- See also Death's Door (Priest Spell) and Death's Door (Wizard Spell).
Using this spell, the draconic caster can ward a particular doorway or portal so that any creature who tries to pass through the portal without first speaking a word of command is immediately the subject of a modified form of the death spell. (Here the word "portal" can also refer to a cave opening or tunnel no more than 30 feet in diameter.) A single application of this spell can kill up to 50 Hit Dice or levels of creatures before becoming inert.
Each creature passing through the portal rolls a saving throw vs. wand with a -2 penalty; a successful save means that the creature survives. Even if the creature successfully saves, the creature's Hit Dice or level is deducted from the total power remaining to the warded doorway. If a creature passing through the door has more Hit Dice or levels than remain in the spell, the spell ends and the creature is unharmed.
Example: A dragon has cast door of death on the entrance into her cave. Three characters try to pass through the portal-a 15th-level fighter, a 16th-level cleric, and a 16th-level wizard. The fighter and cleric fail their saving throws and die immediately; the wizard makes his saving throw and survives. The door of death spell as expended 47 levels (15+16+16), which means that only 3 remain. Later, a 4th-level thief walks through the door. Since the thief has more levels than remain to the spell, the spell ends and the thief is unaffected.
Note that only the doorway or portal itself is warded. An individual could conceivably smash through or otherwise penetrate the wall next to the door and enter safely. A portal protected by a door of death spell radiates a strong aura of necromantic magic. While casting the spell, the dragon can choose whether or not the warding is to be visible. If the dragon chooses visibility, the portal is outlined by a faint blue glow; this glow isn't bright enough to be seen in full daylight, but it is obvious under twilight or darker conditions.
According to rumor, a number of human wizards have developed their own (9th-level) versions of this spell. All have suffered highly unpleasant fates when they tried to use the spells. Almost half died during the casting, while the others suffered various degrees of permanent paralysis or contracted terminal illnesses.
Notes: Restricted to dragon spellcasters; uncommon. Known to be in the Draconomicon.