Mentala

Overview & Creation

Sturdy yet flexible, ancient yet so quick to grow—bamboo plants are revered through the islands for their resilience, versatility, and long life. None, however, respect bamboo’s qualities more than those who follow the tradition of mentala, which refers to the art of scribing spells onto bamboo scrolls. Practiced by a small but studious sect of wizards, mentala allows these mages to harness bamboo’s properties beyond the mundane. Like the plant itself, practitioners of mentala are versatile and strong, weathering what storms may come their way with trusty scrolls in hand.   Durability When you choose this tradition at 2nd level, the bamboo upon which you scribe your spells begins to lend its hardy nature to your magic. While you are not wearing armor, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Intelligence modifier. Additionally, you gain a bonus to any Constitution saving throw you make to maintain your concentration on a spell. This bonus equals your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).   Shared Scrolls Also at 2nd level, you learn how to scribe bamboo scrolls for your companions to use. During a long rest, you can scribe a number of scrolls up to an amount equal to your spellcasting modifier. Each scroll must contain a spell you know how to cast, though you do not need to have the spell prepared in order to scribe it. Scrolls last until they are used or destroyed, but the combined levels of all spells scribed on your current existing scrolls must be less than or equal to half your wizard level, rounded down (for the purposes of this feature, a cantrip counts as a 0th-level spell).    Expending a scroll takes the same amount of time as casting the spell normally. A creature does not need to know the spell nor be a spellcaster to use one of your bamboo scrolls. If a spell requires an attack roll, the creature uses your spell attack bonus. Likewise, if the spell requires a saving throw, the creature uses your spell save DC.    If a spell requires concentration, the creature must follow the rules for concentration as normal, but when making a saving throw to maintain concentration on a spell cast in this way, the creature has the option of using your saving throw bonus as granted by your Durability feature. Casting the spell uses the scroll. You can also destroy a scroll without casting its spell as an action. Once a scroll is used or destroyed, the bamboo crumbles to ash.   Scribe’s Malediction Starting at 6th level, you can create scrolls for your enemies as well, carving lasting curses into lengths of bamboo. As an action, choose a number of creatures equal to your Intelligence modifier that you can see. Each creature immediately takes 2d4 psychic damage and must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC. On a failure, the creature is cursed, and whenever the creature makes an attack roll or a saving throw before this curse ends, it must roll a d6 and subtract the number rolled from the attack roll or saving throw. The curse lasts for one hour. A remove curse spell or similar effect ends the curse early. Once you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you have finished a short or long rest.   Bendable Magic Through your persistent practice of scribing your bamboo scrolls, you have learned how to combine your arcane inscriptions with the plant’s natural flexibility to enhance your spells. Starting at 10th level, when you cast a spell, you can apply one of the following alterations to modify the spell’s effects. A spell can only benefit from one alteration at a time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once) and regain all uses when you finish a long rest.

• Potency: The damage dealt by the spell ignores all resistances. If a creature is immune to the type of damage dealt, the creature instead takes half damage.
• Field: The spell’s area of effect increases by 10 feet. A 5-foot cube becomes a 15-foot cube, a sphere with a 20-foot radius grows to a 30-foot radius, and so on.
• Distance: If the spell has a range of touch, the range extends to 60 feet.

• An iridescent aura of sunlight forms around you. The aura is a 10-foot radius sphere centered on you. At the start of your turn, any hostile creatures within the aura must make a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 4d8 radiant damage on a failure and half as much on a success.
• You move like the sea breeze. Your movement speed is doubled, and you gain a flying speed of 30 feet.
• The world’s life-giving energy flows through your veins. When a creature you can see within 30 feet of you is reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to heal them. The creature immediately regains a number of hit points equal to your wizard level.