[RPG] Who is targeted when Scrying’s target is ambiguous

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The 5th level spell Scrying allows you to attempt to magically spy on a creature. The caster doesn't even need to have met the creature to attempt this.

What happens when the target the caster has in mind could be multiple creatures?

As an example, a PC attempts to Scry a vigilante they have heard tales of. Unknown to them, this vigilante is actually 3 different people alternating shifts as the vigilante. Who does the spell end up targeting? Any of the people are a valid target for the spell, but which one attempts the saving throw to resist?

Best Answer

It is up to the DM.

The ultimate answer here is "it's up to you," but let's explore it a bit since this could go a number of ways.

The description for Scrying includes (emphasis mine):

You can see and hear a particular creature you choose...

As a DM, I would interpret this as particular = specific, so in this case your NPC/persona wouldn't be a valid target. Xanathar's Guide to Everything offers an optional rule for spells with invalid targets as the following:

If you cast a spell on someone or something that can’t be affected by the spell, nothing happens to that target, but if you used a spell slot to cast the spell, the slot is still expended. If the spell normally has no effect on a target that succeeds on a saving throw, the invalid target appears to have succeeded on its saving throw, even though it didn’t attempt one (giving no hint that the creature is in fact an invalid target). Otherwise, you perceive that the spell did nothing to the target.

If we choose to use this rule, the straightforward "answer" in this case is that the spell simply fails since there isn't a single valid target.

However, as a DM, I might interpret this situation a number of other ways:

I might choose whomever is on duty as that particular person for that day, or a random member of this group.

Or, as PJRZ mentioned below, the PC might have to describe how they know of this vigilante (since scrying allows for a target "you have heard of"), and whichever person did what the PC describes is the target of the spell.

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