Litany of Woe

Scroll, uncommon

This long scroll is inscribed, in blood-red ink, a tongue simultaneously deeply infernal yet intelligible to creatures fluent in any language. The litany of woe spells out a bewildering array of calumny and regret about the sins about a given creature within 30 feet designated by the reader. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed, compelled to approach the user, take up the scroll, and read the litany of woe for themselves. If the save succeeds, the litany of woe has no effect and crumbles to dust.

As soon as the target moves adjacent to the user, it takes the as a bonus action and then becomes incapacitated with a speed of 0. The target focuses its attention solely on reading the litany of woe, envisioning itself penning a list of every foible, sin, crime, and misdeed they have committed while surrounded by a court of devils sitting in cruel judgment. Each round at the end of its turn, the target takes 1d6 psychic damage and must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened until the beginning of its next turn.

If the target succeeds on three consecutive saving throws, it breaks free from its trance and the litany of woe crumbles to ash. Remove curse ends the effect immediately, as does dispel magic if the caster succeeds on a DC 14 ability check using their spellcasting ability score. The trance can be broken by physically removing the item with a DC 14 Strength check against a DC equal to the target’s Strength saving throw. The entranced creature shields the litany of woe with its body, so attacks with weapons against the scroll instead strike the target.