GM Mervikoth |
Lem smashes.
attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 2 = 22
damage: 2d6 + 9 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 + (1) + 2 = 23
And does just enough to kill it.
7200 XP
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
"We did it! Great job Gruck! We'll need to introduce you to these guys after we check around this place for anything useful they may have had on them."
Arbaro checks the surrounding area and bodies.
Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
GM Mervikoth |
Roccavisk and Umbracopy are weary, but nothing they can not handle. The corpses have a suit of masterwork half-plate and a +1 greatsword each.
"This is simply another effect of the magics of that wicked Kamalani at work here, nothing more. Eliminate her foul soul from the crypts and this shall cease," the parson says. "I'm not even sure if these bodies were buried here, or are being necromantically summoned from the afterlife..."
The postulant, Aethlryth, a minotaur, says, "Gone out to them plains yet?" She crosses her arms and spits out a wad of cud. "If ya ain't, I can guide ya fellas there. At no cost to ya."
Bragoleb |
"Let me heal some of the damage, then you can lead us to the plains."
On Gruck - Heal | Wand CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
On Arbaro Heal | Wand CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
"Well, that was the last charge on the wand of clear light wounds. Any place in town to pick up another one as we travel to the plains? Also, how far is it? Shall we walk or fly?"
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
"Yes, parson, please explain on the way. We can stop by Ollivanders on the way. Should we bump it up to CMW?"
Bragoleb |
"Arbaro, I have a CMW wand with 19 charges remaining. But, they will go quick in a heavy fight. I don't like wasting those charges on light wounds like you and Gruck just experienced. Too valuable. Perhaps, we can get them both fully recharged."
Thurl Wisdombringer |
CLW is more cost effective, but less useful in combat. So it makes sense to have both I think. I guess we should pick up a couple CLWs.
Thurl looks over the others and says, I’m ok to go explore the plains looking for the last artifact, but if we find it quickly, I think we should wait to bring it back and have a nice rest. My resources are depleted some and I would like to face Kalamani’s spirit at full strength.”
GM Mervikoth |
Wand?: 1d100 ⇒ 15
There is no wand shop in town, sadly. The parson informs you of the plains general layout: flat. A few rolling hills.
--------------------------
As you mount up and take to the skies, you see the rolling plains and gentle hills of the continent stretch lazily before you. The smell of salt and fish gives way to clean grass and wildflowers, which you can smell even from your great height.
Nothing stands out as particularly interesting. A few streams running between the shoulders of hills lined with thin riparian forests. There are thicker groves of trees that might hide something like a cloak within them. You also spot a few outposts or sheds dotting the hills. These are used by travelers or hunters to store food and equipment, and might contain more info about how to continue your search. No place looks profanely disturbed as the other 3 artifacts have been.
Which leads looks most promising?
Bragoleb |
Brag sneezes from the wildflower pollen he smells wafting from the plains below. "Flowers, they seem to make me sneeze if there's too many in one place, and there are lots of them here. I thought I left that annoyance behind when I became a halfling. I guess not.
Where shall we land? What looks most likely? Probably not the buildings. They are too visible for a hiding place. I'm guessing what we seek is hidden in the dense groves of trees."
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
"I second the grove of trees. If nothing else, we may find some other followers of Erastil."
Thurl Wisdombringer |
”Probably right Bragoleb, but it’s possible we might find woodsmen one the buildings who might know more about the area.” Thurl twists suddenly to look at Aethiryth and says, ”But we have our guide, don’t we? Let’s head to one of those forests and take a look around.”
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25
Thurl glances around and looks for the densest, darkest forest he can find.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
GM Mervikoth |
You land near a thicket of trees following the a slow stream through the plains. Many of the bushes in the shade of the trees are covered in mulberries and blackberries, ripe and delicious-looking.
Bragoleb |
Brag sees some delicious look berries and thinks it may be time for a second-lunch.
"Lem, berries. Let's see if they are edible."
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
"I'm not sure what these berries are. Anyone else know anything about these juicy, soon to be eaten fruits?"
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32
"They look like regular berries to me. Does anyone think we shouldn't eat them? Ooo look, claw prints of manticores on the banks of the stream!"
Arbaro begins to pocket some of the berries to eat later and if nobody says anything he'll eat a few.
Bragoleb |
"Arbaro, can you tell how many manticores were here?"
Brag reaches for the fruit to take a closer look.
I'm hoping Gruck, Lem, or the Wisdombringer will roll a Nature check and save me from myself.
"I ready for a second-lunch. Anyone going to join me?"
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
"Hard to say, all I know is that there is more than one."
Without preamble, Arbaro pops a juicy fruit into his mouth.
Thurl Wisdombringer |
Kn. Nature: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Thurl kneels down to pick up one of the berries. Without looking at the others, he starts to talk about the berries. ”Mmm, ripe berries. You know, mulberries and blackberries are native to the area. Really, technically, they’re not but they’ve been present for so long that everyone thinks they are. The libraries in Absalom have some wonderful herblore volumes.” Thurl leans down for an even closer look and says, ”Hmm, there is something odd about these ones, they should not be this ripe at this season.”. Thurl squeeezes one in his fingers and sees the odd yellow liquid on others and starts to say, ”I think we should be wary about...” It’s at this point that Thurl looks up and spots Arbaro and Bragoleb with a mouthful of berries and yells, ”NO, SPIT THEM OUT, SPIT THEM OUT, something is wrong here!”
Bragoleb |
Brag upon hearing Thurl's exclamation about the berries, drops his tow handfuls and looks in surprise. He did not put any in his mouth but was very close, too close. "Thank you, Thurl. I didn't see any thing wrong with them. What do you see?"
He looks at Arbaro to see how much he ate.
"Arbaro, are you alright? Did you swallow any berries?"
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
Arbaro looks up, wide-eyed at Thurl with a mouth full of berries and juice dripping from his chin.
GM Mervikoth |
As soon as Arbaro puts the berries in his mouth, they explode. He feels the ripe meat of the berry, the crunchy seeds, and springy flesh meld into a pleasing mixture of textures in his mouth. The flavor is juicy and sweet with the perfect texture for a ripe berry, and Arbaro's taste buds are thanking him for the taste.
But then the seeds begin to burn. No, not burn, but burrow. The berry's seeds are digging and biting into his cheeks.
Fort save DC 20: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Arbaro collapes on the ground, his legs and arms going limp, dropping handfuls of berries onto the ground. Paralyzed for 1 round.
As soon as Arbaro's berries release their carnivorous seeds, every other berry in the grove, whether picked or still ripe on the branch, explodes in a spray of red and purple juice. All of you are coated in the berries' carnivorous seeds, as they try to burrow into your flesh.
B Fort save DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
L Fort save DC 20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
T Fort save DC 20: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28
G Fort save DC 20: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
The berry debris miss the mouths of Brag, Lem, and Thurl, but unlike water, the juice does not slide off a Gruck's back. Gruck is paralyzed, 1 round.
The seeds quickly feed on unmoving prey. On each round that an infected creature (Arb and Gruck, here) does not spend a move action to move at least 10 feet, it must succeed at a DC 18 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of Constitution damage as the seeds feed upon the nutrients in its body. This effect ends only if the seeds are removed from the creature’s body. Extracting the seeds from an affected creature requires a successful DC 25 Heal check as a standard action. Regardless of whether the check succeeds or fails, the target takes an amount of damage equal to 1d6 times the amount of Constitution damage it has already taken from the seeds. Spells such as remove disease and heal can also treat the affliction, in which case the target doesn’t take hit point damage.
In the shouting and confusion of the bursting berries, you do not notice three manticores fly from far above and hover above the treetops. No surprise round for anyone.
"Berry...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...interesting," says one.
A: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
B: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
L: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
T: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
G: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Manticore: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Round 1, AC 17
B, A, and G are up. A and G are paralyzed. Heal DC 25 to cure them.
Bragoleb |
Round 1 | HP 52/52 | AC 19 | Lay on Hands 7/7 | Smite Evil 3/3 | Arrow 33 | Spells: 1st - 2/2; 2nd - 2/2
"Healing them is beyond me." Pointing upward, "Look, manticores"
Knowledge | Arcana: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
"They don't look very friendly."
Adamantine Longbow Standard Attack at the Purple Manticore
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
Attack | Critical Hit Confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Arrow 1
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Arrow 2 (Critical Hit)
Damage | Arrow Full = 12
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Total damage to purple = 41
Bragoleb |
You may wonder how Brag knew to look up. I can tell you. His auto-evil detector spiked. Knowing manticores fly, he looked up and did his arrow thing.
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
Drooling a bit, Arbaro lays on the ground staring at the clouds and incoming manticores.
Bragoleb |
Round 2 | HP 52/52 | AC 22 (SE) | Lay on Hands 7/7 | Smite Evil 3/3 | Arrows 31 | Spells: 1st - 2/2; 2nd - 2/2
The purple manticore drops to the ground in a heap of dead, evil flesh.
Brag sees Gruck on the ground and calls on Iomedae to smite evil on the orange manticore. He will protect his new companion. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Thurl chanting a blessing to aid the combat. With a flick of his head, he tosses he sleath cloak's hood up and nearly disappears from sight.
"Let's do this Iomedae! More evil creatures to be destroyed. Guide my arrows."
Adamantine +3 Longbow Point-Blank (+1), Smite-Evil (+3, +8 Damage), Thurl-enhanced (+2), Rapid-Shot (-2) Attack
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 42
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 37
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 13 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 36
Crit Confirm Arrow 1: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 37
Crit Confirm Arrow 3: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 29
Arrow 1 Damage
Critical Hit max damage = 23
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 21
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 18
Arrow 2 Damage
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 23
Arrow 3 Damage
Critical Hit max damage = 23
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 18
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 23
The orange manticore explodes into tiny pieces no longer recognizable as a manticore.
Bragoleb |
Round 3 | HP 52/52 | AC 22 (SE) | Lay on Hands 7/7 | Smite Evil 2/3 | Arrows 28 | Spells: 1st - 2/2; 2nd - 2/2
Brag sees Arbaro's slobbering form on the ground and calls on Iomedae to smite evil on the teal manticore. He will protect his rocky friend.
"Iomedae, you have blessed my arrows! One more evil creature remains to be destroyed. Guide my arrows again."
Adamantine +3 Longbow Point-Blank (+1), Smite-Evil (+3, +8 Damage), Thurl-enhanced (+2), Rapid-Shot (-2) Attack
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 28
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 37
Attack | Longbow: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 1 + 3 + 2 - 2 = 26
Arrow 1 Damage
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 22
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 23
Damage | Arrow, Regular: 1d6 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 2 = 19
The teal manticore goes the way of the others and is no more. Brag thanks Iomedae profusely and turns to tend his fallen companions.
Bragoleb |
I think I'll do the manticore combat.
Round 1
Orange Manticore Spike attacks Lem (AC=24).
Attack | Spike 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Attack | Spike 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Attack | Spike 3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Attack | Spike 4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Three misses. The last spike bounces harmlessly off Lem.
Teal Manticore Spike attacks Brag (AC=24).
Attack | Spike 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Attack | Spike 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Attack | Spike 3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Attack | Spike 4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
The same results all four miss Brag.
Bragoleb |
Round 2 - Manticore
Only Brag has the range to attack the flying manticore. Two are down. The third attacks Brag again.
Teal Manticore Spike attacks Brag (AC=24).
Attack | Spike 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Attack | Spike 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Attack | Spike 3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Attack | Spike 4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Three miss Brag. The fourth hits for
Damage | Spike: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Before the manticore can attack again, Brag ends his life.
Now to find the lion cloak and heal these paralyzed companions. Not necessarily in that order.
Arbaro Stuartavelli |
Arbaro continues staring into the sky, glad the immediate danger is passed but still unsure when he'll be able to move again.