Elan’s also used Song of Freedom before, IIRC to free Belkar from the Draketooth fantasy illusion.
And there’s a spell called Statue that turns you into living stone, but you can’t move while it’s in effect.
Speaking personally, I’d expect the Exarch to fall for his own trap. After the way he bragged on how certain Hel’s victory is, if his plan gts upset he’s likely to lash out.
(I checked; Flesh to Stone can affect undead, provided they are “made out of flesh” thus not incorporeal. I would also rule skeletons are immune.)
Besides that, he has Greater Dispel Magic with which to depetrify someone. In fact, he had that at the time Haley was petrified, so could have easily restored her in one round. Song of Freedom takes a full minute to have an effect.
Greater Dispel Magic won’t work on petrification, because petrification is an instantaneous effect: Once the spell is done, there’s no magic to dispel, just a mundane statue.
I don’t think it can. Flesh to Stone is an instantaneous effect; once it happens, there’s no magic to Dispel. You’d have to use Break Enchantment which explicitly states that it works on that kind of effect. Bards get Break Enchantment but Elan didn’t pick it. Song of Freedom does the same effect though, just takes longer to activate.
Oh, I thought it was a continuing magic effect. My bad.
Actually, the regular Break Enchantment spell takes a minute, too. Which makes one wonder why any bard would ever take it, instead of just using Song of Freedom: By that point, you’re basically never going to run out of daily uses of your bardic music.
A thought still on the previous comic:
“First proposal: Shall dwarven law be amended to prohibit the existence of vampires?”
He says that his thralls are now in the majority “in there” but that doesn’t mean that all the elders have arrived. Maybe it’ll be a question of the Order defeating the, uh, infernal worm?, and allowing some late arrivals to tip the balance back to not destroying the world.
The worm looks like it may be a straight-up monster fight, of which I approve. Especially since most of them will be shut out of the chamber.
What does Gatespender mean?
And what do the dwarven runes above the orange barrier say?
According to someone on the other boards,
“ONLY DWARVES MAY PASS”
Yeah, what is that thing? Some sort of naga, maybe even an Epic Ha-Naga? Doesn’t look like the Pit Fiends or Balors you expect to come through a Gate, but then again a major God should be able to put some extra sauce on that summon.
Honestly, a lot of me just wants this side plot over and done with as soon as possible, so we can get back to the world-building, Snarl, quiddities, and trying to win over RedCloak. Does anyone really think the Exarch has a chance of winning? (Though what a way to wrap up the book, a la Infinity War, if he did).
If Durkon can bust open the roof of the chamber, and the roof of the Hall with his Uber-charged Hammer of Thunderbolts, and/or Bloodfeast, so much the better.
Nightcrawler seems to be the consensus on the other boards.
As far as the other parts of the plot go, just sit back and relax and enjoy what’s happening now. It’ll get to the other stuff in due time. I know it’s hard because I have the same tendencies, but I’ve learned to not worry about it.
Looks unpleasant. I thought they were supposed to be jet black, but close enough I guess. And fits with the colors Hel’s been using. Finger of Death at DC 21 looks spicy if it knows to target V. As does Spell Resistance 31 and DR 15 silver and magic.
I’m guessing everyone except Roy and maybe Durkon need to stand back and try not to die. At least until someone puts some daylight on the thing.
I’m taking your advice about just going with the flow.
That thing looks big, but hardly “100 ft, swallow Huge creatures whole” big… Compare the comic’s representation of a (smaller) Purple Worm (which is drawn with the stinger both it and the Nightcrawler are supposed to have)
Yeah, well, the Order is going to wipe the floor with these guys.
How do I know that? Dramatic structure. We’ve seen everything the bad guys have up their sleeves, which means now the good guys are (finally!) going to be the ones with the surprises.
On #1157…
“Within the boundaries of the blue barrier, anyone violating dwarven law is instantly turned to stone until the meeting is formally adjourned.”
I’m hesitant to make any guesses, but … any dwarven law?
Wouldn’t it be a kick if being a vampire were already against dwarven law - say, on the basis of the vampire holding the body, and the spirit, of an existing dwarf in confinement. Or something like that.
Maybe it’s a baby nightcrawler, hasn’t reached its full growth yet. Or perhaps the other board is wrong about what it is.
As far as surprises go, Durkon knows what Gontula’s plans are in general, but this worm will be a surprise to the Order. Durkula obviously didn’t know about Gontar’s scrolls, or he would have used them himself. One wonders what other scrolls he has, but whatever they are, they’ll be a surprise too. After all, you can’t make things too easy for the protagonists; they need to be challenged. Also they need more XP to level up.