Electric Nerve

As part of the casting of this spell, you roll 3 hit die and take the amount in Necrotic damage that cannot be reduced. You then produce a 30 ft. cone of branching lightning outward from your hand; these branching paths are in actuality your nerves splaying out and being shot with electricity. All creatures within the cone must immediately make a Strength saving throw, taking 4d8 Lightning damage on a failure and dropping prone or half as much damage on a success. For the duration you then concentrate where this area continues to electrify. When you move, this cone follows you and for the duration one of your hands is occupied with holding it. Creatures that start their turn within this area or enter it for the first time on a turn must make the same saving throw or suffer the damage and effect on a failure. At the start of each of your turns, you roll an additional hit die and take that amount in necrotic damage. While creatures are within the area of effect, the first reaction you take on a round targeting one of them does not expend your reaction and all creatures within are additionally considered within touch range for spells you cast that require it.

Alternatively the caster may forego the opportunity to do damage when they cast the spell and instead use the spell as an extension of themselves for the duration, perceiving anything within the field of lightning as if it were their own touch. You gain information on objects and locations within the range of the spell, have advantage on all Intelligence checks and cannot be surprised while concentrating on the spell in this way.

At Higher Levels: The range of this spells cone increases by 5 ft. for each spell slot level above 4th