Bound Legion (3.5e Epic Spell)

''You inscribe a pentagram on the floor, and one upon your chest. With the black arts, you call the darkness, and bind them as your protectors.''

You bind mindless dark spirits to your body in a process which only takes 11 minutes to set up, but does not go into effect until the next day, as it takes time for the spirits to gather. You must perform a ritual in an area of pitch darkness, and mark yourself. One day later, you will be wrapped in ghostly black spirits which protect you for 24 hours.

The presence of the spirits gives you a +4 armor bonus to AC which functions against incorporeal touch attacks and has no penalties, much like mage armor. You also have 50% concealment from the obscuring of your body. This is not bypassed by true seeing or similar spells, as it is a real effect. As a standard action at any point in the duration you can send out one of the spirits to act as your eyes and ears. The spirit is effectively a fine-sized creature with normal senses, and flies at a speed of 30 ft (perfect). Its range is unlimited, though you must maintain line of effect. For each scout you send out, your AC bonus drops by 2 (thus you may have 2 scouts at once), which returns on the scout's return. If line of effect is broken or if the scout wishes to return, it can return back immediately as a free action on its turn. Scouts cannot be harmed, but they can be dispelled. If dispelled, the scout vanishes but your epic spell remains. The AC bonus does not return.