After getting grabbed again, Kolgradd shouts to Boodiddly.
"Save your spells Boodiddly! It'll only grab me again. There's only one way to deal with these things..."
After quickly flashing out with the oversized hammer, Kolgradd gets back to the business of smashing the evil rubber to pulp, doing his best to ignore the whizzing of magic missiles, of evil magic and healing alike. He imagines he's at the forge, beating a sword into shape.
Kolgradd slams his maul into the buff deep one’s torso, hitting far harder than expected as he sends the creature flying to the ground!
The dwarf then slams his hammer several times into the amorphous deep one as several magic missiles wizz past and hit the creature!
Shakur casts telekinetic projectile
And causes the “deep one” to discorporate into a puddle of slime.
On the buff deep one’s person was a lesser healing potion, +1 striking handwraps of mighty blows, and a +1 chain mail.
With the fall of the deep one and the apparent ooze, Fort Hailcourse has been purged of the influence of Melisenn’s cult of Hastur.
When the amnesiacs report back to Ms. Wrentz, she quickly dispatches some Sleepless Agents to keep a hold on the fort.
”Now, to cut off the head of the serpent; Iris Hill awaits. Rest and make any preparations that you may need.”
The amnesiacs spend the rest of the day recuperating from the events of Fort Hailcourse. The day after is largely spent in Thrushmoor’s markets, selling any items that they have on hand and purchasing items in preparation for the assault on Iris Hill.
*
*
*
Iris Hill stands at the top of a natural hill on the northwestern corner of Thrushmoor. The entire estate is surrounded by an imposing 10-foot tall hedge. Breaking the thick hedge that surrounds the estate, a squat building sports a pair of heavy wooden doors bearing a small sliding hatch.
The sound of rustling comes from the other side of the door, and the hatch slides to the side to reveal a pair of gray eyes peering from the other side.
”Count’s not home; go away.”
The hatch slides closed.
That morning Jevar spends 50 minutes with two of the parties new scrolls, so that he can transcribe them into his spellbook...
When Kolgradd returned from shopping and equipping himself for fighting more otherworldy horrors, he looked on at Jevar's work with amazement.
"This is amazing work! I've felt an affinity for crafting, smithing especially feels like something I've done before, but this is the work of a true expert"
Afterwards he affixed his new talisman to the half-plate, but made sure that the rune was proudly displayed.
On the way up to Iris Hill he wondered aloud what the best approach would be when they got there.
"How should we play this? Announce our presence and give Melisenn a chance to explain herself?"
He strokes his beard as he ponders
"It feels like we'd just be giving her a chance to prepare. She's probably already expecting us, no sense letting her drop us in a vat of acid. I say we smash the door in and put a stop to whatever dark magic she's got cooking in there, and maybe learn what's happened to us too"
"Magic doesn't typically last long enough to last through healing, and if I'm getting the intuition correct here, the stronger stuff isn't typically guarding the front door."
"So yeah. Go ahead and smash it in, unless, of course, Boodiddly wants to do it the quiet way."
Earlier...
Jevar hunches over his work table fiddling with the talisman as Kolgradd looks on and appreciates. Well, I enjoy those other forms of crafting as well. I find building and configuring things generally satisfactory. Breaking them down and figuring them out can be nice too... but we won't do that with any of your stuff right now. There! With the last word the last bit shifts into place and seems to take a permanent place as if the armor had been built with it.
-----------------
I agree we shouldn't bother talking to her, but I could scan above for other points of entry?
He looks down at the bird on his shoulder.
Or we can just break through. I can have the lightning bolts at the ready.
I agree we shouldn't bother talking to her, but I could scan above for other points of entry?
Kolgradd tries the door, and upon being told the count isn't home, looks to his allies to confirm that they're ready while he takes out his hammer.
"I should have bought a bloody crowbar in town!"
He then slams his hammer into the door like a battering ram, trying to smash it down.
Kolgradd slams his hammer hard into the door, but all it seems to do is make a dent in the door itself. Just as Kolgradd is about to make another slam into the door, it opens, standing on the other side being a pair of hulking, brutish men covered in tribal tattoos with a mouthful of sharp teeth. Behind them is a well-dressed human man with a rapier in one hand and twirling around a coin in the other.
”I said the count’s not home!” The man shifts his eyes to the brutes standing menacingly over Kolgradd. He makes a clicking sound with his mouth and the brutes lurch forward!
Round 1
===============
Kolgradd
Boodiddly/Shakur
Yellow
Red
Blue
Jevar
===============
The raven hops along Jevar's shoulder, cocks her head and squints at the brutes' mouths.
Say, what do you use to sharpen those teeth?
Her feathers vibrate briefly as she exhibits a visible shudder.
Boodiddly hums excitedly to himself before noticing that the door has opened.
”Oh, this is his not-home?” The gnome looks at the well-dressed human with wide eyes. ”We’re terribly sorry - we’re looking for his home, not his not-home. Do you know where that is?”
"These must be those cannibals you mentioned. Disgusting!"
Kolgradd doesn't take long to judge the brutes, and delivers his judgement in the form of a couple of hammer blows to the nearest one.
Disappointed with his timing, he anticipates a counter-attack and summons his magical shield
Boodiddly begins singing and throws a quip at the well-dressed man.
Kolgradd slams his maul into one of the brutes, but the brute dodges away on the second swing.
Shakur moves away and casts telekinetic projectile at Blue.
Yellow looks at Boodiddly with confusion. ”Ah yes, his not-house! How could I be so foolish! Please come on inside you absolutely slow-witted simpleton!”
The man turns to Kolgradd. ”How unfortunate for you; I do hope you’re ready to become a midday snack!”
”And running away at the first sign of danger? How absolutely cowardly!”
”Alright, I’ve had my fun.” Yellow clicks with his mouth and the brutes rush forward!
Blue Steps forward and bites at Boodiddly!
The brute clamps down on the gnome’s arm and then jerks its head, tearing off small pieces of flesh from Boodiddly that it quickly picks away from in between its teeth with its tongue and consumes!
Red, on the other hand, rushes at Kolgradd with its arms wide!
Kolgradd keeps the raging beast of a man away with his maul, and in response Red lets loose a primal shriek at the dwarf!
It then lurches forward to bite the dwarf!
Round 1 —> 2
===============
Kolgradd
Boodiddly (-15)
Shakur
Yellow
Red {dazzled}
Blue (-13) {dazzled}
Jevar
===============
”Ooo, bad taste there buddy - I taste pretty bad, you know.” Boodiddly can’t help himself as he steps back and conjures a translucent shield similar to Kolgradd’s.
"I've gotten quite far in life by letting people covered in metal be in danger instead of me. Take this dwarf for example!"
Shakur whips another dagger at blue.
He'll then jealous hex yellow.
Hmm, great, they actually use those teeth. On that remark he backs up before attempting the burn the first out out of the double doors.
As he plants his foot at the end of the step-back, he stumbles on a rock just as he releases the spell. A fan of flame shoots over the melee, but doesn't come close to hitting anyone.
Kolgradd plants his feet to try to block the exit, and swings his maul around in the direction of the brute trying to eat Boodiddly.
"Get off him you monster!"
He swings again, trying to attract their attention.
Finally he once again brings up his force shield with a word, but he spits it out this time with disgust at the cannibals.
Boodiddly continues to distract Yellow
Shakur sends a dagger at the brute and cuts him! He then places a curse on Yellow.
Jevar sends forth a mass of fire that very much fails to hit.
Kolgradd swings hard at Blue, hitting the brute twice in the gut! Though the tribal creature is still standing!
”Ooo, bad taste there buddy - I taste pretty bad, you know.”
Yellow laughs. ”Ha! They don’t care about the taste! They merely hunger! The shalth feash—“ Yellow’s words become muddled and slurred as he speaks. He shakes his head to try and shake off whatever is going on. Shakur laughs at the nobleman, which he does not take kindly to! ”Why ya little—!”
Yellow leaps forward, deftly maneuvering around his brutish allies to get close to Shakur!
He quickly swipes his rapier at Shakur!
Shakur flinches away from the noble, then immediately feels silly as he flinched at being swiped at with a piercing weapon! Yellow smirks at the Pharasmin’s error and, in one swift motion, uses the momentum from his swipe to spin around and stab at Shakur!
But Shakur has just enough time to dodge away from the man’s stab!
Yellow desperately tries to shake off Shakur’s curse, but is unable to.
Red moves over into the tight corner of the building to flank against Kolgradd.
Red then bites at the dwarf!
Blue once again bites at Boodiddly!
Boodiddly desperately tries to hold the brute at bay with his magical shield, and he jerks it away, but this does not stop the creature from tearing off some of the gnome’s skin!
Blue sees how little flesh he tore off from the gnome and spits it out, leaping at Boodiddly once again to get a bigger bite!
Blue bites into Boodiddly’s thigh and tears off a massive chunk of flesh and absolutely devours it in several bites!
Round 2 —> 3
===============
Kolgradd
Boodiddly (-21) {Lingering Defense: Round 2 of 3}
Shakur
Yellow {stupefied 1}
Red {dazzled}
Blue (-61) {dazzled}
Jevar
===============
Jevar, seeing that Kolgradd and Boodiddly are starting to become surrounded, attempts to take out the common flanking element.
Hmm, perhaps we need a "playbook" of, say... "formations" that prevent such situations.
Kolgradd sees the nobleman moving and attempts to catch him on the backswing.
He then steps to escape being flanked and follows up with another couple of hammer blows at the injured.
With his shield gone (as well as a good chunk of his arm), Boodiddly stops making quips at the noble-looking man and focuses on defense with two different warding spells.
"Too close." Shakur quickly throws up a magical shield before taking a loose rock and attempting to bash the noble.
Jevar sends forth several missiles of force that strike and down Blue.
Kolgradd slams his maul into the chest of the other brute and sending them tumbling to the ground!
Boodiddly moves away and protects himself with magic.
Shakur protects himself and sends a rock flying at the noble!
Yellow grimaces from the pain of both Kolgradd and Shakur. ”Why you little—!” He once more swipes at the Pharasmin!
But the man nearly stumbles as he tries to follow up, instead opting just to stab at the cleric!
”Tsch!” As he misses the cleric, Yellow backs away from the monster that is Kolgradd.
Red stands up.
But Kolgradd slams his hammer into the brute, sending him flying back into the building and into unconsciousness!
Jevar’s fire sends the noble tumbling to the ground.
The only thing that those people had that’s worth it to carry around is the coin the noble had, which bears the sigil of Hastur; the noble was a cultist of Hastur.
Within the surrounding hedge, the garden of Iris Hill appears eerily shrouded in a thin mist that lingers over the grass despite the driving rain. All the buildings appear dark and quiet, and the odor of heather and ivy seems mixed with some sweetly sour, unwholesome essence. Various grand topiaries stand throughout the garden, depicting various creatures from the mundane to the fantastical.
The amnesiacs make their way toward the center of the gardens when they suddenly feel like they’re being watched!
Everyone except Jevar notices the head of a topiary gorilla suddenly turn to look at the amnesiacs, but only Boodiddly is quick enough to react!
Round 1
===============
Boodiddly
!!!
***
Topiary Gorilla
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
===============
”Whoa!” Not eager to get his unbandaged arm snacked on as well, Boodiddly eats a hasty retreat behind Kolgradd. ”I don’t think that thing’s friendly...”
Boodiddly begins playing his instrument and tries to figure something out about this creature.
Suddenly, two more topiaries begin moving—one in the distinct shape of a unicorn, and another of a hulking hippopotamus!
The topiary hippo paws at the ground and suddenly rushes forward straight at the amnesiacs!
Success
Success
Failure
Success
The topiary unicorn likewise paws the ground, and rushes straight toward Shakur, bearing its singular horn forward!
After stabbing the Pharasmin with its horn, the unicorn rears back and disengages.
The topiary gorilla stands tall as it beats its chest and screeches loudly!
Success
Success
Failure –> crit failure
Success
Seeing Shakur’s clear fear at the sculpted animal, the topiary gorilla moves over, arms hanging low for support, to the cleric!
Round 1 —> 2
===============
Boodiddly (-4)
Topiary Hippo
Topiary Unicorn
Topiary Gorilla
Kolgradd (-9)
Shakur (-14) {frightened 2}
Jevar (-4)
===============
"Cut it out!" Boodiddly blurts instinctively. "Sorry - I mean cut them down. Swords, daggers, pruning sheers, an especially sharp rock, pick your poison." He begins to whistle and clap his hands, the sounds complementing each other and bolstering his companions.
"Aye lad!"
Kolgradd mournfully drops his hammer and draws out his mundane battleaxe. Kolgradd very much embodies the adage When you have a hammer, all foes look like skeletons, but even he wouldn't try to chop down a bush with one.
I've made a huge mistake
Finally he'll draw his real shield.
Boodiddly sings his heart out by harmonizing his two inspiring songs!
Kolgradd takes out a sword and axe and swings at the topiary hippo, his axe easily chopping through a solid third of the behemoth’s snout!
Round 1 —> 2
===============
Boodiddly (-4)
Topiary Hippo (-22)
Topiary Unicorn
Topiary Gorilla
Kolgradd (-9)
Shakur (-14) {frightened 2}
Jevar (-4)
===============
"The f-f-f..fat water-critter first th-then-en!"
Shakur quickly casts shield first, hoping that'll be enough to keep him alive.
Shakur thwicks one of his daggers, blade sideways so as to slash.
"Nice m-monkey."
Jevar steps away from the hippo, and flicks his dagger at it.
Shakur sends forth one of his daggers and cuts into the topiary hippo.
Jevar draws his dagger and sends it at the hippo as well! The dagger slices through much of the hippo’s topiary body and chlorophyll starts oozing out!
The topiary hippo turns toward Jevar and charges for the wizard! The hippo opens its leafy maw and bites at Jevar!
It follows up with a second bite at the wizard!
But Jevar is too quick on his feet and dodges away.
The topiary unicorn moves off to the side before pawing the ground once more and charges at Boodiddly!
But stumbles on its charge forward, nearly falling to the ground as it barely catches its footing once more!
The gorilla looks down at the frightened cleric and makes a swift bite at him!
Biting at Shakur, the gorilla follows up with two quick punches!
Round 2 —> 3
===============
Boodiddly (-4)
Topiary Hippo (-55) {1d6 persistent bleed}
Topiary Unicorn
Topiary Gorilla
Kolgradd (-9)
Shakur (-29) {frightened 1}
Jevar (-4)
===============
As the blade slices through the hippo Jevar chuckles with delight that it starts to "bleed".
Ha! That really does work.
His expression turns on a dime to utter fright when it charges him. The wizard darts about, dodging the hippos lunges until it finally tires of his antics and settles down. But he quickly decides he can't let these creatures linger.
Hmm, it's time for the big stuff...
Again he strides away from it to let it reel in the pain.
The two topiaries conduct the electricity and several of their leaves catch on fire and fall to the ground!
Round 2 —> 3
===============
Boodiddly (-4)
Topiary Hippo (-89) {1d6 persistent bleed}
Topiary Unicorn
Topiary Gorilla (-68)
Kolgradd (-9)
Shakur (-29) {frightened 1}
Jevar (-4)
===============
Boodiddly continues whistling and clapping, doing his best to ignore the topiary unicorn next to him.
Kolgradd looks around at his allies being surrounded by this strange bushes, and can see that Shakur is having the worst time of it. He suddenly charges around to the rear of the gorilla and slices at it from behind.
He then follows up with another desperate slash instead of raising his shield
"I can't get the hang of this thing, give me a hammer any day!"
"I can do this all day."
Dagger, aiming first for Hippo, but if it's dead go for Gorilla.
But first, SHIELD.
Boodiddly continues his harmonizing song.
Kolgradd moves to flank the gorilla . He takes a quick slice through the foliage and the topiary gorilla falls to the ground!
Shakur protects himself and sends another cut through the foliage of the topiary hippo!
The hippo once more advances on the wizard and bites at him!
And then suddenly the foliage falls apart into a pile of leaves and chlorophyll!
The unicorn stabs its horn at Boodiddly!
It then quickly kicks at the gnome!
It then disengages from Boodiddly.
Round 3 —> 4
===============
Boodiddly (-17)
Topiary Unicorn
Kolgradd (-9)
Shakur (-29)
Jevar (-25)
===============
”Ouch that hurt when you stepped on my foot,” Boodiddly sings, ”but not as bad as when you stepped on my heart.”
Kolgradd starts running on his stout legs toward the remaining topiary
"Should've ... used ... the .. wand ..."
He runs to put himself between it and Boodiddly, then looks up at it and raises his shield, expecting to get charged.
"You good back there, Jevar? I'll patch ya up in a sec."
Shakur moves forward and quickly flicks another dagger.
Oww... OWW... OUCH! Mangey animals! I'm.... okay. Let's just take care of this last one.
As he says this though, he administers one of his elixirs of life to himself. It's only a slight improvement and then he moves closer to the group.
Boodiddly continues singing, Kolgradd desperately tries to close into melee, Shakur sends another dagger through the foliage, and Jevar drinks an elixir.
The unicorn disengages from Kolgradd’s advance , then paws the ground as it charges at Jevar!
But the wizard narrowly dodges away from the unicorn’s charge!
Round 4 —> 5
===============
Boodiddly (-17)
Topiary Unicorn (-29)
Kolgradd (-9)
Shakur (-29)
Jevar (-19)
===============
Grrr, come on! The wizard is just getting irritated now, as it seems that the topiaries "like" him.
He steps away before incanting a bolt of fire at it.
Would you just burn and die already!
Kolgradd slashes at it as it moves past, then starts to chase after the suprisingly agile bush once again. He's breathing hard by the time he catches up to it, and desperately tries to cut it down so he won't have to keep running.
"I think it might actually be safer to be next to the unicorn," Boodiddly suggests, gasping for breath before getting into the third verse.
Kolgradd moves over and slices deep into the unicorn, eventually cleaving it in two!
After half an hour of patching up wounds, the amnesiacs set on their way.
This one-story wooden building is outfitted with an outhouse and an external awning to shelter firewood. There is nothing else here.