Belsiard the Wanderer |
Belsiard. mmmph...mmmphh Belsiard is chewing on a strap on Ialda's pack.
This is not good food. I need food! Food then story!!
Baolo |
"Ya mon. We bettah get de gnome back to da Rivah Queen. Dat.boar is still roastin'." Baolo helps to guide Belsiard back toward to River Queen. It doesn't take long for the scent of roast boar on a spit to guide everyone the rest of the way back.
The_Demonic_DM |
The party heads back to the campfire triumphantly but wounded. The crew praise the party for its courage and Captain Esteban speaks, as he watches the sorcerer dig into his plate of food, [b]"Who in the Nine Hells is the gnome and where did he come from? And do you vouch for him? He looks a little...ravenous."[/n]
Aeroniell who is now NPC'ed, heals the party to full with her last remaining spells of the day.
Belsiard the Wanderer |
Belsiard eats at least 6 plates of food
I am Belsiard the Wanderer. I was wandering the swamp there with my wandering conpanions. We ran out of food and while I was searching something made my companions food. Not sure what it was but I ran away and wandered for 4 days then found you.
Ialda Soumral |
"Well, welcome to our little party, Belsiard. If you want, we are going on a bit of an exploration and guarding duty combined so to speak. I'd imagine we are getting pretty close to our destination, if you want to tag along. We've enough food for one more, I'm sure."
The_Demonic_DM |
"Alright, but if the hungry gnome does anything to harm my ship, I'm holding you three responsible!"
The night passes peacefully and the next morning, you continue on your journey with the gnome as a new passenger. 3 hours later, ahead lies the goal of your side jaunt: Brimstone Falls, a cataract that falls over a 60-foot cliff into a wide lagoon at the edge of Kurka Swamp. The falls are magnificent, composed of dozens of tiny streams and rivulets painting a mosaic of water over the jungle-grown slope. The spray from these myriad cascades keeps a constant rainbow hanging above the waters within the bowl of the cliff basin. The slope of the cliff is not overly steep, and you can see that a few trails run in switchbacks up its face among the falls.
Captain Esteban brings the riverboat to a stop and looks rather exasperated. "My engineer Hurq tells me the ship is almost out of power. As I told you before, the engine is in need of mobile plant creatures that serve as hosts for the badly needed arcophages to power the ship. I know of one more place where we could find them. Brimstone Falls. Unfortunately, we're going to have to go the source of the arcophages - a shambling mound! It's an intelligent carnivorous plant-like creature that seems to have preference for elf flesh. I know there is a cave here in the falls where one is rumored to dwell." He looks at the party, "I'm going to need you four to wander up the trail, find the cave, and collect an arcophage if we're going to have any chance of ever reaching Nightfall Station. What say ye?"
Belsiard the Wanderer |
"Alright, but if the hungry gnome does anything to harm my ship, I'm holding you three responsible!"
Bel quietly puts down the tie line that he was chewing on
Belsiard the Wanderer |
What is a shambling mound? I wonder if that is what attacked us?
His hand finds some tie line again and it makes its way to his mouth and he begins to chew.
If we do this what will be for dinner?
Baolo |
Baolo draws a blank on the shambling mound, "Hey mon. I've nevah heard of de shamblin' mound befah. Is dere anything else we need ta know? Otherwise we bettah go befah de hungry gnome eats more of de ship."
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
The_Demonic_DM |
You are all fully healed.
A low shelf of rock just above water level provides easy access to the trails. A loa statue that is still in relatively good shape stands here. Its head is clearly that of a hippopotamus. You start following the trail, when before long, you reach another loa idol with barely discernable features resembling a monkey or ape. You continue your ascent, with the falls cascading over you. Eventually, you reach a tunnel leading into a cave. At its entrance is another loa statue—this one’s features clearly depict a crocodilian head.
Marching order heading into cave?
Belsiard the Wanderer |
Belsiard casts Mage Armor on himself before he heads in, he plops himself right after Ialda
The_Demonic_DM |
Missed your Knowledge roll, Ialda. You know a shambling mound is a mass of tangled vines and dripping slime plant creature that frequents swamps and marshes. They are about 9' tall and known for beating their enemies to the death with their fists. They are carnivorous and like the taste of elf flesh. You also know the general plant characteristics:
Low-light vision.
Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
Immunity to paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning.
Proficient with its natural weapons only.
Not proficient with armor.
Plants breathe and eat, but do not sleep.
The_Demonic_DM |
Screw it, we'll continue.
The tunnel is damp with water constantly dripping through the crumbling ceiling, and numerous root tendrils and vines have grown down into it from above. Oddly, you see lit torches on the walls of the cavern as well as religious iconography and writings, which Ialda recognizes as prayers in Draconic to the "Lord of the Marsh".
As you exit the tunnel, you see the creature: A mass of tangled vines and dripping slime rises on two trunk-like legs, reeking of rot and freshly turned earth. It speaks, "Elf flesh!"!
Initiative:
Shambling Mound: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Baolo: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Belsiard: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Gruug: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Ialda: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Party is up first!
The_Demonic_DM |
The blow bounces off the creature's vines and it does not look hurt at all.
Gruug follows his mistress into battle and slices a significant chunk off the creature!
Power attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29...possible critical
Confirmation: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11...no
Damage: 2d4 + 11 ⇒ (2, 4) + 11 = 17
Belsiard the Wanderer |
Bel moves to P11
Salad!!!
He lets loose a burning hands fire this time dc 18
4d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1) = 8
Baolo |
Baolo takes a 5-foot step forward and looses a pair of arrows at the shambling mound.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Because either Ialda or Gruug is probably providing cover, I have not factored in Coordinated Shot.
The_Demonic_DM |
Bel, with your 20' of movement, you had to move to P15 to get the creature in your spell effect. Also Gruug delayed to go after Ialda and had to charge last round, so he is -2 AC. That means that the creature had no cover on Baolo's turn, so his 2nd arrow hits.
The creature sees the gnome's fire and does not try to avoid the blast. Instead, its slime covered vines seem to absorb the fire and dissipate it harmlessly.
Round 1: Shambling Mound
The plant/vine creature towers over the half-orc who just cut it to viciously and it brings down its appendages in full force at him! Blood flies from the half-orc as the shambling mound hits him twice, breaking ribs and nose and to top it off, it grabs him with its second hit, wrapping him with his vines and crushing the air from him. The half-orc screams, as his ribs are crushed, before fading into unconsciousness! The shambling mound then tosses the half-orc to the side like a rag doll.
Power attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 2 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 3) + 9 = 14
Power attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 11 - 2 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 3) + 9 = 16
Grab: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 16 - 2 = 24 vs. CMD of 19...success
Constrict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 = 12
Party is up in Round 2!
Belsiard the Wanderer |
must be a cold salad!
can't see the map so I might need to 5 ft to be safe
Belsiard sends a blast of acid from his hands
[ooc] acid hands 4d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 4) = 8
Baolo |
Baolo's jaw drops as he sees the creature destroy Gruug so easily. "Oh no mon. Shimye-Magalla help me hit da nasty plant!" The inquisitor takes another short step forward, then draws and fires another pair of arrows.
Swift action to activate judgment of sacred justice.
Moving forward another 5-feet gets me within point-blank range (I've taken that into account). If I can get a clear line with no cover, I'll take it, but might still be dealing with it (not taken into account). Lastly, if Ialda is threatening, but not providing cover, I'll get Coordinated Shot (+1 to hit, not taken into account).
Attack 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage 1: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damage 2: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
The_Demonic_DM |
Ialda moves to the side to assist Baolo's shots, one hitting
Her blow bounces off the creature's thick vines, harmlessly
Shambling Mound Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15...fails
Total damage taken: 46
Round 2:
The shambling mound recoils a little from the acid spell and moves forward 5' and attacks the gnome, launching its vines 10'. Miraculously, the two blows bounce off the gnome's invisible force armor!
Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 2 = 11...miss
Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 2 = 12...miss (what luck!)
Party is up in Round 4!
Belsiard the Wanderer |
hmm 10 ft reach you say. must think.
oh duh, after looking at the map I just need to 5 ft step
Belliard steps back and blasts more Acid at the salad
4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 4) = 12 Ref18 for half
The_Demonic_DM |
Her confidence shaken, the barbarian is about to give up and possibly switch tactics....when she decides to try one more swing and promptly caves in the creature's "brain" killing it!
Do we know if Gruug is coming back? If not, this is perfect place to say he died....
The_Demonic_DM |
We'll leave Gruug "dead" for now then and if he comes back, he'll catch up.
With the Shambling Mound destroyed, the party collects the arcophage you came looking for. In the back of the cave, you find a little hoard that consists of a masterwork longbow, three small gold nuggets worth 20 gp each, and a jade lip disk worth 50 gp.
Belsiard the Wanderer |
Belsiard pokes at Gruug for a bit
I don't think he is waking up. That is sad. Let's fix him.