Dim Hopes

3rd level - Elemental (shadow) or Spiritual (umbramancy)

Casting Time: bonus action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You can imbue a weapon with your own dark essence; in this pure form, your blows become sharp enough to inflict pain and fear upon a wide variety of beings and spectre-like entities.

When attacking a creature that is Frightened, your essence takes on a terrifying form. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 4d6 psychic damage and must flee as best they can for the duration of the spell; or, if there is nowhere to flee, they must use their next action to throw themselves to the ground, becoming Prone. The target may make a new saving throw to end the effect at the start of each of their turns for the duration of the spell.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using mana points equivalent to a 2nd-level spell or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each spell level above 1st level. If you use mana points equivalent to a 5th-level spell or higher, the target creature is paralysed for the duration.