Control Dust

Cantrip
Theme(s)	Arcane Divine Occult Primal
Domain(s)

Casting Time	Standard Action (3 AP)
Range	3X meters
Component(s)	V, S
Duration	Instantaneous

Effect

You create one of the following effects:

Damage

Dust Lance: You gather fine particles from the air or ground into a condensed shard of accelerating grit and fire it at a target within range. Make a ranged spell attack; on a hit, the target takes Xd8 piercing or slashing damage. If the target wears heavy armor or has natural armor, it suffers disadvantage on the next contested Fortitude check it makes this turn.
Area Damage: If, at higher levels, you deal damage in an area or to multiple targets, each creature must make a contested Reflex check or take Xd6 bludgeoning and slicing damage from swirling micro-fragments and coarse grit, or half as much on a success.

Control

You manipulate dust and particles in a 1-meter cube within range.

Create Dust: You conjure an amount of dust or fine particulate matter equivalent to 1 cubic meter of loose dirt, ash, pollen, or sand. You may choose its consistency (dry, fine, coarse, sticky, etc.).
Coat Surface: You spread or layer dust on a surface, object, or creature. This may reveal invisible creatures, leave traceable paths, or clog mechanical devices or vents.
Suppress Dust: You cause existing dust to settle or condense harmlessly, removing it from the air or ground in a 1-meter area. This can be used to clear line of sight or prevent inhalation.

Shaping

You change or animate dust in a 1-meter cube within range. You may have up to three Shaping effects active at a time, and dismiss them as a Minor Action. Each lasts T(+2).

Dust Form: You give the dust vague structure and animation. The dust can imitate humanoid or beast forms, mimic footprints, or shift in eerie patterns. Cannot cause harm unless enhanced.
Grain Flow: You cause dust to move slowly and unnaturally, flowing upward, across surfaces, or forming spirals and waves, ignoring gravity for the duration.
Smothering Veil: You make a dust cloud cling to surfaces and creatures. The area becomes lightly obscured, and creatures within have disadvantage on scent-based or sound-based perception.
Clog and Jam: You force dust to fill gaps, cracks, or mechanisms. Non-magical mechanical objects in the area may seize or slow (GM’s discretion), and weapons or armor may suffer a temporary penalty if poorly maintained.

At Higher Levels

1st Level

Cloud: Your chosen effect instead affects a 2X-meter-radius sphere centered on a point within range. The cloud lingers for T rounds unless dispersed by wind or magical effects.
Cone: Your chosen effect instead affects a 2X-meter cone in a direction of your choice.

2nd Level

Your effects gain the following upgrades:

Lungful of Ash (Damage): Creatures damaged by your spell must succeed on a contested Fortitude check or become choked (coughing, -2 to attack rolls and checks using Strength or Dexterity) for T turns.
Magnetic Settle (Control): You can command metallic dust or rust to cling to or disassemble simple metallic mechanisms. This can jam locks, rust weapons (temporary penalties), or reveal the structure of a device.
Fine Detail (Shaping): You can shape dust into extremely detailed patterns, illusions, or inscriptions that can even mimic ink or paint, or form words, symbols, or runes in the air or on a surface.

3rd Level

Line: Your chosen effect instead affects a 4X-by-S-meter line in the direction of your choice.
Split: Your chosen effect instead affects X targets (or 1-meter-cubes) of your choice within range.

4th Level

Your effects gain the following upgrades:

Pulverize (Damage): Any creature that fails its check against your damage also has non-magical armor or gear partially degraded, reducing its effectiveness by 1 tier or increasing its weight.
Silica Sight (Control): You can cause any dust you control to glow faintly or become highly visible. Invisible or ethereal creatures interacting with or moving through this dust are revealed.
Creeping Dunes (Shaping): Your shaping effects can now move at a slow pace (1 meter per turn), flowing over terrain, climbing walls, or pushing through narrow spaces.

5th Level

Wall: Your chosen effect instead creates a 5X-meter-long, 2X-meter-high, and 1X-meter-thick wall of compacted dust, clay, or grit that functions as soft cover. It can be shaped like dunes, slopes, or irregular piles.
Burst: Your chosen effect instead affects a X-meter-radius sphere centered on a point within range.

6th Level

Any effect you cast may originate from any dusty or earthen surface within range. Additionally, your shaping effects now persist for T(+4) or until the structure is disturbed, even after you lose concentration.

7th Level

Chain: Your chosen effect instead affects X targets (or 1-meter-cubes) within range, each successive target within X meters of the previous.
Cylinder: Your chosen effect instead affects a X/2-meter-radius by 3X-meter-high cylinder from a point of your choice within range.

8th Level

You gain access to the following advanced upgrades:

Suffocating Haze (Damage): Any creature that fails a contested Fortitude check within a dusty area also begins suffocating, unable to breathe unless they spend a Major Action to escape the area.
Permanent Powder (Control): Dust you create or control becomes semi-permanent and resists magical or mundane dispersal. It may be used for traps, wards, or concealment and lasts for T(+6) or until destroyed.
Dust Constructs (Shaping): You may create solid structures from dust—bridges, walls, stairs, or even golem-like shells. These are fragile but persistent, and can carry weight or hinder movement.

9th Level

Ashen Wastes: Your chosen effect affects a landscape-wide zone of up to 20X cubic meters, turning it into a choking, gritty, swirling sandstorm or desertification field. You can shape the terrain, obscure vision, disable mechanical devices, and cause environmental damage. Living creatures within the area must make a contested Fortitude check at the end of each turn or gain one level of exhaustion from inhalation and exposure.