Seed: Afflict

Enchantment (Compulsion) [Fear, Mind-Affecting]

Knowledge (arcane lore) DC: 30; Range: Close; Target: One living creature; Duration: Minutes; Saving Throw: Will negates; Spell Resistance: Yes You afflict the target with a –2 morale penalty on attack rolls, checks, and saving throws. For each additional –1 penalty assessed on either the target’s attack rolls, checks, or saving throws, increase the Knowledge (arcane lore) check DC by +2.

You may also develop an incantation with this seed that afflicts the target with a –1 penalty on caster level checks, a –1 penalty to an ability score, a –1 penalty to spell resistance, or a –1 penalty to some other aspect of the target. For each additional –1 penalty assessed in one of the above categories, increase the Knowledge (arcane lore) check DC by +4.

You can afflict a character’s ability scores to the point where they reach 0, save for Constitution where 1 is the minimum. If you’re applying ability penalties, you can’t lengthen the duration. Instead, you can increase the Knowledge (arcane lore) check DC by +2 to turn the penalties into temporary ability damage, or increase the Knowledge (arcane lore) DC by +10 to turn the penalties into permanent ability drain. If you increase the Knowledge (arcane lore) check DC by +2, you can afflict whichever one of the target’s senses you select: sight, touch, hearing, taste, touch, or a special sense the target possesses. If the target fails its saving throw, the sense you select doesn’t function for the spell’s duration, with all attendant penalties that apply for losing the specified sense.

Options: Useful options for incantations with the afflict seed include having a hair, fingernail, or other part of the target (+2 bonus); having the target present and helpless during the incantation (+6 bonus); or building an elaborate model or doll of the target (+4 bonus).