Skull Mace (Magic Mace)

The skull mace is a magical weapon, initially indistinguishable from any other magical mace. It can only be fully used by an evil priest. In the hands of any other character, it performs as a mace +2. A paladin or good-aligned priest who grasps the mace receives 2d6 points of damage each round it is held. Neutral priests take 1d6 points of damage per round spent holding it. Any character can carry and transport the mace if desired, and is not damaged as long as the mace is not held or touched with the hands. The skull mace radiates an aura of evil if detection is used. When held by an evil priest, the enchantments concealing its true appearance are dispelled. The mace head is transformed into a caricature of a human skull, which remains until the evil priest releases the mace, whereupon it returns to its normal appearance.
A skull mace may cast continual darkness twice per day as the owner of the mace wills. When it is used in combat against a human, humanoid, or demihuman opponent and the wielder scores a natural (unmodified) 20, the opponent takes double damage from the blow and must also make a saving throw vs. death magic at -2 or be slain immediately.
The wielder may also cast an animate dead spell once per day on any human, demihuman, or humanoid body or skeleton. Zombies and skeletons so animated follow the directions of the bearer of the mace, but remain in undead form for only one week. Thus, an evil priest cannot control more than seven undead with this device at any one time. 
Category:Encyclopedia Magica Magic Items
Category:Magic Items
Category:Magic Maces
Category:Magic Weapons