1d20+0
The night is quiet as your watches pass. About midway through the night the rain blessedly stops falling. There are no disturbances to your camp and you enjoy a peaceful night of rest.
The following morning you break camp and look to the river before you. The flood waters have receeded and while swift moving, the waters no longer present the imminent danger they did the day before.
Barker spends some time consulting with everyone, looking at nature sign and the sun's alignment. He mutters to himself and then gives a small nod before informing you that you're only a short distance off course and that you should make your next marker by midafternoon.
After crossing the river, travel through the dense foliage is tough as many trees and plants came down during the rains. The ground is muddy and slogging through it saps the strength you gained from the night before.
Grutsnick shoulders his pack as the rain stops and makes sure everything is dry and free of insects. Picking up the third canoe he takes position at the back of the party and walks silently with his burden, concentrating on making his way through the thick undergrowth with the extra load.
Lorelei will walk ahead of Grutsnick and warn him of anything he might miss seeing and trip over while carrying the canoe. "Are you sure you're ok carrying that alone, it looks rather heavy?"
Grutsnick winks at Lorelei when she offers to help.
"No problem Lorelei, if we meet anything nasty I'll just throw it at them."
Uff, I'm going to feel this in the morning.
Lorelei might have given a faint blush at the wink, though with the mild sunburn her pale skin has managed to pick up despite the clouds, it's hard to tell. I hope he's not going to give himself heatstroke or something carrying that canoe around by himself all day. Typical man to not admit if he needs help or not. He does have some impressive muscles though... Lorelei still keeps an eye on Grutsnick despite his assurance that he'll be ok.
"It's nice to have a break from all that rain. Now I no longer feel as if we are traveling underwater. After that comment she glances over her companions, expecting at least one to come up with some story involving underwater travel and beautiful mermaids.
"I assume we still plan to slow down during the hot part of the day, correct?"Finnian asks.
"We may as well," Barker answered, consulting his wayfinder and keeping an eye on Grutsnick from the corner of his eye. He couldn't quite believe that the half-orc was coping with his heavy burden in this heat without magic. He'd been a bit more quiet since their escapade, berating himself for not having avoided the rising river. Still, he couldn't resist Lorelei's invitation to tell a tall tale, beginning with a hunt for a rare sea serpent and culminating in finding (and losing again) a lost undersea Azlanti city.
Checking his pistol and shortsword are in place,Regi moves along with the hulking half-orc. "Wish I could lend you hand friend, but I have not the stature to render such a assistance. I will instead assure you have that chance to toss our aquatic conveance should the need arise. If things come to it, I have the ability to give the momentary strength to carry despite having shouldered a severe load."
"No worries lads, though if the rivers comes at us again Regi you'll probably wish I was carrying you in the canoe."
Tilting his hat back a bit on his forehead he wipes the sweat with rag and says, "Boy oh boy it is hot today."
"All that sun almost makes one miss the clouds from yesterday. Though I must say I do enjoy being dry. Hopefully all this mud will dry up soon as well and we can walk on some solid ground again. I keep thinking we are going to end up losing Reginald in one of the deeper mudholes."
The blazing heat of the day has finally abated some as you reach your next marker. Ahead of you, the light of the sun seems to break through the tree cover and ahead you can see a clearing, a break in the jungle canopy. While there is still plenty of undergrowth to tramp through, there is only a single enormous tree in the cleared space.
At the base of the tree is a large stone obelisk, covered in symbols too faded to be able to read from this distance. Barker checks the map again and then nods his head in confirmation, This is the place. We need to check the symbols on that stone marker to determine where to go from here.
You all keep your eyes moving as you slowly move into the clearing, approaching the stone menhir with the caution born of traveling in the Mwangi Expanse.
As you get close to the obelisk, suddenly 3 tiny () creatures appear near you, standing on the leaves of some of the underbrush. They look like nothing more than a collection of bundled sticks held in the shape of a man with vines and leaves. They carry small little spears in their clawed hands and seem poised to attack.
As Finnian, Alexander and Barker turn to face this threat, they notice the vines hanging from the large tree by the obelisk begin to move. Lorelei, Grutsnick and Reginald seem oblivious to this as they ready themselves to take on the tiny terrors.
Round 1 Init 19
HP = 84
AC = 19
DR 3/-, 6/lethal
+8 Fort, +5 Ref, +3 Will
Weapon Equipped = None
Speed = 40'
Rage/Day = 16
Renewed Vigor = 1
Status Effects = Fatigued
Grutsnick drops the canoe and draws his axe, taking a step towards the closest stick and smashing into it.
Lorelei will ask in Sylvan why they are attacking them.
Round 1: Init 12, hps 60 (2 nl dmg), AC 18
"Watch out for the vines on that tree! The twigjacks may be amenable to reason..." Barker called, wincing as Grutsnick smashed the little creatures.
"Wait! We're not here to harm the jungle," he tried gamely, but kept his hand near the handle of his machete in case the twigjacks were too angry to listen.
Alexander spreads his arms and speaks a few words in Celestial
Round 1, AC 20, Intit.17, Health 62/62 (-7 NL)
"Well sh!*...." Reginald says at the sudden rendering to kindling of the little stick man. "Done is done I suppose." he thinks to himself as he draws Equalizer and cast a spell upon Grutsnick. Suddenly the burden of carrying the canoe is lifted from the great barbarian's shoulders allowing him to move freely as the river.
Not seeing the little stickmen as much of a threat, Finnian deftly maneuvers towards the tree and, putting his full weight behind the blow, chops at it.
satndard action- use Power Attack and Combat expertise and attack tree.
CMD(vs grapple or disarm)- 32
hp- 66
The twigjacks begin to vibrate on the leaves and suddenly a burst of nettles and thorns shoots out towards you all. Some of you avoid them better than others.
At the same time, the vines hanging from the tree suddenly lash out, attempting to snag unwary party members.
Grab attempt on Grutsnick:
Grab attempt on Lorelei:
AoO on Finnian: , Damage:
Grab attempt on Finnian (cause it didn't hit Reginald and so has 1 vine free to try it): [/
Burning Hands whichever little twigmen I can get without burning Grutsnick.
Burning Hands whichever little twigmen I can get without burning Grutsnick.
Grutsnick- hit twigman for 23 points, took a total of 25 pts of damage (gotta love that DR, wish I had it) from the thorn spray and the tree, is grappled by the tree.
Alaexander- cast bless, took 27 pts from thorn sprays.
Reginald- removed fatigue from Grutsnick (Invigorate), took 15 pts of damage from sprays (nice saves).
Barker- hit a twigman for 6 pts, took 27 pts from sprays.
Finnian- hit tree for 27 pts, took 21 pts from sprays.
Lorelei- took 42 pts from sprays and tree, grappled and unconcious, still needs to make a stabilize roll.
Grutsnick hauls back and lands a vicious blow, slicing the twigjack almost in half. Reginald, seeing the slight quiver in the half-orc’s arms casts a spell and suddenly Grutsnick stands a little taller, the toils of the day sloughing off of him.
Alexander also casts a spell, a warm gold light bathing the party and creating a sense of determination and power. Which is good as the tiny twig men seem to suddenly explode around you.
Thorns and nettles fly through the air, piercing everyone to varying degrees and drawing blood from even the hardiest. Then the tree itself comes alive, vines lashing out and striking into the group. With the sick sound of bones snapping, Lorelei collapses from the blow. Grutsnick, surprised that he has caught himself so severely on a vine, is pulled closer to the tree.
Barker follows Grutsnick’s previous blow with one of his own, dropping the injured twigjack. Finnian, seeing Grutsnick being dragged towards the tree and, Good gods, is that a mouth?! he plunges his blade deep, the wood giving way disturbingly much like flesh would. The canopy shakes as the tree lets out an inhuman roar of pain.