Faithful Companion

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

Arcane 1, Divine 1 Type: necromancy

Range: touch Duration: 1 hour per caster level

This spell raises the bones or body of a dead canine target as an undead skeleton or zombie under the caster’s mental control. An animated canine skeleton can be created only from a mostly intact skeleton; a canine zombie can be created only from a mostly intact canine corpse. For purposes of this spell, canines include coyotes, dogs, foxes, jackals, and wolves, but not wargs, hell hounds or other monstrosities. Canine skeletons will have Hit Dice equal to the number the canine had in life. Canine zombies will have one more Hit Die than the monster had in life but suffer a -2 penalty to initiative rolls.

The caster can give verbal orders to his faithful companion when he first animates it and thereafter anytime it is 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 faithful companion will mindlessly obey whatever orders it is given to the best of its (limited) ability. It cannot accomplish tasks that require abstract thought or higher reasoning. If it completes all of its orders, or for whatever reason is physically unable to obey its orders, the faithful companion will simply remain stationary until it receives new orders. The faithful companion acts on its own initiative each round.

A faithful companion remains animated until destroyed or dispelled, or until one hour per caster level elapses. If the faithful companion remains intact when the spell ends (e.g. it wasn’t destroyed), the canine’s remains can be re-animated with full hp by another casting of this spell. (Not even death can break the bond between a necromancer and a beloved dog!) However, if the faithful companion was destroyed, it crumbles to dust.