For the convenience of Necromancers

[Klaus Teufel]

I've created a couple of spells for necromancers. The first is to make it convenient to create skeletons from battlefield casualties; the other is to fulfil a scene that any necromancer worth their salt should be capable of.

Excarnate Corpse

1st level necromancy

Casting Time: 1 minute (ritual)

Range: 30 feet

Components: V, S, small bone

Duration: Instant

You target the corpse of a humanoid or beast, medium-sized or smaller, that has a skeleton. The spell summons a magical swarm of dermestid beetles that miraculously scour away any flesh and organic material, leaving an inanimate skeleton.

At Higher Levels: For each level the caster is above 5th level, they can excarnate an additional creature*.

**This matches the Animate Dead progression, because 2 character levels = +1 spell slot level




Arise from the Grave

5th level necromancy

Casting Time: 10 minutes (ritual)

Range: 30 feet radius, 10 foot deep

Components: V, S, skull of a goat

Duration: Instant

You stand in an area that you think the dead are buried, and call on them to dig themselves out of their graves. Up to five medium sized or smaller humanoid skeletons will dig through to the surface and be under your control as per Animate Dead. If the corpses were buried less than 2 months ago, they will arise as zombies instead.

At Higher Levels: For each level the caster is above 5th level, they can exhume an additional creature.