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{{Ritual
 
{{Ritual
| type = Ritual
+
| image = Speak_with_dead-5e.jpg
 
| caption =
 
| name = Speak with Dead
 
| name = Speak with Dead
  +
| school5e = [[Necromancy]]
| level4e = {{spell table|edition=4e|variant=ritual|[[Exploration]]|4}}
 
  +
| domains5e = [[Knowledge domain|Knowledge]]
| type4e =
 
  +
| circles5e =
  +
| oaths5e =
  +
| patrons5e = [[Undying patron|Undying]]
  +
| level5e = {{Spell table|edition=5e|[[Bard]]|3|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Knowledge domain|Knowledge]]|3|[[Undying patron|Undying]]|3}}
  +
| type5e =
  +
| refs5e = <ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 5th edition|207-211, 277}}</ref><ref name="PHB5e-59">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 5th edition|59}}</ref><ref name="SCAG5e-p139">{{Cite book/Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide|139}}</ref>
 
| level4e = {{spell table|edition=4e|variant=ritual|Exploration|4}}
  +
| type4e = Ritual
 
| category4e = Exploration
 
| category4e = Exploration
 
| skill4e = Religion
 
| skill4e = Religion
| refs4e = <ref name="PHB4e-p312"/>
+
| refs4e = <ref name="PHB4e-p312">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 4th edition|312}}</ref>
 
| school3e = [[Necromancy]]
 
| school3e = [[Necromancy]]
 
| level3e = {{spell table|edition=3e|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Repose domain|Repose]]|3|[[Retribution domain|Retribution]]|3}}
 
| level3e = {{spell table|edition=3e|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Repose domain|Repose]]|3|[[Retribution domain|Retribution]]|3}}
 
| domains3e = [[Repose domain|Repose]], [[Retribution domain|Retribution]]
 
| domains3e = [[Repose domain|Repose]], [[Retribution domain|Retribution]]
 
| descriptors3e = {{Desc/language-dependent}}
 
| descriptors3e = {{Desc/language-dependent}}
| type3e = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28gaming%29#Spell_systems Vancian]
+
| type3e =
 
| refs3e = <ref name="PHB3.5-281">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook, 3.5 Edition|281}}</ref><ref name="FRCS3e-65">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|65}}</ref><ref name="PGtF-90">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|90}}</ref>
 
| refs3e = <ref name="PHB3.5-281">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook, 3.5 Edition|281}}</ref><ref name="FRCS3e-65">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|65}}</ref><ref name="PGtF-90">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|90}}</ref>
 
| school2e = [[Necromancy]]
 
| school2e = [[Necromancy]]
 
| spheres2e = [[Divination sphere|Divination]], [[Necromantic sphere|Necromantic]]
 
| spheres2e = [[Divination sphere|Divination]], [[Necromantic sphere|Necromantic]]
| level2e = {{Spell table|edition=2e|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Crusader]]|3|[[Divination sphere|Divination]]|3|[[Druid]]|3|[[Monk]]|3|[[Necromantic sphere|Necromantic]]|3|[[Paladin]]|3|[[Wizard]]|4}}
+
| level2e = {{Spell table|edition=2e|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Crusader]]|3|[[Divination sphere|Divination]]|3|[[Druid]]|3|[[Monk]]|3|[[Mystic]]|3|[[Necromantic sphere|Necromantic]]|3|[[Paladin]]|3|[[Shugenja]]|3|[[Wizard]]|4|[[Wu jen]]|6}}
| type2e = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28gaming%29#Spell_systems Vancian]
+
| type2e =
| refs2e = <ref name="PHB2e-28,214">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition|28, 214}}</ref><ref name="PHB2eR-39,271">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised)|39, 271}}</ref><ref name="ToM2e-152">{{Cite book/Tome of Magic 2nd edition|152}}</ref><ref name="PO:SM-186,187">{{Cite book/Player's Option: Spells & Magic|186, 187}}</ref><ref name="HHoE-p9">{{Cite book/Haunted Halls of Eveningstar|9}}</ref>
+
| refs2e = <ref name="PHB2e-28,214">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition|28, 214}}</ref><ref name="PHB2eR-39,271">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised)|39, 271}}</ref><ref name="ToM2e-152">{{Cite book/Tome of Magic 2nd edition|152}}</ref><ref name="PO.SM-186,187">{{Cite book/Player's Option: Spells & Magic|186, 187}}</ref><ref name="HHoE-p9">{{Cite book/Haunted Halls of Eveningstar|9}}</ref><ref name="WSC-V3-839">{{Cite book/Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Three|839}}</ref><ref name="PSC-V2-566">{{Cite book/Priest's Spell Compendium Volume Two|566}}</ref>
 
| school1e = [[Divination]],<ref name="DotRW-39">{{Cite book/Dreams of the Red Wizards|39}}</ref> [[Necromancy]]
 
| school1e = [[Divination]],<ref name="DotRW-39">{{Cite book/Dreams of the Red Wizards|39}}</ref> [[Necromancy]]
| level1e = {{spell table|edition=1e|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Magic-user]] (Thay only)|2|[[Paladin]]|3}}
+
| level1e = {{spell table|edition=1e|[[Cleric]]|3|[[Magic-user]]|4|[[Magic-user]] (Thay only)|2|[[Paladin]]|3|[[Shugenja]]|3|[[Wu jen]]|6}}
| type1e = [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28gaming%29#Spell_systems Vancian]
+
| type1e =
| refs1e = <ref name="PHB1e-24,48">{{Cite book/Players Handbook|24, 48}}</ref>
+
| refs1e = <ref name="PHB1e-24,48">{{Cite book/Players Handbook|24, 48}}</ref><ref name="LoD1e-94">{{Cite book/Lords of Darkness 1st edition|94}}</ref><ref name="OA1985-64">{{Cite book/Oriental Adventures|64}}</ref><ref name="OA1985-91">{{Cite book/Oriental Adventures|91}}</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Speak with dead''''' was a [[necromancy]] [[spell]] or [[exploration]] [[ritual]] that allowed the caster to ask a corpse questions and receive answers.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="DotRW-39" /><ref name="PHB2e-214">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition|214}}</ref><ref name="PHB2eR-271">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised)|271}}</ref><ref name="PHB1e-48">{{Cite book/Players Handbook|48}}</ref><ref name="PHB4e-p312">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 4th edition|312}}</ref>
+
'''''Speak with dead''''', also seen as '''''speak with the dead''''',<ref name="LoD1e-94" /> 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.<ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/><ref name="PHB4e-p312" /><ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="DotRW-39" /><ref name="PHB2e-214">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition|214}}</ref><ref name="PHB2eR-271">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised)|271}}</ref><ref name="PHB1e-48">{{Cite book/Players Handbook|48}}</ref>
   
 
==Effects==
 
==Effects==
The corpse being subjected to this "reading" had to be intact enough to speak and the questions asked had to be in a language that the deceased understood.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="DotRW-39" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> The corpse also had to have been of an intelligent creature in life.<ref name="PHB4e-p312"/>
+
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.<ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/><ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="DotRW-39" /><ref name="LoD1e-94" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> The corpse also had to have been of an intelligent creature in life.<ref name="PHB4e-p312"/> The caster must have been within {{SI|10|ft}} of the corpse to cast the spell, and the spell would animate the body, not bring back the soul of the dead.<ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/>
   
The more complete the corpse, the more complete the answers.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /> 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.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> 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.<ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> For the ritual version, a maximum of three questions could be asked, depending on the skill with which the caster conducted the ritual.<ref name="PHB4e-p312"/>
+
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.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="LoD1e-94" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /><ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/> 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.<ref name="LoD1e-94" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> In another older version, the more complete the corpse, the more complete the answers.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /> For the ritual version, a maximum of three questions could be asked, depending on the skill with which the caster conducted the ritual.<ref name="PHB4e-p312"/> The animated corpses could not speculate on future events, and could not learn and process new information.<ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/>
   
If the deceased was of a different alignment to the questioner, the imprint of the deceased on the corpse could resist ''speak with dead'' and negate the spell.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /> This spell also failed if the corpse was [[undead]]<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /> or if the same corpse had been questioned within the past week.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB3e-281">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 3rd edition|281}}</ref>
+
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.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /> This spell also failed if the corpse was [[undead]].<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="LoD1e-94" /><ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/> In older versions, the spell would not function if the same corpse had been questioned within the past week.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB3e-281">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 3rd edition|281}}</ref> In [[Kara-Tur]], [[wu jen]] who cast this spell risked angering the dead, who would hold a grudge against the caster for disturbing them.<ref name="WSC-V3-839" />
   
==Realmslore==
+
==History==
[[Tessaril Winter]], Lord of Eveningstar, acquired an arcane version of ''speak with dead''<ref name="HHoE-p9" />, which she used to interrogate all murder victims.<ref name="HHoE-p14">{{Cite book/Haunted Halls of Eveningstar|14}}</ref> Her version could extract up to ten questions from a corpse, but the corpse got a chance to resist answering each question.{{Fact}}
+
[[Tessaril Winter]], Lord of Eveningstar, acquired an arcane version of ''speak with dead''<ref name="HHoE-p9" />, which she used to interrogate all murder victims.<ref name="HHoE-p14">{{Cite book/Haunted Halls of Eveningstar|14}}</ref>
   
The [[Red Wizards of Thay]] also created an arcane version of ''speak with dead'', which allowed exactly three questions.<ref name="DotRW-39" />
+
The [[Red Wizards of Thay]] also created an arcane version of ''speak with dead'', which allowed exactly three questions.<ref name="DotRW-39" /> It was also one of the spells available from the ''[[Balance of Belaros]]'', a holy [[relic]] of [[Tyr]].<ref name="PftF-pp9-10">{{Cite book/Prayers from the Faithful|9-10}}</ref>
   
 
==Components==
 
==Components==
The post-[[1372 DR]] version of this spell required only verbal and somatic components plus the priest's [[holy symbol]] or divine focus.<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /> The older divine versions required burning incense as part of the casting, as did the Red Wizard version.<ref name="DotRW-39" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> The later ritual version also required the burning of sanctified incense, costing 140 [[gp]].<ref name="PHB4e-p312"/>
+
The post-[[1372 DR]] version of this spell required only verbal and somatic components plus the priest's [[holy symbol]] or [[divine focus]].<ref name="PHB3.5-281" /> The older divine versions required burning incense as part of the casting, as did the Red Wizard version.<ref name="DotRW-39" /><ref name="PHB2e-214" /><ref name="PHB2eR-271" /><ref name="PHB1e-48" /> 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.<ref name="LoD1e-94" /> The later ritual version also required the burning of sanctified incense, costing 140 [[gp]].<ref name="PHB4e-p312"/> After the [[Second Sundering]], the spell required all three standard components, where the [[material component]] was lit incense, and took ten minutes to cast.<ref name="PHB5e-207-211,277"/>
   
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 [[:Category:Gems|gem]] worth at least 100 gp that had been crushed to powder.<ref name="HHoE-p9" />
+
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.<ref name="HHoE-p9" />
   
 
==Appendix==
 
==Appendix==
  +
===See Also===
{{stub}}
 
  +
* ''[[Speak with monsters]]''
  +
* ''[[Speak with plants]]''
  +
* ''[[Stone tell]]''
  +
* ''[[Tongues]]''
  +
 
===References===
 
===References===
{{refs}}
+
{{Refs|2}}
 
[[Category:Divination spells]]
 
[[Category:Divination spells]]
 
[[Category:Necromancy spells]]
 
[[Category:Necromancy spells]]
 
[[Category:Red wizard spells]]
 
[[Category:Red wizard spells]]
  +
[[Category:Kara-Turan spells]]

Revision as of 00:47, 13 May 2020

Speak with dead, also seen as speak with the dead,[17] 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.[1][4][5][15][20][21][22]

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.[1][5][15][17][20][21][22] The corpse also had to have been of an intelligent creature in life.[4] The caster must have been within 10 ft (3 m) of the corpse to cast the spell, and the spell would animate the body, not bring back the soul of the dead.[1]

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.[5][17][20][21][22][1] 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.[17][20][21][22] In another older version, the more complete the corpse, the more complete the answers.[5] For the ritual version, a maximum of three questions could be asked, depending on the skill with which the caster conducted the ritual.[4] The animated corpses could not speculate on future events, and could not learn and process new information.[1]

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.[5][20][21] This spell also failed if the corpse was undead.[5][17][1] In older versions, the spell would not function if the same corpse had been questioned within the past week.[5][20][21][23] In Kara-Tur, wu jen who cast this spell risked angering the dead, who would hold a grudge against the caster for disturbing them.[13]

History

Tessaril Winter, Lord of Eveningstar, acquired an arcane version of speak with dead[12], which she used to interrogate all murder victims.[24]

The Red Wizards of Thay also created an arcane version of speak with dead, which allowed exactly three questions.[15] It was also one of the spells available from the Balance of Belaros, a holy relic of Tyr.[25]

Components

The post-1372 DR version of this spell required only verbal and somatic components plus the priest's holy symbol or divine focus.[5] The older divine versions required burning incense as part of the casting, as did the Red Wizard version.[15][20][21][22] 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.[17] The later ritual version also required the burning of sanctified incense, costing 140 gp.[4] After the Second Sundering, the spell required all three standard components, where the material component was lit incense, and took ten minutes to cast.[1]

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.[12]

Appendix

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–211, 277. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  2. Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  3. 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. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 312. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Template:Cite book/Player's Handbook, 3.5 Edition
  6. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  7. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  8. David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 28, 214. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  9. David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), pp. 39, 271. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  10. Cook, Findley, Herring, Kubasik, Sargent, Swan (1991). Tome of Magic 2nd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 152. ISBN 1-56076-107-5.
  11. Richard Baker (1996). Player's Option: Spells & Magic. (TSR, Inc), pp. 186, 187. ISBN 0-7869-0394-5.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ed Greenwood (1992). Haunted Halls of Eveningstar. (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 1-56076-325-6.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Mark Middleton et al (March 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Three. (TSR, Inc), p. 839. ISBN 978-0786907915.
  14. Mark Middleton et al. (1999). Priest's Spell Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 566. ISBN 9780786914210.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Steve Perrin (1988). Dreams of the Red Wizards. (TSR, Inc), p. 39. ISBN 0-88038-615-0.
  16. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 24, 48. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Ed Greenwood et al. (December 1988). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Scott Martin Bowles. (TSR, Inc.), p. 94. ISBN 0-88038-622-3.
  18. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 64. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  19. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 91. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 214. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 David "Zeb" Cook (April 1995). Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc.), p. 271. ISBN 0-7869-0329-5.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 48. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  23. Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (August 2000). Player's Handbook 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 281. ISBN 0-7869-1551-4.
  24. Ed Greenwood (1992). Haunted Halls of Eveningstar. (TSR, Inc), p. 14. ISBN 1-56076-325-6.
  25. Ed Greenwood and Doug Stewart (1997). Prayers from the Faithful. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-7869-0682-0.