Shriek (Su) Instead of biting, a vargouille can open its distended mouth to shriek. Those within 60 feet (except other vargouilles) who hear the shriek and can clearly see the creature must succeed on a DC 12 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 2d4 rounds or until the monster attacks them, goes out of range, or leaves their sight. A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same vargouille's shriek for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.
I have a player trying to defend against this ability with countersong, which seems like a very logical use. However, countersong as written only works against "sonic or language-dependent magical attack[s]." Supernatural abilities are usually magical, I believe, but the PF bestiary entry doesn't specify sonic, language-dependent, or any other qualities, while the 3.5 bestiary calls Shriek "a mind-affecting fear effect." What's the fairest way to rule here?
Countersong (Su): At 1st level, a bard learns to counter magic effects that depend on sound (but not spells that have verbal components). Each round of the countersong he makes a Perform (keyboard, percussion, wind, string, or sing) skill check. Any creature within 30 feet of the bard (including the bard himself) that is affected by a sonic or language-dependent magical attack may use the bard's Perform check result in place of its saving throw if, after the saving throw is rolled, the Perform check result proves to be higher. If a creature within range of the countersong is already under the effect of a noninstantaneous sonic or language-dependent magical attack, it gains another saving throw against the effect each round it hears the countersong, but it must use the bard's Perform skill check result for the save. Countersong does not work on effects that don't allow saves. Countersong relies on audible components.
Because it has to be heard, I believe it would qualify. Otherwise, you'd have to rule that the first sentence of countersong is purely fluff text, which seems like an overly nitpicky thing to do. Countersong is so rarely used anyway, it'll be nice for the bard to play with one of his other toys for a change.
Yeah I would say it works.
Because it has to be heard, I believe it would qualify. Otherwise, you'd have to rule that the first sentence of countersong is purely fluff text, which seems like an overly nitpicky thing to do. Countersong is so rarely used anyway, it'll be nice for the bard to play with one of his other toys for a change.
That's true, but the bard has already trivialized one challenge this scenario. On the other hand, it's more of an annoying encounter than a dangerous one, and no one likes having to burn half their gold reward on cure disease--especially if they feel they were conned out of a legitimate defense in the process.
Fluff text is just what I read it as, since it specifies only sonic and language-dependent effects later on. If Shriek had any descriptors at all that weren't those two, I'd have ruled against. But since I'm not sure I like using 3.5 as an actual source for PFS, I'd have to assume it *should* have descriptors, and we just don't know what they are. Since sonic seems like reasonable component for a scream attack, the countersong tactic is legit.
Thanks for the advice, I'll go with the group.