As you move cautiously into the fetid cave Freya spots the first obstacle in your path.
Two Shrieker mushrooms are at the north and south entrances. . While there are four Violet fungi mixed in with the other growths. .
What are you doing now?
(free use of inspiration)
(free use of inspiration)
"Could we just run past? How dangerous are they?" She draws her swords.
"If we should kill them is there anything we need to know Freya?"
Freya know this about these things.
This human-sized purple mushroom emits a piercing sound that lasts for 1d3 rounds whenever there is movement or a light source within 10 feet. This shriek makes it impossible to hear any other sound within 50 feet. The sound attracts nearby creatures that are disposed to investigate it. Some creatures that live near shriekers learn that this noise means there is food or an intruder nearby.
N Medium plant
Init –1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +0
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 9, flat-footed 15 (–1 Dex, +6 natural)
Fort +7, Ref +0, Will +1
Immune plant traits
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft.
Melee 4 tentacles +4 (1d4+1 plus rot)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 12, Dex 8, Con 16, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 9
Base Atk +3; CMB +4; CMD 13
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Rot (Ex)
A creature struck by a violet fungus’s tentacle must succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or the flesh around the point of contact swiftly begins to rot away, exposing raw bone with shocking swiftness. This hideous affliction causes 1d4 points of Strength damage and 1d4 points of Constitution damage. This is a poison effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
"The shriekers will emit an ear piercing sound whenever they detect light or movement within ten feet. Otherwise, I know little about them. The violet fungi, on the other hand, have whip-like tentacles that can reach out ten feet from the main body. To make matters worse, the tentacles are coated in a flesh-eating poison. Obviously, we'd be best served to attack from range."
”Then let us avoid the shriekers all together, and try and kill this fungoid thing as Freya suggests. Ready bows and magic, everyone!” Darian says.
As Freya describes the nature of the things growing in front of him, Josef stops short, and begins walking backwards as he puts his sword away and readies his bow.
"Okay, so we stay close together in here. Got it."
Three entrances to choose from, which way are you going?
Once all the dangerous plantlife is dealt with, Darian sizes up the tunnels. ”The central passage is the largest, giving us the most maneuverability. Also is the most likely way an owl ear would go, I suppose. Let’s tend to the biggest threat then check on these side caverns,” he says before leading the way ahead shield up in a defensive stance.
Johanna lights up her blade and follows the lead of Darian. She moves to his side then a step or two ahead.
"I should probably take the lead. There may be traps. I hope not as it is a large beast but you can't be too careful."
"Center it is. I'll stay close, Johanna."
V6. Lair of the Beast
The ceiling of this huge cavern arches thirty feet into the air. A
murky pool of water stands in the western portion of the cavern in front of a narrow passage, little more than a crack, that opens in the wall. Wider, sloping tunnels lead out of the cave to the north and southeast. A jumble of bones, rocks, fur, and feathers sits piled against the southern wall.
Of more concern to you is the huge Owlbear that shrieks in furious rage the moment it sees you coming into the chamber. Worse it seems to be wearing well made studded leather barding?
It lurches to it's feet from where it had been resting and immediately attacks.
Thanks to the way the initiative worked out the party may act first. Try not to die!
Darian’s eyes widen at the sight of the monstrous behemoth before them, and he suddenly grows very nervous for Isabel. ”This thing...has been bred for war! Bring it down!” he calls out as he wills his magic to flow out to his allies!
Johanna advances on the now blind creature.
Freya and Fenrir move into the chamber.
"Strike fast, strike true!"
"Oh, this is gonna hurt." Josef almost mumbles as he begins his movement up to the big creature.
The huge beast continues to shriek in fury, lashing out at Josef
All three of it's attacks cool Josef with the breeze caused by their misses.
The party may now act. It will roll against Glitterdust on it's action, so it's still Blind
Johanna takes a step and attempts to stab the beast.
(Inspired)
Johanna's attack Bewilders the creature making it easier to strike for her companions.
Seeing the beast flailing about blindly, Darian gives his wife a smile before turning back to the massive owlbear. He works some magic of his own before charging off in a blur towards the creature!
__________
"Fenrir, flank and attack!" Freya says as she moves into a position to hurl a conjured ball of ice at the blinded owlbear.
(inspire, flank, vs. blind AC)
(inspire)
(inspire, vs. blind touch AC) - potential crit!
(inspire)
(inspire, vs. blind touch AC)
(inspire)
Lisl rushes to catch up, her preternatural speed bringing her up next to Josef with her spiked shield while the owlbear is blinded and can't swing at her.
Josef's eyes open wide as he gets a much closer, clearer view of the owlbear's weapons than he would ever have considered, and then stay there when he realizes he wasn't hurt.
Then he lays into the creature, hoping to drop it before it gets another chance!
The beast shakes off the blindness, and ignores the attempt to blind it again.
It sinks it's claws into poor Josef and tries to bite his head off with one snap of it's massive beak.
45hp damage to Josef, and he is in it's grasp.
The party may act now.
Darian makes his first attack in a panic, seeing Josef snatched up in the thing’s beak. He focuses for the second strike, though, and thrusts his blade for an gap in it’s barding...
___________
As she's standing right next to Josef, the red-headed priestess brings up her shield to keep the owlbear's talons away as she reaches out and caresses him with a soothing, healing touch.
Johanna gains a sense of urgency as her attacks are swift and precise finding weak spots in the creatures defense.
(Flank,IC,Prayer)
(Flank,IC,Prayer)
(Flank,IC,Prayer)
(Flank,IC,Prayer)
"Gaaahhhhhh! Unnnhhhhhhhhhhhh." The cry of pain is as much from surprise as agony, but the simple release of air as the creature begins squeezing Josef is even less voluntary.
Darian slashes at the beast twice, his blade sinking deep.
Joanna seizes her chance and buries her blades deep enough to go through fur and hide to find it's heart. it slumps to the floor dead in an instant.
Silence falls over the cave aside for your panting for breath, the fight was short but desperate and you won.
The Owlbear wears Masterwork Studded leather Barding, sized for for a huge beast.
There is a body lying behind the things nest as well.
Loot:
Chain Shirt +2.
Longsword +1.
a ring of bestial friendship
2 MW throwing axes,
2 potions of speak with animals,
a jar of restorative ointment,
a vial of antitoxin,
two smokesticks,
a tanglefoot bag,
two thunderstones,
34 gp.
In addition, assorted coins worth 112 gp can be
salvaged from the owlbear’s nest. The owlbear’s barding is
worth 250 gp and weighs 150 pounds.
The ring of bestial friendship functions as a ring of animal friendship, save that it allows the wearer to use charm monster on magical beasts that have an Intelligence of 2 or less.
It also bears an unfortunate curse. The charm monster effect lasts only for 1d4 minutes, after which the effect ends and the targeted creature becomes affected by the curse of rage.
This curse affects the magical beast with a rage spell, and instills in its brain a hatred of the wearer of the ring of bestial friendship used to charm it, forcing the magical beast to attack
the ring-wearer and kill him.
What are you doing now?
Johanna takes a quick glance around.
"Is everyone alright."
She extends a hand to help Josef up.
"What the hell was that thing? I had no idea they could become that large."
(spending inspiration)
"This ring would have allowed that unfortunate soul" pointing to the body "to charm such creatures and control them. Unfortunately for him, the ring is cursed and the charm effect only lasts for a very limited time before enraging the target of the charm and turning the beast against the wearer of the ring."
Pausing for a moment she adds, "We should melt this thing down before someone else gets hurt...damned shame it's cursed, I could have had quite a bit of fun with such a ring."
Darian moves over to Josef and provides some more healing to the swordsman. ”You alright, Lord Orlovsky?”
As Freya explains the ring, Darian looks from her to the body somberly, then asks ”Is there a way to perhaps remove the curse?”
Lisl moves to soothe Josef's brutal injuries from the owlbear.
(spending 1 inspiration)
Josef takes Johanna's hand and accepts the offered help back to his feet, working to move one of the thing's arms off so he can get up. "No, but I think I'm starting to get used to it. Why can't we fight men anymore? THEM I can keep from hurting me like that!"
As the spellcasters try to restore his good humors, Josef looks more grateful. "Thank you, Darian, Lisl. Do you think we can find a way to keep that from happening again?"
As he rummages through the gathered haul, Darian playfully tossed the magical chain shirt at Josef. ”Try that. May let you move a little better,” he says jokingly and with a wry smile.
He then retrieves his dagger and begins skinning and harvesting meat from this massive animal.
Studying the layout of the cave from the chambers they have cleared, Darian says ”Either the first passage north leads to this second passage, or it couldn’t be very big. Let’s check this southern branch first, then see if the first northern route circles back to this branch here where this monstrous Owlbear was.”