scarlet vigil

• School necromancy; Level 7
• Casting Time 7 hours
• Components V, S, M (a giant mantis claw), SC (at least 2, up to 4)
• Skill Checks Heal DC 30, 2 successes; Knowledge (religion) DC 30, 3 successes; Perception DC 30, 2 successes
• Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./character level of the primary caster)
• Target(s) one corpse and secondary casters; see text
• Duration instantaneous; see text
• Saving Throw none; SR no
• Backlash All secondary casters take 2d6 points of damage.
• Failure The primary caster is stunned for 1d6 rounds (no save). The targeted corpse is immediately revived, as if via the spell resurrection.

This ritual requires the intact corpse of a target slain by the primary caster, who must possess at least 5 levels in the mantis assassin prestige class. Each of the secondary casters must possess exactly 1 level in the mantis assassin prestige class. During the ritual, the primary caster reveals meticulous details about the victim’s demise to the secondary casters, describing in anatomical detail the damage done to the individual and pointing out visual cues on the corpse, all while connecting the methods of execution to the teachings of the mantis god, patron of the assassin order. During the ritual, the secondary casters must use a giant mantis claw to draw blood from themselves in a place where the corpse was damaged; in the case of poisons and similar effects, the location can be symbolic. If the corpse took damage in many different locations, the secondary casters must draw blood from themselves in the place where the victim sustained the most damage.

If the ritual is successful, the secondary casters gain an intrinsic link to the deceased individual; from that moment on, the secondary casters know if the assassinated creature is returned to life, as per the mantis assassin resurrection sense class ability. An assassinated body used in a failed scarlet vigil occult ritual cannot subsequently be used in another such ritual. Since failing to correctly perform this ritual unravels the primary caster’s assassination and puts all casters at risk, high-level casters choose their secondary casters carefully, sometimes watching them for months to determine whether they are worthy of participating, as well as seeking guidance from senior leadership and their god concerning which novices are the best choices.