Also, cognizant that Wisps are a thing we're seeking, Vael will ask their scout friend to direct them to one if she picks up a trail.
(Darkvision 60')
(Darkvision 60')
---> (LLV)
(Darkvision 60')
The party makes their way through the swamp. Occasionally Ingrihild chuckles about tracking a will-o'-wisp and how that's impossible. The good natured banter is healthy, and you think for the recently cured dwarf, therapeutic. Indeed it's almost easy to forge--
A jolting shock of electricity breaks the mood as Vael is burned for electricity damage.
"“Where did you get that? Your theft will not go unpunished! Give that back to us!” a high pitched voice accompanies the source, a faintly glowing ball of light bobing gently in the air, the nebulous image of what might be a skull visible somewhere in its depths.
Round 1:
Ushyle: Go
Ingrahild: TBD
Will-o'-wisp: TBD
Raen: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Vael: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Ushyle has been listening to Ingrihild expound on the folly of tracking a "willow wisp" with some amusement, even though he has no idea what a "willow wisp" is or why she thinks tracking flying things is impossible. You can track flying things, he thinks to himself. I mean, they still leave droppings and remnants of their stay beh—
His reverie broken by Vael's cry of pain and the strange voice. The half-orc whirls about, his greataxe in his hand almost before he realizes it, and strides over to the glowing ball of light. What in the Nine Hells...well, whatever it is, it's not friendly.
The bog is uncertain footing around him, and he cannot find a firm place on which to base his attack.
Ushyle's swing misses by a mile.
Ingrahild retreives her bow and tries to pin it with an arrow and her attack fares no better, "What is he.... IT taing about?!"
The wisp counters by shocking Vael again but misses! It speaks again "That lantern! Impssible! How?!"
Round 1:
Ushyle: Miss
Ingrahild: Miss
Will-o'-wisp: ATK
Raen: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig misses though the shot was good the wisp is very agile!
Round 1:
Ushyle: Miss
Ingrahild: Miss
Will-o'-wisp: ATK
Raen: Go
Whistle Pig: Miss
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
After the surprise and pain, Vael steps toward Doxon and calls upon the spirits to shield him from the elemental energy.
"Please, don't." he manages to say.
"That lantern is the gift of the Last of the Council of Thorns: Silvermane. He warned us your memory may not be the best," Raen replies, as casually as she would converse with a rowdy drunk at the Killin' Ground. White fires flick from her fingers and thunder into the ball of light.
The missiles strike the wisp, Silvermane!"
The wisp hesitates and momentarily halts its attacks. ...Group Diplomacy check.
Silvermane!"
Round 1:
Ushyle: Miss
Ingrahild: Miss
Will-o'-wisp: ATK
Raen: MM
Whistle Pig: Miss
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Hamilton: Go
"Indeed, Silvermane. The elf yet lives." Raen too hesitates in her next attack, waiting to see how this will play out.
the ghostly image of a venerable human with a bushy beard appears within the creature’s glow. "You should have led with that. I am Mossmoon, a former member of the Council of Thorns. What brings you here, what is your purpose in the swamp? "
Vael finds his words, back in his element.
"We've been sent from Trunau, and by Silvermane specifically, ta reach tha Vault of Thorns. Tha town be under threat by orc tribes, and seem ta be unifyin' under a giant named Grenseldek. We have need of whatever resources tha vault has. After that we head ta Redlake Fort ta deal with tha menace. Ken ye help?"
"VAULT OF THORNS!" The wisp burns brighter.
"Orcs..." it dims
"I am Mossmoon, former Druid. Follow me into the swamp, and I will lead you to where you need to go first." In a solemn whisper, Mossmoon adds, "It is the resting place of the fallen members of the reincarnated Council of Thorns. You may use them to light your lantern."
When he leads you to the clearing, he dims practically to candlelight. It is a solemn scene, rife with history forgotten by scholars. It is yet another clearing in the marsh. Within is a strange collection of pale, spongy spheres 1 foot in diameter. Mossmoon speaks something in a secret language non of you are privy to.
Once placed the lantern's light glows differently.
Mossmoon adds, "I cannot follow you their. You must come by your own weird. Remember though, that the central menhir is trapped. It will positively crush any who touch it."
Mossmoon's dim light completely vanishes. The voice remains a bit longer. "Two furlongs west, before the shore. You'll find the circle there. I know not what is in the Vault, but I know it is the bane of Orcs."
And with that, it's gone.
Bane of Orcs. I like the sound of that. Lead on, Shaman. I've got your back.
Ingrahild remains quiet throughout the exchange.
She seems to be in awe of your comfort with the strange, and bravery shown in your cause.
She leads you confidently forth. It doesn't take long to find the Circle. A circle of monolithic standing stones surrounds a central
menhir covered in a layer of thick, thorny vegetation. In all, eight formations surround the central stone: five intact trilithons and another three that have crumbled and partially sunk into the swamp’s soggy floor. A large pool gently bubbles to the northwest of the standing stones. The central menhir stands 12' easily, and the others 8'.
(Darkvision 60')
(Darkvision 60')
---> (LLV)
(Darkvision 60')
To Ingrahild the shaman says, "I ken this be all strange ta ye. But ta me 'strange' has been me normal for a long time. When ye learn ta see and sense them, ye find that thar be spirits all around ye. Of life, earth, nature. Tha heavens," he gently pats Tulia, who stands on his shoulder. "Stay open, and ye'll see it too."
He then nods to Hamilton and steps forward. Holding the lantern, he shines the light on the standing stones.
Also, before heading out Vael would heal himself.
Ingrahild looks down, concentration on her face, "So much... so"
A beast.
A giant beast.
It emerges from the swamp wielding a gaff hook bigger than Whistle Pig himself. Cold, black eyes stare out from the fish-like face of this hideous green-skinned, web-fingered, and obese giant.
Round 1:
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Hamilton: Go
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
"Raen, be this tha marsh giant?"
Knowing the best thing he can do is to help his allies get within reach of the creature, Vael uses some of his shamanic power to move Doxon closer. It takes a moment of intense concentration, but the experience is starting to feel familiar. He then steps out of the way, allowing Hamilton a clear route to charge.
Vael jumps Doxon to the giant, hoping to put Raen's knowledge to use.
Round 1:
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Shaman
Whistle Pig: Go
Hamilton: Go
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Earlier
Raen is silent for a solemn moment as Mossmoon vanishes, like the sun into dusk. After a long minute, she touches the necklace about her neck and then turns her attention to the lantern in Vael's rough hand.
***
"Aye, looks to be. Be watchful -- there might be another." With little hesitation, Raen brings her magic to bear behind the giant in a shower of light -- not unlike the form of Mossmoon, at least before it explodes.
The giant blinks but does not shy from the spell! Whistle's Pg's stone, though, strikes true.
Round 1:
Raen: Glitterdust
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Shaman
Whistle Pig: Hit
Hamilton: Go-Bot ;-)
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Giant: 8
Hamilton moves into range on the giant drawing his longsword as he goes. Putting all his might into the swing he attacks!
Hamilton moves in, and FAR quicker than anyone expected, the giant's trained reflexes strike first and just barely misses the ranger!
Round 1:
Raen: Glitterdust
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Shaman
Whistle Pig: Hit
Hamilton: Go-Bot ;-)
Ingrahild: TBD
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Ushyle moves to get around the other side of the giant.
Ushyle hustles over, but doesn't get there before the giant explodes into action.
First, though Ingrahild takes action. She rushes the giant stopping to let fly with an arrow. , but her aim is poor.
"Zug dwarf human lunch zum!" He swings twice, once at Doxon, and then at Hamilton:
for
MISS
When the giant sees how easily it hit a dwarf it chokes backs the grip on the gaff hook for a more powerful swing...
Round 1:
Raen: Glitterdust
Ushyle: Move
Vael: Shaman
Whistle Pig: Hit
Hamilton: Go-Bot ;-)
Ingrahild: MISS
Giant: HIT
Doxon: Go
Feeling the bite of the giant's weapon, Doxon calls on the fury of Torag to enbolden him.
Fervor: Swift cast Divine Favor
Then he steps in towards this most hated of foes and brings
Agrimmosh and his pick down on the giant.
Doxon buries the Hammer of Unmaking into the giants rotund abdomen, bursting something inside. The blow is severe, and it takes the giant by surprise.
Round 2:
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Hamilton: Go
Ingrahild: TBD
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Giant: 26
Well struck, Doxon! Ushyle says with a grin.
Ushyle tries to use Acrobatics to get into flank...
...but trips on a root vine, provoking from the giant!
The half-orc moves into position across from Doxon, greataxe in hand, and tries to find a vulnerable spot!
The axe swings wide as the giant is more agile than he appears!
The giant seizes the chance, and swings the hook for Ushyle's head. for . It knocks him off his game, and the half-orc can't connect. Whistle Pig's aim is true, but he connects with the giant's massive shoulder, causing little damage.
Round 2:
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Miss
Vael: Go
Whistle Pig: hit
Hamilton: Go
Ingrahild: TBD
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
AoO used: 1
Giant: 35
"Lamashtan!" Raen curses. "They won't survive in there much longer!" she calls to Vael, an overtone of worry in her voice. Best lock it down.
Thick cables of sticky webbing dart from standing stones and tree trunks to lash around the giant.
Vael repositions himself, then calls upon the spirits of Life. Healing energy flows over his allies (except Ushyle).
Raen ensnares the giant! Meanwhile Vael undoes some of the damage.
Hamilton is up!
-Posted with Wayfinder
Round 2:
Raen: Web
Ushyle: Miss
Vael: Channel
Whistle Pig: hit
Hamilton: Go
Ingrahild: TBD
Giant: TBD
Doxon: TBD
AoO used: 1
Giant: 35 Grappled
Ham takes advantage of the webbed giant and leaps, moving to decapitate the foe with a mighty swing!
Longsword Power Attack:
Damage on Hit:
Hamilton scores a deep cut, spilling giant blood upon the fen!
Ingrahild gives a warcry and runs in! The hook, restrained by the web, misses!
Axe out, she tries to follow up on Hamilton's attack , but can't land it, despite the webbing.
The giant tries to bust free and does so with ease!
Round 2:
Raen: Web
Ushyle: Miss
Vael: Channel
Whistle Pig: hit
Hamilton: hit
Ingrahild: miss
Giant: Break free
Doxon: Go
AoO used: 0
Giant: 47 Grappled
As the giant breaks free from the webbing and turns to flee, Doxon swings at its back, hoping to bring it down before it can get away.
Attack of Opportunity:
Heheheh... NOPE!
Neither Doxon nor Hamilton connect hard enough to hurt the giant. Ingrahild for gets a shot in.
Round 2:
Raen: Web
Ushyle: Miss AoO
Vael: Channel
Whistle Pig: hit
Hamilton: hit
Ingrahild: miss
Giant: Break free
Doxon: Go
AoO used: 0
Giant: 60
Doxon closes with the giant, hoping his training keeps him safe.