Sepia Snake Sigil

3rd level conjuration

Casting Time: 10 minutes

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M (powdered amber worth 500 gp and a snake scale)

Duration: Permanent until discharged

When you cast sepia snake sigil, a small symbol appears in the text of one written work such as a book, scroll, or map. The text containing the symbol must be at least twenty-five words long.

When anyone reads the text containing the symbol, the sepia snake springs into being and strikes the reader, provided there is line of effect between the symbol and the reader. The target can attempt a Dexterity saving throw to evade the snake’s strike. If it succeeds, the sepia snake dissipates in a flash of brown light accompanied by a puff of dun-colored smoke and a loud noise. If the target fails its save, it is engulfed in a shimmering amber field of force and immobilized until released, either at your command or when 1d4 days + one day per level of spell slot used to cast the spell have passed. While trapped in the amber field of force, the subject does not age, breathe, grow hungry, sleep, or regain spells. It is preserved in a state of suspended animation, unaware of its surroundings. It can be damaged by outside forces (and perhaps even killed), since the field provides no protection against physical injury. However, a dying subject does not make death saves or become stable until the spell ends.

The hidden sigil cannot be detected by normal observation, and detect magic reveals only that the entire text is charged with abjuration magic.

Dispel magic can remove the sigil.