It's a fantasy role-playing game.

DM: You are Scanlan Shorthalt, a gnome bard . You are the member of the famous group of adventurers. Previously, Vouk, terrified, casts Haste on himself, dropping Invisibility, and leaps for the window. As he does so, Keyleth whacks him in the face with her staff, knocking him unconscious.
DM: You whack him right in the face, knocking the teeth out, and he just falls to the ground. Unconscious and bleeding.
Player: Good, yes, keep him alive.
DM: All right. That ends his turn . Wow. Man. Surprise rounds, man. You guys are nasty. All right. Scanlan, you're up.
Player: Scanlan's up?
DM: Yeah.
Player: All right. I go run up to the guard I have dominated, and I just-- Is he still dominated, can I change the domination?
DM: I mean, you can cancel it, but otherwise he's just--
