Red and blue are slowed down immediately, but the others manage to step around the plants so far. In any case, though, they are all in difficult terrain, and will need to keep working their way out, so overall it seems a successful spell.
Gundar rushes forward, getting around to the side for a better angle on the large giantess leading the trolls. He takes a knee at the last second to fire his crossbow, the enchanted weapon hungry for the cruel blood of their hated foe.
Gundar rubs his eyes, not even sure that these creatures are giants....
Taking the shot, Gundar realizes he didn't adjust enough for the range, and so he just misses.
The moss trolls charge forward (both double move).
The plants continue to grab and slow the giantess, but sheer strength is enough to break free. Still, it provides a challenge and slows her down. The yellowish troll has much the same experience.
Green, however, is able to avoid the plants and moves forward to attack Belir. He swipes with a large clawed hand, but the dwarf blocks it.
"Take them down and I'll keep them there," Thozar calls as he wreaths his arms in green flame.
________
The Giant was still standing. She wondered if it would be tough enough to last half a minute? Another hail of arrows was launched, carrying with it the destructive potential of an artillery barrage. If it did, then she would be truly impressed.
The first two of Ingie's arrows strike home, dropping the formidable giant in it's tracks.
Two more strike the yellow troll right in the chest! It doesn't drop, but it certainly hurt it bad.
Gundar double moves.
Gundar casts lead blades and moves forward.
Purple moves to intercept and attack Gundar, drawing an AoO from Belir. Regardless, he just can't quite get to Gundar with his attack.
Blue charges Belir. Also a failed attack, and leaves himself a little open to boot.
With the Giant down, Ingrahild turned her attention to the trolls. While her kinsmen kept them locked in place, she was ready to lay down a withering hail of fire.
Finding a troll out in the open, Thozar launches fire at it. "That one'd be a good one to start with," he says to Ingrahild.
________
Unfortunately, Thozar just misses his target, which leaps out of the way as it sees the flames rushing toward it. So even though he missed, clearly the use of fire has shaken the troll briefly.
Ingrahild puts the (purple) troll down with her first two arrows, and then turns her attention on blue, repeating the performance.
Gundar brings out his scimitar. "Got just the thing for ya, beastie. Keep sleeping, now," he says as he brings it down once, twice on the troll before him. The flames would hopefully make sure it stayed dead.
Belir just misses as Gundar makes sure purple won't stand up again.
Yellow continues to struggle but eventually breaks free of the entanglements. Green all out assaults Belir, but the dwarf blocks each attack like a pro.
The trolls were falling and the dwarfs were not. If only every battle went like this...Ingrahild sent more arrows flying towards the trolls, eager to see such a vision completed.
Gundar bounds towards the next foe, enchanted weapon held high.
Thozar lobs fire at the now unconscious troll, keeping it from rising again.
________
Between the arrows, Agrimmosh and Gundar's swing, the green troll goes down in a heap.
Yellow charges Belir, but has little chance of penetrating his defenses.
With one troll left, Ingrahild let loose two very sloppy shots. Berating herself for rushing she took a deep breath...and planted an arrow right in it’s throat.
As Ingrahild's arrow sinks into the Troll's throat, Thozar pitches a ball of fire at it to seal the deal. "Nicely done, they didn't stand a chance!"
________
With an impressive shot, Ingrahild kills the troll, and Thozar makes sure all of them won't be standing back up.
Assuming you search the bodies, you find:
Gristlecrack (red) carries a bag containing a very fine short sword, a potion, a scroll, a gold bowl engraved with images of dwarves fighting giants, a gold flute, a small diamond, two opals, 679 gp, 180 sp, 900 cp, and a collection of 14 feet (dwarven, half ling, and human).
Also around her neck is chanin with a shriveled hand of dwarf.
The trolls seem to carry nothing of value.
”A Giant with a foot and hand fetish? Sick fooker. Sad we could only kill him once.” Ingrahild said, disgust written on her face.
"Might as well bury the remains of their victims so they don't become another Giant's play thing," Thozar says with disgust. He scans the items they've found.
"Let's keep moving then, we can handle the smaller groups, but wouldn't want to get caught by a real force."
________
"Alright, I'll take point when Thozar ain't imitating a pigeon," Gundar says. He does his best to make little noise, and keeps his eyes open for tracks or signs of the giants' passage.
Gundar leads the way.
A broad wood of young aspens and birches sweeps through this vale. The trees sway softly, their pale branches glimmering in the light. Near the edge of the grove, a forgotten pathway of badly weathered dark stone pokes through the forest floor, leading to a clearing containing a large structure of timeworn stone. Colorful lichens cling to the walls, and most of the slate roof has collapsed inward. Jumbles of great granite blocks lie around the building, half buried beneath the soil and fallen leaves.
"Quick search of the perimeter, then we'll delve?" Thozar suggests to the dwindling band of Dwarves.
________
”Aye. Would be bad to take casualties due to unneeded haste.” She carefully patrolled the perimeter, keeping her eyes peeled for any threats.
With the perimeter clear, you take a look inside.
A row of five half-columns splits this foyer, their crowns carved into small stone offering bowls. Beyond the foyer, a wide set of stairs descends to a recessed central chamber with three long prayer benches. The stone benches are cracked and covered with moss. Much of the ceiling has collapsed into piles of giant slate shingles. Shrubs and weeds grow through the floor, covering everything in verdant tangles. Along the west wall, two flights of stairs climb to raised balconies with cracked stone railings. The first staircase coils around a slender menhir topped with the crudely carved countenance of a heavy-browed fire giant. To the north, a set of steps climbs to a broad dais facing the benches. A huge fire pit fashioned from sheets of hammered black iron, bent and riveted together, stands upon the dais atop an ornately forged cast iron frame. A wide stone altar stands behind the fire pit, engraved with a giant helm with huge fangs. The altar and dais are draped in a thick blanket of stringy greenish moss.
the fire giant god Zursvaater, the Prince of Steel.
And if anyone has a Nature check, go ahead and roll that too.
Ingrahild stalked forward, wary of an ambush. She stopped, and then smiled. ”Secret door. Our lucky day.” She said, while waiting for one of her more melee focused comrades to take point.
"Nice find, I say we make our way there first!" Thozar suggests. "Looks to me like some sort of temple to a fire giant. Should probably collapse the place once we're done..."
________
As you approach the altar, you notice that what at first appear to be sticks and other forest detritus poking through the moss are really the skeletal remains of a dozen or so creatures (an assortment of both giants and beasts).
Suddenly the plant life behind the altar bursts into motion.
A giant flytrap pod snaps out at Gundar. Luckily, the plant moved very slowly at first.
...and Ingrahild moved quickly. As it opened it’s mouth to bite Gundar, she put an arrow straight down it’s gullet.
Thozar steps away, pulls out a scroll, and begins drawing the magic from it.
________
Ingrahild does manage to put an arrow down the plant creature's "throat". It still looks like it is going strong (roughly at 75% health).
Agrimmosh starts to shrink the plant, but it struggles and manages to retain its huge size!
Loading his heavy crossbow, Gundar steps back and takes aim at the plant. He shoots, scoring a decent hit.
Moving closer to the action, the plant's many heads spin into action, snapping and reaching for our brave dwarves.
.
With all the Dwarven grit and determination Thozar can manage, he powers through the rest of his spell as the plant latches on to him. With a mighty screech, an Owlbear tries to rip and tear its way through the aggressive foliage!
________
Unable to shoot her bow, Ingrahild struggled to break free from the plant’s grasp. This was NOT the type of death she expected.
No one manages to escape, but Belir and the owlbear each score a hit. Still, the plant is hardy and survives the blows.
Gundar continues to struggle, but can't break free.
The plant tries, and succeed in swallowing each of you.
With a roar of pain Ingrahild redoubled her efforts to break free!
Try as she might, Ingrahild just can't break free!
Thozar struggles ineffectually against the plant's grip while his Owlbear continues to try ripping into the creature. "Keep on Dwarves! We've got it right where we want it!"
________
The owlbear manages to get one claw in and grabs on.