Right there are several farmhouses and some farmland that had to be abandoned because they were taken over by two ankheg and their young.
The captain of the vessel approaches you. "You remember when you first landed here how some grindylow (aquatic goblins) attacked you and tried to bring you under? Well since then there have been several reports of people spotting them spying on us. Last night two of them tried to climb the side of the ship but fled when they were spotted. We are likely going to need to find a way to deal with them."
Alba Divenvaar a renowned alchemist who joined this expedition request your help getting some herbs to make some potions. According to some early maps left behind by the first expedition there is a hill so the north-west with many valuable herbs she would go herself but Ramone forbade it because she was too old and her skills too valuable to risk. She offers you some potions free of charge if you bring her what she needs and gives you some papers with pictures of the herbs she wants.
Anya Sandstride a ranger and the groups most skill hunter comes to see you as well. She says that while she has managed to hunt and kill some small game so far the colonies has very little in meat. She has found the lair of a pair of dire boars and would like your help taking them down. Those beast alone would provide meat for the colony for weeks.
"A boar hunt sounds interesting. Which direction is their lair? We might be able to collect the herbs for Alba and help you hunt them down."
Anya looks at the map. "The herbs are on the way, we could do both in a single trip" she agrees.
"I have never hunted dire boars before, are they big? Crossbow should work, though, right? But hunting for herbs to make potions, that's right in my wheelhouse!"
Gizmo takes the offered potions and checks them out. "What have you got for us here?"
Then he takes the papers, looks them over, and hands them to the next person.
"Bettre keep a guard watching the sides while we are gone."
Joshua takes the list of herbs and looks to make sure they is nothing he isn't already familiar with. "We should be able to find these." He and Albert are ready to go.
Perhaps get boar spears? Deranthil offers.
"These particular two are around two thousand pounds each ten feet long and seven feet high at the shoulder. answers Anya "So yes they are quite big. A single crossbow bolt wont take one down, it would likely take ten or more bolts assuming you hit with all of them."
Diomedes whistles appreciatively. "Damn,those are some big pigs! We will definitely want to acquire some spears. And think about what magic we have that can be used against such opponents." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "That's a LOT of meat though. We might have to also prepare some sort of place to cook and/or smoke the meat."
"There's more than enough room to set up a big fire inside the walls if they need to. We should plan on how to carry those carcasses back, though. That's going to be a pain."
There is no cliff nearby their lair is in a large borrow under a tree in a forested area.
Yes the QM has all those things except maybe the animal lure thought the ranger can likely come up with something.
"Well in the end some minor lure, does not sound bad."
Bastien smiles and looks at Jordy.
"Mayb a lullaby!"
Joshua smiles and says "I might be able to calm them down a bit, but that wouldn't be sporting if we are trying to kill them. It might be best to see if we can use other trees for cover to keep them from charging us."
"Not sure even I could miss hitting a target that big. You know, when I was a kid, I learned to use a trident... any of those available?"
"I'm gonna prepare a couple pick-me-ups too, just in case."
Jordy looks amused at the idea of a lullaby soothing a pair of giant boars to sleep. "This isn't a sport, this is to feed the settlement. If we can stab them to death in their sleep, so much the better. If their lair is under a big tree, maybe we can net them as they come out to get to the lure. Or set traps." He looks at Anya. "Do you think there are any bear traps in the quartermaster's stores? A few of those could come in handy."
You head out to the hilly region were the herbalist asked you to get the herbs first. You start looking around and gathering herbs when there is a cry from the ranger as a long tentacle come out of a bush and whips him in the back as he is gathering herbs.
The ranger seems to twitch violently and start to trow up moments after. He barely manages to gasp out "Weedwhip! Watch out for it's thorns!"
Lets skip init do your actions and we will go from there.
Joshua sees the tentacle and tries to remember what he knows about weedwhips.
He then looks at Albert and says "Attack!" pointing at the tentacle.
He then pulls out his sling and shoots at the thing.
Albert charges in and attacks the tentacle.
As Gizmo watches pull up her pants , he jumps back and quickly mixes a few vials together and throws it at the plant thing.
It has 3 long tentacles (15 foot reach) and in combat it tends to hide it's main body underground to avoid being hit but it can move above ground if needed albeit very slowly. It's vines and body are all covered in poisoned thorns (anyone attacking it in melee has a chance to get poisoned) that will nauseate anyone affected for a short time.
Diomedes raises his crossbow and fires off a shot.
"What in the name of..." His bolt passes harmlessly by the vicious plant.
Jordy pulls out his crossbow and readies it, aiming at where he thinks the main body of the deadly vine really is. "Come on, folks, we can do this! It's just a plant!"
Derantil fires his crossbow as well.
Gizmo hit it with his bombs and the creature shudders as the flames burn it. The other attacks all miss.
The weedwhip (who is currently unburrowed I should specify, it is a move action for him to bury his body and he cant move if he does so)
Moves towards Gizmo and lashes out at him with his whip like tentacle.
Fort save dc 14 if hit. Nauseated 1d4+1 rounds if fail.
Your go again.
Joshua slings another bullet at the creature while Albert tries to bite it.
Bastien looks at Gizmo over his shield and yells.
"Throw another. I will charge in afterwards!"
Jordy slaps in another bolt and fires at the plant that was currently beating them up.
Direct hit + splash damage like alchemist fire or a normal bomb.
The plant creature dies.
Diomedes shakes his head. "I really hate walking plants. Everyone okay?" he asks as he looks around.
Wait, it could walk? Detanthil says with renewed worry.
Lets finish gathering these plants and get on with the hunt.
Diomedes nods his assent. He motions to the woodsy folk to continue to take point.
Bastien moves up to Diomedes and speaks.
"Dio, maybe I should take point. I am better and not getting hit, better at getting hit and your abilities to save us from harm makes you unsuited for point!"
"Oh, I agree entirely," he says with a smile.
You gather the needed herbs and continue on your way arriving at the lair of the massive boars only two hours before sunset.
"Were here." says the ranger pointing to the entrance of their borrow.
Deranthil surveys the area looking for trees he could potentially climb.
There are several the biggest being the one directly above their home.
Joshua looks at the boars' home. "A trap would work well but we would probably be seen. Let's see what we can do to make sure no one dies." He then looks around trying to determine if there are any other dangers here.
The rogue is not willing to risk getting so close to the den and is not that good of a climber anyway. Deranthil will look about for tracks and paths.
He readies his crossbow from the cover of another tree so at least he cannot be directly charged and tries to hide there.
While your getting ready you hear a noise and a shape is approaching from the woods. As it gets closer you see it's one of the boars.
"That's the male, looks like it's alone for now. The female is problably inside the den." says the ranger.
"Oh, good, we're in between them." He gestures at the one in the trees. "Maybe we can take him down before she comes out. Let's see how this net works. Does anybody want to grab the other end with me?"
Darenthil readies to fire when he gets a good shot, but not before the party is ready to start the fight.
@Jordy Sure. Net is a ranged touch.