Nurse Hollow

[Thaumaturgy] [Life]
Level: [Nature 8]

Components: [S], [V], and [F]
Casting Time: 1 Standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft. per 2 CL) @{close_range} ft.
Effect: 1 hollow trunk protecting up to 2 willing creatures in the same or adjacent squares
Duration: 1 minute per CL or until depleted; see text @{cl} minutes or until depleted
Saving Throw: Will; harmless
Spell Resistance: No

Focus: At least a +4 focus.

A broad trunk grows around the spaces occupied by up to two willing creatures within range. Its bark is thick and knotted, and its hollow interior is lined with soft moss and pale, luminous sap. Choose the creatures when casting the spell; they must occupy the same or adjacent squares. An unconscious creature can be protected without taking an action.

The trunk remains open until either selected creature has 10 HP or fewer. It then closes around both selected creatures, granting them full cover against outside attacks and effects. If either creature already has 10 HP or fewer when the spell is cast, the trunk closes immediately. Otherwise, it closes automatically after the damage or effect that reduces either creature to 10 HP or fewer has resolved. This requires no action from the caster or the protected creatures and does not reverse death or damage already suffered.

The protected creatures can make ranged weapon attacks and cast spells out of the hollow without any penalty from its cover. The bark parts for their attacks and spell effects, then seals again. This does not grant outside creatures an opening to attack through or remove the occupants' full cover.

Healing: The hollow has a shared healing pool of 18 HP per CL. Starting at the beginning of the caster's next turn after the trunk closes, it can restore a total of 6 HP per CL each round. With one occupant, that creature receives the entire amount. With two occupants, each receives half; healing that one creature cannot use is offered to the other. Only HP actually restored is deducted from the pool. This healing cannot exceed a creature's maximum HP and does not remove afflictions or other ongoing effects.

One creature can therefore receive up to 18 HP per CL over three rounds, or two creatures can each receive up to 9 HP per CL over the same time. A creature that cannot receive healing receives none, and the unused healing remains available to the other occupant or in the pool.

Protection: The trunk has 20 HP per CL and Shatter Resistance equal to CL. Its HP and healing pool are separate; damage to the trunk does not expend its healing pool, and the pool does not repair the trunk. Shatter Resistance applies normally, including entropic damage bypassing it. At 0 HP, the trunk breaks apart and the spell ends. Destroying it does not itself deal damage to its occupants.

If either selected creature leaves the square it occupied when the spell was cast, voluntarily or through forced movement, the entire spell ends. It also ends when its duration expires or its healing pool is exhausted. When the spell ends, the trunk crumbles into moss and fallen bark, leaving its occupants in their squares.

VTT Macro Description:
@{character_name} grows a Nurse Hollow around up to 2 willing creatures in the same or adjacent squares within close range. It closes automatically when either creature has 10 HP or fewer, after the triggering effect resolves, granting both full cover. Occupants can make ranged weapon attacks and cast spells outward without any cover penalty. The trunk has [[20*@{cl}]] HP, [[@{cl}]] Shatter Resistance, and a shared pool of [[18*@{cl}]] healing. Starting on the caster's next turn after closing, it restores up to [[6*@{cl}]] HP each round, shared equally between occupants; unused healing is offered to the other. Only HP restored expends the pool. The entire spell ends if either creature leaves its original square, the trunk is destroyed, the pool is exhausted, or [[@{cl}]] minutes pass.