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Archives of Nethys

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Words of Power / Effect Word Descriptions

Death Words

Source Ultimate Magic pg. 173
Words from this family destroy life and create undead abominations.

Undeath (Death)


School necromancy [evil]; Level cleric 2, sorcerer/wizard 3
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
Target Restrictions selected

This effect word can only target the corpses of dead creatures. These creatures rise as either skeletons or zombies, as decided by the caster. These undead follow the caster’s commands to the best of their limited ability. They remain undead creatures until destroyed. The caster can create at most 2 Hit Dice worth of undead per caster level with each casting of a wordspell with this effect word. The caster can control no more than 4 HD per caster level of undead creatures. If additional undead are created, the caster chooses which undead to lose control of to get back under the limit.

GRAVE BANE (Death)


School necromancy; Level cleric 4, druid 5, inquisitor 5, paladin 4
Duration 1 minute/level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
Target Restrictions selected

The target of a wordspell with this effect word receives a +4 sacred bonus on saves against all death spells and magic death effects. The subject cannot gain any negative levels while the wordspell with this effect word persists, but any existing before this wordspell is cast remain. The subject automatically stabilizes if brought below 0 hit points and is not slain.

Life Leech (Death)


School necromancy [evil]; Level magus 4, sorcerer/wizard 4, witch 4
Duration 1 hour/level
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yes
Target Restrictions selected

The target of a wordspell with this effect word takes 1d4 temporary negative levels. If these negative levels cause the subject to die, it rises as a ghost 1d4 days later unless buried in consecrated ground.

Boost: The negative levels from a wordspell with this effect word are permanent. Boosting this effect word increases its level by 5.

Slay (Death)


School necromancy [death, evil]; Level cleric 6, druid 7, sorcerer/wizard 6, witch 6
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude partial; Spell Resistance yes
Target Restrictions selected

The target of a wordspell with this effect word takes 10 points of damage per caster level, to a maximum of 150 points of damage. If the save is successful, the target instead takes 3d6 points of damage + 1 per caster level (maximum +15). A wordspell with this effect word only affects living creatures.