Doxon grumbles as he closes with the plant, rolling his shoulder where it struck him with one of its vines.
Fervor to swift cast
The day has not yet arrived when Doxon Greyforge will be brought low by salad.
He then swings Agrimmosh down on the beast, hoping to reduce it to slaw.
Doxon's care to avoid the web makes him aim the Hammer of Unmaking a little too conservatively. It sails past the target, but the warpriest's wounds close, ever ready to keep the fight going.
Using the leverage of its roots, the plant tears itself from the web!
It passes by Doxon on its way to freedom, risking the hit to be gone from the fire.
As it creeps forward the aura of decay washes over Raen.
Round 2:
Ushyle: Bless
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Glitterdust FORT Save
Vael: Burn!
Doxon: Miss AoO
Plant: Break free
Hamilton: Go
Brambleblight: 21 (Thorns remaining: 32)
"I certainly don't recommend eating it!" Raen chokes, nevertheless managing to keep her lunch.
The plant moves without getting hit, and Raen keeps he lunch internal.
Round 2:
Ushyle: Bless
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Glitterdust
Vael: Burn!
Doxon: Miss
Plant: Break free
Hamilton: Go
Brambleblight: 21 (Thorns remaining: 32)
Ham sees that he needs to close distance, so he prepares for the creepy ugga bugga...
Fort Save:
And he closes. Double move.
Hamilton hustles forward, the aura no match for the Roughrider's fortitude!
Round 3:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 21 (Thorns remaining: 32)
The halfling continues his barrage, striking and wounding the blight again!
Round 3:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: hit
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 33 (Thorns remaining: 32)
Seeing Hamilton rush in to battle the beast, Doxon maneuvers around the overgrown asparagus to take advantage of his friend's distraction.
Doxon finally connects with the Hammer! The blow is powerful, and the cracking sound resonates through the chamber.
Round 3:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: hit
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Hit
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 50 (Thorns remaining: 32)
Ushyle can't hold his lunch, but tries desperately to move into position anyway, his stomach turning in somersaults.
Ushyle's performance isn't his best and he can't land a blow against the blight.
Round 3:
Ushyle: Miss
Whistle Pig: hit
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Hit
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 50 (Thorns remaining: 32)
Raen always feels apprehensive watching the armed trio enter the melee, and at the moment she is feeling particularly useless. She hopes a second shot at the thing's sight-sensors might protect them from harm.
THREAT
Vael lobs another ball of flame at the plant creature.
Raen's spell dazzles the plant creature just as Vael's fire burns away ever more of it's trunk.
The blight lashes out with a pair of thorny limbs, targeting the hammer wielding foe! The sound of contact is extremely loud as Doxon takes a pair of heavy hits.
for
for
Round 3:
Ushyle: Miss
Whistle Pig: hit
Raen: Razzle
Vael: Dazzle
Doxon: Hit
Plant: ATK
Hamilton: Go
Brambleblight: 58 ( Thorns remaining: 32)
Hamilton hacks into the mass of plants, looking to end the fight quickly.. With a good mulching!
Longsword (w/Power Attack and Flank):
Damage on Hit:
Hamilton cuts deep into the plant, releasing a foul smelling ichor. The blight seems to be slowing down as the Heroes of Trunau close in!
Round 4:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 64 (Dazzled until Round 3 turn, Thorns remaining: 32)
Again the halfling's aim is true, and he slams the trunk of the monster with yet another stone. The blight seems to be close to death...
Round 4:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Go
Vael: Go
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 75 (Dazzled until Round 3 turn, Thorns remaining: 32)
Vael throws yet another ball of flame...
Unfortunately this time Vael's aim fails him and the flame dissipates harmlessly.
Round 4:
Ushyle: Go
Whistle Pig: Hit
Raen: Go
Vael: Miss
Doxon: Go
Plant: TBD
Hamilton: TBD
Brambleblight: 75 (Dazzled until Round 3 turn, Thorns remaining: 32)
With a mighty swing of the axe, Ushlye strikes the base of the creature. With an almost supernatural speed it withers and dies.
In a matter of moments, the room goes quiet. The fauna still avoid it, but the room is now safe.
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WP walks to the front liner with a grim smile on his face. "never had to battle a plant before. I wonder what this place will throw at us next?"
He take a few minutes to search the area for anything of value.
Once he's done, get inspects the mound with the chest on it.
If it's safe he moves up to the chest
Whistle Pig gives the room a solid look, and determines that there are no traps. It appears the Brambleblight was the only protection.
The chest, too, is untrapped. Unfortunately, it's locked tight.
Once certain that the plant won't be springing back to life, Vael calls to the Spirits of Life to help his friends.
The shaman then calls upon the spirits again, this time for more direct help for his fellow dwarf.
Whistle Pig can't spring the lock, so he settles in by sitting down cross-legged and sets to the task. It takes him:
him just a short while. With a satisfying click! the lock is undone.
The halfling jumps up to open the chest! Finally all the weapons needed to protect Trunau from an orc and giant invasion.
Within is:
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's empty.
I think that fully heals Ushyle, and leaves Doxon down 18.
As the plant suffers under the assault of the party, the creature lashes out at Doxon. One vine slams into the sturdy dwarf, eliciting a grunt from him. Another vine stabs at Doxon and connects with his shoulder but rebounds harmlessly off. An observant spectator might have noticed the quick shimmer of steel in Doxon's skin as the vine hit (Ironskin was active).
Looking over Whistle Pig's head, Vael takes a look inside the chest. He curses. "I shou' have known," he growls. "If tha evil fey ken git in here, someone else cou' have too. Someone beat us ta it!"
He stops and thinks for a moment. "Keep lookin' around. Mayhap this be a trick?"
Vael starts his own searching, starting around the chest.
Vael's search bears fruit almost immediately! He notices a false bottom in the chest. Beneath the false bottom, a warped wooden ladder descends inside the hill to a 10-foot-square chamber containing the Council of Thorns’ hidden armory!
Although several of the items once stored here have decayed or rotted away, the cache still contains an array of riches and armaments. Indeed, with these Trunau's heroes can take the fight to the source!
Finding the false bottom, Vael nearly swats the back of Whistle Pig's head. "And you're our eyes? Nearly game me a heart attack."
He then starts pulling out all the items for the team to look over.
Vael will utter a quick chant to look over the greatsword.
Vael's Eyes go wide as he unlocks the aura of the blade known as Gorum's Thorn
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WP looks around the room and inspecting each nook and cranny. He checks and rechecks. Every time he looks he gets a little mopey.
The final time around he sighs and sits next to Ushyle, "You would think that Druids, of all people, would have a decent sling for a halfling to use."
Whistle Pig is confident that the party has retrieved anything and everything of value.
Doxon's eyes light up as Vael retrieves the treasure. He's impressed with what the Council of Thorns kept hidden. He steps back away from the pile and pats Ushyle and Ham on the shoulders.
Looks like we'll all be better armed for our fights to come. I look forward to seeing you both wielding these new weapons in battle.
EDIT: We also have an unclaimed +1 Longbow... Anyone mind?
Raen fixes Whistle Pig with a piercing look. "You are fond of the things, it seems. Perhaps I could weave one for you, some day, with the right resources." She studies one of the wands before pocketing it.
The party eagerly takes the fabled treasure out of the Vault of Thorns. Outside, waiting patiently is Ingrahild. She sports a wide smile to see you and joins you on your short hike back to Bloodtusk's barge.
Though it's only been a couple of days, it feels like much longer. Everyone aboard is eager to hear the story, even requesting it more than once.
Bloodtusk also delivers some good news, "Now that we're beyond the Ghostlight, it should be a smooth and easy ride to Redlake. He's to hoping you can crush any full-blood and giant forces."
True to his word, the trip up the river is quiet and peaceful. The downtime is welcomed by all. The first day involves a New Year's Day's feast as you welcome 4717 AR. Otherwise you're left to your own devices.
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Ushyle shows Ingrahild the head of Ewigga as they make the short journey to the barge. I know this does not yet return your brother, or remove the pain you have endured, he says softly, but, at the very least, the hag will bother you and yours no more.
When the party reaches the barge, he is the last to board, pointedly tossing the severed head into the river. So ends the tyranny of Ewigga and her sisters. Ever thus to tyrants!
Unsure how it is that he's always holding the coins, Vael divvies out the loose change. There's still items to be sold, but buyers would need to be found.
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WP absentmindedly puts the coins in the bag. He adds a few spicy items into the story of the travels. He doesn't make any mention of his own part in the tail, knowing that the reason halfling survive in the world is that they are typically overlook and aren't considered a threat.
He does ask if anyone has any cold iron they could turn into bullets for him.
Vael smiles when he sees Ingrahild, but there's a bit of sadness in it. "We've nae found any signs of yer brother, though tha had be dead. I'm sure ye'll be stayin' here and continuin' ta look. We'll be continuin' on towards Redlake, but I've nae forgotten me promise. If ye've nae found Umlo, I will find a way ta help ye. I will-"
It's at this point that the shaman sees Ushyle toss the head into the water. "No!" he shouts, then curses. He reaches up to the sky, mumbling a chant, and... starts to take flight! With a great deal of awkwardness, Vael flies out to the (thankfully floating) head of Ewigga and retrieves it from the water.
When he returns to land, he looks to Ushyle and tries to explain. "I need... well, I need ta talk ta it still. I ken it's gruesome, but it has answers for us."
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During the trip to Redlake Fort, Vael uses his time brewing potions for himself (potion of remove disease), Whistle Pig (potion of remove curse), and Ushyle (potion of fly). He also prepares himself for the unpleasant task of speaking with the dead head of Ewigga (which he keeps in a bag that he'll buy from the captain if he can).
One morning Vael brings himself out of his morning's spiritual communions with a sigh. Across from him is the head of Ewigga, facial features twisted and evil. He begins a chant, gathering energy that he uses to try and draw a semblance of life back into the head...
"There was a pair of dwarves, Ingrahild and Umlo, that you cursed several weeks ago. The sister, Ingrahild, has red hair and brown eyes. They were in the company of a pair mercenaries. Where is Umlo now?"
"Vael, that's a terrible-" Tulia is saying as Vael and his familiar come into view. The dwarf hushes the thrush. He spies Raen looking over the map of Redlake Fort and walks to her with purpose.
"I've an idea that shou' help us git some information. Well two, but I want ta put one forward and git yer thinkin' on it," Vael says, then quickly launches into it.
"Ye see, I have a trick that'll let me float up into tha sky, and another that'll let me see and listen from a distance. I've never tried this before, but it cou' let us see what forces be in this area," he gestures to one of the open areas in the fort map, "And hear what details we may about what's goin' on. It lasts a few minutes, but it cou' be what we need. Tha only thin' be.. I'd be many lengths into tha air so I cou' see tha area. I might need ta be made invisible, which be where ye come in."
Tulia, who the party has learned over time acts like a bit of a know-it-all, chirps in. "And I've told this lump of earth and clay that he's an idiot, and so is this idea. It's risky and wasteful of the gifts my patron bestows. What's smarter is to let me scout the area, with your wizardly magic if you must. I am small and incredibly quiet. If you can truly make that magic last, I should have ample time to fly through the entire area and get numbers on the forces there."
Both bird and shaman look to Raen, as if she can somehow break this stalemate on the plan.
Raen looks from one to the other and back again several times, then breaks out into a deep, ringing laugh that makes both dwarf and bird surprised, then puzzled, then a little amused. "I thought dwarves liked ground, Vael," she chuckles, "and she is a bird, you know. Tulia gets my magic."
She shifts her sitting position and the map across her lap so that both Vael and Tulia can see. "It would be good to have a sense of the fort's population, and how well guarded this courtyard is here, and any sentries posted over there..."
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The Varisian sought out Bloodtusk when first returning to the boat and, after expressing both joy at his crew's continued health and thanks for their willingness to wait, inquires about a quiet place in which to further studies. So accommodated, she sets about completing the weave of magic into her own mud-spattered, burr-covered traveling cloak, which consumes her morning on the first day back on the river. When she is confident that the fibers have been strengthened with her subtle, ephemeral arcane threads -- and that the magic will hold -- she gives the battered utilitarian garment a last careful survey before hanging it up in the fo'c'sle.
There she finds Whistle Pig, whistling as is his wont, and strapping a new trophy to his staff. A mutually eager conversation and a sack of gold later, she takes the weapon back to her workspace and gets to work. By noon on the third day, Raen is satisfied that the slingshot will aim truer and stretch farther with the aid of her magic.
The second half rest of the journey finds the woman at much the same business, having talked both dwarves and the rose-marked Ushyle to surrender their cloaks and some of their earnings for a short time. By the time Bloodtusk announces that their arrival at Redlake Fort is imminent, Raen has managed to return all three cloaks to Vael , Doxon , and is partway through her work on Ushyle's Ushyle . Each companion notes a marked increase in her skill at sewing and patching as the week goes on -- especially to those with the skill to see and understand the magic behind it.