GM SpiderBeard's Fall of Plaguestone (Inactive)

Game Master Barvo Delancy

Gigon and Anghariel start putting their heads together and using what they know of alchemical matters and also just the natural world to follow the clues of the horribly twisted plants, trying to find if there's any kind of directionality to this.

Turns out that by determining the curve of the inner circle, you can puzzle out the way in. It takes a good hour of exploring the area, but you finally manage to find what you are looking for.

Deeper into this massive blight, the plants take on unnatural shades, and their branches seem to shudder and quake at the sensation of something passing. Up ahead is a wall of thick brambles with some sort of thorny iris in the center.

Map is updated.

"This looks ominous," Milo whispered. He crept forward, trying to be as quiet and unobtrusive as possible.

Sneak twice (+7 trained) and Perception once (+8 expert).
Moving my token based on the initial starting position.

As Milo creeps forward he sees an array of plants around the path leading to the strange iris in the thorns. The nearest one is easy enough to identify, with some chagrin. A vinelasher. Behind it is some sort of brightly colourful plant obscuring the sight of much more.

Map updated.

Poke!

Milo warned his friends about the vinelasher and gave it a wide berth. He continued sneaking forward.

Same actions: Sneak twice (+7 trained) and Perception once (+8 expert). Unless he sees something new, he will continue on to what looks like a fallen tree.

Gigon scoured his mind trying to think of a way to neutralize the vine. What if I were to make a ball of tindertwig and have Anghariel ignite it?

GM - Can I improvise a baseball-sized orb, coat it in the stuff that makes Tindertwig ignite? If so, my plan is to throw it at the vine, have Anghariel shoot it with Produce Flame to ignite it. Hopefully, the ignition will cause Persistent Burn Damage.

I like the idea but like, how many tindertwigs do you have or is this out of the general alchemical kit?

Milo continues to creep ahead to scout and thankfully gets a better view of the dangers awaiting the group. While Gigon tries to figure out a way to light the bastard on fire... there's three more of them. ANd more of those weird colourful flowers that look kind of ominous.

Colourful flowers are marked by the X.

Mio continued sneaking forward, hoping to find a route that didn't take him too close to the colorful, deadly flowers.

Same actions: Sneak twice (+7 trained) and Perception once (+8 expert).

"Alright, I'm not getting caught with my pants down anymore... unless it's on purpose." Pollo says under his breath as Milo relays the information about the vinelashers. He pulls out one of his torches and prepares to light it, once he knows he won't spoil Milo's cover.

If we can find a way to solve this without fighting, great. If not, Pollo will try to use a lit torch as a weapon this time.

The young man shudders when thinking about how much he bled last time they ran into one of these things.

Still hanging here, letting you figure out how to approach.

Milo has become used to the fact that the vinelashers can detect anyone who gets too close so he keeps his distance. They have some form of range tremorsense and don't notice anyone outside of it. However, it's clear the radius of their detection includes the entry into the iris.

I'll take a nature check for someone to know more about vinelashers.

Looks like we are going to have to fight them. Pollo will light a torch and hopefully the fire damage will help him be useful. Any other ideas on how to fight these things since we can get the drop on them? Lob a couple of maltov cocktails?

After moving a little closer to the vinelasher. The Gnome was struck with a sudden spark of inspiration, Gigon took a knee and began pulling various things out of this pouches. He busily began slapping something odd together.

Crafting Improv device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Queue generic gaming crafting sounds.

After a moment he produced an odd ball of some kind. Turning to the Elf, "When I throw this, hit it with your flame spell."

Taking aim, he threw it at the plant.

Throwing large tinderball: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Gigon starts rushing in to throw his tinderball, but the awkward improvised item requires a slightly closer range... which triggers the bloodlash!

Gigon's tinderball thuds happily right into the bloodlash bush. It now just requires a flame.

[b]Everyone but Gigon/b] is up! Gigon I've ruled you took all your actions to get up close and wing the tinderball. Used craft for initiative, and stealth for Milo's. Pollo has a torch in hand since it's clear they are vulnerable to fire damage.

Milo moved towards Gigon, and used his new telekinetic power to hurl a rock at the bush that the gnome had just targeted.

◆Stride
◆◆Cast Telekinetic Projectile

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage (probably bludgeoning): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Nimble Dodge reaction on first attack against him (AC 21)

Hopefully he can already have his sword in hand.

Pollo sees the ball thud near the lasher and knows what needs to happen next. He is feeling rather pleased with himself at having fire prepared this time, and already optimistic this fight will go better than the last one. He rushes in close to the plant creature and swings his torch to ignite the ball, using one arm to shield his face.

Just in case...

Attack vs ball to ignite?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Not sure if there are improvised weapon penalties or not... It's basically a club I imagine.

Actions - move, move, attack

-2 for improvised weapon and torch does 1d4 damage +1 fire.

Pollo quickly rushes in and thumps his torch down on the bloodlash bush, which causes the tinderball to burst into flame! A rock flies dangerously close to his head as Milo just completely messes up his spell. However, the bloodlash bush lights up beautifully.

Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Osveta and Anghariel are up!

Moving closer to the incipient mêlée, the wizard flings a mote of flame into the fray.

Action 1: Stride.
Actions 2 & 3: Cast Produce Flame on the red bloodlash bush. Produce Flame vs Red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 fire damage on a success, or double damage and 1d4 ⇒ 3 persistent fire damage on a critical success.

I'm here, giving Rysky another kick.

Sorry

Seeing another fight breaking out Osveta draws her sword and starts moving towards the foul plants.

1 action to draw and 2 to move 50ft towards the plant, can’t move token.