Return of Winter by Artofregicide (Inactive)

Game Master Artofregicide

The Troll Burrow: Round 4

The archer Grimgisli fires two swift shots through the false flames, but unable to see his target neither strike true.

Goliath and Therm try to flank the infested Finngarth but find him too canny with his back to the wall. The druid's scimitar misses but his companion manages to land a solid blow. Unfortunately, the troublesome fungus scutters out of the way just in time and Finngarth is instead struck.

Adrian continues to focus on his illusion, hoping it'll ward off the troll a bit longer.

Vincessno sidesteps, staying well out of combat. He attempts to blind Finngarth but the tough Ulfen man resists.

Irina successfully lands her hex of vulnerability on the addled, terrified troll.

Cylina steps back and casts a blessing of magic weapon on her morningstar, bracing to wade into melee.

Adrian's ruse continues to fool the Troll. Unfortunately, the parasitic mold is not so easy to trick. It wills the hulking brute towards the noiseless flames, and for a moment the giant breaks partially free of the domination, begging:

Giant "No, not through the fire... not the fire..."

But the mold reasserts control, and forces the Troll to dash forward, terror in its eyes. Even though it passes through unharmed, the creature is shaken by the experience. Nevertheless, it reaches out to grab Grimgisli with long, reaching fingers tipped with vicious claws... but to no avail, the huntsman is faster.

Both Mindslavet Molds fire spore pods, at Therm and Grimgisi respectively from the cover of their hosts. However, neither shot comes close in the frantic melee.

Finngarth swings yet again against Goliath but simply cannot penetrate the man's layered defenses...

Bless +1 to hit and damage

Initiative:
Moss Troll 20
Unknown 20
Finngarth 14

Grimgisli 19
Goliath 18
Adrian 11
Vincessno 11
Irina 6
Cylina 5

On a d100, unless specified otherwise above is success. I.e. 51+ on 50%.

Grim steps away from the troll, knowing it won't make much difference, and changes fire to the fungus on the troll's back. Hopefully it stays hurt when damaged.

MW Composite Strength (+1) Longbow Rapid-Shot 1 @ fungus w/ PBS, Bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 27
Piercing w/ PBS: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10

MW Composite Strength (+1) Longbow Rapid-Shot 2 @ fungus w/ PBS, Bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 17
Piercing w/ PBS: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

This is gonna hurt me . . ..

Goliath and Therm keep trying to attack the mold.

Flanking Power Attack Scimitar (B): 1d20 + 9 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 1 + 3 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Flanking Gore: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Goliath and Therm keep trying to attack the mold.

Keep in mind, you're not flanking. Most likely won't matter, but still.

Allowing the illusory flames to fade, Adrian takes a step out of the troll's reach and casts a coruscating ray of necromantic energies at the monstrous creature.

5-ft. step and casting ray of enfeeblement at the troll. I have low-light vision, so I get to treat the cave as bright light and don't have to worry about concealment, right?

Ranged Touch Attack (w/PBS and Bless): 1d20 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 20
Strength Penalty: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Thanks for the reminder. Quoted the previous post and forgot to take out the flank.

Irina sends a Ray of Frost at the fungus on the Troll.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Cold: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 29

5-ft. step and casting ray of enfeeblement at the troll. I have low-light vision, so I get to treat the cave as bright light and don't have to worry about concealment, right?

No concealment, but you are firing into melee (the creature has a 15 ft. reach!). Luckily, it takes the AoO on Grimgisli and not on you.

The Troll Burrow: Round 5

Grimgisli opens fire though the troll has closed the distance - the giants lashes out with impossible speed and rakes a claw across his arm 5 damage. But both his shots strike true, and despite the speed of the scuttling moss it cannot escape. Hey he watches as the fungi slowly knits itself back together, not unlike the troll albeit not so dramatically.

Goliath proves not quite so lucky - his blade hacks again into Finngarth as the mold just barely escapes his wrath. The zombie-like warrior looks bloodied but not beaten. But taking advantage of the direction, Therm scrapes their tusks against the vile fungus.

Adrian in turn unleashes a wasting ray against the troll, but even as a puppet its inherent resilience lessens the impact of the strength draining curse.

Vinccenso fires a pair of magic missiles unerringly into the mold, but it the arcane force is dissipated by the chaotic, First World energy that infuses it failed to beat SR. He shouts in surprise:

Common "This blasted infestation is resistant to my spells!"

Irina fires a frigid ray but cannot get a good shot in the melee. It freezes a small patch of lichen on the wall.

Cylina comes in swinging with her now enchanted morningstar, and lands a savaging blow on the mold.

Your enemies continue to fight ferociously.

The Moss Troll steps up to Grimgisli and unleashes a flurry of tooth and claw. The ranger escapes the worst of it, but the brute lands a scraping bite on him 4 damage.

Unable to break through Goliath's impregnable defenses, Finngarth turns to Therm, cleaving through the creature 17 damage with a potent application of precision and power, flowing through to hack deeply into the adjacent Cylina 19 damage. However, such a mighty blow has overextended the warrior, leaving him vulnerable -2 AC from Cleave.

Conversely, the mindslaver mold that controls the man squirms behind him, attempting to stay away from danger best it can +4 AC from full defense.

The other fungus fires another spore pod at Grimgisli, knowing he cannot retaliate with his bow in such close quarters... but the unsteady movement of its host and the proximity of the target spare the ranger from the explosion of infectious spores...

Everyone may act.

Initiative:
Moss Troll 20
Unknown 20
Finngarth 14

Grimgisli 19
Goliath 18
Adrian 11
Vincessno 11
Irina 6
Cylina 5

"Fall back, both of you! Move away from the troll!" Grimgisli hesitates, not wanting to be responsible for another's death, but knowing he needs to get further away himself if he truly hopes to survive.

Gotta see if Irina and Adrian stay in the creature's reach or not. If they do, I'll have to stay and try to draw the attacks. If they pull back, then I can pull back as well, and hopefully survive at least one round longer. Yes, if it comes down to it, Grim will stand there and fire. Like I said in the last post: This is gonna hurt!

Gotta see if Irina and Adrian stay in the creature's reach or not. If they do, I'll have to stay and try to draw the attacks. If they pull back, then I can pull back as well, and hopefully survive at least one round longer. Yes, if it comes down to it, Grim will stand there and fire. Like I said in the last post: This is gonna hurt!

Keep in mind that the Troll has a 15 ft. reach with its claws and 10 ft. reach with its bite, and it's also adjacent to Grimgisli. Short of using Acrobatics to escape out of its reach, there's a high chance of AoO in his future.

On the other hand, the Troll has been quite debuffed. -2 shaken (it doesn't realize the flames aren't real) and -3 STR from enfeeblement.

Oh, I full well expect another AoO. The question is whether I can create enough movement that it is followed by a single attack or another full round series. I am very aware the debuffs are probably the only reason Grim can consider another series. He's not. I am.

Goliath and Therm keep trying to attack the mold, again.

"If we can free him we can tip the balance in our favor. But at this point I don't know who will go down first."

At this point can I tell if the man or the mind slayer is worse off?

At this point can I tell if the man or the mind slayer is worse off?

Finngarth is more wounded than the Mindslaver Mold, but you also imagine he's sturdier to begin with. On the other hand, the Mold is slowly knitting itself back together, and if it manages to divert a powerful hit to Finngarth you might accidentally kill him.

Appreciated GM. It seems like trying to keep slapping the mold will be the bests option

Goliath and Therm keep trying to attack the mold.

Power Attack Scimitar (B): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 1 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Gore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

[occ]I imagine that misfortune on the mold would be helpful. I don't think evil eye will affect the mold, unfortunately.[/ooc]

Irina takes a step back away from the troll. She glares at the Mold and shakes a fetish at it.

Casting Boneshaker DC17 Fort for half. If it fails I can shove the target five feet.
SR: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4, 1) = 13

Irina takes a step back away from the troll. She glares at the Mold and shakes a fetish at it.

Casting Boneshaker DC17 Fort for half. If it fails I can shove the target five feet.

Target one living creature or undead creature with a skeleton.

Irina can clearly see the mold has no skeleton, and thus the spell would have no effect whatsoever. Do you want to target something else or use a different spell?

Adrian, careful to avoid the creature's claws, falls back to give Grimgisli room to retreat and fires and arrow at the mold.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Longbow Attack (w/PBS and Bless): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 21
Longbow Damage (w/PBS and Bless): 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10

Adrian, careful to avoid the creature's claws, falls back to give Grimgisli room to retreat and fires and arrow at the mold.

[dice=Acrobatics]1d20+8
[dice=Longbow Attack (w/PBS and Bless)]1d20+7+1+1
[dice=Longbow Damage (w/PBS and Bless)]1d8+1+1

Bless only applies to to hit and saves vs. fear. I believe that would be 9 damage unless you have another source of damage.

Oh I just scrolled up to one of your previous posts for that instead of looking up the spell. My bad.

With the others heeding his warning, Grimgisli pulls back out of the troll's reach (but just, because you stopped too close, Irina - full attack series can still happen) before letting another shaft fly at the fungus passenger.

MW Composite Strength (+1) Longbow @ fungus w/ PBS, Bless: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 28
Piercing w/ PBS: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

I'll take the 9 damage to the mold, every round, without complaint.

Road to Whitethrone: Day Five

The battle rages for some time, the party delivering blow after blow against the regenerating fungi and troll, eventually subduing both ghosts the parasites were using. In turn, the insidious mold squirm away through narrow passages in the burrow, fleeing from your reach before you can lay waste to them. You have good reason to believe the sentient fungi will leave the region to find less hostile environs.

Finngarth surrenders the moment he's released from the mold's enthrallment, and once he regains his senses, thanks you profusely.

Skald "I owe you my freedom and my life, strangers. I don't know why you came to this wretched place, but I feared that I'd never see my beautiful wife again. She'll no doubt be very grateful also. Is happily take you back to our cabin - hospitality is the least I can offer."

The man looks... bad, both from the injuries of the battle and the numerous punctures in his neck and back where the fungus was leeching his vital fluids, but you think he'll live. It's also quite apparent his sense of judgement has been severely impaired, the reason for that is less apparent but likely related to the mold also.

Then, quite unexpectedly, the Moss Troll gasps deeply and awakens. The brute is confused and disoriented but not at all hostile. Blinking, it looks about and then focuses on Irina.

Giant "Jadwiga, you have spared me - I am in your eternal debt. I am called Gorbatz Longtooth, and I have nothing to repay your kindness but my service."

The creature stares at the woman expectantly, though you have little doubt that he'll not complain if you release him from his debt. You could also kill him, but he sees you as saviors, not enemies.

Experience: Everyone gains 400 XP for the Troll Burrow Encounter. Assuming you allow Finngarth to keep his gear, your only loot is the Gorbatz's spear (unless you let him keep that too)

Skald "We're just glad you're alive, and able to return home. We'll be happy to help you get back"

Not knowing the language of the giants, Grim just watches as the Troll Tries to talk to Irina.

I don't see cause to take from them.

"Let's get you back to your wife."

Irina looks at her companions in shock. In Common she says, "What in the world would we do with a troll? He wants to come with us, and be my servant. If someone thinks of a reason not to keep him with us, I'd like to hear it. Otherwise." she shrugs a shoulder as if to say she'd be fine with bringing him along. We're collecting people. Why not trolls.

She turns to the troll, In Skald, "Well met Gorbatz Longtooth. I am Irina. We are traveling to Whitethrone. It would be an honor to have your service on the journey. However, it will be dangerous to you. We won't be welcome guests in the city. It will not be an easy road for you. Would you prefer to stay here?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Is he going to eat the children and our allies as soon as he gets the chance?

"He'll scare an awful lot of people. Sometimes that's good. Won't know if it is a good choice or a bad one until we see the price." Grim shrugs.

Road to Whitethrone: Day Five

Finngarth blinks at the Troll's swearing of service to Irina, and puts two and two together. She must be a White Witch and the others are her retinue.

Skald "My apologies, mistress. I didn't know I was in the presence of royalty. I may humbly suggest not bringing any troll in view of my wife, she has a deep... mistrust of such creatures. You understand, surely mistress?"

It's very apparent that Finngarth is very nervous (more than even being the presence of Jadwiga would cause) when he mentions this, and definitely leaving something out. He's bad at hiding his feelings, especially in this condition.

Gorbatz nods sagely to Irina's words. He's surprisingly well-spoken, for a troll:

Skald "Family troubles, Gorbatz understands. There is much uncertainty in the city after Dear Grandmother failed to return. But I do not fear death, only fire. I would be my honor to accompany and protect you."

He scratches his lichen covered chin with an enormous claw, curiously looking at the motley group.

You return to the cottage without incident, though the trek is as expected a slog through bitterly cold temperatures and half-frozen mud. Still, Finngarth only loses his way once - you think the parasitic fungus definitely sapped his sense of judgement and awareness.

As you approach the homestead, the redhead already waits for you anxiously. The second she spots her husband, Sylgja comes bounding towards at top speed. The woman shouts in joy and relief:

Skald "My love, you idiot, I can't believe... I... you look terrible. Are you okay?"

The two embrace and kiss deeply, Finngarth picking his wife up and twirling her around him. It's an touching moment, but it's also when you notice that Sylgja has a large fox's tail hidden underneath her dress... you don't believe that it's a fur, either...

Neither seems to immediately realize this slip. Instead, Sylgja catches her balance and her breath before giving you an enormous smile. She wipes away the tears from her eyes.

Skald "Forgive me. We are deeply grateful for this service, and I promised you a reward. Finngarth, I'm sure you can part with your lucky trap. It's the best we have to offer."

The woman rushes back to the side of home you a small shed, procuring a finely crafted beartrap. Sylgja's husband nods, happy to honor the offer.

Taking 10 on Spellcraft for a 22, Irina determines this item is an Insidious Beartrap. You believe it's worth about 6,300 gp.

After handing the wondrous item over (and refusing to take no for an answer), Sylgja in equal determination demands to feed and lodge you in her home for the evening. It's an exceptionally cozy affair, if you accept, but the food is delicious and the drink delightfully warming.

What do you do?

Skald "I can't speak for the rest, and will go with them instead if they wish, but I, for one, am grateful for the offer. A night indoors, close with body heat, will be a nice change."

"We would love help. We have to assist in getting this family to safety and in return, they will help us on our journey to find...They will help us on our journey."

"I see no reason not to accept your generous offer," Adrian says. "Except, of course, for our new companion," he reminds his companions in a hushed voice, "Are we to leave him to his own devices for the evening?"