Speak with dead

Speak with dead, also seen as speak with the dead, was a necromancy spell (formerly also a exploration ritual) that allowed the caster to ask a corpse questions and receive answers, though these answers were often very limited.

"The corpse regards you lifelessly."

Effects
The corpse being subjected to this "reading" had to be intact enough to speak (such as having a mouth) and the questions asked had to be in a language that the deceased understood. The corpse also had to have been of an intelligent creature in life. The caster must have been within of the corpse to cast the spell, and the spell would animate the body, not bring back the soul of the dead.

The knowledge stored in the corpse after death was only that which the deceased knew in life. Answers were usually short, truthful, and cryptic, like a riddle. More experienced priests could ask more questions for a longer period of time. For the older version of speak with dead, the longer the person had been dead, the higher the level of priest was needed to cast the spell. In another older version, the more complete the corpse, the more complete the answers. For the ritual version, a maximum of three questions could be asked, depending on the skill with which the caster conducted the ritual. The animated corpses could not speculate on future events, and could not learn and process new information.

If the deceased was of a different alignment to the questioner (or did not wish to answer the question, as it saw the caster as an enemy), the imprint of the deceased on the corpse could resist speak with dead and negate the spell. This spell also failed if the corpse was undead. In older versions, the spell would not function if the same corpse had been questioned within the past week. In Kara-Tur, wu jen who cast this spell risked angering the dead, who would hold a grudge against the caster for disturbing them.

Components
"Lhuuc an ac akuul'dec shuulkokec!"

- The verbal component of the spell, language unidentified.

The post-1372 DR version of this spell required only verbal and somatic components plus the priest's holy symbol or divine focus. The older divine versions required burning incense as part of the casting, as did the Red Wizard version. The version known as speak with the dead required a flame from any normal source, a drop of the caster's blood, and the tongue of any creature in either whole, dried, or powdered form. The later ritual version also required the burning of sanctified incense, costing 140 gp. After the Second Sundering, the spell required all three standard components, where the material component was lit incense, and lasted up to ten minutes.

The speak with dead that Tessaril Winter learned required a drop of the caster's blood, a sprig of mint, a sprig of parsley, and red or black gem worth at least 100 gp that had been crushed to powder.

Usages
Use of the spell was part of the protocol when the Municipal Guard of Arrabar faced with murder cases, including when individuals were slain by the members of the guard. Members of the Church of Waukeen were invited to perform the spell.

History
Tessaril Winter, Lord of Eveningstar, acquired an arcane version of speak with dead, which she used to interrogate all murder victims.

The Red Wizards of Thay also created an arcane version of speak with dead, which allowed exactly three questions. It was also one of the spells available from the Balance of Belaros, a holy relic of Tyr.

This spell was inscribed within the Kelemvorite relic the Testament of Vraer.

As of the late 15 century DR, the amulet of lost voices allowed its wearer to speak with the dead.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Sapphire Crescent
 * Video Games
 * Planescape: Torment • Baldur's Gate III
 * Film & Television
 * Honor Among Thieves
 * Honor Among Thieves