Demogorgon

Demogorgon

Huge fiend (demon)
Challenge

STR
9
DEX
2
CON
8
INT
5
WIS
3
CHA
7

406
28d12+224
26
Soak
3
Fort
+15
Ref
+12
Will
+13
Defense note natural armor
Damage resistances cold, fire, lightning
Damage immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from attacks that aren’t cold iron
Condition immunities charmed, exhausted, frightened, poisoned

Speed 10 m., swim 10 m.
Skills Athletics +16 (27), Brawn +16 (27), Divinity (cha) +14 (25), Insight +10 (21), Perception +10 (21), Wilderness +10 (21)
Senses truesight 20 m.
Languages all, telepathy 20 m.

Legendary Resistance (3/day). If demogorgon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Resistance. Demogorgon has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Magic Weapons. Demogorgon’s weapon attacks are magical.

Maneuvers. The demogorgon uses maneuvers (maneuver save Difficulty 25). It has 25 stamina dice which are d8s, a dice limit of 9, regains all expended stamina dice when it finishes a long rest, and regains half its total stamina dice when it finishes a short rest. It knows the following maneuvers:

1 stamina die: blinding debris, disorient, distract, feint, fling, grapple, spring attack, trip (Tail only)

2 stamina dice: feigned opening, misdirection

Spellcasting. The demogorgon uses Divinity (cha) to cast spells (spell save Difficulty 23, +14 to hit with spell attacks). It has 12 mana, a mana limit of 5, regains all expended mana when it finishes a long rest, and regains half its total mana when it finishes a short rest. It knows the following spells:

At will: detect magic, image (augmented to 3 mana)

Cantrips (at will, 33rd-level spellcaster): discombobulate, distract, disturb

1 mana: agonizing rebuke, confusion, dissonant whispers, fear, hideous laughter, misdirection, telekinesis

2 mana: aphasia, bloodlust, dispel magic, enemies abound, incite panic, personality parasite, terrifying visage

3 mana: reality break, symbol of insanity

4 mana: feeblemind

Two Heads. Demogorgon has advantage on Perception checks and on saving throws against being blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, stunned, or knocked unconscious.

Actions (2)

Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 2 m. Hit: 28 (3d12 + 9) bludgeoning damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a Difficulty 24 Fortitude saving throw or its maximum health is reduced by an amount equal to the damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target finishes a long rest. The target dies if its maximum health is reduced to 0.

Tail (1/turn). Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 3 m. Hit: 20 (2d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage plus 11 (2d10) necrotic damage.

Gaze (1/turn). Demogorgon turns his magical gaze toward one creature that he can see within 20 meters of him. That target must make a Difficulty 23 Will saving throw. Unless the target is incapacitated, it can avert its eyes to avoid the gaze and to automatically succeed on the save. If the target does so, it can’t see Demogorgon until the start of his next turn. If the target looks at him in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.

If the target fails the save, the target suffers one of the following effects of Demogorgon’s choice or at random:

  • Beguiling Gaze. The target is stunned until the start of Demogorgon’s next turn or until Demogorgon is no longer within line of sight.
  • Hypnotic Gaze. The target is charmed by Demogorgon until the start of Demogorgon’s next turn. Demogorgon chooses how the charmed creature uses its actions, reactions, and movement. Because this gaze requires Demogorgon to focus both heads on the target, he can’t use his Maddening Gaze legendary action until the start of his next turn.
  • Insanity Gaze. The target suffers the effect of the confusion spell without making a saving throw. The effect lasts until the start of Demogorgon’s next turn. Demogorgon doesn’t need to concentrate on the spell.

Legendary actions (2)

Only one legendary option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The demogorgon regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Maddening Gaze. Demogorgon uses his Gaze action, and must choose either the Beguiling Gaze or the Insanity Gaze effect.

Tail Attack. Demogorgon makes a tail attack.

Lair actions

On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the demogorgon takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the same effect can’t be used two rounds in a row:

  • Demogorgon creates an illusory duplicate of himself, which appears in his own space and lasts until initiative count 20 of the next round. On his turn, Demogorgon can move the illusory duplicate a distance equal to his walking speed (no action required). The first time a creature or object interacts physically with Demogorgon (for example, hitting him with an attack), there is a 50 percent chance that it is the illusory duplicate that is being affected, not Demogorgon himself, in which case the illusion disappears.

  • Demogorgon casts the darkness spell four times at 1 mana, targeting different areas with the spell. Demogorgon doesn’t need to concentrate on the spells, which end on initiative count 20 of the next round.

Regional effects

The region containing the demogorgon’s lair is warped by the demogorgon’s magic, which creates one or more of the following effects:

  • The area within 10 kilometers of the lair becomes overpopulated with lizards, poisonous snakes, and other venomous animals.

  • Animals within 2 kilometers of the lair become violent and crazed-even creatures that are normally docile.

  • If a humanoid spends at least 1 hour within 2 kilometers of the lair, that creature must succeed on a Difficulty 23 Will saving throw or descend into a madness determined by the Madness of Demogorgon table. A creature that succeeds on this saving throw can’t be affected by this regional effect again for 24 hours.

If Demogorgon dies, these effects fade over the course of 1d10 days.

Lower planesmtof

Maneuvers

As an action, make a weapon attack and throw dirt, sand, or various debris into the eyes of a creature that you can touch or see within 2 meters. You must have sand in your hand to throw.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Fortitude saving throw or it is blinded until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

  • You can expend 2 additional stamina die so the creature is blinded for 1 minute/stamina die. At the end of each of its turns, a blinded creature can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

1 minute/stamina die

As an action, make a weapon attack to disorient the creature.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and the creature must succeed on a Reflex saving throw or it can’t take reactions for the duration.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Enhance
You can augment this maneuver with the following options, expending stamina dice for each option.
  • You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

  • Stagger. You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is staggered instead of not being able to take reactions, but only until the end of its next turn. You can expend 1 additional stamina die so the creature is staggered for the duration.

  • Incapacitate. You can expend 2 additional stamina die so the creature is incapacitated instead of not being able to take reactions, but only until the end of its next turn.

  • Stun. You can expend 4 additional stamina die so the creature is stunned instead of not being able to take reactions, but only until the end of its next turn.

As an action, make a weapon attack to distract the creature, giving your allies an opening.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and make a Deception check opposed by the creature’s passive Insight or it is flat-footed to creatures other than you until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack along with a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage and make a Deception check opposed by the creature’s passive Insight or the creature is flat-footed to you until the end of its next turn.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action you can attempt to grab and throw a creature that is your size or smaller with a natural weapon such as a tentacle. The creature must make a Reflex saving throw.

On a failure, you throw it 2 meters away from you where it falls prone and takes bludgeoning damage equal to the stamina die.

On a critical failure, you throw it twice as far and it takes twice as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage, target a creature of a larger size, and throw the creature an additional 2 meters for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack and a Brawn check to grapple the creature.

Enhance

You can add the stamina die to the attack’s damage (add half on a miss by 4 or less) for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, you can use the Dash action. If you move at least 3 meters straight toward a creature, you can make a melee weapon attack against it.

On a hit, add the stamina die to the attack’s damage.

On a critical hit, add twice as much damage.

On a miss by 4 or less, add half as much damage.

Enhance

You can increase the damage for each additional stamina die expended.

As an action, make a melee weapon attack and a Brawn check to Trip.

Enhance

You can add the stamina die to the attack’s damage (add half on a miss by 4 or less) for each additional stamina die expended.

As a reaction, which you use when a creature makes an opportunity attack against you, you position yourself to force your opponent off balance.

If the enemy’s attack misses, you can make one melee weapon attack against the creature.

If the enemy’s attack hits, one ally within 1 meter of the enemy can make one melee weapon attack against the creature.

You must use this maneuver before the enemy’s roll is revealed.

Enhance

If you or your ally hit, you add the stamina die to the attack’s damage roll for each additional stamina die expended.

As a reaction, which you use when a creature that you can see within 2 meters of you attacks you, you can try to redirect the attack, provided that another creature is within 1 meter of you and within the attack’s range. The attacker must succeed on a Reflex saving throw or it must target that creature. If multiple creatures are within 1 meter of you and within the attack’s range, the attacker chooses which one to target.

You must choose to use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses.

Spells

As an action, you confuse a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 1d3 psychic damage and has disadvantage on the next attack it makes before the end of its next turn and moves 1 meter in a random direction if it can move. Roll a d8 for the direction: 1: north, 2: north-east, 3: east, 4: south-east, 5: south, 6: south-west, 7: west, 8: north-west. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks, and if the direction rolled is blocked, the target doesn’t move.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

At higher levels

This spell’s damage increases by 1d3 when you reach 9th level (2d3) and 17th level (3d3).

As an action, you cause your subject’s mind to wander, distracting it. Choose a creature within 5 meters. It has disadvantage on the next Perception or Insight check it makes before the end of its next turn.

As an action, you disturb creatures near you. Each creature within 1 meter of you must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 1d4 psychic damage and moves 1 meter away from you if it can move.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

At higher levels

This spell’s damage increases by 1d4 when you reach 9th level (2d4) and 17th level (3d4).

As a reaction, which you use when you are hit by an attack or missed by 4 or less or take psychic damage, you absorb some of the incoming energy. You have resistance to psychic damage until the start of your next turn, including against the triggering damage. If the creature who damaged you is within 10 meters, it must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 1d4 psychic damage and is staggered until the end of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 3d4 for each additional mana expended.

As an action, you assault and twist a creature’s mind, spawning delusions and provoking uncontrolled actions. Choose a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The target must succeed on a Will saving throw or it is confused until the end of its next turn.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the duration changes to 1 minute/mana, concentration and the creature is confused for the duration. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

  • You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

(ritual); concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As an action, you sense the presence of magic within 5 meters of you. If you sense magic in this way, you can use an action to see a faint aura around any visible creature or object in the area that bears magic, and you learn its theme, if any.

The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 30 centimeters of stone, 2 centimeters of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 1 meter of wood or dirt.

If you touch a creature or object for 5 minutes, you can determine the magic affecting it. If it is a magic item or some other magic-imbued object, you learn its properties and how to use them, whether it requires attunement to use, and how many charges it has, if any. You learn whether any spells are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was created by a spell, you learn which spell created it. If it is a creature, you learn what spells, if any, are currently affecting it.

As an action, you whisper a discordant melody that is only heard by a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must make a Will saving throw. If the creature can’t hear you, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 3d10 psychic damage and must move away from you as far as its speed allows at the start if its next turn by the safest available route, unless there is nowhere to move.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 3d10 for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, you attempt to awaken the worst fears in a creature that is not a construct or an undead that you can touch or see within 10 meters. The creature must succeed on a Will saving throw or become frightened of you for the duration.

While frightened by this spell, the creature must move as far as its speed allows away from you by the safest available route at the start of each of its turns, unless there is nowhere to move. If the creature ends its turn in a location where it doesn’t have line of sight to you, the creature can can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

You can target two additional creatures for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As an action, a creature that you can touch or see within 5 meters perceives everything as hilariously funny. The creature must make a Will saving throw. If the creature’s Intelligence is −3 or less, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it falls prone into fits of laughter, becoming incapacitated and unable to stand up for the duration.

An affected creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns and each time it takes damage, ending the effect on a success. The target has advantage on the saving throw if it’s triggered by damage.

Augment

You can expend 1 additional mana to target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As an action, you create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a sphere. The image appears at a spot within 20 meters and lasts for the duration. The image is purely visual; it isn’t accompanied by sound, smell, or other sensory effects.

As long as you are within 20 meters of the illusion, you can use an action to cause the image to move up to 5 meters to a space you can see, but the illusion must remain within 20 meters of you. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image. For example, if you create an image of a creature and move it, you can alter the image so that it appears to be walking.

For the duration, you can cast spells as though you were in the illusion’s space, but you must use your own senses.

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature can use an action to examine the image, making a skill check using Insight (Intelligence) against your spell save Difficulty. If it succeeds, it becomes aware that it is an illusion. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image, and any other sensory qualities of the image become faint to the creature.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • Major Image. You can expend 1 additional mana so the image seems completely real, including sounds, smells, and temperature appropriate to the thing depicted. You can’t create sufficient heat or cold to cause damage, a sound loud enough to deal concussion damage or deafen a creature, or a smell that might sicken a creature (like a troglodyte’s stench). Additionally, when you move the illusion you can cause it to make different sounds at different times, even making it carry on a conversation, for example.

  • Indefinite. You can expend 1 additional mana so the spell lasts until dispelled, without requiring your concentration.

  • Programmed Image. You can expend 2 additional mana so the illusion activates when a specific condition occurs. The illusion is imperceptible until then. It must be no larger than a 5-meter cube, and you decide when you cast the spell how the illusion behaves and what sounds it makes. This scripted performance can last up to 5 minutes.

    When the condition you specify occurs, the illusion springs into existence and performs in the manner you described. Once the illusion finishes performing, it disappears and remains dormant for 10 minutes. After this time, the illusion can be activated again.

    The triggering condition can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 5 meters of the area. For example, you could create an illusion of yourself to appear and warn off others who attempt to open a trapped door, or you could set the illusion to trigger only when a creature says the correct word or phrase.

As a reaction, which you use when a creature that you can touch or see within 2 meters of you attacks you, you can try to redirect the attack, provided that another creature is within 1 meter of you and within the attack’s range. The attacker must succeed on a Reflex saving throw or it must target that creature. If multiple creatures are within 1 meter of you and within the attack’s range, the attacker chooses which one to target.

You must choose to use this feature before knowing whether the attack hits or misses.

concentration, 5 minutes/mana

As an action, you gain the ability to move or manipulate objects by thought. When you cast the spell, and as an action each round for the duration, you can exert your will on one object that you can touch or see within 10 meters. You can affect the same target round after round, or choose a new one at any time. If you switch targets, the prior target is no longer affected by the spell.

You can try to move an object that weighs up to 100 kilos. If the object isn’t being worn or carried, you automatically move it up to 5 meters in any direction, but not beyond the range of this spell.

If the object is worn or carried by a creature, you must make a skill check with your spellcasting skill contested by that creature’s Brawn check. If you succeed, you pull the object away from that creature and can move it up to 5 meters in any direction but not beyond the range of this spell.

You can exert fine control on objects with your telekinetic grip, such as manipulating a simple tool, opening a door or a container, stowing or retrieving an item from an open container, or pouring the contents from a vial.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can expend 1 additional mana so the maximum weight of objects that you can target with this spell increases by 150 kilos.

  • Telekinetic Grip. You can expend 1 additional mana to target a Medium or smaller creature instead of an object. An unwilling creature must make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the creature fails, you move the creature up to 5 meters in any direction, including upward but not beyond the range of this spell. Until the end of your next turn, the creature is restrained in your telekinetic grip. A creature lifted upward is suspended in mid-air.

    On subsequent turns, you can use an action to attempt to maintain your telekinetic grip on the creature, forcing it to make the saving throw.

  • Large. You can expend 2 additional mana to target a Large or smaller creature instead of an object.

  • Huge. You can expend 3 additional mana to target a Huge or smaller creature instead of an object.

concentration, 1 hour/mana

As two actions, you close off areas of a creature’s mind communication and social interaction of a creature that you can touch or see within 20 meters. The creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it loses knowledge of all languages (including telepathic and body language) and is treated as illiterate for the duration.

It may still “speak”, and to it they sound completely normal, but to anyone else they appear as complete gibberish. Verbal components, if used, are not limited by this spell.

A creature can repeat the saving throw each minute, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, a creature that you can touch or see within 20 meters has a lust for blood. The creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it is charmed by you for the duration. While charmed, its skin turns a deep red, and a thirst for destruction glows in its eyes. It must use its actions to make melee attacks made against a creature other than itself that you mentally choose. The charmed creature can move up to half its speed before making the attacks.

The creature can act normally on its turn if you choose no creature or if none are within its reach.

On your subsequent turns, you must use two actions to maintain control over the creature, or the spell ends.

The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Augment

Incite Passion. You can expend 1 additional mana so the charmed creature has disadvantage on Intelligence checks and cannot cast spells. If it is concentrating on a spell, it must immediately make a saving throw with disadvantage to maintain it.

As two actions, choose a creature, object, or magical effect within 20 meters. Make a skill check using your spellcasting skill. The Difficulty equals the spell Difficulty used to cast the spell + the spell’s effective mana. If you have identified the spell, you have advantage on this skill check. If there are multiple spells and if you have not identified them, the spell is chosen at random starting with the spell with the lowest mana cost.

On a success, the spell ends.

If you fail by 4 or less, the spell is suppressed for 1 minute.

A spell’s effective mana is normally the amount of mana it was cast with, including augmentation. If a feature lets a spell be cast without expending mana then the spell’s effective mana is its normal mana cost.

Augment

You gain a +1 bonus to your skill check for each additional mana expended.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, you force a creature that you can touch or see within 20 meters to see enemies everywhere. The creature must make a Will saving throw. If the creature is immune to being charmed, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it loses the ability to distinguish friend from foe, regarding all creatures it can see as enemies until the spell ends. Each time the target takes damage, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Whenever the affected creature chooses another creature as a target, it must choose the target at random from among the creatures it can see within 20 meters of the attack, spell, or other ability it’s using. If an enemy provokes an opportunity attack from the affected creature, the creature must make that attack if it is able to.

Augment

You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, you incite the fears of creatures at a point within 10 meters, causing them to panic. Each creature in a sphere centered on that point must make a Will saving throw. If the creature is immune to being frightened, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it is confused and frightened of the area in the center of the sphere for the duration.

A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, you attempt to briefly partition the mind of your foe. A creature within 20 meters must succeed on a Will saving throw or a minor personality is split off their mind that is antagonistic to the main personality. The parasitic personality functions with complete autonomy from the main personality. It does not control the body physically, but it can take two actions each round that are purely mental, such as casting a spell, in the same turn that the target takes its normal actions.

The parasitic personality casts spells as if it were the target, but can only expend 1 mana when it casts spells.

The parasitic personality actively attempts to cast spells that negatively impact the target, using the most deadly to the target. You do not have control over what the parasitic personality does, though it always works against the interest of the target.

A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

The parasitic personality does not have any effect if the main personality is hasted or subjected to a schism effect.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

As two actions, you tap into the nightmares of a creature that you can touch or see within 20 meters, causing it to see manifestations of its deepest fears in a direction you choose for the duration, visible only to that creature. At the start of each of its turns for the duration, the creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, it takes 4d12 psychic damage and is frightened of the manifestations until the start of its next turn.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage and and the effect ends.

On a critical success, it takes no damage and the effect ends.

Augment
You can augment this spell with the following options, expending mana for each option.
  • You can increase the damage by 2d12 for each additional mana expended. If this spell is augmented to target additional creatures, this damage is halved.

  • You can target one additional creature for each additional mana expended. The creatures must be within 5 meters of each other when you target them.

  • Visions of Horror. You can expend 1 additional mana to cast the spell as a reaction, which you use when a creature makes an attack against you.

    The damage is reduced to 2d12 and additional augments to the damage increase the damage by 1d12 for each additional mana expended, instead of the normal increase.

concentration, 1 minute/mana

d10Effects
1–2Vision of the Far Realm. It takes 5d6 psychic damage and can’t move or use any actions this turn.
3–5Rending Rift. It takes 13d6 force damage.
6–8Wormhole. It takes 8d6 force damage, is teleported, along with everything it is wearing and carrying, up to 5 meters to an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see, and is knocked prone.
9–10Chill of the Dark Void. It takes 8d6 cold damage, and it is blinded until the end of the turn.

As two actions, you shatter the barriers between realities and timelines, thrusting a creature that you can touch or see within 10 meters into turmoil and madness. At the start of each of its turns for the duration, the creature must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, the creature must roll a d10 to determine its behavior for that turn.

On a success, the creature must roll a d10 and take half as much damage as listed and the effect ends.

Augment

You can increase the damage by 3d6 for each additional mana expended.

M (mercury, phosphorus, and powdered diamond and opal worth 1,000 sp, consumed)

As you spend 1 minute to cast this spell, you inscribe a harmful glyph either on a surface (such as a section of floor, a wall, or a table) or within an object that can be closed to conceal the glyph (such as a book, a scroll, or a treasure chest). If you choose a surface, the glyph can cover an area of the surface no larger than 2 meters in diameter. If you choose an object, that object must remain in its place; if the object is moved more than 2 meters from where you cast this spell, the glyph is broken, and the spell ends without being triggered.

The glyph is nearly invisible, requiring a Perception check against your spell save Difficulty to find it.

You decide what triggers the glyph when you cast the spell. For glyphs inscribed on a surface, the most typical triggers include touching or stepping on the glyph, removing another object covering it, approaching within a certain distance of it, or manipulating the object that holds it. For glyphs inscribed within an object, the most common triggers are opening the object, approaching within a certain distance of it, or seeing or reading the glyph.

You can further refine the trigger so the spell is activated only under certain circumstances or according to a creature’s physical characteristics (such as height or weight), or physical kind (for example, the ward could be set to affect hags or shapechangers). You can also specify creatures that don’t trigger the glyph, such as those who say a certain password.

Once triggered, the glyph glows, filling a sphere twice as big as normal with dim light for 10 minutes, after which time the spell ends. Each creature in the area when the glyph activates is targeted by its effect, as is a creature that enters the area for the first time on a turn or ends its turn there.

Insanity. Each target must make a Will saving throw.

On a failure, the target is driven insane for 1 minute. An insane creature can’t use actions, can’t understand what other creatures say, can’t read, and speaks only in gibberish. The GM controls its movement, which is erratic.

As two actions, you blast the mind of a creature that you can touch or see within 20 meters, shattering its intellect and personality. The creature must make a Will saving throw. If the creature has no moisture in its body, the spell has no effect on it.

On a failure, it takes 6d6 psychic damage and the creature’s Intelligence and Charisma become −5. The creature can’t cast spells, activate magic items, understand language, or communicate in any intelligible way. The creature can, however, identify its friends, follow them, and even protect them.

On a critical failure, it takes twice as much damage.

On a success, it takes half as much damage.

On a critical success, it takes no damage.

After 30 days, the creature can repeat its saving throw against this spell. If it succeeds on its saving throw, the spell ends.

The spell can also be ended by a restoration spell augmented to 4 mana or miracle or wish.