So as I read through DotMM I came upon room 27 in the Obstacle Course. In it there is a section that says "The first time a creature crosses from one side of the pit to the other, the rune disappears and imprints itself as a death mark on a visible portion of the creature’s face or body. The mark disappears when its bearer dies or when the vampire is destroyed. Only a wish spell or a deity can remove a death mark otherwise."
It continues "A geas spell cast by Halaster compels Zorak to hunt down and destroy the creature bearing the death mark, singling out that target above all others. Zorak knows the exact location of the marked creature while the two of them are on the same plane of existence. Slaying the bearer of the death mark frees Zorak from Halaster’s geas spell..." Zorak Lightdrinker is a full vampire wielding a Dwarven thrower. In the sunless underdark he is a pretty tough enemy.
So, here is the question: if the party is making use of a familiar and the familiar is flying ahead of them, would the mark target it? And if so, would the effect persist when the familiar is respawned by a new casting? I kind of like the idea of the vampire being freed and then re-geased every time it kills the familiar and it gets increasingly angry and frustrated, but it seems counter to the trap's intent.
Personally, if the familiar is something they have been using throughout the made until now, I would have the mage alter the trigger for his traps.
I would be hesitant to have the familiar trigger the trap though as it does seem opposed to the traps intent and the mage, being a wizard, would have accounted for familiars and other summons.
When the geas wear off after the target is killed, I would not have the vampire become re-enchanted unless the mage recasts geas himself.
Hey, I also posted this on Reddit:
So as I read through DotMM I came upon room 27 in the Obstacle Course. In it there is a section that says "The first time a creature crosses from one side of the pit to the other, the rune disappears and imprints itself as a death mark on a visible portion of the creature’s face or body. The mark disappears when its bearer dies or when the vampire is destroyed. Only a wish spell or a deity can remove a death mark otherwise."
It continues
"A geas spell cast by Halaster compels Zorak to hunt down and destroy the creature bearing the death mark, singling out that target above all others. Zorak knows the exact location of the marked creature while the two of them are on the same plane of existence. Slaying the bearer of the death mark frees Zorak from Halaster’s geas spell..."
Zorak Lightdrinker is a full vampire wielding a Dwarven thrower. In the sunless underdark he is a pretty tough enemy.
So, here is the question: if the party is making use of a familiar and the familiar is flying ahead of them, would the mark target it? And if so, would the effect persist when the familiar is respawned by a new casting? I kind of like the idea of the vampire being freed and then re-geased every time it kills the familiar and it gets increasingly angry and frustrated, but it seems counter to the trap's intent.
What say you?
Personally, if the familiar is something they have been using throughout the made until now, I would have the mage alter the trigger for his traps.
I would be hesitant to have the familiar trigger the trap though as it does seem opposed to the traps intent and the mage, being a wizard, would have accounted for familiars and other summons.
When the geas wear off after the target is killed, I would not have the vampire become re-enchanted unless the mage recasts geas himself.
Seems reasonable.