"I am mildly dismayed at the number of mind influencing creatures we have run into in such a short period of time." he says out loud to no one in particular and yet everyone at once. "And can we use another source to heal Gravlax? I think this wand is almost tapped out and it might be good to keep in reserve in case we need to heal healers or something."
"I have a wand here," Cassian says, holding up a wand of cure moderate wounds. "Once we kill this demoness person, we can stockpile some healing objects for our next inevitable adventure."
Gravlax walks over to the group, plant matter sloughing off with each step. "Cleanliness before healing, if someone could, please...?"
He looks at Zsz as her skin color changes. "Nice hue," he says.
Amaya snaps her fingers, the plant matter removing itself from Gravlax and Azhar in short order.
Fiosa moves away from the edge of the path which looks more jungley than it did before the fight with the viper vines. Off in the distance, in the direction the group would go if they continued to follow the path, Cassian and Azhar (first) pick out a happy if repetitive tune.
"Thanks," Gravlax says to Amaya (for the cleaning) and Cassian (for the wanding).
"I am mildly dismayed at the number of mind influencing creatures we have run into in such a short period of time." he says out loud to no one in particular and yet everyone at once.Tarvi asks, "Because the hint that they kidnapped and brainwashed people didn't indicate evil bastards with mind-affecting powers?"
Only barely getting out the question before Amaya shoots her a look.
"Mm. That's why they call the moon the Land of Enchantment (TM). I understand the amusement park is amazing, if you like Brain Slugs."
He looks at Zsz as her skin color changes. "Nice hue," he says.
"Oh? You think this one is good?" she asks, hesitating before she fires the wand again. "It's not too ... I don't know, Samsaran, is it?"
Gravlax scratches his head. "I'm honestly not sure," he says. "But I think it suits you."
Amaya snaps her fingers, the plant matter removing itself from Gravlax and Azhar in short order.
Azhar's hand reaches for her's with a soft, fond smile. "Thank you." he mouths.
Off in the distance, in the direction the group would go if they continued to follow the path, Cassian and Azhar (first) pick out a happy if repetitive tune.
A:
B:
C: K.Local dc25
Azhar cocks his head and get's a far away look as he listens to the music. "Seems to be 6 singers." he says after a little thought.
"Mm. That's why they call the moon the Land of Enchantment (TM). I understand the amusement park is amazing, if you like Brain Slugs."
A small shudder passes through Azhar.
He looks at Zsz as her skin color changes. "Nice hue," he says."Oh? You think this one is good?" she asks, hesitating before she fires the wand again. "It's not too ... I don't know, Samsaran, is it?"
"I don't believe Samsaran are exactly common here or in Westcrown, so I think it's probably safe. And yes, I kind of think Gravlax is right, it does suit you."
Whether the group decides to face the oncoming singers in the glade of everblooms or continue on, the singers are loud enough that an ambush could easily be made.
He is heard long before he is seen but when he comes in range of everyone's vision on the twisting 20-ft wide path, he is preceded by a nonet of crawling hands. Each of the undead creatures connected by a heavy chain to the humanoid giant using his scythe to mow down the newly reclaimed parts of the jungle.
Thirty-feet tall, his nine heads almost brushing against the overgrown canopy above (which he chops at), the trailblazer is the largest troll anyone has ever seen. He continues to sing happily in giant as he works.
But since each of the heads as a mind of its own, the jotund will often argue with itself, allowing clever people who encounter it to play the creature off of itself.
Cassian softly explains what's going on under all those spoilers.
"So ... we assume it's mind-controlled, try to snap it out of the mind control, hope it doesn't want to fight any longer, and if it still does, we confuse and kill it?"
Gravlax looks doubtful. "Or should we just skip to the last step on that?"
"Well, hopefully we won't have to fight it." Azhar doesn't look like he thinks that's likely. "But assuming it attacks, how do we 'snap it out of the mind control'? Anyone know how to do that?"
"I'll let you figure that out while I get in position to perform the last step should negotiations and brainwashing countermeasures fail."
Rygel chirps.
"And then there's that," Cassian confirms. He doesn't elaborate as he disappears into the shadows to get on the far side of the nine-headed monster.
Azhar looks to Amaya, Tarvi, Zsz and Fiosa for any additional input from the more magically inclined.
Azhar looks to Amaya, Tarvi, Zsz and Fiosa for any additional input from the more magically inclined.
Tarvi shakes her head.
Fiosa considers for a minute, "There are a number of herbs that would knock someone out... but I don' think they would work on a troll of that size. Or a troll of any size."
"Nope," Amaya adds, "I might be able to suppress some mind-dickery, but then you have a very angry, huge troll that probably knows someone has been f@!!ing with his mind." She looks at the rest of the group with a smile, "Do you think any of you can convince him that he can get revenge for that by helping us instead of just of him just deciding that we look tasty?"
"I'll let you figure that out while I get in position to perform the last step should negotiations and brainwashing countermeasures fail."
Rygel chirps.
"And then there's that," Cassian confirms. He doesn't elaborate as he disappears into the shadows to get on the far side of the nine-headed monster.
And, when the time comes, the jotun doesn't notice Cassian slipping behind him. Of course, the nimble rogue may have to dodge the scythe - but that is because the huge troll is using the huge weapon to clear the quickly growing jungle from the path in huge swaths.
"And I assume you wouldn't want to avoid it by passing by in the undergrowth." Azhar sighs, fairly committed by this time that they will be killing the happy troll and possibly having to find their own way back to the gate with no clear trail to follow once the rest of their task here is done. Of coursd, this may or may not happen anyway.
"This is some seriously aggressive undergrowth," Gravlax says.
Zsz asks if everyone would be kind enough to stay out of sight of the troll. She plans to dispel the enchantments currently on the creature and then use calm emotions so that it will not immediately attack - giving the group a chance to negotiate with it while it is sane and calm.
The great troll stops looking at the little humanoid in its path. Three of its heads speak. It's voice chiding.
Gravlax goes into the underbrush at Zsz's request, grousing under his breath.
Gravlax goes into the underbrush at Zsz's request, grousing under his breath.
The dense jungle growth is painfully hard to move through. The vines and the branches of the plants with crimson-red fruit bulbs almost seeming to try to grab at Gravlax.
But Gravlax manages to avoid the stinging nettles - for now. Seeing the difficulty the normally quick fighter is having though, the girls choose to move back on the trail to stay out of the trolls vision range.
Azhar stays near Gravlax, just in case he gets himself into any trouble. He stays silent, mostly watching the proceedings between Zsz and the strange troll.
After quickly finishing his meal in what are quite likely much bigger bite sizes than those Amaya is used to taking, he snakes his left leg out from beneath her and shifts slightly so he can embrace her with his right arm and lean into her warmth, kissing her neck in a slow, lingering fashion that betrays both his longing and affection.
"Any new thoughts on who you would like to bring with us love?" he whispers through her luxurious hair, unobtrusively tasting her tantalizing scent.
He rubs first his left cheek, then his right, against her upper back, neck and hair. Reminiscent of a cat rubbing against someone it favors and perhaps wants attention from.
The great troll stops looking at the little humanoid in its path. Three of its heads speak. It's voice chiding.
("Mistress"? Sounds like the dispel totally failed to work, then. Ah, well, time for plan B, I suppose.")
"We got lost in the jungle," Zsz says to the troll, a sad expression on her face. "Can you tell us where we can find the mistress?"
The troll stares at Zsz for a long time, the chained hands coming up to surround the petite blue half-elf. It is only when one of the undead things moves closer to Zsz and almost bumps into her that the jotun finally reacts, yanking on the chains.
His big foot comes forward pushing another one of the hands away from Zsz. Another head speaks,
The huge troll takes a deep breath, nostrils flaring.
Then, like he is speaking to a child,
And, as soon as Zsz continues past him, Trailblazer continues his task, clearing away the jungle.
And way a way back the path, Mathalen swears quietly, motioning for everyone to get off the path for only as long as needed for the working troll to work his way path.
;
;
As they come out of the jungle, Amaya and Fiosa have small prick marks from the nettles and Amaya has one hand pressed tight to her mouth in an attempt to suppress giggles.
Gravlax gladly comes out of the undergrowth.
"Fiosa and Amaya appear to be poisoned," Cassian says, indicating the pink veins leading from Amaya's wound and the green stuff dripping from Fiosa's.
Gravlax rifles through his pack, frowning. "I know I meant to buy more antivenom, but it looks like I didn't."
Amaya's wound begins to leak the same green venom that Fiosa's body naturally expelled. Amaya blushes a little as she removes her stifling hand, "It's like being really, really drunk." She explains softly.
Cassian looks back speculatively at the vines. "Huh. Maybe we should bottle that stuff."
Cassian looks back speculatively at the vines. "Huh. Maybe we should bottle that stuff."
"Might be able to take back a clipping and see how it does inside your compound." Azhar suggests with a smile, then turning to Amaya and wiping away the green ooze, "Feeling better, love?" he asks, disposing of the venom, though not before sniffing it speculatively.
... not before sniffing it speculatively.
It smells of absinthe and evil.
The temperature drops as the group travels on, quickly changing to hot, steamy jungle to a ice-tipped land of frost. The plants do not seem any less lively as snow begins to fall and everyone gets a but chilly.
The Trailblazer's path suddenly ends a large, round lake. It's frozen, black surface reflecting the starred heavens above as a light snow begins to fall.
Gravlax absent-mindedly scratches at the back of his hand. Frowns.
Turns back the lip of his glove and a piece of nettle falls out.
"Think it got me. Better look again for that anti-toxin."
As the temperature drops precipitously, Azhar finds that this is the perfect opportunity to hold someone in his arms.
Azhar eyes the ice dubiously, "Well, if it held the troll, it should have no trouble holding us." He begins walking out on the ice.
"Think it got me. Better look again for that anti-toxin."
Azhar glances back, "If you can't find it, I have one left." he answers in the same tone.
"Think it got me. Better look again for that anti-toxin."
"Oh no, that isn't good. The poison seems quite virulent. " Fiosa puts her small hand as high own Gravlax's arm as she can reach.
"That... did not work." She looks down, ashamed in the weakness of her magic. "Sorry."
Gravlax pats Fiosa on that head. "Don't feel bad," he says. "I shouldn't have got tagged in the first place."
He slaps his forehead. "The outside pocket!"
Gravlax pulls out a stoppered bottle, and takes the antitoxin.
His wrist does not start dripping green goo. He frowns deeply at it.
Azhar stops, looking back at his companions, the beginning of worry starting to etch into his brow.
Gravlax pats Fiosa on that head. "Don't feel bad," he says. "I shouldn't have got tagged in the first place."
He slaps his forehead. "The outside pocket!"
Gravlax pulls out a stoppered bottle, and takes the antitoxin.
His wrist does not start dripping green goo. He frowns deeply at it.
Mathalen comes over, pulling out one of her throwing knives, "Hold still." She carefully cuts at the inflamed skin and then provides pressure in an attempt to force out the poison.
Louder, "Do we have any restoration magic with us?" Her voice tightly controlled in a failed attempt to screen her worry.
The green poison spills out of Gravlax. He grimaces until it gives way to seeping blood.
"If this stains, I'm going to be pi--"
Gravlax takes in the expressions on the faces around him. "Sorry about that," he says. "I'll try not to get poisoned again."
Louder, "Do we have any restoration magic with us?" Her voice tightly controlled in a failed attempt to screen her worry.
Azhar is in the process of pulling out a potion, but at a whisper from Amaya returns it to its place. He shakes hes head, "Sorry, not strong enough."
Gravlax takes in the expressions on the faces around him. "Sorry about that," he says. "I'll try not to get poisoned again."
"You do that." Azhar says, with a grin.
Gravlax takes in the expressions on the faces around him. "Sorry about that," he says. "I'll try not to get poisoned again."
Mathalen puts her arms around Gravlax, her head resting on his shoulder. Her voice tart, "I'd prefer that."
"I only have access to the lesser version," Fiosa says.
Gravlax takes a deep breath and flexes his legs. "No bones broken," he says. "And we're still on the moon. Forward?"
And he starts across the ice after Azhar.
Azhar eyes the ice dubiously, "Well, if it held the troll, it should have no trouble holding us." He begins walking out on the ice.
Gravlax takes a deep breath and flexes his legs. "No bones broken," he says. "And we're still on the moon. Forward?"
And he starts across the ice after Azhar.
And the ice holds. Both of them.
And everyone else who tries the black ice.
It seems to be waiting to jump the group when they come in range.
("Probable ambush predator. Huge. About 30' away. I think it's waiting to jump us.") He stops just briefly to smile at Amaya.
"Amaya, would you mind picking up that nice black ice pebble for me?" he gestures at an interesting rock on the ground and smiles winningly, then continues on, hoping to get closer to the thing while the others are temporarily waylaid, and out of range.
("Doesn't look like it's spotted me. I'll get into position.")
The huge troll takes a deep breath, nostrils flaring.
Then, like he is speaking to a child,
And, as soon as Zsz continues past him, Trailblazer continues his task, clearing away the jungle.
"... I knew that rubbing a succubus all over myself every night would have benefits ..."
Louder, "Do we have any restoration magic with us?" Her voice tightly controlled in a failed attempt to screen her worry.
("Yes, but given that it takes a solid eighteen seconds of uninterrupted incanting to cast, do you mind if we deal with the huge ambush predator first?")
("Yes, but given that it takes a solid eighteen seconds of uninterrupted incanting to cast, do you mind if we deal with the huge ambush predator first?")
Gravlax shrugs. "I can wait."
("Probable ambush predator. Huge. About 30' away. I think it's waiting to jump us.") He stops just briefly to smile at Amaya.
"Amaya, would you mind picking up that nice black ice pebble for me?" he gestures at an interesting rock on the ground and smiles winningly, then continues on, hoping to get closer to the thing while the others are temporarily waylaid, and out of range.
Amaya looks at Azhar for a minute, her head cocking to the side. "O... kay...?"
As she moves to pick up the slightly blacker object from the ground, Azhar strides forward, purposefully and...
("Doesn't look like it's spotted me. I'll get into position.")
Cassian, unseen by basically everyone, starts to sneak around the huge aberrant creature.
However, once Cassian gets just a little closer to the creature he feels the creature's lumberous regard on him as well. Not such a creature to be taken unawares, but not so good at the bluffy.
"Perceptive sum-b!&*@, ain't he." Azhar remarks as his jovar appears in his hands and he suddenly changes direction ghosting to close the distance between them.
Yes, he is absolutely assuming no one is going to try conversing with this thing. I could be wrong.
AC 26, touch 14, flat-footed 22. . (+9 armor, +4 Dex, +3 amulet,
(+1 haste if active))
50% miss chance unless can see or hit ethereal then 20%
hp 195 (15d10+45) Current: 195
Fort +16, Ref +17 (haste), Will +10 (+3 charm/+4 fear)
Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
to hit1: 61hp
Hunter's Trick's used: 2 of 9
Haste: 3 of 10
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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓GM▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓Z▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓
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R = Froggie-like abberration
A = Azhar
C = Cassian
G = Gravlax
Z = Zsz (probably in the air)
Y = Amaya
F = Fiosa
M = Mathalen
i = Mithra
T = Tarvi (in air about 1-ft off the ground. Just in case the ice isn't really stable.)
Initiative
Attack!