Round 3:
Inspired by the owlbear's embarrassing performance, Pontia also misses wildly with her next acid dart. The missile sails past the creature and dissipates into an acrid mist before it touches anything.
Nicolai reloads his crossbow and fires again!
Attack
Damage
Amazed at the beast's awkward assault, Daxius moves into melee. (I lost the grid on the map, but he'll take a 5' step SW.) He draws his sword as he advances, slashing as he gets into range. "Stand strong Hyngrot! We shall destroy this monstrosity without delay!"
"Just die already!" Hyngrot launches into another assault of his own.
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Hyngrot's blow swings wide but his shield smashes into the owlbear's mangled face, the beast stumbles backward a few steps, squawking through gargled blood and slumps on its side, blood pouring from numerous wounds.
Pontia rushes to the wounded half-orc's side. "Are you all right? I thought that thing was going to tear you apart."
The wind blows in the trees, the insects chirp, birds land again on the nearby branches and animals continue their scurrying lives in the undergrowth.
The owlbear sighs his last breath and, as you stand in stunned silence, you see Janniven approaching, red in the face, stern of countenance, bearing a wound to her face and followed by a sheepish Vitti.
She pats Nicolai on the shoulder: I'm going to get Vitti out of here, we'll pick up a caravan on the way back to Westcrown easy enough. Here, take these.
She hands Nicolai two small phials , A gift from Arael.
Then she wishes you way and disappears back down the track with Vitti.
Pontia rushes to the wounded half-orc's side. "Are you all right? I thought that thing was going to tear you apart."
"The thing definitely tried. And did a darn good job of it too."
As Janniven informs us of her decision, "Probably for the best. And thanks for the potions." Bandaging his wounds as well as he cans, Hyngrot slowly makes his way towards the bodies.
Daxius lays a warmly glowing hand on Hyngrot's shoulder, filling him with positive energy.
When he's through with his healing, and Janniven has led Vitti away, he speculates aloud. "Could the wounds of that unfortunate victim have been inflicted by this beast? It may not have been bandits after all."
Taking the poultices and nodding, "Thank you, Janniven." He hands them to Hyngrot.
Nicolai looks towards where his bomb scorched some of the foliage and frowns.
As Nicolai douses the flames, Daxius' healing has a dramatic effect on Hyngrot: closing many of his wounds, staunching his bloody nose and opening his battered left eye that had been turning into one vivid bruise.
After a bit of introspection, Daxius shakes his head. "The man was killed by weapons, not by beak and claw. Which means that our encounter with the beast was one of random chance." He considers, then adds. "Of course, the beast could have been some sort of guardian of the bandit's camp. Perhaps we should back-track it and see from whence it came."
In the heavy undergrowth, Daxius just can't seem to chart the owlbear's movements.
"Thanks Daxius. Let me give you a hand there." Hyngrot tries to follow the tracks as well.
Hoping that his knowledge about the creature will aid Hygrot's efforts, Nicolai will look in the foliage.
Survival
Hyngrot quickly identifies the creatures tracks and pursues them through the forest, after 10 minutes the trail leads to a huge nest, woven on the ground in a nook between an upthrust of granite and a large swathe of holy bushes.
The nest is about 10ft across and 6ft tall; as you stand 30ft away you cannot tell if there is anyone, or anything, inside the nest.
Daxius sheepishly falls in behind the marching order, taking his usual position as rear guard. He nocks an arrow and keeps a sharp eye out.
When they reach the nest, he keeps his distance, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "I imagine that the interior of that lair is quite filthy. I'll cover us if anyone is willing to search it." He tries to appear particularly alert and useful on guard duty.
Not being an outdoors-type person, Pontia lets the ranger and inquisitor take the lead. "If we're going to make a habit of this, I should learn more about nature."
Hyngrot stealthily approaches the nest, weapons at the ready, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger.
As Hyngrot nears the nest a red-and-black snake slithers out of the nest and stops, weaving slightly, intensely staring at the half-orc.
This is a redpin, a small poisonous snake with bitter meat which sometimes lairs near dangerous beasts for safety, keeping the beast protected from tiny scavengers who would otherwise prey on its stored food. Redpins only eat animals they kill themselves.
Taking a defensive stance, Hyngrot quietly and calmly calls back. "There's something in the next, metal. Might be a clue, might be junk, might be valuable. Hey there, little snake. Why don't you just go around to the other side of the trees. I'm just interested in what you got there." Hyngrot tries to coax the snake away.
As Hyngrot gestures and moves closer the snake rears up, ready to strike.
"Snake!" Daxius shouts belatedly.
The Asmodeans used a lot of snakes in their ceremonies, and they always creeped Daxius out. This one was even sporting The Archfiend's colors. His instinct was that the Dark Priests had sent it, which of course was very silly when you stopped for a second to think about it.
Tactics Domain Power - Seize the Initiative (Su): Whenever you and your allies roll for initiative, you can grant one ally within 30 feet the ability to roll twice and take either result.
This decision is made before results are revealed. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.
Nicolai tenses his body at seeing the snake preparing to strike at Hyngrot.
Initiative
The snake is clearly rearing up to strike, currently about 10ft from Hyngrot and with its back to the nest.
There is a clearing about 25ft across with the nest to the West, brambles to the North and trees and brush covering the rest. The clearing floor is trampled earth with a few roots poking out and soem straggly grasses. The rest of the group are 10ft behind Hyngrot.
Round 1
Seeing his attempt to soothe the snake failed, Hyngrot decides another approach is in order. Stepping forward, he attempts to bring the shield down upon the snake to pin it, bringing down the scimitar in a cutting motion hopting to defeat it in one shot.
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Hyngrot slashes and bashes at the weaving, ducking snake. He draws blood but the snake is still looking to strike.
Daxius will move to within 30' of the snake and fire an arrow at it.
As the snake bobs and weaves, Daxius can't get a shot around Hyngrot's body and his bolt disappears into the nest, another branch in the complex, woven thickness.
Nicolai hastily reloads his crossbow and moves to stand near Daxius. As he aims, he'll say
"Maybe we should just back off from it? It sees the nest as it's 'safe zone'"
Knowledge
The swirling snake darts at Hyngrot
but its fangs sink into Hyngrot's shield, smearing venom across the boss.
Round 1:
"I'd like to see what that creature was keeping for itself, though." Pontia casts a quick cantrip, trying to dazzle the snake.
The snake seems unaffected by Pontia's magic.
Nicolai curses as the creature strikes at Hyngrot, side-stepping a bit, and takes aim.
Nicolai's bolt strikes true, shearing across the snake's back.
Daxius shrugs at Nicolai's suggestion, dropping his bow and drawing his sword as he strides toward the snake. "I'll not back down while an ally is in danger."
"Bears with beaks, probably poisonous snakes, this is why I prefer the city to the woods!" Hyngrot comes back at the snake once again.
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Round 2:
Trusting to her defensive spell to protect her, Pontia moves around behind the snake after it strikes and brings her staff around in a blurring attack; the snake ducks under the blow, however.
Despite some enthusiastic swinging, neither Daxius nor Hyngrot can land a blow on the agile foe.
The snakes lunges forward again, this time for Daxius
Moving to flank, he gives a smile to Pontia as he darts out with both weapons again.
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Hyngrot's scimitar draws a wicked gash along its underside as the serpent weaves away from his shield.
The snake heaves a last fluttering sigh and falls heavily like a dropped coil of rope.
Insects buzz, birds squawk... the life of the forest goes on around you. Before you is a huge nest and a dying snake.
Daxius sheathes his sword, claps Hyngrot on the shoulder in a comradely way, and walks over to retrieve his bow. He makes a show of inspecting the string and cleaning the wood of any dirt, silently hoping that someone else will volunteer to search the disgusting nest while he tends his gear.
"So where are these bandits, then?" Daxius wonders aloud.
Reloading his crossbow with a fresh bolt, Nico walks over to Hyngrot, concerned. "Did the snake injure you?"
He then nods, "Daxius, I'll look through the nest...forgive me for my hesitation." He bows, and rummages through the nest.
Perception