Death's Dark Grasp
(Conjuration/Summoning, Necromancy)

Range:  10 yards + 10 yards per level
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  1 round + 1 round per level
Casting Time:  2
Area of Effect:  One creature
Saving Throw:  Special

This spell is a variant of Maximillian's earthen grasp from the Tome of Magic. Except where noted, this spell duplicates the effects of Maximillian's earthen grasp.
When this spell is cast, rather than producing an earthen hand, this spell causes many undead arms to spring from the ground underneath the target's feet. If the target's saving throw is successful, then the arms sink into the earth and the spell progresses as per the spell description. If the target fails his saving throw, undead forms resembling zombies burst up from the ground, lashing out at the target to grasp and hold him with unyielding strength.
The Armour Class of the arms or creatures is 6 (as opposed to the AC 5 in Maximillian's earthen grasp). The hit points of the undead forms created are equal to twice the wizard's normal hit points up to a maximum of 40 HP. The undead forms created are unturnable, and at the end of the spell's duration will sink down into the earth from whence they came.
If this spell is cast in a graveyard, the soil of the graveyard will be more likely to produce the undead forms in a quick, unexpected manner. Thus, saving throws against this spell would be at -1 and the chance that the undead hands or forms reappear under the target's feet after a successful saving throw is 10% per level of the wizard rather than 5% per level which is the usual chance for this occurrence if cast in other environments.

