The Bloodbound Ledger

Its origins are shrouded in mystery, with some legends claiming it was created by a cabal of ancient blood mages seeking immortality, while others believe it was written by a malevolent entity thirsting for flesh and mortal victims. It details instructions for performing blood rituals, including offerings to dark entities and bloodletting ceremonies. One section describes "a spell of archmagic power" to create a living race forever beholden to obey the whims of the magic-user that calls them into existence.

Among the text are pages that function as a spell scroll. Unlike other spell scrolls, these pages in the Bloodbound Ledger regenerate after 30 days and restore the previous cast spell scroll.

Create Homunculus
6th-level transmutation

Casting Time: 1 hour
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (clay, ash, and mandrake root, all of which the spell consumes, and a jewel-encrusted dagger worth at least 1,000 gp; note these materials are needed even though casting from a spell scroll)
Duration: Instantaneous

While speaking an intricate incantation, you cut yourself with a jewel-encrusted dagger, taking 2d4 piercing damage that can't be reduced in any way. You then drip your blood on the spell's other components and touch them, transforming them into a special construct called a homunculus.

The statistics of the homunculus are in the Monster Manual. It is your faithful companion, and it dies if you die. Whenever you finish a long rest, you can spend up to half your Hit Dice if the homunculus is on the same plane of existence as you. When you do so, roll each die and add your Constitution modifier to it. Your hit point maximum is reduced by the total, and the homunculus's hit point maximum and current hit points are both increased by it. This process can reduce you to no lower than 1 hit point. and the change to your and the homunculus's hit points ends when you finish your next long rest. The reduction to your hit point maximum can't be removed by any means before then, except by the homunculus' death.

You can have only one homunculus at a time. If you cast this spell while your homunculus lives, the spell fails.

HOMUNCULUS
Tiny construct, Neutral (source: Monster Manual)

AC: 13 (natural armor); HP: 5 (2d4); SPD: 20 ft., fly 40 ft.; STR: 4 (-3); DEX: 15 (+2); CON: 11 (+0); INT: 10 (+0); WIS: 10 (+0); CHA: 7 (-2); DMG IMMUNE: poison; COND IMMUNE: charmed, poisoned; SENSES: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10; LANG: understands the languages of its creator but can't speak; CR 0

Telepathic Bond: While the homunculus is on the same plane of existence as its master, it can magically convey what it senses to its master, and the two can communicate telepathically.

ACTIONS

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 1 piercing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is instead poisoned for 5 (1d10) minutes and unconscious while poisoned in this way.

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SPELL SCROLL RULES (DMG p. 200)

When using a spell scroll, the spell must be on a caster's class spell list to use as an action (no need to provide any spell's components). Otherwise, the scroll is unintelligible.

If the spell is on a character's class spell list but of a higher level than can normally be cast, the character must make an ability check using the usual class-related spellcasting ability (Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma) to determine whether it is cast successfully. The DC equals 10 + spell's level. On a failed check, the spell disappears from the scroll with no other effect.

REQUIRED SPELLCASTING ABILITY CHECK
* Cantrip (Common) ... DC 10
* 1st Level Spell (Common) ... DC 11
* 2nd Level Spell (Uncommon) ... DC 12
* 3rd Level Spell (Uncommon) ... DC 13
* 4th Level Spell (Rare) ... DC 14
* 5th Level Spell (Rare) ... DC 15
* 6th Level Spell (Very rare) ... DC 16
* 7th Level Spell (Very rare) ... DC 17
* 8th Level Spell (Very rare) ... DC 18
* 9th Level Spell (Legendary) ... DC 19

Once the spell is cast, the words on the scroll fade, and those pages within the book fall out as dust.