Tem’s Proscribed Prose

5th-level conjuration

Casting time: 1 hour

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M (powdered ruby worth at least 100g, which the spell consumes)

Duration: Until dispelled or triggered

Classes: Bard, Warlock, Wizard

Your magic creates a small, nearly invisible symbol in the text of one written work such as a book, scroll, or map. When the text containing the symbol is read, not just viewed, the sigil takes on the form of an animal of your choice and strikes the reader. 

   A creature that uses its action to inspect the book for traps or magic can detect the sigil with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. A creature viewing the target object while under the effects of detect magic can discern only that the entire object is magical.

   Upon inscribing the sigil, you can choose any number of conditions under which the book may be read. You can allow creatures to read the text by name, type, race, alignment, or other physical or mental characteristics. You can allow the text to be read while in specific places, such as the throne room of a specific kingdom, or in general locations, such as a temple to a deity of knowledge. You can also allow the text to be read only at a certain time, such as the first day of the new millennium, or at midnight on the day of the winter solstice. Additionally, you can set a spoken password that allows the text to be read.

   If a creature attempts to read the text of the target work without first satisfying the set conditions, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become cursed for 24 hours. While cursed in this way, a shimmering force field surrounds the creature, preserving it in a state of suspended animation. The creature is unconscious, immobile, unaware of its surroundings, and unaffected by the passage of time. The creature is not invincible, but taking damage from an outside source allows it to repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on itself on a success.

   The curse can be ended with the use of the greater restoration, remove curse, or wish spells. You can also end the curse early by using an action to dismiss it.

   At Higher Levels. If you cast this spell using a spell slot of 7th level or higher, the duration of the curse increases to 10 days. If you use a spell slot of 9th level, the curse lasts until removed by one of the methods listed above.