Animate Dead

Tier 3, Necromancy

Casting Time

1 minute

Range

10 ft

Duration

Instantaneous

Components

V, S, M (a drop of blood, a piece of flesh, and a pinch of bone dust)

Mana Cost

5

Classes

Wizard, Cleric

You target a pile of bones or a corpse of a Medium or Small humanoid within range. Your spell imbues it with a foul mimicry of life, raising it as an undead creature: a skeleton (if bones) or a zombie (if a corpse). The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying unless you recast this spell on it. On each of your turns, you can use a bonus action to mentally command creatures you made with this spell within 60 feet. You decide what action the creature takes and where it moves during its next turn. Without commands, the creature only defends itself. Every use of this spell exploits the fractures Mordath left in death's domain. The soul is not recalled; what animates the corpse is a sliver of Void energy wearing the dead's shape like an ill-fitting coat. The raised creature has no memory, no personality, and no mercy. The GM may call for a Corruption check.

At Higher Tiers

Animate or reassert control over two additional undead per tier above 3rd.