Dungeon Master S's "Giantslayer" AP (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Hearing nothing, from the GM anyway :), WP opens the door.

Indeed the door is safe. But the GM is making good on a deal. He brought Jill to Metallica, and is going to 2 conventions this summer, so he is taking Jill to a Ziggy Marley show....

-Posted with Wayfinder

The halfling will allow the GM to gain Wife Rep. RLCF after all. He does leave the GM with a word of warning,"Wife rep should be spent as soon as possible. They can become null and void without notice and for any reason"

Love ya. Mean it! :-)

Raen, concerned, shares a glance with the others and scans Whistle Pig for enchantment magic. Perhaps the door was trapped, and he has been made to babble incoherently...

Numerous flowers cling to the myriad vines and creepers growing over every inch of this curving corridor. A powerful bouquet of competing floral fragrances floats throughout the enclosed space.

Map updated.

Know Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"No xtabays here! Just some delightful aromas," Raen chuckles.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Well that's a relief," Vael says as they make their way through the area. "And ye ken... some of tha scents wou' be interestin' as part of a summer ale. Tha kind of stuff ye'd nae find at home. Otherworldly tastes. Were it nae so difficult ta git here..."

When they approach the next door Vael patiently waits for Whistle Pig look it over.

Indeed. Vael is confident that if he spent half a day in here, he could harvest nearly 1,000 gold pieces worth of exotic and powerful ingredients.

WP takes a quick look over the flowers and plants Kn:nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 and thinks nothing of them. "Vael, I want first dibs on the tapping of the keg! What would you name this brew? There's a lot in the name you know."

At the end of the hall WP spots the door and gets to work.

check for traps: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
if safe:
perception to listen: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

The door way opens to a wooden hallway, devoid of flora and art alike. It bends back towards the southeast (directions being rather arbitrary in the Vault of Thorns.)

It ends in yet another door, this one made of much heavier wood than the others...

Map updated

"Help me collect some of this, and I'll be able to make something for all of Trunau. Should sell like ale-cakes," the brewer grins.

He then points out the right flowers to be picked, getting the group to help out. At one point during the hour it takes to collect them all, he says to Raen, "I'm sure ye cou' infuse a tea with some of this. Potent flavour!"

Once they're done, Vael takes his usual position in the marching order, and keeps his longspear at the ready.

It doesn't take long, and Vael's instructions are straight forward.

I assume you have something to carry these in, like an empty sack?

At some point the group will spend an hour collecting the herbs and other interesting items from the previous hall, but for now: onward!

check for traps: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
if safe:
perception to listen: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

This large, arched chamber provides a grim contrast to the Vault’s other life-filled rooms. Instead of lush vegetation, a massive briar patch and layers of thick humus form high mounds throughout the room. Hundreds of varieties of fungi choke out any attempt for healthy plants to root, and the air is heavy with the stench of decay. At the chamber’s eastern end, a large, swollen wooden chest sits atop a high mound of compost.

The ceiling is 60' high here, and the mounds are 30' except for the one to the east, which is 50'

" I smell a trap. or at least death. This room is not like the others.

kn:nature to know something about the fungi and other plants: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

perception for traps or ambushes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

1d20 ⇒ 14 Nothing to see here citizen. Move along.

"Indeed!" Raen says cheerfully, plucking a flower from the open sack Vael holds out in front of her. She chews on it thoughtfully as she gets to her feet.

In the next room, the Varisian is immediately suspicious. "Never trust a mushroom. For every variety you can safely consume, there are two poisonous species that look exactly identical."

Know Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Side note: I assume there aren't literally "layers of thick humus [that] form high mounds throughout the room." Was that autocorrected from "thorns?" "Compost?" "Detritus?"

I assumed he meant to say 'fungus'. Could be wrong though.

Vael also looks over the fungal scene before them, with an eye for what might be poisonous.

Knowledge Nature - Vael: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Knowledge Nature - Tulia: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Nope. Humus, -i is a second declension masculine noun meaning earth or ground. :-) Also in English.

Neither of the more learned members have a feel for what caused all of this.

Learn something every day. I do like the mental of image of piles of hummus though.

"Do you see tracks of any fauna? Are we the first to disturb this place since the end of the Council?" Raen knows such things are best left in the hands of her companions, but tries to help nonetheless.

Survival (Aid): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5 nope

Vael crouches down, examining as best he can for any signs of tracks or disturbances.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

In the end, the best the dwarf can manage is a shrug. The place is just too foreign to his Dwarven mind.

WP smiles,"more moving plants,hmm? maybe we should just send a sacrificial centipede out and see what happens?"

He quickly backs away from the Vael and Raen. When he's out of their range, he takes a quick look around for tracks or any sign of things moving through the area.

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The half-orc follows Whistle Pig's lead.
Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Ushyle notes that any flora or fauna that followed you (mostly birds and insects) stop and turn around at the entrance to this room...

Obviously, this means a marching order is needed.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Doxon, Ushyle, Vael, Raen, WP, Hamilton for a marching order.

As the party works its way around the mounds, the air grows stale. Suddenly some of the rotting vegetation animates! Two long vines covered in sharp thorns protrude from what appears to be a massive rotting bundle of barbs that’s topped with a heap of berry-red eyes.

It exudes an aura of death and decomposition. FOR DC 19 from Ushyle, Vael, and Doxon. This is not poison or spell-like. Failure means you're sickened so long as you're within 40'.

It causes the front line to wretch and gag. To make matters worse the plant's vines move aggressively. It's not letting you by without a fight!

This foe can be identified with a DC 20 Nature check

Enemy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Raen: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Ushyle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Vael: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Whistle Pig: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Doxon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Hamilton: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

If you approach beyond the line, you must make a DC 19 FORT save or be sickened.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Know Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Raen has NO idea what this thing is. She hopes that an impediment will help. An explosion of thick cables criss-crosses the throny vines.

Web across the body of the thing. On my phone and can't paste it, if someone would be so kind. DC 18 Reflex.

Webs splash outward from the plant REF: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 and the body of the plant seems stuck fast!

Round 1:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Web
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

WP takes a look at this thing and nearly looses his lunch. Getting a wiff if it's stench almost seals the deal.
kn:nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

He loads a bullet and lets it fly at the jumble vines
attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Whistle Pig thinks this thing is a Brambleblight, a natural plant, but one that destroys life around it. Ask a question

Whistle Pig hurls a sling bullet at the plant, but doesn't connect hard enough to hurt it.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Miss
Raen: Web
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

DC 19 Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Back up! Back UP! Ushyle shouts between retches. We may need to take this one from afar!

The half orc draws his shortbow and launches an arrow, trying not to let the stench overwhelm him.
pew: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 = 16
dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Through the retching Ushyle fires, but misses wide.

Round 1:
Ushyle: Miss
Whistle Pig: Miss
Raen: Web
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Fortitude Save (Vael): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Fortitude Save (Tulia): 1d20 ⇒ 2

Vael powers through the stench, but his familiar is not so tough. Tulia flees back the way they came.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Will we need to make a save every round?
If so, Vael will step back 5ft

The shaman chants in a low voice, closes his right hand, and when opened a burning flame appears. Produce Flame

"Stay back if ye can!"

special defenses is the question I ask: DR in particular

The creature is mindless Whistle Pig, but otherwise only it's potent natural armor. @Vael, once you make the save, you're good for 24 hours.
Also, if Tulia is still officially an "animal" she's nauseated, not sickened.

Vael backs up as his bird begins to vomit uncontrollably. He casts a spell to bring forth flame...

Round 1:
Ushyle: Miss
Whistle Pig: Miss
Raen: Web
Vael: Flame on!
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Fort Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

As Doxon enters the area around the beast, he can feel his stomach turn. He's spent more nights than he can remember in the high mountains and had the need to scrounge for food. On more than one occasion, he'd eaten a berry, leaf, or shroom that didn't agree with his system, but then as now he is able to tighten his gut and bear down on the urge to release the contents of his stomach. With a grunt, he advances through the mounds to the creature, heading Vael's warning to not approach to close.

As he maneuvers around the mounds, Doxon incants prayers to Torag for protection and favor.

Fervor to swift cast Divine Favor. Standard to cast Ironskin

Doxon holds back from shouting his groceries. With training and a prayer he girds himself for the battle to come.

Instead of fighting the webs, the creature launches a rain of thorns! Two head toward Doxon, while the others target Ushyle and Vael.

Thorn v. Doxon: 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 - 2 - 2 = 9 MISS
Thorn v. Doxon: 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 - 2 = 25 for DMG: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Thorn v. Ushyle: 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 2 - 2 = 23 for DMG: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Thorn v. Vael: 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 2 - 2 = 15 MISS

Round 1:
Ushyle: Miss
Whistle Pig: Miss
Raen: Web
Vael: Flame on!
Doxon: Buff
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: Go

Knowledge: Nature:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Did we level?

Ham, hearing the warnings of Vael and Ushyle, takes out his longbow and takes aim.

Longbow:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage on Hit:1d8 ⇒ 7

Let's see if that can even hurt it before we risk closing with the sword.

Did we level?

Yes.

Squinting at the thing's "eyes," Raen wonders if her next trick will help. It is a plant, after all, and plants don't usually try to actually see. Still, the spell goes off smoothly.

Glitterdust, DC 18.

Hamilton's arrow is fired hastily, missing its mark. Raen tries to spoil the plant's aim and Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24, but the plant doesn't seem any worse for wear.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Glitterdust
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Pig really wants to close on this plant for a better shot, but he takes Raen's warning. She usually knows what she's talking about.

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

This time Whistle Pig hits on target, in a soft spot. The plant creature thrashes at the hit. Clearly, the sling stone hurt!

Round 2:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Glitterdust
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

With the ball of flame in his hand, Vael throws it at the plant creature!
Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Fire damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Another ball of fire reappears in his hand.

The webbed plant is easy to tag, and the fire burns the monster! Some of the webs melt away, but it also burns the creature even more! Web Fire: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Round 2:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Glitterdust
Vael: Burn!
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

In his sickened state, Ushlye's eyes are watering and he is having trouble seeing what's around him. Still, he knows he needs to contribute — a weak link breaks the chain, after all — so he calls down the blessing of Milani for him and his companions!
Cast bless. +1 morale bonus to hit and on saves vs. fear.

Can Doxon approach without fear of the Web?

Doxon can approach. the creature is at the edge.

Ushyle grants a blessing for the party, as the others close in.

Round 2:
Ushyle: Bless
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Glitterdust
Vael: Burn!
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD