Flaw: afraid of books
Context: playing through “The Yawning Portal” and we’re going through the Sunless Citadel. I (DM) gets a bit lazy and sometimes don’t read ahead as far as I maybe should.
DM: So you look through the desk, and you find a few things. A spell scroll-
Wizard: “MINE”
DM: - And a book. It has only a title along the ridge, the cover and back are blank.
Bard: what’s the title?
DM:
Bard: Sick. I’ll take it with me.
The players then decide to head back and do a short rest.
Bard: I decide to stand guard while the others rest and while I do, I crack open that book that I found in the desk.
DM: Absolutely. Let me check what’s in it- *turns the page and reads*
Wizard:… Why is she making that face.
DM: Uh
Wizard: NO W H Y ARE YOU MAKING THAT FACE
DM:….. Uhhhhhh………..
Bard: Oh god. Oh G O D.
DM: sooooo everyone’s gonna have to make a dexterity saving throw
Wizard: W H Y
Bard: OH GOD WHAT DID I DO
*after resolving rolls*
DM:.. An explosion of frost with its source from the open book in The Bards hands hits you all, some more than others. Bard and Monk, you take half damage, which is 11 hp…
Monk: WOAH HEY WOAH WHAT
Bard: but if we SUCCEEDED OUR ROLLS and still took 11 DAMAGE, THEN THAT MEANS-
Druid:…. Aaaah.
Wizard:…….. 22?????!!!! 22 FUCKING DAMAGE???!!!!!!
DM: YES YOU TAKE 22 FROST DAMAGE
Wizard: THAT’S DEATH SAVING THROWS FOR ME
Bard: aaaaAAAAA
Druid: aaaand that’s an instakill for me.
Bard: AAAAAAAAAAAA I KILLED YOU WITH A BOOK AAAAAA
Wizard: WAIT! *Rolls her saves*……. No yes you SURE DID
Bard: AAAaaaAAAAaaaaaAaaaaAAAA