Unrak heads downriver to help Bytor & Toth
Three arrows puncture the mighty plant, ripping out the other side in an explosion of vegetative matter.
Four spiked maws extend to horrible length from the plant, seeking to snap up the intruders.
MISS
HIT plus GRAPPLED
MISS
HIT plus GRAPPLED
Green jaws close around both John and Augrym, but Unrak gets away!
Unrak turns back and proceeds along the riverbed, grabbing hold of Bytor's flailing legs and hoisting him atop his shoulders. The old professor's bedraggled beard breaches the surface!
Round I
1. John (62/76 hp, grappled), Augrym (84/95 hp, grappled)
2. Plant @ 91 dmg, grappling
3. Unrak, Bytor (mounted on Unrak), Taranis (Toth underwater)
Bytor hangs on to Unrak trying desperately not to drown and especially to not drown his rescuer. As he rides along he starts trying to recite an inspirational speech.
"Never have I seen a group so strong and able, overcoming danger at every turn and rising to any challenge given. Naturally I am talking about Taranis Redleaf's Huntsmen! Rise, my friends! To Action!"
While riding along for a ride on Unrak's shoulders, Bytor tries to determine what the mighty plant is.
Bytor is not sure what this is, only that it seems hungry!
Round I
1. John (62/76 hp, grappled), Augrym (84/95 hp, grappled)
2. Plant @ 91 dmg, grappling Knowledge (Nature)
3. Unrak, Bytor (mounted on Unrak), Taranis (Toth underwater)
Toth summons strength and will and returns to the surface, paddling furiously to reach the island.
Taranis, seeing Toth push to the riverbank turns his attention to the fight.
He quickly sends his mind into the earth and up to the sky to summon forth help from Nature herself.
Switching out Fire Snake for Summon Nature's Ally V
Taranis brings in fauna to deal with the flora!
Round II
1. John (62/76 hp, grappled), Augrym (84/95 hp, grappled)
2. Plant @ 91 dmg, grappling Knowledge (Nature)
3. Unrak, Bytor (mounted on Unrak), Taranis (Toth underwater)
- Round the First
- Current HPs: 62/76
- Inspired
John attempts to disentangle himself from the greenery!
Not likely...
John struggles fruitlessly against the plant's tightening grip!
Round II
1. John (62/76 hp, grappled), Augrym (84/95 hp, grappled)
2. Plant @ 91 dmg, grappling
3. Unrak, Bytor (mounted on Unrak), Taranis (Toth underwater)
5ft step, ATTACK!!
Held fast in the plant's jaws, Augrym swings wildly with his sword, biting into the green!
Yet still the horrible jaws tighten around the two Huntsmen...
SUCCESS PLUS
SUCCESS PLUS
With a sickening *snap!*, both men disappear completely inside a bulging mouth. Inside the cavity, now fully sealed, a flood of digestive enzymes starts melting away their skin.
Round II
1. John (44/76 hp, engulfed), Augrym (64/95 hp, engulfed)
2. Plant @ 114 dmg
3. Unrak (underwater), Bytor (mounted on Unrak), Taranis
Unrak trucks doggedly with Bytor to the shore. He deposits the bard to the safest spot he can mamage.
Bytor draws out his bow and fires at the deadly plant!
”Hang in there huntsmen! Help is here!”
Unrak deposits Bytor upon the island and draws his weapon. Bytor readies his bow, inviting an attack from one of the plant's still-empty maws!
HIT PLUS SUCCESS
Before the professor can get off his shot, he finds himself clamped by vegetation that reeks of rotten meat!
Round II
1. John (44/76 hp, engulfed), Augrym (64/95 hp, engulfed)
2. Plant @ 114 dmg, grappling
3. Unrak, Bytor (64/75 hp, grappled), Taranis
Taranis takes out and uses his wand of Monkeyfish.
A quartet of magically enhanced grizzly bears appear and close in on the plant:
Black moves in to claw at the plant:
MISS
Red appears in attack range:
MISS
for
MISS
MISS
Blue appears in attack range:
MISS
MISS
for
White moves in to claw at the plant:
for
MISS
The grizzlies rip into the plant, tearing strands and branches away. The whole thing shudders in agony, yet still struggles on somehow.
Round III
1. John (44/76 hp, engulfed), Augrym (64/95 hp, engulfed)
2. Plant @ 147 dmg, grappling
3. Unrak, Bytor (64/75 hp, grappled), Taranis
Spurred on by the magic of Bytor's alarmed voice, the summoned bears rip harder than they ever have before. Before long they pile on enough hurts that the whole plant itself goes limp, and John and Augrym are able to force their way out, though covered in slime that stings to the touch.
John has the presence of mind to ask Taranis if jumping into the water to wash the stuff off is a good idea. If Taranjs says no, John will stay on shore. Otherwise it is bath time.
"That was close! All I can say is that it was a good thing those bears showed up when they did!"
Augrym wonders if water will help with removing the slime or if it will be like hot wings and make it worse...
And with this, he dunks his head under to test his guess.
John and Augrym do their best to get themselves clean again.
Also, Taranis definitely tells Toth to make sure Bytor does NOT go swimming.
Once the bears vanish, the Duke starts searching the island for things left behind from past meals.
The Duke leads the search of the island. A large number of bones, mostly human and centaur, are scattered about---evidence of the flytrap's long haunting of this island. Scattered among the bones is some surviving treasure:
-
-
-
- Masterwork hand-and-a-half sword in an elegant darkwood scabbard
- A rod of smooth iron, approximately 2 feet in length
- A conical steel helm
Bytor uses detect magic and then tries to determine the properties of the rod and the helm.
"I remember using a corner and a felt version of this helm for wizards who did not perform well at the academy."
Bytor cannot make sense of the auras on the rod, but he identifies the helm as a helm of detect magic and comprehend languages!
Taranis finds the mechanics of items and magic to be tedious, but he knows a bit:
...try using the helm.
Bytor cannot make sense of the auras on the rod, but he identifies the helm as a helm of detect magic and comprehend languages!
The rod's purpose eludes the Duke as well.
Uh. Nevermind. I don't get booky magic.
"Although this looks like a normal helmet, it actually grants its wearer the ability to understand the spoken words of any creature and to read text in any language and any magical writing. I'm not one for fashion of conical helms, but if none of you wish to wear it, I could find plenty of use for it."
"We encounter many languages in this land. It is a prize worth keeping. Upon our return to Solasgaard, we'll have the rod identified."
After a deep inhale, "Let us finish mapping this area and make our way home."
The day grows late, so you make camp. The next two days are spent exploring the area about the confluence of the Little Sellen and Runoff Creek.
On [color=teal]26th Desnus[/color] you turn for home, striking north for the Gudrin River and following it to the Tuskwater. You arrive early on the last day of the month, and duty soon calls.
"So, how do I look with this helm? Do you think it will still be fashionable at the next ball?"
If he has some time the following evening, Bytor spends some time trying to figure out the properties of the rod.
"This rod still eludes me."
Upkeep Phase
Step 0 - Ruler: Declare the Duke's modifiers (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Stability: Roll Stability Check. If successful, reduce Unrest by 1 (to a minimum of 0).
Step 2 - Consumption: Consumption has been deducted from the treasury. See "Ledger" tab.
Step 3 - Magic Items: unchanged.
Step 4 - Modify Unrest: Roll Loyalty Check to reduce Unrest, if desired (cannot be reduced below 0). Failure incurs permanent -1 penalty to Loyalty.
Edict Phase
Step 0 - Spymaster: Declare Spymaster's modifier (Economy, Loyalty, or Stability).
Step 1 - Assign Leadership: Assign new leadership or fill vacancies, if desired.
Step 2 - Claim Hex: Claim up to 3 new hexes of territory, if desired. All hexes must be fully explored to be claimed.
Step 3 - Abandon Hex: Abandon any number of hexes of existing territory, if desired.
Step 4 - Build Terrain: Pay for up to 5 terrain improvements in existing territory, if desired.
Step 5 - Settlements: Found up to 1 new settlement in existing territory. The site must first be prepared for settlement. Additionally, pay for construction of up to 5 new buildings in your existing settlements. The construction of a single house, tenement, noble villa, or mansion does not count against this limit, but must still be paid for.
Step 6 - Army: Raise new military units, or upgrade or repair existing ones, as desired. Pay any recruitment costs.
Step 7 - Edicts: Issue any new edicts as desired.
Another missive from Tatzylford is waiting when you arrive. The note advises that many of the town's residents have taken to expressing their worship of Erastil in a grove just across the Skunk River from the center of town. The priestess who leads these gatherings, Latricia Evanore, is hoping that Solasgaard could contribute some funds to formally erect a shrine there.
Bytor keeps at it each day:
Taranis keeps at it each day:
Try as they might, the rod's properties remain a mystery to both Bytor and Taranis.
Upkeep Phase Summary
Edict Phase Summary
Income Phase
Step 1 - Withdraw from Treasury: Withdraw resources from the treasury for personal use, if desired.
Step 2 - Deposit to Treasury: Deposit personal resources into the barony's treasury.
Step 3 - Sell Items: Sell up to 2 personal magical items to benefit the treasury.
Step 4 - Roll an Economy check for tax collection.
Event Phase
EVENT
KINGDOM
NATURAL BLESSING
As summer approaches, a rare bloom of magnificent wildflowers graces many a hillside both east and west of the Tors. The subjects of the Marchlands find themselves in high spirits.
The Duke spends some time Bombadilling in the nice weather (in his Natura Naturarum.)
Income Phase Summary
With all the month's petitioners heard and matters of state dealt with, on [color=teal]8th Sarenith[/color] you consider how best to use the last long days of spring.
Augrym casts Ears of the city before we leave town. 9 rounds.
If time allows, and if the Duke approves, John volunteers to take his boys to Tatzylford to help build the shrine. He works with the Tatzylford locals on mutualistic hunting and scouting practices as well.
While on the road (or if the trip won't work out, while at home) John tells them about the strange visitation the gods apparently sanctioned. John retells how their mother spoke to him and offered her support to him... and he is candid about jow he isn't quite sure what exactly that means.
All four Fletchers agree, the sign is a boon and they offer prayers of thanks for it.
"Actually, John, I'm wondering if you'd let me enlist Gozrek's help. We've got a chest of who-knows-what and a magical rod of equal mystery. The affairs of the duchy require my attention. I think it right for you to do this, but mayhaps your eldest can be of service here."
"Yes M'lord. Gozrek, do us proud."
The Duke immediately has a messenger send for Gozrek...
The lad arrives forthwith. His footfalls land slightly on the castle stone. The lad's countenance is stoic like his father. His face has taken the sharp and chiseled lines of the Fletcher clan, but his beard is not yet full. He stands at an even six feet, lean at probably a dozen stone. When he speaks it's with a quiet tone, but the timbre is enough to cut through background noises.
"You called Your Grace."
Chris Marsh
Frag the Fierce
Whistle Pig
