Yellow Musk Creeper: Spray Pollen vs. Bore Into Brain


Rules Discussion


Hey, all! This should be a simple one. So, the yellow musk creeper has a spray pollen ability which inflicts fascination and also, notably, forces the creature to spend all its actions hanging out with its new plant buddy. Barring a Critical Failure, any hostile behavior ends both the fascination and the "stay close" compulsion. The "stay close" compulsion is not something normally inflicted by fascination.

The creeper also has Bore into Brain, which explicitly doesn't end the fascination--but doesn't say anything about whether it ends the "stay close" compulsion.

AONPRD wrote:

Bore into Brain (manipulate, mental) The creeper bores dozens of tendrils into the brain of a Small, Medium, or Large humanoid creature that's unconscious, willing, or fascinated by Spray Pollen, and within reach of the creeper's tendrils. The creature must succeed at a DC 18 Fortitude save or become stupefied 1 (stupefied 2 on a critical failure). Subsequent failed saves against Bore into Brain increase the stupefied value. If the creature reaches stupefied 5, it is turned into a yellow musk thrall. Boring into a creature's brain doesn't end fascination caused by Spray Pollen.

Spray Pollen (mental, poison, incapacitation) The yellow musk creeper blasts yellow pollen in either a 30-foot line or a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the emanation must attempt a DC 20 Will save. Once a creature succeeds at any save against Spray Pollen, it becomes temporarily immune for 24 hours.

...

Failure The creature is fascinated. For as long as it is fascinated, it must spend each of its actions to move closer to the yellow musk creeper as expediently as possible, while avoiding obvious dangers. If the creature is adjacent to the yellow musk creeper, it stays still and doesn't act. If anyone takes a hostile action against the creature or its allies, the effect ends. Otherwise, the creature can attempt a new save at the end of each of its turns. On a success, the effects end.

So, do I have this right? When the yellow musk creeper starts boring into someone's brain, they can run away without a problem, they're just still under the Fascinated condition:

AONPRD wrote:

Fascinated

You take a –2 status penalty to Perception and skill checks, and you can't use actions with the concentrate trait unless they or their intended consequences are related to the subject of your fascination.

So, Bore Into Brain allows you to start running, but you can't cast a spell unless you're fireballing the big scary flower.

Do I have this right?


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the special failure effect works as long as the creature is fascinated and bore doesn't break fascination, so the whole condition persists, you're stuck next to the creeper as it drills into your skull, since Bore is a special exception to the condition breaking on hostile actions.


Oh, gosh, I totally missed that clause! Shows what kind of reader I am. Thanks!

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