Curse of Undeath
(Necromancy)

Range:  10 feet per level
Components:  V, S, M
Duration:  Permanent
Casting Time:  1 round
Area of Effect:  One creature
Saving Throw:  Negates

This spell causes a creature which fails a saving throw versus death magic to be under a horrible curse. The creature will live a normal life until it dies (whether of natural causes or unnaturally does not matter). Then, the creature is transformed into an undead creature of the caster's specifications (within special limits). This does not happen until the night after the creature's death. The creature can be a creature having up to the maximum of half the caster's Hit Dice and it may be any kind of undead up to and including a ghost (note: it is not possible to create a lich or special undead via this spell). The creature is completely under the caster's control if it fails a saving throw versus spell against each and every one of his controlling attempts. Once the creature has succeeded at one saving throw per caster level, it is completely free from the caster's control and it knows who tried to control it and it bears an everlasting hatred against the caster. The caster can make use of its senses even if he is on another plane (note: this is not possible if the caster is feebleminded, disminded or otherwise not in control of his body or mind). The creature can be cured with a remove curse, an atonement, and a heal before it dies, all cast with the explicit purpose to remove this spell. Once the spell is in effect, and the creature dies, only the immediate blessing of the slain body can prevent the transformation to undeath. Note: a resurrection is possible, but if it is not done before the next nightfall, the creature will transform into an undead being. Once the creature is transformed, it cannot be saved, unless a god reverses the situation directly (not by sending an avatar but by being there personally and laying on hands).
The material components are a pinch of bone or a drop of the essence of each type of undead that exists on that planet (or in that sphere if used off-planet). The caster has to have an additional full pound of bone or essence of the type of undead creature he wants to create. Thus, it will take lots of ghost ichor to create the fleeting substance known as ghost's essence in the required amounts. How to get the stuff is the wizard's problem, not mine...

