Will-o'-wisps

Stub-class article · First seen: s19 · Last seen: s19
Will-o'-wisps
Will-o'-wisp · Will-o'-wisp (Session 19) · motes of light
Portrait of Will-o'-wisps.
Character
StatusDefeated
First seens19
Last seens19

The will-o’-wisps are the “motes of light” that ambushed the party’s hilltop camp alongside Pixie Wonderbringer on the last watch of session 19 [12]. They hung invisible until they attacked, shocked for between 8 and 27 lightning, and shrugged off most of Caelumn’s spells, driving him down to 3 hit points without downing anyone [2][42][25][26][23]. When the pixie died the wisp beside Caelumn split in two, and the DM would not say why [43]; he voiced one wisp as “Tarion” [4]. By the end of the session every wisp had been killed or driven off [8][19][41][20].

Overview

The will-o’-wisps of session 19 are the “motes of light” (also “orbs of light”) that ambushed the party’s hilltop camp alongside Pixie Wonderbringer on the last watch [12][13]. The encounter began as a creeping menace on Caelumn’s watch: his bonfire kept dying the instant he relit it, “the edge of the light slowly being pushed towards the center of the bonfire before it extinguishes” [14]. He woke the camp, and two motes of light and the pixie resolved out of the dark [15]. The DM voiced one wisp as “Tarion” [4]; it is not a confirmed name.

Appearance and demeanour

Small floating lights, orbs or “motes of light”, that duck in and out of invisibility and give off a low hum when close [12][16][17]. Caelumn felt “something cold” as his fire died [18]. When one is killed it goes off in a “sparkly bomb” or a “puff of glitter” and leaves the killer covered in glitter [8][19][20]. For most of the fight they went for Caelumn [21][22][23].

Abilities as played

What the party saw, not a published stat block. A wisp hangs invisible, pops out to shock for 8 to 27 lightning, and vanishes again [2][24][25][26]. One shocked Caelumn “even with shield” [27], and the DM said they “have permanent advantage” [28]. Invisible is not hidden: Father Thomas pointed out that unless a creature takes the Hide action the party still knows where it is, and the DM agreed ([7]; DM ruling 79), so Terry could swing at one while it was invisible and kill it [9]. Most of Caelumn’s spells were resisted or ineffective: his Chromatic Orbs did little, Magic Missile was not enough, and lightning from Witch Bolt did nothing at all [29][30][31][32]. A Command to flee made one fail a Wisdom save on a 6, dash away and turn invisible [33].

Relationships

  • Pixie Wonderbringer: the winged fey that led the ambush; the wisp beside Caelumn split in two at her death [5].
  • Caelumn: the wisps’ favourite target, to 3 hit points [23].
  • Hugo: killed two of them from the air [8][20].
  • Terry: turned a natural 20 with Silvery Barbs and killed one while it was invisible [34][9].
  • Father Thomas: sent one running with Command and kept the party on its feet with Twilight Sanctuary [35][36].

Disposition towards the party

Hostile. They came with the pixie and fought until the last was destroyed [37][20].

Notable quotes

“The edge of the light slowly being pushed towards the center of the bonfire before it extinguishes.” — Nick (DM), [14]

“Tarion is going to try and shock you as it comes out of invisibility.” — Nick (DM), [4]

“At the end of your turn, you see the one next to you split into two.” — Nick (DM), [38]

“But these guys have permanent advantage. That’s why they’re so strong.” — Nick (DM), [28]

“Rookie mistake.” — Nick (DM), [39]

History in the campaign

Session 19: A Penitent Priest, an Unmade Leash, and the Pixie in the Dark

Main article: Session 19

Caelumn’s bonfire kept dying on the last watch, until two motes of light and the pixie resolved out of the dark and the fight began [1]. The wisps ducked in and out of invisibility to shock whoever was nearest, Caelumn above all [2][24][40]. When Caelumn’s Chromatic Orb dissolved the pixie, the wisp beside him split into two, and the DM would not say why [5]. A natural 20 for 27 lightning was turned by Terry’s Silvery Barbs, and Caelumn dropped to 3 hit points but never fell [34][23]. Hugo chopped one in half from the air and destroyed the last; Terry killed one while it was invisible; Father Thomas’s Command sent another running [8][9][36][20].

Status

As of session 23. Defeated: by the end of session 19 every wisp had been killed or driven off, three cut down (Hugo twice, Terry once) and one sent fleeing by Father Thomas’s Command [8][19][41][20]. The exact count is uncertain because of the split; none has been seen since.

See also

References

  1. ^ Session 19, line 1202-1217: On Caelumn's watch the bonfire is repeatedly snuffed; "two motes of light" and the pixie resolve out of the dark.
  2. ^ Session 19, line 1289-1297: A wisp pops out of invisibility, hits Caelumn for 15 lightning, then vanishes again.
  3. ^ Session 19, line 1383-1438: Repeated 12 to 15 lightning shocks (Hugo, Caelumn); one hits Caelumn "even with shield".
  4. ^ Session 19, line 1564: One wisp is voiced as "Tarion" ("Tarion is going to try and shock you as it comes out of invisibility").
  5. ^ Session 19, line 1583-1591: The pixie dies; the wisp beside Caelumn "split into two" and the DM waves off the question.
  6. ^ Session 19, line 1607-1633: A wisp rolls a natural 20 on Caelumn (27 lightning); Terry's Silvery Barbs forces the reroll; "permanent advantage".
  7. ^ Session 19, line 1640-1644: Father Thomas: invisible is not hidden unless a creature takes the Hide action; the DM agrees.
  8. ^ Session 19, line 1671: Hugo flies on his Winged Boots and chops a wisp in half; it disappears in a sparkly bomb.
  9. ^ Session 19, line 1728-1735: Terry kills a wisp while it is invisible.
  10. ^ Session 19, line 1749-1775: Caelumn's Witch Bolt does nothing; Father Thomas's Command makes a wisp flee.
  11. ^ Session 19, line 1810-1813: Hugo destroys the last wisp; combat and the session end.
  12. ^ Session 19, line 1215: Inline citation.
  13. ^ Session 19, line 1420: Inline citation.
  14. ^ Session 19, line 1202: Inline citation.
  15. ^ Session 19, line 1208-1217: Inline citation.
  16. ^ Session 19, line 1289: Inline citation.
  17. ^ Session 19, line 1665: Inline citation.
  18. ^ Session 19, line 1209: Inline citation.
  19. ^ Session 19, line 1735: Inline citation.
  20. ^ Session 19, line 1813: Inline citation.
  21. ^ Session 19, line 1436: Inline citation.
  22. ^ Session 19, line 1603: Inline citation.
  23. ^ Session 19, line 1712: Inline citation.
  24. ^ Session 19, line 1383-1387: Inline citation.
  25. ^ Session 19, line 1612: Inline citation.
  26. ^ Session 19, line 1627: Inline citation.
  27. ^ Session 19, line 1437: Inline citation.
  28. ^ Session 19, line 1633: Inline citation.
  29. ^ Session 19, line 1279: Inline citation.
  30. ^ Session 19, line 1414: Inline citation.
  31. ^ Session 19, line 1700-1701: Inline citation.
  32. ^ Session 19, line 1756: Inline citation.
  33. ^ Session 19, line 1766-1775: Inline citation.
  34. ^ Session 19, line 1607-1622: Inline citation.
  35. ^ Session 19, line 1423-1435: Inline citation.
  36. ^ Session 19, line 1764-1775: Inline citation.
  37. ^ Session 19, line 1215-1217: Inline citation.
  38. ^ Session 19, line 1587: Inline citation.
  39. ^ Session 19, line 1763: Inline citation.
  40. ^ Session 19, line 1436-1438: Inline citation.
  41. ^ Session 19, line 1772-1775: Inline citation.
  42. ^ Session 19, line 1438: Inline citation.
  43. ^ Session 19, line 1587-1591: Inline citation.
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