Rivers Run Red

Game Master fictionfan

Well, Toran's unconscious. That was really fast.

Riva turns from the threat and (in true Admiral Ackbar form) shouts "It's a trap!"

What does Riva know about such creatures?

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Well, Toran's unconscious. That was really fast.

How? Your FF is 21 right? So only the first attack hit.

They are Shambling Mounds

Shambling mounds, also called shamblers, appear to be heaps of rotting vegetation. They are actually intelligent, carnivorous plants with a fondness for elf flesh in particular. What serve as a shambler's brain and sensory organs are located in its upper body. Shambling mounds typically have an 8-foot girth and stand between 6 and 9 feet tall. They weigh about 3,800 pounds.

Good point, I forgot that the grabs don't happen unless the initial attacks connect, so that wasn't that bad at all.

"They're shambling mounds--intelligent carnivorous plants with a fondness for elves..."

Riva is genuinely surprised she wasn't the first one to be attacked. They may not be able to tell the difference between an aasimar and an elf she realizes.

"...And not for their company either I'm afraid!"

"Aim for the upper body, Mal, it's where most of their organs reside! Elhedra, avoid electricity, as it bolsters them!

What's the terrain like, can we 5-foot step or move about easily?

The forrest is starting to thin out. You can 5 foot step. I wish his map maker made clearer terrain.

Also your knowledge check is high enough to know a very little known thing about Shambling Mound. They don't eat elfs for the favor, but because they crave their memories and intelligence. Some times when they eat an elf they gain these things. Their is some speculation that the first Shambling Mounds were mutated out of elves that wanted to get closer to nature, but went too far and lost themselves.

The eat elves for their intelligence? Oh I'm in a heap of trouble now.

"Brains"

Toran draws his halberd and hacks into the nearer of the two masses,
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

You hit it.

Going to slam the closest one with magic missile.

magic missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) + 3 = 11 then step back about 15 feet towards the big tree directly behind us.

The Mound that has Toran works to maintain it's grapple.
Grapple: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26
constict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 2) + 7 = 15

The other Mound moves over a small bit and double slams Riva

slam: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 2) + 5 = 12
grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
constict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 1) + 7 = 11

slam: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 2) + 5 = 13
grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
constict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 5) + 7 = 17

Riva deftly dodges the first tendril, only to be caught up in the second tendril she didn't realize had flanked the first.

First attack missed. Second attack hits and deals...

False life: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

...3 damage after false life. Riva takes an additional 17 damage from constrict, leaving her with 14 hit points left.

Riva turns to her friends and screams.

Can I dimensional slide out of a grapple?

I think you have done it before. Yes you can it would be a withdraw action.

Riva gets the hell out of Dodge via dimensional slide.

Draw. Rage. Hack.

1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 - 2 = 24
1d10 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 6 = 21

Round 2
Toran
Elhedril
things
Riva
Mallichatti

Toran again slams his warhammer into the plant,
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I am casting fireball defensively to help ensure I don't hit my comrades and make sure it is high enough above the Shambling Mounds to still hit them with full force.

concentration check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Fireball: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 2, 2, 1) = 16

I don't think you can avoid Toran. He is being grappled in the Mound.

I don't think you can avoid Toran. He is being grappled in the Mound.

I think she failed the Concentration check anyways. Also, unlike earlier editions of the game, grappling doesn't cause people to share spaces anymore. Worst case scenario, if you are farther than adjacent, you get pulled adjacent when grabbed.

I found a position that the fireball hits both the mounds, but not party members. I see no reason for a Concentration check. She was not in reach.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

They both save and resist the remaining damage.

The Mound holding Toran kept holding
grapple: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
constrict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 6) + 7 = 17

The other Mound moves over to attack Elhedril.

slam: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 1) + 5 = 12
grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
constrict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14

Toran slumps in the mound's grasp, One away from death!

They both save and resist the remaining damage.

Does Riva know enough about these things to understand that they are not immune?

You scored enough to know all about them.

"You want elf-meat!? Then come and get it!" cries out Riva in Sylvan, hoping to switch their interest from Toran to her magic.

Riva then casts silent image, creating the illusion of numerous elves emerging from the trees around the shambling mounds. Desperate to save Toran, she bolsters the spell's potency with sheer force of will.

I'm using Potent Magic to boost the DC by 2, to a total of 21. If the spell works, she will maintain concentration on the spell and have the illusory elves move into the forest, luring the shambling mounds away from the party, hopefully buying us enough time to help Toran and to make an escape.

Can anyone get to Toran to heal him before he's forced to make that stabilization check on his next turn?

Riva also orders her skeletons to move in and destroy the shambling mounds.

Skeleton attack and damage rolls, from left to right, two per shambling mound
Bite attack #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Bite attack #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Bite attack #3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Bite attack #4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Bite damage #1: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Bite damage #2: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Bite damage #3: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Bite damage #4: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

EDIT: Rolling to confirm #4's crit:
Bite attack #4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Bite damage #4: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The attack missed me. My AC is 20.

The Mound holding Toran Dies and falls to pieces.

MAllichatti clears the shrubbery.

5ft shift.

Full Attack.

1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 18 - 2 = 35 Attack
1d12 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 6 = 21 Damage

1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 13 - 2 = 28 Attack
1d12 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 6 = 20 Damage

Mallichatti more then 2/3's killed it.

Round 3
Toran
Elhedril
things
Riva
Mallichatti

Toran time to see if the dice Gods like you.

Not Die: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Yeah! If I have to die, at least it won't be to an oversized salad.

Shooting the last one with magic missile.

magic missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 4) + 3 = 10

Standing there you would need to make a concentration check to cast defensively it has a 10 foot reach.

concentration: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

The Remaining Mound attacks the other Elf (Elhedril)

slam: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 4) + 5 = 10
grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
constrict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 4) + 7 = 14

slam: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 5) + 5 = 16
grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34
constrict: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 6) + 7 = 19

And another one bites the dust.

Seeing yet another companion fall to these shambling refuse heaps despite her trickery, Riva stops concentrating on the illusion of her elves (did the shambling mounds even notice them?), angrily shouts orders to he skeletons, and blasts the beast with a super-charged quartet of magic missiles.

Magic Missile Damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 4) + 4 = 15

"Surround it my minions! Rend every branch! Tear every leaf! Mulch the mangy menace!

Skeletons all move to flank, none provoking due to the grapple, and make their attacks.

Bite Attack, North Troll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Bite Attack, South Troll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Bite Attack, East Troll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Bite Attack, West Troll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Bite Damage, North Troll: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Bite Damage, South Troll: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Bite Damage, East Troll: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Bite Damage, West Troll: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Riva continues to put distance between herself and the shambling mound, not caring to share the same fate as her fallen allies and trusting her five remaining servants to do their job.

EDIT: South Troll threatened a crit, rolling to confirm.

Bite Attack, South Troll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Bite Damage, South Troll: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

The shambing Mound starts rearanging it's vines into the shape of Elhedril's face. The "lips" move, but no sound comes out.

Ooh that's creepy.

"Finish it Mal! For our friends!"

Right I still have to murder the damn thing don't I

1d20 + 18 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 2 = 22 Attack
1d12 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 6 = 30 Damage

1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 2 = 16 Attack 2
1d12 + 13 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 6 = 24 Damage 2

The life leave the Elhedril face on the mound. It mouths something before it dies.

According to zone of silence, reading lips is a DC 20 Linguistics check. It's probably also worth noting that Riva understands all the languages of both elves and shambling mounds.

Riva attempts to discern what the Elhedril-mound was trying to say during its death throes.

Linguistics to read lips: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39

Oh look, I succeeded. :P

"It's me Elhedril."

"How could you kill me. I thought we were friends."

(T⌓T)
SO creepy! SO sad!

"So long old friend. I'm so sorry this fate befell you."

Riva wastes no more time than that.

Riva casts whispering wind to send a message to Adular Garess at the temple in Allania, instructing him to seek aid in the possible resurrection of the fallen. Riva then casts mount to summon a pair of horses for herself and Mallichatti.

After a few moments of leaving instructions for the caravan members and their skeletal guard, Riva and Mal each tie one of their fallen comrade's bodies to their respective steeds before making their way back to Allania with all haste. Knowing full well the magic inherit in summoned creatures, Riva worries not about riding the steeds to death, spurning every ounce of speed from the beasts that she can and relying on her magic to summon fresh mounts as needed.

They both ride through the night well aware of the fact that if they are quick enough, their friends may yet be revived, even from the throes of death.

You manage to get back without incident.

"I heard about the trouble. It so happens that I have some doses of Salve of the Second Chance and it is the new moon tomorrow."

This should be interesting...

"Might I examine the salve, Madam Verniex?"

Riva attempts to identify the substance being offered.

Spellcraft check to identify item with the identify spell: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (4) + 29 = 33

One can never be too careful where powerful magical items are concerned. It just wouldn't serve to bring back the mayor as some kind of accursed haunt due to faulty magical item construction.