Female Gnome Slayer 7/Shadowdancer 3 | HP 95/95 | AC 24, touch 17, flat-footed 20 | Fort +10 | Ref + 12 | Will +8 | Init +3 | Perception +18 | Study Target (2, +2) | Current Condition: haste (+1 attack, dodge AC & Reflex, double speed)
Pemta moves forward. "Allow me to take lead. In case something strikes, I know how to avoid danger. Good way for you all to figure out what threats are ahead, and to prepare for them." Before she moves forward, she takes a couple of vials from herself and pours a liquid onto her two blades. "Giant wasp poison. Helps to be prepared."
Before Pemta moves forward, both of her blades will be coated in giant wasp poison
As Pemta leads the party down this particular garden path, she is surprised as a large plant bloom, several times bigger than she is, lashes out from the jungle in front of her and almost closes around her. It retracts instantly, but now everyone is aware that within the jungle is a carnivorous plant that is apparently hungry.
See next post for Lore results and information on this plant.
In the jungle about 20 feet away is a huge plant with a main stalk as big across as a tree; its fly-trap-like 'head' is bobbing about along with a number of thick tentacles animated and able to make attacks.
The creature is 15 ft x 15 ft in area with 15 ft reach for both the 'head' and the tentacles.
If a square on the map does not have any brown path in it, it has light undergrowth. A space covered with light undergrowth costs 2 squares of movement to move into, and provides concealment. Undergrowth increases the DC of Acrobatics and Stealth checks by 2 because the leaves and branches get in the way. The creature has concealment from both ranged and melee attacks. A small creature (Pemta) can move into the area of the creature. Others cannot.
Lore options in next post. As usual, try to post in initiative order, unless you have a limited window in which to post. If posting before your place, keep in mind other actions might force a ret-con and if possible, list contingency actions. Please list any magic buffs affecting you on your post.
Ingrit is the only one who knows anything about this creature. She can see the General information spoiler and 3 other spoilers.
General information:
This is a Moonflower. It is normally a huge N plant. A fully grown moonflower easily stands 20 feet tall, its massive trunk frequently 4 feet or more in diameter. The roots extend away from the base and into the soil, making the plant seem well anchored, but the roots themselves possess an agility that belies the great size of the plant and allows the moonflower to uproot itself and move with surprising speed. The tendrils of the plant are independently prehensile and writhe around the large flytrap-like “head” that crowns the stem.
Moonflowers have never been known to communicate with other creatures, even with druids and others who regularly converse with plants. The plants do possess some manner of strange telepathy, though, and are in constant communication with their nearby brethren. Those who manage to intrude upon the creatures’ alien thoughts face an assault of horrible visions of terrifying jungles filled with ancient, sentient, and malign plants.
Damage Resistance:
10/slashing
Immunities:
electricity, plant traits (Plants are immune to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms), paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep, and stun.)
Resistances:
cold 10
Spell Resistance:
None
Weaknesses:
vulnerable to fire
Special Attacks:
light pulse, pod prison
Light Pulse (Su) As a standard action, a moonflower can release a pulse of bright light. All creatures within a 50-foot burst that can see the moonflower must make a DC 20 Fortitude save or be blinded for 1d4 rounds. Moonflowers are immune to this ability. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Pod Prison (Ex) This works like the swallow whole ability, except the moonflower can only use it once every 1d4 rounds, and the swallowed creature is immediately wrapped in a tight digestive cocoon and expelled into an adjacent square, where it takes damage every round (2d6 bludgeoning and 2d6 acid, AC 15, 25 hp). The cocooned target cannot use Escape Artist to get out of the cocoon. Other creatures can aid the target by attacking the cocoon with piercing or slashing weapons, but the creature within takes half the damage from any attack against the cocoon. Once the cocoon is destroyed, it deflates and decays. Each creature swallowed by a moonflower is encased in its own cocoon.
Spell-Like Abilities:
None.
Spell Casting:
None
Special Qualities:
Pod Spawn (Ex) Should a moonflower’s pod prison kill and digest a Small or larger creature, the pod transforms into an adult moonflower with full hit points after 1d4 hours. The newly formed moonflower has its own consciousness, but some aspect of its trunk or blossoms resembles the creature that died within. The dead creature’s equipment remains inside the new moonflower and can be retrieved by killing it.
| Speed 30 ft. | Active conditions: endure elements, mage armor.
"Hun? What do you see?" The thick foliage was keeping him from seeing what the enemy was. That was bad, but considering most of his spells were chosen to be useful in multiple situations, he had something to do.
After some fast gestures, Pyrrhus intones. "Qalb muhtariqun, wasureat mushtaeila!"
His new companions would feel a strange warm in their hearts and legs as small flames appear on their feet (or hooves) and as they move, fiery footsteps are left behind!
Casting good old Haste on everyone, including Wapiti and Otri (my familiar). Hope you do not mind some fluff on the spells.
Meanwhile, Otri draws one of his wands from his waist, as if he was a might swordsman of legend.
Female Human Ranger (Skirmisher) 10: HP 78/78 : AC: 20 (21), T: 15, FF: 15 : Fort: +10 (+12 cold effects/ +15 cold environment/ +20 with cold weather outfit. +4 to all if non lethal) Reflex: + 12 Will: +5 : Perception +11 (+17 Human/+15 Giant/+13 Fey
With those in front of her limiting Wapiti's ability to charge forward to engage, she directs Wapiti to halt, her bow quickly snapping up as she fires a rapid volley of arrows through the heavy foliage, her speed enhanced by Pyrrus' spell
"Damn it, that's a Moonflower! They resist all but bladed weapons like axes, and can withstand cold...but fire hurts them." she says looking down at the flames moving around people's feet after their new mage's spell takes hold.
Ingrit's first arrow misses due to the foliage making it harder for her to see a clear target. Her next two arrows, however, strike the moonflowers trunk, leaving scorch marks and a little red sap oozing out. DR 10 for non-slashing attack, so 1st arrow does no damage except the fire damage of 3, 2nd arrow does 1 damage and fire does 4 for a total of 8.
Pemta, Thorizmond, Crasius:
You can see movement in the jungle south of the Moonflower, possibly a second such plant creature moving closer.
Female Gnome Slayer 7/Shadowdancer 3 | HP 95/95 | AC 24, touch 17, flat-footed 20 | Fort +10 | Ref + 12 | Will +8 | Init +3 | Perception +18 | Study Target (2, +2) | Current Condition: haste (+1 attack, dodge AC & Reflex, double speed)
Pemta will move into the underbrush to try and hide herself from the Moonflower, while focusing her attention on it.
Gonna try to go stealth into the thick brush, while also activating studied target on the Moonflower. +2 on attack, damage, and the following skills: Bluff, Disguise, Intimidate, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth and Survival. Not sure if you want me to roll Acrobatics and/or Stealth or if you want to do those rolls. Not sure if I can make an attack as well, so for now I'll just make this my action.
If Thorizmond has a clear path, he can charge on his turn.
Music to my ears!
"You will not halt us, creature! I dare you to stand in my path!" Thorizmond says, then lowers his ivory lance, carved from a tusk of the same beast as his Mammoth Hide armor, and charges forward at the strange plant creature.
Activating Challenge, +14 to damage, +4 dodge bonus vs target. Also a +1 dodge bonus generally, because I moved at least 10 feet this round, from the Fleet Standard class feature.
Attack, Charge, Power Attack:1d20 + 16 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (12) + 16 + 2 - 3 = 27 Damage, Magical Piercing:6d6 + 87 + 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3) + 87 + (2, 2, 1, 3) = 110Normal lance damage w/Challenge & Power Attack 2d6+29, tripled on a charge from the Spirited Charge feat, +4d6 from the armor.
Pemta will move into the underbrush to try and hide herself from the Moonflower, while focusing her attention on it.
Gonna try to go stealth into the thick brush, while also activating studied target on the Moonflower. +2 on attack, damage, and the following skills: Bluff, Disguise, Intimidate, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth and Survival. Not sure if you want me to roll Acrobatics and/or Stealth or if you want to do those rolls. Not sure if I can make an attack as well, so for now I'll just make this my action.
Since the moonflower has a reach of 15 feet, I adjusted Pemta's position assuming she would not want to risk an aoo.
As Thorizmond gallops closer, the moonflower 'head' swoops and bites down on the lance before it reaches the plant, damaging it but not destroying it. The cracked lance still hits the trunk of the moonflower and badly wounds the plant.
We might need to consult the rules lawyers on this, as it's a new situation for me. The Moonflower made a successful sunder attack on the weapon. I would rule the lance has hardness 5 and hp 10, based on it being similar to a 2-handed halfted weapon. It gains the broken condition, giving a –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls. Such weapons only score a critical hit on a natural 20 and only deal ×2 damage on a confirmed critical hit. We can discuss the particulars of how this affects the damage in the discussion section, but for now, let's say it does half as much damage as rolled. That's still a major chunk of the plant's hp. 55 - 10 for DR/slashing = 45 damage.
The moonflower then pummels Thorizmond with a bite and two tentacles.
Bite and one tentacle hit, doing 15+5=20 damage. It tried to grab with the bite but failed the grapple check.
Human Male Bard [Arrowsong Minstrel]/Dragon Disciple [Brass] 9; 95/95 HPs; Init +7; AC 20 (21 Haste), T 15 (16 Haste), FF 16; Armor Check Penalty -1; Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6, [+1 vs Evil Casters]; 12/14 BS ; HP 3; Perception +15 (30 ft Blindsense)
A few thoughts.
Was the plant doing a readied attack? Because Ride By Attack prevents the target of the attack from getting an attack of opportunity. I am not sure if this was a readied attack from one of the plants or an AoO. In the initial initiative Thorizmond is listed as before the plant creature, but later it looks like one may have acted before him. from your description I am not sure which one took the attack, but it sounds more like an AoO then a Readied action. In which case the attack should not have happened and the discussion is kind of moot for now. But it might come up again in the future.
As for the damage question, Spirited Charge is not a critical hit. If he did actually get a Critical Hit with a Lance it would normally do x5 damage with Spirited Charge. With a Broken Lance the Critical strike would instead do x4 instead of x5 because of the condition changing the maximum critical of a Broken weapon. Spirited Charge does a bunch of extra damage which is not dependant on the weapons critical bonus. A lance does more damage because it is specifically designed to do more damage with a charging mounted character. But if you were to use a Halberd which also has a x3 Critical Hit modifier, you would only get double damage from Spirited Charge.
Male Human Cleric 10 | HP 73/73 | AC 25 T 12 FF 24 | Fort +10 Ref +5 Will +13 | Initiative +1 | Perception +7 | Channel 5/5 | Inspired 1/1 | Liberation 10/10 | Rebuke Death 8/8
Not wishing to use up his spells on what seems to be a simple plant, Rurik moves slightly to the side and advances quickly with his own rose to support Thorizmond from the right side.
Move into melee range with morning star and shield. Hoping that the centaur's charge ate up the plant's AoO.
| Speed 30 ft. | Active conditions: endure elements, mage armor.
That was reasonably logic, for plants to be vulnerable to fire. Bursting forward, Pyrrhus coups his hands and concentrates as a small flames starts to swirl between his palms and fingers. "Shams saghirat fi mutanawal yadi..." The incantation finished, the swirling flames form into a flaming sphere, which is then launched.
It spins and rolls before stopping beneath the furthest plant. "Now burrn, blant monsterr, blease."
Was the plant doing a readied attack? Because Ride By Attack prevents the target of the attack from getting an attack of opportunity.
I was not aware of this feature of this feat. It was an AOO, so the attack would have gone off as posted without the sunder weapon. I'd still like a break-down of the various damage modifiers to make sure the damage is correct and that I understand the things that contribute toward it so I can moderate it correctly. See this discussion which suggests it would be 5x instead of 6x due to a rule on how to apply doubling on something that was already doubled.
Ret-Con: The damage is enough to fell the moonflower, which topples sideways and lays still, its tentacles quivering for a moment.
Rurik can move up without fear of the moonflower. I moved him 30 feet, so he can either take another move action or a standard action.
Pyrrhus' flaming sphere rolls into the root area of the other moonflower and begins to burn it. Save failed, vulnerable to fire, so damage is 15.
The second Moonflower advances just enough to be able to attack Thorizmond with its flower-mouth and tentacles-like branches. Its mouth grabs the centaur and keeps its grip on him Using the grab ability with its bite, it has grappled Thorizmond and the bite does 15. One of the tentacles tries to smash his lance, but fails to damage it. The other tentacle smacks him across the ribs for 11 damage. It drags Thorizmond closer to it.
Ingrit (Haste, IC +2)
Pemta (Haste, IC +2)
Thorizmond (26 lethal, Haste, IC +2, grappled)
Moonflower 2 (118 lethal/104, dead)
Human Male Bard [Arrowsong Minstrel]/Dragon Disciple [Brass] 9; 95/95 HPs; Init +7; AC 20 (21 Haste), T 15 (16 Haste), FF 16; Armor Check Penalty -1; Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6, [+1 vs Evil Casters]; 12/14 BS ; HP 3; Perception +15 (30 ft Blindsense)
I believe I have been lost from the initiative, but I should be up with everyone else.
"us of our goals that drive..." Crasius continues to drone on as he launches a barrage at the remaining plant and moves closer.
Round 2/14 for Inspire Courage. 5 ft step forward. I will be doing a Clustered Shot which means you add all of the damage together and apply DR once to the total damage. I will be targeting th remaining Moonflower.
I ignore cover from allies while shooting a bow as long as they are in the Inspire Courage affect.
Female Human Ranger (Skirmisher) 10: HP 78/78 : AC: 20 (21), T: 15, FF: 15 : Fort: +10 (+12 cold effects/ +15 cold environment/ +20 with cold weather outfit. +4 to all if non lethal) Reflex: + 12 Will: +5 : Perception +11 (+17 Human/+15 Giant/+13 Fey
Guiding Wapiti forward with a command to get into a better position, Ingrit waits until he moves within 30ft of the massive plant, to unleash a volley of shots, sending a barrage of flaming arrows at the monstrous plant.
Female Gnome Slayer 7/Shadowdancer 3 | HP 95/95 | AC 24, touch 17, flat-footed 20 | Fort +10 | Ref + 12 | Will +8 | Init +3 | Perception +18 | Study Target (2, +2) | Current Condition: haste (+1 attack, dodge AC & Reflex, double speed)
original gameplan was to go behind the monster to flank it, but I don't think I can, so I'll move Pemta full 40 feet next to Thorizmond. Also if I've made any mistakes on my attack rolls please let me know.
Realizing that there's no way to get around the massive plant, Pemta moves around to stand next to her centaur ally. "An impressive charge. Can't wait to see more." Although she was truly impressed, her dull tone almost made it sound sarcastic. She then swings her blades at the plant.
Unable to use his lance effectively at such close range, Thorizmond tosses it aside and draws his scimitar, then kicks and slashes frantically at the enormous plant.
| Speed 30 ft. | Active conditions: endure elements, mage armor.
And just like that one of the plants was gone, while the other was being pierced by countless arrows. His flaming sphere was still burning hot, so soon enough the monster would be gone, so no need for him to waste more of his magic on it.
You do have to move to draw a weapon, don’t you? I forgot that. I’ll be adding Quick Draw to my list of feats to pick up. GM, can I retcon that to using the Cestus I’m already wearing? As a 1d4 light weapon it’ll drop the damage some, but the attack bonus is the same. Alternatively, I’ll just kick with my hooves and delete the scimitar attacks (though then I’m not taking -5 for secondary natural attacks combined with weapons, so my hoof attacks are hitting on 22 and 26, instead of what’s shown.)
| Speed 30 ft. | Active conditions: endure elements, mage armor.
Thorizmond Dvezda wrote:
You do have to move to draw a weapon, don’t you? I forgot that. I’ll be adding Quick Draw to my list of feats to pick up. GM, can I retcon that to using the Cestus I’m already wearing? As a 1d4 light weapon it’ll drop the damage some, but the attack bonus is the same. Alternatively, I’ll just kick with my hooves and delete the scimitar attacks (though then I’m not taking -5 for secondary natural attacks combined with weapons, so my hoof attacks are hitting on 22 and 26, instead of what’s shown.)
Saddly you do. You draw either as part of the move, or instead of the move. Also, don't forget you are affected by haste and inspire courage, so you'd get an extra attack with the cestus, and all of them would get +3 to hit and +2 to damage! We buffers cry when our dear friends forget our buffs lol
Apologies to Crasius and Rurik, who should have been right after Moonflower 1 in round 2.
All of Ingrit's four arrows hit, but most of the harm inflicted comes from the fire carried by the arrows. Damage: 11 + 4 + 1 + 8 = 24 lethal.
As Pemta moves closer, the moonflower extends a tentacle to try to strike her as she gets within its reach. The thick vine glances off her deflection field and does no harm. That was an AOO. The gnome's blade cuts through some of the moonflowers outer vines. One hit with no DR applied to slashing weapons for 9 damage.
I'm going to ask Thorizmond to repost taking the following into account and using the rolls made earlier where appropriate adjusted for the following: attacks are at -2 for being grappled, +1 for haste, and +2 for Inspire Courage, Damage is +2 for Inspire courage. Roll your 1d4 damages for your cestus attack(s). Also explain why your hooves get slashing damage. You can use the moonflower's AC of 21 to know if you hit or not. Damage is -10 for all melee damage types except slashing. Cestus is listed as doing piercing and bludgeoning.
Crasius fires off four arrows in rapid succession. The first two miss but each successive shot gets closer and closer until the last two drive into the same spot on the plant's trunk. Combined damage = 33 - 10 DR = 23 lethal.
Rurik's action goes here.
The Moonflower is not good at avoiding the flaming sphere, which burns more of its roots and lower trunk. Save failed, fire damage 13.
Awaiting Rurik's action and retcon of Thorizmond's attacks. So far everyone has done 84 to this moonflower, which is about 3/4 of its hit points.
I’m at work right now, but should be able to post this afternoon. Slashing for the hooves is a copy & paste error: I copied the scimitar damage and changed the numbers to the hoof numbers…but forgot to change the damage type. Mea culpa.
Ok. Here we go. Gonna try not to forget anything this time.
Unable to use his lance effectively at such close range, Thorizmond tosses it aside and instead uses his hooves and cestus to kick and slash frantically at the enormous plant.
Thorizmond is a blur of punching fists and flying hooves, some of which connect for more damage to the moonflower. 4 hits, after DR doing 23 damage.
After this, the moonflower takes more damage from Crasius' arrows and Pyrrhus' flaming sphere. It tumbles next to its partner. Good thing too, as it was about to try to encase Thorizmond in a tight digestive that could have killed him and fed a new moonflower seedling.
One of the moonflowers has some shiny bits sticking out of its main trunk. Cutting into the trunk, the group finds some equipment that apparently was part of the equipment of the poor soul who served as the first meal of the moonflower. This includes a +1 heavy flail, a handy haversack, and 235 gp.
Human Male Bard [Arrowsong Minstrel]/Dragon Disciple [Brass] 9; 95/95 HPs; Init +7; AC 20 (21 Haste), T 15 (16 Haste), FF 16; Armor Check Penalty -1; Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6, [+1 vs Evil Casters]; 12/14 BS ; HP 3; Perception +15 (30 ft Blindsense)
Crasius stops his chant and looks over the huge plants, "This garden apparently does have some surprises. It might be wise to tend to our wounds quickly and see what the structure has in store for us."
Thorizmond is the only one injured after the battle with the moonflowers. 26 points.
Pemta approaches a wooden building hidden by the jungle until standing on the path that leads to its doorstep. It is about 30 feet tall, with a chimney rising from the roof. There are no windows and the doors are closed but not locked. She does not hear anything inside at first listen.
"Well, that was unusual. Is the inside of the hut usually so hostile?" Thorizmond asks as he wipes blood from a few places and binds up and gashes that are still leaking.
"Wish and you shall rreceive!" He jokes. "So, wheneverr you arre rready. I'm habby staying in ze back." And that he was.
"Ah, many thanks! I am not used to having a healer handy." Thorizmond says. Advancing behind Pemta, he says "If we're sure this door isn't trapped, I should probably take the lead."I'll let her make sure of that before I actually move all the way up and open the doors.
Opening the doors, Pemta sees a ten foot wide hallway running west 45 feet. Two doors offer entry to the north and south sides of the building. The hall is littered with gardening tools, bags of seeds, mulch, pebbles, and other miscellaneous decorative items awaiting some use in the garden. Dust has settled on most surfaces.
The dust on the floor reveals recent foot traffic through the area, although all that can be discerned from studying them is that there appears to be two distinct types of tracks, one made by a medium size figures and another set that appears to have been made by a larger creature with strange hints of splayed digits or tentacles. The smaller set are obscured as the figure apparently is wearing robes that dragged over the floor.
Pemta doesn't detect any sounds coming through the doors or walls.
Female Gnome Slayer 7/Shadowdancer 3 | HP 95/95 | AC 24, touch 17, flat-footed 20 | Fort +10 | Ref + 12 | Will +8 | Init +3 | Perception +18 | Study Target (2, +2) | Current Condition: haste (+1 attack, dodge AC & Reflex, double speed)
Pemta inspects the place thoroughly. "Well, judging from the dust, no one has been here for years-" she starts, a slight hint of confidence in her dry tone. She stops when she sees the footprints. "I take that back..." She turns to the others, "Keep on your toes-or, hooves in Thorizmond's case. We're not the first to pass by here."
The two doors have no lock and do not appear to be trapped. Indicate your position in the line of PCs moving into the house, in case trouble breaks out.
Human Male Bard [Arrowsong Minstrel]/Dragon Disciple [Brass] 9; 95/95 HPs; Init +7; AC 20 (21 Haste), T 15 (16 Haste), FF 16; Armor Check Penalty -1; Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6, [+1 vs Evil Casters]; 12/14 BS ; HP 3; Perception +15 (30 ft Blindsense)
Crasius moves to peak in at the tracks and say, "Those tracks still might be pretty old, but we should definitely be wary in case they have the same attitude that those plants around here had."
| Speed 30 ft. | Active conditions: endure elements, mage armor.
I'm happy staying in the back!
"Ze advantages of being a bessimistic is zat you arre rrarrely disabbointed." Pyrrhus chimes in from the back, just now moving over the body of one of the plants.
