Copyright © 2001 by Robert J. Hall

These spells are newly unearthed additions to the grimoire of the dreaded Necromancer. Many of these powers are unique or little known beyond their place of discovery. Spells that do not require END to maintain have their endurance cost in parentheses.

Army of Darkness

This potent spell can be used to raise a small army of undead beings to serve the Wizard. Any number of undead can be raised, worth a total of 100 points in summoning. Of course, once the undead are summoned, the Necromancer will still need to find some means with which to command the fetid horde.

Bone Club

Grasping the hilt of a lengthy bone, the Necromancer can empower the item with the purified spirit of death, increasing the lethality of the weapon whenever it strikes a living being. This death spirit will penetrate most armor, sending an icy cold chill through the target. The actual damage inflicted by the bone depends on the shape and mass. A typical human thigh bone will function as a club, causing 4d6 normal damage, plus an additional 3d6 from this spell. This spell has no effect on already dead creatures, such as skeletons or zombies.

Death Form

This spell allows the Necromancer to assume the form of any undead being he has observed. However, the Necromancer does not gain any of the special abilities of the new form. When combined with the Simulate Death ability, this allows the Necromancer to appear to be a long-dead corpse.

Death Lord

By summoning the powers of the angel of death, this spell grants the Necromancer command over all but the most powerful Undead within the effected area. The undead can then be controlled for as long as they remain within sight. The focus for this spell is a normal scythe.

Death Wind

When this spell is cast, a howling, swirling wind appears around the necromancer that seems to spring from the very bowels of death. Whispy spirits appear and begin to strip the flesh from bones. No amount of armor provides protection from this deadly wind and within minutes any victims have been transformed into animated skeletons to serve the whims of the necromancer.

Discern Undead

This spell of detection will reveal to the caster the presence and location of undead nearby. The entities, when viewed by means of a cracked mirror, glow with a sickly-green, ghostly afterimage that resembles their form at the moment of death.

Dismiss Undead

A little-used Necromantic spell, this incantation allows the Wizard to dismiss an undead entity to the nether plane from whence he was summoned. This spell is more effective on ground sanctified by a "good" religion, but is seriously weakened on the unholy ground of an "evil" religion. The focus for this spell is some dirt from a graveyard.

Grasping Hands of Death

The ghastly hands of many corpses reach up through the earth to grasp the legs of any victims on the surface. Anybody caught by the hands is able to pull their way free, but movement is severely hindered. When the spell expires or is dispelled, the hands withdraw back into the earth.

Lich Transformation

Long a closely held secret of a few select Magi, this dark ritual allows a powerful Necromancer to transform himself into the dreaded Lich. The transformation is total, and can only be reversed by raising the Lich from the dead. The focus for this spell is a 100 year-old grave stone which is used to store the 'soul' of the Necromancer.

Locate Cadaver

Much valued among Necromancers and grave robbers, this spell allows the caster to locate an intact corpse in the vicinity, even if buried deep underground. However, the sense is blocked by glass or solid stone. This spell requires a skeletal hand, which will point in the direction of the nearest corpse.

Pallor of Death

Upon touching the target, the victim of this spell will take on a pale, sickly hue, and become resistant to any form of healing magic. Anybody who touches the victim will also suffer the effects of this contagious curse. The pallor will remain in effect until a successful Dispel Magic is cast; the victim stands in bright sunlight; or enters ground sanctified by a "good" religion.

Regenerating Skeleton

Skeletons effected by this spell will automatically regenerate into their prior form a minute after they are dispatched. This can provide a nasty surprise for any foes who neglect their backside after defeating the original pack. Note that this spell requires nearly as much time to cast as animating the original skeletons, so it is normally used for preparation well in advance of any combat.

Stillborn

By means of this despicable spell, the Necromancer can cause a female to become barren, or deliver a stillborn child. This spell is little used by the death magi, but it has sometimes proven useful, especially against enemies among the nobility. The focus for this spell is a pure white rabbit which is slain upon casting the spell.

One known non-magical means to recover from this condition is to obtain the blessing of a god through a pilgrimage to a holy site, thereupon making a suitable sacrifice.

Summon Skulk

When cast upon a humanoid skull, this spell animates the head by binding the original spirit and giving it limited powers of flight and observation. The skull is mentally linked to the Necromancer and can serve as his spy or scout. The skull retains a few fragments of its original knowledge and personality, but lacks the willpower to resist the commands of its new master.

Undead Aura

Upon casting this spell, the target gains a faint green aura that gives him an especially commanding presence among undead creatures. Even the most powerful undead beings will seek to placate the empowered being. Maintaining this spell for several phases can increase the target's PRE versus undead by a maximum of +30.

Undead Repair

This spell will repair any damage that has been suffered by an undead creature. The healing will also effect any desolidified undead, such as a Shadow.

Unholy Defiance

This uncommon spell protects undead beings from the special presence attacks of holy men. Only normal presence attacks will have any effect on these undead. A maximum of 8 undead can be effected by each application of this spell, and they must remain within view of the Necromancer.

Wail of the Banshee

With this spell, the wailing of the Necromancer calls forth the ancient curse of the Banshee upon the target of the spell. Within a few days, the subject will suffer a life threatening accident.

Wall of Bones

Upon casting this spell, all sorts of bones emerge from the surrounding earth to form a solid, interlocking wall. The focus for this spell is powdered bone.

Wither Limb

Upon casting this spell, the selected limb of the target turns a sickly pallor, then gradually withers before his eyes. If the spell remains in effect for a sufficient length of time, then the target suffers a permanent physical limitation. Otherwise, the appendage will gradually return to its normal state. The withered limb can only be restored by bathing in a blessed fountain or pool.

Wound Bane

This dastardly spell infests the wounds of a foe with all manner of malignancies, preventing the cuts from healing in a proper manner. The wounds grow fetid, and do not recover for many months, considerably weakening the victim. The focus for this spell is a lump of flesh that has grown rotten.

Wraith Form

The Necromancer can use this spell to assume for a short time the pale gray, insubstantial form of a Wraith. In this state he is still vulnerable to attacks by silvered weapons and all manner of magic. The focus for this spell is a burial shroud.

Spell Determination

To randomly determine the spells known to a typical practitioner of the College of Necromancy, use the tables of scholarly disciplines below. An experienced Necromancer will commonly have several spells from a single primary discipline, plus a spell each from the other disciplines.