A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round.
So If it fails that it slides in, but sense it made it's save it's not prone.
|
Do you agree the momentum would carry it right across and into Ulryk's polearm? The way it is written is that the creature stops all forward movement...as this is grease, not tar, I cannot see that happening to a creature as big as the bear, or one moving at full speed! What do you think? I agree about the acrobatics roll...that make sense, but what about the rest?
This becomes a situation where physic conflicts with the rules. The assumption of the rules is that I will cast grease on my turn and so therefor all other creature are standing still as it were. However right now I held my action to cast the spell during another creatures action this changes the assumption inherent in the wording.
I think in this case we should follow the Newton laws of motion being that a object in motion tends to stay in motion.
If the grease had been pre-placed I would think we would follow the rules as written with the acrobatics check and reduced speed being a attempt to get by the grease without falling. In this case however there is the momentum is already their and can not be stopped the grease comes as a surprise.
That would seem to work. The braced attack might have been more effective if it failed it's reflex save, but I was put the grease right in front of Ulrky. That is if it ran that far?
If it did a charge attack, Brace should come into effect. If it realized before its turn that I had a pole-arm and could potentially ready it and brace it against a charge and did not charge, then it could ignore the brace - though remember that it doesn't know that I am readying/bracing for its charge.
If it charged, whether or not it charged at me, if it comes into range I should get the brace bonus. Let's not forget in addition to my readied brace action, I will also get an attack of opportunity if it comes within my weapons expanded reach.
Weapons Readied against a Charge: Spears, tridents, and other weapons with the brace feature deal double damage when readied (set) and used against a charging character.
How does that sound?
My next action is going to be to cast color spray on the bear (Will save DC 16).
|
|
The bear just barely misses the set polearm as it slides over the grease which suddenly appeared under it's feet. It lashes out at the closest target, the giant Ulryk, with its claws.
Attack-Melee:
Damage:
Attack-Melee:
Damage:
One great paw slaps at Ulryk and catches him on the right side, just under his arm, laying open a shallow cut along his ribs.
Brigid bares her teeth as she watches the bear swipe at Ulryk. She steps to draw closer and bring herself into short range, she looses two arrows in rapid succession.
Ulryk traded blows with the bear, striking out at the large beast first with the spear like tip of the enlarged halberd and then swinging the heavy weapon downward to cleave into the creatures neck with the crescent shaped axe blade. He recoiled when the bear battered and sliced into his midsection, blood dripping beneath his clothes. This was in truth the first major wound he had suffered thus far and it was no mere flesh wound. When the bear's second paw came up, he managed to raise his buckler, deflecting the powerful strike.
Svetlana had waited behind Ulryk, the tension quivering in her as she paused for the massive bear to collide with the now-massive warrior. Intuition indicated that there would be injuries to heal, and the priestess was disappointed to not find herself in the wrong. Seeing the bear's paw tear deeply into Ulryk, Svetlana responded in kind. With a prayer of supplication to her goddess, she transformed her magic into healing and reached to touch Ulryk on the side. Life flowed back into the man as if a reverse wound, answering a torrent of pain with a rush of pleasure.
Cure Light Wounds
Svetlana had barely exhaled after her healing spell took hold of Ulryk when the bears massive paw tore the warrior open once more. She was certain the man would be dead had her last efforts not succeeded. A glance at the bear said it had little left, but one mistake and Ulryk would join it. She had hope to save some of her magic for later, but it was clear it was needed now. Therefore, the priestess again transformed Calistria's gifts in an attempt to repair Ulryk's wounds.
CLW
Brigid calls out a wordless battle cry in the hopes of drawing the beast off Ulryk. Her bow sings another song as she fires two more arrows.
|
|
A stream of bright colour flies from Kent's outstretched hand right into the bear's face. It snarls and snaps at the light, but to no avail; the creature is stunned by the cacophony of color.
While it stands unaware, Brigid takes two shots at the beast in rapid succession. Both find purchase in the monsters flesh, causing the creature to let out a grunt of pain.
Blood coated his armor and much of his tabbard ended up torn and ripped from where the bear's massive clawed paw slammed down on him. Though he was easily of a size and possible of a weight with the cursed beast, it was no simple foe and he knew had he been facing it alone he would surely have perished. He could feel the puddle of blood pooling about his feet as it dripped down his pant leg, but also knew that the divine blessings of Svetlana's goddess was knitting his wounds and restoring his vigor. Though he did not have the time to spare his neck a glance, he was certain that the gash opened above his shoulder had closed.
With a backward step at a diagnal south of Svetlana, he sought to give himself some distance from the monsterous bear to bring his halberd point into play. Though it put Svetlana and Kent at risk, it was his hope that this strike would piece the bear's heart and end the conflict.
|
|
The warriors attack just misses its mark, as the bear shakes it's head in an effort to clear it's mind.
Damen sights up the creature and lets loose with an arrow.
Attack-Ranged:
Damage:
In it's stunned state, the bear is an easy target for the archer, and his arrow sinks deep into the monster's flesh.
The bear makes an almost human-sounding sigh of relief,then collapses in on itself, transforming first into an incredibly old human man with a look of peace in his eyes,and then a moment later crumbling into a skeleton and thence to dust. At this moment, the entire shrine seems to grow more vibrant and colorful and the water in the pool becomes crystal clear.
ghost sounds victory song.
Ulryk coughed a bit of blood out onto his extra sized hand and then set the halberd's butt down against the ground where the bear, then the old man, and then the skeletal remains had been. He moved it through the dust with curiosity, then turned away.
"Any who want to say a prayer to Erastil over the dust are free to, but I'm not sparing any pity for that monster." Ulryk had felt the rush of emotions each time Svetlana had healed him and this time it seemed the sacred sting did not focus on love's past or the fumbling pleasures of youth, but rather on the satisfaction of petty revenge and the near intoxicating strength that anger and retribution sometimes provided.
"Perhaps we should search the cave the beast laired in or see if the ruins of the temple has anything of note."
Kent says a short prayer to Erastil. It is his god even if he is not that devot.
Veiðimaður, höfum við gert eins og þú spurðir, Brigid murmurs with her eyes lowered, after marveling at the change in the forest temple. She touches her bow to her forehead.
At Ulryk's suggestion, she moves toward the cave entrance cautiously.
Svetlana breathed an audible sigh of relief as the bear crashed to the ground, then gaped in amazement as the beast transformed into a man and then vanished. Shaking her head she said, I think we just did that poor man a favor. If a curse here is indeed broken, a blight on the land has been removed. The priestess stared for a moment longer at where the remnant dust lay before moving forward with Brigid to the cave mouth.
|
|
Inside the cave several 'room' had been cut from the rock. Most are empty, but in the one nearest the door you find the heaped remains of the bear's den. Grass, twigs, bits of cloth and leather are jumbled together to form a sleeping mat. Several skulls are set aside, as if trophies, along with a few 'treasures. 2 leather scroll cases sit atop a rusty chain shirt. Underneath the shirt you can make out a number of coins of different value scattered on the rocky floor.
Ulryk did his best to ignore the wounds he had suffered as he accompanied the party into an investigation of the cave. He plucked at his tabbard in disappointment as it hung to his armor in bad shape. It was clear blood was pooling in one of his boots, but it looked to be less than a trickle thanks to the healing of the goddess Calistria.
"Pity the bear reverted back to a man. I was hoping for a rug." Ulryk tried to make a joke, but it sounded weak even in his own ears.
"Where is the temple that is supposed to be here? Surely it is not this cave?" He looked to Damen and Kent, then Svetlana. He figured they would know more about the faith of Erastil then he or Brigid, though if Brigid followed a diety, he did not know.
Svetlana's attention moved from the cursed man to Ulryk's wounds as the group moved into the cave. She shook her head as the warrior looked mournfully at his tabard and asked about the temple as he continued to bleed. Men, just ridiculous sometimes....come here Ulryk. The priestess then called forth Calistria's healing to further wash away his wounds.
Ulryk gave a wry grin when Svetlana made sounds of being fed up with the behavior of men, but came when he was called. When the repeated waves of positively charged divine energy coursed over him, he could feel his wounds closing up and his heart pumping rapidly. A heady tide of emotions crashed over him and he staggered forward for a moment, forgetting the increased size Kent's spell still endowed him with.
No past memories flooded his mind, instead his imagination was set alight with the imagery of his ambitious desires, of a crown sitting atop his head, of armies at his beck and call and a tamed wilderness flying the banner of the Or Elk.
When the second discharge bathed him in its healing power other more scandelous thoughts crept through him, momentarily clouding his mind and making it difficult to focus. He deliberately turned away from his companions and laughed loudly.
With no wounds to be knitted, the channeled energy had a much lesser impact as it washed over Brigid. Memories of her first hunt flashed, less images and more sensations and emotions. The exhilaration felt fresh again, her face flushed and her eyes sparkled.
Brigid spins her head to look right at Svetlana with an intense gaze, clear that she is wondering if these sensations came from her goddess or the temple's restoration. Ultimately, she decides it doesn't matter.
Who vants to hunt? she asks the group.
|
|
The bright sunlight glints of the cleaned water of the pool, bursting into a myriad of tiny rainbows. The darkness that seemed centered on the caves has also lifted. The caves themselves look like worked stone, but it would seem their final shapes were never completed. While time has removed most marks of human craftsmen, some chisel marks remain to tell the tale.
All in all, the whole glade has taken on a more wholesome aspect, and even birds can now be heard and seen in the surrounding forest.
Svetlana had to stifle a giggle as Ulryk attempted to hide her healing's effects on him. His combat skills clearly outstripped his poker face. The priestess spared a quick shrug and a smile for the archer's questioning look and then took to examining the caves. It seems this whole shrine has had its curse lifted by the afflicted man's death. It seems our work here is done. She took another cursory look around the caves to ensure nothing was missed but then appeared ready to depart, apparently content in her belief that the group's work here was done.
Ulryk leaves the caves and takes a long drink from his canteen. Tasting the warm water, he decides to dump the rest out and approaches the gleaming pool. Setting down his canteen, he cups his hands and brings a bit of the water to his mouth, tasting it first to determine whether it is worthy to fill his canteen. If not, he'll have to stick to beer and wine for a few days...
I guess I'll drink some to.
Vhy not make camp here? It is blessed. Besides, I must chase down my horse.
She goes to where Zelter bolted, and attempts to track him.
"I don't object to making camp here. It can give us a chance to discuss our next course of action. We can continue our exploration or we can turn back and head to the Oleg's trade post and inform Joad about our success." Ulryk took a seat on a stone beside the pool and had some more of the water, before refilling his canteen.
While the party made time to rest, be brought his mule and stallion over and had them drink as well, before letting them graze.