Like Arc, Sydney starts walking in a trance towards the flowers. But unlike Arc, she's quick on her feet! (40ft move speed!) She pushes past the solarian and arrives at the base of the obelisk in seconds. (I've updated Arc and Sydney's positions on the map to reflect their double-moves towards the obelisk)
Sydney skid to a halt in front of the flowers and leans in... and suddenly the cluster of flowers pounces out at her! Or rather, those of you with clear minds see that the blue-violet flowers are all part of a massive shambling collection of moss, wood, and other plant life. From underneath one of its gnarled branches, a mossy mouth emerges in search of food! (See handouts for a pic of this thing)
Surprise Round: The plant creature emits a sweet smelling scent in the area around it! Sydney is protected from inhaling it by Ted's life bubble. But Arc chose to not have environmental seals up on his armor, so he gets a solid whiff. (The scent is a 15ft radius aura; an inhaled poison effect) The plant creature then extends a mouth and starts gnawing at Sydney's armor with root-like teeth. (Dealing 11 points of piercing damage)
Even while being attacked, Sydney's eyes are fixed on the flowers.
Arc and Sydney: At the beginning of your turn, you get a new Will save vs. DC 13 against the entrancing flowers. If you succeed at the save, the entrancing effect ends. If you fail, it continues: you can't take any action other than to spend two move actions to move closer to the creature.
Arc: You also have to give me a Fort save DC13 vs the creature's paralyzing scent. On a failure, you're paralyzed for 1 round.
||||INITIATIVE||||
Arc (DC13 Will vs. entranced; DC13 Fort vs. paralyzed)
Plant Creature
Isu
Sydney (11 damage)
Spectre
Solaria
Ted
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Seeing Sydney getting savaged by the plant snaps Arcalinte out of his reverie just in time to realize the danger he's in. He immediately reactivates his armor's enviro-seals after resisting the flower's scent.
"SYDNEY!" he yells as he calls his starknife to him. "HOLD ON!"
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
I see. Will I need to make another save next round or can I get away with leaving them off for another round?
You wouldn't know if this is a save-every-round or a save-once-and-done effect. The scent itself is a continuously rolling aura, you'll still be able to inhale it next round if you're in it. So it's up to you if you want to take the risk. But if you want a metagaming hint:
Hint:
Save every round vs. paralysis would be incredibly powerful for a low level enemy.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Closing enviro-seals, then. Better safe than sorry!
Arc quickly seals up his armor and sets the air scrubbers to clean out the scented air. The clean air quickly clears up the slight stiffness in his limbs and focuses his mind on the monstrous creature in front of him. Unfortunately, his sudden movement attracts the plant creature's attention. It extends a pair of long woody trunks, each one ending in a broad mouth, and bites away at Arc! Both bites close around him, slicing deep before he can pull himself free. (22 total points of piercing damage)
A low rumbling begins to emit from the plant creature as its jaws taste half-elf blood. At the same time, you all hear a renewed set of excited calls from the kaukariki in the jungle back the way you came. It seems your plight has not escaped their notice...
||||INITIATIVE||||
Arc (22 dmg)
Plant Creature
Isu
Sydney (11 damage; DC13 Will or still entranced this round)
Spectre
Solaria
Ted
Droid Outlaw Mechanic 12 | SP 108/108 HP 76/76 RP 11/11 | EAC 28 KAC 30; | F +11; R +16; W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +16 | Conqueror (white star-class): +16 (3d12+12 E&F)
Spectre's combat reticle zeroes in on the plant creature. Still unsure why his companions are approaching it, he says "Remaining in close proximity to this creature increases your likelihood of imminent death by 714%!" he offers. "I suggest backing away and destroying it!"
In case they don't understand what he's saying, he opens fire on it.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Arcalinte screams in pain and anger as the monster bites into him before struggling loose.
His armor flaring, he draws his curve blade and charges at the plant-monster, underbrush burning beneath his feet.
Sydney, weak-willed towards lashuntas - and apparently jungle flora - remains entranced by the foliage. The operative has a goofy expression plastered across her face as the carnivorous plant gnaws at her protective suit.
Spectre's laser rifle blasts through one of the creature's outlying branches, leaving a sizzling hole in its wake. Simultaneously, Arc charges forwards, sending a wave of flame into the plant monster's trunk. It presses itself down towards the forest floor with surprising swiftness, dodging the majority of the flames and holding firm against the bull rush.
I'm going to move forward with the combat round, but since this might be a bit of tricky fight, I'll let Ted and Solaria take their Round 1 turn as well as their Round 2 turn (rather than skipping or botting them). Please include both turns with your next post.
The plant creature, still smoking from Arc's assault, continues to focus its attention on the solarian. Roots surround him from all sides as the gnarled mouths continue to land bite after bite. (Dealing 23 points of piercing damage!) The carnivorous plant easily tears away chunks of flesh from its victim, leaving Arc close to collapse from his grievous injuries.
Meanwhile, the kaukariki swoop in from the south-east. Finding your group engaged with the plant creature, they begin to hoot and wail with what sounds like excitement. They take up perches in a tree to the south-east of Ted, Solaria and Spectre.
||||INITIATIVE||||
Arc (45 dmg)
Plant Creature (9 dmg)
Kaukariki Blue
Kaukariki Green
Isu (4 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg; DC13 Will or entranced)
Spectre
Solaria (need a round 1 action)
Ted (need a round 1 action)
Sydney blinks away the metal fog that had previously dominated her thoughts. She looks up at the giant plant to realize it's not a lovely collection of vined flowers, but a mutant fern with spider-like limbs. The operative springs back (See map) and reaches for her azimuth laser pistol from her quick-release sheathe. Her colorful language makes it clear she's come to her senses. "Someone get f^@$!# Arc up!"
To hit (Laser pistol, azimuth):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22Critical 1d4 burn damage Trick Attack (Acrobatics):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30DC is equal to 20 + the target’s CR If DC passes, Sydney deals 1d8 additional damage (level 3) and the target is flat-footed. Damage (Arc pistol, azimuth):1d4 ⇒ 1Flare. Trick Attack Bonus Damage:1d8 ⇒ 2
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
1 HP! I'm NOT down yet! ;)
Realizing how badly this thing's wounded him, Arloric pulls himself away from it across the jungle floor, staining the green foliage red with his blood. Once he feels he's a safe distance from the plant-creature, he grabs one of the serums out of his pack and downs it.
As Isu rushes past the creature to secure a tactically advantageous position, the hungry tree-thing extends a branch into his path, striking like an adder at an exposed gap in his armor. (AoO landed for 11 piercing damage) The blow leaves him slightly off balance, and his deadly hammer attack glances off an armored wooden trunk.
Spectre's rifle shot misses narrowly, sending waves of heat through the air. Sydney's quick pistol attack scorches an outlying branch as she scrambles to safety.
Arc: I see you haven't yet moved yourself on Roll20. Additionally, keep in mind that retrieving a serum from your pack and using it are a move action and standard action respectively. Since a serum isn't a weapon, you can't draw it during a move action to move.
||||INITIATIVE||||
Arc (45 dmg)
Plant Creature (12 dmg)
Kaukariki Blue
Kaukariki Green
Isu (15 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre
Solaria (need a round 1 action)
Ted (need a round 1 action)
Bold are up.
I can either bot Solaria and Ted tomorrow (assuming they don't post), or I can remove them from the combat while also removing the scaling done for the 6-man party. Let me know if you guys have a preference.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
I'll do the move action to move and retrieve the serum and drink it on next turn, then. Sorry!
I have 40 feet of movement, so I ran fairly around the thing to avoid an AoO. Unless it has reach, that is. In that case Isu made a bad tactical error. Uh, not me. Oh no. I wasn't me the players fault. It was Isu.
I have 40 feet of movement, so I ran fairly around the thing to avoid an AoO. Unless it has reach, that is. In that case Isu made a bad tactical error. Uh, not me. Oh no. I wasn't me the players fault. It was Isu.
Your character sheet currently says 30ft land speed, so you might want to edit that. Between Blitz and Heavy Armor though, should that be 35ft instead of 40ft, or am I missing something?
Either way, it has 10ft reach (which it was using to attack Arc earlier) so I don't think the specific speed matters in this case.
The plant creature gets positively pummeled by potent projectiles emitting from Ted's top. It weathers the assault and as the magical energies disperse, it's clear that it remains standing and relatively intact.
||||INITIATIVE||||
Arc (45 dmg)
Plant Creature (28 dmg)
Kaukariki Blue
Kaukariki Green
Isu (15 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre
Solaria (need a round 1 action)
Ted
Solaria draws a laser pistol and moves forward to support her allies. She first attempts a quick laser pistol shot at the monster.
Az. Laser Pistol:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22HIT Laser Pistol damage (F):1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
The next round, she moves and then attempts a quick clever feint to distract the plant creature.
Clever Feint - Bluff1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 11 + (6) = 33Enemy will be flatfooted for the next round!
The plant monster writhes with frustration as its food keeps squirming out of its reach. Rather than pursue the fleeing morsels on its stubby tree-trunk legs, it stomps around to face its latest attacker. Two gnarled mouths reach out to try to snap at Isu, but the kasatha manages to deflect both of them with his hammer!
Meanwhile, the two kaukariki glide down towards Ted and Spectre. Due to the long glide distance, they're not able to deliver any stinger stabs this round.
||||INITIATIVE - Round 3||||
Arc (45 dmg)
Plant Creature (30 dmg, flatfooted)
Kaukariki Blue
Kaukariki Green
Isu (15 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre
Solaria
Ted
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Do you want me to use my roll from my previous post for the serum, or to roll again?
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Arcalinte downs the serum and breathes a sigh of relief as his injuries start to mend, though he's still woozy from blood loss.
"I'm still alive, guys! Sun hasn't set on my life yet!"
Male Human Technomancer 12 Dataphiles | SP 84 HP 64 RP 10/11 | EAC 28 KAC 29 CMAC 37 CMD 29 CMB +9 | Kinetic DR 5/- | F+6 R+10 W+11 | Init+6 | Perc+3 | 1st 1/6 2nd 0/6 3rd 0/5 4th 0/4 Cache 0/1
"Spec, your monkeys are loose again," Ted grins as he retrieves his top from the air, takes a step away from the screaming ape, shakes his top like a gambler's dice, and hurls it at the furry nuisance.
Daze: Will save DC 15 or unable to take actions, but taking no penalty to AC, for 1 round (CR 3 creature or lower only)
Droid Outlaw Mechanic 12 | SP 108/108 HP 76/76 RP 11/11 | EAC 28 KAC 30; | F +11; R +16; W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +16 | Conqueror (white star-class): +16 (3d12+12 E&F)
With the sapiens in melee range, Spectre drops his longarm and draws his battle staff. He begins spinning it like a rotor, but the agile creature easily dodges it.
While Arc's wounds begin to close, Ted's magic sends the nearest of the two kaukariki into a dazed frenzy, flapping its arms and thrashing its stinger about. (It's dazed this round)
Isu's first attack connects solidly with one of the plant creature's thick branches, splintering it to pieces. His second swing deflects off a more solid trunk. Meanwhile, Spectre delivers an aggressive staff attack that the kaukariki easily avoids.
||||INITIATIVE - Round 3||||
Arc (39 dmg)
Plant Creature (41 dmg, flatfooted)
Kaukariki Blue (dazed)
Kaukariki Green
Isu (15 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre
Solaria
Ted
Right now, just based on posting activity, I've settled into a 2 days / round schedule. I'm fine to continue that way to give people more time to get posts in. But I can also switch to 1 day/ round and bot more aggressively. Let me know if you guys have a strong opinion either way.
Whatever we decide, I'll try to be consistent with that choice. Up until now I've been playing it by ear.
Sydney goes for another tricky shot with her laser pistol!
To hit (Laser pistol, azimuth):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Flare. Critical 1d4 burn damage
Trick Attack (Acrobatics):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Damage (Arc pistol, azimuth):1d4 ⇒ 2 Trick Attack Bonus Damage:1d8 ⇒ 4
The laser bolt sinks deep into the plant creature's main trunk. From the way it's beginning to smoke, it may not be long for this world. Solaria immediately feints with her own pistol to grab its attention.
Clever Feint - Bluff1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 11 + (6) = 25Success! Plant-pal is still flatfooted.
The plant creature thrashes wildly with its mouths, clearly not quite able to tell where the attackers are coming from, or why its body is falling apart. Isu ducks under one maw-tipped trunk, but another one catches him from below and takes a deep bite. (dealing 15 points piercing damage)
While one of the two kaukariki is dazed, the second jabs in at Spectre with a sharp stinger. The droid's wild staff-twirling connects with the foul creature's tail and tangles the stinger up before it can find a vulnerable spot. With its plan foiled, the green kaukariki drops down to the ground and scurries to hide behind a nearby wall.
||||INITIATIVE - Round 3||||
Arc (39 dmg)
Plant Creature (47 dmg, flatfooted)
Kaukariki Blue
Kaukariki Green
Isu (30 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre
Solaria
Ted
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Arcalinte calls his starknife back to him and throws it from where he lies at the plant monster.
With a gush of bright blue sap as the starknife strikes it, the man eating plant collapses! (I don't have roll20 access right now to delete it off the map, but its definitely dead!)
||||INITIATIVE - Round 4||||
Arc (39 dmg)
Plant Creature
Kaukariki Blue
Kaukariki Green
Isu (30 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre
Solaria
Ted
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
"Hah! Payback!" Arcalinte cries before wincing and lying back. "GAH!"
Male Human Technomancer 12 Dataphiles | SP 84 HP 64 RP 10/11 | EAC 28 KAC 29 CMAC 37 CMD 29 CMB +9 | Kinetic DR 5/- | F+6 R+10 W+11 | Init+6 | Perc+3 | 1st 1/6 2nd 0/6 3rd 0/5 4th 0/4 Cache 0/1
Ted's top reappears above his head looking a little drunk from the last Daze spell. Ted gives it a rest and pulls out a frag grenade. "I believe you were looking for this," he smirks at the immobile creature.
Thrown at the bottom right corner of the square below the green monkey so that both monkeys are in the blast, though a d6 in damage doesn't strike the same fear as the word "grenade".
Both kaukariki duck for cover as the frag grenade explodes and are able to get through with only a few scratches (taking 2 damage each) Unfortunately, attacks from Isu and Spectre are way off target, and the two monkey-like creatures hardly need to dodge.
Botting Syd and Sol:
Sydney rolls around the low wall and fires away at the green kaukariki...
To hit (Laser pistol, azimuth):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Trick Attack (Acrobatics):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 DC is equal to 20 + the target’s CR
Damage (Arc pistol, azimuth):1d4 ⇒ 4 Trick Attack Bonus Damage:1d8 ⇒ 8
Landing a shot right into the obnoxious creature's chest! It squeals and hollers in pain and starts beating its head against the low wall.
At the same time, Solaria tries to distract the blue kaukariki.
Clever Feint - Bluff1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 11 + (1) = 21success! kaukariki is flatfooted.
----
The grievously injured green kaukariki has had more than enough and immediately flees from the scene, heading eastward and flapping its arms to gain altitude. The blue one has slightly less sense (perhaps its still a little dazed) and it sticks around long enough to try to jab at Spectre with its stinger. Just as the droid is finishing his attack, the stinger comes in and jabs him in the arm. (Dealing 6 points of piercing damage and 1 point of poison) Spectre feels some foreign fluid being injected into his system. (Fort DC11 vs. the poison)
The kaukariki decides not to stay too much longer, it whips its tail around and tries to scamper away to the south! (Provokes an AoO)
||||INITIATIVE - Round 5||||
Arc (39 dmg)
Kaukariki Blue (2 dmg, flatfooted)
Kaukariki Green Isu (30 dmg)
Sydney (11 dmg)
Spectre (7 dmg, need FORT vs. poison)
Solaria
Ted
Map is up to date. Last enemy attacked and then fled southward. If you have enough movement to get to its current position, we'll go with your attack roll above, just let me know if you can reach it.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Arcalinte rises to his feet and pulls his pike out of his backpack to lean on. He begins limping over to the others.
I'll assume that Isu doesn't have the movement to reach it and attack this round, so:
The last kaukariki sees the advancing, menacing kasatha and screeches in fear. It spreads its arms out and runs to the south, catching enough wind to lift itself off the ground and up into the safety of the trees. In moments, its panicked screeching is already distant.
Though Arc and Isu are seriously injured, you've managed to survive against this unexpected threat!
Combat Complete!
Once you catch your breath, you're able to turn your attention to the Rune Obelisk. The burning remains of the carnivorous plant litter the jungle floor near the obelisk, lighting up the surface of the carved stone. Here at the base of the obelisk, the surface has been sheltered from the elements. Those of you that understand elven notice that the surface is littered with archaic elven characters. If you clear away some more of the vines obscuring the obelisk, you might be able to read whatever text remains!
Beyond the obelisk, you also spot the dead body you noticed on your approach earlier. When you come closer, you notice that very little is left of the person inside. Flesh and bone both were stolen out of a tattered and torn suit of estex armor. The armor itself is completely ruined, but you notice a few other pieces of gear littering the jungle floor. A frostbite-class zero rifle, a spell gem of Grease, a pair of frag grenade IIs, and a credstick.
"Ho! Ted, you must be very happy to find some more grenades. With any luck, these will do more than tickle. And Arcalinte Soter, surely this strange writing will interest you... as for this, this one needs to sit down... Those who want care... let this one know."
Isu takes a 10 minute rest, and after this, he pulls out the advanced med-kit and attempts to treat his deadly wounds (DC20 to gain 3 HP).
medicine:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
On Arc:
medicine:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
"Blast this accursed medkit! It's broken, this one says. The band-aids don't aid and the stimulants are depressing! Why did I spent an entire week studying medicine anyway?"
Male Human Technomancer 12 Dataphiles | SP 84 HP 64 RP 10/11 | EAC 28 KAC 29 CMAC 37 CMD 29 CMB +9 | Kinetic DR 5/- | F+6 R+10 W+11 | Init+6 | Perc+3 | 1st 1/6 2nd 0/6 3rd 0/5 4th 0/4 Cache 0/1
Ted guffaws at Isu's punning, "Keep up the good work, Doc." Encouraged by Isu, he grabs the spell gem and grenades, but looking at the others to see if they wanted any of it.
Ted's top spins around Spectre, checking the frayed wires and sending little arcs of electricity in to the droid.
Mend Spell on Spectre:1d4 ⇒ 4 Mend: Repairs damaged objects and constructs
"A battlefield seems like a safe place to rest up."
Isu checks the credstick to see how much is on it.
Then he shakes he head at the medkit but says nonetheless, "Ok, who got bit by one of those monkey things? This one needs to make sure that poison isn't doing anything to you."
heal-treat poison:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19.... Treating poison just in case, on anyone who volunteers to want the treatment.
Droid Outlaw Mechanic 12 | SP 108/108 HP 76/76 RP 11/11 | EAC 28 KAC 30; | F +11; R +16; W +6 | Init +8 | Perc +16 | Conqueror (white star-class): +16 (3d12+12 E&F)
"Most fascinating," Spectre says as the top spins around him. "A most useful skill."
Spectre then checks the longarm they found, as well as the balance of the cred-stick.
The longarm does the same damage as the one I have, but does cold damage instead of fire. I could take it if no one else wants it, or I could take it and someone else could use my old longarm.
Male Half-Elf Solarian 17 | SP 151/151 HP 125/125 RP 10/10 | EAC 35(37) KAC 36(38); DR 5/- Resist Fire 20 | F +14; R +14; W +11 | Speed 25 ft. | Init +6 | Perc +25
Isu Greelax Zyte wrote:
"Blast this accursed medkit! It's broken, this one says. The band-aids don't aid and the stimulants are depressing! Why did I spent an entire week studying medicine anyway?"
"Well, considering doctors have to go through years of med-school, I'd just say you need some practice. Every dawn brings new light."
He rests to recover his stamina.
"I just need to lie and rest for a bit...and then I'll take a look at the obelisk."
While the injured party members take a much-needed breather, Isu and Spectre check the credstick and find that it contains 360 credits.
If someone that knows Elven clears away the vines and inspects the Obelisk:
The characters on the obelisk are clearly ancient, but just as clearly related to the modern elven script. With your knowledge of modern elven you're able to translate portions of the writing.
'Ye who bear inquisitive minds, who seek the beyond, know that you approach Loskialua, monastery of starsong, embassy of the spheres, and Temple of the Twelve.'
Fragmentary phrases seem to indicate warnings to be respectful of the site, especially in the presence of any 'messengers from beyond'. There are further mentions of an 'academy' and an order of 'Interpreters of the Beacon'. The remaining text is too far worn away to make out, or too ancient to make clear sense of.
Unless anyone wants to try anything else, I'll move us forward tonight.
