V comes up with a way to protect the Mechane from the frost giant clerics, but forgets to protect themselves.
Cast[]
- Haley Starshine ◀ ▶
- Vaarsuvius ◀ ▶
- Blackwing ◀ ▶
- The Crew of the Mechane
- The Clan of Frost Giants
Transcript[]
- Panel 1
On board the Mechane
Andi: We're being abandoned!
Bandana: What is it now?
Andi: Your precious adventurers are leaving us behind!
- Panel 2
The Mechane continues to be hit with boulders, "THUNK! THUNK!"
Andi: The elf just zoomed out of view, and your best friend Haley is nowhere to be seen.
Andi: They were the only thing keeping us from getting crushed!
- Panel 3
Bandana: Calm down, I"m sure they know what they're doing.
Andi: What they're doing is getting us all killed, so I hope you're wrong!
- Panel 4
Cut to Vaarsuvius and Blackwing
Blackwing: V, you need to dispel that Invisibility Purge so that Haley can—
Vaarsuvius: No, that would be an inefficient effort; the spell I cast on her is due to expire soon and I have no another.
- Panel 5
Vaarsuvius: I will pursue a strategy with the potential for a greater direct impact.
Vaarsuvius: Mass Suggestion!
- Panel 6
Vaarsuvius: Attention, frost giants:
Vaarsuvius: There is no need for conflict. I suggest you let our vessel pass without taking hostile action against it or those aboard.
- Panel 7
Three of the four giants are charmed.
Giantess with Bow-and-arrow: That seems reasonable, actually.
Giant with Axe: Yeah, what do I care about one airship?
Giant with Tattoo: What? No, you weak-minded fools!!
Giant with Tattoo: Obey Lord Thrym's commands or you will swelter in the Eternal Pit of Mild Spring Temperatures!
Giantess: I'll be honest, I've always thought that sounded lovely.
- Panel 8
Blackwing: That was amazing! You took three giants out of the fight with one spell!
Vaarsuvius: I admit, I did not expect such a high rate of success. But we must not underestimate the remaining cleric.
- Panel 9
Haley: Ugh, my head...
Haley: Hey V, great gob on the—
- Panel 10
The giant with the axe smites Haley again, "WHAM!"
- Panel 11
Vaarsuvius and Blackwing evade a Giant arrow.
Vaarsuvius: ...I now recognize a narrow but significant loophole in my Suggestion phrasing.
Blackwing: I'm continually amazed at how often we get screwed by you not be pedantic enough.
D&D Context[]
- Mass Suggestion is a 6th level spell which allows the caster to suggest a course of action for up to one creature per level (V is level 16). The suggestion must sound reasonable to the subject.
- Suggestion can be negated by a Will saving throw, which is based on character's Wisdom modifier. Wisdom is the key ability score for clerics, so it's most likely for a higher level cleric to make a saving throw and the oldest is most likely to be highest level.
- Since Vaarsuvius only suggested that the Giants do not attack the Mechane, they are still free to attack Haley and him/herself.
Trivia[]
- The Giant With The Tattoo calls the other giants 'weak-minded fools!' for allowing themselves to fall for Mass Suggestion. The line is a famous quote by Jabba the Hutt from Return of the Jedi to one of his minions for falling for Luke Skywalker's Jedi mind trick.