Only Mostly Dead

Only Mostly Dead Mystic Basic 600 hours Counts as two skills at character creation Double learning difficulty

This versatile spell places its recipient into a state very near death. In this state, the recipient is unconscious—he or she cannot move and has no recollection of events that occur while under the influence of this spell. The subject's heart rate & breathing are slowed to imperceptibility. All nonmystical tests will indicate that the subject is dead. This spell will prevent the recipient from death from blood loss, toxins, disease, or shock while under the spells effects. The subject effectively does not breathe, but if the lungs are filled with water or toxic smoke when they start functioning again, actual death is likely. This spell may be used to prolong a companion's life when dying, to fake being dead, or as a form of death-touch—with the added bonus that the victim "slain" is still available for interrogation. If the mage casts this spell on herself, the effects will last for several hours before fading; if cast on another, someone with knowledge of this spell—or skilled in the healing arts—is needed to breathe life back into the subject. The danger of this spell is that the subject will eventually slip completely into death after a day or two, or if used on oneself, that the caster will be buried. An unwilling victim receives a saving throw against physical magic at 12 or higher. Casting this spell requires a five minute vocalized incantation & touching both caster's & subject's exposed flesh with silver (a ring is sufficient) to transfer the death-magic from caster to victim… I mean subject…