Order of the Stick 859: Smoked

mach1.9pants · Jul 26, 2012

What is the spell? Holy Word I guess.

However I was waiting for:
Durkon: "HOLY"
Bad Chaps and Chapesses: "S**t!"

In 3E speak does Holy Word work on targets of higher HD than Durkon's level? And I guess that is bye bye to Sabine for 24 hours. It is a long time since 3E for me, I am dragging this out of a old brain, help a fella out!

Squire James · Jul 27, 2012

Durkon likely has the Good domain, since he has cast Holy Smite and back in 3.5e days that spell only existed in the Good domain (i.e. it wasn't in the normal Cleric list). If he does, spells with the Good descriptor gain +1 caster level. This means Holy Word will still blind characters of Hit Dice equal to the cleric's level, and this appears to be what happened to most of them. Tarquin looks deafened (meaning he's exactly one level higher than Durkon), and that condition doesn't usually affect non-casters much. Sabine, of course, is likely knocked off the Prime Material entirely and unable to return for 24 hours (she doesn't strike me as someone who can make a Will save at -4 against a high-level spell DC).

Most of the Linear Guild is stumbling around deafened and blinded in a cloud of smoke. This will make coordination of battle... difficult.

Zelligars Apprentice · Jul 27, 2012

I liked the subtle things in this one. Like Durkon's spell vocalization just being the word "Holy", and the quote marks around "Thog".

Keep 'em coming, Rich!

Allegro · Jul 28, 2012

Not to mention one of my favorite bard tricks Elan could buff Holy Word with an Inspire Greatness.

MarkB · Jul 28, 2012

Allegro said:
Not to mention one of my favorite bard tricks Elan could buff Holy Word with an Inspire Greatness.

I'm not sure how that would apply here. It would grant extra Hit Dice, but I don't think they would increase Durkon's caster level, as that's equal to the number of levels of Cleric he has, not his total hit dice.