New Spell: Shared Fate

[Michael Morris]

This spell went off like a lightbulb while watching The Two Towers.

The level of this spell and most of it's mechanics are largely irrelevant due to it's nature - it's a flavor spell whose existance is noteworthy, and it's level controls its rarity. Finding a copy of the spell might make for an interesting quest in some games though.

Shared Life
(Necromancy) [White]
Level: (4), Clr 5
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 hour
Duration: Instantaneous
Targets: Two creatures
Saving Throw: None (Willing Targets)
Spell Resistance: No (Willing Targets)

This spell links the lifespans of two individuals. The spell causes the time of the natural deaths of both individuals to be within one day of each other. The spell halves the remaining lifespan of the longer lived target. If the longer lived target is immortal, it loses it's immortality and the lifespan of the other target is doubled. The spell has only been cast on very rare occasions when an elf and a human fall in love and wish to spend the rest of their lives together - it is unknown if the spell will work in other circumstances with other races.

The unnatural death of either member of a shared life casting has no effect on the other as a result of shared life. The spell cannot be broken except through the use of a wish or miracle cast while each target of the spell is still alive.

Both the targets must be free-willed and willing targets or else the spell will fail. It is said the spell will also fail if the two are not truely in love - and since the spell was created by a priestess of Cuane (the Goddess of Love in Telzoa) that is quite possibly true.

Material Component: During the casting the targets cut their palms and press them together allowing their blood to comingle.
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Comments, as always, welcome.

 

[Ferret]

Don't forget that unconscious creatures count as willing....

I definatly like the spell, has plenty of potential. Say, would it work on animal companions?

 

[Torm]

Seems like in addition to Necromancy, it should be in the Cleric's standard list, too. It seems kinda like a more powerful extension of the Marriage or Ceremony spells, and those are Clerical.

 

[Michael Morris]

It is a cleric spell (clr 5). The (4) is a base level - which is the lowest level it should appear on any spellcaster's list - such as in a domain.

And no ferret - unconcious is not a willing target. A willing target must participate in the spellcasting in some fashion.

 

[Michael Morris]

Don't forget that unconscious creatures count as willing....

I definatly like the spell, has plenty of potential. Say, would it work on animal companions?

The targets have to participate in the spellcasting, which they can't do if unconcious. "Willing Target" in Art of Magic reads

"If a spell has a willing target, that means the target must participate in spellcasting in some fashion and can take no actions while the spell is being cast except for those prescribed by the spell (none in the spell requires no actions). Most often the target must chant something said by the caster, take an oath, etc. In the case of most spells a willing target must at least be free of magical compulsions to participate."

As to the animal companion bit - I leave that up in the air to the DM. The spell description states that it has only been cast on elf/human couples, and it is unknown if the spell will work in other circumstances.