Commune (Hellenic)

School necromancy [evil]; Level Hellenic sorceress 5

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (milk, honey, sweet wine, water, barley-meal, a calfless heifer, a choice black ram, and a black ewe with a total value of 17 gp, 2 sp, and 2 cp )

EFFECT

Range personal
Target you
Duration 1 round/level

DESCRIPTION

This spell can be cast within or near the underworld (such as the caves in Colchis that lead to Hades’ realm). The spell lures the ghosts of dead people to the caster’s location with a libation of milk, honey, sweet wine, water, and barley-meal, followed by a sacrifice of a calfless heifer, a choice black ram, and a black ewe. Gratified by these offerings, the spirits answer the caster’s questions (which must be able to be answered by a simple yes or no)–drawing on greater knowledge than they knew as living individuals–then return to the underworld. Hades dislikes the dead leaving his realm, and this spell is a violation of the natural order, which is why it has the evil designator.

You are allowed one such question per caster level. The answers given are correct within the limits of the spirit’s knowledge. “Unclear” is a legitimate answer, because spirits are not necessarily omniscient. In cases where a one-word answer would be misleading or contrary to the spirit’s interests, a short phrase (five words or less) may be given as an answer instead.

The spell, at best, provides information to aid character decisions. The spirits contacted structure their answers to further their own purposes. If you lag, discuss the answers, or go off to do anything else, the spell ends.