Zin-Carla

This spell is “the highest gift of Lolth,” granted rarely even to favored drow. It is a special form of animate dead, which enables the caster to create a special sort of zombie, known as a spirit-wraith. Imbued with the skills (hit points. Armor Class, and THAC0) it had in life, this creation is telepathically linked to – and controlled by – the caster of this spell, usually a drow matron mother.

This spell may not be instantaneously granted, or may be denied entirely, at Lolth's will. It is granted only for the completion of specific tasks, and these may never be purely to work revenge or bring harm on other drow. Failure in the task brings on the disfavor of Lolth.

Zin-carla involves the forcible return of a departed soul or spirit to its body. Only through the willpower and exacting, sleepless control of the caster are the undead being's desired skills kept separate from unwanted memories and emotions. The duration of the spell is limited by the needs of the task, the patience of Lolth, and the mental limits of the caster – for a total loss of control usually means failure.

So long as that control is maintained, the spirit-wraith cannot tire or be distracted from its task. It does not feel pain or disability, and will continue to function as long as it remains mobile.

A spirit-wraith cannot be made to cast spells without losing control over its mind entirely. It can fully use combat and craft skills possessed in life. If control is lost, the spirit-wraith becomes a revenant, driven by hatred and the memory of its violation at the hands of the spellcaster. Uncontrolled spirit-wraiths do not stop until the zin-carla caster is destroyed.

A spirit-wraith driven to do something against its old nature has a chance of breaking free of its control (treat as a charm spell, with the same saving throw as in life). For example, one cannot successfully use this undead to destroy a being that it loved in life.

Spell-like natural powers (such as the levitation ability of drow) are retained, and can be used by, the undead. The spirit-wraith can use its former experience and memories, as much as allowed by the linked caster. Both the zombie and the caster are immune to the effects of spells that attack the mind, and similar spell-like powers (such as the mental blast of a mind flayer). It knows wariness, anger, glee, hatred, frustration, and triumph, but not fear. It cannot be controlled by the spells and priestly powers normally used to command encountered undead – and control of it cannot thereby be wrested away from the caster of the zin-carla.

Spirit-wraiths do not breathe, but can speak (if allowed to do so by their controller). They can utter command and activation words, and the controlling caster can speak through them directly, but spell incantations will have no effect if uttered by the undead.

To stop a spirit-wraith, it must be physically destroyed – if it is still able to even crawl, it will do so, tirelessly, searching for a way to complete its task.

The material component is a treasured object that belonged to the body to be controlled. If the corpse is badly decomposed or not whole, other spells (such as Nulathoe's ninemen) and magical unguents will also be required, to restore it to whole, supple condition.

Wizards and other powerful creatures (such as mind flayers, aboleth, or cloakers) that raid or despoil drow cities can expect to face either a full-scale attack – or a spirit-wraith or two.