nd DUNGEON MASTER® Guide 2 Edition Rules Supplement

The Complete Book of Necromancers

By Steve Kurtz Sample file Table of Contents

Introduction 5 Chapter 4: The Dark Art 45 How to Use This Book 5 Spell Selection for the Wizard 45 Necromancy and the PC 6 Criminal or Black Necromancy 46 What You Will Need 7 Gray or Neutral Necromancy 47 Chapter 1: Necromancers 8 Benign or White Necromancy, 47 The Standard Necromancer 8 New Wizard Spells 47 Ability Scores 8 lst-Level Spells 48 Race 9 2nd-Level Spells 50 Experience Level Advancement 9 3rd-Level Spells 52 Spells 9 4th-Level Spells 53 Spell Restrictions 10 5th-Level Spells 55 Magic Item Restrictions 10 6th-Level Spells 58 Proficiencies 11 7th-Level Spells 60 New Necromancer Wizard Kits 12 8th-Level Spells 60 Archetypal Necromancer 12 9th-Level Spells 62 Anatomist 13 Chapter 5: Death Priests 65 Deathslayer 15 Necromantic Priesthoods 66 Philosopher 18 The God of the Dead 67 Undead Master 19 The Goddess of Murder 69 Other Necromancer Kits 21 The God of Pestilence 70 Witch 21 The God of Suffering 72 GhulLord 22 The Lord of Undead 74 New Nonweapon Proficiencies 22 Other Priestly Resources 75 Anatomy 22 Chapter 6: The Priest Sphere 77 Necrology 23 New Priest Spells 77 Netherworld Knowledge 23 lst-Level Spells 77 Spirit Lore 23 2nd-Level Spells 78 Venom Handling 23 3rd-Level Spells 79 Chapter 2: Dark Gifts 25 4th-Level Spells 81 Dual-Classed Characters Sample25 file5th-Level Spells 83 Fighter/Necromancer 26 6th-Level Spells 84 Thief/Necromancer 26 7th-Level Spells 85 Cleric/Necromancer 26 Chapter 7: Allies 87 Psionicist/Necromancer 27 Apprentices 87 Wild Talents 27 Henchmen 88 Vile Pacts and Dark Gifts 28 Familiars 89 Inhuman Necromancers 33 Undying Minions 90 Humanoid Necromancers 34 Secret Societies 94 Drow Necromancers 34 The Cult of Worms 95 Draconic Necromancers 35 The Scabrous Society 95 Githyanki Necromancers 36 The Cult of Pain 96 Sorcerers Immortal 36 The Anatomical Academy 96 Undead Necromancers and Death Priests 38 Chapter 8: Tools of the Trade 97 Chapter 3: The Price 39 Poisons and Potions 97 The Social Stigma 39 Magic Items 99 Punishments and Handicaps 39 Necromantic Lore 104 Physical Deformity 40 Bodily Afflictions 41 Insanity and Madness 42 Unholy Compulsions 43 Paid In Full 43

2 • Table of Contents Chapter 9: The Campaign 107 Credits Isle of the Necromancer Kings 107 Design: Steve Kurtz The Twin Villages of Misbahd and Jinutt 108 Editing: Matt Forbeck The Iron Spires of Ereshkigal 109 Black and White Illustrations: Karl Waller The Colossus of Uruk 109 Color Illustrations: Brom, Jeff Easly, John & Laura The Tower of Pizentios 110 Lakey, and Robh Ruppel Capitol of the Necromancer Kings 110 Cartography: Diesel Uruk's Summer Palace Ill Typography: Nancy Kerkstra The Garden of Eternity Ill Adventure Hooks 113 Playtesting and Review: The First Plunderers of The Pirate Necromancers 113 Sahu (Karen "Herbal Bolus" Kurtz, Peter "Captain Bhakau's Return 113 Omar" Schimdt, Tamiko "Al-Ho" Toland, Marketa The Scourge of Thasmudyan 114 "the Lycanthrope" Lillard, Jesse "Tracker" Sands), Lich Hunting 114 the Wyvern's Claw Company (Josh "George!" Gerner, Necrophiles ; 116 Christian "the Phantom" Tapia, Daniel "Reloader" Dr. Ellandra Tolbert 117 Quaroni, Svetotzar "Bowstring" Fung, and Abram Kazerabet (Zaribel) 118 "Godseyes" Connelly), and Wolfgang "Necromancer Master Pizentios 119 King" Baur. Sarzec the Broken 120 Talib the Magnificent 121 Special Thanks: Many thanks to Karen Kurtz for her Vermissa the Undying 122 kind help with layout and to Tamiko Toland for Mistress Yola 123 thrashing through the first draft of the manuscript on such short notice. Kazerabet and I would also like to Appendix 1: Common Spells thank the following authors and designers, who have for Necromancers 124 contributed much to the existing body of necromantic Appendix 2: Wizard Spells in the lore, in the form of spells, magical items, and proficiency School of Necromancy 126 ideas: Wolfgang Baur, Jon Winter, Jon Pickens, Gary Gygax, Ed Friedlander, Vince Garcia, Ed Greenwood, Appendix 3: Priest Spells In the SampleNige l fileFindley, Jeff Grubb, Bruce Kvam, Jeffrey PettengiU, Necromantic Sphere 126 Rich Stump, Gary Watkins. Appendix 4: Master Index of Necromantic Priest and Wizard Spells 127 This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material contained List of Tables herein is prohibited without the express written permission of TSR, Inc. 1: Pregenerated Ability Scores Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution for Necromancers 10 rights in the book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc. Distributed to the book and hobby trade in the United Kingdom by TSR 2: Extended Necromancer Advancement Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. Spells, and Level Improvements 11 ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, DUNGEON 3: Wild Psionic Devotions for Necromancers 28 MASTER, RAVENLOFT, AL-QADIM, DRAGON Magazine, DUNGEON, FORGOTTEN REALMS, and GREYHAWK are registered 4: Wild Psionic Sciences for Necromancers 28 trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. MONSTROUS MANUAL, DM, and the 5: Special Powers for Necromancers 29 TSR logo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. 6: Psionic Progression All TSR characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses for Githyanki Necromancers 36 thereof are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. 7: Assorted Physical Deformities 41 © 1995 TSR, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. 8: Disease Check Modifiers 41 ISBN 0-7869-0090-3 2151 9: Unholy Compulsions and Curses 43 10: Forbidden Spells of Black Necromancy 46 11: Spirit Summoning Modifiers 55 TSR, Inc. TSR Ltd. 12: Extended Death Priest Advancement, POB 756 120 Church End Lake Geneva Cherry Hinton Spells, and Level Improvements 66 WI, 53147 Cambridge CB1 3LB USA United Kingdom

Table of Contents • 3 Sample file The ruins of Ysawis were cloaked by the jungle when 1 mortal life in a never-ending cycle of reincarnations. rediscovered the broken city walls with my first husband, In other societies, death is believed to be the ultimate Sumulael. That was in the early years of our marriage, ending of awareness, marking complete annihilation when my devotion to the Forbidden Arts ran strong with and utter oblivion. the careless impetuousness of youth. We had been led to Since ancient times, scholars and priests have the city by disgruntled spirits, in search of a legendary tal- devoted their entire lives to studying, explaining, isman. Even with our ghostly guides, the ruins of the and revering the final chapter in human life. For vine-choked city were extensive, and the exact location of some individuals, however, death has become an our prize eluded us. obsession, a source of magical power, or even an At first, when my husband and I beheld the bones of the object of religious adoration. These beings are necro- city's former citizens, we amused ourselves by raising the mancers, and they are universally feared and loathed moldering remains to attend us as ghastly servants, skeletal as the purveyors of unremitting evil. porters, and shadowy messengers. When the quest for the According to popular myth, the necromancer talisman yielded nothing immediately, we animated more of practices vile and forbidden arts. He is the macabre the city's dead to expand the search. Before long, our new sorcerer who roots about in graveyards, searching slaves uncovered royal cemeteries where the kings and out moldering components for his obscene spells. queens of Ysawis had been buried for centuries before the She is the evil priestess who calls upon restless, tor- city's disastrous end. I remember quite vividly my delight at mented spirits of the long-deceased, seeking their this discovery. With a wave of my hand, I cracked open the immortal arcana. In their dark and secluded lairs, the tombs' monolithic stone doors, while Sumulael, cackling mute undead, the monstrous familiar, and the raven- with ivicked glee, called forth the city's ancient royalty, ing fiend serve the necromancers in their ghoulish commanding even the oldest of padishahs to stumble forth, endeavors. In the literature of fantasy and horror, the wrapped in their worm-eaten shrouds or burial robes, from necromancer is usually portrayed as the consum- the corrupted depths of the crypts and into our eternal slav- mate villain. ery. And while the dead gave up their age-corrupted trea- Yet there is another side to the necromancer and sures, none carried my coveted talisman. the death priest. Consider the compassionate ghost- Thus Sumulael and I raised up the inhabitants of hunter who lays tormented undead to rest, or the Ysawis from their crypts and tombs to serve us. We lived dutiful priest of the Dead who helps guide spirits on there like exiled royalty for many years, until mySample hus- thei rfile eternal voyage to the netherworld. Necro- band's insanity and revolting habits grew intolerable. I mancers can also have a constructive and positive ended up killing the monster, eventually, with the help of role in the campaign. adventurers who had discovered my secluded city in the This book is devoted to exploring both aspects of wilderness. That is how I met my second husband, Talib. necromancers and death priests. We explore their He was one of the explorers who assisted me in destroying varied roles as not only villains, but also as healers, Sumulael and helped me find my long-sought talisman. mentors, and patrons. These spellcasters are among I soon came to love Talib, after a fashion. I taught him all the most complex, versatile, and powerful characters of my hidden secrets. We were happy together in Ysawis, available in the ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rebuilding the city to its former glory. But in the end, that game. This tome reveals all of their secrets and pow- marriage also failed, for I found that you cannot practice the ers so that you—as the Dungeon Master (DM)—can Art when you are happy, nor advance in its study if you are bring these master wizards and priests to life for the content. So I left behind my beloved, to write this book in players under your care. solitude and focus my mind on the difficult road ahead. Come join me on this path of knowledge and self-discovery. Let us explore the Art of Necromancy together. How to Use this Book —Foreword to Kazerabet's Art of Necromancy The Complete Book of Necromancers has been designed for DMs who wish to create complex and memorable Death is the final arbiter. It claims everyone, spellcasting foes for their unique campaigns. The regardless of class or station, fame or notoriety, gen- book is divided into three main sections, each of tleness or depravity. In some cultures, death is which the DM may read separately, in any order. The regarded as the threshold to an elevated spiritual chapters within each individual section should be existence or as the doorway leading to another taken in sequence. They contain introductory material

Introduction (such as Kazerabet's foreword) which may be read to players, serve as inspiration for adventure hooks, or Necromancy and the PC used in any other way which helps add a further In general, the material presented in this tome is dimension of realism to the campaign. for the Dungeon Master's eyes only. The necro- The first four chapters are devoted to the necro- mancer put forward herein is a maverick—he or she mancer nonplayer character (NPC). Chapter One operates by a set of nasty rules that are completely discusses the rules for creating a basic wizard necro- beyond the realm of most "normal" player charac- mancer as a separate and independent sub-class, ters. These rules must be kept strictly hidden from starting from the basics outlined in the Player's Hand- the players, even if they are adamant about portray- book. It explores five new kits—the Archetype, ing a necromancer. Anatomist, Deathslayer, Philosopher, and Undead The most obvious hindrance for a PC necromancer Master—each with a different role for the campaign. is alignment. While some practitioners of the Art Chapter Two extends the powers of a necromancer have a scrupulous code of ethics, the number of by adding dual classes, psionic Wild Talents, and benevolent necromancers is deplorably rare. At the special powers from the patronage of dark gods. We very least, the majority of necromancers should be also discuss some undead or monstrous variants of considered rigidly neutral. The large remainder of the necromancer to challenge the most powerful (or necromantic practitioners are profoundly evil. foolhardy) groups of adventurers. Chapter Three Necromancer PCs will face moral challenges from discusses some of the harsh sacrifices that necro- the onset of their career, starting probably with their mancers must make if they wish to pursue the For- mentor. Consider Talib, an example of a good and bidden Arts. In Chapter Four, we greatly expand the heroic necromancer (highlighted in a number of the school of Necromancy, discussing both the beneficial chapter introductions and presented in detail in Chap- and harmful aspects of the Art. ter Nine). Before poor Talib the Apprentice was per- The next section is devoted to the death priest: the mitted to advance to 1st level, his Master forced him clerical equivalent of the necromancer, who has been through a brutal initiation by drugging his food, tying given far too little attention in the past. Unlike the him down to a cold stone altar, and sacrificing him to wizard, who studies death, the death priest fervently the Goddess of Murder. Using a ring of spell storing worships it. These clerics belong to distinct priest- from an allied death priest, the Master then raised Talib hoods, each with unique roles, grantedSample powers, fileback from the dead (no hard feelings!) to see if his spells, and goals for the campaign. Chapter Five potential pupil had the requisite strength of body and explores five of these necromantic priesthoods who mind to practice necromancy. Since he survived the serve the Gods of the Dead, Murder, Pestilence, Suf- ordeal, Talib only lost a point of Constitution, the first fering, and Undead. Chapter Six expands the necro- small price for the privilege of practicing the Art. mantic priest sphere, providing many more spells for Obviously, the young Talib fled his Master at the the distinctive necromantic priesthoods. earliest opportunity. However, whenever he needed The final section of the book builds the necro- to train after gaining levels or to learn new spells, the mancer and death priest into leaders and active par- necromancers he sought out were sometimes more ticipants in the campaign. Chapter Seven fleshes out black-hearted than his original Master, and they a necromancer's entourage with students, hench- always demanded a terrible price (moral, physical, men, familiars, and undead minions. Chapter Eight or financial) for his continuing education. Since Talib discusses their primary tools, including deadly poi- retained his initially lofty ideals, he was usually sons, necromantic magical items, and books of for- forced to train himself, requiring much greater bidden lore. Chapter Nine details the Isle of the expense and time than his other adventuring compa- Necromancer Kings, providing the DM with adven- triots. As the DM, you should make certain that a ture hooks and introductory scenarios for a cam- necromancer PC will confront as many difficult paign. This chapter also includes the descriptions of obstacles as possible during his or her own career. seven detailed NPCs who can be used as examples A necromancer PC that reaches 9th level becomes and easily dropped into an existing campaign. a potential threat to game balance once he or she Finally, the Appendices contain tables, indexes, and gains the ability to cast animate dead. Scary enough in a reference list to help the DM gather necromantic the hands of NPCs, this spell can be a monumental material together from other sources. inconvenience to the DM in the hands of a crafty

Introduction