Re: The Siren's Trap


[OOC: What's with these rolls?
So, I am fairly certain that the way skills work in combat is that for the most part they are done with an action. There are several instances, where something has the special ability to make a perception check as a bonus action or a legendary action. This implies that perception is otherwise passive. In other words, I think that skills happen as part of other actions (such as your grapple) or as reactions. Anyway, on with the action.]
You enter the alley (5'), the pair are about 15' away. You grab homeboy by the arm (because of the crit*) and successfully pull him back. It appears to interrupt his incanting*. He still manages to hold on to the whore, who is also pulled back, and loses her footing, lands hard on her rump, and is dragged on her back a couple feet. It is officially a sh!t-show in the alley.
His turn (I am giving you a heads up that I am going to modify death rules, because of massive damage... so that you won't die, die... I promise that I didn't expect to kill you.):
He lets go of the woman, raises his hand and casts a spell. You see a simple and crude, but intentionally placed symbol on the flesh of his upturned palm, which seems to darken as he finishes the spell (it sounds like the same one as before) and he swipes his hand at you.
Att: 18
Dam: 24
Fergan feels a pulse of cold pain wash over his body (have you ever felt morphine?). He numbly feels the dull thud of cobblestone on the back of his head. The last thing he remembers is a piercing scream from the woman and running footsteps, though it is difficult to place them as hers, his, both, or others.
OK, option time. You can choose to die, or come back with a minor curse. I will collaborate with you to determine what it is. The intent is to make it minorly detrimental, obvious in certain situations, and possibly beneficial. It can be complicated, or simple, like a -1 to a stat. But it should be about on par with that. It can also be rectified (by like lesser restoration or whatever the lower level spell of that type is).
I also want you to come up with what the marking on his hand looks like. I want it to look crude but specific. At your option, it could be tattoo, a scar, or a brand. The fact that I am having you come up with it is not some metaphysical, plot related thing, but I like to outsource world-building so you are more invested.
By the way, I misspoke before when I said there is no way you would be able to identify the spell, it is Inflict Wounds. I don't think it would have changed what you did and I am not sure there is a defined way to identify spells. I like the idea that every caster has their own way of casting spells. At most I think I would have given you that it was divine in addition to necromancy.
Also, remind me if you are the same persona (Ferlo, which I did pick up, btw) as before in the bar. I think so, based on the vernacular, but just want to make sure.
*Because of the critical, you got to tie up an arm, even though grapples don't normally do that, also, he lost a slot, not roll for concentration, he just lost it. He is cast with a new slot on his turn. As a result of letting the girl go, she was able to run away on her turn, which she rolled to be after his (initiative 3). So, that's a win :-/