Spell: Awaken Undead

Awaken Undead

(Originally from Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead, modified)

School: Necromancy [Evil]
Level: Sorcerer 7, Wizard 7, Deathbound 6
Components: V, S, M, XP
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Area: Mindless undead in a 25-ft.-radius spread + 5 ft./2 levels
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

---

DESCRIPTION

This spell grants sentience and individuality to mindless undead creatures such as skeletons and zombies.

All mindless undead within the area immediately gain an Intelligence score of 8 + 1d6, unless limited by the nature of their original form. An undead creature cannot gain an Intelligence score higher than what would be reasonable for its original creature type at the DM’s discretion (for example, a skeletal dog typically cannot exceed Intelligence 2).

Undead that already possess an Intelligence score are unaffected by this spell.

Awakened undead regain fragments of their former existence. They recover any feats they possessed in life and may make use of them as normal. They are considered proficient with any armor and weapons they were proficient with in life; if this information is unknown, assume proficiency with all simple and martial weapons, as well as any armor they are physically capable of wearing.

Awakened undead instinctively seek to equip themselves appropriately. Humanoid undead will don armor and wield weapons if available, while non-humanoid undead (such as skeletal warhorses) may wear barding appropriate to their form.

They also regain any extraordinary (Ex) abilities they possessed in life that their current physical form is still capable of performing (such as scent or poison), subject to DM adjudication.

Unlike most mindless undead, awakened undead are no longer automatically under the caster’s control. They become free-willed creatures with their own motivations, though their initial attitude toward the caster is typically friendly. Their behavior from that point onward depends on how they are treated.

Awakened undead gain a +2 profane bonus on Will saving throws made to resist effects that would control or command them (including control undead).

In addition, they gain +2 turn resistance, or retain their existing turn resistance if it is higher.

---

Material Component

A humanoid fingerbone.

XP Cost

200 XP