Speak with Dead (spell)
| Range | self |
| Duration | special |
| Area of Effect | 1 creature |
| Casting Time | 10 rounds |
| Saving Throw | none |
| Level | bard (3rd); cleric (3rd) |
| level | time dead | no. of questions | length of answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 6 | 1 week | 2 | 15 seconds |
| 7 to 8 | 1 month | 3 | 30 seconds |
| 9 to 11 | 1 year | 4 | 45 seconds |
| 12 to 14 | 10 years | 5 | 1 minute |
| 15 to 17 | 100 years | 6 | 90 seconds |
| 18 to 20 | 1,000 years | 7 | 2 minutes |
| 21 or more | 10,000 years | 8 | 3 minutes |
Speak with dead permits the caster to communicate with the soul of a dead intelligence who need not be humanoid. This discourse allows the caster to ask questions and receive knowledge that the creature had known in life; it does not presuppose knowledge or experience the creature may have gained in the afterlife. However, it might be possible to learn of a creature's treasure, or any traps that might defend it; or the name and nature of the creature's lost love, or perhaps a hapless victim's murderer. If there happen to be many dead, such as might be found on a battlefield or a graveyard, it might be useful to remain for a week or more and speak with multiple dead about the local atmosphere.
The caster must know the name of the creature to be communicated with, and must also meet one of the following requirements: either, (a) hold an item that the dead is known to have owned in life, including a part of the dead's body; (b) stand within one hundred yards of a place where the dead is known to have lived or laboured; or (c) stand within ten yards of the gravesite of the dead. So long as any of these three requirements are met, and the caster knows the dead's name, communication can be made. The dead are not permitted to refuse; they must answer.
Discovery
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The amount of information that can be learned is dependent upon the caster's level. As shown on the table, below 12th level, the caster can speak only to the recently dead, and ask few questions. Additionally, the answers received will be snippets at best. However, the dead will not quibble or waste time. If asked direct questions, they will give direct, useful answers, if they can. It is presumed that knowledge of the spell also confers some knowledge of how to ask questions and which would be most useful; the DM should counsel the player on the wording of questions, while feigning to offer ideas.
If the DM wishes to role-play somewhat, the spirit of the answer's useful length can be maintained, and any ramblings of the dead can be discounted from the answer's required time.
Bringing the Spell into Play
At lower levels, the spell is especially useful in solving mysteries such as murders or sorting out the estate of the recently dead. Additionally, a party member who has died can be offered one last wish, which the party may have earlier pledged to follow, should a death occur. This can bring a party together, and allow players to specify exactly who should get what part of their equipment.
If the party has been unfortunately hasty in killing a being whose knowledge was needed, the spell can be useful for this, too. In fact, there's no need to go through the process of torture, if the death of the victim is intended, since the spell can wrest the information out of the hapless being more effectively; though, of course, it is important to learn the name of the victim first.
Additionally, depending on the wit and nuance of the player, the spell can go to other very strange places as well.
