Raise Dead

Conjuration (Healing)
Level: Clr 5
Components: V, S, M, DF
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: Dead creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None (see text)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)

The cleric restores life to a deceased creature. The cleric can raise cratures who have been dead up to one day per caster level. In addition, the subject's soul must be free and willing to return (see Bringing Back the Dead, page 153 of the Player's Handbook). If the subject's soul is not willing to return, the spell does not work; therefore, subjects who want to return receive no saving throw. The subject receives one negative level (or suffers 1d4 points of Constitution damage, if she's 1st level) when raised.

Raise dead cures hit point damage up to a total of 1 hit point per Hit Die. Any ability scores damaged to 0 are raised to 1. Normal poisons and normal diseases are cured in the process of raising the sujbect, but magical diseases and curses are not undone. While the spell closes mortal wounds and repairs lethal damage of most kinds, the body of the creature to be raised must be whole. Otherwise, missing parts are still missing when the creature is brought back to life. None of the dead creature's equipment or possessions are affected in any way by this spell.

A creature who has been turned into an undead creature or killed by a death effect can't be raised by this spell. Constructs, elementals, outsiders, and undead creatures can't be raised. The spell cannot bring back a creature who has died of old age.

Coming back from the dead is an ordeal. The subject of the spell receives one negative level when it is raised, just as if it had lost a level to an energy-draining creature. If the subject is 1st level, it suffers 1d4 points of Constitution damage instead. A negative level can be dispelled by a restoration spell; ability damage can be dispelled by restoration or lesser restoration. A raised character who doesn't receive a restoration or lesser restoration may attempt a Fortitude save (DC 15) once every 24 hours to completely remove the effects of the negative level or Constitution damage.

A character who died with spells prepared has a 50% chance of losing any given spell upon being raised. A spell-casting creature that doesn't prepare spells (such as a sorcerer) has a 50% chance of losing any given unused spell slot as if had been used to cast a spell.

Material Component: A diamond worth at least 500 gp.