DESCRIPTION

You create a blast of negative energy that damages living creatures and leaves behind an area of darkness. Living creatures within the area of effect suffer take 1d6 points of negative energy damage per caster level of damage (10d6 max; Reflex save for half) and leaves behind an area of darkness equal to that left by a deeper darkness spell for 1 round/caster level. As a negative energy-based spell, undead within the area of effect are healed instead of damaged and creatures protected against negative energy damage suffer no ill effects.

Creatures slain by a devouring darkness spell rise in 1d4+2 rounds as a shadow. The newly risen shadow is not under the caster's control and is as likely to attack its creator as it is any other nearby creatures.