Death Hand
Spell, Black Magic, level 6
A palm touch that kills; a successful save still costs half the victim's hit points. A normal hit is needed against a victim who is not helpless.
From the book
The caster slays one creature or being with a touch of the open palm; guardians, arch devils, arch demons and deities cannot be affected. The victim may save vs Constitution: success means they survive but lose half their total hit points, always keeping at least 1. Against a victim who is not unconscious, tied up or otherwise helpless, the caster must first land a successful hit.
At a glance
- Range
- Touch (successful hit needed unless victim helpless)
- Limits
- Not vs guardians, arch devils, arch demons or Deities
- Save
- vs Constitution: victim loses 1/2 total hit points instead
- Spell type
- Non-variable
- Special
- On a successful save the victim always keeps at least 1 hit point
A scene
The Gorgon warrior-priestess is quick with her spear, and for a long, desperate minute the Druas wizard Sefani can do nothing but twist away from its point among the jungle ferns. Then the woman overreaches. Sefani steps inside the thrust and lays an open palm flat against her ribs. The priestess shudders from head to foot, her eyes rolling, and crumples to her knees, gasping. She does not die. She is tougher than that. But half the life has gone out of her at a stroke, and, gray-lipped and trembling, she lets her spear roll from her fingers.