Cantrip: Black Pulse (Devouring Aspect)

Homebrew Reactive Curse-Bound Cantrip
(You do not cast it by choice — it is a reflex of the Darkness.)

Trigger

This cantrip automatically activates whenever you become charmed or affected by a curse, magical mark, or similar soul-binding effect — even if the source is an artifact.

• You do not control it.

• You do not decide when it happens.

• It is the Darkness asserting its exclusive claim over you.

Range: 10 feet

Components: None

Duration: Instantaneous

Saving Throw: Wisdom

Damage Type: Necrotic

Effect

When triggered, the Darkness lashes outward like snapping shadows, reacting to the intrusion.

• If the source is a creature:

  • The creature must make a Wisdom saving throw.

  • On a failure:

    • Takes 1d6 necrotic damage,

    • Suffers disadvantage on any concentration or maintenance of the charm/curse until the start of your next turn.

    • The Darkness siphons a fragment of the magic, granting you temporary hit points (1 at 1st level, 2 at 5th, 3 at 11th, 4 at 17th).

  • On a success:

    • Half damage, no temporary hit points.

• If the source is an artifact:

  • No saving throw is possible.

  • The Darkness cannot damage the artifact directly, but it interferes with its magic:

    • The charm/curse becomes unstable for 1 round.

    • You gain advantage on your next saving throw against that artifact effect.

    • The artifact’s magical influence flickers or weakens narratively.

  • You still gain the temporary hit points as the Darkness feeds on the intrusion.

Scaling

Damage and temporary hit points scale like a normal cantrip:

• 5th level: 2d6 damage / 2 temp HP

• 11th level: 3d6 / 3 temp HP

• 17th level: 4d6 / 4 temp HP

Flavor

A black, jagged pulse erupts from your body like the heart of the darkness that stalks your bloodline.
Clawing tendrils of shadow lash at anything trying to bind or claim you.
If the source is a sentient artifact, the shadows twist around it, siphoning energy and leaving it momentarily unstable.
You feel the rush of stolen energy in your veins — a reminder that you are already claimed, and nothing else may touch your soul without consequence.