Pilpin's Black Death
(Conjuration/Summoning)

Range:  120 yards
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  Special
Casting Time:  1 round
Area of Effect:  Special
Saving Throw:  None

This spell conjures 250 flea-infested rats that carry the bacteria yersinia pestis, commonly known as the black death or bubonic plague. These rats will act as any other rat and simply scurry away. If this spell is cast in a humanoid community, it will cause a number of humanoids to become infected with the disease and probably die. The number of people infected depends on the size of the community, the season, and a little bit of chance. In the following table, the column entitled "Number Infected" gives a number of creatures infected in the community or a percentage of creatures infected. Use the value that gives the smallest number.
For example, if the spell was cast in a village of 200 elves in the middle of summer, the choice from the table is 300 elves or 60 elves (30% of 200), the number infected is then 60 (because it's the smaller number and 300 is impossible). It will take 2d6 days for the creatures to become infected.

	Season	Number Infected	Plague
	Winter	50 or 5%	0%
	Spring or Fall	200 or 20%	1%
	Summer	300 or 30%	3%

The final column, "Plague", gives the chance that the disease actually reaches epidemic proportions. If this happens, 1 in 3 humanoid creatures (33%) in a 100-mile radius will be infected by the disease. The wizard can be infected by his own disease.
A diseased creature will lose 2 points of Constitution, 1 point of Strength and 1 point of Dexterity per day of infection until death, which occurs when Constitution has reached -10. The rats and disease are not magical and therefore cannot be dispelled. A creature does not get a saving throw to resist being infected, it's strictly by chance. The disease can be cured by a character with healing proficiency that makes a successful proficiency check, or by magical means. A cured creature will regain 1 point of each ability per day.
The material components are a tiny rat skin bag containing rotting humanoid flesh, which both disappear upon casting.

