So after killing an Orc, my PCs cast Speak with Dead on it's removed the head and used various methods to intimidate it once they had cast the spell to get more truthful answers out of a hostile creature. Based on this part of the spell (Speak with Dead) description: "Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events." I decided that the various methods of intimidation had no effect, and they got random cryptic answers.
I’d give them a chance to intimidate it, their intimidation rolls against its insight from when it was alive and if they do a great job role playing maybe give them a +1 on their roll. Let the dice fall where they may, especially since the answers will be cryptic anyway.
By the line "the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy" my personal thought is that intimidating the corpse may have a negative effect by RAW.
But, I'd allow it at my table. Because the rule of cool is the best rule.
Intimidation against something already dead is a tricky thing. There's nothing they can use to intimidate the creature in the normal sense. Physical harm, mental anguish, even compelling them by emotion is rather pointless. However, to threaten their afterlife is something that may inspire them to divulge information that they might feel like withholding. Gruumsh is, in most lore, their diety, and as such there may be something there to use against the dead Orc.
The form of intimidation they choose to use is important as to whether it works. As was pointed out, the creature has no compulsion to be truthful, and if it's threatened in a manner that seems hostile the creature may shut down. Threatening it's status in the eyes of Gruumsh may play out better. So, yea, I'd allow intimidation, but it would have to be well played out otherwise it wouldn't have much success.
Based on the circumstances in which the Orc head belonged to an Eye of Gruumsh Orc priest who they then attempted to intimidate by saying they had cut Gruumsh head off, I think this would have just increased the hostility of the Orc. They didn't plan it out well. I think they were relying on the Bards +8 Intimidation.
I'll have to remind them that Intimidation does not necessarily mean things just roll over for them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So after killing an Orc, my PCs cast Speak with Dead on it's removed the head and used various methods to intimidate it once they had cast the spell to get more truthful answers out of a hostile creature. Based on this part of the spell (Speak with Dead) description: "Thus, the corpse can't learn new information, doesn't comprehend anything that has happened since it died, and can't speculate about future events." I decided that the various methods of intimidation had no effect, and they got random cryptic answers.
Does this sound right?
I’d give them a chance to intimidate it, their intimidation rolls against its insight from when it was alive and if they do a great job role playing maybe give them a +1 on their roll. Let the dice fall where they may, especially since the answers will be cryptic anyway.
Professional computer geek
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
AlumniBy the line "the corpse is under no compulsion to offer a truthful answer if you are hostile to it or it recognizes you as an enemy" my personal thought is that intimidating the corpse may have a negative effect by RAW.
But, I'd allow it at my table. Because the rule of cool is the best rule.
[ Site Rules & Guidelines ] - [ Homebrew Rules ] - [ D&D Beyond FAQ ] - [ Homebrew FAQ ] - [ Homebrew Video Tutorials ]
Standard "free" content is restricted to the D&D 5th Edition Basic Rules, SRD, and other free content.
Intimidation against something already dead is a tricky thing. There's nothing they can use to intimidate the creature in the normal sense. Physical harm, mental anguish, even compelling them by emotion is rather pointless. However, to threaten their afterlife is something that may inspire them to divulge information that they might feel like withholding. Gruumsh is, in most lore, their diety, and as such there may be something there to use against the dead Orc.
The form of intimidation they choose to use is important as to whether it works. As was pointed out, the creature has no compulsion to be truthful, and if it's threatened in a manner that seems hostile the creature may shut down. Threatening it's status in the eyes of Gruumsh may play out better. So, yea, I'd allow intimidation, but it would have to be well played out otherwise it wouldn't have much success.
Thanks, everyone for the feedback.
Based on the circumstances in which the Orc head belonged to an Eye of Gruumsh Orc priest who they then attempted to intimidate by saying they had cut Gruumsh head off, I think this would have just increased the hostility of the Orc. They didn't plan it out well. I think they were relying on the Bards +8 Intimidation.
I'll have to remind them that Intimidation does not necessarily mean things just roll over for them.