cast it on his followers before battle is joined. What I do need is nearly instant results. How about:

1d3 rounds after the subject is slain, it rises as either a skeleton or zombie (as though it had been the subject of an animate dead spell).

I also propose that this form of the spell require a Will save to resist, as willing zealots in the evil cleric's flock will voluntarily fail their save.

The other form, which I don't need, but is equally cool, is the curse of undeath. This one could even be the plot hook of a horror adventure where the dead rise every night after burial. Maybe a town recently inflicted with plague or some natural disaster hires the PCs to investigate.

So lets try this:

Rise Again
Necromancy (Evil)
Level: Sor/Wiz 6, Clr 4, Death 4
one could argue one or two levels higher for the added delay function, but its only more useful because you do not have to cast animate dead in the middle of combat
Components: V, S, M, (DF)
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: touch
Targets: one creature per level
Duration: instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

You can make subjects doomed to rise as skeletons or zombies (your choice) 1d3 rounds after they die. If the bodies are completely destroyed by the death or in the minutes immediately after, the spell has no effect. In addition, raising or resurrecting the corpse before this spell is triggered does not invalidate the spell, it simply pushes its function back.

This spell can not be dispelled normally, although a remove curse cast by a caster of a level at least equal to yours can end its effect but only after the target's death. A wish or similar spell can remove the spell completely. I like this part--I imagine a party cleric hastily casting remove curse before his fallen companion's corpse is desecrated by the negative energies of undeath!

Material Components: The material component of this spell is black onyx dust and ink worth at least 100 gp which must be tatooed on the target when the spell is cast.

[Limper]

I'll just have to chime in.

I like it. Might it not be the most fun as a curse? Maybe with some arcane XP costing tatoo process. This is a lovely way to say "I hate you".