I shoot a bolt towards the monstrosity
Trane moves up to hit the creature as he charges.
Chaandra rushes to attack.
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Rafael fires a bolt at the creature, but it glances off its hard shell and ricochets into the far wall!
Trane wields his scimitar and swings it at the creature, but it bounces off of its natural armor!
Chaandra tries to bite it, but misses!
Group 2: The Creature
The slimy, foul creature snaps its claws at Cananthir and , lands one and manages to cause seven points of wounding! It then attempts to grab him and succeeds in latching onto him! It squeezes the claw and causes five more damage as it constricts!
Group 3: Everyone else...
I silently cringe at the Creature's attack on Carp. and before I attack it I will attempt to see if I can find out what it is and if it has any weaknesses.
Knowledge Nature:
Perception:
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Trane steps back and begins the ritual of summoning.
A portal forms and a watery creature is being called from a watery ocean.
Chaandra hopes for some inspiring music, but shift further into the room and rakes at the creature.
The cat gives as good as they have gotten.
I tell my companions The creature is a Giant Crayfish, a freshwater creature that dwells on the bottom of lakes, ponds, and other shallow waters. The creatures are predators and scavengers and exist on a diet of decaying flesh (dead fish and other water-based animals), algae, snails, worms, and other animals (including swimmers who come to close to their lair). Giant crayfish make their homes under rocks or in underwater tunnels burrowed out by the crayfish. It possesses the ability to grab and constrict with its claws, and has a tough exterior shell that provides decent armor.
Then I cast Magic Missile at the crayfish.
Damage:
My action to activate my last use of Inspire Courage for the day stands.
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Round 2
Group 1: Trane, Chaandra and Rafael
Trane summons a dolphin!
Chaandra leaps into action, and successfully attacks the creature with her bite and both claws, causing 12 points of damage!
The creature writhes in agony, as it is torn to pieces by Chaandra's ferocious attack, and it quickly dies.
Quiet descends upon the room...aside from the possible appearance of a dolphin...
End of Encounter
Trane searches for treasure.
I have a wonderful recipe for crayfish...If we bring some back to town do you think they'd cook it for us?
Perception:
I think it would be worth a try, Garm. Crayfish are awesome eating!
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Searching near the back edge of the pool you find 17 cp, 30 sp, 19 gp, and a normal longsword (15 gp).
Trane spots a glint in the water on a ledge. Reaching into the pool, he pulls out a platinum pin set with a small ruby (worth 2,000 gp).
He also notes a bone that looks too symmetrical, and examining it he discovers it is watertight and contains a scroll upon which three spells are written: Color Spray, Endure Elements, and Glitterdust.
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Elmo assists the party in loading the plentiful loot onto his wagon, and the equipment, members of the party, and the freed prisoners are soon back in Hommlet. You are greeted by members of the village who are overjoyed that the threat to their livelihood and safety has been neutralized.
The village council agrees to purchase any weapons or armor you wish to sell, as such goods will aid greatly in equipping the militia. As you decide what items to sell, and what to keep, the council insist on a full report of your activities and findings, and schedules a meeting for the following day at the home of the Elder.
As we go through our loot trying to decide what to keep and what to sell, I approach Trane and say,
Trane, I really like that pretty pin with the red stone. It would look so nice at the neck closing of my top, don't you think?
Diplomacy:
Trane smiles.
"We should probably sell the valuable things like this so we can split the treasure fairly."
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The pleasant and seemingly peaceful village of Hommlet turned out to be filled with intrigue. The supposedly deserted and ruined moathouse nearby held a new champion of the nearby Temple of Elemental Evil. All of this brought danger and difficulty to the members of your group, but it also offered adventure, experience, and wealth.
You have either slain or driven off the evil men and creatures, and the able guardians of Hommlet — Jaroo, Terjon, Elmo, and the rest of the sturdy militiamen — can surely see to it that their area remains clean of the taint of Evil hereafter.
If agents of the Temple were still active around Hommlet, then there must certainly be work for you at that fountainhead of wickedness. Just a half-day's journey afoot (only about two hours' ride), east along the
High Road, lies the disreputable community of Nulb, and the Temple hidden in the hills nearby. This vile place spawned much suffering, ruin and death before the hosts of Good brought it low and bound its power. It is evident that the place was wounded but not slain, for dark things crept into Hommlet under direction of someone or some thing still lurking in the shunned edifice of Evil.
When the Temple of Elemental Evil flourished, earthquakes, storms of all sorts, great fires, and flash floods struck areas nearby with seeming capriciousness. All that ceased when the Temple was assaulted and sealed. You have been advised of all this, and urged to go elsewhere to seek your fame and fortunes. The unease which prevails upon those merely passing near the ruins shows that some wickedness still haunts the place. There are many bad folk in Nulb, and still greater perils amidst the fallen Temple. Yet the lure of such adventure beckons to you, drawing your party as surely as a lodestone draws iron.
Warnings against loss of life—or even worse fates — cannot counter the irresistible pull of treasures secreted deep underground, of monsters still unbeaten, of mysteries to be unraveled. There are whispers of occult places beneath the interdicted Temple, where mighty Evil is yet wrought and noble folk are imprisoned. With care and cunning, luck and great deeds, caution mixed with boldness and daring, you and your associates can win through to achieve exploits of the stuff of legend!
The journey of a hundred leagues begins with the first pace, and the time for your sojourn has come.
Elmo has visited Nulb before, and volunteers to guide you to that location. In particular, there is someone in the town he desires you to meet - a person who might aid you in accomplishing your tasks.
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Elmo: Well, Nulb is a bigger town, with more selection of goods and services. But, it is also a riskier place to do business. Lots of cheating characters and criminals make their way in and out of Nulb, so you have to watch for shady dealings at all times. Don't get me wrong...there are some good folks there, who won't try to cheat you. Several of those folks I had in mind to introduce to you...discreetly.
Let me know when you folks are ready to go, and I'll take you to Nulb in the wagon...
I smile at Trane and say, I figured as much but you can't fault me for trying. And fair is a fairytale by the way. Assuming he knows to what I am referring, I turn and walk off.
Since I want to start off prepared and I have enough GP, I hurry to the local merchant and buy my necessary supplies, including a +1 Ring of Protection and sheets of parchment for scribing scrolls. Then I return to the wagon.
Elmo is standing alone nearby and I approach him and ask, What else can you tell me about Nulb and the area surrounding it?
A tan halfling hurries to join the crew at the wagon. He is wearing weathered overalls and a beaten straw hat, a twist of wheat perched between two cracked lips.
Well howdy strangers, going my way?
The precocious creature doesn't even wait for permission before climbing aboard and claiming a spot next to Garm's things.
Headed to Nulb, right? Mighty fine town. Mighty fine. Hear they is lookin' fer some good hands on the farms thereabouts.
A strange twinkle hits this halfling's eye whenever you meet his gaze.
His eyes are the exact same color of Garm's...wait, it is Garm! That trickster bought himself a Hat of Disguise!
Well my Pappy hails from those parts. A somberness steals over the halfling. 'Fore he was torn apart by that...bandersnatch,
As quickly as the mood claimed him it disappears leaving the halfling as excited as ever. That's all mud in the pool now though. Well here'n see if I can spin a yarn or two for you good folk on the way down ta Nulb...
Perception:
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Elmo: The village of Nulb is filthy, ramshackle, and still fairly active despite the destruction of the Temple. The buildings are of turf, mud brick, crudely hewn logs, and old timbers from boats. One or two have stone foundations and proper boards, but even these are in poor repair.
The inhabitants of the village are boatmen, fishers, herdsmen, farmers, and the like. I don't think many manage to make much of a living in Nulb, and as it is such a poor place, it is generally ignored by lords and bandits alike.
Commerce moves along the Low Road, as well as into Nulb from the river, as Imeryds Run is wide and deep enough for the small river vessels to use for offloading cargo and likewise embarking it from Nulb, north of the ford there.
Thank you so much for that information about Nulb, Elmo. It is always helpful to know something about where one is going. I guess I am as ready as I will ever be. . . and having said that I turn and walk over to the wagon and climb up and take a seat across from Terry.
I smile at him and say, Nice overalls. So you are a farmer?
Trane looks at the new Halfling.
"Well, I hope you can tell some entertaining tales on the road. My cat may have to eat you if you upset her."
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Elmo climbs up onto the wagon and grabs the reins. The party climbs aboard and leaves for Nulb. Elmo decides to take the high road, as the route is a shorter distance between the two villages. At the pace of travel, the journey will take about 4 hours.
About 2 hours into the trip, the road begins to climb higher, working its way up hills toward a pass. As the horse is working hard to climb the crest of a hill, the trail turns a corner and you notice that the way is blocked by a tree which has fallen across the road.
Elmo: I'm going to unhitch the horse and see if I can use her to pull the tree aside so we can pass. Keep a sharp eye out - this looks suspicious.
Considering this development, I stand up in the wagon and cast Mage Armor on myself, then do a perception check.
Perception:
With a mischievous smile, "Terry" begins casting Minor Image!
I say loudly so that my voice carries, Why don't we let Sir Gowain here investigate the tree for us? He's not much of a talker but he is a reknowned bandit killer from Taldor. I doubt even a dozen bandits would give him pause.
As I speak, an Eagle Knight complete with armored warhorse appears behind us (90 feet from the tree is as far as I can manage) and gallops forward towards the tree. His armor gleams brightly in the sunlight, sword and shield at the ready.
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With a mischievous smile, "Terry" begins casting Minor Image!
Will Save:
Sense Motive:
The image of an Eagle Knight gallops toward the fallen tree which rests across the road. As it approaches the tree, a figure emerges behind it, who yells behind him, It's an illusion...hold your fire.
You see a burly gnoll looking at you, idly swinging a flind bar back and forth in his hands. Well, what have we here? You aren't the usual travelers we encounter on this road. Are you going to pay our toll, or do we have to take it from you?
I'd advise against it. This here is the infamous Carp, who just cleared a gang of bandits in the area similar to you, maybe TOO similar. Now, I'm not a betting man, but I don't like your chances...
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As the mounted Eagle Knight thunders toward the downed tree, a pack of gnolls rise from the underbrush, as a group throwing spears at the approaching foe. The spears fly toward, and through the image of the knight, to no effect. Attacking the image has revealed the location of each gnoll!
You see a burly gnoll looking at you, idly swinging a flind bar back and forth in his hands. What kind of nonsense is this? Either put up your weapons and surrender, or we shall exact our toll...from your FLESH!
Trane begins to call on the forces of nature to bind his enemies.
The very plants writhe and grasp.
School transmutation; Level druid 1, ranger 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
EFFECT
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area plants in a 40-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw Reflex partial; see text; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
This spell causes tall grass, weeds, and other plants to wrap around creatures in the area of effect or those that enter the area. 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. The DC for this check is equal to the DC of the spell. The entire area of effect is considered difficult terrain while the effect lasts.
If the plants in the area are covered in thorns, those in the area take 1 point of damage each time they fail a save against the entangle or fail a check made to break free. Other effects, depending on the local plants, might be possible at GM discretion.