Zombie Spells
Even before the first printing of animate dead, zombies have had a long and storied history with magic. From forbidden voodoo practices, to dread necromantic rituals, to the fanciful mad science of gothic horror, mankind has dreamed of giving a semblance of life of a corpse and setting it loose on the peasantry. Today, as we conclude Zombie Week, we will celebrate this storied tradition with some brand new zombie-themed spells.
FINGER OF UNDEATH
School necromancy; Level sorcerer/wizard 8
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft, + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature
Duration instantaneous and 1 round/level; see text
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yes
Dark energies slay a living creature and then animate its body, creating a potent, if temporary, zombie slave. The target must succeed on a Fortitude save or suffer 10 points of damage per caster level (maximum 200 damage at 20th level). Even if the target succeeds on his saving throw, he still suffers 5d6 points of damage. If the target dies as a result of this spell (regardless of whether or not he succeeded on his saving throw), his corpse is temporarily animated as a zombie under your direct telepathic control. You control the zombie as though it were a creature summoned by the spell summon monster I. A zombie created in this way gains a number of bonus Hit Dice equal to the class level of the slain character, if any. At the spell’s conclusion, if the zombie still lives, the target’s corpse ceases to be animated and falls lifeless to the ground.
FRENZY UNDEAD
School necromancy; Level cleric 4, sorcerer/wizard 5
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
Range close (25 ft, + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area 20-ft. radius burst
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Will negates; Spell Resistance no
Magical energies fill even mindless undead with blind rage and hatred, compelling them to kill whoever is closest in a bloody melee. This spell affects mindless undead as though they were not mindless. All undead creatures within the area of the spell must succeed on a Will saving throw or enter a violent frenzy, gaining a +4 bonus to their Strength score and being compelled to attack the nearest creature each round on their turn. Mindless undead affected by this spell can only make an attack, charge, or full-attack action, while intelligent undead may choose to attack in any way they please, utilizing the full array of spells and abilities available to them to assault the nearest creature.
LIFE TO UNLIFE
School necromancy; Level cleric 7, sorcerer/wizard 7
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (a piece of rotting brain)
Range close (25 ft, + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yes
Dark crackling energy briefly surrounds the target, causing his flesh and mind to dramatically erode and transforming him into a zombie version of himself. For the spell’s duration, the target gains the zombie template, with the following exceptions. The target’s Hit Dice are not recalculated, and he instead retains his Hit Dice from class levels, as well as his base attack bonus, base saving throw bonuses, skill ranks, and feats. He does not lose any spells he had prepared while under the effects of this spell. While under the effects of this spell, the target cannot use any Intelligence-, Wisdom-, or Charisma-based skills, and does not gain the benefits of any feats he possesses, except for Toughness. The target cannot cast spells, including cantrips, or use spell-like abilities. The target does not gain or lose hit points as a result of his Constitution score being adjusted to 0, nor does he gain bonus Hit Dice based on his size. If the target had more current hit points at the time the spell was cast than his newly adjusted maximum hit points, he retains those hit points as temporary hit points, though if he takes hit point damage and loses them, he can only be healed up to his new maximum hit point total.