Mara Ride

3rd-level illusion

Casting Time: 10 minutes

Range: Unlimited

Components: S

Duration: Instantaneous

Classes: Warlock

The caster sends a hideous and unsettling phantasmal vision to a specific creature that the caster names or otherwise specifically designates. The spirit form of the caster, known as the mara, “rides” the target. It enters through any opening in a dwelling and can actually be heard coming, as if something soft is rustling across the ground, with a Perception (Wisdom) check against your spell save DC. If seen, the mara appears as a hag, shadow, horse, or cat.

The mara prevents restful sleep and the victim feels as great weight pressed upon them. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw or suffer 1d10 points of psychic damage, an increase in target’s exhaustion by one level, and be unable to regain arcane spells for the next 24 hours. If the recipient is awake when the spell begins, the voelva can choose to cease casting (ending the spell) or enter a trance until the recipient goes to sleep, whereupon the voelva becomes alert again and completes the casting.

If the voelva is disturbed during the trance, the spell ends.

Creatures who don’t sleep or dream (such as elves, but not half-elves) are immune to this spell.