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The Ratatosk: Spells of the Squirrel-Folk

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The Ratatosk: Spells of the Squirrel-Folk

“Though they may not look it upon first glance, the ratatosk count clever and skillful spellcasters among their number. How could they not, living as they do in boughs of the World Tree? Still, as talented as their mages are, I must confess that the squirrel-folk treat their spellcasting with the same level of flippancy as they do with all other aspects of life. Living among them is to be subjected to spell-caused pranks and jokes on a daily basis.” (Lucano Volpe)

For the squirrel-folk, spells are spells. They do not bother limiting them to one class or another. The following spells are special to the ratatosk, and they only share them with those they trust, but anyone can learn from the squirrel-folk. Spellcasters who learn a ratatosk spell must meet any level requirement. A ratatosk spell chosen by a spellcaster is considered to be a spell of the spellcaster’s class.

Conjure Acorns

1st-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S
Duration: Instantaneous

You create 1 pound of acorns on the ground or in a container within range. The acorns spoil if uneaten after 24 hours. 

Glide

Transmutation cantrip
Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you or a creature within 60 feet of you falls
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, M (an unbroken leaf)
Duration: 1 minute

Choose 1 falling creature within range. A falling creature can move 5 feet horizontally for every 10 feet it falls vertically, up to a maximum distance equal to their normal speed.

Gnawing Leap

1st-Level evocation
Casting Time: 1 bonus action
Range: Self
Components: S, M (the teeth in your mouth)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You surround yourself with spectral gnashing teeth and leap through the air up to half your normal speed. Your leap does not provoke opportunity attacks, and you must land within 5 feet of a target. Upon landing, you can make a single melee attack against that target. On a hit, the target suffers your weapon’s normal effects, and the attack deals an extra 1d6 piercing damage from the spectral teeth. 

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the leap distance increases by 5 feet, and the extra damage dealt by the attack increases by 1d6 for each slot above 1st. 

Host of Diminutive Humans

3rd-level conjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S, M (a stick figure of a human)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

While in a settlement, you call a host of Tiny human-looking creatures to emerge from buildings, alleys, or sewers at a point you can see within range. The humans form into a swarm that uses the statistics of a swarm of poisonous snakes, except it has a speed of 40 feet and no swim speed. The host of humans is friendly to you and your companions. Roll initiative for the host, which has its own turns. The host of humans obeys your verbal commands (no action required by you). If you don’t issue any commands to the host, it defends itself from hostile creatures but otherwise takes no actions. If you command it to move further than 60 feet from you, or when the spell ends, the host disperses back into the settlement.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the host’s poison damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.

VOLPE’S NOTE. The ratatosk were less than pleased to learn of the legion of rabid squirrels spell, formulated I believe by the mages of Bemmea. This was their, admittedly petulant, response.

Quivering Tail

2nd-level divination
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (a tuft of squirrel fur)
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

You touch a willing creature and bestow the ratatosk’s innate twitchy senses. For the duration, the target can’t be surprised. This spell immediately ends after the first time it is used to negate surprise. 

Spear of Yggdrasil

2rd-level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V, S 
Duration: Instantaneous

You call upon Yggdrasil’s might, and a thick tree root bursts from the ground beneath a creature of your choice that you can see within range. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 4d6 piercing damage and is restrained by being impaled on the root. A successful save deals half the damage and the target is not restrained.

An impaled creature can use an action to remove itself (or a creature it can reach) from the root, ending the restrained condition.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, you create an additional root that can strike another creature within 30 feet of the initial target, and the damage from each root increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 2nd.

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<<PREVIOUSLY

Pay heed explorers! Next time we will examine the various factions of the ratatosk and learn how you might face them, or perhaps join them!

Until then, my friends, stay squirrely. 

The post The Ratatosk: Spells of the Squirrel-Folk appeared first on Kobold Press.


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