The Bone Flute of Animation
written
by Galen Musbach
This musical instrument is carved from what appears to
be a human thighbone; it is in the shape of a 'recorder'
type flute. When played, it produces very loud and discordant
notes. After one full turn of playing, it will 'wake the dead'--
animating a single skeleton or zombie according to the spell
"animate dead" (but only if any cadavers or skeletons are available
to be animated). This undead monster is not under the control
of the flute player unless he is otherwise able to control
randomly encountered undead; instead, it dances for as long
the music continues to play. When the music stops, the skeleton
or zombie follows the person who awoke it as well as it can,
wherever they might go. The Bone Flute may be used in this
fashion up to 3 times per day.
In the hands of a skilled Bard, the Bone Flute allows the
Bard to control undead as an evil priest of the same level,
except that the only command they obey is to dance for
so long as the flute is played.