Skeletal Spellcraft

A more powerful version of the empower skeleton spell, this magic imbues a skeleton (which must already be undead, though it need not be under the control of the caster) with the ability to cast a spell when specific conditions outlined by the caster during bestowal of the spellcraft are met. (Note that sloppy casters have been attacked by their own spells when their presence fulfilled conditions they set.) The skeleton can launch a specific wizard spell of 1st to 3rd level once. It does not choose the best opportunity for doing so, but unleashes the spell on the first round in which its triggering conditions are met.

The spell to be unleashed by the skeleton must be cast on or at the skeleton by any wizard on the round immediately after the skeletal spellcraft spell is cast. This second spell vanishes without apparent effect (even if the wizard launching it intended it to be an attack on the skeleton) into the skeleton, to be launched later when its casting conditions are met. (If more than one eligible spell strikes a skeleton in the round after skeletal spellcraft has been applied, randomly select which one the skeleton is empowered to unleash.)

The trapped spell operates as if cast by the spell's original caster when activated, and it launches itself at a random target if more than one is present as a valid target when the casting conditions are met. In situations when it is unclear if the conditions have been met, the skeleton does not launch the magic. (Note that a skeleton governed by skeletal spellcraft cannot be fooled by illusions in matters pertaining to its triggering conditions.) Multiple skeletal spellcraft spells cannot be applied to the same skeleton, though a single empower skeleton and a skeletal spellcraft can be cast on the same skeleton.

The material component of this spell is a handful of ashes from a scroll that was burned while it still bore at least one intact wizard or priest spell of 4th level or greater. The requirement for this material component cannot be eliminated by any means, including spells or items normally engineered to allow the casting of other spells with no material components. (If Sammaster never figured out a way to get around this, how likely is any subsequent wizard to succeed?)