Do be careful. This spot smells of ambush..., Meycho says, readying his small bow.
From you vantage point in the south-west corner of the cavern, you can see that the pool fills half of it, fed by an underground stream emerging from the northern wall.
Above, you can see two separate openings, each covered by a wooden lid. Most likely, the occupants in the palace above use these to draw water from the pool.
The ledge you have been following widens and opens up into the cavern, forming a shore around the south and east side of the pool. There are two exits leading off to other parts of the underground cavern complex, one in the south-east corner and one in the eastern wall.
Caelin crept softly back to the others and explained the what he saw ahead. [occ]go ahead and read the "Caelin" spoiler above [/ooc]
"If we can get up to the well-caps, we can get into the palace now. Or, we can explore more of the caverns. I'd rather get into the palace here."
Caelin grimaced doubtfully. I don't know, I could go look again, but they seem to just be holes in the ceiling covered with wooden caps. I'm not sure how I could get up there.
Caelin had a quick memory of the Queen's dream-attack, and how he tumbled unceremoniously from a tree while trying to reach her.
To hide the blush of embarrassment on his cheeks, he turned back down the dark corridor to determine if he'd missed a way to climb to the well-holes.
The holes are at the very top of the cave ceiling, over the water of the pool. Without flight or spider climb, it will be virtually impossible to reach them.
Wait, Meycho said. Let me check the ground for signs of passage before we all move ahead and disturb the ground.
With that he crept ahead, carefully examining if there were any signs of something moving about and which of the tunnels was the most travelled.
Caelin halted at Meycho's request and made way for the halfling.
Good idea! he whispered.
Meycho mutters a small prayer and suddenly the tip of his arrow shines with a small but bright light. Hopefully this will help me see danger as much as it will help danger see me..., he mutters.
Moving carefully along the shore of the pool, Meycho examines the soil for tracks.
A few other sets also belong to small humanoid creatures, perhaps spriggans or other fey.
Finally, you find a number of disturbingly large prints that most of all look like someone dragged thorn bushes from the northernmost tunnel to the pool and back again.
You realize that there is something familiar about these tracks - seeing them triggers some memory of the lessons of monster lore taught to you by your adopted elven family. In particular, about large vicious thorn-covered plant-creatures known as battlebriars. These ferocious beings are like to charge their prey and impale them on the long thorns covering their bodies. They are able to send a volley of thorns flying over a great distance and share the same defenses and weaknesses as most other living plants.
Just as this knowledge flood back to you, a movement at the edge of the light cast by your arrow draws your attention. Crouching by the the tunnel wall about 30 ft from you is a 6-legged lionlike creature covered in thick thorns. It looks ready to charge.
Meycho lets out a low call, Company, before calling upon divine judgment and letting the arrow fly.
Then, he steps back, partially out of sight of the creature.
The rest of the group hears Meycho call out and sees him fire at something in the northern-most tunnel.
[dice=Init]1d20+2
No problem, James - It's not the first time PbP threads have gone into hiding. That's why I sent out a PM to everyone who had not posted an initiative.
Meycho is momentarily cast in shadow as he fires his only light source from his bow. A couple of heartbeats later, a large, six-legged lionlike creature covered in thorns comes charging out tunnel straight at him, the shining arrow embedded in its body. Image of the creature
Meycho barely manages to sidestep. Only a swift step back saves him from being trampled by the monster, but he is now in a precarious position with the pool to his back and the deadly thorns of the creature to his front.
Round 1
Initiative
Caelin: 16
Meycho: 14
Goodluck: 11
Taecuss: 10
Jervaise: 7
Battlebriar: -1
Notes
Light and visibility: Caelin has one active light spell and the monster has one active light spell on Meycho's arrow. Thanks to their lowlight vision, Caelin, Taecuss and Jervaise can see normally in most of the cave complex, while Meycho and Goodluck may experience areas of dim light.
Monster: The creature is covered in thorns that make it difficult to move past and allows it to threaten it's immediate surroundings. Special rules may apply.
"Gozreh's balls!" Caelin cursed. "It's a plant creature. Nasty thorns!" He hustled forward on the damp rock to close with the spiky monstrosity.
Keep it in one place; keep it away from the others, he thought as he moved toward it and Meycho.
He dropped his glowing bow and pulled out his greatsword as he closed the distance. A short squawk told Aumgwe to attack from behind.
Meycho crouches low and sidesteps a sweep of the beast's claws, while pulling one of his enchanted daggers and calling on Ketephys' aid.
Then, with a whistle, he calls on Falling Star to attack it from the other side.
The plant-creature thrashes wildly as Meycho's enchanted dagger bites into it. Both the dagger and Falling Star's claws leave gashes dripping bright green sap, but the monster is far from finished.
Goodluck shakes his head as he sees the thorny thing. "So much per'version of nature here. Gozreh would not be pleas'd wit' dis."
Goodluck steps forward to J-18, unslinging his trident.
Jervaise rushes forward to join Goodluck and Caelin, drawing his greatsword along the way.
The battlebriar lashes out at the halfling inquisitor in retribution for the painful dagger slashes. Meycho deftly dodges the first swing, but the move puts him off balance. The second limb catches him in the side, the long thorns piercing his body and lifting him off the ground to dangle helplessly from the limb in agony.
With Meycho hanging from it, the monster moves closer to the rock side of the cavern.
Round 2
Initiative
Caelin: 16
Meycho: 14 (impaled, helpless)
Goodluck: 11
Taecuss: 10
Jervaise: 7
Battlebriar: -1
Notes
Light and visibility: Caelin's bow at L15 has one active light spell and the monster has one active light spell on Meycho's arrow. Thanks to their lowlight vision, Caelin, Taecuss and Jervaise can see normally in most of the cave complex, while Meycho and Goodluck may experience areas of dim light.
Monster: The creature is covered in thorns that make it difficult to move past and allows it to threaten it's immediate surroundings. Special rules may apply.
Caelin's sharp whistle brought Aumgwe swooping in behind the beast. A talon lashed out, more to distract than to maim.
Caelin used the thorny beast's momentary flinch to begin a series of thrusts with his greatsword.
The attack from yet another bird of prey distracts the battlebriar at a crucial moment. Even though the rocky outcrop provides cover for the large plant-creature, the aid from Aumgwe allows Caelin to connect with both swings, almost severing one of the six legs.
Meanwhile, Meycho is tossed back and forth, unable to do anything but grit his teeth and try to push himself off the spikey thorns that have been thrust right though him.
While this is happening, Taecuss advances to join the others.
Goodluck steps to H-19 and uses Punitive Transformation on the plant-beast!
Fort DC 20, then a Will DC 20 save!
The tough thorn-thing shrughs off Goodluck's attempt to transform it with ease.
Aaaaaarrrgh, Meycho yells in pain as every move of the beast is sending waves of pain through his body.
Deftly, he tries to dislodge himself from the spine.
Meanwhile, Falling Star again closes the distance, attacking with beak and claws.
Free Intimidate check (to demoralize): Vs DC 10 + target's HD + Wisdom modifier. If successful, the target is Shaken for a number of rounds equal to 1 + the damage dealt to it.
Jervaise pushes into the crowded melee, getting in position to strike at the battlebriar.
He swings his greatsword, but is unable to get a good hit in.
The badly wounded battlebriar retreats a few feet, dragging the impaled Meycho along as it goes. It then rears up on it's hind legs and snaps its body forward. A deadly burst of thorns shoot forward, filling the area beside the pool with hundreds of tiny darts.
Round 3
Initiative
Caelin: 16
Meycho: 14 (impaled, helpless)
Goodluck: 11
Taecuss: 10
Jervaise: 7
Battlebriar: -1
Notes
Light and visibility: Caelin's bow at L15 has one active light spell and the monster has one active light spell on Meycho's arrow. Thanks to their lowlight vision, Caelin, Taecuss and Jervaise can see normally in most of the cave complex, while Meycho and Goodluck may experience areas of dim light.
Monster: The creature is covered in thorns that make it difficult to move past and allows it to threaten it's immediate surroundings. Special rules may apply.
Aumgwe continued to harass the battlebriar while Caelin circled Meycho, Taecuss and Jervaise to attack from the north.
Caelin stumbled on his last few steps, almost falling face-first into the thorny monster. He was forced to spend an instant recovering from this near-disaster and was thus unable to bring his sword to bear.
Falling Star moves after, continuing its attack on the beast
Meycho tries to escape the thorns on the beast
Goodluck will thump the plant with a sound burst!
Falling Star furiously harries the plant monster, but fails to do more than scratch at the many thorns. Meanwhile, Meycho continues to struggle in vain to get free.
The soundburst from Goodluck sends a cacophony of noise echoing through the cavern, mixing with the noise of combat. The battlebriar recoils from the sonic onslaught, but still stands.
+1 Merciful Cold Iron Greatsword:
Dmg non-lethal damage.
+1 Merciful Cold Iron Greatsword:
Dmg non-lethal damage.
Battlebriar
Slam vs Jervaise:
dmg:
Grab:
Slam vs Jervaise:
dmg:
Grab:
Impale:
Eager to take advantage of the distraction provided by Taecuss, Jervaise rushes in, greatsword raised. However, he underestimates the reach of the battlebriars long thorns and is forced to make a split-second evasion, causing both his swings to bounce harmlessly off the tough spikes.
Worse, the battlebriar does not hesitate to take advantage of the mistake. With brutal force, it slams both forelimbs into Jervaise's abdomen, impaling the brave eagle knight alongside Meycho.
Round 3
Initiative
Caelin: 16
Meycho: 14 (impaled, helpless)
Goodluck: 11
Taecuss: 10
Jervaise: 7 (impaled, helpless)
Battlebriar: -1
Notes
Light and visibility: Caelin's bow at L15 has one active light spell and the monster has one active light spell on Meycho's arrow. Thanks to their lowlight vision, Caelin, Taecuss and Jervaise can see normally in most of the cave complex, while Meycho and Goodluck may experience areas of dim light.
Monster: The creature is covered in thorns that make it difficult to move past and allows it to threaten it's immediate surroundings. Special rules may apply.
Squawking repeatedly to Aumgwe and waving a curved arm to show direction, Caelin skirted his impaled allies once more to find another place to assault the battlebriar.
Aumgwe uses a talon attack to Aid Caelin:
[ooc]I think that's an 18 on my attack with flank and aid.[/dice]