Death Knight

Death Knight

Medium undead
Challenge

STR
5
DEX
0
CON
5
INT
1
WIS
3
CHA
4

180
19d8+95
22
Soak
3
Fort
+7
Ref
+7
Will
+8
Defense note plate, shield
Damage immunities necrotic, poison
Condition immunities diseased, exhausted, frightened, poisoned

Speed 5 m.
Skills Athletics +10 (21), Brawn +10 (21), Divinity (cha) +9 (20), Insight +5 (16), Persuasion +9 (20)
Senses darkvision 20 m.
Languages Abyssal, Common

Magic Resistance. The death knight has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Maneuvers. The death knight uses maneuvers (maneuver save Difficulty 19). It has 16 stamina dice which are d8s, a dice limit of 6, regains all expended stamina dice when it finishes a long rest, and regains half its total stamina dice when it finishes a short rest. It knows the following maneuvers:

1 stamina die: block blow, charge, cripple, disorient, goading strike, grievous wound, hamstring, parry, shield bash, slice through, spring attack, trip, unwavering mark, whirling blade

2 stamina dice: disarm, slice tendon, vengeance

Marshal Undead. Unless the death knight is incapacitated, it and undead creatures of its choice within 10 meters of it have advantage on saving throws against features that turn undead.

Spellcasting. The death knight uses Divinity (cha) to cast spells (spell save Difficulty 18, +9 to hit with spell attacks). It has 8 mana, a mana limit of 3, regains all expended mana when it finishes a long rest, and regains half its total mana when it finishes a short rest. It knows the following spells:

1 mana: absorb spirit, bone armor, command, compelled duel, consumptive field, detect evil and good, enfeeble, find steed, inflict wounds, life drain, path to the grave, protection from evil and good

2 mana: animate dead, bane, bestow curse, control undead, death ward, dispel magic, finger of death, horrid wilting, hurl through hell, molten upheaval, power word pain, share pain, speak with dead, stasis, wall of bones

3 mana: death clutch, symbol of death/pain

Actions (3)

Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit. Hit: 9 (1d8 + 5) slashing damage, or 10 (1d10 + 5) slashing damage if used with two hands, plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.

Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) piercing damage plus 18 (4d8) necrotic damage.

Underdarkmm

Maneuvers

As a reaction, which you use when you or a creature that you can see within 1 meter of you is hit by an attack or missed by 4 or less that you can see, you can block the blow with your shield or weapon. Roll a d3 and add the result to your Defense or an adjacent ally’s Defense against the triggering attack. You can do so after the roll but before any effects of the roll occur.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack against a creature after you move at least 3 meters straight toward it.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and if the creature is your size or smaller, the creature must succeed on a Reflex saving throw or you can push it 2 meters away from you and knock it prone.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage, target a creature of a larger size, and push the creature an additional 1 meter for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack to cripple the creature.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or it is slowed 1 until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended and the slowed level by 1 for every two additional stamina die expended.

  • You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is slowed for 1 minute/stamina die. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

1 minute/stamina die

As an action, make a weapon attack to disorient the creature.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Reflex saving throw or it can’t take reactions for the duration.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

  • Stagger. You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is staggered instead of not being able to take reactions, but only until the end of its next turn. You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is staggered for the duration.

  • Incapacitate. You can expend 2 additional stamina die so the creature is incapacitated instead of not being able to take reactions, but only until the end of its next turn.

  • Stun. You can expend 4 additional stamina die so the creature is stunned instead of not being able to take reactions, but only until the end of its next turn.

1 minute/stamina die

As an action, make a melee weapon attack to goad the creature into attacking you.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Will saving throw or it has disadvantage on attacks made against a creature other than you for the duration.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a weapon attack to leave a twisted wound that can’t be healed so easily.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or its maximum health is reduced by the stamina die result for 1 hour. Any effect that removes a condition allows a creature’s maximum health to return to normal before that time passes.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack that deals slashing damage to cripple the creature.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or it is slowed 1 until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended and the slowed level by 1 for every two additional stamina die expended.

  • You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is slowed for 1 minute/stamina die. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

As a reaction, which you use when you are hit by a weapon attack that you can see, you can block the blow with a melee weapon you wield. Roll a d3 and add the result to your Defense against the triggering attack. You can do so after the roll but before any effects of the roll occur.

As an action, make a weapon attack and simultaneously bash a creature within 1 meter with your shield. The creature must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes bludgeoning damage equal to the stamina die and can’t take reactions until the end of its next turn. If the creature is your size or smaller, you can push the target up to 1 meter away from you or push it to the side.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage, target a creature of a larger size, and push the creature an additional meter for each additional stamina die expended.

  • Stagger. You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is staggered instead of not being able to take reactions.

  • Stun. You can expend 4 additional stamina die so the creature is stunned instead of not being able to take reactions.

As an action, make a weapon attack with a melee weapon that deals slashing damage and then slice through the target. Each creature within 1 meter of the target and within your weapon’s reach must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes slashing damage equal to the stamina die.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, you can use the Dash action. If you move at least 3 meters straight toward a creature, you can make a melee weapon attack against it.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack and a Brawn check to Trip.

Enhance

You can add the stamina die to the attack’s damage (add half on a miss by 4 or less) for each additional stamina die expended.

1 minute/stamina die

As an action, make a weapon attack to menace the creature, foiling its attacks and punishing them for harming others.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Will saving throw or it is marked by you for the duration. While marked, you have advantage on opportunity attacks made against the target and the target has disadvantage on any attack that doesn’t target you.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

The effect ends if you are incapacitated, someone else marks the creature, you attack or damage any other creature, if you cast a spell or use a spell that targets a hostile creature other than the target, if a creature friendly to you damages the target or casts a harmful spell on it, or if you end your turn more than 5 meters away from the target.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack with a weapon that you wield in two hands that deals slashing damage and then whirl your weapon around. Each creature within your weapon’s reach must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes slashing damage equal to the stamina die.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack with a weapon to disarm the creature.

On a hit, add one stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Reflex saving throw, which it does with advantage if it is holding the item with two or more hands, or it drops one item of your choice that it’s holding.

If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the object lands in a space within 1 meter of the creature, otherwise the object lands at its feet.

When a creature tries to interact with an object in a space occupied by a hostile creature it must use an action to make a Brawn or Nimbleness (its choice) check contested by the hostile creature’s Brawn or Nimbleness check (its choice). If the creature attempting to interact with the object wins the contest, it can interact with the object.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

1 minute/stamina die

As an action, make a melee weapon attack with a light or finesse weapon to slice the creature’s tendon.

On a hit, add one stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or it is slowed 1 for the duration and while affected it loses health equal to one of the stamina dice for every meter it travels. This has no effect on any creature that cannot bleed or lose a vital liquid substance.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended and the slowed level by 1 for every two additional stamina die expended.

As a reaction, which you use when a creature hits a creature other than you with an attack, you can visit vengeance on the creature. You can make a melee weapon attack against the creature.

Enhance

You can add the stamina die to the attack’s damage (add half on a miss by 4 or less) for each additional stamina die expended.

Spells

As a reaction, which you use when a creature within 5 meters of you dies, you can absorb its spirit. You gain 1d10 + your spellcasting ability temporary health.

Augment

You gain 1d10 additional temporary health for each additional mana expended.

3 hours/mana

As an action, you animate a pile of bones you can see within 10 meters to become a suit of armor around a willing creature that you can touch or see within 5 meters. The armor is molded for that specific creature and it is automatically proficient with it. The target’s Defense becomes 13 + half its Aptitude Bonus (min 1) + its Dexterity (max 4).

As an action, you speak a one-word command to a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The target must succeed on a Will saving throw or follow the command. The spell has no effect if the target is undead, if it doesn’t understand your language, or if your command is directly harmful to it.

Some typical commands and their effects follow. You might issue a command other than one described here. If you do so, the GM determines how the target behaves. If the target can’t follow your command, the spell ends.

Approach. On its turn, the creature must use its speed to move toward you by the shortest and most direct route, and can’t willingly move away from you on during its turn.

Drop. The creature immediately drops whatever it is holding at its feet.

When a creature tries to interact with an object in a space occupied by a hostile creature it must use an action to make a Brawn or Nimbleness (its choice) check contested by the hostile creature’s Brawn or Nimbleness check (its choice). If the creature attempting to interact with the object wins the contest, it can interact with the object.

Flee. On its turn, the creature must use its speed to move away from you by the shortest and most direct route, and can’t willingly move toward you on during its turn.

Grovel. The creature immediately falls prone.

Halt. On its turn, the creature can’t willingly move. A flying creature stays aloft, provided that it is able to do so. If it must move to stay aloft, it flies the minimum distance needed to remain in the air.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can target one additional creatures for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

  • You can expend 2 additional mana to change the duration to 1 minute/mana, concentration. For the duration, you can make an additional command on each of your turns.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, make a weapon attack.

On a hit, if the creature is within 20 meters it must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, the creature is drawn to you, compelled by your demand. While compelled, it has disadvantage on attacks made against creatures other than you, and must make a Will saving throw each time it attempts to move into a space that is more than 5 meters away from you.

A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

The spell ends if you attack or damage any other creature, if you cast a spell that targets a hostile creature other than the target, if your allies attack, damage, or attempt to negatively effect the charmed creature in any way, or if you end your turn more than 5 meters away from the target.

Augment

You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

As an action, consumptive energy ripples out from you. Each creature other than you in a sphere centered on you must make a Reflex saving throw. If the creature is a construct or an undead, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 2d8 necrotic damage.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

You regain health equal to half the amount of necrotic damage dealt.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can increase the damage by 1d8 for each additional mana expended.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the death field around you is continuous. The duration changes to 1 minute/mana, concentration and the death field remains around you in an aura shaped as a sphere. Until the spell ends, the aura moves with you, centered on you.

    Whenever a creature enters the area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, it must make the Fortitude saving throw. The damage is reduced to 2d4 and additional augments to the damage increase the damage by 1d4 for every two additional mana expended, instead of the normal increase.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As an action, you know if there is an aberration, celestial, elemental, fey, fiend, or undead within 5 meters of you, as well as where the creature is located. Similarly, you know if there is a place or object within 5 meters of you that has been magically consecrated or desecrated.

The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 30 centimeters of stone, 2 centimeters of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 1 meter of wood or dirt.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, a black beam of enervating energy springs from your finger toward a creature within 10 meters. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 3d10 necrotic damage and deals only half damage with weapon attacks for the duration.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 4d10 for each additional mana expended.

As you spend 10 minutes to cast this spell, you summon a loyal, majestic steed. Appearing in an unoccupied space within 5 meters, the steed assumes the form of an animal companion that doesn’t have a burrow, flying, or swimming speed using 1 resource. A steed is typically a camel, elk, horse, mastiff, or pony, but if you have encountered more exotic creatures like an eagle, lizard, spider, wolf, rhinoceros, or saber-toothed tiger you can call forth one of them, with GM approval. The steed appears as a celestial (Holy) or a fiend (Unholy) instead of its normal creature type based on a theme you know and of a size suitable for you to ride: Medium if you are Small, or Large if you are Medium, but no other game statistics change.

Once called, you form a bond with the creature. Casting this spell again re-summons the same bonded steed, with all its health restored and any conditions removed. You can’t have more than one steed bonded by this spell at a time. As an action, you can release a steed from its bond, causing it to disappear permanently.

The steed has no stamina dice, but you can infuse it with stamina dice by expending mana, up to your mana limit. For each mana or 2 ki you expend, the steed gains 1 mana or 2 stamina dice. The steed is friendly to you and your companions, and it disappears when it drops to 0 health or when the spell ends.

You control the steed in combat. If you are not mounted, the steed only defends itself against hostile creatures.

While mounted on it, you can make any spell you cast that targets only you also target the steed.

The steed disappears temporarily when it drops to 0 health, leaving behind any objects it was wearing or carrying. You can dismiss the steed on your turn (no action required) as it leaves behind any objects it was wearing or carrying and wanders into the wilderness, disappearing after 1 minute.

Augment

You can use an additional resource for each additional mana expended. The companion can have a burrow, flying, or swimming speed.

As an action, you lacerate a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, it loses 4d6 health and is bleeding 3.

On a critical failure, it loses twice as much health and is bleeding 6.

On a success, it loses half as much health and is bleeding 1.

On a critical success, it loses no health.

Augment

You can increase the health lost by 4d6 and the bleeding level by 3 for each additional mana expended.

As an action, you siphon life force from a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters to heal your wounds. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw. If the creature is a construct or an undead, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 3d8 necrotic damage.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

You regain health equal to half the amount of necrotic damage dealt.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 3d8 for each additional mana expended.

As an action, make a weapon attack.

On a hit, add 3d6 + your spellcasting ability necrotic damage to the attack’s damage roll.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 4d6 for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As an action, one willing creature you touch is protected against certain types of creatures: aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead.

The protection grants several benefits. Creatures of those types have disadvantage on attacks made against the target. The target also can’t be charmed, frightened, or possessed by them. If the target is already charmed, frightened, or possessed by such a creature, the target has advantage on any new saving throw against the relevant effect.

Augment

You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

24 hours

As two actions, threads of dark power leap from your fingers to pierce a pile of bones or a corpse of two Medium or Small creatures you can see within 10 meters. Your spell imbues the targets with a foul mimicry of life, raising them as undead creatures. Choose one or more of the following options:

Skeleton. A pile of bones can become a skeleton.

Zombie. A corpse can become a zombie. It gains +1 damage on its slam attack.

Gnoll Witherling. A corpse of a gnoll can become a gnoll witherling.

Ghoul. If you cast this spell at night, a corpse becomes a ghoul.

Ghast. If you cast this spell at night, you can only target one corpse which becomes a ghast.

The creature has no mana or stamina dice, but you can infuse it with mana, ki, or stamina dice by expending mana up to your mana limit or ki up to double your mana limit. For each mana or 2 ki you expend, the elemental gains 1 mana or 2 stamina dice.

When you cast the spell—and once on on each of your turns thereafter as an action—you can mentally command any creature you raised with this spell if the creature is within 50 meters meters of you (if you control multiple creatures, you can command any or all of them at the same time, issuing the same command to each one). You decide what actions the creature will take and where it will move during its next turn, or you can issue a general command, such as to guard a particular chamber or corridor. If you issue no commands, the creature only defends itself against hostile creatures. Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete.

The creature is under your control for 24 hours, after which it stops obeying any command you’ve given it. To maintain control of the creature for another 24 hours, you must cast this spell on the creature before the current 24-hour period ends. This use of the spell reasserts your control on the creature you have animated with this spell, rather than animating new ones.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You animate or reassert control over an additional skeleton or zombie for each additional mana expended. You animate or reassert control over one additional gnoll witherling, ghoul, or ghast for every two additional mana expended.

  • Minotaur Skeleton. You can expend 1 additional mana to animate or reassert control over a minotaur skeleton from a pile of bones of a minotaur or existing minotaur skeleton. You animate or reassert control over one additional minotaur skeleton for every two additional mana expended.

  • Ogre Zombie. You can expend 1 additional mana to animate or reassert control over an ogre zombie from a corpse of an ogre or existing ogre zombie. You animate or reassert control over one additional ogre zombie for every two additional mana expended.

  • Wight or Deathlock Wight. You can cast this spell at night and expend 2 additional mana to animate or reassert control over a wight or deathlock wight from a corpse or existing wight or deathlock wight. You animate or reassert control over one additional wight or deathlock wight for every two additional mana expended.

  • Deathlock. You can cast this spell at night and expend 2 additional mana to animate or reassert control over a deathlock from a corpse or existing deathlock. You animate or reassert control over one additional deathlock for every two additional mana expended.

  • Mummy. You can cast this spell at night and expend 2 additional mana to animate or reassert control over a mummy from a corpse or existing mummy. You animate or reassert control over one additional wight for every two additional mana expended.

  • Flameskull. You can expend 2 additional mana to animate or reassert control over a flameskull from a humanoid skull or existing flameskull. You animate or reassert control over one additional flameskull for every two additional mana expended.

  • Bone Naga. You can expend 3 additional mana to animate or reassert control over a bone naga from a pile of bones of a naga or existing bone naga. You animate or reassert control over one additional bone naga for every two additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, you curse up to two creatures you can touch or see within 10 meters and within 5 meters of each other. Each creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, whenever a creature makes a skill check or a saving throw before the spell ends, it rolls with disadvantage.

Augment

You can target two additional creatures for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As two actions, you curse a creature that you touch. The creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it is becomes cursed for the duration.

When you cast this spell, choose the nature of the curse from the following options:

  • Choose one ability. While cursed, the creature has disadvantage on skill checks made with that ability.
  • While cursed, the creature has disadvantage on attacks.
  • While cursed, the creature must make a Will saving throw at the start of each of its turns. If it fails, it wastes its actions that turn doing nothing.
  • While cursed, your attacks and spells deal an extra 1d8 necrotic damage to the creature.
  • While cursed, the creature is blinded or deafened (your choice).
  • While cursed, the creature can not regain health.

A remove curse spell ends this effect. At the GM’s option, you may choose an alternative curse effect, but it should be no more powerful than those described above. The GM has final say on such a curse’s effect.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. You must touch each creature when you target them.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana to bestow an additional curse.

  • Persistent. You can expend 1 additional mana to change the duration to 3 hours/mana.

  • Indefinite. You can expend 3 additional mana so the spell lasts until it is dispelled.

concentration, 1 hour/mana

As two actions, you take control of an undead creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must make a Will saving throw, which it does with advantage if the creature’s Intelligence is −2 or higher. If the creature is undead, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it you gain control for the duration.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Each time the target takes damage, it makes a new saving throw against the spell. If the saving throw succeeds, the spell ends.

Intelligent undead are harder to control in this way. If it fails the saving throw and has an Intelligence of 1 or higher, it can repeat the saving throw at the end of every hour until it succeeds and breaks free.

While you have control, you have a telepathic link with it as long as the two of you are on the same plane of existence. You can use this telepathic link to issue commands to the creature while you are conscious (no action required), which it does its best to obey. You can specify a simple and general course of action, such as “Attack that creature,” “Run over there,” or “Fetch that object.” If the creature completes the order and doesn’t receive further direction from you, it defends and preserves itself to the best of its ability.

You can use two actions to take total and precise control of the target. Until the end of your next turn, the creature takes only the actions you choose, and doesn’t do anything that you don’t allow it to do. During this time, you can also cause the creature to use a reaction, but this requires you to use your own reaction as well.

3 hours/mana

As two actions, you touch a creature and grant it a measure of protection from death.

The first time the target would drop to 0 health as a result of taking damage, the target instead drops to 1 health, and the spell ends.

If the spell is still in effect when the target is subjected to an effect that would kill it instantaneously without dealing damage, that effect is instead negated against the target, and the spell ends.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the target gains 3d10 temporary health when it drops to 1 health.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana so you can cast this spell as a reaction, which you use when a creature within 2 meters of you takes damage.

As two actions, choose a creature, object, or magical effect within 20 meters. Make a skill check using your spellcasting skill. The Difficulty equals the spell Difficulty used to cast the spell + the spell’s effective mana. If you have identified the spell, you have advantage on this skill check. If there are multiple spells and if you have not identified them, the spell is chosen at random starting with the spell with the lowest mana cost.

On a success, the spell ends.

If you fail by 4 or less, the spell is suppressed for 1 minute.

A spell’s effective mana is normally the amount of mana it was cast with, including augmentation. If a feature lets a spell be cast without expending mana then the spell’s effective mana is its normal mana cost.

Augment

You gain a +1 bonus to your skill check for each additional mana expended.

As two actions, you send negative energy coursing through a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must make a Fortitude saving throw. If the creature is a construct or an undead, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 6d10 necrotic damage.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

A creature killed by this spell rises as a zombie at the start of your next turn as it would via the animate dead spell.

If you target an undead creature with this spell, it doesn’t make a saving throw. Instead, roll 6d10. The creature regains health equal to the total.

Augment

You can increase the damage or the healing by 3d10 for each additional mana expended.

As two actions, you draw the moisture from every creature at a point within 20 meters. Each creature in a sphere centered on that point must make a Fortitude saving throw, which it does with disadvantage if it is a plant creature, a magical plant, or a creature made of water such as a water elemental. If the creature has no moisture in its body, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 7d6 necrotic damage and is exhausted 1 until it rehydrates. This exhaustion does not accumulate with other forms of exhaustion due to dehydration.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage and is exhausted 2 until it rehydrates. This exhaustion does not accumulate with other forms of exhaustion due to dehydration.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

The spell deals maximum damage to plant creatures, magical plants, or creatures made of water such as a water elemental.

Nonmagical plants that aren’t a creature, such as a tree or shrub, automatically fail the saving throw and withers and die.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 2d6 for each additional mana expended.

As two actions, you hurl a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters through the nightmarish landscape of the lower planes. The creature must make a Will saving throw. If the creature is a fiend, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 7d8 psychic damage and the creature disappears. At the end of its next turn, the target returns to the space it previously occupied, or the nearest unoccupied space.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 5d8 for each additional mana expended.

As two actions, a fountain of molten lava erupts from a point on the ground within 20 meters. The ground in that area becomes difficult terrain until cleared. Each 1-meter square portion of the area requires at least 1 minute to clear by hand. Each creature in a cylinder centered on that point must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 5d6 fire damage and is burning 2.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage and is burning 4.

On a success, it takes half as much damage and is burning 1.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 1d6 and the burning level by 1 for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, you speak a word of power that causes waves of intense pain to assail a creature that isn’t a construct or an undead that you can touch or see within 10 meters which must make a Fortitude saving throw.

On a failure, the creature is subject to crippling pain for the duration. While the target is affected by crippling pain, any speed it has can be no more than 2 meters and the target also has disadvantage on skill checks and saving throws, other than Fortitude saving throws. Finally, if the target tries to cast a spell, it must first succeed on a Will saving throw, or the casting fails and the spell is wasted.

A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

1 hour/mana

As two actions, you connect your life to that of a willing creature within 10 meters. While the target is within 10 meters of you, you have resistance to all damage. Also, each time you take damage, it takes the same amount of damage.

The spell ends if you drop to 0 health or if you and the target become separated by more than 10 meters. It also ends if the spell is cast again on either of the connected creatures. You can dismiss the spell on your turn (no action required).

Augment

You can expend 1 additional mana to target any creature within 10 meters which must succeed on a Will saving throw or be affected by this spell. Each time the target takes damage from this spell, it makes a new Will saving throw against the spell. If the saving throw succeeds, the spell ends.

5 minutes/mana

As two actions, you grant the semblance of life and intelligence to a corpse of your choice within 5 meters, allowing it to answer the questions you pose. The corpse must still have a mouth and can’t be undead. The spell fails if the corpse was the target of this spell within the last 10 days.

Until the spell ends, you can ask the corpse up to five questions. The corpse knows only what it knew in life, including the languages it knew. Answers are usually brief, cryptic, or repetitive, and the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy. This spell doesn’t return the creature’s soul to its body, only its animating spirit. Thus, the corpse can’t learn new information, doesn’t comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can’t speculate about future events.

As two actions, you freeze a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it is stunned until the end of its next turn.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

  • You can expend 2 additional mana so the duration changes to 1 minute/mana, concentration and the creature is stunned for the duration. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the creature is paralyzed instead of stunned.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As two actions, you create a wall of animated, jagged, and twisted bones at a point within 20 meters for the duration. The wall can’t occupy the same space as a creature or object and doesn’t need to be vertical, though it needs a firm foundation.

If a creature would be surrounded on all sides by the wall (or the wall and another solid surface), that creature can make a Reflex saving throw.

On a success, it can use its reaction to move up to its speed so that it is no longer enclosed by the wall.

The wall is an object made of bones that blocks line of sight. A creature can move through the wall, albeit slowly and painfully. A creature must spend 3 meters of movement for every meter it moves through the wall. The wall can be damaged and thus breached. Each panel has 12 Defense, 2 Soak, and 1.5 Health per centimeter of thickness. Reducing a panel to 0 health destroys it and might cause connected panels to collapse at the GM’s discretion.

You can choose to cast this spell so the bones aren’t animated to bridge a chasm or create a ramp. If you create a span greater than 4 meters in length, you must halve the size of each panel to create supports. You can crudely shape the wall with or without animation to create crenellations, battlements, and so on.

A creature that enters the wall’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 2d8 slashing damage and is grappled for the duration.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

To break out, the grappled target can use an action to make a Brawn or Nimbleness check (its choice) against your spell save Difficulty.

On a success, the target escapes and is no longer grappled by the bones.

If you maintain your concentration on this spell for its whole duration, the wall becomes permanent and can’t be dispelled. Otherwise, the wall disappears when the spell ends.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 1d8 for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters starts experiencing a heart attack. At the start of each of its turns for the duration, the creature must make a Fortitude saving throw. If the creature is a construct or an undead, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 4d6 necrotic damage and is stunned until the start of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage and and the effect ends.

On a critical success, it takes no damage and the effect ends.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can increase the damage by 4d6 for each additional mana expended. If this spell is augmented to target additional creatures, this damage is halved.

  • You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

M (mercury, phosphorus, and powdered diamond and opal worth 1,000 sp, consumed)

As you spend 1 minute to cast this spell, you inscribe a harmful glyph either on a surface (such as a section of floor, a wall, or a table) or within an object that can be closed to conceal the glyph (such as a book, a scroll, or a treasure chest). If you choose a surface, the glyph can cover an area of the surface no larger than 2 meters in diameter. If you choose an object, that object must remain in its place; if the object is moved more than 2 meters from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered.

The glyph is nearly invisible, requiring a Perception check against your spell save Difficulty to find it.

You decide what triggers the glyph when you cast the spell. For glyphs inscribed on a surface, the most typical triggers include touching or stepping on the glyph, removing another object covering it, approaching within a certain distance of it, or manipulating the object that holds it. For glyphs inscribed within an object, the most common triggers are opening the object, approaching within a certain distance of it, or seeing or reading the glyph.

You can further refine the trigger so the spell is activated only under certain circumstances or according to a creature’s physical characteristics (such as height or weight), or physical kind (for example, the ward could be set to affect hags or shapechangers). You can also specify creatures that don’t trigger the glyph, such as those who say a certain password.

Once triggered, the glyph glows, filling a sphere twice as big as normal with dim light for 10 minutes, after which time the spell ends. Each creature in the area when the glyph activates must make a Fortitude saving throw.

A creature must also make this saving throw when it enters the spell’s area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there.

Death. On a failure, a creature takes 8d10 necrotic damage.

On a success, a creature takes half damage.

Pain. On a failure, a creature becomes incapacitated with excruciating pain for 1 minute.