Doug M's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Grab special attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

CLOMP

Massive jaws slam shut on the lower half of Zimu's body. Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Zimu is at 1 hp and is grappled.

The attacker is a toad. A toad the size of a horse. Its mouth is five feet across and filled with hundreds of small, sharp teeth. It just lunged out of the water, grabbed Zimu by the legs, and is obviously preparing to withdraw back into the pool for a leisurely meal.

The Judge can act in the surprise round, then everyone who can beat a 5 Init can act on round 1. Note that you are in difficult terrain (half move, no 5' steps). You're all on the shore, so it is not possible to get flanking on the toad without entering the water.

Bref rips a massive fart in his sleep.

Jax will jump backward as whatever it is explodes out.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8-->Initiative

On his first turn, he'll draw a crossbow and fire.
Oh come on! I just want to sleep!

Move: Draw weapon
Standard: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d8 ⇒ 2 attack

Morsum drops his goblin and leaps at the toad attempting to do all the damage he can.

Witch not toad food.

Attack-bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

It is your call. Typically my character would likely have his crossbow ready to fire, but I never posted this. If it was loaded, I could have fired in the Surprise Round, otherwise will have to wait for Round 2.

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 <-- not sure if needed

Tohram fires his loaded crossbow. (Surprise or Round 1 as applicable.)

Attack-crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

And misses badly.

Round 1 shot if applicable.

Attack-crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Which also flies off harmlessly into the moor.

wow, some bad rollng here. If Sir Edmin and Grumblejack don't step up, Zimu could be in serious trouble here. (Oh, and Zimu herself can try an attack or a Daze. But note that she has the Grappled condition: -2 to attack, DC 17 Concentration check to cast.)

Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Edmin moves into combat with the giant frog.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 1 = 21
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17

Jax scowls as he fumbles the crossbow, firing into the bog and splashing swamp water all over the Judge. The splash doesn't seem to help the older man's own shot any. Heh, sorry about that. I swear the pull on this thing is off or something!

Grumblejack bellows and swings his club.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

2d8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 7) + 5 = 13

"Stupid Frog!"

and in a sudden turnaround, the two heavy hitters come through for 30 points of damage!

The toad gives a sad croak, releases Zimu, and sinks back into the bog, seriously injured or dying.

Tohram looks at the mud splattered across his acquired guard's uniform and is glad that the clothes provided by their benefactor remain in the sack.
That is why I took a profession that avoided using weapons and getting stuck in frozen bogs.

He them moves over to Cy and helps her back to her feet: Glad you are still in one piece.

Turning to the others: We all need to be more vigilant. That could have just as easily been some of Sir Balin's troops lying in wait.

Edmin nods his head at the ogre then steps into the water to hold his hand out to Zimu. "Allow me my lady."

Okay, you're in the middle of the marsh, everyone is injured, it's starting to rain... let's see some Survival checks! (You can roll them separately, or make Aid Another rolls -- just let me know which you're doing.)

Survival Aid Another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Can I take 10 or a 20?

"If this Sir Balin has troops that can breath under water we are done anyway."

Yeah, we'll keep our eyes peeled. We're all pretty beat up, it wouldn't do for us to have to drag someone else's unconscious body.

Jax walks over to Toothpick and picks up the chef's hat, putting it on his head. Forward into the mires of mosquitoes and freakishly large wildlife?

Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Concentration 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Edit oh I'm saved lol! Thanks! Can I use my high roll to Appraise any of the items Jax pilfered from Blackery?

It would be 19 + 8 for 27

Edit 2 I took off my initiative roll, but then the d20 roll for Concentration roll dropped to the initiative roll, I did not know that happens so I had to put it back.

Edmin exhales loudly and shrugs his shoulders. "Looks that way unless you want to wait here and see what comes to eat this freakishly large wildlife."

...Those are some mighty large frog legs. Would you mind chopping those off, Sir Edwin Brightaxe? Then we can proceed and hopefully avoid any rodents of unusual size.

'My thanks to each of you, in particular Edmin and Grumbljack," Cуровую will praise the Ogre's ancestry in giant an ancient tongue.

'Shall we seek shelter for the night? or something more defensible than here out in the open. Perhaps this dead behemoth has a lair of sorts? I have been gravely wounded.'

She looks over at the group and her eyes lingers on the sleeping Goblin, 'as have others among us. We should get a full nights as best rest we can afford, heal what wounds we can, summon up magics from the tome the Warden was kind enough to leave.'

She looks at the remains of her would be devourer, 'Perhaps dine on anura tonight.'

Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Any useful fauna for healing, or perhaps can be used for sedatives or poison.

Assist on Survival 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Locate a safe haven.

As the others chat about their great victory over the mega-amphibian, Tohram tries to discern from the wind which way will lead around the village.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

What did Jax grab off of Blackerly? I don't think he had any magic other than the potions when I scanned him. This may have gotten lost in the shuffle as we all made our less than heroic exodus from the prison.

EDIT - The Judge looks an Cy with a confused expression. This is a giant carnivorous toad, I doubt it has a lair. He pauses for a moment. Although I imagine it might have jewelry and gems that have not dissolved in its stomach from past meals if someone wishes to slice it open.

I made note of searching him and grabbing any pouches, I think. I think someone also mentioned a sword but either Edwin or Jax grabbed that, not sure who or what it was.

'It was a thought Judge, something this large may have some form of retreat, otherwise it would have been brought low by hunters long ago and never reached this size.'

I linked a page on frogs above. I know quite a few things about anuras.

Yes, but this was a toad. A much more dangerous predator to small insects within the water and without.

Zimu looks at Blackerly's sword. "Say, this is a Montmorency. See, here's the watermark. That's a good blade."

It's a masterwork longsword. You were correct -- Blackerly did not stint on himself.

The toad sank back beneath the waters of the pond. There's no sign of motion down there now; the toad is either dead or sulking. Retrieving or investigating its body will probably require a Swim check.

It is starting to rain. You estimate that you are perhaps 4-5 miles from your destination now... perhaps 3-4 hours steady slog through the marsh.

Your options are, stop and rest up, or press on. Resting up gives you a chance to heal a bit. However, it exposes you to pursuit (which there's been no sign of so far -- odd, that), and the weather seems to be worsening.

Its getting nasty out, lets get to this bloody manor so we can get under a roof. I want a glass of wine, a smoke and some warm clothes..

Only 32 more hours of sleeping goblin before he is awake at 1 HP muahahaha

You'll need a Survival check either way. Current count is Zimu's 15 + 2 Aids (DC 10 makes it) = 19.

"I agree. I would rather push through and sleep some place dry than stay out here."

Jax - you gonna assist on the Survival?

Morsum: Survival(aid another): 1d20 ⇒ 12

Morsum sniffs the air and tries to taste the rain. While not super helpful, he does help some.

After a brief conference, you decide to push on.

It begins to rain. Soon after, it begins to rain harder.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
1d20 ⇒ 1

Hm. Normally I throw out some minor punishment for a Nat 1, but in this case that would effectively cancel out Zimu's good roll. So, not this time.

"Whoa-oh." Zimu holds out a hand.

"Whoa-what?" Sir Edmin has been trudging glumly through the mud and rain. Reminds me of the '09 campaign north of the wall. We got ambushed in weather just like this...

The witch puts a finger to her lips and then points. Once again, the party is skirting a bog, with a tangled bank of thorny brush on one side. There is a faint trail along the shore, presumably made by whatever animal makes trails in this miserable place. Stretched perpendicular across the trail are several grey threads, each perhaps as thick as a piece of fine twine. They are attached to a branch sticking out of the water. On the other end, they pass into the brush; presumably they are attached to something deep inside, because they are clearly under some tension.

"A trap? Maybe the ogre can throw that tree trunk he calls a club at those things, and spring what ever it is."

Tohram looks at the strands.
Strange place for a trap.

He turns and looks to Grumblejack lumbering behind.
You want to toss a log or small tree or something at that and see what happens?

Ninjaed by 19 seconds by Edmin - at least we seem to be thinking along the same lines.

Great minds think alike it seems.

I would have beaten you if I had not taken 30 seconds to proofread it.

Bref dreams of flying through the void disarming traps by the dozen.

Find the wire
Grab your snips
Avoid the fire
Keep good grips

He who hesitates masterba...er, something or another.

We could toss the goblin at the trap.

Grumblejack frowns. (You can almost see the thoughts moving through his skull like rocks grinding together.)

"I got a better idea," he finally says. "Get White-Face or Weasel to pull on these threads, an' you'n'me kill whatever jumps out."

DD1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 it worked trap disarmed

(Zimu is excluded from this suggestion, not from any ogrish sense of gallantry, but because he appreciates having someone speak to him in Giantish.)

Weasel tee hee

Are you tossing the goblin at the threads? said the DM hopefully

bref can disarm that in his sleep. No really in his sleep

No, Grumblejack. I did not mean for you to hit the trap. Rather, to throw something from as far as you can to set it off. We can all stand ten strides from the trap and you can toss a log or a large rock or something to set off the trap.