Mud Bowls like these are heated geo-thermally, essentially mud hot springs. The mud within them is not usually hot enough to harm someone in any way, but the noxious smell of the fumes and fungus that tends to grow in and around them can nauseata even those of sturdy constitution. You recall that covering your nose and mouth with something could limit the fumes getting to you.
This will translate to a +2 circumstance bonus on your fortitude saves vs the fumes.
If this creature has some ability to blend in with its surroundings we could stumble upon it before we even have any idea of what we are dealing with. If it is a big as Beldame said, we should be able to spot it without this ability fairly easily wondering around here.
My suggestion would be to get to about 30-40 feet from the edge of this pit and summon in some creature to go in and try and lure it out. We also need to find out where the mushrooms are. Maybe whomever has the quietest feet and made invisible can try to go in right after the summoned creature and get the mushrooms while Fenna tries to keep it busy with summoned creatures for several rounds? What about you Ilya, can you also summon in some creatures to keep it occupied for a few rounds and away from the invisible person?
Kalev takes out a spare cloak from his backpack and starts cutting long strips of the material. When he is done, he pours a little water onto the fabric, before handing a piece to each of the Guardians. The fumes in there are potentially dangerous, so I suggest covering your noses and mouths with these. He then demonstrably ties one around his face, tight enough to stop most of the fumes, but not so tight to make speaking difficult.
"Good advice," Fenna says to the Marshal of Kardas as she takes a strip of cloth from Kalev, "though these will not prevent the fumes entirely, they should help considerably."
"I ask you, Shepherd of Mankind," She prays as the Guardians begin to approach the swamp, laying a hand on each of them, "please guide us safely through this hostile place."
Sure smells nasty, even from here, Casimir mutters, as he ties the strip of cloth on his face.
I have something here to help us keep our footing in the slick mud. I can also turn invisible for a short while, although if this thing is a plant, it may not rely on sight.
Malthir follows the direction from Kalev and covers his mouth with wet cloth as we approach.
Still at 100 feet, Ilya summons a horse into the mud bowl. The noble beast stands in the mud bowl looking somewhat confused before it disappears a short time later. None of the Guardians see anything untoward about the mud pool but pause to get a good look while the horse is summoned.
Kalev-
Fenna-
Malthir-
Ilya-
Casimir-
Moving closer as Casimir prepares himself to feather step anyone once they get nearer the mud bowl, the Guardians are assaulted by the awful stench and fumes of the mud bowl and the multitiudes of mushrooms, fungus and vegetation on the north bank. Forewarned by Kalev, each of the Guardians has taken measures to prevent the smell from overwhelming them.
Fort Saves-
Malthir-
Casimir-
Ilya-
Fenna-
Kalev-
As the group approach within sixty feet of the mud bowl, the fumes become overwhelming- and both Casimir and Ilya fall to the ground in agony, Casimir outrightly throwing up in nausea. Kalev has just enough time to realise that one of the larger mound of mushrooms on the north bank is no mere mushroom, but a tentacled, monstrous plant on the verge of charging at the Guardians. Covered in fungus, the creature is a menacing twenty five feet in height, with a disgusting purple mouth and two menacing tentacles.
CN-
IN-
Kalev-
Fenna-
Malthir-
Ilya-
Casimir-
Kalev- 18
Huge plant creature- 7
Creature Pic-Link
Map-Link
Wishing he still had a potion of enlarge, Kalev sends a short prayer to Erastil Erastil, grant me the speed of a stag.
Surging forward in the same moment, the massive plant creature shambles out of the bank of the mud bowl and lunges for the mounted Malthir on his steed from a full fifteen feet away. The disgusting looking purple mouth bites the ruler of Kardas through his full plate and wrenches him off his horse, dangling Malthir in its mouth like an armoured snack.
Attack (hit)
Damage
CMB Success
Initiative Rolls-
Fenna-
Malthir-
Ilya-
Casimir-
Round 1 Initiative-
Casimir (Nauseated for round)- 22
Malthir- 20
Kalev- 18
Huge plant creature- 7
Ilya (Nauseated for round)- 7
Fenna- 4
Bleaargh...
Fighting the unrelenting waves of nausea, Casimir struggles to his feet.
Get around behind it and block it from retreating back into the bog!
Swift action to heal myself and attack.
Kalev, with a furious roar, charges the beast, hoping it is preoccupied with Malthir.
Malthir is unable to effectively bring his longsword to bear in the grapple and can't penetrate the plant's tough bark, and Kalev charges in. The plant creatyre attempts to hit Kalev with a tentacle as he charges in, utterly missing him but throwing him enough off balance that he too completely misses the huge creature in turn. As Malthir flails ineffectively at the bark, the plant creature's mouth swallows Malthir whole, armour and all! The plant creature then starts to move back into the muddy bog, crushing some vegetation and mushroom in its wake- likely including the black rattlecaps the Old Beldame...
T2?-
You plunge into the beasts stomach as you go through one of the most horrible experiences an adventurer can go through- being digested. You take acid damage and you must make a DC20 Fortitude save or be paralysed for rounds- not that you could possibly survive the digesting for that long... Obviously if you pass the fort save you have two options- climb out (CMB vs CMD) or cut your way out (normal attacks). Note you still have the grappled condition, although the plant does not.
Kalev cleaves ferociously through bark and trunk at the plant creature as it retreats, punishing it for daring to swallow his Baron...
I have you on 30HP now right? You will continue to take 2d6 acid damage per round...
** spoiler omitted **
Fenna looks on in dismay as the Baron of Kardas is eaten alive by the plant-creature, before steeling herself and stepping forward to begin the invocation to call forth a servitor of Aroden.
"I call for the aid of Versillux, steadfast companion to The Hunter, to halt the escape of our prey."
Staggering forward a little, Ilya racks his mind for knowledge about the plant facing him, despite his nauseated condition. His knowledge of the arcane is wanting in this situation, sadly.
Round 2 Initiative-
Casimir (Nauseated for round)- 22
Malthir- 20 (Eaten...)
Kalev- 18
Huge plant creature- 7
Ilya (Nauseated for round)- 7
Fenna + Summon- 4
Map-Link
Casimir staggers towards the plant thing, hoping his nausea will subside in time to help Malthir.
Over the past year you have heard tales of these rare but deadly plant denizens of the Stolen Lands- Tendriculus. They are known for their troll-like regeneration, little doing them true harm except fire and blunt impact. They are surprisingly stealthy for their massive size. There are tales of adventurers being swallowed by these plants only for them to cut themselves out a short time later- but only if they survive the deadly paralysis the digestive system uses to render its swallowed victims helpless while the acid eatsaway at them. Other than their swallow whole ability, their deadliness is mostly due to their massive strength.
Between bouts of vomiting, Casimir manages to blurt out a few words of advice to his companions
Fire!...we must use fire, or the thing will heal itself....hurghh... Blunt weapons too.....bleeargh.... Malthir may still be alive, but we must act quickly.
He collapses as another wave of illness rushes over him.
Cursing his lack of torches, Kalev charges after the beast, intend on keeping it occupied while his allies find some means of rescuing their liege.
Miss
Kalev charges in, and his breastplate takes the shock of the things mouth smashing into him, the impact likely leaving bruises but no real damage. Even as Kalev's axe thuds off the plant's tough natural hide, he can see the previous wound he dealt it healing over, although not completely. Retreating slowly into the bog, the plant unleashes a flurry of tentacles and a nasty bite. Although Kalev's armour once again weathers the massive bite, both tentacles strike the ranger, one wrapping around him and pulling him into the bog with the plant...
Miss
Hit
Damage
VS CMD, Success
Hit
Damage
As Fenna finishes her spell, a golden furred dog appears in a brief flash and charges to engage the massive creature.
Meanwhile, Fenna follows behind the celestial creature and retrieves a flask from her waist.
Fenna's summoned dog launches itself valiantly at the plant creature, but its bite doesn't appear powerful enough to hurt the massive plant. Ilya staggers after the fight, still coughing and spluttering from the fumes.
Round 3 Initiative-
Casimir (Nauseated...)- 22
Malthir- 20 (Eaten...)
Kalev- 18 (Grappled...)
Huge plant creature- 7
Ilya (Nauseated...)- 7
Fenna + Summoned Dog- 4
Map-Link
You also recall that Tendriculos' are effectively corruptions of nature- they only come into existence in lands where the boundary between Golarion and the First World (Fey Plane) is thin. They do understand Sylvan but rarely have cause to communicate or negotiate, and they cannot speak.
acid damage for you sir.
You plunge into the beasts stomach as you go through one of the most horrible experiences an adventurer can go through- being digested. You take acid damage, and as the acid washes over you, you can feel the deadly acid atempting to paralyse you. Malthir lies inside the stomach near you, acid rotting away at his flesh. He is in terrible condition, but still alive and concious. Note you still have the grappled condition, although the plant does not.
As you seemed pretty busy, i'm going to roll the fort save on your behalf-
Success
Kalev hesitates, unsure what to do in the dangerous situation. The tendriculous has little trouble swallowing the half-orc! The tendriculous remains where it is, on the edge of its mud bowl.
= Swallowed Whole.
Kalev manages to keep his lunch in his stomach and his mind clear despite the pain, grabs his greataxe and heaves at the beast's stomach, hoping to cut a way out for himself and Malthir.
The celestial hound continues to fearlessly snap at the vine-covered creature.
Fenna meanwhile takes a slow breath and throws the flask in her hands at the plant, hoping that its thick hide will be enough to protect those within from the burning heat.
Fenna's alchemists fire falls short of its intended destination, only splashing the plant creature a little as well as the summoned hound. The hound continues to attack but has little luck.
Round 4 Initiative-
Casimir- 22
Malthir- 20 (Eaten...)
Tendriculos- 7
Kalev- 7 (Eaten...)
Ilya (Nauseated...)- 7
Fenna + Summoned Dog- 4
Map-Link