Via Negativa

When you cast the via negativa spell, your right or left hand (which ever hand the ring is on) is covered with crackling black energy that causes intense pain to any living creature that comes into prolonged contact with it. Meanwhile, it imbues you with necromatic power.

The via negativa spell affects any living creature that you grapple. The target makes a Constitution Save against your Spell DC during the round the grapple is initiated and each round the grapple is maintained, dealing 4d6 necromatic damage on a failed save and half that on a successful save. If your foe escapes the grapple, you can attempt to attain another hold. Furthermore, the via negativa spell grants advantage to Strength checks and saves as long as you're grappling.

The somatic component for the via negativa spell begins with a handshake motion. If you use an innocuous handshake with someone to start a via negativa spell, your grapple check automatically succeeds and you don't provoke an opportunity attack for any reason for casting this spell or starting the grapple.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, you increase the damage dealt by 1d6 for every level above 4th.