Animate Undead

Spell — see Magic and Spellcasting for the rules and the Spell Index for the full list.

This spell is considered contraband in Sair.

Arcane 4, Divine 4 Type: necromancy

Range: touch Duration: 1 day or permanent

This spell animates the bones or bodies of one or more dead targets, transforming them into undead skeletons or zombies under the caster’s command. The caster can animate a number of Hit Dice of undead equal to twice his caster level each time he casts this spell. Animated skeletons have Hit Dice equal to the Baseline Hit Dice such monsters have in life; for skeletons of humans or demi-humans, this means one Hit Die, regardless of the character level of the deceased. Zombies have one more Hit Die than the monsters’ Baseline HD. An animated skeleton can be created only from a mostly intact skeleton; a zombie can be created only from a mostly intact corpse.

The caster can give verbal orders to the animated undead when they rise and thereafter anytime they are in line of sight on his initiative. Complex or extensive orders require the caster to expend action in lieu of moving, but simple orders (“protect me!”) do not require an action. Orders can be given in any language the caster speaks. The animated undead will mindlessly obey whatever orders they are given to the best of their (limited) ability. They cannot accomplish tasks that require abstract thought or higher reasoning. If they complete all of their orders, or for whatever reason are physically unable to obey their orders, the undead will simply remain stationary until they receive new orders. The undead act on their own initiative each round.

Animate undead normally lasts for just one day, after which the creatures’ remains crumble to dust. However, the spellcaster can make the spell permanent by sprinkling 1 vial of unholy water per Hit Die on each zombie or skeleton. If this is done, the undead are permanently animated until they are destroyed. Animate undead is the reverse of smite undead.