Some of your group were involved in the events in the Tusk Mountains, others have joined along the way to the Fangwood Forest.
Today Ambrus Valsin announced “We will be assigning teams tonight! Please introduce yourselves to your teammates and share what you know of the situation! It is likely that not everyone on your team were there for Nigel’s latest blunder.”
As the laughter dies down, he states “Be ready to move as a group tomorrow morning. Our destination is the Fangwood!”
Campfires are already lit and food is being served as people get their assignments.
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A young, thin, yet fit looking half-elf enters. He has wild brown wavy hair that covers his pointed ears, and a close kept beard and mustache. He wears weather beaten and rough-spun clothes that cover shiny light armor beneath it and he carries a light shield emblazoned with a long sword; which stands out due to it's fine polish, compared to more natural look of the rest of his attire. He wears a long sword and dagger at his hip, and a second longsword across his back. His look is very serious.
Greetings, I'm Carrick, a guide and Iomedaen, I'm at your service.
He tells his new teammates.
Where you amongst the collected group that battled White Dragons? Evil has been around every corner on this journey, I expected it will continue in that way.
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A thin man of average height and build saunters over to the campfire, a snowy owl perched on his shoulder. "Aye, white dragons and more." From beneath his tousled black hair, his midnight blue eyes sparkle like starlight, and he exudes an aura of dreamy otherworldliness.
"Well met, friends. My name's Skye, shaman of the Lyrune-Quah." The owl takes flight, her feathers reflecting the stars that would be visible in the night sky, despite the early hour. "That's Sova, my companion and spirit animal."
He unfurls a thin woolen bedroll and sits down cross-legged, adjusting his mithral breastplate for comfort and laying his long spear across his lap. Then he draws a tube-like pipe from his robes and a skin from his handy haversack. He fills the pipe with some water from the skin and pulls a pouch from another deep pocket of his robes, tamping it deftly into the pipe with a practiced hand. He fires it up and takes a deep pull, eyes closed. A few moments later, he releases a long, slow breath, a smoke ring rising above his head, then settling upon his brow. "Shoanti No. 7, my personal blend. I've got a little garden outside the Dark Archive." He offers the pipe to Kitajo and to Carrick.
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Kitajo waves off the proffered pipe. No thank you. Please excuse me, it is time for my physical practice.
The monk moves off a small way to an area roughly 10 feet square clear of people and objects. He begins slowly moving through a series of movements. He repeats the sequence several times, each time increasing the speed and tempo until he is moving at a breakneck speed. His fists and feet blur as he punches, jumps and kicks in multiple directions. He takes a moment to think then retrieves his monk's spade and performs a different set of movements in the same manner while wielding the weapon. Sweat beads on his shaved head and runs down his face and neck.
After an hour he returns, takes a swig from a water skin and reaches into his pack. With a practiced air he begins to read the book that he has retrieved from within his possessions. He looks up Cultivation of the body and the mind are equally important, do you not think?
Sova glides overhead, keeping watch.
*Hoot.*
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Carrick takes the offered pipe, I've never tried one of these before.
He takes a tentative small drag and tries to hold it, but ends up coughing and choking and loosing his breath very quickly. Handing the pipe back.
When he finally collects himself... Well that was interesting.
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The long journey south from the slopes of the Tusk Mountains to the edge of Fangwood took several weeks, during which many of the Twinhorns and Pathfinders exchanged ancestral stories and tales of daring adventures to pass the time on the relatively uneventful trek. By the time the Fangwood rises ahead in the brisk morning air, both groups are eager to confront whatever lies ahead.
Medda addresses the crowd gathered before her. “South of here lies a battlefield where the paladin Ivvora risked her life in a daring ploy to help her battalion defeat an undead horde. For her selflessness, Ivvora earned a token of Vildeis’s favor: the dagger she used to deal a terrible blow to Eshimka! For all the crusaders’ heroism, I can sense an undead taint lingered here, and that stretch of the Fangwood has expanded in the centuries since to absorb it. It is now our turn to earn Vildeis’s blessing, risking ourselves to end this threat so that in turn we might slay Eshimka once and for all.
“The terrain favors small groups over larger formations, so we shall divide into smaller groups to navigate the forest and identify the corruption’s heart. May Ivvora’s example guide us to victory!” With that, Medda and her phantom Anok turn and enter the Fangwood, followed by Pathfinder and Twinhorn teams that fan out behind her.
Brambles grow wild throughout the edge of the wood where a thick canopy of trees begins to filter out sunlight, turning day into night. The overgrown plant life forbids easy access deeper into the forest and fills the air with the sickly-sweet smell of decay.
Other skills DC 24
Skye manages to get through the brambles, but it is fortunate he is so healthy. Others would have likely succumbed to the stench of the plants.
Carrick gives it a try, managing to get through by dodging most of the worst hazards.
Darrioos barely clears the brambles with his leap. Vanya doesn’t quite clear all of them herself, but fortunately falls gracefully and lands with style.
So far everyone has managed to make it through the hazard without ill effects.
Although Kitajo tries to clear the brambles, like Vanya he isn’t quite able to do it. Fortunately he is also able to twist out of the way.
The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one's steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.
The thick canopy of the forest keeps any outside light from passing through, but the glowing flowers provide dim light throughout the area.
The local plant life seems to have a mind of its own and responds to intruders with displeasure. Any creature that ends its turn within 5 feet of the thickets must succeed at a Reflex save or become entangled. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, succeeding with an Escape Artist check or Strength check. Alternatively, a creature can free itself by dealing enough slashing damage to the plants.
You could damage the plants with effects that specifically harm plants, do negative energy damage, or do fire damage.
Clutching Skye's shoulder with her talons, Sova ruffles her feathers, rotates her neck, and peers with an owl's great round eyes into the dense forest.
*Hoot*
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Mun looks surprised to see such a familiar setting, and then even more surprised when he sees a familiar face. "Kitajo! I... remember this place, but not you from it. Is this some trick of Shaine's weird time warble that we experienced in Jormurdun?"
Mun clears the brambles easily, but has to help Selune who somewhat struggles with them.
Mun and Selune make it through the brambles without incident.
Several of you spot the creatures long before they can sneak up on you.
There are two large, spike covered vaguely reptilian creatures ahead with dagger sharp teeth and glowing purple eyes. Some of the strange, purple flowers you have seen throughout this section of forest are also growing from their bodies.
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo
Green
Vanya
Carrick
Red
Skye
Selûne
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Mun doesn't look like he has any idea what these flowery lizards could be... but who could? Mixing plant with animal is some strange magic indeed. I will definitely have to look these creatures up in the Grand Lodge when we return. Still, he focuses on the task at hand, calling out to his patron. "Ashava, your blessing on us all!"
Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.
Bless counters and dispels bane.
Mun calls out to Ashava for a blessing on the group.
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Bless active, +1 morale attack, +1 morale on saves vs. fear effects
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo
Green
Vanya
Carrick
Red
Skye
Selûne
Skye looses a low whistle. "Whoah! Those things are hodogs! Normally they have red eyes and no flowers growing on them."
Kitajo advances towards the monsters, careful to not become lizard bait.
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Bless active, +1 morale attack, +1 morale on saves vs. fear effects
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo
Green
Vanya
Carrick
Red
Skye
Selûne
Darrioos knows hodags are too stupid to know when they are dead (Ferocity) and that on a charge they can toss an opponent,
On the other hand, Magic Missile seems to work just fine against them!
Green charges Kitajo!
It bites into him and then tries to fling him into the swamp, but Kitajo is able to wiggle out of the teeth before the hodag can toss him!
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Bless active, +1 morale attack, +1 morale on saves vs. fear effects
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo 10 damage
Green charged
Vanya
Carrick
Red 11 damage
Skye
Selûne
Carrick moves up, ready for action!
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Bless active, +1 morale attack, +1 morale on saves vs. fear effects
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo 10 damage
Green charged
Vanya
Carrick
Red 11 damage
Skye
Selûne
Vanya moves and disappears.
Red moves slightly forward and then attacks Carrick with everything it has! It seems the undergrowth doesn’t impede their movement like it would for you.
Wow! That is a lot of attacks! Fortunately only the tail hit!
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Bless active, +1 morale attack, +1 morale on saves vs. fear effects
Green charged
Vanya
Carrick 6 damage
Red 11 damage
Skye
Selûne
Round 2:
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo 10 damage
Although Kitajo attempts to confound the hodag with his acrobatic maneuvers, the creature barely manages to track him. It snap at him with a bite!
Fortunately for Kitajo the bite misses.
Kitajo’s punch lands solidly!
The creature appears to be stunned!
Bolded may act.
Round 1:
Bless active, +1 morale attack, +1 morale on saves vs. fear effects
Green 14 damage charged, stunned
Vanya
Carrick 6 damage
Red 11 damage
Skye
Selûne
Round 2:
Mun
Darrioos
Kitajo 10 damage
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Mun glances briefly down at Selune. "Stay with me now," he commands as he begins to move forward, summoning additional strength for both he and the bear. "And stay in front; don't let them get to me!" He gestures vaguely at the creatures ahead of them.
The subject becomes stronger. The spell grants a +4 enhancement bonus to Strength, adding the usual benefits to melee attack rolls, melee damage rolls, and other uses of the Strength modifier.
Selune dutifully follows Mun's orders, following him and positioning herself in a defensive stance in front of the elf; she wavers back and forth as she rises on her hind feet, jaws snapping at anything that approaches.