GM Lorenzo's #8-99D: The Solstice Scar, Version D (Subtier 5-6) - OUTPOST II (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

"AMAZING!" Abaal looks for a tree with more facial hair to speak to.

Chou decides that perhaps a... vulgar display of power might be a good way to get the joker's attention. She sits cross-legged on the ground and begins to tinker with the leftover bits of her spent contraption.

"So... it seems as though your arboreal well-being is predicated on the presence of uncorrupted trees... and the corruption is progressing through Fangwood at a rate of... oh... let's estimate an acre per season per mile of uncontested border?"

She pulls out a vial of alchemist's fire and test fits a tube to the end of it, checking for size.

"So by my math, you may have 3-4 seasons before there is nowhere left for you to... appear? Of course there is the additional variable of number of arboreal spirits occupying Fangwood all competing for the same vegetation..."

She winds a strip of metal around a cog spoke and affixes it to a ball at the end of the tube.

"So the expected value of your present ability to select an available tree at your leisure is likely... 2 seasons? Obviously the sampling rate for this assessment is ABYSMALLY low for making such predictions, but a first order approximation should be adequate for the purpose of demonstrating the clear fact that... erm... in vulgar terminology generally deemed acceptable in discussions such as this for the purpose of emphasis..."

She attaches a safety pin to the release, then checks the fit over her head.

"You're f-" [EXPLETIVE DELETED] "-d"

She stares down at a small patch of corrupted vines near the base of the trees, looks back at the Joker spirit, then back down at the vines. A small pilot flame flickers near the mouthpiece. She looks back once more. "So... do you want to provide us with verifiable requirements regarding what to burn or should we develop our own via guesswork?"

Spending the time to prepare a gadget of 'Firebelly' in her unused level 1 slot. As a... demonstration.

Knowledge (Engineering), HA + Insp: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 + (6) = 26

Also, will boost and pass aid token with allied offensive.

Attack, M: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 = 32
Figures I threaten a crit on an aid boost... can't get panache from that.

575 delivers a nagaji monologue-sonnet that would bring most lizardfolk to tears.

The Aggressive spirit's eyes glance sideways at the Calm Spirit. "You get any of that, Brother?"

The Calm spirit looks up and over at the Aggressive spirit. "Nope. Lost me at 'not just six, but many'."

The Joker spirit shouts, "Shut the f&&* up, both of you. Can't you just appreciate the art?"

The Joker spirit begins weeping. When the tears stop, he blows his nose, snot dripping down the trunk of the tree. "Sorry. No hanky. No hands, either."

Then the Joker grins. "Not bad, but I'm not quite convinced. It's been said, I'm a tough nut to crack." He cracks up at his own joke. "Irony, man. Highest form of humor, truth be told."

Then Chou wei channels his inner Unabomber. Spitting explosives, fuses, and other high-tech components out of his mouth, the spirit faces watch with amazement.

When he pulls the pin, tosses the IED, and the concussion obliterates the blighted vines, there's a chorus of "Holy S**&!"

When the woods stop ringing from the sound of the explosion, the Joker stops smiling. "That'll do. You're hired."

Great job, you got them all! Two successes reported to the Overseer GM.

Chou is a girl btw

Chou looks at the scorched blight and smiles.

3 minutes remain on firebelly.

Slowly she gathers up her cache of alchemical items, sprinkles a little bit of aqua vitae on them, then puts them back in her cheeks. She takes another quick swig of the aqua vitae, swishes, then spits out the remainder. "Aw cwean!"

With that, she checks that her Wayfinder is bright and unobscured, her rapier is clean, and that her MuTAGen is still functioning nominally.

An entourage of spirits follows you for the rest through the forest and occasionally manifests in tree trunks along the way. The spirits provide imperfect directions and are not numerous enough to provide much assistance.

As you travel another 20 minutes or so toward the blight’s heart, the spirits leading you suddenly halt, and a booming voice thunders, "I demand to meet Mother Bloodleaf ’s latest minions."

The spirits suddenly freeze in place as a burly middle-aged man with the ears and legs of a goat steps out from behind a tree. He grins and waves his hand. "Ho there, adventurers! I got bored waiting, so I think we should have some fun! Don’t worry, this won’t take long. I wouldn’t want you to miss the main event, and I plan to have a front-row seat. Oh, where are my manners? The name’s Grimpfkin. So, what do you say? Do you choose to test your speed or might?"

"I would not wish to cause any undo embarrassment to one of your years, sir. Perhaps penmanship would be a challenge more to your liking?" Abaal pulls out a pair of ink pens.

A monstrously large wolf howls in the distance and produces for you some powerful magic, before departing again into the night!

Have an aid token!

"We are not Mother Bloodleaf's minions, friend. If you oppose her, too, then join us in the fight. But I will test my might against you if that is required to speed us on our way."

Assuming it's a strength check? If not, just use the roll with whatever modifiers are required so we don't have to go back and forth via posts.

Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

------------------------------------------
Attack roll to pass on the aid token.

Greatsword, Not power attacking: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Oh, sure, now the good rolls happen. Here, lemme use up the good rolls before the next combat so I can roll more single digits then. Yeah, I'm a big whiny angel. Whatever...

Chou looks at her equipment and ponders a bit. Finally she speaks a single word. "Speed."

"The Test of Speed is an obstacle course of sorts. The Test of Might pits you against one of the forest creatures mutated by the blight."

Grimpfkin counts the votes so far, "Okay, the ratfolk is for the Test of Speed, and the aasimar seems keen on the Test of Might." The seilenos looks at Abaal, "It's said that 'the pen is mightier than the sword'. Nice turn of phrase, but perhaps impractical."

(Rule of Two. Waiting for someone to break the tie.)

Chou quietly mutters to her compatriots. "MuTAGen is out of steam... I would wather save micwoMuTAGen for the souwce of the bwight... I think an obstacwe couwse would wet me consewve wesouwces..."

575 Frowns as the strange creature appears, and the others start to go along with it.

Why are we stopping
To listen to this one here?
The wrong time for games

We have a mission
And that, instead of this test,
Is also a choice

He clearly does not see why they are entertaining the option.

When Grimpfkin realizes the strangers' enthusiasm is flagging, he smiles and tries to lift your spirits. "How about I sweeten the pot?"

"I'm a lucky fey,
as you can see.
Pass the test,
and you could be,
for a while at least,
as lucky as me!"

"Come now, my friend," Zarnel nudges 575. "You wouldn't want to disappoint another fellow poet?"

"Though he's not a very good poet, is he? Like you are, I mean?"

When Grimpfkin realizes the strangers' enthusiasm is flagging, he smiles and tries to lift your spirits. "How about I sweeten the pot?"

"Wait. You did not say that there would be smoking. That, and I find practicing calligraphy very useful in keeping the muscles in my wrist supple, and my swordsmanship fluid."

Chou looks over at 575. "Is this much diffewent than those spiwits in the twees? Essept this one is a Fey."

"Hmm? Oh! Are we playing games, New-and-Old Friends? That sounds fun," Corona suddenly remarks, coming out of the strange daze she'd been in since the fight with the hodags. "Speed or might? Oh...um...to be honest, I'm not very fast in my armor and my legs sometimes don't want to work right. But sometimes I can be strong! So I'll vote for might."

Juxian looks at his weak arms and his lame leg, "Well, I've seen the rest of you fight and I think we are pretty good at tests of might. I feel I would be a liability in a test of speed."

Grimpfkin smiles, when Corona finally breaks the tie, and he claps his hands, rubbing them together in gleeful anticipation and, perhaps, a measure of relief. "Excellent choice! A Test of Might it is."

Grimpfkin nods approvingly, salutes you with his mug, and turns to lead you deeper into the woods. After about 5 minutes of travel, you reach a clearing surrounded by towering trees and 8-foot-tall mushrooms. Toward the center looms a menacing shape, and the seilenos whispers "Go ahead, I’m sure that great heroes like you will be fine."

The ongoing blight has infected many of the forest’s creatures. That includes the huge creature here. The animated tree’s bark is knotted into vaguely humanoid features, with branches for arms and roots for legs. It turns to face you.

Map & Images

Conditions:
Difficult Terrain - The thickets here are difficult terrain. (Please ignore the dashed lines around the PCs' starting position.)

Round 1
Bold may act.
Corona
Abaal
Chou wei
---
Red??
---
575
Juxian
Zarnel

Corona, Abaal, and Chou wei, you're up!

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 ⇒ 5 (I have a rank! (and a -1 modifier...)

And apprently it shows...

Nature, HA: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28 I have a rank too! I'll ask about immunities and weaknesses.

"Ooh... a twee-ant! Awthough this wooks... cowwupted too."

She gingerly steps foward, her MuTAGen slowly whirring slower and slower, rapier pointed dead ahead.

Move, Total Defense, AC is 32 if Mutagen is still up, 28 if it's down.

"Wet it come to us... I can howd it off fow a moment."

Chou wei recalls a treant shares immunities common to most plant creatures, including immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms), as well as to paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning. It has a weakness against slashing weapons, and it's vulnerable to fire.

Hrm... can I retcon my total defense to be swift: spit out elixir of sacred breath, standard, activate alchemical allocation gadget?

575 recalls that trees don't usually move.

Grimpfkin smiles, when Corona finally breaks the tie, and he claps his hands, rubbing them together in gleeful anticipation and, perhaps, a measure of relief. "Excellent choice! A Test of Might it is."

Grimpfkin nods approvingly, salutes you with his mug, and turns to lead you deeper into the woods. After about 5 minutes of travel, you reach a clearing surrounded by towering trees and 8-foot-tall mushrooms. Toward the center looms a menacing shape, and the seilenos whispers "Go ahead, I’m sure that great heroes like you will be fine."

The ongoing blight has infected many of the forest’s creatures. That includes the huge creature here. The animated tree’s bark is knotted into vaguely humanoid features, with branches for arms and roots for legs. It turns to face you.

"HOLD GRIMPKIN!"[B] shouts the daring swordsman. [B]"There is nothing that we need prove to a horned slug like you! It is traditional that the one challenged picks the weapon and I did. The black blade is only to be drawn in deadly earnest, not to indulge the whims of fool who would bring danger upon us all to satisfy his own idiocy. Know this man goat that if I am forced to draw this blade to stand against yon giant of kindling that for every blow I am forced to strike with it, I will strike you in turn before I sheath it again."

Abaal elects to open up the battle on a second front, challenging Grimpfkin himself. The seilenos double over, slapping his knees, laughing. He regards the Keleshite with a good-natured countenance, absent malice. "Your traditions sound quite extraordinary, man-cub, though you can be deadly certain that they do not bind me to the extent they appear to bind you. Do you truly wish to fight me? As a courtesy, I'm happy to wait while you consult your friends, who are trying to battle this maddened victim of the blight."

(I don't mind expanding the encounter to include attacking Grimpfkin in combat. However, I must insist that all members of the team agree to the very significant elevation of the CR.)

Chou wei, please do retcon your actions, if you wish. Just submit a new post with the actions you'd prefer to take.

We agreed to do this (rule of two!)... attacking him, or even threatening him at this point, seems a bit inappropriate.

Chou looks at Abaal and shakes her head. "You didn't seem to mind humowing the twee spiwits... what's youw pwoblem with this one? I mean they awe all a bit thick... But this offews to escowt us stwaight to mothew bloodweaf... and gives us mowe bwight to cwear."

She twists a gadget on her face mask and spits a vial out into her clawed hand, preparing to unleash holy flame on the corrupted plant.

Move: Move as noted on the map, Swift: Retrieve vial from cheek pouch, Standard: Alchemical Allocation

Corona blinks, looking from Abaal to the treant to Grimpfkin and then back again.

"Um...maybe I'm crazy New Friend Abaal but doesn't it make more sense to fight the scary, corrupted, moving tree instead of this other nice New Friend?"

As she speaks, Corona flicks her wrist and a small wand drops into her hand. She gives it a flick, granting the group another blessing for the combat to come.
______________

Corona will use her wand of Bless again; charges remaining (25).

We agreed to do this (rule of two!)... attacking him, or even threatening him at this point, seems a bit inappropriate.

Well, then those two people can fight the monster. ;p

"I will be back, goat."

Abaal launches himself at the tree thing! "RRRAAH!"

**SWISH!**

+1 adamantine falchion v red (bless, CHARGE! Overhand Chop, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 32 damage: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (1, 1) + 16 = 18
THREAT!
confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 26 additional damage: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (4, 4) + 16 = 24

"I'm not a fan of people fighting when they don't need to, but I'm not much of a fan of the Saytr. Why do we need to prove anything to him?" Juxian says while watching Abaal charge into combat.

I don't care if we fight the Saytr or not, in fact, it sounds kind of fun.

Chou wei moves a little closer to the tainted-by-the-blight treant, spits something out of her mouth, and pulls one of her alchemist's tricks.

Corona uses her wand to cast bless on the party.

After threatening to deal with Grimpfkin later, Abaal charges the treant, chopping a large chuck of wood from its bark-protected torso.

The huge, crazed plant creature tramples over the Keleshite as it rumbles toward the mass of foes arrayed against it.
Trample Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 1) + 13 = 16
(Abaal can make an AoO, but at a –4 penalty. If Abaal forgoes the AoO, he can instead attempt to avoid the trampling creature and receives a DC25 Reflex save to take half damage.)

Map & Images

Conditions:
Difficult Terrain - The thickets here are difficult terrain. (Please ignore the dashed lines around the PCs' starting position and the shaded circle marked 'B' that indicated the treant's starting position.)
Bless - +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs fear effects.

Round 1/2
Bold may act.
Corona
Abaal [-16 (or -8); AoO (or DC25 Reflex for half damage)]
Chou wei
---
Blighted Treant (-42)
---
575
Juxian
Zarnel

575, Juxian, and Zarnel, then Corona, Abaal, and Chou wei, you're up!

Chou slots her elixir into the slot on the side of her mask and applies exactly 1 droplet before breathing in. She lowers the elixir and takes one good look at the Treant before exhaling a gout of holy flame.

Move: Fast drinker to consume 1 droplet of my Elixir of Sacred Breath via Alchemical Allocation
Swift: Study the Treant for good measure
Standard: Breathe holy flame! Like 'Elixir of Fire Breath' except half of the damage is divine like Flame Strike.

Holy Fire Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 4) = 20 Ref save DC 13 for half

Zarnel elects to stay out of the discussion about fighting the satyr. For now. He offered to share his "luck" with us. Why would we fight a potential Ally against Evil?

Instead he focuses on the fight at hand. As he moves forward, he fully expects to be swatted by the huge tree's branches, though.

Greatsword, PA/FF: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (5, 1) + 13 = 19

Might we have had time for a little buffing prior to entering the arena, as it where? If so, Zarnel would have used a charge of shield off his wand prior to fighting a friggin' huge tree!

"YIELD TREE!" **SWOOOSH** There is a noticeable dip in air pressure as he swings his huge curved blade about.

+1 adamantine falchion v red (AoO, bless, CHARGE! Overhand Chop, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 14 damage: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (2, 4) + 16 = 22

2!?! That can't be right for the greatest Swordsman in all of Katapesh™! A star is used.

+1 adamantine falchion v red (AoO, bless, Overhand Chop, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24 damage: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (3, 1) + 16 = 20 Better, but not awesome.

Then there's the feeling of falling from a tall tree, and Abaal eats turf. "Blast! It got past me somehow."

EDIT forgot reflex -4: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17

This blight keeps spreading
Now infecting this creature
So now I punch trees

575 muses aloud, at the sight of the warped treant. He curses himself for his poor preparedness, upon relizing he forgot to pick up the bladed weapon he'd been eyeing.

Honest, I meant to purchase a slashing monk weapon... but apparently forgot =)

Seeing Zarnal take the lead, and the hit for doing so, he quickly moves in from the left, before the tree can fend him off as well, or trample them all.

30' move, single attack

unarmed strike, PA, bless: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 16, for 1d8 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 4 = 13 damage (minus DR)

Though quickly confirms that punching hardwood with bare hands, is not the most effective technique.

Oops, I forgot Corona's Bless on my attack roll. Make that a 16, please.

Seeing Zarnal take the lead....

{Spits out grass} WHAT!? ;)

Abaal swings at the treant as it tramples over him, but his blade misses the creature.

Having buffed himself with his wand of shield before entering battle, Zarnel advances on the blighted plant, and it slams one of its mighty limbs into his chest. The blow is so powerful, the aasimar's own attack misses his target.
AoO Slam (15ft reach); Damage: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 312d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 = 20

Then 575 moves in and throws a punch. His knuckle sandwich feeds nothing but the birds that fly by.

Chou wei tosses back her elixir, and exhales a gout of fire and divine energy at the tainted treant. She's pleased to see the flames do more damage than usual.
(A Round 2 action, damage applied now, though; still awaiting Juxian's Round 1 actions.)

Map & Images

Conditions:
Difficult Terrain - The thickets here are difficult terrain. (Please ignore the dashed lines around the PCs' starting position and the shaded circle marked 'B' that indicated the treant's starting position.)
Bless - +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs fear effects.

Round 1/2
Bold may act.
Corona
Abaal (-16)
Chou wei
---
Blighted Treant (-67)
---
575
Juxian
Zarnel (-20)

Juxian, then Corona and Abaal, you're up!

Juxian allows his life link to pull scars from Abaal and Zarnel before he pulls out a wand of cure light wounds and taps himself with it.

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Abaal and Zarnel heal for 5, I take 10 damage, then heal for 4.

Seeing an opening, Abaal launches himself again at the tree thing! "TIMBER!"

**SWISH!**

+1 adamantine falchion v red (bless, CHARGE!, flank, Overhand Chop, Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 33 damage: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (3, 1) + 16 = 20
THREAT!
confirm?: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 28 additional damage: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (3, 3) + 16 = 22

Jumping up while spinning through a 360 with his blade blade extended like a graceful helicopter seed, he brings his full force to bear on the back of the thing's knee.

Juxian's links to his companions continue to heal them, even as he absorbs some of their wounds, and he tries to keep himself alive with his wand of cure light wounds.

Abaal charges after the tainted treant and delivers another devastating blow to the creature, sending a cloud of wood chips flying through the dank, blighted forest air.

Map & Images

Conditions:
Difficult Terrain - The thickets here are difficult terrain. (Please ignore the dashed lines around the PCs' starting position and the shaded circle marked 'B' that indicated the treant's starting position.)
Bless - +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs fear effects.

Round 1/2
Bold may act.
Corona
Abaal (-11)
Chou wei
---
Blighted Treant (-109)
---
575
Juxian (-6)
Zarnel (-14)

Corona, you're up!

Corona frowns, gripping her longspear in her hand as she trundles around towards the south. From what the others had said most of the magics she could recall wouldn't be very effective against the big scary tree. But her earlier trick had worked okay against the hodag; maybe it would work here too?

"Look at the bright flash, please!"

She conjures another burst of light in the treant's face, hoping to maybe help slow it down a bit.

Damage If Evil: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 1, 2) = 12
Blinded?: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Dazzled?: 1d4 ⇒ 3
______________

Another Burst of Radiance - DC 16 Will or be blinded, dazzled instead on a successful save, damage taken (if evil) regardless of save result~

Corona takes down the tainted treant with a burst of radiance.

Victory!

When you defeat the creature, Grimpfkin ambles out from the woods to inspect the fallen beast. Nodding with approval, he uses his magic to mold a set of mugs from the fallen treant, and by knocking his own mug against them, he causes each mug to fill with delicious drinks.

He hoists his mug. "A toast to you, stalwart heroes!" He slams the tasty beverage back and invites you to drink, grant each of you the Greater Charm of Luck benefit.

(No success to report, unless the party also completes the Test of Speed. Would you like to try the multi-skilled obstacle course, as well?)

Sure, why not? I might do pretty poorly, but if we have time, we should try for the success right?

Zarnel graciously accepts the mug, toasts their host, and slams back the beverage.

“If accepting your challenge will provide further aid to our allies or us in the battle to come, then let's get to it. “

He then retrieves a wand from his pack to heal himself up before this next challenge should it prove as dangerous as the last.

3 charges at average from his own wand.

575 frowns, unsure of the wisdom in drinking from a cup created from a blighted tree... But, he is thirsty...

His frown deepens though, when the fey creature tries to delay them again, with yet another seemingly pointless challenge.

"Ah, intrepid heroes, you have agreed to a Test of Speed!" Grimpfkin nods approvingly, hops atop a mossy rock, and flings the contents of his mug into the air. Before it reaches the ground, the fizzing ale transforms into a bird and takes flight off into the woods, leaving a faintly sparkling trail.

The seilenos looks on with surprised approval before clapping his hands at you and exclaiming, "What are you waiting for? Catch it, and the prize is yours. Just, ah, no flying or teleporting—it’s a challenge, remember?"

You follow the glimmering trail left behind by the bird.

You encounter a handful of obstacles that can hinder your progress. At each obstacle, you are free to decide how you attempt to get through it, using your attributes, attacks, saves, skills etc.

Ravine
The glittering trail leads across a wide ravine that cuts through the forest. The ravine has several old logs set across it, and a slowly flowing creek runs along the bottom.

Likely strategies include balancing carefully or jumping (Acrobatics), identifying which log is the most stable (Knowledge [nature] or Survival), anchoring a grappling hook in a distant tree (ranged attack), or sliding down the slope to swim across the creek (Swim).

Grimpfkin arrives nearby to observe as you reach the obstacle; lounging on a tree branch. "Let's see what you're made of, folks!"

"Enough games, man-goat." Abaal bats the drink aside. "Are you ready for your three strokes?"