"Animals and death straight ahead. The other way something has passes recently so that would be my guess as to where our what did you call it? Choker went."
Following the current scent, of what you believe could be the Choker, leads you through a cramped tunnel. Brannart guides with his ranseur, lighting up new sections of the tunnel foot by foot. Finally up ahead, the tunnel opens into a larger cavern, its irregular walls open to more dark spaces.
Masked earlier by the creature's odor, Malakar now also picks up the faded scent of blood, viscera, and rotted meat.
Bones are scattered all around the cavern floor.
Perception DC 12:
Up ahead, (what could be considered north) blocked by either darkness or scattered large boulders and beyond your view, you hear multiple grunts of what sounds like laughter and the echo and clack of rocks knocking together.
Slide 2 is up for a visual. Feel free to move the position of your tokens, if needed.
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
Perception:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Brannart whispers to his companions.
"Creatures ahead. Not sure how many.
Draw them out and have them come to us?"
male halfling arcane trickster 1/unchained rogue 3/wizard 3 | ♥️41 | ⛨22 t17 ff17; dodge +1 vs attacks by traps | CMB 1, CMD 17 | F+4 R+12 (evasion; avoid traps +1) W+7; +2 vs. fear | Init +9 | Perc +15 (avoid surprise +1, locate traps +1), SM +8 | Speed 20ft | Spells 2nd ☑☐invisibility ☑mirror image 1st ☑color spray ☑comprehend languages ☑hydraulic push ☑touch of the sea | Arcane bond☑ | Hand of the Apprentice☑☐☐☐☐☐ | cat burglar’s boots reroll☐ | Skillful☐ | Active conditions: none
Vexas whispers back. Let's create a diversion and draw them to us... surely they'll be curious and come see.
He takes a few steps back and points his rapier toward the darkness, and flattens himself against the nearest wall. He reaches down to pick up a stone that he might throw to create the triggering noise...
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
"Vexas? Malakar? Where are you guys?
... I'm lost!
Help!"
Brannart does his best to sound panicked and helpless.
Shortly after Brannart shouts for help, the creatures beyond the light and behind the stones stop making noise. Then you hear grunts and chatter.
Undercommon:
You hear that? Sounds like dinner.
Appearing in the light are four gray-skinned creatures with fanged mouths and tentacle-like arms ending in spiny claws. They are mostly hunched over but appear to be about four feet tall. They almost appear surprised to see a human holding a glowing polearm.
I will assume that Sho was also being stealthy.
Surprise Round: Vexas, Sho, and Malakar may take a single action.
Yes! Grease is my favorite low level spell. I soloed feast of ravenmoore as an arcanist casting only grease. The rest if the party basically just did clean up attacks.
Sho recognizes these creatures as Chokers. She knows that these beasts can lash out from a distance and are very fast. With this knowledge, she also knows that they have to be put down quickly. She releases her arrow and it sails into the chest of one of the beasts. It’s gangly tongue sticks out straight as it shrieks in pain from the attack.
As Sho is releasing her arrow, Malakar makes his own move and charges forward. The Druid’s scimitar slices deep across the smooth gray skin of the beast, releasing a pungent, dark liquid.
As the Chokers approach, Fenna chants and arcane symbols sparkle around her finger tips. She pushes the sparkles forward where they form arcane symbols and extend to ground at two of the Chokers starfish-shaped feet. The two Chokers begin to slip as a pool of grease forms underneath them. While one falls backward, the other, now bleeding from an arrow wound, stares down Fenna and makes a few guttural sounds as spittle dances from its mouth.
Undercommon:
"Die Wizard"
Green Reflex Save DC 14:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Purple Reflex Save DC 14:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
The creature stares down Fenna from ten feet way. Then two arms surge forward with amazing speed, but Fenna uses her spear to deflect the attack. The creature hisses at it retracts its arms and moves to more solid ground.
With amazing speed, the two Chokers closest to Malakar lash out with their tentacle-like arms. The Undine raises his shield to block the barrage of attacks, but one tentacle makes it through and wraps around Malakar's neck. The Druid feels the pressure around his throat as he gasps for air.
Suddenly, he is unable to speak; unable to breathe.
I have some questions about the last round actions of the chokers affected by the Grease spell. 1. The choker will fell prone would only provoke an AoO if it tried to stand. Did it? It wasn't explicitly mentioned. 2. It looks like the 2nd attack made by the other choker actually did hit Fenna? 3. In order to move off the grease, the standing choker would need to make a DC 10 acrobatics check. If it fails it can't move and must make a reflex save again or fall.
I'll hold on posting actions until I'm sure about these things.
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
If Green tried to stand, then Brannart would also get an AOO on it, as he has a reach weapon.
The Choker splats around on its back for a moment as it tries to recover. As it stands, its foot slides out causing it to use both of its tentacle arms to brace the ground in front of it.
The other Choker remains on his feet and slams a tentacle into Fenna. The concussive blast almost knocks her to her knees as the tentacle begins to curl around her throat. Keeping her wits and using her spear, Fenna pries the appendage away with such force that the creature reals backward and falls onto the greased cavern floor.
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
As the Choker falls backward, Sho's second arrow pierces its throat. It collapses to the cavern floor with a splat, and its blood mixes in with the slippery, magical substance.
Brannart's veteran instincts kick in and he takes advantage of the Choker attempting to stand. His polearm crashes into the beast, splitting dull, gray skin and crunching bones. Spending no time listening to the creature wail in pain, Brannart pivots and takes a step to assist Malaker. Once again, his weapon finds its target as the ranseur's point rams through the Choker's skull. It dies instantly. As it falls, Malakar feels a tug along his throat as the tentacle loosens and drops to the ground.
Fenna tries to stab the fallen choker as it gets to its feet, but her attack is fouled when the choker beside it slams a tentacle into her chest, almost knocking the air out of her.
Before she can steady herself and react, her attacker is dead from another arrow. Fenna switches her attention back to her original foe, poking at him again with her spear.
Fenna’s spear stabs through the beast’s throat, ending its wailing for good.
The remaining Choker ignores Vexas’s stabs and skitters across the cavern floor as it screams out some language. It arms lash out at Brannart and Malakar. The two warriors now recognizing how these beasts attack, are able to expect and deflect the tentacle blows.
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
Brannart tries to strike the last one, but his aim with the polearm falters a bit.
Fenna leaves slippery floor in place rather than dismissing the spell. It might yet come in handy. She moves in between Brannart and Malakar to stab at the choker.
To Sho’s surprise, her arrow is deflected at the last moment by a swirling tentacle, but Fenna’s spear finds purchase in the beast’s leg. As the Choker attempts to steady itself, Malakar moves in, his mouth now a row of shark-like teeth, and rips open the creature’s flesh.
The Choker still lives. It is Vexas’s turn and I’ll wait for him to return. Please note that Vexas is in a Threatened Square.
male halfling arcane trickster 1/unchained rogue 3/wizard 3 | ♥️41 | ⛨22 t17 ff17; dodge +1 vs attacks by traps | CMB 1, CMD 17 | F+4 R+12 (evasion; avoid traps +1) W+7; +2 vs. fear | Init +9 | Perc +15 (avoid surprise +1, locate traps +1), SM +8 | Speed 20ft | Spells 2nd ☑☐invisibility ☑mirror image 1st ☑color spray ☑comprehend languages ☑hydraulic push ☑touch of the sea | Arcane bond☑ | Hand of the Apprentice☑☐☐☐☐☐ | cat burglar’s boots reroll☐ | Skillful☐ | Active conditions: none
Back!
Vexas frowns as the choker doesn't seem very fazed by the threat of his tiny halfling wweapon, and gets even a little irritated when it turns to move away.
The choker, though having been nicked by Vexas's earlier strike, dodges his rapier and slinks to the side so it can strike at both Vexas and Fenna.
Takes 5' step to its left and full attacks. Left tentacle strike vs Fenna's AC 17:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 191d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Right tentacle strike vs Vexas's AC 20:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 191d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Tentacle grab vs Fenna's CMD 14:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Vexas is able to barely deflect the blow, but Fenna, not having expected it to get so close, gets hit with a tentacle that proceeds to wrap around her throat and choke her.
Round 3: Brannart has yet to go
Round 4: Malakar (15/21 HP), Vexas, Fenna (9/22 HP, grappled and strangled), Sho, Choker (taken 4 lethal and 1 nonlethal damage, grappling), Brannart
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
"Let her go!"
Brannart drops the ranseur, takes a step, draws his longsword, and strikes at the choker.
Attack, Flanking:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19 Damage:1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
M Human Ftr7 | AC 27, T14, FF24, CMD 26 (33 vs Grapple, 28 vs Disarm, 31 vs Trip) | HP (72/72) | F +8 R +6 W +4 (+3 vs mind-affecting) | Move 30' | Init +6 | Per +8 (low-light) | Hero Points: 3
Bards get some great defenses once things like Mirror Image come into play... but CMD will never be a bard's strong suit, and low levels are just tough. Still, you have that 14 Con for a reason, so you can take a few hits and stay in the fight.
Brannart checks on Fenna... trying to show an appropriate level of concern without being patronizing.
"Nice going. That Grease spell was a good idea. You okay?"
He sheathes his sword and picks his polearm up again.
Fenna points at the slain choker and gasps out "thanks" to Brannart. As she catches her breath and gets back to her feet she continues.
"I wish we'd just stayed in bed though."
About a second later Fenna realizes she's slipped up. All she can do is play it straight and hope that 'we' slides by everyone else's attention as an all inclusive 'we' rather than a literal Brannart and her 'we'.
Yeah, more spells will help and so on. I'm not thinking anything major. Maybe a bit more added to AC. Or maybe watching combat positioning more carefully. Fenna's getting banged around a lot for someone using a reach weapon.
