Scourge (Priest Spell)

This nasty spell causes a major disease and weakness in victims who fail a saving throw vs. spells at a –3 penalty. Afflicted individuals are immediately stricken with a sickening scourge that quickly spreads to cover their entire bodies. The blackened boils, magenta blotches, violet lesions, seeping abscesses, and malignant cysts are excruciatingly painful, and highly debilitating.
In the short term, the Strength, Dexterity, and Charisma of each victim are reduced by 3. Attack rolls are similarly decreased by 3. The agonizing symptoms persist until a victim receives a cure disease, heal, or restoration spell bestowed by a more powerful priest than the original caster. Dispel magic and remove curse are powerless to mediate the symptoms of a scourge, but a wish will eradicate the infection immediately.
A scourge may also lead to a long-term, debilitating illness. Those ignoring the malignant disease resulting from the spell's effects for more than a few days may be susceptible to much worse afflictions (such as gangrene, plague, or leprosy) that ultimately result in the victim's untimely death within 1–4 weeks.
Furthermore, if a victim of the spell enters an area of dense population, there is always a chance that the disease may spread (1% per caster level) into an epidemic of massive proportions. These long-term effects of the scourge are left to the discretion of the DM.
The material component is a specially prepared, black whip or riding crop, which is cracked in the direction of the intended victims during the casting of the spell. Because of its horrific affect, scourge is typically only granted to high priests of a malignant and evil god who is dedicated to spreading death and disease.
Notes: Restricted to necromancer-clerics and evil priests, common for them.
Category:Priest Spells
Category:Spells from Book of Necromancers
Category:Spells