My question about Animate Dead is this: What determines the HD of the undead you create? Is it based on the HD of the creature whose body you're using for the purpose, or do you simply choose how many HD you want it to have, limited only by your Caster Level and the value of the onyx?
Lesser question: What would be the best way to acquire onyx gems? All I can think of is to hit up all the magic component and jewelry shops. Any better suggestions?
What determines the HD of the undead you create?
I think it's the HD of whatever corpse you're touching. I would use the HD limit after applying the template, so for instance touching the corpse of a level 20 human wizard would animate a 1-HD skeleton, costing you only 1 HD of creation.
What would be the best way to acquire onyx gems?
Onyx is a Semi-Precious Gem, so I expect it would be available in most medium or larger settlements.
I suppose if you killed a Marut (or found one dead) your DM might let you harvest some onyx from the corpse.
My question about Animate Dead is this: What determines the HD of the undead you create? Is it based on the HD of the creature whose body you're using for the purpose, or do you simply choose how many HD you want it to have, limited only by your Caster Level and the value of the onyx?
Both skeleton and zombie templates are very specific about their HD - it's equal to racial HD of a creature animated (one for creatures without racial HD). Zombies add extra HD depending upon the corpse size.
For starters, class levels don't count. The rules under the template determine it. Most of the "usual" corpses (humans, etc.) are 1 HD as skeletons, for example, as class levels are dropped. As zombies, they gain additional HD in their place (usually 1HD for small & medium).
Ninja'd!
Ninja'd!
Ha! Fast Zombie Ninjas!
To get Onyx, at higher levels, bind a creature to scour the plane of earth to fetch them for you. At lower levels, visiting a source mine could help, and you can use your undead minions to help dig it out.