If the Risk Die comes up '1' when attempting Death Word, your attempt to draw upon the most fell of magical energies goes awry, and you suffer 1d4 HP of injury per level you hold in magic-user or a subclass of the same (and nothing, not even Death Ward can protect you from this harm) — and these dice explode. For each time beyond zero that you have already successfully employed Word of Death since your last long rest, increase the damage die type used on a failure (i.e., a '1' result on the Risk Die). If you've used it once before, and it failed on your second attempt, you'd suffer 1d6 HP of injury per level you hold in magic-user or a subclass. If two times earlier today, use d8s, etc.

Available to Mage 3+. Select one living creature within thirty feet of your position. That creature must make a DC 15 saving throw against your magic (or save vs Death, if using Moldvay saves), or else fall dead. If the creature is of higher level or has more hit dice than you have total levels, it gains a +1 bonus to its saving throw per level of difference that exists. If you are higher level, apply the difference as a penalty to the creature's saving throw. This deed can be thwarted by spell resistance. Adjust the target's SR appropriately, based on level difference between caster and target — not to fall below 5% and not to rise above 95%. It's important to be aware of the consequences of failure in using this heroic deed.