Protection from Undead

[Morrow]

In my Swashbuckling in Freeport campaign, one of the players is running a cleric who is attempting to found a church for the undead. The character is looking for a spell or magic item that would allow him to approach undead creature for the purpose of proselytizing without worrying that they are going to attack as soon as they see him. My first thought is the sanctuary spell, but the duration is too short, even if used with extend spell. A magic item that would grant sanctuary as a continuous effect might be better but I think that might be too much of an advantage in other circumstances. Are there any spells or magic items that might keep undead from attacking that would be available to low-level characters (under 5th level)? Thanks.

Morrow

 

[Pinotage]

Hide from Undead?

Pinotage

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Death Ward would certainly take the sting out of undead who rely on level draining effects?

If they didn't worship an anti-undead god, I'd allow the cleric to use turn undead to keep the undead at bay, rather than actively turning/destroying/rebuking them - but that belongs in house rules.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Hide from Undead?

He wants the undead to still see him, just not kill him...

I know there are spells that will allow you to look like an undead yourself, I'm just having trouble finding them in the SRD. Considering the cleric's focus, If I were DM, I'd let him use his Turn Undead ability to allow him to make an undead pause and listen long enough to make his pitch.

And by the way, I'm so stealing that. Converting the undead. Nuttier than a fruitcake, but I can use it.

 

[Morrow]

And by the way, I'm so stealing that. Converting the undead. Nuttier than a fruitcake, but I can use it.

Glad you like it. It's pretty fun. I can't take credit, though. The player worked this one out on her own. The cleric's god is all about fairness and treating everyone equally, including the undead. This cleric has decided that he is going to found a temple in Freeport to minister to the city's undead citizens and care for their spiritual needs.

As you said, hide from undead isn't appropriate in this case because the character wants to be seen. Now that you mention it, there may be a spell that disguises a living caster as an undead creature. That might work really well. Maybe it's in Libre Mortis. I'll have to check.

Rebuking Undead is the obvious way to go, but the player is concerned (and rightly so) that the cleric will end up seeking out undead who are really too tough for his level and he'll get jumped and eaten before for he has time to rebuke anybody.

Morrow

 

[ThirdWizard]

Well in an upcoming game, my players will have the option of working with a Dustman who might be able to get certain undead not to attack them, some intelligent ones anyway. He has the Dead Truce which means that no undead will attack him as long as he doesn't attack them. Works for Planescape, but not much else, unless you grab the idea of making a pact with some entity allowing a truce between him and the undead.

 

[Morrow]

The spell I was thinking of isn't in Libris Mortis, or any of the outer sources I checked. Back to the drawing board.

The player suggested that the sanctuary idea might be more balanced if it was made into a magic item like a magical powder that you spread in a protective circle. The sanctuary would only apply within the circle. You'd have a long sanctuary effect, say a couple hours, which is what she's looking for. However you wouldn't be able to move around and it would be a one-shot item, which would limit abuse. You could even limit it to only working against undead, which is all the character is looking for anyway. I should stat that up and see how it looks.

Morrow

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

There's a spell in Magic of Faerun that does what you're looking for - but only for unintelligent undead - intelligent undead can potentially see through it. Its a 2nd level wizard spell, Shroud of Death or Undeath, I can't recall which. There may be an updated version in the 3.5 FR books somewhere....

 

[Evilhalfling]

Air walk? only the incorpral ones fly -
link that with a deathward, and a vigor - as even spectors only do 1d8 physical damage.
or just turn them until they are cornered then preach at them.

 

[Shin Okada]

Feat : Extend Spell, Persistent Spell, Divine Metamagic (Persistent Spell)
Spell : Repulsion (7th-level Cleric Spell).

Now by sacrificing 6 turning attempts, he can make the duration of Repulsion spells into 24 hours.

But many DMs consider this combo (Metamagic (Persistent Spell)) as an overpowered one and banniing it.