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Thick blobs of fog dance in between large tickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Several exotic species of vines twist along the vapor-shrouded path, creating an ethereal seeming tangle. At random intervals, a splash of fetid water sounds in the distance, signaling the presence of frogs or other bog creatures.
Throughout the day's travel, people trip, fall and inhale the mists that line the ground.
Ezrek:
Astyannax:
Omrax:
Luisila:
Badger:
That night the bog is filled with the sounds of frog croaks and branch cracks. Every once in awhile an eerie light can be seen floating in the distance. While unsettling, the night is uneventful.
On the next day, as the party progress through the bog, the thick rolling fog begins to disperse. Despite the increased visibility, this area of the swamp is difficult terrain, as the muck and vegetation thicken further.
Luisila Fort:
Omrax Fort:
Each take 1 point of Wisdom dmg.
Throughout the day, Luisila and Omrax cough and hack throughout the trek. Yellow sweat beads down their face through the humid marsh.
At the end of the day, the setting sun produces an warm orange glow that filters through the trees. A large log rests across a dirt path, standing five feet tall. A moldering wood door covers one of the hollow ends of the log, and a makeshift mud chimney emits a thin wisp of blue smoke. From behind the crude house comes the sound of someone humming an off-key tune.
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Sadly, Luisila is feeling a little sorry for herself …
*Cough, Cough, Splutter*
‘Join the Pathfinders’ they said …
‘See the Inner Sea’ they said …
‘Meet interesting people … ’ they said.
I can’t remember dying of fever in some fetid swamp being part of the recruiting spiel.
Poor Omrax looks in similar shape to me … Well, now what have we here?
Quietly to her companions: “Humming a tune seems an odd way to set up an ambush.”
“If Omrax is up for it, I suggest a straight-forward diplomatic assault on the front door.”
“Omrax, do you know the spell Knock?"
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Omrax coughs and wheezes coming out the swamp, trying to make the best of it. He will move up with the others.
"Interesting dwelling out here in this unpleasant swamp. Lady Luisila, I do not know any knock spell other than the ordinary kind (cough) by rapping on the door with my hand. I am up for a diplomatic approach if it suits the group...I (cough) just need a moment to compose myself. Sir Ezrek, Sir Haraldir? Any signs of who dwells here?"
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After eying the shack, Asyannax looks back at the hacking, disheveled Luisila. We already have a hag in the party...
"Likely the home of a hedge witch or somesuch. Unless one of you swamp-fevered folks would trust her to help you with spells or medicines, I agree with Badger: trouble likely lies inside."
We could have just taken a short ship passage. I'm going to kill an Aspis agent for making me trek through mountains and swamp.
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Erzek and Ormax walk around the log to investigate who is humming.
Omrax Perception
When they round the corner they see a creature that Ezrek easily identifies as a kobold. She is dressed in green gatorskin. Her head and snout peak through a large reptilian skull. She appears to be raking the ground and humming wistfuly.
The Bog Mother then quickly turns around, holding her rake in a threating manner. She begins to yip, bark and hiss at her intruters. With a final snarl, she starts to cast a spell.
Bog Mother is able to cast her spell before the heroes are able to react. The ground comes alive below Omrax & Ezrek as the grasses and twings elongate and tries to entangle their bodies.
Failed, Entangled
Saved
From the swamp waters near the lake, a large crocodile errupts from the marsh. It waddles toward Omrax and tries to bite the paladin.
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Astyannax first turns his attention to the odd kobold with the rake, then swivels his head as a crocodile bursts out of the swamp. As he rushes towards the reptilian threat, he sees it try to take a bite out of Omrax.
Why does everything want to eat the elf?
He pushes past Haraldir and charges towards the croc, drawing his sword and swinging as he moves up next to the paladin.
'Gee, let's go walk around the log and see who is whistling.' The Society needs to do better testing
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Astyannax struggles to keep his balance in the swampy terrain.
I hate this place.
He swings again, hoping to hit the croc, which seems to be distracted with his chewing on the half-elf next to Astyannax.
He feels some satisfaction as this time his sword makes solid contact with the beast's scaly hide.
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Round 2
My dire rat should have attacked last turn :P, He attacks the hag.
N Small animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 20 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +1 (1d4 plus disease)
Special Attacks disease
STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 4
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 12 (16 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Climb +11, Perception +4, Stealth +11, Swim +11; Racial Modifiers uses Dex to modify Climb and Swim
Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 11; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
I take this turn to switch to full defense and thats all
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Omrax not liking to be dinner to the croc, will swing defensively with his longsword in both hands since does not have his trusty shield (cursed swamp).
. AC up to 20
"May the swamp take ye foul lizard. Let us drop this thing Sir Astyannax!"
Nope
If he drops it, he will move out of the entangled area.
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Astyannax cuts deep into Snapjaw. It thrashes as blood begins to stain the waters.
Ezrek calls to the heavens, and it doing so let's his guard down.
Ezrek is clocked against the head by the kobold's glowing rake. The aasimar tries to maintain his spell-like ability.
Ezrek fails to bring heavenly light to the battle.
Omrax stabs Snapjaw just behind the base of the skull. It instantly falls limp and sinks into the swamp. The paladin then moves out of the entanglement next to his companion Astyannax.
Luisila stomps through the muck around the large log while focusing on the green kobold.
Haraldir follows Luisila around the log.
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Astyannax cuts deep into Snapjaw. It thrashes as blood begins to stain the waters.
Ezrek calls to the heavens, and it doing so let's his guard down.
Ezrek is clocked against the head by the kobold's glowing rake. The aasimar tries to maintain his spell-like ability.
Ezrek fails to bring heavenly light to the battle.
** spoiler omitted **
Omrax stabs Snapjaw just behind the base of the skull. It instantly falls limp and sinks into the swamp. The paladin then moves out of the entanglement next to his companion Astyannax.
Luisila stomps through the muck around the large log while focusing on the green kobold.
Haraldir follows Luisila around the log.
Oh ok :). I'll walk to M18. and Spawn a dire rat at J16 (range 25ft). and order the rat to move to H15 and attack.
Attack roll:
Damage:
Plus disease- Filth fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 11; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
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Omrax, covered in blood and grime, sighs at both of his nasty croc bites and moves a single move south, sheathing his sword. As his second move he rounds to the end of the log, drawing his clw wand from his wrist sheath...
"Inheritor, grant us victory over this wretched witch and her minions!"
To the team, huffing, puffing and coughing...
"On my way..."
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Badger moves up toward the log and summons a dire rate in mid-air at J16. The rat falls out of the sky with a slight squeak and thud on the damp ground. It then waddles up to the Bog Mother to bite at her. At the last moment, the kobold is able to dodge out of the way.
Luisila's arrow strikes true in one of the most vital parts of the body: the kobold's knee!
Astyannax wades through the entangling grasses . . .
and gets caught up in them. The knights tries to break free of them.
Astyannax breaks out, but is out of actions this turn.
Ezrek quickly drinks a potion to heal his head wound.
Omrax puts his sword away then steps beside Astyannax, awaiting his turn to enter the entangling mire with wand in hand.
Haraldir moves behind Luisila's skirts to get a clear shot at the manic kobold.
A small bright green and red frog, with electric-blue stripes on its hind legs appears in Ezrek's square.
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Ezrek's first swing comes down on the tiny frog, nearly popping it. It is a resilient little bugger though as it has a bit of fight left in it. Ezrek then moves out of the way.
Astyannax makes his way through the muck and stands before the kobold. With a large grin coming across his face, the knight slashes at the Bog Mother. She deftly steps out of the way at the last moment, focusing now on the human before her with narrowed eyes.
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Omrax comes around the far side while healing himself, while Luisila bestows some good fortune on her ranger companion.
Round 5
The frog jump attacks Ezrek. He takes a swing with his quarterstaff before the frog can land at his feet.
The frog flies through the wiff and attempts to bite the sorcerer.
The frog jumps right between the aasimar's legs.
Bog Mother swings at the dire rat again in hopes to make a meal out of it.
The dire rat dissipates as the kobold rakes it back to the otherworld.
With a satisfying nod, Bog Mother takes a 5' step to circle around and engage Astyannax with her Rake of Doom. (5' step to I13 and yes, that is a 10th level artifact)
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Round 6
I'll move to 18I and summon an eagle at 14h and order it to attack.
N Small animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision; Perception +10
Defense
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
Offense
Speed 10 ft., fly 80 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +3 (1d4), bite +3 (1d4)
Statistics
Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB –1; CMD 11
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +8, Perception +10; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception
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Omrax will double move north (from I20 to J14) with wand in left hand and drawing longsword in his right. Ready to help Ezrek with frog or swing on the bog mother next round.
"I call on the powers of the Inheritor to strike thee foul lizard!"
As a free action, he will invoke smite evil on the bog mother hoping it is evil, he loses it otherwise (no actions left to attack, but gains AC if she is evil).
If bog mother takes 5' back Omrax will step-up into her space.
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For a brief moment, Haraldir felt very confused. While pulling his bow, he sensed a gentle touch on his shoulder. Usually he tried his best not to let anything from the "outside" interfere with his aim, but this was different. Although his concentration was disturbed, her gentle touch seemed very soothing, as if she was reassuring him. With his new found calm, ranger let an arrow loose, willing it to strike true.
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