Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

Rising Rot
(Evocation Necromancy)
Level: 5
Sphere: Combat, Necromantic (Moander)
Range: 10 yards/level
Components: V,S,M
Duration: Special
Casting Time: 8
Area of Effect: One creature
Saving Throw: Special
This spell generates a glowing brown or green
beam of light that stabs out from the caster to unerringly
strike a chosen target creature, who must be
visible to the caster and within range when spell begins.
The beam fades from existence the moment
the victim has been struck, and the caster does not
need to concentrate on the spell’s effects past this
point. The beam infects the victim with a mold that
sucks moisture and nutrients from living flesh, causing
it to shrivel and turn brown. The target must
make a saving throw vs. spell. Success means only
1d8 points of damage is inflicted by the mold, but
failure means the victim suffers 2d8+2 points of
damage. On every round thereafter the victim must
make another saving throw vs. spell. The same spell
damage (2d8+2 points) continues until the victim
has successfully saved twice. The second successful
saving throw ends the spell. Cure disease ends this
spell instantly, as does any magic that kills molds or
prevents damage done by them.
Rising rot has no effect on undead creatures, incorporeal
beings, nor any creatures lacking body tissue
(such as elementals). Sages believe that the Darkbringer’s
cult has fashioned numerous wands, known
as wands of rotting, which can cast rising rot upon
command.
The material component of this spell is a handful
of mold spores from any source and of any type.
Roots of the Assassin
(Conjuration)
Level: 6
Sphere: Summoning, Plant (Moander)
Range: 10 yards
Components: V,S,M
Duration: 1 turn
Casting Time: 2 rounds
Area of Effect: 5 square yards/level
Saving Throw: None
This dark and evil spell creates long, slimy, black
roots of foul look and manner. These plant things
grow from any surface the spell was cast on with astonishing
speed and attempt to strangle the poor
person (or people) who triggered the spell; they wrap
themselves around the neck of their victim. These
roots attack collectively as a priest of the same level
as the caster.
The caster of this spell chooses exactly what condition
triggers it. The condition can be of any complexity-for
example “Kill only Tallfellow halflings
wearing magical black leather armor with a red rose
painted on their left shoulders.” However, the spell
cannot know the name or alignment of a being, nor
can it be set off by undead or plantlike creatures.
The most common way to use this spell is to cast it
at a mandatory passage point of the intended target
(for example, the bed of a king).
This spell creates 1d100 tiny roots per square
yard, any of which is sufficient to strangle a humansized
opponent. Each of them can project itself up to
5 yards in order to attack. Potential victims thus
have to fight several hundred roots originating from
several square yards of surface. When called forth by
being activated, the roots make no more noise than
a leaf falling from a tree, so only individuals with an
exceptional sense of hearing would detect the roots
(a -4 bonus to surprise rolls).
Entrapped victims can hold their breath a number
of rounds equal to one-third of their Constitution
score. Beyond that time they must make a Constitution
ability check every round with a -2 cumulative
penalty or perish. Characters with the Swimming
proficiency gain an additional round before
they begin making Constitution ability checks.
Characters with the Endurance proficiency can hold
their breath a number of rounds equal to two-thirds
their Constitution score and then make Constitution
ability checks with no penalty the first round
and accrue only a cumulative -1 penalty per round
after the first check.
Victims ensnared by this spell can attempt to
sever the roots that strangle them. The mass of roots
is AC 6, but only slashing (type S) weapons have
any effect against them. If trapped victims use any
weapon larger than a dagger, they suffer a -3 penalty
to their attack rolls against the roots. Slashing
weapons sever five times their damage roll in roots;
and area-of-effect damaging spells also destroy that
many roots. If all of them are destroyed and a victim
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