DM Carbide's Through a Cracked Mirror: The Dark Road (Inactive)

Game Master John Woodford

Knowledge Nature (untrained)1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 Only able to reach DC 10 since untrained and this is a shot in the dark, but none of them are your guarden variety wildlife I assume.

"I don't recognise many of these plants, but then again I was never a good guardener." Krol shrugs with a smile making this small joke. "Best we stick close. I don't know what, if anything, could be hiding in the undergrowth."

Elesandira, I might have missed this but could you put Selveshanea's stats on your character sheet? I wasn't sure of her Perception bonus.

"Raaar"

Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Elesandira, previous party mention of vampire ivy triggered a faint memory, which the sight of this brought back in full force. You didn't know it by that name, but by an elvish name (that meant something very like vampire ivy, but it sounded much prettier). As one might guess from the name, it drains blood from its targets, and it's pretty good at entangling targets.

"Stay very clear of that plant, it will wrap you up in its vines and suck out your blood: vampire ivy."

Can we go round, or is this a threat we have to confront?

"If we burn the plant life it might catch hold of the rest of the natural vegitation. Can you find a safe way around the vines?" Krol asks as he grasps onto a vail of alchemist's fire just in case.

Lum goes pale at Elesandira's words, and Versey's skin develops rapidly shifting spiky-looking patterns, like animated temporary tattoos. It is at that point that the slowly-moving ivy speeds up dramatically and starts moving towards the party.

And we'll go on melee time when I get back to this, but at the moment I'm about to collapse.

Here's a MAP.

Round 1 Initiative Order:
Besmarial
Sami
Ivy
Selveshanea
Ava
Darc
Krolmnite
Elesandira
Eretria

Besmarial rises into the air and looses a line of fire onto the rapidly-moving foliage. It mostly moves out of the way, but still smolders under the withering blast. Lum and Versey break and run for it.

Sami is up!

This week has been frantic. My son is in his high school musical this coming weekend, so he's been running way late every night. My wife, who teaches at the same school, has been helping out, so she's been getting home way late. So I've been taking care of everything else around the house.

would you like to put Krol and Ava on the same iniative so that it makes things easier on you and me. Me so I remember what order and you so it's easier to track. If you want that is.

Darc not fearing a mere plant, blood sucking or not, calls on Gorum for strength and favor.

Casts Enlarge Person on himself ... if this is of use to anyone else, then let Darc know.

would you like to put Krol and Ava on the same iniative so that it makes things easier on you and me. Me so I remember what order and you so it's easier to track. If you want that is.

That's reasonable. Elesandira, want me to put Selveshanea at your initiative, too?

Krolmnite Underhill wrote:

would you like to put Krol and Ava on the same iniative so that it makes things easier on you and me. Me so I remember what order and you so it's easier to track. If you want that is.

That's reasonable. Elesandira, want me to put Selveshanea at your initiative, too?

Sounds good, I can't really direct Sel until my round anyway.

Round 1:

Besmarial-acted
Sami-holding
Ivy-closed
Darc-casting
Krolmnite/Ava
Elesandira/Selveshanea
Eretria

The ivy patch moves up with impressive speed, closing the distance between it and the party and ending adjacent to Elesandira.

Krolmnite and Ava are up!

Ah didn't realise other people had done stuff.

Krolmnite casts haste on the group, enhancing everyone's abilities, making everyone faster and more agile.

+1 to attack, AC and Reflex saves. Also a bonus attack at highest bab and double movement speed.

Ava moves in for the attack to tear into the the Ivy, pushing herself into a wild flurry. Using Power Attack, hoping to do mass damage to this thing.
bite: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 18

damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

bite: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 8

damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Claw 1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 22

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Claw 2: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 24

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Tail Slap: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 22

damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

you said it moved up to Elisandra, meaning it should be only a 5ft step giving Ava a full attack. If that's not the case ignore the two claws and extra bite attack.

Krol's AC: 19

Ava's AC: 23

"Oh no you don't!"

I lash out at the plant with my falchion.

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
damage: 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 4) + 5 = 13

"Raaar"

bite attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
bite damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

claw attack1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
claw damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

claw attack2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
claw damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Oh no you don't!"

I lash out at the plant with my falchion.

[dice=attack]1d20+9
[dice=damage]2d4+5

Remember haste. You get another attack and your tiger gets another bite attack.

Between the eidolon, the ranger, and the leopard, the ivy is chopped and torn into small twitching bits in short order.

Oof.

ETA: Ava, your tail slap didn't do any apparent damage to the ivy.

Wow, damn. Should've saved that spell for later. Have so few spells afterall.

Krol smiles towards the group at the remains of that ivy.
"Well, I think we've proven to be a excelent team." he smiles towards everyone. "Now, is there a path somewhere to head towards the threat?"

Versey and Lum slowly make their way back to the party. The gnome is obviously impressed. "Wow. That was amazing! If we'd had you along the first time we tried this, we'd have fixed Versey's gizmo by now."

"Seems our new friends are certainly capable fighters...."

As I clean my blade, I shrug, "I've had a lot of practise, we like to spend a lot of time alone in the mountains."

Darc sighs, "You good cutting flowers" comes out in a monotone, showing no emotion at the victory.

Krol smiles at the appreciation and Ava gives a rare smile until Darc seems to cut down their praise by belittling what they just battled.
"Anyway...let us head towards this bridge and destroy it." Krol says as he's ready to get going and marches on, with Ava leading ahead of him.

The group reforms and continues inland, following the directions given by the alien. Once away from the river, the prevailing flora turns into grasslands, and now every stray breeze raises everyone's hackles as the grass moves. Ava is particularly twitchy as she catches the scent of the vampire ivy often, a state only ameliorated when she realizes that she still has fragments of ivy under her claws.

And the DM is again about to collapse; another melee is forthcoming, though. I'll get the map up tomorrow.

One other thing--from the behavior of the ivy when attacked, and from the way it came apart when killed, it is clear that vampire ivy is a plant swarm. Slashing attacks were reasonably effective against it, but Ava's tail (a bludgeoning attack) did little or no damage.

Surprise Round:

Initiative order:
Ivy-acted
Elesandira/Selveshanea
Eretria

Here's a MAP after the ivy acts in the surprise round.

The height of the grass in the area is such that it was only by chance that Elesandira, Selveshanea, and Eretria spotted the patch of vampire ivy before it could move up on the party, and even then they were unable to act before it had overrun the ranger (who takes 7 HP), the cat (who takes 11 HP), and the eidolon (who takes 3 HP). All three of those affected must make a DC 15 Fort save or be nauseated for one round. Two of the individual swarm units have rooted themselves in one of Selveshanea's forepaws. It is quite painful, and the cat must make a DC 14 Will save to use the limb normally.

Round 1:

Initiative order:
Ivy
Elesandira/Selveshanea
Krolmnite/Ava
Darc
Eretria
Sami
Besmarial

Versey and Lum will again get out of the way.

"Damnit!"

fortitude save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Ava wretches quite horribly and is really unable to do anything for a while. She steps out of the ivy next to Versay.

I assume tanglefoot bag would have no effect on a swarm so will instead stab into the ivy with his longspear.

Krol stabs into the ivy with his spear, in the hopes that it actually does something to it.

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

damage: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

I lash out as powerfully as I can:

power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
damage: 2d4 + 11 ⇒ (2, 4) + 11 = 17

We're still on the surprise round, so Ava and Krolmnite aren't yet able to act. Elesandira's blade sinks deep into the dirt under the ivy swarm, but most of the shoots narrowly managed to evade the strike. Selveshanea is too distracted to attack, but may move normally despite the rooted shoots. (If he moves away from the ivy, the two rooted shoots will stay with him.)

Eretria has an action, then we're on to Round 1.

okay, actions remain the same as Ava can't do anything besides move due to nausiation.

Selveshanea will move away, probably try to gnaw the roots out if his hand (like a cat would do). Is that allowed?

Huh...thought I'd posted an answer. Yes, he can try. It'll essentially be an untrained Heal check vs. DC 15, and will inflict a small amount of damage (1d3 per attempt).

"More bad flower!!" says Darc surprised by the sudden appearance of more attacking plant life.

Selveshanea moves away gnawing to begin next round.

Oh I missed a lot....

Eretria will use magic missile on the one round (if I still can, and the following round she will use scorching ray if there is still a target.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 4) + 3 = 11

Scorching Ray:
Ranged Touch:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Damage:4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 1) = 13

(if it hits)

Eretria, since the ivy is a swarm single-target spells won't affect it.

well then... swarms are going to continue to suck for me -.-

Burning hands at the maximum range Eretria can get away with.

Damage 1: 5d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 3, 3) = 18

Damage 2: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 1, 3) = 13

DC 15 Reflex

Surprise Round (final):

Selveshanea retreats out of the swarm, noticing as he does so that the individual strands of ivy tend to cling to his paws and slow him down slightly. That is, the swarm is difficult territory. With the cat, Versey, and Lum out of the way, Eretria takes a short step and invokes a fan of arcane flames over the mobile plants. They attempt to scramble out of the way, but the flames still leave many of the individual vines charred and blackened.

Round 1:

Initiative order:
Ivy-acted
Elesandira/Selveshanea
Krolmnite/Ava
Darc
Eretria
Sami
Besmarial

The ivy swarm stays on Ava and Elesandira and overruns Darc and Krolmnite. Ava, take another 4 HP, as well as losing 1 point each of Strength and Con to blood loss. Elesandira, take another 10 HP, lose 1 point each of STR and CON, and two of the individual strands have rooted themselves in your legs. It's a DC 14 Will save to function normally through the pain; otherwise, your legs will not support you. Darc, take 3 HP, and Krolmnite, take 5 HP.

Current map is HERE.

heal to remove thorns: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

I posted a second burning hands for my round 1 burning hands btw just in case I was slow to post with the others... I thought I marked it but it apparently didnt save that in the post....

You're right; I should have marked that on the initiative order. I was planning on using that at Eretria's action unless all of the swarm squares were also occupied by party members.

ETA: Some other stuff. Selveshanea takes 2 points from gnawing on his leg. The pain in Elesandira's legs renders her unable to stand; she can only crawl, and with the ivy being difficult to move in, she can move 5'.

Ava takes a 5ft step out to the west and then decides to tear into the Ivy like the last time, however she doesn't appear to have landed many hits.

All power attack like last time.

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Claw 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Claw 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Tail Slap: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Krol left with no other real option, takes another stab into the Ivy, after 5ft stepping away to the south.

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

damage: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4

Darc looks down uncertain what to do as the plant grab at him. He calls to Gorrum for extra strength to squash these plants under his new found bulk.

Will try and cast enlarge person on himself, then rolly polys on the plants trying to flatten them, with his new found bunk. Just like a steam roller, not sure of the mechanics for this, so just do what you want DMC.
Not sure if Darc needs to do the will save thing as well, but its here if you need it. ---> Will save 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Darc, the sensations engendered by the ivy crawling across your body leaves you nauseated, so that the only thing you can do is take a move action.

Krolmnite, the spear blow might have nicked one or two of the vines, but you did no damage to it. AC 16. Ava, the only one of your attacks that connects is the tail slap, which does no significant damage to the swarm. It takes half damage from bludgeoning attacks, and has DR 5/slashing or piercing on top of that.

Since Ava and Krolmnite moved out of the swarm, Eretria is able to hit it with her second burning hands spell without damaging any of the party members further. It again manages to dodge the brunt of the spell effects. However, that sets it up so that Besmarial's line of fire scorches it severely. It's still up and moving, though.

Waiting on Sami at the moment.