Death Knell vs a Troll

[Yellow Sign]

Would the spell Death Knell kill a troll who had be knocked down into the negatives? If the troll missed his saving throw that is.

Here is the spell discription:

Death Knell
Necromancy [Death, Evil]
Level: Clr 2, Death 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Target: Living creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous/10 minutes per target HD (see text)
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes
Upon casting this spell, the character touches a living creature with -1 hit points or lower. If the subject fails its saving throw, it dies, and the character gains 1d8 temporary hit points and +2 Strength. Additionally, the character's effective caster level goes up by +1, improving spell effects dependent on caster level. (This increase in effective caster level does not grant the character access to more spells.) These effects last for 10 minutes per HD of the target creature

 

[Arcturus_Rugend]

Yup.

The troll's regeneration only works on damage and does not prevent spells that outright kill a creature.

 

[Destil]

As long as the troll's HP are negitive, and it's not mearly subdued, this should work.

 

[Ferret]

Yeah death effect.

 

[DreamChaser]

the thing to keep in mind is that normal damage done to a troll is treated as subdual damage...only acid and fire damage overcome the troll's regen. So if you got the troll to -1 using acid or fire, then yes it would work. Otherwise the troll's hp are not really that low...they are only subdued to that level.

Regeneration is a useful ability that way.

death effects still work on them though but this one's usefulness is limited.

DC

 

[AuraSeer]

Sorry, it doesn't work the way you think.

If you're not using fire and acid, you are not doing reducing the troll's hit points. Because of its regeneration ability, you're only doing subdual damage.

A standard troll starts with 63 hp. If you hit it with a sword for 8 points, it now has 63 hp and 8 points of subdual damage. If you hit it a bunch more times, and it ends up with more subdual points than hit points, it will fall unconscious. But even if you knock it out and chop it into teensy bits, it will stay at 63 hp until you do real damage (with fire or acid).

Death knell only works on creatures with -1 or fewer hit points. If you haven't used fire or acid, your troll still has its full hit points, and is not subject to the spell.

 

[Arcturus_Rugend]

I assumed Yellow Sign knew how subdual and regen. works, so yes, fire and/or acid are necessary. BUT, if you actually DO get a troll into negative HP's, yes, it works.

How's that dead horse feeling NOW, HUH? Let's give it another kick