Death Grimace

Book of Vile Darkness (BV)Updated Supplementals (3.0)

Death Grimace is a D&D 3.5 spell (Necromancy) from BV. On class lists for Assassin (Level 1), Blackguard (Level 1), Sorcerer (Level 1), and others. Range or area: Touch; Saving throw: None; Duration: Permanent; Casting time: 1 standard action.

School
Necromancy
Casting Time
1 standard action
Components
S
Range
Touch
Target
One dead creature
Duration
Permanent
Saving Throw
None
Spell Resistance
No

The caster marks a corpse with a particular magical "signature", thus identifying himself (truthfully or falsely) as the murderer. Some assassins use this signature as a sort of calling card, while others use it as a way to prove that they earned their pay. The signature can take many forms: a specific expression on the face of the corpse (hence the name of the spell), an actual rune, a word written on the corpse’s flesh, a discoloration of one eye, and so on.