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"The belief that disembodied spirits may be permitted
to revisit this world, has its foundation upon that sublime hope of immortality,
which is at once the chief solace and greatest triumph of our reason.
Even if revelation did not teach us, we feel that we have that within
us which shall never die; and all our experience of this life but makes
us cling the more fondly to that one repaying hope."
from Charles Mackay's
"Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds"
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Book of Draga Or Dnur
[form (death) (life, soul) (undeath)]
Draga Or Dnur is a forbidden study whose
secrets are fiercely guarded by the followers of Draun,
god of death. Although it is possible to learn and practice the
Draga Or Dnur outside that cult, the faithful seem very attuned to its
powers and are attracted to the places where it is done.
Very few of the sirkùla
teach the black art, fearing reprisal from the Temple of Draun.
In recent times however, the practice has grown more widespread
in the absence of representation from the Draun faith. The
most common transgression of this "law" are the creation of elixirs
of longevity. Draun priests are entitled by old Dekàlan
Law, to seek and destroy all renegade users of the Draga Or Dnur.
Despite a hold on all use within the Draga Or Dnur, there
are many interpretations of the magic and how the magic is used. The
priests of Draun believe that the soul of a person leaves the body following
a series of rites. Without these rites, it is believed that the
soul cannot cross the River of the Dead but instead float and sink among
the thousands of heathen dead which also come to the river. Draga
Or Dnur magics drag these souls backward to the waking realm and employ
them for worldly uses. This process robs the God of the Death of
his rightful souls and is considered a trespass into her realm. In
ancient times, the Draun faith trained witch hunters to seek out such
necromancers, and to commit their souls to the faith.
Outside the Dekàlan sirkùla, necromancy
is much more widely practiced. This state of affairs has influenced
more than one war by urging of the Temple of Draun through its close affiliation
with the Temple of Irul. The First
Crusade was launched to unseat the Acentran
necromancer king Taltas Bludspar.
This action initiated a long history of warfare between the Dekàlans
and their eastern neighbors.
Or Dnur encompasses magics that deal with death and undeath.
Although, from a philosphical standpoint disease, sickness and draining
may seem necromantic, the Chaos (as it is understood by most Terèthian
scholars on such matters) does not "see" it that way. Disease
and sickness deal primarily with Or Hàlam or Visìktis, while draining
magics are defined within Visìktis and Müt. There is
no reason to associate draining with necromancy because it is "vampiric".
Davra Or Dnur
Davra Or Dnur is the sphere of death. Davra Or Dnur
is under most circumstances, available only to the priests of Draun.
On rare occasions, priests of other faiths have been granted these
powers but never without angering the faithful and powers of the God of
Death. The most notable exception is the Kandlan
use of reincarnation.
The most famous example of "misused necromancy" occurred
following the death of the High Priestess of Path.
The priestess was on the verge of solving a centuries old magical
puzzle at the time of her death. A priest of Draun was summoned,
but after conferring with oracles and many night's prayers the priest
reported that his god would not release the priestess's soul. The
priests of Path were outraged, and converged to construct their own ceremony
of resurrection. The ceremony was carried out in private and summoned
the High Priestess's soul from the River of the Dead. Following
the ceremony, a ghost (see Sorrom) began
appearing in the High Library, draining the lives of gathered priests.
The High Priestess understood then the price of her revival, and
went alone into the Library. There she confronted the servant of
Kyrçul, and was taken back into the
Realm of the Dead.
It is not believed that all transgressions warrant the
response of Draun and his powers, though the god's faithful are known
to be sensitive to necromantic practices.
Grimoire Infinitum
Spells included here are not those owned or maintained
by the sirkùli or cults but rather spells that have fallen into
"outside" hands. Some of these spells have been so widely circulated
that ownership is no longer known or recognized. Sirkùli
spells may be found on the individual sirkùla pages. Cult
spells can be found on the individual religion pages.
D&D Spells:
| Elzundir's
Possession (Familiar's Form) Sor/Wiz 3 |
| (alemá
Or Dnar) Elzundir's Possession transfer the sorcerer's mind and
soul into the body of her familiar. The caster and familiar's
spirit share the "vessel", but if the visitor attempts anything
that might endanger the familiar a competing Ego check (similar to
that used with magic weapons) should be resolved. A caster that repeatedly
forces a familiar into dangerous situations in this manner will strain
her relationship with the familiar. The visitor's body appears dead
when the spirit is absent. (based on Familiar's Form in Drag280pp63)
|
| [Familiar's
Form] (Familiar's Form) Sor/Wiz 3 |
| draga
Sorkèrtá, Drag280pp63 |
| [Greater
Disrupt Undead] (Greater Disrupt Undead) Sor/Wiz 3 |
| (skar'ad
Or Dnur) DragAnn5p26 |
| [Ray
of Entropy] (Ray of Entropy) Sor/Wiz 5 |
| DragAnn5p26 |
GURPS Spells:
Alacrity F1
(Regular)
|
| Alacrity imbues an undead under the caster's
control with the movement and agility of a living human. In
addition, the undead affected gain a +1 PD <+1
AC> and resists spells and other effects as does the caster.
This spell only works on skeletons and zombies. The spell
requires the priest's holy symbol and dried mammal sinew which is
consumed in casting. |
| Duration |
10 minutes |
| Cost |
2 cast; +1 for each add. target; 2 full maintain
|
| Casting Time |
10 seconds |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
|
Animate Dead
(Animation) F1 (VH)
(Regular)
|
| This spell binds a nearby soul/spirit
to the remains of something that is no longer alive. During
the spell's course the spirit is bound by the priest's commands but
will not act intelligently, obeying only spoken commands. The
priest's language is not a barrier in commanding the undead. The
effects end when 1) the dead's remains are destroyed and the spirit
is released, 2) the undead is destroyed by turning causing the spirit
to flee the vessel, 3) the spirit binding is abjured, or 4) the creating
priest wishes the spell to end. Priests of Draun may perform
this spell on one spirit once/day starting at 5th level. Skeletons
are animated at racial HD equal to the remains, while zombies are
animated at +1 HD. The spell requires the priest's holy
symbol, a drop of blood, and the remains of something dead. (GM2p73,
PHp265) |
| Duration |
Permanent, until undone |
| Cost |
5 per spirit; no maintain |
| Casting Time |
1 minute |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
Servant
of Bones |
Deadspeak M1
(Regular)
|
| Through means of this spell the mage
is able to speak through an undead or dead conduit under his command.
While in effect, the caster is unable to cast further spells
that require speech, as his voice emanates from elsewhere. The
spell requires a mummified tongue. (7 pages) |
| Duration |
10 minutes |
| Cost |
3 cast; 1 maintain |
| Casting Time |
2 seconds |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
Dekàlan 10+ |
Death Chill
(Steal Strength) F1
(Regular)
|
| When cast, the priest may drain life
from a touched target. The spell causes 1d4 points of damage
and drains 1 point of ST every combat round that the target(s) is
touched. Only one target may be touched a round. Strength
is regained at 1 point an hour afterward The spell requires
a small bit of mummified flesh and the priest's holy symbol. (GM2p74)
|
| Duration |
30 seconds |
| Cost |
3 cast; 1 each add. 10 seconds |
| Casting Time |
1 second |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
Minor
Healing |
Eyes and Ears
(Spectral Senses) F1
(Regular)
|
| This spell allows the necromancer to
see through the eyes and hear through the ears of one controlled undead.
Eyes and Ears transmits this sensory input up to 10 yards/spell
skill level of the caster. The necromancer may also transmit
commands to a controlled undead within this range. This spell
may also be cast upon a corpse, but confers no undead abilities to
those remains. The casting of Eyes and Ears requires the priest's
holy symbol, a pinch of grave dust, and a hood worn over the necromancer's
own eyes and ears while "sensing". (CBNp78) |
| Duration |
10 minutes |
| Cost |
3 cast; 1 maintain |
| Casting Time |
4 seconds |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
(Death Vision), 1 other Orycul
|
Locate Remains
F1
(Orys/Area; Information)
|
| See Davra Orycul: Locate
Remains |
Moranay's Eye of
Omen (Death Vision) M1
(Regular)
|
| (orys
oradá Dnur) An excellent example of the power and ability
of Draga Or Dnur is Moranay's Eye of Omen. This elementary spell
is cast with the eye of a corpse. The subject of the spell is
shown a brief but chilling image of their eventual doom. Optimists
believe that not all images shown are inescapable, but rather depict
possible outcomes. (5 pages) (based on Death Vision,
GM2p72) |
| Duration |
1 second |
| Cost |
2 cast; no maintain |
| Casting Time |
3 seconds |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
Draga Orykul, Moranay's
Recall |
Moranay's Recall
M1
(Regular)
|
| (orys
oradá Dnur) This spell enables the wizard to places his
fingers on the eyes and ears of a corpse, and relive the final five
minutes of the person's life. When the spell is begun the wizard
falls into a trance, and cannot be awakened until the vision is complete.
If the wizard is disturbed, he will remain entranced until the
vision is complete. If the body is removed during the interim
the wizard will remain entranced indefinitely. The spell only
works on the recently deceased. (4 pages) (based on Speak
with Dead, PHB) |
| Duration |
5 minutes |
| Cost |
4 cast; 2 each add. day |
| Casting Time |
1 minute |
| Range |
Touch |
| Prerequisites |
Old Othic 15+, 1 other Orykul |
Raise Dead
F3 (VH)
(Regular; Ceremony)
|
| Raise Dead ushers the dead's spirit back
to their body and restores it with life. The spell is fiercely
guarded by the priests of Draun; all uses of the spell outside the
faith are of the highest heresy. The priest, using only their
holy symbol, stands over the remains of the dead and prays for the
soul to return. If Summon Spirit is done successfully beforehand,
the priest will recieve a +2 bonus to their spell skill roll. If
the spell is cast on ground consecrated to Draun, another +2 bonus
is applied. The Draun holy day of Duntru
confers an additional +1 bonus to the spell skill roll. The
caster's skill is at a -1 penalty for each day that passes from the
time of death. If the spell fails, the priest will not try again,
deeming it Draun's will to keep the soul. Whether cast as a
spell or as a granted power, Raise Dead incapacitates the caster for
one full day following spellcasting. |
| Duration |
Permanent |
| Cost |
100 cast; one try |
| Casting Time |
1 hour |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
Regeneration,
Summon Spirit |
Saarul's Eyesigil:
Life (Sense Life) M1
(Information; Area) |
| (ka
shurt oradá Dnir) Saarul's Eyesigils are arcane symbols
tattooed to the wizard's eyelids. When the appropriate words
are spoken and the eyes of the caster are closed, the particular sigil
glows and grants the wizard secondary sight. In this instance,
the sigil allows the caster to see lifeforms in the nearby vicinity.
The spell may also be cast to sense the presence of specific
lifeforms. When inactive, the sigils are invisible. If
any two sigils are drawn atop one another, the wizard must make a
HT check or be struck blind. (9 pages) (based on Sense Life,
GM2p28) |
| Duration |
Instantaneous |
| Cost |
1/2 cast (minimum 1); no maintain |
| Casting Time |
1 second (or 3 seconds) + Special |
| Prerequisites |
Dekàlan 14+ |
Servant of Bones
(Animation) F1 (VH)
(Regular)
|
| Similar to Animate
Dead, Servant of Bones binds a lesser spirit to a creature's remains.
Once bound the new "undead" may perform most simple duties short
of combat. The necromancer is limited to a number of Servants
equal to half their spell skill level. Servant of Bones requires
the priest's holy symbol and the hair from a dead dog to cast. (CBNp78)
|
| Duration |
1 week |
| Cost |
3 per spirit; same maintain |
| Casting Time |
1 minute |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
(Summon Spirit) |
Soul Ravage
(Choke) F1
(Ishra/Regular) |
| (skar'ad
Dnar) (based on Choke, GG1p15) |
Summon Spirit
(Summon Spirit) F2
(Information; Resisted by spirit's IQ)
|
| This spell calls forth the spirit of
someone who has recently died for questioning. The summoned
spirit will answer one question, and one additional question for every
minute it remains. The spell is modified by: +5 if friend of
caster, -5 if spirit's full name is not known, -1 if more than one
week from death, -2 if more than one month from death, -3 if more
than one year from death, -4 if more 10 years from death, -5 if more
than 100 years from death, -6 if more than 1,000 years from death.
If the spell fails, the spirit may not be summoned for one more
year. Critical failure summons a malign spirit that lies. Summoned
spirits understand all languages but may only reply in tongues they
knew in life. The casting requires the priest's holy symbol,
and burning incense. (GM2p72, PHp271) |
| Duration |
1 minute |
| Cost |
20 cast; 10 maintain; 1/2 cost at site of death |
| Casting Time |
5 minutes |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
(Death Vision) |
Tharad'Zor's Touch
(Total Paralysis) M1
(Ishra/Regular)
|
| Tharad'Zor's Touch was created by a mad
wizard in recent times. Reading the spell is a look into the
mind of a mage obsessed with the wonders of ghul-dom.
The spell enables the caster to paralyze his victim with a touch;
resisted by HT. The area immediately surrounding the target
also becomes filled with the strong scent of decay; requiring another
check vs. HT to avoid vomiting for 1 combat round; while vomiting
the character can take no actions other than simple defense. The
rendered caster is immune to this effect. The spell requires
the finger bones of a ghul, which are not consumed in casting. (8
pages) |
| Duration |
1 minute |
| Cost |
5 to cast; 3 for each additional minute |
| Casting Time |
1 second |
| Range |
Touch |
| Prerequisites |
Old Othic 16+, (Paralyze
Limb), 1 other Visictis |
Vision of Doom
(Death Vision) F1
(Regular)
|
| Death Vision places an overpowering presentiment
of a person's doom into the victim's mind. The spell mentally
stuns the victim, who can make an IQ roll or Save vs. Spells each
succeeding round to throw off the spell's effects. The vision
of death is not always truthful, but can be used to determine a crucial
course of action. (GM2p72) |
| Duration |
1/2 second |
| Cost |
2 cast; no maintain |
| Casting Time |
3 seconds |
| Range |
Standard |
| Prerequisites |
|
The Wizard's Bookshelf
| Dral Drenum Nom
(Dec.13) |
| An oversized folio with dark green cover
and grey Dekàlan lettering. The interior illustrations
depict the stages of decay and provides annotation as to which periods
are more receptive to Draga Or Dnur. The main illustrations
are expertly worked woodcuts of a man, a woman, and female child.
A short appendix describes working with animals, but is cursory
and not illuminated. The book is believed to be a copy of a
much older book or scroll written in the 2nd century. Pieces
of the earlier book are believed to have been omitted at Draun "requests".
(The book is of interest to anyone dabbling in Draga Or Dnur
and of vital importance to the creation of undead. The books
were originally printed for the Zün but became popular among
other sirkùli and can be found throughout post-Dekàlas
Terèthor.) (74 pages) |
| Author |
Unkn. |
| Written |
Unkn., cir 200 DR |
| Published |
Es Tudur (Candal), sirkùla Printing, 398 DR
|
| Copies |
Unkn. qty.; House
of Tharad'Zor (Oth), Dalmor's
Books (Oth) |
| Kyurada Vor
(O.Oth.18) |
| A large soiled tome written by the Ghul
mage Tharad'Zor about experiences following his transformaton from
life to undeath. The book contains many interesting references
to Ghul "anatomy" and "ecology" that would greatly interest Or Dnur
sages and mages alike. Much of the book takes almost poetic
turn, as the author attempts to describe the "hunger", an obsession
throughout the text. The title is a metaphysical reference to
the veil which separates the waking and the spirit worlds. As
a diary, the book also contains mention of current events around the
City of Oth during this period, and incomplete references to an elaborate
Ghul network that the writer hints spreads throughout the City of
Iron's "subterranea". (232 pages) |
| Author |
Tharad'Zor |
| Written |
620-652 DR |
| Published |
Cenotaph (Oth), 652 DR |
| Copies |
1; House of Tharad'Zor
(Oth)
|
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Draga Orkid
Dekàlan
magics (Draga and Davra)
are divided into 24 arts (see Draga Orkid).
The magical Ways are:
Ild'a
(to Control)
Kreàd'a (to Create)
Skar'ad'a (to Destroy)
Orykul (to Augur)
Endàris (to Emote)
Sorkèrt'a (to Enchant)
Or Hàlam (to Heal)
Müt (to Change)
Alèmen (to Move)
The magical Forms are:
Baras
(Animal)
Visìktis (Body)
Nol (Elem. Air)
Tereth (Elem. Earth)
Phlogòst'a (Elem. Fire)
Marus (Elem. Water)
Forad (Food)
Inkàthura (Gates)
Illùum (Light)
Pyrád'a (Magic)
Alèmen (Move)
Kadàktis (Mind)
Or Dnur (Death)
Or Kànt'a (Plants)
Sorólum (Sound)
Vorbid (Wards)
Additional 3E spells may be found in the:
Spellbook
Archive
D20 Spell Indices
Adept
Assassin
Bard
Cleric
Death Knight
Druid
Necromancer
Paladin
Ranger
Shaman
Sorcerer
Witch
Wizard
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