This spell creates a group of Bloodbirds from the blood of wounded,
dying, or recently dead creatures in the area of effect.
The caster may produce up to one Bloodbird per each two full levels of
ability (one up to level 3, two up to level 5, etc.), subject to availability
of enough blood. Each Bloodbird created has an even share of a hit point
pool of 2 per level of caster (round fractions down), which the caster
must divide before any allowed Saves are rolled for (see below). The caster
may choose to create fewer Bloodbirds (by choice or because of insufficient
dead or wounded creatures) and in this case the Bloodbird(s) created will
(obviously) have more hit points.
Each wounded or dead size S creature
can be used to create one Bloodbird; each such size M creature may produce
two, each size L may create up to four, and size G creatures can produce
any number. All creatures used as donors must be inside the given area
of effect (of course, G creatures will not entirely fit inside the area;
if a Gargantuan creature is used as a donor no other creatures may be so used).
Creatures still living (including those at negative hit points) may save vs.
Spells to resist; the Bloodbird(s) which would have been created are lost
if the save is made. Otherwise, the "donor" creature will take a number of
points of damage equal to the number of hit points of Bloodbirds produced from
him or her. Recently dead creatures have no saving throw, of course.
In any event Bloodbirds may only be created from extremely fresh blood.
Once created, the Bloodbirds are commanded by the vocal instructions of the
caster until they are killed or the duration expires. If not instructed, they
attack any and all living (not undead) creatures other than the caster.
The Bloodbirds have AC 4, one attack per round, and do 1d4+1 damage on a hit.
They attack using the caster's THAC0.
Under no circumstances will they attack any undead creatures. They fly 12" and
are maneuverability class A. The only commands they can or will fulfill are
"attack (him/her/them)", "come (here)", "go (there)", "wait", or "go down"
(be dispelled).
A Bloodbird appears as a small hawklike creature, three inches in length per
(initial) hit point (i.e. they don't shrink as they are damaged).
Though they are ephemeral in nature they are still undead creatures,
and can be turned as Zombies; a "turned" Bloodbird is destroyed just as if
a D result was determined.
|