Velvet Guillotine

You conjure the illusion of an execution stage around a single target within range, complete with a velvet curtain, silent masked onlookers, and a looming guillotine. The creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become restrained by illusory bindings as the audience begins a silent countdown (no damage is dealt... at first until the start of the creature turn).

While restrained, the target:

• Suffers disadvantage on saving throws against fear and charm.
• Takes 4d6 psychic damage at the start of each of their turns, believing the guillotine is descending closer.
• If the creature drops to 0 HP while under this effect, their final moment appears as a phantasmal decapitation—which is visible to everyone else, even if they revive or were merely unconscious.

A creature who passes the initial save sees only faint shadows and hears distant whispers, but isn’t otherwise affected.

At the end of each of its turns, the target can make another Wisdom saving throw. On a success, the spell ends on the target.