Does the target of Otto’s Irresistible Dance followed by Dissonant Whispers (failed saving throw) move as a reaction or just keep dancing in place

dnd-5emovementspells

A creature is under the effect of Otto's Irresistible Dance:

A dancing creature must use all its movement to dance without leaving its space…

The creature then fails its saving throw against Dissonant Whispers:

On a failed save, it takes 3d6 psychic damage and must immediately use its reaction, if available, to move as far as its speed allows away from you.

RAW, Otto's doesn't say that their movement becomes 0, only that all movement must be dancing, suggesting that the creature can move its speed as a reaction.

RAI, it seems pretty clear that the creature can do nothing but dance.

My players argued that "all its movement" is a specific thing during one's turn that's different from using your reaction to move. I'm not 100% sure that holds up to scrutiny.

Another interpretation is that it's two conflicting spell effects impacting movement, so which one takes precedence?

Best Answer

Dissonant whispers grants movement, which gets used up dancing

Let us consider another form of reaction-based movement: the Ready action. With a Ready action, you can choose to move up to your speed (PHB 193). This is a separate instance of movement to the movement you usually use on your turn (PHB 190), as it is not conditional on any prior movement you have made. However, it is still movement, so Otto's irresistible dance will consume it all through dancing. It would be absurd if Otto's irresistible dance could be bypassed by something as simple as a Ready action.

Dissonant whispers is similar, allowing a creature to move as a reaction. However, while the creature will attempt to move, Otto's irresistible dance causes all this movement to be used up without leaving the space.

Note that Otto's irresistible dance does not specify "on the target's turn". Any opportunity for movement the creature gets is all consumed by the dance. Doesn't matter whose turn it is on.