Cineoshadow Theater

You conjure a bright, focused light in your hand that spins a spectral shadow‑theater wheel, projecting a brief, iconic scene onto a nearby surface or into the air. From this projection, a solid echo of the story strides into reality, performs a single cinematic attack or effect, and then fades.
When you cast this spell, choose a creature you can see within range. A projection appears centered on a point you can see within range, and a scene plays out from the Cineoshadow Theater Scenes table. Roll 1d20 and consult the table; the result determines the visual vignette and the mechanical effect applied to the target.
The spell’s scenes are fixed at 1st level, but the damage they deal scales as you cast the spell with higher‑level slots, reflecting your growing mastery of cinematic magic.

When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage dealt by the scene increases by 1d4 for each slot level above 1st.
For example, if a scene normally deals 2d8 damage, casting Cineoshadow Theater with a 3rd‑level slot makes that scene deal 2d8 + 2d4 damage; with a 4th‑level slot, 2d8 + 3d4, and so on.

Cineoshadow Theater Scenes

1. Jaws – The Lurking Fin
Ominous waves and a dark fin appear; a massive shark erupts from the projection and snaps at the target.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 piercing damage and is pushed 5 feet away from the projection’s origin.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not pushed.
2. Jurassic Park – Cagebreaker Rex
A torch‑lit gate trembles, then a tyrannosaurus smashes through and slams into the target.
• The target makes a Strength saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and remains standing.
3. Back to the Future – Temporal Coach Crash
A stormy town square; lightning strikes a clock tower and a spectral coach bursts from behind the target.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 fire damage and is pushed 10 feet in the coach’s direction.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not pushed.
4. The Wizard of Oz – Monkey Flight
A green witch screams “Fly, my uglies, fly!!!” as flying monkeys swarm the target.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 slashing damage and has disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and suffers no disadvantage.
5. Ghostbusters – Misaligned Containment Beam
A ghost bursts from an abandoned building as artificers fire pulsing beams; the ghost phases through, and the beams hit the target instead.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 force damage and is restrained until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not restrained.
6. The Lord of the Rings – Eye of the Dark Citadel
A narration about a cursed necklace climbs a black citadel to a flaming eye that fixes its gaze on the target, murmuring in harsh speech.
• The target makes a Wisdom saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 psychic damage and is frightened of you until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not frightened.
7. Terminator – Red‑Eyed Warforged Strike
A war‑torn battlefield appears; a red‑eyed warforged raises a glowing handgun and fires, saying, “I’ll be back.”
• Make a ranged spell attack against the target.
• On a hit, the target takes 2d8 necrotic damage. If this reduces the target to 0 hit points, you have advantage on the next attack roll you make before the end of your next turn.
• On a miss, no effect.
8. Predator – Cloaked Hunter Slash
A dense jungle; clicking sounds, a blurred figure decloaks, wrist blades snap out, and it slashes the target before cloaking again.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 slashing damage and has disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and suffers no disadvantage.
9. Alien – Egg Chamber Ambush
A dark chamber of strange eggs; face‑hugger creatures burst forth, and an adult alien’s tail impales the target from behind.
• The target makes a Constitution saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 piercing damage and is poisoned until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not poisoned.
10. Power Rangers – Teen Knights with Attitude
A mechanical helper cries “Aye aye aye!!” and a blue head commands a team of “teenagers with attitude”; six armored knight‑figures surround the target and strike.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage and cannot take reactions until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and can act normally.
11. Star Wars – Crimson Corridor Pull
A long dark corridor; a caped black knight ignites a red blade, lifts a hand, pulls the target forward, and slashes.
• The target makes a Strength saving throw.
• On a failure, the target is pulled up to 10 feet toward the projection’s origin and takes 2d8 force damage.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not moved.
12. IT – Red Balloon Lure
A rainy village square with a stone well and a red balloon; a smiling clown beckons the target, then transforms and bites.
• The target makes a Wisdom saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 psychic damage and is frightened of the projection’s origin point until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not frightened.
13. 2001: A Space Odyssey – Monolith Crescendo
A growing black monolith in a desert with dissonant music swelling to a deafening crescendo.
• The target makes a Wisdom saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 psychic damage and is stunned until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not stunned.
14. Indiana Jones – Whip and Boulder Run
A temple corridor; an explorer runs from a rolling boulder, snaps a whip around the target, and pulls them into the boulder’s path.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target is pulled up to 5 feet in a direction you choose and then takes 2d8 bludgeoning damage from the boulder.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not moved.
15. Fantasia – Sorcerer’s Mop Deluge
A wizard on a podium sweeps his arms as music rises; animated mops rush in with buckets and drown the target in enchanted water.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 cold damage and is knocked prone.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and remains standing.
16. Batman – Rainy Street Takedown
A rain‑slick city street; bat‑symbols and a grapple line yank the target into a caped figure’s combo, followed by a smoke bomb.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 2d8 bludgeoning damage, is pulled up to 10 feet toward the projection’s origin, and has disadvantage on opportunity attacks until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not moved or hindered.
17. Halo – Ringworld Shock Drop
A ringworld landscape; a drop‑container crashes, and a green‑armored knight fires a heavy crossbow and throws a blue explosive.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 1d8 piercing damage and 1d8 lightning damage (total 2d8), and its speed is reduced by 10 feet until the start of your next turn.
• On a success, the target takes half as much total damage and its speed is unaffected.
18. Destiny – Golden Handgun Volley
A castle wall explodes, and a ranger‑warforged with a golden‑flaming handgun says “Oh, look! More targets!” and fires three rapid shots.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target takes 3d4 radiant damage.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage.
19. World of Warcraft – Icemourn Hunger
A frozen wasteland; a frost‑rimmed knight draws a cursed blade and summons skeletal hands to drag the target onto the waiting sword.
• The target makes a Strength saving throw.
• On a failure, the target is pulled up to 10 feet toward the projection’s origin and takes 2d8 necrotic damage.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not moved.
20. Mortal Kombat – Netherrealm Fatality
A netherrealm arena; a yellow and a blue ninja appear, a voice cries “Finish him!”, a chain pulls the target in, an ice ball freezes them, and the ninjas shatter the ice.
• The target makes a Dexterity saving throw.
• On a failure, the target is pulled up to 10 feet toward the projection’s origin, is restrained until the end of your next turn, and takes 3d6 cold damage.
• On a success, the target takes half as much damage and is not pulled or restrained.