Lazzaro's Murderous Sword
(Enchantment)

Range:  50 yards
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 round per level
Casting Time:  9
Area of Effect:  Special
Saving Throw:  None

This spell is a version of Mordenkainen's sword, but with a twist. This spell causes a shimmering aura to form around any sword. This sword will then arise and be at the command of the wizard. He may order the sword to attack, defend, guard, or whatever. The sword can respond to moderately complex tasks like, "let no one through this door unless they say the word ixitayal".
In combat, the sword will hit any Armour Class on a 19 or 20, it has the same hit points as a fighter of the level of the wizard (18/01 Constitution), has the same Armour Class as the wizard, and fights like a fighter of the same level (i.e. 2 attacks per round, THAC0 whatever). It attacks as if wielded by someone with an 18/00 Strength (+3,+6). It also has its own bonuses; it requires a magical sword as material component. If the sword has any special abilities these will also be used in the combat.
The sword acts independently of the wizard (obviously) and requires no concentration to maintain. However the wizard must remain with 50 yards of the sword or it falls to the ground, inert (with magic drained from it). Ways to defeat the sword include: rendering the wizard unconscious, hitting the sword for loss of hit points, encasing it in something, or successfully dispelling it.
As discussed above, the material component is a magical sword, the magic of which is consumed after the spell ends (gives high level wizards a reason to collect all those magic swords and destroy them in the process). The other material component is a gem with the soul of fighter trapped in it. This gem becomes embedded in the sword during the spell. Each time the gem is used, it has a cumulative 5% change of shattering, freeing the poor soul inside. Obviously, the gem is not consumed after the spell ends.

