Rat Plague

3rd-level necromancy

Classes: Cleric, Druid

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: Touch

Components: V, S

Duration: 3 days

Your touch inflicts disease. Make a melee spell attack against a creature within reach. On a hit, you afflict the creature with one of two possible rat plagues, described below. At the end of each of the target’s turns, it must make a Constitution saving throw. After failing three of these saving throws, the disease’s effects last for the duration, and the creature stops making these saves.

After succeeding on three of these saving throws, the creature recovers from the disease, and the spell ends.

Since this spell induces a natural disease in its target, any effect that removes a disease or otherwise ameliorates a disease’s effects apply to it.

• Rat Fever. A creeping horror of rats, ratfolk, wererats, and all other rat-like creatures enters the creature’s mind, and it fears contact with rats and is terrified of crowds. The creature is frightened for the duration.
• Rat Shakes. Violent shivers convulse the creature’s limbs, its speed is halved, and it cannot use the Dash action. After making any melee or spell attack, the creature falls prone.