Skulltrap

Skulltrap, often known as skull trap, was a necromancy spell that could only be cast upon a skull.

Effects
This spell acted as a ward, and had to be placed on a non-living skull or that of an animated skeleton. The skulltrap remained dormant until it was touched by living matter. When the warded skulls were touched, by either friend or foe, they exploded with red or violet light. The explosions released blasts of energy from the Negative Energy plane and the power of the blasts scaled by the caster's own power.

All living creatures within 10 ft (3 m) of the skull would be affected by the blast. The skull's position could be slightly moved without triggering, but only if it was moved extremely slowly, and by non-organic matter. Thin materials, such as the cloth in gloves, would still activate such traps.

Components
In addition to the skull target, the spell required somatic, verbal, and material components. The material component was a small amount of dust from the remains of an undead creature with a strong connection to the Negative Energy Plane, such as a vampire or a wight.

Appearances

 * Video games
 * Baldur's Gate series (Baldur's Gate • Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn) • Icewind Dale series (Icewind Dale • Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter • Icewind Dale II)