Sanctify Corpse

[HiatoPDSS]

Me and a friend are in disagreement on how the 1st level spell "Sanctify Corpse" of the evocation school works, the rules stating the following:

"This spell blesses a corpse with positive energy, preventing it from being turned into an undead creature. Attempts to raise the corpse as an undead automatically fail. If the corpse is of a person slain by a creature that creates undead out of it's slain foes (such as a shadow, vampire or wraith), that effect is delayed until the end of this spell. It is possible to protect a corpse for an extended time by casting this spell each day.

Sanctify Corpse can be made permanent with a permanency spell by a caster of 9th level or higher for the cost of 500 gp."

We wanted to know if the spell could be used in an already raised undead and what effect it would have, I believe it would either undo the "Raise Undead" spell or at least deactivate it temporarily like how it does to the effect of being killed by a vampire, my friend argued that it is a precaution method and only works if cast before the undead is raised. He compared positive and negative energy to heat and cold respectively after I compared Sanctify Corpse to Banish Undead, saying "A molotov burns someone, a campfire prevents them from freezing." to which I responded with "Frozen food left next to fire will unfreeze." What are the Rules as Intended? Would this spell have any effect or would it be a wasted spell slot?

[Java Man]

I guarantee that no first level spell is intended to "instakill" any undead creature with no save and no SR.

Now, if you need that juatified, the spell's area of effect is "one corpse" not "one corpse or undead creature." And the word "prevent" is used, not "reverse."

[Alderic]

I'd just say that an undead creature is a creature, not a corpse and as such it's not a valid target for the spell.

[zza ni]

the spell prevent or delay turning into an undead. it has no effect on targets that ARE already undead.

if you want an example this is more akin to closing the pen's door to prevent the chickens from running away and the fox out. closing it AFTER they are out\eaten will not magically return them nor remove the fox.

and as mentioned above a spell cast on an illegitimate target has no effect. an undead is not a corpse.

[Mysterious Stranger]

Your friend is right the spell has no affect once the undead is actually created. It does not even stop a person drained by a vampire from becoming undead it simply delays it. If it cannot stop a person from turning into a vampire, why would it be able to destroy a zombie or a ghoul?

Frozen food left out will unfreeze on its own unless the temperature is below the freezing point. Being next to a fire may speed up the process but it is not the actual reason the food unfreezes. An undead left alone will not revert to a corpse.

[Ryze Kuja]

Quote:

Sanctify Corpse

School evocation [good]; Level cleric/oracle 1, inquisitor 1, paladin 1, witch 1

CASTING

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF, M (a pinch of silver dust)

EFFECT

Range touch
Area corpse touched
Duration 24 hours
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no

DESCRIPTION

This spell blesses a corpse with positive energy, preventing it from being turned into an undead creature. Attempts to raise the corpse as an undead automatically fail. If the corpse is of a person slain by a creature that creates undead out of its slain foes (such as a shadow, vampire, or wraith), that effect is delayed until the end of this spell. It is possible to protect a corpse for an extended time by casting this spell each day.

Sanctify corpse can be made permanent with a permanency spell by a caster of 9th level or higher for the cost of 500 gp.

Undead aren't corpses, so they're not a valid target for the spell.