First: now that I think of it, you're right. Lamar's condition has improved as a result of our brave healers' endless sacrifices, so it's not technically a sunk cost fallacy.
However, the improvement is marginal and, from a certain standpoint, even negative: there is still the issue of Lamar not being in control of his own body, which must be fixed before his HP counter raises above 0, for otherwise the Algae might take control and turn his body into a boss. We will not survive another boss fight.
Third: the plant gives its opponent a motherfucking -4 in a mental duel. Your old fart wouldn't stand a chance if he was put into the same situation; Eric was only saved by his knowledge of Necromancy, and even then it was a close call.
Fourth: I say that it beats the shit out of becoming a plant monster and causing a TPK, but since you, Tiruin and Pariah himself seem to be of one mind on this issue... I'll assume that I am wrong on this point and such a death really does suck ass.
Out of courtesy, I will refrain from PKing Lamar unless I have experimentally proven that he will become a boss fight upon passing the 0 HP border.
I have, until now, entertained only the idea of a duel to the death as a way to check whether Pariah has any control over the kelp. But maybe there is another way: I could simply ask him to remove the Algae's grip on my character's consciousness.
I know, that's a ridiculously obvious solution, but I honestly didn't see it until how and am greatly ashamed by that fact. Nevertheless, it is a viable non-PK method of solving our problem, and I believe that it will be rather acceptable to Pariah given the alternative.
((I can't believe I was talked into breaking character to not-kill a dying and potentially dangerous party member
once again, under pretty much the same conditions. The last time I did so, a near-TPK ensued, just as I predicted it would.
My new prediction is the same, only now, we're on the verge of a
real TPK. Spend these next few turns carefully, ladies and gentlemen, for they may be your last.))
PREVIOUS ACTION ANNULLED; NON-PK ACTION BELOWEric clawed at the sand in desperation, his mind being slowly splattered under the plant's psychic assault.
His first idea - and the most reasonable one - was to kill the source of this horror, the kelp which grew within Lamar's body; however, he was no longer sure exactly where the body was. The writhing vines in his mind blocked him from seeing or feeling the world for most part, and what little he saw... he didn't want to believe it real. Maybe it wasn't, and the 'reality' before him was simply the plant's warped view of the world; maybe the situation really was that bad and he was all alone on the beach, left for dead even by the geezer who caused this mess in the first place.
Nevertheless, Eric knew that the only way to survive was to sever the link between him and the plant. Eric started striking at parts of his own soul in blind hope that he'd hit the spot to which the plant was connected. He was dead either way, so why bother aiming? Now, the only thing he had left to do was keep carving himself up and hope to get lucky.
Or... maybe - just maybe - the plant was already under Lamar's control, and the immeasurable force behind its attacks was a result of the plant's primal will being backed with Lamar's expertise in magic. Then... then Lamar would understand this was a mere miscommunication, wouldn't he? Eric was simply trying to get his heart beating again.
The crazy idea started looking more and more reasonable with every strike Eric delivered to his soul. What did he have to lose, after all? His pride would be no use to him dead, so he could do a bit of begging just this one time.
Eric opened his mouth, and a wheezing gasp came out:
"Lamar, it's Eric! If you can hear me... stop the attack! Please..."Beg Lamar-Algae to stop the mind-rape - you know, just in case Lamar has enough pull within the tandem to actually do that.
If that doesn't work out, repeatedly blast myself with soul-rending necromantic energy in the blind hope that a lucky hit will sever the connection between me and the Algae.
((@Unholy_Pariah: Consider this a gift out of respect for your popping an RTD cherry. By the way, this is a priceless opportunity for you to check whether you can handle the Algae.))