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, She  Dimension Door'ed her way into the ritual room, which  Vox Machina  followed over the wall. She seemed to complete the ritual, creating this small, vacuous, spinning black sphere that is locked in place.
DM: You hear a muttering through your ears. (mutters in foreign language) And for a second, you feel your field of vision close down like it's focused entirely on you. You're currently marked by its Mark of Vengeance.
Player: Marked?
DM: Yeah. So, essentially, there's an effect that's intent on you at the moment.
Player: Is it a charm effect?
DM: Nope.
Player: Damn it.
DM: All right, that ends your held actions.
Player: Is it a fear effect?
DM: No.
Player: Damn it!
DM: You're up.
