Kingmaker

Game Master Galahad0430

Taking in the stone wall and arch, Faerin takes a deep breath, steeling herself for what promises to be a dangerous encounter by the Nymph's reckoning. "Thank you for the warning, we will be careful." she says solemnly.

Chuckling slightly as Linzi begins her warm-up she starts forward

So much for a stealthy approach

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Survival (signs of guardian animals): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

@ Ekun. I gave you inspired competence. +2 on skill checks - except stealth. Bardic Performance 11/12.

@ Faerin - you have a bard with you- my class existence says, " LOOK AT ME!". With that said, she is a halfling and can stealth. I thought since you were a Druid and these are animals protecting the place -- we weren't gonna try the killerhobo path right away.

I'm a druid, but I also understand that animals bound to another druid will be loyal to them. If they can be defeated without killing them great, if not, it is what it is. I wouldn't expect someone else's animal companion to back down just because I'm a druid. There are a lot of ways to play a druid, not just stereotypes

Shayn will approach right after Faerin. The witch chants in a hellish language, and a thin, transparent layer - apparently made of ice - vaguely surges around herself, then disappearing in thin air.

Mage Armor for 3 hours

Pyros stays in the front, his sword sheathed-for the moment.

@ Farin - It wasn't a druid stereotype to say, I didn't think we were going the KillerHobo path right away. Which is what we are not doing. We are approaching and looking to peacefully resolve or incapacitate.
I don't know where you are coming from where you take my words and think I'm assigning you a druid stereotype. I've re-read my words 4 times. Fairly innocent.

Ekun draws his bow and slowly, cautiously even, begins to scout ahead. "Call out if you see any of these defenders."

AS you under the archway, you see a large courtyard that has a large stone pool in its center. Stone steps descend in to the pool from all four sides. The waters looked befouled and a noxious looking vapor hangs over the water. To the North of the pool is a large stag headed statue, instantly recognizable as Eratsil. As you get closer, you see ripples form in the pool and several giant frogs leap forth to attack.

Frogs: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Ekun: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Linzi: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Pyros: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Faerin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Shayn: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Harrim: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

There are four frogs (they are Large) about 30' away.
Faerin and Shayn go first.

Seeing the giant frogs advancing on them, Faerin takes a single step forward, planting her staff on the ground as she gestures with her other hand, waving it slowly in an arc in from of her to encompass all four frogs as she utters a calm command in druidic.

Cast Calm Animals
HD affected: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

The witch holds her step, moving her hands and pronouncing strange words in a low volume, fixed looking at the animals. She does a side step towards the back of the party, trying to keep her more defensively capable companions between her and the creatures.

She moves about 10 feet behind the rest of the group. As a ready action: wait to see if any of the frogs was unaffected by calm animals and decided to move towards the group - if any do, target the first of them to get within 30 feet of her with Slumber Will DC 16.

Pyros draws his sword. As he does so, he feels the tattoo one his arm warm and pulse with power, which seems to flow into the blade.

Using my new Arcane Pool to grant a +1 enhancement bonus to my sword.
Duration 2 minutes.

FYI, if you cast a spell, please put the DC and what save is needed.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

One of the frogs seems to lose interest, but the other three continue to come at you.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

And another frog drops into a deep sleep.

The two remaining frogs bound forward and attack.

The first one attacks Faerin.
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
But its charge is ineffective as it skids past her.

The second one attacks Pyros.
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9
This frog is more successful as it catches the swordsman flat-footed.
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
The massive frog grabs Pyros in its mouth and you all watch in horror as Pyros is immediately swallowed by the creature!

OK, everyone can go.

EEEGHHARDS!! The Executioner just got swallowed!!!! Like Whole. Like that thing said, "GULP!" and Pyros just disappeared.
NOOOO WAAAAYYYYY!

Linzi's gonna have to write that up in far better prose, but this is a story to write about.
Let's see if the frog will burp him up, it it's asleep.

Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep my little tadpole. Rest your wide mouthed head. Rest your head....

[/ooc] cast sleep. DC16 (15 +1 for magic item). [/ooc]

Being swallowed is much better as it does much less damage :)

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

1d2 ⇒ 1

The frog that didn't swallow Pyros falls fast asleep.

So that's 2 asleep, one calmed and one digesting Pyros?

Yep, exactly :) They both failed the save, but Sleep can only affect a total of 4 hit dice.

Watching two more slump down fast asleep Ekun looks to Linzi with a bit more respect as he takes aim and fires off several arrows at teh frog digesting Pyros.

+1 composite longbow; Precise Shot; Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 2 = 22
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

+1 composite longbow; Precise Shot; Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 2 = 18
Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Booya! Better at putting things to sleep than a warm mug of Varisian Sleepytime Tea!

Linzi is a bit happy with how well that worked, but still moving toward the frog to see how she can get her party leader from being ingested.

I know that now is not the time, but I'll forget if I don't mention it. Who has had Varisian Sleepytime Tea --- Raise your hand!

That stuff works, puts me to sleep in less than half an hour every time.

Pyros is, as one might expect, very perturbed. He releases his sword, which is unwieldy in these tight confines. Balling his tattooed hand into a fist, he thinks Goddess guise my hand and punches the inside of the frog as hard as he can.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 6 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 6 = 13
Damage: 1d3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Burning a second point from my arcane pool for a +1 Unarmed Strike, lol. I’m not sure that will work, since an unarmed strike deals bludgeoning damage. But he doesn’t know that.

Shayn turns to the last frog, and blows lightly on her own hand. A small gust of cold wind forms, and immediately dissipates as she speaks the same arcane words as before.

Slumber on the last one, Will 16.

The one I sent to the cold slumber before will wake up soon, if you want to do something about it... - she says towards no one specifically.

My slumber lasts for 2 rounds currently.

I’ve just realized I calculated my attack and damage bonuses wrong above (that’s what I get for posting away from my PC where I didn’t have access to HeroLab, I guess. Should be +9-5 to Attack, +4 to Damage. So 14 to hit, 7 damage. Sorry about that.

Pyros, you are sufficiently experienced to realize you need a slashing weapon. I automatically assume that everyone always has a dagger for mundane purposes.

Shayn, you realize Slumber will be pointless as, at the least, Pyros will be trying to get out which will immediately awake the frog.

I appreciate that. We can just call the above attack roll the dagger then. It’s a d4 instead of d3, but all the other numbers are the same. I’ll roll the d4 below.

1d4 ⇒ 3

Well, how about that. Same numbers all the way around.

The witch smiles and pronounces arcane words once again. She shakes her fingers menacingly, and finally an erratic white-looking smoky ray flows towards the frog that swallowed Pyros.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Touch
Ray of Frost: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Pyros successfully cuts his way out of the frog in an explosion of blood and bile.

FYI, once you cut your way out of a creature with Swallow Whole, unless otherwise excepted in that individual creature's abilities, that creature cannot use Swallow Whole for 1 minute.

@Shayn, you actually have to roll to hit with Ray of Frost.

Also, I Pyros you take an additional 1d6 ⇒ 3 of acid damage.

Ekun, both your arrows hit the target, btw.

My bad, boss man - I edited the post

Nodding at Shayn's warning about her spell, Faerin raises her staff, bringing it down in a powerful strike meant to end the frog that had attacked her.

CDG: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7

DC 17 Fort save or die

Linzi moves forward also, trying to stab the frog that has Pyros.

Take THAT!

attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 = 16 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Rolling out of the frog and shaking himself like a wet dog, Pyros grabs his sword again and hacks at the frog that tried to swallow him.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Damage, Magical Slashing: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Crit?
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage, Magical Slashing: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

The only aware frog is hacked apart by everyone.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Faerin crushes the skull of one of the sleeping frogs.

The other sleeping frog will awake on its turn. The calmed frog has a while (almost 2 minutes) before it attacks again.

Harrim will try to kill the other sleeping frog before it awakes, only Ekun is left to go before it awakes.

Harrim's CDG: 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (5, 6) + 6 = 17

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Despite Harrim's massive blow, the frog isn't killed.

Ekun, you're up, then the frog.

@GM Linzi's sleep spell lasts 3 minutes. That frog should have been knocked out for the combat. But, Harrim is a chaotic dwarf... I can see him attacking the sleeping frog.

@GM Linzi's sleep spell lasts 3 minutes. That frog should have been knocked out for the combat. But, Harrim is a chaotic dwarf... I can see him attacking the sleeping frog.

Sorry, I thought it was rounds/lvl. Also, it doesn't matter as you need to kill all of them as they are also a focus for the curse.

Which is what I figured based on what the nymph told us.

Ekun draws his blade as he descends on the sleeping frog. [b]"Have to end them quickly before they wake up. He slips the longsword through the frog's side like a hot knife through butter.

Quick Draw +1 Keen Longsword

Coup de Grace; PA: 2d8 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 8) + 8 + 4 = 24

You dispatch the other sleeping frog and then ready actions for the calmed one and kill it before it can go. Aside from Pyros, who took some significant damage, everyone else is still unharmed.

The pool the frogs came from gives off a foul stench and the water looks stagnant and dirty. To your left, you see the low crumbling stone wall that surrounds this area with another broken archway. You also see the suggestion of movement from there. To your right is the beginning of a broad stone stairway leading into mist.

"If this is set up as a sequence of creatures that need to be defeated to unlock the curse, then the movement beyond that arch is likely our next goal." Faerin says, looking to the left.

Pyros cleans and sheathes his sword, before taking a quick stock of his wounds. "Anyone got a potion handy? That was...unpleasant."

Linzsi hands Pyros a potion of cure light wounds.

Here you go. So... who is strutting their stuff through that arch first? I volunteer to go 4th!

"If you need another, take this one." Faerin says, handing him another potion. "Honestly not a bad idea for you to have it on you if you don't"

Ekun looks to Pyros as he sheathes his blade. "I suppose I can if we must. You alright or do we need to rest?"

I think I am about the only thing close to a front-liner

Seeing nobody else step forward he tosses his bow back across his back and redraws his sword, slowly moving forward, expecting more giant frogs or something close.

If you don't mind... I will be behind. Right behind. - she says towards her companions.

Pyros nods his thanks to Linzi and Faerin before downing one of the potions.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

As his wounds close, he tosses the empty container aside and says ”I’m fine. Let’s go.”

So, Granola, I'd love to hear your opinions on what we can do with these frog bodies when we are done with fog removal, curse lifting, and gratifying the nymph.
So, when that's done, do we burn the bodies and spread the ashes to produce growth? Do we have an opportunity to chop some up for fish bait and go fishing? That last one begets another question. Anyone know a good fishing hole around here? And that begets another question.... does anyone know anyone that is willing to teach a cute little thing how to fish?

Linzi has her special guitar out, ready to inspire people, and defend against combatants. But also wondering the answers to her deeply important questions.

Btw, when you killed the frogs, they disappeared, like summoned creatures would.