Red Sign

6th-level transmutation (formula, ritual)

Casting Time: 5 hours (5 phases of 1 hour when cast as a formula)

Range: Touch

Components: V, S, M (a very rare or legendary magic slashing weapon used to carve the Red Sign and blood from at least four creatures of the target’s size, all of which the spell consumes), D (circle centered on target), L (a smooth basin filled with intelligent creatures’ blood including some from the target, in which the target is almost entirely submerged), SC (3 to 9 providing verbal components, which must have Mythos taint or proficiency in Religion or Yog-Sothothery)

Formula Ability Checks: Intelligence (Nature) or Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) DC 17 (diagram), Intelligence (Religion) or Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) DC 17, Intelligence (Religion) or Wisdom (Yog-Sothothery) DC 17

Formula Backlash: Target is reduced to 1 hit point

Formula Failure: Target can never again be targeted by this spell

Duration: Instantaneous

This spell is known only through the direct teachings of Shub-Niggurath’s dark young. When you cast it, you infuse a touched non-humanoid creature with Intelligence 2 or higher with the power of this mysterious Red Sign. The sign is forever after glowingly visible somewhere on the target’s body. The creature’s Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores each increase by 2, to a maximum of 20, and it also gains 1d6 – 1 spells of the GM’s choice. It can cast the spells thrice per day if they are 5th level or lower, or once per day if they are 6th level or higher. Charisma is the creature’s innate spellcasting ability if it didn’t already have another one. If the spells are of particular use to the target in combat, the creature’s challenge rating will generally increase by 1. Typically, the target should not gain any spell of a higher spell level than half its final challenge rating; it can’t gain a 9th-level spell unless the magic weapon consumed by the spell was legendary.