Spells of the Necro-Priests

art by Jeon Tae Kang source

This is a collection of spells for chaotic clerics of a necromantic bent, and although there is a common theme of bones and skeletons these spells should be usable by a wide range of villains, from Eldritch Crusaders among the Arvorians of Norwold to the Cult of Chaos Divided in Alphatia, to the mummified priests of ancient Nithia, to the Hagiocracy of Hule. Note that many of these spells use skeletal parts of deceased humanoids and that these components disintegrate after the spell ends. 

Create Crawling Claw

• Spell Level: 2
• Range: Touch
• Duration: 1 turn
• Area of Effect: 1 skeletal hand 
• Description: This spell requires the skeletal hand of a humanoid creature. When cast, this skeletal hand turns into a crawling claw, a primitive form of animated undead. Unlike Animate Dead, the necromantic animating force does not last for long, and after the spell duration the skeletal hand reverts back to its inanimate state if not destroyed during its activity. 
• Crawling Claw stats:
• AC: 8
• HD: 1/2 (1d4hp)
• Move: 60ft
• THAC0: 20
• Att: 1 claw
• Dam: 1d3
• Save: NM 
• Ml: 12
• Align: Chaotic
• XP: 5

Ribcage Breastplate

• Spell Level: 3
• Range: Self
• Duration: 1 turn
• Area of Effect: Self 
• Description: Casting this spell while holding a skeletal ribcage of a deceased humanoid turns the ribcage into a much more robust breastplate, albeit made of bone rather than steel. If the cleric already wears armour the Ribcage Breastplate will give +3 bonus to current AC. If not wearing other armour, the Ribcage Breastplate will give base AC 4 (Dex and shield bonuses can apply). After the casting the ribcage is destroyed. 

Femur Mace

• Spell Level: 4
• Range: touch
• Duration: 1 turn
• Area of Effect: 1 skull 
• Description: This spell requires the femur (upper leg bone) of a humanoid - when cast the femur is transformed into a boney mace-like club with knobbly protrusions. The caster can wield this as a normal weapon and it gives +2 to hit and does 1d6+2 bludgeoning damage and 1d6 necrotic damage per hit plus any strength modifiers the caster may have.  The Femur Mace may be passed to or picked up by another, though the caster can end the spell at will if the femur mace is picked up by another creature enemy. 

Spinal Whip

• Spell Level: 4
• Range: Caster
• Duration: 1 turn
• Area of Effect: 1 spinal column  
• Description: To cast this spell the cleric must be holding a humanoid spinal column. Upon casting the spinal column magically extends to the length of a bullwhip and the cleric can wield it as such in one hand. The spinal whip has a reach of 20ft from the caster. The caster may either make a normal lashing attack with the whip  at +2 to hit, doing 2d4 damage per hit, or else the caster can make a grappling attack with the whip, again at +2 to hit. But instead of doing damage, the target is immobilised as the spinal whip coils around them pinning their arms to their sides. The caster can maintain this grip on a target each round but cannot use the spinal whip for anything else. After the casting the spinal column disintegrates.

Bone Digit Missile

• Spell Level: 5
• Range: 60ft
• Duration: Instant
• Area of Effect: 5 targets within range 
• Description: This spell requires a skeletal humanoid hand with the bones of all 5 digits. On casting these finger bones shoot out towards targets:  the caster can aim each digit missile at either the same target or 5 different targets within 60ft. Each digit missile requires a roll to hit with the cleric’s dex modifier. On a successful hit the digit does 1d6 piercing damage + 1 per level of the caster (10th level caster will cause 1d6+10 damage per hitting digit). 

Screaming Skull

• Spell Level: 5
• Range: 60ft
• Duration: 1 round
• Area of Effect: 1 skull + 20ft radius from skull
• Description: This spell requires the cleric to hold a humanoid skull while casting. When cast, the cleric hurls the skull in the direction of the enemy, up to 60ft away. Where the enchanted skull lands it starts screaming. Any creature capable of feeling fear within 20ft of the skull must make a save vs spells or be overcome with fear and try to flee for 2d6 rounds. Speech and hearing each other over the noise also becomes difficult (Intelligence check needed to hear somebody talking).  Those unable to flee will cower, unable to move or take offensive action. After the casting the skull is destroyed.