The roper impaled by Flizz dies with the monk's first punch, the middle roper dies after the 2nd and 3rd attacks, while the last attack wounds the southern roper (-107 hps). The monk opened a new charging lane for Flizz to attack the ropers in the back line.
Gideon, during the surprise round, will see how the attacks are planned and offer a prayer to his goddess, creating a pillar of fire in the back of the group of ropers!
On the first round of combat, Gideon draws his scimitar and moves in on the third roper of the front line, taking a slash at it.
Not to be denied Flizzibus charges the last roper.
"Well done, everyone. Well done, indeed."
Pele uses his ring and turns invisible again.
ROUND ONE:
Roper last hit by the monk launches its 6 strands at his and tries to bite him.
Second roper steps up 5' and full attacks the paladin:
The third roper launches its strands at the approaching cleric:
Rothgar invokes his Boots of Speed to haste himself as a free action, uses a ki point for an extra attack as a swift action, attacks his roper and then moves 5' SE and continues attacking the next ropers within 10'.
First two blows inflict 61 damage and kill the roper
The first critical kills the severely wounded roper on Gideon
The next three blows cause 111 damage, leaving the last roper barely standing.
Pele sends a force missile against the last standing roper with a contemptuous flick of his wrist.
force damage; SR check
156 total damage after the force missile harms the roper..still standing.
Flizzibus races toward the roper and
Flizz' second attack hits and kills the last roper. You find interesting green crystals growing at the base of the stalagmites. After collecting them, where to?
Gideon will take a few moments to cast Restoration on himself before continuing. Losing over half his strength would hinder the rest of the party.
"That was certainly invigorating. If only those creatures weren't so ravenously aggressive and fond of metahuman flesh, they might have provided some intelligence about this place. Oh well, no sense crying over spilt milk and all, right?"
Pele concentrates on his arcane eye sensor and scans the nearby area before turning invisible once more.
After three rounds of casting, Gideon restores his lost strength. With no other harm from the battle, the party continues through the maze, with the sensor in the sky as a guide. You march NW to the next closest feature of the maze, where you find:
A murky tidal pool thick with moldering driftwood and clumps of seaweed fills this bowlshaped opening in the ruins. Growing from this tangle of wood and water is an immense black plant. Its roots coil out through the surrounding water and its twisted trunk supports eight rubbery-looking dark branches that sway gently in the wind. Now that you are this close, you can see a batch of red crystals shine through to the surface and lie at the base of the center of the tidal pool.
You are all currently about 45' away from the plant, which Pele recognizes as another dangerous denizen of nature: an octopus tree. The intelligent plant has all plant immunities, is immune to acid, has regeneration, has 8 tentacles (with 20' reach), a bite attack, can swallow whole, causes fear within 30' and can call lightning on its enemies.
"Can we talk to it? I don't know if there is a particular tree language, but this thing is intelligent enough to communicate. If it so chooses, naturally. In either case, a bit of protection from lightning seems in order."
Gideon looks over the group. "I have prepared two instances of Resist Energy, but that's it." he admits.
"Hello Master Tree, please rustle if you can understand us. We would like to collect some of the crystals, they seem to be important. We do not want to rob you, no, we ask for your permission. If they are not essential to our mission we will return them of course!"
Rothgar's skin turns scaly, providing him with added protection, with the magic of the wand. The paladin's diplomatic efforts, however, fall on deaf "ears", as the octopus tree swims in a burst of speed across the pool, stopping 15' from all of you (well within the reach of its arms), engulfing you in its fear aura and you sense its overwhelming evil!
will save vs fear.
Pele saves vs the fear.
"So much for diplomatic progress."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Round 1:
Rothgar uses a ki point for +4 AC, steps forward 5', and full attacks the tree with his 10' reach.
"How to best fight this thing? Pele?"
Riding a little step closer Flizzibus thrusts his lance into the tree.
"Avoid acid and anything that affects the mind. Other than that, chop, hit, stab, and burn it as you might anything else. Oh, and mind the teeth, it'll gobble you right up if it can."
Gideon draws his scimitar and shakily steps closer, slashing at the creature.
Gideon moves in to attack the three, but the octopus tree sees the cleric and lashes out with one of its tentacles, bashing the priest into the ground first and then wrapping around the priest's arm.
Round 1: Octopus tree attacks!
You see some of the tree's bark damage heals on account of its regeneration.
"Gah! We're going to have to telwport out of here if Gideon gets himself killed!"
Pele remains out of reach, invisible, and begins casting summon monster VIII.
The gnome moves up and strikes with his lance, penetrating the tree's tough bark once.
Realizing that the priest was in trouble, Rothgar continues the same strategy as he full-attacks again, this time using his ki point for an extra attack!
Gideon focuses on his goddess' light, trying to patch his wounds before the thing kills him.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Round 2: Octopus Tree
Finishing his spell, celestial mastodons appear flanking the monstrous plant.
Trumpeting in anger, they both smite and smash the tree grappling the party.
G Huge animal (extraplanar)
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent, darkvision 60; Perception +24
Defense
AC 21, touch 9, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +12 natural, –2 size)
hp 161 (14d8+98)
Fort +16, Ref +10, Will +7
SR: 14
DR 10/evil, Resist Cold, Elec, Acid 15
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee gore +23 (2d8+14), slam +22 (2d6+14)
Power Attack: gore +20 (2d8+20), slam +19 (2d6+20)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Special Attacks trample (2d8+21, DC 31), Smite Evil(+0 to hit, +14 damage vs evil)
Statistics
Str 38, Dex 12, Con 25, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 7
Base Atk +10; CMB +26; CMD 37 (41 vs. trip)
Feats Endurance, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Perception), Weapon Focus (gore)
Skills Perception +24
Mastodon #1:
flank + smite + power attack vs tree gore: to hit, for bludgeoning & piercing; slam: to hit, for bludgeoning damage
Mastodon #2:
flank + smite + power attack vs tree gore: to hit, for bludgeoning & piercing; slam: to hit, for bludgeoning damage
All attacks which hit are +14 damage if the creature is evil.
Knowing he cannot safely attack the monster with his allies in the clutches of the tentacle tree, Pele resorts to the age old wizard standby, casting magic missile.
"I cannot believe I am reduced to this..." he mutters in elven as he sends bolts of light to strike the creatue, dealing force damage.
SR if needed.
The two mastodons appear, trumpeting in rage at the presence of the evil tree. Flanking with the monk, they impale the tree with their massive trunks and then rip it apart, causing the tentacles to writhe, as they release the grappled party members and collapse to the ground dead!
The party recovers some of the red crystals from the pool's bed. They also find buried in the silt:
Scabbard of keen edges
+2 anarchic longsword
Druid's vestments
Slippers of spider climbing
Strand of prayer beads (bead of blessing, karma, and smiting)
By the time, Pele finishes identifying the items, the mastodons bid farewell as they return to their plane.
"That was foolish of me." Gideon admits. "I'm getting old"
He will channel energy thrice more, healing the group some.
He will also use his wand of cure light wounds a few times to top off.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Not the best tactical decision, I agree, but no permanent harm done. I might recommend we allow our more martial allies to take the fight directly to our foes."
Pele looks over the gear closely, sounding off the various bits and pieces.
"As for old, I wholeheartedly disagree. You can't have seen more than, what, 40 years? A pup, even by your race's standarda!"
Pele bows to the mastodons as they sound off their exit.
Celestial: "Thank you, friends! You fought brilliantly and I appreciate your aid!"
Turning the fancy longsword and scabbard over in his hands, he begins to belt it on.
"A paladin, a cleric, and a monk. This blade is basically anathema to all three of you. While not my preferred weapon style, I can at least certainly use it."