Feign death was a necromancy spell that allowed one creature touched by the caster to temporarily fall into a state indistinguishable from death.[4][5][10]
Effects
There was an arcane and a divine version of this spell and both had the effect of putting the recipient into a cataleptic state with rigid muscles and posture, unresponsive pupils, and lack of respiration and vital signs. The recipient could hear, smell, and be aware of what was happening in their immediate environment, but could not see or feel anything. Reaction to wounds or mistreatment of their body was impossible, but damage was reduced to half and they were immune to poison, paralysis, and energy drain while feigning. Any poison introduced into the body would attempt to overcome the target's resistance and begin to take effect once the spell had worn off.[4][5][10]
The arcane version of this spell could affect any willing creature that was not higher level than the caster and lasted a minimum of almost two hours or until ended by the caster.[11][12] (The older arcane version of this spell lasted only a few minutes.[13]) For the divine version of feign death, any willing person (not creature) could be the recipient regardless of level and it lasted a minimum of 15 minutes or until released by the caster.[14][15][16] For all versions of this spell, recovery time to full bodily function and movement took one minute. If cast on an unwilling person or creature, this spell had no effect.[4][5][10]
After the Second Sundering there was only a single version. This version worked the same as the previous once but it could affect any willing creature, and lasted a hour.[17]
Components
For the arcane versions of this spell, only verbal and somatic components were required.[11][12][13] The newer divine version only had a verbal component.[14][15] Previously, the divine spell required a pinch of dirt from a graveyard and the priest's holy symbol.[16][17]
History
The spell was attributed to Netherese arcanist Gwynn in -909 DR and was originally known as Gwynn's feign death.[1]
Appendix
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 23, 27. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–211, 240. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 139. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 149, 210. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 191, 267. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ Cook, Findley, Herring, Kubasik, Sargent, Swan (1991). Tome of Magic 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 151, 153. ISBN 1-56076-107-5.
- ↑ Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), pp. 183, 187. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
- ↑ Sam Witt (March 1994). The Complete Sha'ir's Handbook. Edited by Dezra D. Phillips, C. Terry Phillips. (TSR, Inc.), p. 124. ISBN 1-56076-828-2.
- ↑ slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 47, 73. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 149. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 191. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 73. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 210. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 267. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 240. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.