Memento Mori (3.5e Spell)

Author: Sulacu (talk) Date Created: March 17, 2015 Status: Pending Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Memento Mori

Necromancy [Darkness, Death, Life, Light, Curse]
Level:	Cleric 9, Sorcerer/Wizard 9
Components:	V, S
Casting time:	1 round
Range:	Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target:	One creature
Duration:	Instantaneous and 24 hours; see text
Saving Throw:	Will half and none
Spell Resistance:	None

“	Vita brevis breviter in brevi finietur. Mors venit velociter quae neminem veretur. Omnia mors perimit et nulli miseretur. Ad mortem festinamus, et iudex advenerit vocabit sempiterna electos in patria. Memento mori!	”
—The incantation of an ancient, forgotten magic

A forgotten magic that came into being during the Time of Troubles, Memento Mori is the ultimate curse devised by mortal kind, capable of even tearing down Gods. It is considered the greatest Anathema to have been born from a mortal mind, and its usage has had widespread consequences.

Memento Mori is an incredibly complex magic that harnesses and conducts the energies of Light and Dark - Life, and Death - into a vortex of luminous dark that imparts the body and spirit of those immortal and everlasting with the 'idea of mortality'. In layman's terms, it is capable of rendering immortals, death-cheaters, demons and even deities susceptible to final death, but the cost of this magic is equally high. Any mortal that successfully casts this spell will irrevocably die within 24 (4 + 2d10) hours, without the possibility of resurrection. It is unsure what happens to the immortal soul of the caster after death. Some stipulate the caster becomes neither alive or dead, consigned to eternal oblivion, yet others theorize the spirit is catapulted across the multiverse and reincarnated. Either way, there is no coming back from this ultimate blasphemy.

The target of Memento Mori takes 10 points of damage per caster level (Will half) and becomes effectively 'mortal' for the coming 24 hours. During this time, it loses any innate resistances and immunities to death effects. Any and all regeneration and damage reduction is suppressed, including damage reduction/cosmic. The affected creature's high ability scores are reduced by 10 points each, down to a minimum of 18. While the effects of Memento Mori are active, creatures that reconstitute or revive after having their hitpoints reduced to 0, such as vampires, liches or revenants will be destroyed completely upon being killed, regardless of any safeguards in place to safekeep their spirit. Likewise, demons, devils and other extraplanars killed while under the effects of Memento Mori will not revive or recover on their home plane if killed.

Most importantly, during the effects of this spell, any divine or true celestial ranks the afflicted creature possesses are suppressed. For the duration of Memento Mori, it effectively loses its divine rank altogether, along with any and all abilities those ranks granted it, and it takes an additional 10 points of damage per rank lost on top of the spell's initial damage. This extra damage is not reduced by a successful Will save.

Memento Mori is a curse born from mortality. It requires comprehension of life and death in the context of those whose life force is ephemeral and fleeting. Hence, only mortal creatures are capable of using Memento Mori.

No metamagic can be applied to this spell.

Note: Memento mori cannot be learned by leveling or copied from another spellcaster like an ordinary spell. It is something that can only be discovered, taught, or found by 'mastering both life and death', such as through dangerous trials and hardships, an epic quest, or by DM discretion.

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