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The young Varisian recalls other roadside shrines and bows his head for a moment. He ponders Lady Kayle and her motivation to take up the dragon quest and ultimately give her life; was it a god's command, deep friendship for her companions, bad luck, greed, a plan gone wrong?
Thank Desna, she watches the road. I hope Pharasma judges her kindly.
Once Bendy and Arithas are down, Trig looks at his friends. "The road beckons wide before us. And home is not its end. Life is adventure and learning. And if you're lucky, some friends."
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Elysia watches the two men display their cunning and prowess.
Riiiight
"Shall we return to our journey then? It isn't getting any warmer standing here."
That was a bit too sarcastic. I have to live with these people. Note: Be nicer to the lesser races. It is their privilege that I am among them. I ought to be gracious about it.
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Li is standing by patiently. He can see that Trig and Bendy are both better climbers than he. But when they return with word of a roadside shrine, the young monk feels an obligation to pay his respects.
Li makes the climb if he can.
and again until he makes it. Then he places a single gold coin in the bowl, as well as a single arrow. Then he returns to the bottom.
The Pathfinders hurry on through the mountains, cognisant of the limited daylight and not wanting to spend another night. You follow along a rather fast running river, climbing down beside small waterfalls as the river rushes to lower ground. At one point you pass by a small herd of mountain goats standing on almost vertical rock some height above you, their kids playing with and head butting each other as the lead male of the herd watches you warily. Pushing yourselves to not rest throughout the day, and even moving through the late afternoon, it is almost completely dark when you reach the northern foothills of the Kortos Mounts.
As you set up camp, there is a loud screech from the skies above. Looking up, flying high above is a small flock of about a half-dozen black-feathered humanoids, their arms and legs like the cruel talons of eagles while their skin shimmers an iridescent snow white: harpies. The harpies seem to not notice you as they pass, screaming as they fly into the chilling winds of the mountains and away again.
The night watch is uneventful, although miserable, for the ground everywhere is sodden and muddy and occasional gusts of wind blow down from the mountains and make you shiver. You're certainly glad for the cold weather gear you still wear.
Setting out across the foothills, you soon spy a wide, shallow lake, and surrounding it is more muddy marshland. There seems to be no other way to go than through the swamp, so you begin the rather thankless task of wading through deceptively deep pools of muck and grime. A cloying fog bank lingers to a height of about a foot off the ground, the thick blobs of mist dancing in between large thickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Exotic species of vine twist along the vapour-shrouded path and do their best to trip you over and send you flying into the muck. Before long, you've had to pull off a couple of leeches from various places on your body, tripped over a hidden log and landed face-first into the mud, and been near deafened by the constant frog song. Thankfully, you eventually find paths of caked mud that are slightly drier than your initial fare, but the misery nonetheless remains.
When you find a reasonably dry area of the swamp on somewhat higher ground, you take the most of the opportunity to rest and set up camp a little early. Your sleep is fitful, between the insect swarms and the constant sound of splashing fetid water, but nonetheless must press on. Thankfully, as you progress through the bog, the thick rolling fog begins to disperse, allowing you to see where you're stepping, although it's replaced by an increasing amount of twisting vines and grasping mangroves.
After hours of uneventful travel, you spy a large, fallen log lying across the path you were taking, standing five feet fall. Oddly enough, a moldering wooden door covers one of the hollow ends of the log, and a makeshift mud chimney emits a thin wisp of blue smoke from within. From behind the crude house come the sound of someone humming an off-key tune, as well as occasional words in a yapping language.
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Arithas will quietly translate for his companions who do not speak Draconic. Then, out of curiosity, and to ask whatever creature is in there permission to camp on their... "property", he walks over and knocks on the door.
The voice isn't coming from within the house, but rather behind it. Nonetheless, the small wooden door seems unlocked should you wish to enter.
At Arithas' words, there's a brief yap of surprise as whatever it is catches wind of your arrival, cutting off its tune mid-way.
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***The trip down ***
Although glad to be at lower altitude, tramping through the swamp dismays Trig considerably. He likes being clean and looking good, but there's no chance of that here. He silently surrenders his vanity, promising himself a good washing at the first opportunity.
***At the draconic lodge ***
Since the party is stopping for conversation, Trig casually slides his backback off. He sniffs and tries brushing some of the drying muck off his clothes. He also keeps his quarterstaff in hand, as he looks around.
Perception:
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Bendaxalon has never been happier for his innate gnomish magic than when it comes time to make camp in the swamp. "If you want to stay dirty, then say so; otherwise..." Activating his prestidigitation, he cleans everyone and their gear (including the mule), so that they won't be getting all that mud and gunk inside their bedrolls.
The draconic sorcerer mentally translates what his partners and the unseen stranger are saying. Speaking in common for the sake of any who don't know the draconic language, he asks, "What's a Bog Mother? She thinks we're here to hurt her children." He adds his voice to the chorus protesting peaceful intent.
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Li, although used to being ragged, is fastidious in his cleansing rituals. He is delighted by the gnome's cleaning cantrip and regards the small and colorful being with a mixture of curiosity and respect.
"Accept, please, the many thanks of Li Shuo, Mister Brirramorrow," he says with a polite bow. "Now please to tell Li what is happening?"
Taking a detour around the log allows you to see just who it is you're communicating with. On the north side of the log-house, a small patch of pink-blossomed thistles grow in haphazard rows in the swampy bog as if planted to resemble a garden. Standing protectively in front of the garden is a grey-skinned kobold garbed in a crocodile skull headpiece and a simple tunic made from lilypads crudely stitched together. Around her neck is a vine necklace strewn with sharp teeth and flower blossoms. She waves a branch around in the air in an attempt to seem threatening and shouts at the group, her eyes wild.
She looks up as if something has spoken to her, then kneels down beside one of the thistle plants and strokes it lovingly.
Perception
Elysia: 15
Poe: 12
Trig: 18
Initiative
Reflex Saves
The crazed kobold leaps up from her plant "children" and starts dancing, yabbering and gesturing in a language none of you recognise. As she does so, the ground beneath your feet begins to writhe and wriggle as the plant life comes alive and grasps at your legs to hold you in place. Everyone but Arithas and Li are taken quite by surprise by the sudden vines and plants that entwine around your legs, and are caught fast.
As her spell goes off, there's a sloshing of mud and muck as a greenish, reptilian head pokes out of the bog surrounding Bog Mother's thistle garden. A sinuous crocodile stomps its way down alongside the kobold's log house and looks hungrily at you...
Initiative: Li | Khale | Bog Mother | Bendaxalion | Arithas | Elysia | Triccio
Terrain
The green tree like formations on the map are light undergrowth and are difficult terrain. The white bordered area is the thistle garden and is also difficult terrain. Everything else is normal terrain.Status
You've been hit by an entangle spell; only Arithas and Li saved against the effect. This makes the green bordered area difficult terrain as well as having the following effects:Entangle:Creatures that fail their save gain the entangled condition. Creatures that make their save can move as normal, but those that remain in the area must save again at the end of your turn. Creatures that move into the area must save immediately. Those that fail must end their movement and gain the entangled condition. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, making a Strength or Escape Artist check (DC 13). The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts.Bendaxalion: entangled
Khale: entangled
Triccio: entangled
Elysia: entangledOOC
Khale and Li are up, followed by the enemies. Then everyone can go.
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Feeling the movement of the grass and noting the movement of the crocodile, Li settles into a calm quiet amid the chaos. "If nothing exists," he said to no one in particular, "where did the anger come from?" To anyone listening, it sounded less like a question than a muttered remembrance of some long-ago teaching.
In a single smooth movement, the zen archer draws his bow and fires two well-aimed arrows at the crocodile.
Initiative: Bendaxalion | Arithas | Elysia | Triccio | Li* | Khale* | Bog Mother*
* = Round 2
Status
Arithas: entangled
Bendaxalion: entangled, prone, unconscious, dying; -1/8 HP
Triccio: entangled
Elysia: entangledSnapjaw: 4 damage.
Li recalls his master's teachings as he calmly fires off a perfectly aimed arrow (and a less perfectly aimed one shortly thereafter). The arrow pierces into the crocodile's side, but doesn't seem to stop it for long.
Khale fights against the cloying undergrowth for some time, finally managing to wrench himself free of the weeds that sought to keep him tied to the ground. Alas, as soon as he does so, they reach out to grab at everyone again!
Luckily, Khale and Li are able to avoid becoming re-entangled... but the same cannot be said for the alchemist!
Bog Mother resumes her dancing and chanting; as she does so, the piece of stick in her hands grows to enormous proportions! Well, enormous by kobold standards, at least. She then walks into her own entanglement, whispering to the undergrowth to get it to leave her alone, and gets in position to club Arithas over the head. She still seems to be muttering nonsense about her "children", how she'll protect them from the scary scary people...
Meanwhile, her hungry crocodile sidles up alongside the sorcerous little gnome and chomps into him, tearing out a nasty hunk of flesh and sending him to the ground in an instant.
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A panicked Trig trashes in the grasping weeds, while he watches the crocodile approach. When the reptile swerves aside to attack Bendaxalon, the Varisian is momentarily relieved. The thought isn't fully formed, but lurks nascent at the back of his brain -- That could have been me. The relief allows him to regain his composure.
He starts to sing in a full-throated voice still a little raw from the previous day's cold. It's an old battle anthem from Korvosa and he wishes he could beat the tattoo, but he needs his hands for his staff which he uses to try to sweep away the weeds and lever himself clear of their reach.
Initiative: Bendaxalion | Arithas | Elysia | Triccio | Li* | Khale* | Bog Mother*
* = Round 3
Status
Bendaxalion: entangled, prone, unconscious; -1/8 HP
Khale: 8/13 HP
Triccio: entangled
Elysia: entangledBog Mother: prone
Snapjaw: entangled; 14/?? HPOOC
Moving for Li as it's been over 24 hours.
Bendy has horrible nightmares of being chased by giant demonic crocodiles, while Arithas chugs down an elixir that causes a semi-translucent shield of force to appear in front of him.
Elysia attempts to cast a slippery grease spell, but some grasping shoots reach up and tug at her arm mid gesture, completely ruining the effect. Triccio begins singing a song of heroics, bolstering the team's morale in the face of their fallen companion. Li, recognising he would not be able to hit the croc from behind the others, maneuvers slightly to get a better shot.
Alas, his arrow flies completely wide. The same cannot be said for Khale, however, whose righteous fury quite nearly beheads Snapjaw, causing the reptilian menace to thrash about in pain, spraying blood everywhere.
Bog Mother certainly seems to be ignoring Arithas' plea for peace, and instead continues to babble on about nonsense once more.
Apparently having forgotten her previous plan to whack Arithas over the head, Bog Mother shifts backwards and lays a gentle, clawed hand upon the head of her animal companion. A breeze rustles through the thistle garden as motes of light coalesce around the crocodile's wounds, closing it just a little. The kobold seems quite confused at the effect, muttering to herself.
Apparently in some kind of blood frenzy, the injured crocodile lunges towards Khale and snaps at his legs. There's a painful-sounding crunch and a spray of blood in the air as its teeth sink into the aasimar's flesh. The entangling undergrowth wraps around the crocodile's legs, holding it fast in place.
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One thought perturbed Li Shuo's calm. He likes the colorful gnome and concern over Bendaxalon's health is creeping into the zen warrior's attempted calm. He breathed slowly, drawing the bow, remembering that all was illusion, including time.
You cannot describe it, you cannot picture it,
You cannot admire it, you cannot sense it.
It is your true self, it has nowhere to hide.
When the world is destroyed, it will not be destroyed.
Calm, his mind empty of all but the arrow, Li drew and fired, a slight smile on his lips, his hands almost languid in their movements.
[EDIT]Firing at the crocodile.
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Arithas is saddened, yet angry that the Bog Mother will not listen to his please for peace. [spoiler=Draconic] "Have it your way!" he spats at her. He moves slowly, avoiding the entangling vines, into square I9. Once he is there he reaches into his pockets and pouches and draws out some ingredients which he mixes in a bottle. His hands move incredibly fast, and when he is finished, he throws the bottle at the Bog Mother.
if that hits (doubt it): (+1 from inspire competence, +1 from point-blank shot)
If it misses: (I will roll 1 d8, a one will be j10 and I will go around the Bog Mother clockwise to find where the bomb lands) The bomb in that case will land in K6.
Initiative: Bendaxalion | Arithas | Elysia | Triccio | Khale* | Li* | Bog Mother*
* = Round 4
Status
Bendaxalion: entangled, prone, unconscious; -1/8 HP
Khale: 8/13 HP; entangled.
Elysia: entangledBog Mother: 6 damage
Snapjaw: DEAD!OOC
Arithas, you're in the first range increment so the bomb lands 1 square away from Bog Mother in a random direction, so it would land in K-9. So... she gets splash damage. :)Li, you can't 5 foot step there. The log is 5 foot high. You could jump or climb up, but both will provoke an AoO from the croc - but then, so would firing an arrow. I chose to have you delay until after Khale's turn and then flurry at Bog Mother, but that keeps you in the entangle effect.
Bendy continues to have fitful nightmares. Arithas picks his way through the entanglement, finally managing to wrench himself free of the mess and lob a bomb at the kobold. He underestimates the mad swamp druid's nimbleness as she ducks under it, but the resulting explosion causes Bog Mother to shriek in pain. Elysia and Trig struggle against the undergrowth, though only the bard is able to free himself... for now.
Khale whips out his kukri and stabs the angry crocodile right in the side of its head. It flails and thrashes around for a few moments before going limp. Li then shoots off a pair of arrows at the kobold, one of which strikes her in the back and elicits a yowl of pain from her.
Seeing her companion go down, Bog Mother begins to weep and scream.
She then lashes out at Arithas with her enlarged club, but the elf nimbly avoids the blow.
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Bendaxalon slithers through the muck and then snaps his lengthy jaw at a young-looking two-legs, small and soft. He tastes warm blood; this one is healthy and good to eat. It only takes a few good chomps for the bendy croc to swallow all of the gnome, limbs and guts alike, though it leaves him feeling disoriented. Maybe gnomes aren't so good to eat. Wait... *I'm* a gnome! What's going on here? The nightmare fractures and replays.
Arithas tosses another bomb directly at the crazy kobold, this one burning her up well and truly. The force knocks her back towards her thistle garden, and she feebly attempts to reach out to her "children" before finally collapsing.
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Khale fights against the vines and weeds that have once again caught him while struggling to help Bendaxalon, "Friends, our comrade lies on the ground near death - treasure can wait! He will surely perish if he does not receive aid!"
Breaking free, Khale drops his weapons and scoops up the gnome while moving outside the area of magical entanglement.