Gaze of Ghatanothoa

7th-level necromancy

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 60 feet

Components: V, S

Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You take on a fleeting aspect of the unspeakable form of Ghatanothoa. This aspect is only perceptible by one creature other than a construct that can see you within range.

When you cast this spell and at the start of each of your turns for the duration, the target must make a successful Constitution saving throw if it is within range and can see you. On a failed save, it gains two levels of exhaustion as its body begins to rapidly stiffen and mummify. If the creature would reach exhaustion level 6, instead it transforms into a perfectly preserved and completely immobile mummy, yet the victim does not die. It can observe the world around it (and may even take purely mental actions, including the use of magic without any components), but has the paralyzed condition. The mummification lasts until removed and the target need not eat, drink, or breathe and does not age during that time.

The mummification can only be removed by a regenerate spell or a spell of at least 7th level that can remove the paralyzed condition. If the target was trapped for a long time, it will likely have developed some form of insanity (see Chapter 4).