Ava's Puppeting Threads

“Something’s making me do this! Get away!” 

 - Unknown Bandit

Blood flows out from your fingertips and travels through the air towards a target you can see within range. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be invaded by the tendrils of blood, allowing the caster to puppeteer them. If the spell takes hold, the caster’s body will slump over, and is considered unconscious but not at zero HP. If the caster is struck by an attack while in this state, they must succeed on both a concentration check and a separate DC 16 Wisdom saving throw, or the spell ends and the caster is put in a disoriented state. In this state, the caster must choose between an action, a bonus action, or movement on their turn for 1 turn.

While controlling the target, the caster takes over their initiative slot. On their turn, the caster can use any items, spells or abilities that the target possesses. However, all rolls will be made using your spellcasting modifier in place of the target’s bonuses. Additionally, at the start of each of their turns, the target can make a wisdom saving throw to attempt to resist the caster’s influence. If they succeed, the caster must choose between an action, a bonus action, or movement for that turn. If the target succeeds three times, the spell ends with no negative effects for either side. 

To an outside observer, it is obvious that something is wrong with the target. Their movement will be jerky and unnatural, their behavior will be abnormal, and the target can make a Constitution check to attempt to speak as a free action on their turn. This spell can target a corpse, in which case the spell automatically succeeds.  However, when used on a corpse, the spell will end after one minute. This time is cut in half for each size category above Medium that the creature is considered.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the range increases by 10 feet for each level above 3rd and the DC of the caster’s wisdom saving throw is reduced by one. Additionally, if you cast this spell with a spell slot of 6th level or higher, the tendrils become invisible, and outside observers must make an Investigation check to discern that something is wrong with the target.