Keolin's Reign of Winter Campaign, Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Nickadeamous

Krystae nods to Droviz. She then walks over to the woman. "What exactly did it look like? And did you see your husband being taken by the beast?"

Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
"At least we have tracks to follow. We'll learn more in no time.", Warden is focused more on their surroundings than on the tracks themselves.
Are Trolls solitary? Or pack creatures? I feel I should know that...but I don't-

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 + Scent
Fang focuses on the Scent of whatever left the tracks. Any lingering traces of smell that could help give away what direction to focus the search in.
The size of the prints is of little consequence to it, what mattered was finding their quarry.

Havelocks unblinking eyes begins to dark from about, but focusing on his own party rather than the surroundings.
Something is clearly going on here...

"It looked like a big monster covered in moss and fungus and plant-stuff. I saw my husband's tracks enter the cave and then I saw this plant-monster come stomping out. My husband has not come home and he wouldn't just leave me. He has to be in there still."

"I see. Are you aware of any strange occurrences in these caves? Anything we should be aware of beforehand?"

"No, I tend not to wander too far from the cabin. I doubt I would have come here at all if not for my lost husband."

Krystae nods. "Then let us be on our way. We don't have much time before that storm breaks and I do not wish to be caught out in the open when it does." She draws an arrow and nocks it to her bowstring as she prepares to enter the cave. "After you, boys."

"Hmmmph, taking advantage of my good breeding are we My lady Stormcrow?
Very well then, I shall saddle the role of the gentleman it seems."

Drawing forth his hand-and-a-half sword, Havelock begins to sneak towards the cave opening.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Droviz draws his black sword and unslings his hammer, then follows after Havelock.

Ragnar, as usual, brings up the rear.

Not quite feeling part of either Gender, Warden falls in line to the side of Krystae, Fang on the other side of her, sufficiently far away from the group to allow it to use it's superior mobility to it's full advantage.
Regardless, one question came up that Warden wondered about: "Do Moss Trolls usually keep people captive? What makes you hope your husband is still alive? I am asking if it is wise to storm in now, or could be wiser to wait for the troll to leave, then try and free him."
Looking at the clouds in the distance, Warden adds:"Not that waiting is really an option we have. But if the creature is smart enough to realize it has a hostage, that could be a problem."

"I...I don't...know. I hope and pray for my husband. What else can I do? I am no warrior. My husband is...was. He was my protector. I do not know anything about trolls beyond common lore. Fire, regeneration, claws that rend flesh" she finishes with a shrug.

"As said, it is not the case that we have the luxury of options. If we wait, the storm will take us. We have to go in and hope for the best. If you and your husband had gods you worshipped, now would be the time to try and ask them for a favor.", Warden answers while marching on towards the cave.
Turning to the others, it suggests: "My vote is for surprise over subtlety. Not to give it time to realize it may have a bargaining chip."

The inside of the cave is dark on it's own, but at least it's dry away from the snow falling. Most of the tracks around the entry way covered again with snow when you pass through the entrance.

Past the cave mouth lies booted footprints through the tunnel and lead further in. Even from here you can hear something lumbering around deeper inside as the sounds echo off of the cave wall.

The roll20 map has been updated.

We are not yet in combat.

Sorry for the delay....!

"Right. I'll take point. Get ready to save my life when it goes south," Droviz whispers.

The masked Fighter switches his hammer for his cold iron longsword, and .... saunters forward into the main area.

"Coo-ee! Anybody belong to this cave here, or can I take it?" he calls out.

Already adjusted on the map.

Ah...
My mistake, it is not stealth we are using but flamboyance.
I have such trouble keeping those two apart.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Hugging the wall, Warden moves forward alongside Droviz, signaling Fang to Sneak and stay at it's heel.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
For but a brief moment, Fang's leaves rustled in excitement, before flattening against it's body. Fang loved to stalk prey, and followed it's master.

Lumbering from deeper inside the cave comes a humanoid not much bigger than Droviz. It is covered in mold and moss and moves clumsily. It still wears a set of studded leather and drags a battleaxe in the snow behind it. As it stands in relative close proximity, it is clearly not a troll although it's not hard to understand why one would mistake it for a moss troll at a distance.

Player's Turn - Round 1!

The roll20 map has been updated.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Thats an intelligent Fungus that enslaved this person. Was this your husband, Sylgja? We may want to subdue it, rather than kill it.", Warden shouts out, moving into a flank with Fang as he rushes forward, striking once it is in position.

Shortspear nonlethal: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 - 4 = 23 Damage, nonlethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 - 4 = 14 Damage, nonlethal: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9
Move action to get in position, free action to order Fang to Flank/Attack, Ready action to strike when Fang is in a Flank position.

Fang rushes forward, past the strange creature, then turns around and snaps at it, teeth bared.
Bite, subdue(nonlethal): 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 - 4 = 23 Damage, nonlethal: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11
Bite, Critical?: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 - 4 = 5 Damage, nonlethal: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 5) + 3 = 9
Not sure if Fang provokes. He would, unless the "troll" is flat-footed for not having acted yet in combat.

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Krystae suddenly recalls reading about such molds in her tome. "The mold can be removed by force! Ragnar, see if you can rip it from the man!" Like Warden, she goes for a less damaging shot and aims for the arm of the man/mold, but her aim is thrown off by its suddenly flailing!

Attack, Nonlethal: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 9

"On it," Droviz says as he rushes forward, sword leading. At the last moment, the masked warrior feints with his shortsword and performs a spiral cut at the fungus-man's shins.

Trip attempt 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Ragnar grunts and moves in on the fallen man, reaching for the thickest patch of fungus.

Grapple: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 Hope that's good enough. I think being Prone effects his CMD, but I don't remember for sure.

I think it's that you get the same boni to your CMB you would get to a melee...so if he's prone, you should get the +4 bonus for that. Off the top of my head, so no guarantee, but I think that was the way it's handled

Havelock frowns, he was unused to be in a situation where he appeared to be the one understanding things the least.
He found that he did not care for it...at all!

Fang's jaws and Warden's shortspear both strike soft spots through both the man's armor and the mild mold's fungus. Droviz's blade hooks just under the man's knee and sends him sprawling to the cave floor. Ragnar's huge hand reaches down to grab the mold. The mold itself attempts to slither out of the way but Ragnar's paw is just too big for it to get clear.

Ragnar successfully grabs the mild mold and must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or take Wisdom damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2. It's a DC 15 Strength check to pull the Mild Mold off of Finngarth.

Player's Turn - Round 2!

The roll20 map has been updated.

What kind of action is it to make the Strength check? Standard? Move? Full round?

Standard action.

Realizing what the plan was, both Warden and Fang try to get their hands and paws below the mold, scraping it free from the man while Ragnar holds it in place.
Strenght Check Warden: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Strenght Check Fang: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
If Grappling is necessary to pull it free, I suppose I'm assisting Ragnar instead. But I figure if Ragnar holds it, we can try to separate the connection between mold and man.

Droviz adds his strength to the endeavour - albeit by grabbing Ragnar by the waist and hauling on him.

Strength check aid another 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Str check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Edit: Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11.

Ragnar's eyes glaze over a bit, but he manages to tear the mold free.

Ok...this is clearly not a troll then, and there were some suspicions already voiced oh so very subtly by my comrades...

Rather than getting involved with the fight, Havelock keeps a keen eye on the lady they were escorting, just in case this was a trap.

Krystae waits to see what happens once the mold has been ripped free of the man...

Tendrils rip free of the man as Ragnar tears the infestation away. The man struggled and thrashed about as the mold was violently pulled away and then he just stopped. His arms fell to the cave floor as his body went limp. Thankfully, his breathing continued.

Tendrils creep and twist up Ragnar's arm as he holds the mold in his hand, burrowing themselves into his flesh. His eyes continue to gloss over and soon his mind is not his own. One word echos through his mind over and over again. Kill!

Player's Turn - Round 3!

Oh f*+*...

"We should probably destroy the Mold! Ragnar, if you...Ragnar?"

Fang emits low growls staring at the Mold, and the tendrils, baring it's Fangs at Ragnar.

"Could someone in the back maybe start a fire? Light a torch? Quickly?" Droviz suggests while kicking out at Ragnar's legs.

Trip attempt 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"You know, if you can just separate the weed from the person, I am in possession of several rather volatile concoctions..."
Havelock respond blandly.

"That is what I want a fire for, thanks! It's a plant .... mold .... thing, right? It oughta be afraid of fire!" Droviz yells. "Get me a lit torch!"

Havelock pulls out a torch and begins to light it.
"It would not kill you to say please you know..."
He says with obvious sarcasm.

"Do we REALLY need fire?", Warden comments, obviously not happy about Droviz's weapon of choice, "Most plants don't like fire you know?"

Fang growls at both Ragnar and Havelock now...

"Right! Gotcha! Please hurry up with that torch!" Droviz yells to Havelock.

To Warden and Fang, the masked Drow snaps: "I understand you're not keen, but I'm not having that muck infect anyone else! Pile on Ragnar, stop him from getting up again!"

@GM: out of curiosity, how obvious is it that Ragnar is no longer his own master...I mean, he did not ACT against us yet in any form...which is the reason for my initial reaction. It would seem a waste to not take advantage of the trip, but can we be reasonably certain that he's hostile? Or would we jump the gun by jumping him?

Given the nature of the situation, I'd say it's obvious enough. Knowing that the mold infested and controlled the human man, pulling it off of said man, seeing the tendrils digging into Ragnar's arms, his eyes glossing over, there are enough pieces to the puzzle to put it together.

Would it be possible to attack the mold without damaging Ragnar?

You can try but it's not helpless.