TOZ's Decline of Glory (Inactive)

Game Master TriOmegaZero

Agraic nods at the improvement in Jessup.

"You keep strong, man. We'll try to get your team back 'live an' all. It always feels like cowardice when y' run, but if you hadn', then we wouldn' know what we're facin', an' knowin' a thing before y' step int' it means that y' c'n prepare proper-like f'r it.

Let's move, Miss Kensaku, an' do th' thingie."

Agraic will make some adjustments to gear to stow some things that might be more susceptible to rust/rot in his haversack, and get ready to move on out.

Ready to be moved forwards-like

Dalard leads the party to the far edge of town. Only the barest of paths marks the trail out into the swamp. "You follow the path best you can, you'll reach the caves in a couple miles. It's boggy, worse than most of the roads into town, so watch your step." He fumbles with the flap of a pouch at his side. "Here. Something for your trouble, and the help you offered Jessup." He holds out a scroll case and two vials.

Dalard shakes his head. "I'm just a retired mercenary. I can work the stills to make some brew, but anything more than drinking, fighting, and..." He glances around at the men and women watching. "...and that other 'f' word, I'm not much use."

"Oh, I assure you my good man, we have a lot of use for forensics in the Pathfinder Society!", Darshan says, as he winks conspiratorially at the man. "Still, it's your choice."

----

When the man gives the group the scroll case and the two vials, Darshan inspects the vials. (Take 10 on Craft (Alchemy) for 22 to identify the potions.) "Ah, excellent, healing potions are always useful."

To his companions, he says, "We have one that will work on moderate wounds, and one on serious wounds. Who wants to carry these?"

Kensaku momentarily looks over the scrolls, chuckling to herself as she does. Two scrolls of remove disease. One of these would be a great help to Jessup if he hasn't recovered by the time we return. Assuming we haven't been affected by ghoul fever ourselves, I mean.

Darshan shudders.

A narrow footpath leads down a gentle but muddy escarpment, disappearing into thick tangles of shrubs and swamp-weed. At the base of the hill, the dirt path turns to soft sticky mud before winding back through the shadowy mire. Nailed to a nearby tree hangs a moss-covered plank crudely cut into an arrow that points towards the mucky path.

Stepping over to the sign, Shigeru reads aloud, "Barrel Caves, two and a half miles. Seems like this will be a bit of a hike. I am not much for the wilderness myself but," he draws out his wayfinder, "I will assist as best I can.

Survival assist check: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 0 + 2 = 8
Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

I'll defer to whoever is a better suited to the outdoorsy stuff, but hopefully the knowledge roll can give us something extra to work with. I am also drawing out my rod of extended metamagic.

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

K: Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Agraic will attempt to keep the party out of the worst of the mire and keep an eye out for ambushes or the like hidden in the muck.

Clearly, the dice are drunk on cheap beer and fireworks for Agraic.

The path leads down into the bog, which turns out to be wet but shallow. Harder ground is no more than two feet below the surface, but the going is slow. Yay more difficult terrain!

"UUUUUUUgggghhhhh!" Darshan exclaims. "Leeech!"

Fortunately, Darshan has not seen the movie Stand By Me.

Darshan tries to remember if there's anything in particular he should worry about before ripping the bloodsucker off.

Knowledge (Nature): 19 + 1d6 ⇒ 19 + (3) = 22
Heal: 15 + 1d6 ⇒ 15 + (5) = 20

Darshan recalls that physically removing or burning the parasites off works but can cause minor wounds to the victim. Salt can be used to safely force them away.

"Salt," he says. "Do I have salt...."

Do MREs come with little salt packets? Darshan has 6 trail rations on him. Other things he has that might include salt are his alchemy crafting kit, and his smelling salts. (The latter aren't really salt, though, don't believe.)

Doesn't sound like you have it. Trail rations may be salted, but they certainly don't have raw salt included.

As the party checks themselves over, they find many more leeches clinging to exposed skin. Chomper raises a tentacle only to see one fall from his flesh, bloated with outsider blood.

Chomper is suffering from 1 Con damage at this time.

Not finding salt, Darshan rips the leech from him, and inspects the rest of his body to make sure he doesn't have any others.

Chomper quickly snags the leech out of the air as it begins its plummet back into the water. "Silly bite bite. Chomper not fruit." they chide the parasite, before chucking it into the trees.

touch attack to grab: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Panicking slightly, Shigeru fumbles to bat off the slimy things. "Godsf*%%s#&!getOFF!" he cries.
What the damage for manual removal?
His skin raw and weeping blood, he calls to his eidolon once he is free of the creatures. "Chomper, a little help?"

Chomper wades over to their master and deftly plucks Shigeru from the water, keeping him safe from the leeches.
Carrying Shigeru above the water still puts Chomper at a light load.

Darshan takes 1 point of damage, while Shigeru takes 6. Kensaku and Agraic have 6 and 3 leeches clinging to them respectively.

"Oh, hey. 'graic ain't for noshin'. Have some booze, it'll make ya feel better."

The sometimes uncouth warrior will pour ale on each of the leeches -- that's clearly what they were looking for, right?

Trying to be sparing but at the same time get them all.

And yes, he's trying to get them drunk to fall off. Because it makes sense, doesn't it?

Sadly, the leeches appear to be unfazed by the Caydenite blessing.

I'm not entirely sure how alcohol will effect them, but I'm going to say it isn't strong enough to run them off.

"Alrigh' tha's it. Y'don' wan' Cayden's blessin', then it's the acid f'r y'!"

Agraic pulls out a vial of acid and applies some to each leech.

Because this can only end in tears, but it's all too appropriate. It beats Plan A, which was hitting self with Alchemist's fire.

The acid splashes over the leeches, causing them to shrivel rapidly. The spattering deals 1 point of acid damage to Agraic.

As the leeches die Agraic shakes his head sadly. "Coulda gone th' other way, sorry guys. Anybody else wan' some acid?"

Almost as an afterthought he pulls out his very clearly PFS SI CLWW MK I MOD 0 and offers it to someone what can use it. "Cause it looks like we're gonna need it, coul' someone poke me a couple times wit' it, an' th' others what need it, please?"

I suppose I should have expected this... Kensaku mumbles with a frown, looking over herself as the leeches appear one by one. I'll attempt to use your wand if you help with my leeches, Agraic. She take the proffered wand on whom Agraic directs her to, trying to repair the admittedly minor damage of the leeches.

UMD: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Used those rolls in case we needed more, remove charges or make extra rolls as needed.

Agraic will use the first two rolls.

"Sur' thing! Let's get t' it, then!" The uncultured(?) warrior applies some acid to Kensaku's leechy friends.

Had damage from the fight that wasn't healed yet, I don't think, that takes him back to full.

The leeches dealt with and the minor injuries tended to, the party continues further. The path continues for about a mile and a half when it comes to the edge of a shallow bog whose waters rise above the muck, covering the tracks entirely. A patchy film of sickly- colored, rubbery fungus floats upon the surface. Near the water’s edge, three moss-covered planks hang cockeyed from a rotten wooden post.

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Hey, lookit th' way tha' scum is settin-like. Seems some sorta thingie been through these parts! Stay sharp. Dun wanna get jumped by a mouth-thingie--tha's a technicalmatchacalit term--in these parts."

Agraic is much more on guard now.

"If you say so," Darshan says. "What's a 'mouth-thingie'? In my experience, a gaping maw filled with Pathfinder-rending teeth tends to be a pretty common feature on horrendous beasts of the wild."

Darshan draws his mithral rapier and looks around carefully before proceeding with the others.

Perception: 18 + 1d6 ⇒ 18 + (5) = 23

"Picture a blob-like oozy thing with a buncha eyes an' mouths that all are talkin' all at once, an' tries to get all up and use those mouths in a way tha' is th' sort 'f thing folks shoul' be doin' in th' privacy 'f their own rooms.

Tha's a mouth-thingie."

Agraic feels pretty confident in his assessment and description of whatever the creature might actually be.

Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 9 + (3) = 30

"Ah, yes, one of those," Darshan says. "A mouth-thingie is a good name for them. Yes, I hope we do not meet one."

With all the talk of mouth-things, Kensaku gives a side-eye to Chomper before gesturing to him with one hand quizically and making a sort of eh? noise.

Perception(Kensaku's side-eye to Chomper): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Agraic doesn't pick up on the more subtle facial expressions from Kensaku, but does look down the 'path' to see if there's any good way through.

"Dun' suppose anyone brough' a ten foo' pole wit' 'em, did they?"

Failing an affirmative response, he'll start poking at the mucky disturbance with his guisarme, grumbling a bit.

As Agraic moves forward to test the depth of the bog, a number of strange plants emit a loud shrill noise into the air. The noise fills your ears, rendering conversation impossible. From under the water, another plant rises, violet tentacles wriggling from a almost mushroom shaped body.

17 Agraic
11 Darshan
10 Green
9 Kensaku
5 Shigeru
4 Chomper
3 Violet

Movement is still doubled, as the entire map is still shallow bog. Agraic and Darshan are up.

Shigeru takes note of Kensaku's gesture toward the eidolon. "I assure you, Kensaku, despite the influence it had on their anatomical structure, my friend is not truly related to the gibb-" He is cut off by the sudden eruption of noise around them.
Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
"Dear lord, what are those? They sound like mouthers, but clearly are plants. And that-OH S@#+. TARGET THE MUSHROOM BUT KEEP DISTANCE CHOMPER." he telepathically imparts to his eidolon.

If there is no objection, I will have used the third wand casting to get back up to full health. Does the deafening noise that prevents me from telling my friends about the mushroom cause any issues with spell-casting that I need to be aware of?

It's not clearly spelled out. It doesn't force a save versus deafness, but you cannot hear any other sound while it is screaming. Without any further clarification, I'm going with no impediments to spell casting. Just prevention of sound-based Perception checks and conversation.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + (4) + 9 = 16
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (13) + (5) + 9 = 27

"... ....! Darshan says to tell his companions what the creatures are. He realizes it's hopeless.

He slogs 30 feet diagonally through the muck towards the closest screaming mushroom and tries to silence it with a stab.

Rapier stab: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Additional damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

K: Nature(DC 11): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

K: Nature(DC 13): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Move Action, because it's a bit more than a free action, imo.
Agraic notices the first set of plants and makes some frantic gestures, some sort of explosion and then holding his nose and pointing to them.

Bluff 'Hidden Message': 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

Standard action, pulling out water and cloth
He then pulls out a waterskin and cloth, probably to wet down the cloth to use as a mask.

Darshan has the "Empathy" investigator talent thingy that lets him roll Sense Motive rolls twice and take the better result.
Sense Motive roll 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Sense Motive roll 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Expanded Inspiration roll 1: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Expanded Inspiration roll 2: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Result: 20

Darshan realizes that he already knew it was probably a bad idea to stab the screamer, but alas he has done so already.... The good news is that his alchemical experimentation has made him resistant to poison.

Darshan Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

The screaming plant collapses from the puncture wound, a cloud of gas filling the squares adjacent to it. Darshan finds nothing poisonous about the miasma, just a wretched smell that makes him want to puke. He does not, but another sight likely makes him just as ill. Marching out of the bog on trunk like legs is a massive mound of plant matter. Thick vines covered in slime wave in the air as it lumbers forward.

17 Agraic
11 Darshan
10 Green
9 Kensaku
5 Shigeru
4 Chomper
3 Violet

Kensaku and the eidolon team are up!

Kensaku makes her own exasperated motions as the new plant makes its appearance. She pulls out a wand from one of her myriad pockets and loops and shouts the command word and tapping herself, feeling like she will need its assistance. A barrier of force flashes in front of her before dissipating into a barely visible field as she grips her naginata for battle.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Well this day is going wonderfully. Lots of unrecognizable plants. Kill the mushroom and let the big thing come to you Shigeru quickly thinks to his companion as he draws a wand of his own. With a flick through the air, and a few blindingly quick finger twitches, he discharges a burst of magical energy into the eidolon.

Same actions as Kensaku, but buffing Chomper instead. Plus I have a trait that makes it +1 caster level. Yay, 20 rounds of shield!

As the small magical wall springs up in the air next to them, Chomper's tentacles burst out in a multitude of toothy smiles. Waving their smaller tentacles like fish tails, they propel themself through the muck toward the mushroom and lash out with their exceptional reach.
Power Attack Claw: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Magical Slash/Blunt Damage: 1d4 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Fingers crossed the tree monster doesnt have 15ft of reach

The violet plant rotates serenely and unleashes a flurry of attacks. Chompers magically infused hide deflects the many attacks without fail.

17 Agraic
11 Darshan
10 Green
9 Kensaku
5 Shigeru
4 Chomper
3 Violet (Damage: 15)

That could have been terrible, but AC Tank has it covered! Back to the top of the round. The screamers continue to drown out all words and screams of pain.

Edit: Was so focused on the big guy I missed that the little guy has 10ft reach. It remains to be seen how much big green has, but clearly not 15ft.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 9 + (2) = 19

"Hmm," Darshan says as the new creature appears. "A Shambling Mound. Charming."

He moves forward and attempts to stab the non-screaming mushroom.

Mithral rapier attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Tentacle AoO on Darshan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

The Vudrani easily dodges the flailing tentacles and scores a deep stab on the fungus.

Seeing as NO ONE is paying attention to his efforts to warn them about the stank fungus, Agraic steps up a bit and takes a swing at one with his guisarme, to try and take some of the noise down.

MWK Guisarme(Power Attack, Furious Focus) on 'leftmost' fungus: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 2 + 2 = 27

Damage(Power Attack): 2d4 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 + 4 = 15

Agraic strikes down the shrieking annoyance with another explosion of foul gas. Then the massive plant sloshes forward, the disturbance triggering another gas cloud as it reaches slimy tentacles out to batter Chomper and Darshan with heavy blows. The coils wrap around the Vudran and crush the breath from his lungs in one smooth motion. Likewise, even the mighty outsider is caught in a crushing grip. However, the foul odors do not overcome his many nostrils.

17 Agraic
11 Darshan (Damage: 40, Unconscious, Grappled)
10 Green
9 Kensaku
5 Shigeru
4 Chomper (Damage: 25, Grappled)
3 Violet (Damage: 22)

That was the most sadistic die roller I've seen in awhile. Kensaku and summon team, GO!

Shigeru's eyes go wide as he sees his companion crushed in such a swift manner. As he runs forward he draws out another shaving of licorice root which bursts into another rippling temporal effect as he clutches it in his fist. His increased speed causes a wide wake trail to form behind him, splitting the floating algae even more. In mid rush, be falters and comes to a stop a mere 15 feet from the large mound of moss, eyeing it warily.

Kensaku, unsure of how to reach Darshan, freezes momentarily from indecision until Shigeru gives her an answer. Bolstered by her newfound speed, she sloshes through the mud as quickly as her feet can carry her, turning and slashing at the animated salad choking the life from Darshan and Chomper.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Chomper writhes as the shambling mound squeezes their body mercilessly, but as the temporal wave washes over them, Chomper's grimaces of pain flip into grins of malice. Following Shigeru's orders, a backhanded claw lashes out around the grasping vines and lances into the violet fungus.

Did...did I just end this encounter?