"I see, well...oi! Lads! That there bird jus' took the witchling's ring!" He pointed directly at the raven on its perch. "Be that the witch shapeshifted ye think?"
The Raven opens its beak in outrage
"እኔ ምንም ቅርጽ ቀያሪ ድንክ ነኝ, ነገር ግን ውድ ማዕድናት መካከል ያለውን ዋጋ መገንዘብ አለበት"
The ring falls tumbling end over end to land on Avogadro's outstretched finger...
Jean-Pierre looks aghast.
"This one recommends sending that ring back where it came from. The Witch is unlikely to look favorably upon looters..."
Jean-Pierre, Arun, and Khaz carry on a spirited conversation about the attributes of manliness. While they are distracted, the Astounding slips in and then back out...bumping his head on the doorframe and losing his hat. His familiar flies out from under the fallen hat and loots a ring. As soon as he touches the ring, the cauldron in the middle of the room comes alive. In a booming voice, the top rim of the cauldron cries out with its gigantic "mouth": "TTTHHHIIIIEEEEVVVVVEEEESSSSS!!!!"
INITIATIVE:
The cauldron moves 5 feet and bites Sariel. It's huge metal "mouth" clamps down on the Paladin's leg, crushing it and damaging a main artery.
The cauldron is an animated object. It is hard and requires extra damage to get past its iron surface. It can swallow creatures unlucky enough to land in its mouth. It is immune to mind effects and anything that causes a fortitude save.
With a gasp of shock, Khaz hurried over to the paladin, put a hand on him and shouted "Torag, mend your creation!"
'We wanted a fair trade no less no more.' Sariel follows Jean-Pierre into the house, nodding his head in agreement. "I will not take more than the rat's tail, and I will pay for it." He then takes out the last of his gold, all ten pieces and lays them on the table. "Let us leave this place."
Going to Fergal as they leave he asks. "Fergal, I know you have retrieved the hide of the dragons, would you consider leaving one as payment to the witch. It is not my desire to steal from her or for her to think we are unfair."
Going to the guide he asks, "Rhoddam could you quickly lead us from this place?"
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Sariel shakes his head at Khaz and Jean-Pierre’s conversation and begins to leave the hut, watching the bird swoop in and out again. He is surprised when the cauldron comes to life and begins to scream, biting Sariel on the leg. Sariel starts to black out when he feels the touch of the divine. Bleeding but conscious, he nods his thanks to Khaz and tries to escape the cookware. ”Let go!”
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Engrossed in talk of beards and the barbarian's moist regions, Arun totally fails to notice the raven taking the ring. When Khaz shouts and the cauldron bites, he is still behind the game. "what in the nine Hells? What just happened ?"
Reacting to the attack, and to Khaz aiding Sariel, he shouts "Everyone out! If we can keep it in the cottage I have a scroll to seal the door!"
Arun scrambles up onto the table behind him, scattering the witch's belongings onto the floor with a crash. He hopes the cauldron cannot climb up behind him...
Avogadro has only just brushed off and replaced his hat when he hears the commotion within. His spins on his heels and re-enters the room, showing none of his earlier distain or clumsiness as he skirts around behind Jean.
Bloody witches!...
"I doubt that rickety door would be an insurmountable obstacle for a metallic behemoth that just nearly took off friend Shining Armour's most favourite leg."
As he points at the cauldron a cloud of multicoloured chalk dust billows from his sleeve
Jean-Pierre glowers at Avogadro.
"In that case, this one suggests that you return that which your pet stole, before it kills someone. Otherwise, this one will do it for you."
So saying, Jean-Pierre walks outside, drawing his sling, and then loading it, as he stares meaningfully in the direction of the raven.
Khaz sprints over and heals Sariel who is in the creature's grasp, bringing him up to half of his health. Newly reinvigorated by the healing of Torag, Sariel breaks free from the cauldron's grasp and draws his sword. Arun climbs up on the table, knocking over alchemical bottles and herbs to get away from danger. Avogrado moves in and casts a spell on the creature. Unfortunately, his spell does not seem to affect it. Jean-Pierre strolls out of the hut and peers at the sorcerer's familiar.
The creature senses the aggression of the sorcerer and turns on him. "TTTHHHHIIIIEEEEVVVVEEEESSSS!!!" He charges Avogrado. His bite attack misses, but now he has the caster in his sights.
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Arun clatters around on top of the witch's table, grimacing as he puts a hand in something revolting. Seeing the cauldron attacking Avogadro, he extends his right forefinger and unleashes a fierce bolt of emerald fire from the iron bracer on his arm, then draws a wand from inside his robes ready for another attempt.
Avogadro backs away from the cauldron, nearly tumbling head over heels in the clutter. Holding his hat on in with both hands he runs...
"On the other hand, Mr Wizard might have the idea. Where's that s**ting bird?!
Breaking straight through and heading away at top speed.
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@Arun: Magic Missile is subject to hardness (which I imagine an iron cauldron probably has)... @GM Mason: Is there a Knowledge roll that Arun could make to learn about the cauldron's resistances/immunities...?
"Jean-Pierre! We have need of your brute strength here!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
[dice=Magic missile]+5
The magic missile strikes the cauldron, but its metal seems to repel the damage.
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Jean-Pierre frowns.
"This one suggests that you just try to leave."
'We can't leave Avogadro to the mercies of a bewitched cauldron, It's not his fault that a raven is a natural thief... What was I thinking, I drew my sword to strike the cauldron, I don't want to tear up the blade.' Looking at his blade for a split second, Sariel sheaths his sword.
Nearing the cauldron he draws his Morningstar. "Come friends, we cannot leave Avogadro to the witches contraption."
Hearing Jean-Pierre's wise counsel, he calls out to him. "It's not that easy my friend, what if some children wander in and inadvertently pick something up. No it's not safe. We must end this threat before we leave."
Jean-Pierre shakes his head, clearly unmoved by Sariel's words.
"This one notes that this place is more than a day's travel from the closest town, and through hostile forest, to boot. The chances of unaccompanied children wandering through here are fairly remote. Unless you are suggesting that all guard animals should be destroyed, because they might hurt children...?"
With a sigh, he then takes aim at the raven...
...grunting in satisfaction when it falls to the ground, insensate.
Jean-Pierre then moves to retrieve the ring.
Fergal, seeing the danger the cauldron presents, moves out of the hut to protect his companion. In sylvan, "Get out of here...it is too dangerous."
The fox receives the instructions with intelligent eyes and leaps off the porch. He steps just outside of the witch's opening and waits for his friend.
Pursuing his prey, the cauldron charges Avogrado again. "TTTHHHHIIIIEEEEVVVEEEESS!"
The cauldron bites Avo violently and clamps down on the sorcerer's right shoulder and hip!
JP moves over to the white raven.
Jean-Pierre picks up the ring, and tosses it back through the front door, where it lands at the cauldron's 'feet'.
"This one notes that that which was taken has been returned. Let's get out of here!"
Sariel steps forward yelling at the cauldron, "let go of my companion!" swinging his Morningstar at it.
"Bah! Ye all be breakin' like elgi (elven) metalwork! I can't keep this up.
The caldron has managed to grab Avogadro by the head, gripping tightly around his chest, over long limbs flail as he struggles. He looks a little like a spider being eaten by a bird.
But the effort is waisted, the construct has him squarely.
"mmmmmmbghmgbb ddbbebd mmmen mmmgnhngmfm mnghfhfhhgg fggdgrjmmhh! Mhnghnngfh! m m mm"
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Devoid of opportunities to damage the cauldron, without the any chance to help un-grapple Avo, and with no sign of it ceasing its attack, Arun scrabbles ineffectually at the thin wood wall to try and manufacture an exit:
-Posted with Wayfinder
When the ring lands back in the hut, the cauldron spits Avogrado out on the floor. "GGGEEETTTT OOOUUUTTT!" It slowly nudges its way back to the middle of the room and sits motionless.
Sariel steps forward yelling at the cauldron, "let go of my companion!" swinging his Morningstar at it.
[dice=attack]1d20+4 [dice=attack]1d8+3
A small chip is missing from the side of the cauldron.
'Jean-Pierre is right this is far away.' Sariel steps out of the house, standing near the door. "Jean-Pierre, you may be right, it might be near impossible for someone to accidently find their way here. But we should warn them."
After everyone leaves the witches hut, Sariel shuts the door, and tearing a corner off of his shirt, he dips it in the still congealing blood on his leg and write on the door in big red letters. Beware! Monster Attack Cauldron! He steps back and looks at his work. "That should warn them." Turning he prepares to follow as the team goes to the dwarven mines.
Khaz gladly leaves, with a spring in his step. The idea of exploring dwarven mines was envigorating. Though, as they walked he helpfully told the group that this was a lesson in honesty that all should heed. He tactifully didn't call anyone out by name.
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Arun leaves the Witch's hut somewhat subdued. The party had faced a deadly threat and suffered grievous harm, and Arun had been unable to assist. This merited further thought; being part of an adventuring party (which is how he is now seeing this group) carries real dangers, and ineffective impotence if repeated too often is going to lead to dread results.
Still (cheering up somewhat) Arun had played his part in subduing the witch herself, and that at least was an achievement. Thank the Gods that hag was frightened off, and would never be troubling the group again.
As they travelled through the woods towards the dwarven ruins, Arun realised the extent of Sariel's wounds. "Khaz, are you able to cure Sariel of his injuries before we encounter more trouble? If not, Fergus, can you use your healing wand instead?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Avogadro is spat out of the doorway and tumbles backwards rolling at least twice before coming to rest, spread eagled on the dusty ground. A moment passes before he reasserts his verticality. Dusting himself off he turns to the group
"Crazy witch b**ch! Still all in a days adventuring eh? Adventurers we truly are now! Most marvelous adventurers envy of all men, the desire of all women..."
His words have a familiar pattern but you can all tell his passion I somewhat lessened.
The snake dragons were bad, but the others had it covered, we all seemed powerless there, but they still fought. I must become better at whatever it is I do. To be the equal of these companions of mine.
"You have all aided the Astounding today, it will not be forgotten. Jean, where is that flipping Raven?"
Standing over the crumbled bloodstained form of the raven Avogadro sighs,
"But at this last I find myself to be all too soft to end the wretched thing. It is a most haphazard and foolhardy beast, putting aside its obstinate and prideful manner, and yet it has been with me on the road for such long seeming eons of time"
Waving his hands, Avogadro cleans the bird of its blood. As an afterthought he turns the bird pink.
"Maybe that'll learn you for your pilfering ways!"
Picking the bundle of feathers up he stuffs it under his hat and heads for the mines with the others.
Khaz channels the power of his deity, healing the party of all ailments. He looks drained when done, but informs everyone that he can still push himself if need be. He also suggests making distance between themselves and the hag as a priority.
When done, he smiles at the antics of Avogadro. Truth be told he liked his companions, and felt more alive with them than he ever had learning at his father's knee at the temple back home. He resolved that he would strengthen his soul. For the power of a god was limitless, but what a cleric could do really came down to how strong their soul was in being a conduit for divine power. He was already reaching his limits, and he knew that if he was too weak then someone would die on his watch...
Khaz is able to heal his allies to full constitution.
Travel to the Dwarven mines goes uneventfully. When you get to within a mile of the mines, Rhoddam warns you. "There are rumors that an oversized wolf guards the area with his companions. They say that the leader has black fur, stands 3 feet tall at the shoulders, and weighs approximately 300 pounds. Once again, you will need to be very careful."
After the last mile, you come to an opening in the woods. From a safe area, you peer ahead. You see the cave entrance.
The creature is a worg. Depending on how high the roll is, I will give you more information.
Jean-Pierre, sword at the ready, brazenly heads for the entrance.
JP double moves to . As he enters the path, a deep voice calls out from the cave. "Who dares disturb the lair of Greypelt the slayer?!!"
Large, dark red eyes peer from the cave.
Khaz moves up behind his Barbarian comrade, pulling his hammer out as he does so.
"I do! I be Khaz o' Clan Dourblade, follower o' Torag. Who be ye, here in dwarven land?"
"This one notes that this group have come seeking medicinal ingredients, and do not intend to stay o'er long in the territory of Greypelt. In fact, if you can let us know where this group can find what it seeks, they will be out of your territory swiftly."
"The dwarves are long gone. If you plan to claim what was once yours... you will have to go through me!"
"Everything here is mine. I do not share with two legged scum like you."