Atratum's Blade of Darkness
Necromancy [Darkness, Evil]
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Personal
Effect: Magical sword
Duration: 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

Casting this spell causes an incorporeal blade of shadowy darkness to extend from your hand. This blade, the length of a longsword, can be used against your enemies to make melee touch attacks (which do not provoke attacks of opportunity). On a successful hit, the blade inflicts 1d4 points of damage. For the remainder of the spell's duration, the magic of this spell will slowly and painfully draw off 1 hit point of life force (or unlife force) from the creature struck, channeling it into you to heal you of any wounds you may have suffered.

A successful Will save indicates that this spell does not draw off any of the victim's life force, and that victim is immune to such draining from that single casting of the spell (but not from the initial 1d4 points of damage from continued touch attacks). If more than one creature is struck by the blade during the duration, each victim loses 1 hit point per round, but you can gain only a single hit point of healing in any round.

Since the blade made by this spell is incorporeal, it can be used to attack incorporeal creatures without the normal 50% miss chance. In addition, it bypasses protection from armor and natural armor (unless that armor is made of force, like that provided by a mage armor spell).

Focus: A dagger made entirely of black steel, costing at least 25 gp.