Fireskull Familiar

This spell animates a single skull to serve the Necromancer. Wrapped in cold magical flames and gifted with a form of levitation-based flight, the flaming skull can fetch small items, convey messages, or other similar tasks for the Necromancer. When not tasked with a specific duty, the fireskull familiar generally hovers near its master, providing light equal to torchlight. A Necromancer may have only one instance of this spell active at a time. Subsequent castings have no effect unless the first instance of the spell is dismissed or destroyed. The fireskull familiar is not designed for combat, having hit points equal to 25% of the Necromancer's total hit points. The skull has an Armor Class of 13 and only a single attack for 1d2 points of damage, attacking with the same basic chance to hit as the Necromancer. The skull can be charged with spells that must be delivered by touch, with the spell effect being available to the skull on the following round. While a fireskull familiar is within 5 feet, the caster's chance of being surprised is reduced by 1. Of interesting note, although each skull does not remember any details of its former life, it does retain many personality traits, making each skull distinct from the next. Practitioners of this spell often have favorite skulls that they use regularly, and skulls that they are loathe to animate. Any particular skull that is destroyed through damage may never again be used.