Call of Cthulhu

5th-level divination (formula, ritual)

Casting Time: 1 hour (5 phases of 12 minutes when cast as a formula)

Range: self

Components: V, S, D (circle of non-Euclidean engravings or markings centered on you)

Formula Ability Checks: Intelligence (Arcana) or Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) DC 20 (diagram), Intelligence (Arcana) or Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) DC 20, Intelligence (Arcana) or Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) DC 20

Formula Backlash: One level of exhaustion

Formula Failure: Magically frightened for 8 hours and 5d4 psychic damage

Duration: 1 year and 1 day

You open yourself to the awareness of Great Cthulhu, alerting him to your location and inviting him to contact you. During the duration, Cthulhu will contact you through dreams or nightmares featuring sunken R’lyeh.

If you do not worship Cthulhu, you automatically gain a first-degree insanity (described in chapter 4) or an indefinite madness and draw the attention of cults of Cthulhu. During the first such dream after you cast this spell, Cthulhu can choose to provide a cryptic vision in response to up to three questions you ask. Each time you receive a dream from Cthulhu, you are exposed to the unnamable doom of his stage 1 Elder Influence.

If you sleep on the diagram, you receive a message from Cthulhu or one of his starspawn (most often a larval starspawn) as to how you can further his goals; the entity that contacts you and the nearest cult of Cthulhu are both alerted to your location. If you don’t worship Cthulhu, however, a larval starspawn (or other worshiper of Cthulhu of the GM’s choice) becomes able to attack you with enchantment spells and ranged abilities that deal psychic damage or give the frightened or charmed conditions regardless of distance for as long as you remain asleep in the circle. When you take damage or succeed on a saving throw against a spell or other magical effect while sleeping in the circle, you can attempt a Charisma saving throw against this spell; you awaken on a success and the spell ends.