Path of the Necromancy Arcana

*"Death is an art and I am the artist."*

**Requirements:** Insipidate (Cantrips), Base Course Set

**Path Completion Bonus**: +1 Spirit

## Core Abilities

**Drain Life**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 2 / 4 / 6 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 9 / 13 / 16 ]

**Activation:** 1 Action

**Range**: 12 meters

Choose a living target within Range. The target must succeed a Spirit check versus your Spellpower or lose [ 1d6 / 2d6 / 3d6 ] + SPI HP and Vim (this is not considered damage).

**Necrotic Touch**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 3 / 5 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 9 / 13 / 16 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

**Range**: Touch

You force negative energy into the target touched. Make an Arcane weapon skill strike which deals [ 1d6+3 / 2d6+6 / 3d6+9 ] + SPI damage to a living target or heals this amount if the target is undead. If the damage roll shows doubles, this attack ignores Armor. This spell has no effect on automata or other non-living entities.

**Necrosis Mastery**

**Prerequisite**: **Necrotic Touch**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**Activation:** Passive

For every 4 abilities purchased in the Path of the Necromancy Arcana, increase the damage (or healing) of **Necrotic Touch** by [ 3 / 1d6 / 1d6+3 ].

**Death Perception**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 0 / 1 / 2 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 9 / 13 / 16 ]

**Activation**: 1 Action

**Range**: [ 12 / 30 / 100 ] meters

You identify all creatures dead or near death within Range. You also gain approximate knowledge of how long they've been dead (plus or minus 50% of the actual time).

**Enervate**

**Prerequisite**: **Necrotic Touch**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 4 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

This spell always succeeds and does not use a casting roll. You cast a ray of necrotic energy at your living target, draining their vitality. This is an Arcane weapon skill strike. On a direct hit, the target takes [ 1 / 2 / 3 ] of the following effects which you choose; you may not choose the same effect more than once per cast:

* **Fatigue**: The target is fatigued.
* **Lethargic**: The target loses 2 Alerts.
* **Numb**: The target gains the stacking debuff *Numb*: -3 Spellpower on all spells cast.
* **Slow**: The target gains the debuff *Slowed*: half Speed, rounded up.
* **Hurt**: The target loses 6 + SPI HP.
* **Sick**: The target vomits uncontrollably, taking 1 stun damage and becoming Sick until the end of the Encounter.

**Draw Life**

**Prerequisite**: **Drain Life**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 3 / 5 / 7 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation:** 1 Action

**Range**: 12 meters

Choose a living target within Range. The target must succeed a Spirit check versus your Spellpower or lose [ 1d6 / 2d6 / 3d6 ] + SPI HP and Vim (this is not considered damage). You gain all HP and Vim lost by your target. This spell lasts while maintained as a Reaction: at the start of each of your turns while this spell is maintained, the effects trigger again. Each time the effects trigger, the target may re-attempt the Spirit check; the spell dissolves if the target succeeds. While this spell is maintained, both you and your target gain the debuff *Necrotic Lock*: your Speed is halved. If the target moves out of Range or if line of sight to the target is broken, the spell dissolves.

**Visions of Death**

**Prerequisite**: **Death Perception**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 2 / 3 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation**: 3 Actions

**Range**: [ 1 / 12 / 30 ] meters

Choose a dead target within Range. You gain [ vague / approximate / exact ] knowledge of when it died, how it died, and generally how it lived. When normal-cast or twice-cast, you see glimpses of its life and/or its moments before death, subject to the GM's discretion.

**Speak with Dead**

**Prerequisite**: **Death Perception**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 3 / 6 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 30 meters

Gain the buff *Spirit* *Tongue*: you can speak to the heads or skulls of the dead and they can talk back to you in a language you understand, even if they did not speak that language in life. Their responses are limited to what they knew in life and they may choose to withhold information based on their feelings toward you. If this spell was normal-cast or twice-cast, *Spirit Tongue* lasts until the next Rest. If this spell was twice-cast, the dead are compelled to answer any questions truthfully unless they succeed a Spirit check versus your Spellpower.

**Aetheric Scythe**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 1 / 3 / 6 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: Personal

You conjure an ethereal scythe. This weapon exists as long as you maintain this spell as a Reaction and you are holding the weapon. The weapon counts both as a melee Weapon category of your choosing and as an Arcane melee weapon, but uses only Dexterity as its weapon attribute. This weapon has a Reach of [ 1 / 2 / 3 ] meters and may attack in a 2-wide cone up to the length of its Reach. The scythe has a base damage of [ 1d6 / 2d6 / 3d6 ] + SPI damage. When you roll doubles on the damage roll for a basic attack with this scythe, any creatures directly hit also lose an amount of Vim equal to the damage roll (this is not considered damage).

**Grim Passion**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**Activation**: Passive

Gain +3 to all checks related to interacting with undead creatures, knowledge of undead, and rituals of death and undeath.

**Call of the Grave**

**Prerequisite**: **Drain Life**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 3 / 5 / 7 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 12 / 16 / 22 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

Choose a living target within Range. If the target fails a Spirit check versus your Spellpower, they take [ 1 / 2 / 3 ] Spirit damage and gain the debuff *Call of the Grave*: at the start of each of your turns, lose [ 1d6 / 2d6 / 3d6 ] HP and twice as much Vim until either your HP or Vim is 0.

**Bones to Battle Axe**

**Prerequisites**: at least 6 abilities purchased in the Path of the Necromancy Arcana

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 2 / 4 / 8 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 12 / 16 / 22 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

*"I wouldn't trust the axe thing if it doesn't have bones. I once cast this on a Black Jelly and got a flail of acid." - Xanathos the Necrotinker*

This spell can be cast only on creatures who died within the last hour. You reassemble its corpse into an enchanted horseman's axe. When you cast this spell, choose an ally within Range with a free hand (you may choose yourself). The axe flies into the hand of the chosen ally. This unique melee weapon uses Strength as its weapon attribute and has a base damage of [ 1d6 / 2d6 / 4d6 ]. It has an Enchantment level equal to the Level of the corpse, up to [ 3 / 9 / 18 ]. For Enchantment level X, this weapon gains [ 5X / 10X / 15X ] Accuracy and [ 2X / 3X / 5X ] damage. The enchanted axe lasts while you maintain this spell using a Reaction.

**Control Undead**

**Prerequisites**: at least 6 abilities purchased in the Path of the Necromancy Arcana

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 3 / 6 / 9 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 12 / 16 / 22 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

You forcibly bring one undead creature up to Level [ 3 / 9 / 18 ] under your control. The creature may resist this manipulation with a successful Spirit check versus your Spellpower. While the creature is under your control, they are considered at minimum Level [ 1 / 4 / 12 ], gaining Levels temporarily to meet the minimum. Until the end of the Encounter, you may use a Free Action to command your undead to take actions. The undead must follow all commands exactly as you intended, even if it means their death. The creature retains memory of their actions while manipulated.

**Control Living**

**Prerequisite**: **Control Undead**

**Cost**: 700 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 4 / 8 / 12 ]

**Casting DL**: [ 13 / 17 / 24 ]

**Activation**: 2 Actions

**Range**: 12 meters

You forcibly bring one living humanoid up to Level [ 3 / 9 / 18 ] under your control. The creature may resist this manipulation with a successful Spirit check versus your Spellpower. While the creature is under your control, they are visibly mind-controlled, typically in the form of black wispy shadows smoking out of their eyes. Until the end of the Encounter, you may use a Free Action to command your mind-controlled target to take actions. The target must follow all commands exactly as you intended, even if it means their death. The creature retains memory of their actions while manipulated.

**Mind Mastery**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: **Control Living**

**Cost**: 800 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**Activation**: Passive

When you twice-cast **Control Undead** or **Control Living**, there is no limit to the Level of your target, but your cast loses 1 Spellpower for each Level of your target beyond 21.

## Hexes

**Blind Hex**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: **Enervate**

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 6 / 6 / 6\* ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

**Range**: [ Touch / 3 meters / 12 meters ]

You curse one target within Range and line of sight. If the target fails a Spirit check versus your Spellpower, they gain the Grievous Wound "Blinded" [ until the end of the Encounter / until the next Rest / permanently ]. If this spell is twice-cast, the MP spent on this spell cannot be regained until the target dies.

**Deafen Hex**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: **Enervate**

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 6 / 6 / 6\* ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

**Range**: [ Touch / 3 meters / 12 meters ]

You curse one target within Range and line of sight. If the target fails a Spirit check versus your Spellpower, they gain the Grievous Wound "Deafened" [ until the end of the Encounter / until the next Rest / permanently ]. If this spell is twice-cast, the MP spent on this spell cannot be regained until the target dies.

**Poison Hex**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: **Enervate**

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 6 / 6 / 6\* ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

**Range**: [ Touch / 3 meters / 12 meters ]

You curse one target within Range and line of sight. If the target fails a Spirit check versus your Spellpower, they take [ 2 / 4 / 6 ] Strength damage. If this spell is twice-cast, the damage is permanent and unrecoverable, and the MP spent on this spell cannot be regained until the target dies.

**Doom Hex**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: **Enervate**

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited for:** Magic

**MP Cost**: [ 6 / 6 / 6\* ]

**Casting DL**: [ 11 / 15 / 20 ]

**Activation:** 2 Actions

**Range**: [ Touch / 3 meters / 12 meters ]

You curse one target within Range and line of sight. If the target fails a Spirit check versus your Spellpower, they lose [ 6d6 / 12d6 / 66d6 ] HP at the end of the Encounter. If this spell is twice-cast, your max MP decreases by the MP spent on this spell.