Hand of the Grave

2nd-level necromancy

Casting Time: 10 minutes

Range: 10 feet

Components: V, S, M (hand of a humanoid)

Duration: 24 hours

When you cast this spell, you bury a humanoid hand into a patch of loose earth at least 5 feet in diameter to conceal it. The area is nearly undisturbed and requires a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC to be found.

The hand animates when a medium or smaller creature walks over the area of earth. You can further refine the trigger so the spell activates only under certain circumstances or according to physical characteristics (such as height or weight), creature kind (for example, the spell could be set to affect aberrations or drow), or alignment. You can also set conditions for creatures that don't trigger the spell, such as those who say a certain password.

When the hand animates, it attempts to grab whatever creature triggered it. That creature must succeed on a Strength saving throw or take 2d6 bludgeoning damage and become restrained as the hand grasps it with an inhumanly strong grip. The creature can use an action on its turn to make a Strength check against your spell save DC, freeing itself on a success. Once the hand has animated for 1 minute, the spell ends, and the hand returns to normal. If the creature dies while restrained, the hand pulls it underground, burying it.