Skull Trap (Necromancy)
Level: Bard 3, Mage 3, Sorcerer 3
Range: 10 yards
Duration: Until Triggered
Casting Time: 1 round
Area of Effect: 1 skull
Saving Throw: 1/2

The human skull is one of the most prized of necromantic components - a key ingredient in creating intelligent undead servants and an icon of status among those who practice the deathly arts.

Sages were therefore somewhat surprised when this spell, which resulted in the destruction of such items, was first developed then used so flamboyantly by Nalgoth of the Seven Stars, an arrogant self-styled Deathmaster, in a spell-battle against Deargloth the Undying, an up-and-coming Red Wizard believed to be one of Szass Tam's apprentices. Feigning injury, Nalgoth teleported to a nearby graveyard, ostensibly to raise more servants to aid his cause. When Deargloth followed, he found himself surrounded by several freshly opened graves, a dozen grinning skulls and Nalgoth's pre-cast spell triggers invoking several Skull Traps.

Deargloth did not long survive his victory - he vanished within a couple of days and divination spells cast by anxious contemporaries (anxious to ensure his attentions remained elsewhere) pointed in the direction of Szass Tam's undead army, Myrkul's Legion. No one has chosen to investigate further.

However the spells he devised, including this one, were eagerly adapted and changed (in many cases by name only). Despite their claimed disdain for the waste of resources it involves, many necromancers now make routine use of this spell when travelling in hostile territory.

Upon casting this spell, a skull is thrown by the caster at the target area. The skull floats in the area until a creature touches it. When this happens, the skull is triggered and explodes, damaging everyone with a 10-foot radius. This spell inflicts 2D4 points of damage and an additional 1D4 points of negative energy damage per level of the caster so only living creatures are affected. Constructs, and elementals are unaffected, while undead are healed rather than harmed.