Ghoul Gauntlet (Wizard Spell)

This rare and horrible spell causes the victim to be slowly transformed into a ravening, flesh-eating ghoul (see the description in the MONSTROUS MANUAL for all about the lives of ghouls). The transformation process usually begins at the limb or extremity (usually the hand or arm) closest to the location touched by the caster at the onset of the spell. The victim suffers 1–2 hit points of damage each round while the body slowly dies and transforms into a ghoul's cold, undying flesh.
The victim is entitled to an initial saving throw to resist this deadly transformation. If failed, only a limited wish, wish, or restoration will end the condition. A dispel magic or remove curse may be effective, but only if cast within three rounds of the touch that confers the ghoul gauntlet. During the early stages of the spell, the original afflicted extremity may be severed and burned to terminate the spell.
If the extremity affected by the ghoul gauntlet is amputated while the victim has lost less than 20% of his or her total hit points, then only a hand or a foot may need to be severed (inflicting 1d4+1 hp of damage, requiring a system shock roll to remain conscious, and resulting in the loss of the limb's mobility and functions). After the victim has lost 20%–50% of his or her hit points, however, an entire limb will have to be cut off, with the loss of 1d12+4 hp and a system shock roll. Initially, the transformed flesh of the victim has no paralytic powers or any of the special abilities associated with ghouls. As the spell unfolds, the advancing front of dying flesh inexorably traverses the entire body, and the victim immediately dies once the ghoul gauntlet reaches the heart or brain (upon reaching 0 hp due to the spell). Healing spells, potions, or magical items have no power to cure or reverse this affliction while the ghoul gauntlet runs its course.
One full day after the victim has died (unless the remains are burned), the subject awakens as a full-fledged ghoul as outlined in the MONSTROUS MANUAL. The undead is now a fawning slave, utterly under the control of the necromancer who cast the nefarious spell.
The material components include the freshly harvested fingernail of a corpse and a pinch of mandrake root. Both of these are consumed by the casting of the spell.
Notes: Restricted to undead spellcasters; rare.
Category:Wizard Spells
Category:Spells from Book of Necromancers
Category:Spells
Category:Spells from Wizard's Spell Compendium