having had to deal with several people with severe tds for the past six(!) years has been quite the learning experience. all one has to do is speak the word trump in any context and they fly into a bulging-eyed, spittle-flecked tirade that starts with anything and everything wrong in the world is trump's fault, and ends with them wishing for his demise. it's super creepy to watch.
it's a one word 9th level "rage" spell that offers no saving throw. and anyone, from the lowliest of street urchins on up to the high priestess at the temple, can cast it at will. but it only works if the spell's target has contracted tds.
fast forward to "joe biden's" election. to keep the d&d theme going (hat tip to anon below), the intellectual paladins sallied forth and slayed the orange dragon. upon realizing they had a record setting army of people suffering from tds, lined up behind them and obsessed with fighting the orange dragon that had already been vanquished, the intellectual paladins found themselves in a quandary.
and thus, a rider was sent to the sages, asking for a different spell that would keep the new army loyal, yet committed to a different cause.
the sages huddled. then they consulted the mages. eventually, an agreement between the ruling intellectuals came to fruition. and so a rider dispatched to deliver the new spell to the paladins camp.
the rider made it safely to the intellectual paladins camp. when the head paladin broke the wax seal on the scroll, none present knew what to expect.
it turned out that their prayers had been answered. the huddled sages and consulted mages had indeed come up with a new spell.
the head paladin announced to the masses that there was a new dragon to slay, almost on par with the orange one, and thusly to be similarly opposed.
however, back in the tents of the sages and mages that travelled with the army, there was some concern.
the new spell was only 4th level. the loyal tds sufferers now get to roll a saving throw, though admittedly the -5 that got tacked on to the roll by one of the sages committee leaders made it palatable to the hardliners. and as for those that hadn't succumbed to tds and were there for other reasons? they get a +5 on their saving throw.
the intellectual paladins, the very ones that had slain the orange dragon, convened in a council. after deliberations, they decided to cast the new spell. there were risks, yes. some of the army might make their save, and therefore the army would be weakened.
the risks and benefits had been weighed by the experts. the head paladin donned his most formal attire. he approached the podium, preparing to cast the new spell.
his lips parted.
"anti-vaxxers" were the words the paladin spoke. arguments broke out, is it one word? two words? a compound word? this would take several months for the experts to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
immediately, however, the orange dragon, while still the most evil dragon ever, was superseded by by this new threat. everyone rolled their 20-sider.
a few made their saving throws, despite the -5. likewise, some of the orange dragon's army failed despite their +5 advantage.
and so, the forces in the field became devoted to a new quest. because honor, and glory.
Re: Sam Harris
it's a one word 9th level "rage" spell that offers no saving throw. and anyone, from the lowliest of street urchins on up to the high priestess at the temple, can cast it at will. but it only works if the spell's target has contracted tds.
fast forward to "joe biden's" election. to keep the d&d theme going (hat tip to anon below), the intellectual paladins sallied forth and slayed the orange dragon. upon realizing they had a record setting army of people suffering from tds, lined up behind them and obsessed with fighting the orange dragon that had already been vanquished, the intellectual paladins found themselves in a quandary.
and thus, a rider was sent to the sages, asking for a different spell that would keep the new army loyal, yet committed to a different cause.
the sages huddled. then they consulted the mages. eventually, an agreement between the ruling intellectuals came to fruition. and so a rider dispatched to deliver the new spell to the paladins camp.
the rider made it safely to the intellectual paladins camp. when the head paladin broke the wax seal on the scroll, none present knew what to expect.
it turned out that their prayers had been answered. the huddled sages and consulted mages had indeed come up with a new spell.
the head paladin announced to the masses that there was a new dragon to slay, almost on par with the orange one, and thusly to be similarly opposed.
however, back in the tents of the sages and mages that travelled with the army, there was some concern.
the new spell was only 4th level. the loyal tds sufferers now get to roll a saving throw, though admittedly the -5 that got tacked on to the roll by one of the sages committee leaders made it palatable to the hardliners. and as for those that hadn't succumbed to tds and were there for other reasons? they get a +5 on their saving throw.
the intellectual paladins, the very ones that had slain the orange dragon, convened in a council. after deliberations, they decided to cast the new spell. there were risks, yes. some of the army might make their save, and therefore the army would be weakened.
the risks and benefits had been weighed by the experts. the head paladin donned his most formal attire. he approached the podium, preparing to cast the new spell.
his lips parted.
"anti-vaxxers" were the words the paladin spoke. arguments broke out, is it one word? two words? a compound word? this would take several months for the experts to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
immediately, however, the orange dragon, while still the most evil dragon ever, was superseded by by this new threat. everyone rolled their 20-sider.
a few made their saving throws, despite the -5. likewise, some of the orange dragon's army failed despite their +5 advantage.
and so, the forces in the field became devoted to a new quest. because honor, and glory.