Dragon 248
Dragon 248
2e
Zombie Lord: Faluzure's Curse spell.
Faluzure's Curse
(Necromancy)
Sphere: Necromantic
Level: 4
Range: 0
Components: V, M
Duration: 1 turn/level
Casting Time: 3
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None
When this nefarious spell is cast, the dragon is surrounded by a layer of necromantic energy. This aura is completely invisible and cannot be detected by any means save for magic specifically designed to detect necromantic energies; a simple detect magic does not suffice.
While the spell lasts, any creature slain by the dragon via tooth and claw (or other body weapon, such as a tail or wing), rises as a zombie lord 24 hours later. These creatures are under the control of the dragon, and their loyalty cannot be swayed by any means, though they can be turned as usual. However, the number of zombie lords that can be animated via this spell cannot exceed the dragon's hit dice. Additional undead simply do not rise. This assumes, of course, that the dragon doesn't eat a slam victim prior to animation; consumed bodies are exempt from the effect. Obviously, this spell is useless against the undead, but creatures without corporeal bodies, other-planar creatures that can be categorized as “immortal” (e.g., fiends, elementals, etc.), and creatures native (or strongly linked) to the Negative Energy plane are immune to the spell as well. Similarly, any creature with a natural or magically-induced immunity to necromantic magic, or one that simply cannot be raised as an undead creature, is not susceptible to this spell.
The material component for this spell is the dragon's holy symbol. The symbol is not consumed by the spell.
This spell is granted only to those dragons who worship Faluzure.* Spell scrolls are safeguarded so that, if used by any other creature, the undead produced by the magic immediately attack the caster and persist until either they or the caster is slam. Should the caster be slain during such a battle, the necromantic energies that sustain the undead creatures ends, allowing their spirits to depart to the appropriate outer plane.
* Faluzure, the dragon god of death and decay, is detailed in Council of Wyrms, book two, page 48.