Unseen Serpent

Unseen Serpent (Spell)

Level: 1st level conjuration Casting Time: 1 action Range: 60 feet Components: V, S, M (a shed snake skin) Duration:1 hour

Description: You conjure a tiny, invisible serpent, no thicker than a finger, that becomes your devoted companion for the duration of the spell. The serpent acts as an unseen servant, but with the following modifications:

• Appearance: The serpent is invisible, but its presence can be faintly felt as a cool, slithering sensation on your skin or nearby objects.
• Movement: The serpent can move up to 30 feet per round, through even the smallest of cracks or openings. It can also slither through liquids as easily as it moves on land.
• Interaction: The serpent can manipulate objects up to the size of a small apple with its coils and mouth, such as picking up keys, opening pouches, or activating small mechanisms.
• Senses: The serpent has blindsight within 30 feet of you, allowing it to navigate and locate objects even in darkness or complete obscurity. It can also communicate telepathically with you, sending simple messages and warnings.
• Special Abilities: Once per casting, the serpent can perform one of the following actions as a bonus action:
  • Constrict: The serpent wraps itself around a creature within 5 feet of you, imposing disadvantage on its next Dexterity saving throw.
  • Venom Spray: The serpent spits a gout of venom at a creature within 5 feet of you. The creature must make a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw, taking 1d4 poison damage on a failure and half as much damage on a success.

At Higher Levels:

• 2nd Level: The serpent's movement speed increases to 40 feet and its blindsight range increases to 60 feet.
• 3rd Level: The serpent can constrict up to two creatures at once, and its venom spray deals 2d4 poison damage.

Lore: This spell was developed by ancient druidic sects who revered snakes as symbols of wisdom and adaptability. It is said that the serpents conjured through this spell are not merely mindless constructs, but fragments of the spirit of the World Serpent, imbued with intelligence and a subtle connection to the natural world.

Additional Notes:

• Consider adding further customization options for the serpent, such as allowing players to choose its color or markings.
• You can also explore incorporating the serpent's abilities into roleplaying situations, allowing players to use its senses and communication to gather information or interact with their environment in creative ways.
• Remember to adapt the spell's balance and mechanics to fit your specific campaign and setting.