*Intended for use in a Grim Hollow campaign with Corruption rules
As an added cost for this spell, the caster gains 1 level of Corruption, and may elect to gain 2 more for additional effects.
You select a point in range, and condemn all creatures within a 20-ft. radius sphere centered on that point. Each creature within the zone must make a Constitution saving throw or be cursed until dispelled. This spell does not affect constructs solely composed of inorganic components, and those partially composed take halved damage.
At the start of a cursed creature's turn, it takes [roll]1d4[/roll] necrotic damage and gains 1 level of Corruption as its flesh morphs into ravenous insects which scratch, writhe, and burst from the victim's flesh, born with only the instinct to chew and consume. Their very soul is tainted by the insatiable and ever-hollow hunger which feeds on their spirit.
Each time an afflicted creature takes damage, its periodical damage increases by 1d4 as yet more insects crawl forth from the shorn flesh to feed on the cursed creature.
A creature may also use its action to wipe away the insects scourging its flesh, removing 1/2 (rounded down) of the accumulated periodical damage dice (ex: a creature with 4d4 accumulated dice would then only take 2d4 on its next turn).
At a threshold of 4d4 periodic damage, the afflicted creature must also make a Constitution Saving Throw after taking the periodical damage or be put under the effects of the Poisoned Condition. This save may be repeated once during each of the creature's turns, after the periodical damage for the turn is applied.
At a threshold of 6d4 periodic damage, the insects completely cover the creature's eyes and other orifices, putting them under the effects of the Blinded condition and giving them disadvantage on any checks made to hear as the clicking and shifting of the thousands of insectoid limbs in and around the ears makes hearing more difficult.
When a creature under the effects of this Curse dies, its body is reduced to a swarm of hungering insects which hungrily seek new prey within 20 feet to feast upon and infect, prioritizing cursed victims, enemies of the caster, and then any living organism (in that order). If this spell was cast with the extra 2 Corruption cost, then any unaffected creature touched by these swarms must make a Constitution Saving Throw against the Spellcaster's DC or become afflicted with the same curse. Creatures already under the affliction simply have their periodic damage increased additively by the amount that the swarm was dealing, and swarms that attack non-affected subjects have health equal to their periodic stacks times five (ex: 4d4 damage swarm has 4 (periodic) x 5 = 20 health) and make attacks using the Spellcaster's Attack Modifier which deal the same amount of damage as they did periodically before, but CANNOT grow.
If the extra 2 Corruption was taken, a swarm may also be directed to give up their collected energy, and using the Spellcaster's Bonus Action will merge with an ally the spellcaster can see within 50 feet of the swarm, which provides temporary Hit Points equal to their periodic damage stack (ex: 5d4 periodic damage swarm turns into 5d4 temporary hit points), and the recipient gains 1 level of corruption as the misbegotten energy taints their soul.
Swarms without a target within 20 ft. will dissipate as they skitter away, burrow into the ground, or return to the Spellcaster.
The Spellcaster may dismiss any swarm at any time, by recalling their spiritual energy back into themself.
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