Power word, kill

Power word, kill, formerly known as Xanad's killer, was a powerful conjuration spell that instantly killed one target creature.

Effects
After the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, the spell was able to instantly slay a single living creature in close range, under a certain, high degree of health, whether they could hear it not. Creatures more robust were unharmed.

The post–Second Sundering version of the spell could still kill a single creature instantly, provided it was not extremely powerful.

Components
The spell required only a verbal component, the uttering of the power word itself.

History
The spell was attributed to the Netherese arcanist Xanad in −683 DR and was originally called Xanad's killer.