If an attack does damage and causes the target to make an attack, which happens first?

Question

Some attack powers, such as Seeker's Possessing Spirits, do damage on a hit and cause the target to attack an enemy (or take some other action).

Hit: 1[W] + Wisdom modifier damage, and the target makes a melee basic attack as a free action against an enemy adjacent to it....

If the damage portion would kill the target, does the other action still happen?

What about if it's an Effect, not part of the Hit?

As always, concrete references or supporting logic preferred over personal opinions.

Answer 1

Typically things happen in the order from beginning to end. When this is not the case you will see things like "Before" show up and/or an Effect listed before the Hit.

If part of an effect is impossible, generally the effect is skipped.

Example:

Hungry for the Kill Druid Attack 17
-Encounter. Beast Form, Healing, Implement, Primal
-Standard Action Melee touch
-Effect: Before the attack, you shift 2 squares.
-Primal Predator: The number of squares you shift equals
                  your Dexterity modifier.
-Target: One creature
-Attack: Wisdom vs. Reflex
-Hit: 2d12 + Wisdom modifier damage. If either you or
      the target is bloodied or at 0 hit points or fewer, you can
      spend a healing surge, make a saving throw, or both.

Here the effect before is directly listed as before and above the hit box. And the check to see if you or the enemy is bloodied or dead is after the damage listing. The dead part would make very little sense if it didn't take place after the damage was registered.

In the case of your attack, the dead/unconscious enemy tries to make an attack, but can't because of the dead/unconscious state.