Hands of the Dead

1st-level conjuration

Classes: Cleric, Druid, Warlock
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 50 feet
Components: V, S, M (a severed finger or claw)
Duration: 1 minute

You raise your hands in supplication to dark forces, creating a number of hands that reach up from the ground to grapple an opponent.

You choose a 5-foot square from which the hands erupt. Any creature of Medium size or smaller must make a Dexterity saving throw or be grappled. The creature must make an escape check at the end of each of their turns using your spell save DC to escape. The spell does not end once they save, and any character entering or re-entering the square, or ending their turn in the square must make the same saving throw or become grappled. Other characters entering the square are affected as well if they end their turn in that square.

At Higher Levels: When you cast this spell using a slot of 3rd level or higher, you can increase the number of targets (and by extension, squared) affected for every two levels beyond 1st (two targets at level 3, three targets at level 5, etc). Large creatures can be affected by this spell if they occupy at least two squares affected by this spell.