As bits of the assassin vine fall to the ground, filbert moves towards the entrance to the cave, using the combination of his low-light vision and Luxina's ever present torch to scout the entrance to the cave.
"Let's not stand around in the rain any longer than needed folks."
Indeed. Agrippa agrees and moves forward slowly
Agrippa moves into the dank cave, finding the footing slippery and oddly sponge under foot. The place has a pungent odor of rotting vegetation with a note of something else you can't identify. To the left is a dark limestone chamber smelling strongly of wet mulch which is bare aside from a scattering of animal bones. To the north a wooden barricade made of small tree trunks lashed together with thick twine seals the entrance to a larger chamber. You think you might be able to peer through the gaps.
Agrippa continues creeping forward...hopefully not too much forward of his allies because he can't see in the dark.
Filbert reaches out and grabs Agrippa's coat tail, stopping him.
Speaking quietly. "We're not alone, There's something over there." Pointing west at the fungal creature. "Dunno what it is, but after the entrance I doubt its friendly, and the barricade hides at least two, maybe more."
Less worried about the barricaded for the moment, Filbert watches the western creature, ready for it to attack at any moment.
Momijii entered the cave with her friends, wary of what might be found within.
Mojijii noticed the signs of habitation beyond the barricade but not whatever ti was that Filbert saw. Wary of attack the monk turned to face the general direction of the creature Filbert warned them of. She gestured for the small man to stay behind her as she prepared to face whatever was lurking there.
The creature filbert pointed out is very hard to see and even though she roughly knows where it should be, Momijii is unable to spot it. It seems to be completely motionless, for now.
Filbert retrieves a torch from his pack and lights it from Luxina's, letting the torch float towards the left. "Be ready, Momijii"
GM, he's using the mage hand ability, to move the torch. HE's getting no closer, but the torch is.
You can all clearly see it now a 6 foot tall three-stalked tan-brown fungoid monster! Parts of it's body seem to fade in and out of sight. A large maw gapes along its entire front... Despite the light, it's completely still...
Agrippa crouches into a defensive posture and quaffs an infusion of protection.
AC 20
Temp HP 12
HP 25/25
Suddenly the barrier is thrown back to reveal a pair of viciously snarling wolves, strangely rotted away with huge mushrooms growing out of them! Behind you see a wild looking red hair woman with a long spear and a vicious gleam in her eye. She shouts, "So the count reneges on our agreement?! You will regret crossing Daridela. SLAY THEM my minions!"
Perception Rolls DC 16:
<--- FAIL
<--- PASS
<--- FAIL
<--- PASS
<--- PASS
Initiative rolls:
Combat order:
Filbert Springbit: Surprised
Luxina Tenebris <--- WE ARE HERE
Momijii
Daridella
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar: Surprised
Fungus monster
Luxina & Momijii are up.
Agrippa mentally notes the indication that this woman worked, works, for the Count. It seems nothing good is coming from Count Lowls.
With a fight suddenly upon them Momijii assumed her stance before assaulting the beast before. She sent a quick pair of side kicks at the beast before her, each punctuated with a "haa" to help her focus the hits on her target.
DEFENCE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 14 (+1 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 17 each (2d8+8)
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +1
Defensive Abilities poisonous blood; Immune disease,
mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, polymorph,
sleep, stunning
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee +1 bite +4 (1d6+5 plus trip)
Special Attacks create spawn, poison spore cloud
Poison Spore Cloud (Ex)
Once per day, a fungal creature can release a choking cloud of spores in a 15-foot-radius spread that lingers in the air for 10 rounds. This cloud functions as an inhaled poison. Any breathing creature in the cloud must succeed at a Fortitude save or inhale the spores. A creature that remains in the area of the spore cloud must continue to attempt Fortitude saves against its effects. Multiple spore clouds from multiple fungal creatures require multiple saves from any creature in an area where the clouds overlap.
Fungal Spores: Poison—inhaled; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the fungal creature’s racial Hit Dice + the fungal creature’s Con modifier; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con damage and fatigued for 1 minute; cure 2 saves.
Poisonous Blood (Ex)
A fungal creature’s blood and flesh are ingested poisons. Any creature that makes a bite attack against a fungal creature, swallows one whole, or otherwise ingests part of one must succeed at a Fortitude save or be afflicted by the poison.
A fungal creature can drain its own blood to procure an ingested poison that functions as described above. However, its blood has a distinctive and largely unwelcome smell and taste, so most intelligent creatures would refuse to eat food tainted with it unless the taste was thoroughly disguised (which requires a successful DC 15 Profession [cook] check). The fungal creature must deal at least 1 point of damage to itself to get a full dose of poison, and the drawn blood (or amputated flesh) retains its poisonous nature for only 24 hours unless additional living fungal blood is mixed into it.
Fungal Blood or Flesh: Poison—ingested; save Fort DC 10 + 1/2 the fungal creature’s racial Hit Dice + the fungal creature’s Con modifier; frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes; effect 1 Str damage, 1 Dex damage, and nauseated for 1 minute; cure 2 saves.
Luxina rapidly mixes two fluids in a flask and throws the unstable concoction over Momijii's head to impact on the left most fungal woolf with a deafening report, blowing chunks of it all round the room.
<--- HIT
<--- PASS
Amazingly it's still standing despite having over a third of it's body mass blasted away, but not for long! Momijii's fist smashes into it's skull with a sound like a whip crack. Pulverized, the creature is no more. Using the momentum from the first attack, she spins on he left foot, the right lashing out to strike the other woolf sending it skidding back!
Daridela chants something and suddenly numerous vividly colored poisonous mushrooms spring into existence all around the party!
Filbert Springbit
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <----- WE ARE HERE
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Surprised.
Fungus monster
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa is up.
Beware the Wolves, don't breathe their poison in! And stand clear of these Mushrooms, they are poisoned! Agrippa shouts, and he darts into the next room, attempting to get around the fungal creature there.
Meh, probably not good enough
Agrippa stabs at the Fungal creature definately not good enough.
AC 20
Temp HP 12
HP 25/25
Heinrich boldly ventures into the western cavern, tumbling past the Phantom Fungus. While he manages to evade it's maw, he finds his footing too uncertain to press home any attack. The remaining wolf howls as it shakes it's fungus infested coat sending a great ghastly cloud of billowing green spoors! The cloud envelops most of the battlefield causing your nose to itch abominably, eyes to stream and for you cough like hags!
<--- PASS
<--- FAIL
<--- PASS
<--- PASS
<--- FAIL
Lizzie stands there dazed but otherwise unaffected, Filbert and Momijii on the other hand, feel the strength and vitality leech from their bodies!
The commotion caused by the spores was just the opportunity the Phantom Fungus was waiting for. Suddenly it completely phases out of sight and attacks! Some second sight let Heinrich know he needed to duck and he felt the air displaced by the create as it's jaws snap invisibly were his head was moments ago! A moment later the monster appears briefly as a semi-transparent version of its normal self before fading away!
<--- MISS
Filbert Springbit <----- WE ARE HERE
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (6 rounds), Fatigued
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (6 rounds), Fatigued
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (5 rounds), Fatigued
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (5 rounds), Fatigued
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit, Luxina Tenebris and Momijii are up.
completely surrounded by Mushrooms Filbert seeks to move further into the cave but finds the other hound directly ahead.
Calling out to the others if the wolf falls, "We need to go <cough> and now! moving forward with them 20'
Momijii felt a surge of victory as the wolf-like thing before dropped and she snapped her kick at the other one. It was then that she saw the second one, still standing after her blow, shake itself and send spore everywhere, spores which she promptly inhaled and started choking on. She felt her vitality sapped away some and realized that this thing needed to die right now. She felt the fatigue in her limbs and Momijii knew that she had to make this count so with a cry of havoc to focus herself and wreathe her hands in flames she beat down the dog of war.
[ooc]Swift action to activate elemental fury, I always get fire from it,
Filbert whips up a powerful blast which detonates with terrible retort barring the last remaining wolf aside like a rag doll! Luxina casts True strike and moves to assist Heinrich!
Filbert Springbit
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii <----- WE ARE HERE
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (6 rounds), Fatigued
Luxina Tenebris True strike (2 rounds)
Momijii Poision (6 rounds), Fatigued
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (5 rounds), Fatigued
Luxina Tenebris True strike (1 round)
Momijii Poision (5 rounds), Fatigued
Daridela
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Wolves
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Momijii is up.
Momijii's fury ignites the air around her fists and like a comet she bursts out of the spore cloud, her right hook slamming into Daridela's nose flattening it with a sickening crunch!
With a look that could curdle milk, Daridela screams, "In the name of the inmost blot I curse thee!" A baleful fluffy grey aura, looking for all the world like a fungal growth appears on her right hand. With a screech she lunges forwards and smears some of it across Momijii's face.
<--- PASS
<--- HIT
<--- FAIL
Momijii felt an alien presence suffusing her skin, petrifying it as the surface layers necrotized and ringworm and toadstools erupted painfully from her fragile skin! Still at least her body was resisting the ravages of the spore poison.
<--- PASS
Lizzie who had been blindsided by the sudden attack stared in horrid fascination as the fungus in front of her grew with phenomenal speed. Suddenly her wonder turned to horror as the now mature growth released it's own cloud of cloying spoors to blend in with the larger cloud released by the now deceased wolf. The spoors get everywhere covering her skin, up her nose, in her mouth, the toxins within burning every surface and bringing her out in a horrid rash.
<--- FAIL
Suddenly a giant ant with grotesque fungal infestation comes scurrying past Daridela to attack Momi. It lunges, spittle flying from it's huge jaws which clamp down painfully on Momijii causing her embrittled skin to bleed. Fortunately Momijii was able to wrestle free of the infected things grasp, although she could see it's ichor covered stinger was waving about in anticipation!
<--- HIT
<--- NO
Filbert Springbit
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <----- WE ARE HERE
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (6 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris True strike (2 rounds)
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (6 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Sickened (1 round)
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (5 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris True strike (1 round)
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (5 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie ""beads"" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Lizzie "beads" Tamar' are up."
Lizzie sees Momiji getting a slam, and spell, to the face.
She hurries over, taking total defense before she moves past Filbert, to join the fight against the ant.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Red destiny in hand, Agrippa warily circles round to flank the invisible phantom fungus. Suddenly the fungus lunges to bite but once again Agrippa manages to step aside and the beast's jaws clamp down on air.
<--- MISS
As before after an attack, a translucent outline of fungus momentarily became visible. Agrippa was ready and his thrust strikes something spongy! Eerily, even as his blade sinks in, the fungus fades from view.
<--- HIT
Lizzie shield up, bulls her way through to stand beside Filbert. The giant ant tries to bite her, but it's mandibles bounce off her shield.
<--- MISS
The phantom fungus, even though it's invisible and has the advantage, tries and fails yet again to hit Agrippa, who simply dodges aside. As before it fades in and out of view.
<--- MISS
Filbert Springbit <----- WE ARE HERE
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (5 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris True strike (1 round)
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (5 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit, Luxina Tenebris and Momijii are up.
"eep! The giant ant's arrival surprising Filbert he circles around Lizzie trying to put some distance between himself and the new creature. Sending a blast back to say hello.
move around Lizzie
With her fists aflame for a few seconds more Momijii pulled out all the stops as she tried to take the witch, and the ant, down. She drew on her reserves of ki once more and unleashed a flurry of attacks, especially after the witch caused the painful fungus to sprout from her face. Now, Momijii was angry, and the witch wasn't going to like her when Momijii was angry.
Filbert squeezes past Lizzie and with a better angle, he sends a fizzing blast of telekinetic power at the ant, but the thing moves suddenly and the blast impacts harmlessly on the wall. Meanwhile incandescent with fury, Momijii's fists pummel Daridela over and over, sounding more like a bat hitting a side of ham than fists. The coppery smell of blood mingled with the acrid smell of burning hair intermingles with the cave's fungal fumes.
Daridela staggering woozily tries to cast another spell but the battering was too much, her split and broken lips weren't doing what they needed and she slurred the words.
<--- FAIL
Scared now she tried to run away but not before Momijii's side kick impacted her sending her flying. Her head smashed into the wall with a sickening crunch, and she fell down limp among a growing pool of blood.
The giant ant tries to bite Lizzie but she blocks it's mandibles easily with her shield.
<--- MISS
Filbert Springbit
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <----- WE ARE HERE
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (5 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris True strike (1 round)
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (5 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Lizzie "beads" Tamar' are up.
"Hah, thought you'd get me? Not this time."
Lizzie retaliates on the ant.
Agrippa watches the fungus and notices a slight pattern to its phasing. He stabs Red Destiny at the creature!
AC 20
Temp HP 12
HP 25/25
Studied Combat 3/3 Fungus Thing
Agrippa's analytical mind kicks into high gear and he waits for the monster to show itself next time it attacks...
Meanwhile Lizzie's mace smashes loudly into the giant ant's carapace, cracking it, causing ghastly grey liquid to ooze out. The ant thrashes around in pain!
Suddenly the phantom fungus strikes, this time with deadly accuracy! It's jaws clamp down painfully on Agrippa, but he was ready and once more he thrust Red Destiny up to the hilt into the monster which screams and lets go.
<--- HIT
More or less at the same moment Luxina, who had also been waiting for this moment, smashed the back of the transparent fungus with her torch!
<--- HIT
Filbert Springbit <----- WE ARE HERE
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (3 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (3 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit, Luxina Tenebris and Momijii are up.
Filbert's eyes are only for the closest combatant but he is having trouble focusing clearly and his shot is wide once more.
Filbert produces another powerful blast, but it goes wide, causing the wall behind to crumble slightly.
Filbert Springbit
Luxina Tenebris <----- WE ARE HERE
Momijii
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (3 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (3 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Daridela
Giant Ant
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Luxina Tenebris and Momijii are up.
With the witch down and the ant remaining Momijii focused her assault on it, both fists flew out as she attacked, the flames guttering out after her blows were struck.
Torch at the ready, Luxina waits patiently for the semi-transparent monster to show itself!
Meanwhile with lethal precision and terrible force, Momijii's fists strike the damaged spot on the giant ant's carapace once, twice and something gives! The ant collapsed, it's innards leaking out to make a gross grey puddle on the floor.
Filbert Springbit
Luxina Tenebris Readied action.
Momijii
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <----- WE ARE HERE
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster
Spoiler:Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (4 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Filbert Springbit Poision (1 more save needed) (3 rounds), Fatigued, Con Damage (-1)
Luxina Tenebris
Momijii Poision (1 more save needed) (3 rounds), Fatigued, Charisma Damage (-3), Con Damage (-1)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Fungus monster Invisible
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Lizzie "beads" Tamar' are up.
Agrippa once more times his blow to coincide with the fungal creature's phasing
AC 20
Temp HP 7
HP 25/25
Studied Combat 2/3 Fungus Thing
Lizzie inhales deep, and traverses the fungus cloud.
She moves along the wall behind Luxina, ready to join next turn.
Once more the phantom fungus strikes from cover of of visibility, mauling Agrippa's arm. But again he and Luxina where ready! Agrippa stabs the creature yet again with Red Destiny while Luxina smashes it with her torch! This time however the creature doesn't turn invisible, instead it slumps to the floor leaking grey ichor. It twitches a few times before becoming perfectly still.
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
COMBAT OVER
You venture into the larger cavern and find it to be filled with the hazy remnants of smoke from the campfire’s coals. A lantern on the worktable casts yellow light throughout the room. A spiraling mass of tendrils with two long, descending tails is painted onto the wall in this chamber. You find something about this profane and disturbing.
The crate near the worktable holds six potions of cure light wounds, three potions of barkskin, two potions of hide from animals, 4 doses of belladonna, 6 doses of bloodroot, 10 doses of flayleaf, and 1 dose of malyass root paste. A folded
note sits on the table: a request for "more of your dream-inducing brews, as well as more of that oil." signed by a person named Melisenn.
There is also a large wooden chest which appears to be locked.
Agrippa cleans Red Destiny on a rag and then quaffs one of his infusions of healing. , he also drinks another of his potions that infuse him with vitality
Agrippa then begins cataloguing the items in his journal, as well as taking notes and drawing a picture of the painted sigul.
Indeed. Xhamen Dor here, Hastur and the Yellow Sign in Briarstone. And now, a name Melisenn.
Temp HP 9
HP 25/25
Agrippa nods to himself and says
Gentlemen. and then to Lizzie and Momijii And Ladies.
It seems we have a cult operating out of Thrushmoore. No doubt our friend here, the one so attached to her myconids, it but one member of this group. This "Melisenn" is no doubt another. It is also my suspicion that our own esteemed Count Haserton Lowls is also a member. Yet I have no direct evidence of that.
Agrippa continues We should search the premises fully, gathering what evidence we can find to bring with us to Winter Klazcka and Cesadia Wentz. Those poisons there might help us convince Cesadia of our noble intentions
With that said, Agrippa returns to his work cataloguing the "evidence" and searching the body of the fallen ?cleric?...
Luxina looks up after returning the torch to the placeholder on top of her backpack.
"I'm right behind you Heinrich. I'm also a lady as much as Momiji and Lizzie are."
She says with a smirk on her face.
"Your logic seems grounded though. We've heard and seen enough that something bigger is influencing this area. Especially when reminiscing about that guy that suddenly got possessed or something and telling us that he'd disposed of us. Back at the mental ward I mean."
"Well that's just great, not entirely unexpected considering the paintings in town, but I was hoping we'd left the cult behind in Briarstone. Don't suppose there are any of those Oni things in town are there?"
Filbert helps the others to search before leaving, picking the chest up and taking it with them if no one can pick the lock on it.
Agrippa replies to the Gnome I would surmise from the distinct lack of xanthous mist that no, we have no more Onireogen to deal with.
Agrippa gets to work on the chest
Lizzie is still somewhat surprised, seeing Agrippa (likely) easily manipulate the lock.
"Almost as if second nature to you."