Summon Shadow Spirit

This unique spell has shaped the culture of the Eshowe for generations and continues to enmesh the tribe in its malevolent effects. Over half of the Eshowe, including all the chiefs, shamans, specialty priests, crusaders, mages, and prominent warriors, undergo this ritual of binding as part of a tribal ceremony. Only a few of the most remote and insignificant Eshowe clans are completely untouched by this incantation's ta int.

By means of this spell, the recipient's shadow is permanently bound into his or her body and spirit. Thereafter, the recipient of a summon shadow spirit spell never again naturally creates a shadow, regardless of the immediate light conditions. The subject of a summon shadow spirit spell receives a saving throw vs. spell at a +1 bonus, modified by his magical defense adjustment due to Wisdom, to avoid this spell's effects unless the saving throw is voluntarily forgone.

Although the Eshowe believe that a being's spirit is restored to its body by means of this spell, in truth this incantation binds a shadow (as described in the MONSTROUS MANUAL tome) that dwells on the Negative Material Plane to the recipient. Th is link transfers many of the shadow's natural defenses to the recipient. A recipient is immune to sleep, charm, and hold spells and cold-based attacks. Opponents require a +1 or better magical weapon to wound a recipient of this spell.

However, this spell also has numerous insidious effect on the target. The binding of the shadow causes a slow, but inexorable, shift in alignment in the target to chaotic evil. In addition, there is a 1% cumulative chance per year that a recipient of this spell is permanently transformed into a shadow.

The material components for this spell are the priest's holy symbol and an area of shadow.