GM Doug's The Perennial Crown Parts 1 & 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Doug Hahn

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Zarindlara dives into the bushes, narrowly missing a large mud puddle.

"Yes, yes, your songs are delightful friend Gurmire" Varret says, nimbly stepping behind a tree to avoid yet another horrible feature of this island. "However, they seem to carry throughout this jungle. I'm worried who they might draw for an encore."

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Gurmire considers a new field of horticulture all while deftly dodging explosions. Zarindlara, likewise, manages to avoid the exploding fruit while staying dry to boot! Varret shares his review of the bards' show, while dodging more bombs like audience-thrown projectiles.

Bombs Away! Bold is up:

Gurmire: Crit Success
Keats
Packet
Pip
Varret: success
Zarindlara: Success

"With fruit already exploding all around us, I'm not sure that our songs make that much of a difference. Plus, it's good for our morale, isn't it?" Pip asks as she starts pointing out bomb trees.

And she sings more softly.

♫ Can't stay at home, there's so much to do
Traveling with my adventure crew
Ships and jungles to explore
I'm the gnome you've been waiting for!

Hello, jungles. Hello, Bhopan.
You're my ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!
Hello world! I'm your wild girl.
You're my ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!
Hello, jungles. Hello, Bhopan.
You're my ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!
Hello world! I'm your wild girl.
You're my ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb! ♫

Bhopan Bardic Lore: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

”Take cover!

“From what, good Packet? Oh … now I see.”

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Heeding the plea for quiet (somewhat) Keats muffles his applause for Pip's performance. "Counsellor, I dare say your Pathfinder Society may as well change the name of this caper to Operation Jungle Gym: the Musical."

Gurmire pauses, looking back at Varret quizzically.

...but I hadn’t even joined in on the songs yet!?!

He evidently decides it isn’t worth arguing about. He takes some time to make a sketch of the exploding pumpkin plants in his formula book before leaving them behind.

When Keats makes mention of the mission being a musical, Gurmire does correct him. “No, that was our mission into the sewers of Absalom! We did have to be careful though, not to turn the play into a musical as well.”

You make it past the cherry-bomb-fruit with no trouble whatsoever. Nicely done! If your group fails these checks they put penalties like Drained and Clumsy on everyone for the next 8 hours.

At the edge of the field, you discover the skeleton of a humanoid — the skull looks like it has relatively large canines. In the bushes nearby is an adventurer’s pack, six lesser antidotes, and one gold coin. The coin bears the face of a haughty-looking man in robes; he has very long ears and magnificently coiffed hair, or perhaps a full-bottom peruke wig.

The forest ahead looks easier to travel through… perhaps the worst of it is over.

But then a cloud darkens the sky, dropping you into sudden gloom. You feel a chill and get goosebumps. A breeze blows and the leaves rustle; you could swear it sounds like the trees are whispering GET OUT…

"This must be what the people look like here." She examines the coin. "Well, at least they have style. I wonder how old this image is. It might be behind the times."

One antidote each?

Packet tips back his hat and joins Zarindlara in examining the coin and the body.

"What kind of person has teeth like this? Could these be the dog-faced people? But this coin... That's no dog-faced person on there."

Packet focuses on the gold coin, draws an eldritch symbol in the air, and mumbles, "Ycnaf tsuj ro cigam uoy era?" Casting Read Aura

One antidote each sounds good to me!

Kinda fancy, t’ain’t it?

"I vaguely remember a mention of dog people back at the Crow’s Nest. Are they our contacts?”

Keats draws his sword and raises his shield, scanning the area with a tinge of fear. “I quite like dogs, as long as I don’t have to share their food.”

“Do we know anything about our fellows’ pedigree? I mean, are they more pug or mastiff?”

“I am less concerned about any dog people than that forest. I think it doesn’t want us!” Gurmire points towards the trees.

“Not sure how that person met a bad end” pointing to the skeleton “but they worried about getting poison so maybe we need to watch out for spiders?”

Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Pip kneels on one knee and takes a closer look at the skeleton. Does it reveal anything about these people, or how this dog person may have died? "Alright, I'm confused. Usually when we find a pack and a body... the pack was dropped by the body. But doesn't it take a while for bodies to decompose? This pack's in pretty good shape, but there's nothing left of the body but a skeleton."

“Maybe a swarm if spiders ate the flesh away?”

Given a mystery, Gurmire looks more closely at the skeletal remains as well. “No weapons, not even a knife. Who goes into a jungle without some sort of weapon?”

Packet chuckles.

”If only every case was solved with logic, my job would be much easier. We can’t assume the pack belongs to the body, just because we found them near each other. And could be that whatever killed this person caused their body to decompose more quickly. Or could be I’ve got it wrong and it’s this bag that’s magic. We need more information if we’re to solve this mystery.”

He lowers his hat and narrows his eyes as he peers into the forbidding jungle.

”We might find more clues that a way.”

"Wooooof?"

Bailiff looks hopefully at the bones, wagging his tail.

Can I have one?

"No. Bailiff." Pip says gently. "Whomever this was, it wasn't an animal."

Then to Packet she says, "I suppose we should move on, and see if we can find more clues elsewhere."

Bailiff's tail droops, but he contents himself with just taking one last sniff.

Pip pets him, and turns to the others. "Ready?"

“My cases normally solved by logic and chemistry.” Gurmire tells Packet. “Let someone else figure out who, as an arson investigator I only asked if and how.”

Pointing to Pip, he suggests “If you ask her nicely, she could determine if the bag or coin is magical.”

Deciding this mystery isn’t important right now, he turns again towards the spooky woods. “Guess we go into the woods.”

Ready

♫ Into the woods
In search of clues
Unwelcoming trees
So many paths to choose
Into the woods--
There's no time to lose
Let's continue on our journey
Into the woods
Filled with mysteries
And strange skeletons
From dear Bhopan
Into the woods
To see what can be found
Into the woods
To see what can be found ♫

Source: "Into the Woods" by Stephen Sondheim

Varret draws his bow from his shoulder and scans the treeline for any signs of hostile fauna. "Yes, let's move along. No sense in standing by the dinner table, waiting to be the next course." If the path is clear enough that he can navigate it with bow in hand, Varret will do so going forward. Otherwise, he'll stow it again when they set off.

Pip kneels on one knee and takes a closer look at the skeleton. Does it reveal anything about these people, or how this dog person may have died?

Pip performs a medicine and nature check. The bones are pitted but not very gouged as they would be from teeth or weaponry; she surmises that this person's flesh may have been dissolved away in some kind of acid or digestive fluid. Nothing is magical about the coin or alchemical items. I should have mentioned that earlier, assuming you'd detect magic!

You move on. Perhaps the mystery will be revealed later…

★★★★

You trudge endlessly on through the forest. It feels like ages since the journey began through the oppressive heat and humidity of this place. Worse yet, you are now sure the whispers are real. They have harried you the whole way, escalating by the hour. Usually carried along as barely-perceptible rustlings of leaves and creepers, the words often sound like “INTRUDERS!” or “LEAVE!” or worse. You hear growls in the distance, and unseen things walking on two legs through the gloom.

Suddenly, the noise stops and the jungle falls silent, save for the nearby babbling brook.

A leaf-covered being steps out from inside a tree — her eyes blazing with insane fury. Her voice cuts across the quiet forest like birdsong. INTRUDERS! The only fitting punishment is… hmmm… she seems to consider for a moment. DEATH!

As she speaks two large plants rise from the foliage. They look almost like ten-foot-tall venus flytraps; their long vines have thorns and drip with acid. Unfortunately, the leafy being looks too infuriated for diplomacy. She wants to kill you, and you have no recourse but to fight.

★★★★

Ambush! Round 1: Bold may act

The ravine here is 40 feet deep; the log crossing it looks slick. You are under the foliage so nothing is difficult terrain. There are DCs for terrain interactions noted on the map.

Packet
Flytrap 1
Fkytrap 2
Angry leafy Person
Pip
Varret
Zarindlara
Gurmire
Keats

Knowledge Nature as an Action to identify either creature:

Packet moves to plant #2 and attempts to strike with his short sword.

Short Sword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Booo

Whenever I roll separate initiatives for enemies they all seem to bunch up anyway.

Flytrap One lurches ahead on its roots, mindlessly looking for the closest, yummiest meal it can find. Halfling! The creature slaps at Packet with several leaves at once! This is a special attack that allows it to either Strike twice, or miss once and still hit once as long as the attack roll doesn't crit fail.

The first strike misses, but the second still leaf manages to hit. Though the vine merely grazes the halfling, it stills deal 9 damage with its thorns and acid.

Move, 2-action attack.

★★★★★★

Flytrap Two has a yummy meal before it. Everyone wants halfling for lunch.

The creature deals 14 more piercing and acid damage to and then grabs Packet as a free action in its sticky sap! It then opens its mouth wide, trying to swallow the trapped detective whole… Packet can smell the caustic digestive fluids from where he is… but the jaws snap harmlessly in the air!

Move, 2-action attack, Swallow Whole attempt.

★★★★★★

The dryad casts a spell, and the vines and plants at your feet writhe and dance, trying to entangle you! She then moves forward.

Everyone in the burst marked on the map needs to make a reflex save at the start of their turn. I will put the DC and a spoiler below the initiative block.

2-action spell, move

★★★★★★

Halfling Lunch: Round 1-2!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.

Packet -24 HP, Grabbed by Flytrap 2
Flytrap 1
Fkytrap 2 Grabbing Packet
Angry leafy Person
Pip Reflex save needed
Varret Reflex save needed
Zarindlara Reflex save needed
Gurmire Reflex save needed
Keats Reflex save needed

Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Zarindlara deftly avoids the grasping vines and moves closer to her grabbed ally. She lets loose two arrows. At 2, who is just outside the 30 ft volley range, so no penalty on the shot

+1 Composite Longbow Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
ouch!: 1d8 ⇒ 8
deadly if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 10

+1 Composite Longbow Attack: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 5 = 26
ouch!: 1d8 ⇒ 7
deadly if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Gurmire tries to duck when he should have jumped. He gets entangled by all the writhing plants. Still, he struggles forward yelling at the angry plant lady “Why you so angry? We just get here, wanted to meet new people!”

He pulls out a vial and tosses it at the plant that has his friend Packet.
Moderate Alchemical Bomb, splash target only: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 30’

Moderate Alchemist’s Fire: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 1 = 9
Persistent Fire damage: 2 + 1 = 3
Fire splash damage: 2 + 1 = 3

Reflex save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

The twisting vines catch Varret by surprise, causing him to stumble and slowing his progress. Still, he's able to move a little to get a better line of sight on the nearer plant. After taking careful aim, he lets loose two arrows! Stride (10 ft.), hunt prey on #1, hunted shot.

+1 Composite shortbow (1st) vs #1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
+1 Composite shortbow (2nd) vs #1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Pip nimbly avoids the vines.

◆ Inspire Courage (f)
◆ Nature to identify flytraps: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
◆ Nature to identify leafy person: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Speaking in Sylvan to the pissed-off dryad, Pip says, "महान अभिभावक, हमने आपको या आपके जंगल को नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाया। वास्तव में, हमारे बीच वे लोग हैं जो प्रकृति पर गर्व करते हैं। वरेट एक रेंजर है। ज़रिंदलारा, एक योगिनी है जिसके लोग अपने जंगलों की रक्षा करते हैं। मैं एक सूक्ति हूँ, और मेरी नसों में प्राणयुक्त रक्त चलता है। यदि आप अपना हमला जारी रखते हैं तो हम अपना बचाव करेंगे - यह प्रकृति का तरीका है। लेकिन यदि आप पारिस्थितिक क्षति या निवास स्थान के नुकसान के लिए न्याय मांग रहे हैं, तो मुझे आपके और आपके कारण का प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए सम्मानित किया जाएगा!" She pauses. "हमें संघर्ष विराम दें, और हम बात कर सकते हैं!"

Zarindlara slips between the grasping vines then lodges an arrow in the plant's hungry maw. Sap sprays everywhere as the plant writhes — this isn't the meal it was expecting! She then sends another shot very close to that tender spot! one crit, one hit (not a crit after Inspire either… so close!); the plant is at -36 after Inspire.

Gurmire's bomb lands close but doesn't manage to strike the creature directly. It splashes the plant as well as Packet, doing far more damage to the plant than expected! Hey, turns out plants burn. 3 splash + weak 5 = 8

Varret hunts the other vine and hits it once. The plant recoils in surprise! 6 damage

Pip inspires everyone as she dances free of the foliage! I retroactively included Inspire in everyone's attacks/damage. She identifies the plants as Snapping Flytraps and the angry person as a dryad. everyone can read the Nature spoilers here.

The dryad snarls: ईष् आण् ईण्ट्Rऊड्E! Fएय्, एल्f, ग्न्ओम्ए त्र्एएस् ई द्ओन्;त् ल्इक्ए, थ्ए न्ओइस्ए ओf ह्ए ब्र्ओओक् — अल्ल् द्इए! ड्इए! ईत्ऽस् व्ह्अत् य्ओउ द्एस्एर्व्ए!

★★★★★★

Halfling Lunch: Round 1-2!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.
All allies Inspired.

Packet -27 HP, Grabbed by Flytrap 2
Flytrap 1 -6 HP
Fkytrap 2 -44 HP, Grabbing Packet
Dryad
Pip
Varret Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Zarindlara
Gurmire Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Keats Reflex save needed

“Even in that strange language plant lady still sounds angry. What language is that?”

"It's Sylvan, the language of nature and the fey. She's an enraged dryad, and she wants to murder everyone!" Pip sighs, unhappy to be pitted against the forces of nature. "We're going to have to solve this conflict the hard way."

”What a predicament!

Packet slashes at the plant that’s grabbed him!

Short Sword: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Short Sword: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 - 4 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Short Sword: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 8 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 - 8 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

”Swallow me and I’ll just kill you from the inside!”

Packet doesn't need to wait for anyone to save him, and slices his way free from plant with a vengeance, killing it on the first strike! He won't be anyone's lunch today! (Well… unless the other plant eats him…)

Packet has more actions left and are now free!

★★★★★★

Halfling Lunch? Round 1-2!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.
All allies Inspired.

Packet -27 HP, 2 actions left
Flytrap 1 -6 HP
Dryad
Pip
Varret Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Zarindlara
Gurmire Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Keats

Not wanting to press his luck with the other giant plant, Packet backs away to recover, and pulls out his minor health potion.

Click. Whirr.

Botting Keats

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
◆ Keats strides forward once to get out of the difficult terrain.
◆ Keats strides forward once more to get next to the plant.
◆ Keats attacks.*

"Hey! You with the leaves and teeth! I make a more filling meal than that halfling! But first, how about sword for an appetizer?"

+1 longsword (versatile P): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 1 = 22
slashing damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

____
* Note that Keats raised his shield in exploration mode.

Keats gives the plant its just desserts. Hits! Plant at -16 HP. But will he be next?

★★★★★★

The flytrap cuts Keats and wraps him in its vines, but try as it might it cannot swallow the fighter whole.

Strike, improved grab, swallow whole attempt, swallow whole attempt

★★★★★★

The dryad moves up and says something to Zarindlara in Sylvan as she casts a spell. She wants to be friends. Zarindlara, please make a will save!

Move, 2-action cast

★★★★★★

Keats for Lunch!?! Round 2!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.
All allies Inspired.

Packet -24 HP, potion in hand
Flytrap 1 -16 HP, Grabbing Keats
Dryad
Pip Need reflex save at start of turn.
Varret Need reflex save at start of turn.
Zarindlara Need Will save from Dryad then reflex save at start of turn.
Gurmire Reflex save at start of turn.
Keats -11HP, Grabbed, shield not raised

On top of everything else, you hear the hoots and hollers of more creatures approaching from the Southwest. It sounds like the warcries of a band of warriors. It seems like this combat is attracting more denizens of the forest… and they don't sound friendly. We will not split rounds this time around, as things will happen at the top of Round 3!

Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

That seems bad. Hero Point!

Will save, promotional vestments: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28

Yay!

Reflex save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

I'm assuming the re-roll was a success, but I'll pause in case there's still an effect.

Re-roll success. Z is not charmed. Reflex save fails so you are entangled, however. Not that an archer cares…

Round #2: AC 21 + 2 - 2 = 21; Grabbed (flat footed, immobilized), ☤ 36/47 hp

“What did I ever do to you, wretched plant?”

Keats is appalled at the thought of being consumed by a beanstalk. “I was overlooked for the role of the tooth-fairy in Little Audrey’s Shoppe of Sorrows, you know.”

“I'll have you know I’m neither vegetarian nor vegan. If you want to take revenge on those that prey on your brethren exclusively …”

He points at Pip. “Try chowing down on her!”

+1 longsword (versatile P) + filk: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 = 27
slashing damage + filk: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12

shield boss + filk: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 = 28
bludgeoning damage + filk: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

Raise shield for +2 AC

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

◆ Inspire Courage

◆◆ Pip readies her shot for when the dryad next casts.

Short bow+I.C.: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 8

"कौन आ रहा है? दोस्तों आपका?"

Keats tells the flytrap all about his dietary preferences and his history in the theater as he bashes and slashes it. Everyone loves a good conversationalist at their meals. Two hits! Plant is at -39 HP.

Pip nocks an arrow and asks a question in Sylvan, to which the dryad merely snarls in response. The dryad will respond on her turn if she deigns to do so!

★★★★★★

A Lunchtime Conversation: Round 2!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.
All allies Inspired.

Packet -24 HP, potion in hand
Flytrap 1 -39 HP, Grabbing Keats
Dryad
Pip Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed), readied attack (reaction to Strike if Dryad casts)
Varret Need reflex save at start of turn.
Zarindlara Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Gurmire Need reflex save at start of turn.
Keats -11HP, Grabbed, shield raised

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 Two failures so far. I assume the speed penalty does not stack.

Gurmire continues to struggle against the writhing underbrush. “It is stuff like this that gives wild areas a bad reputation!”

Then the little goblins yells “Here plant lady, catch!” as he tosses another alchemist fire. With none of his friends around her, he allows the bomb to splash normally.
Moderate Alchemical Bomb, IC: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 = 23 30’

Moderate Alchemist’s Fire: 2d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6, 8) + 1 + 1 = 16
Persistent Fire damage: 2 + 1 = 3
Fire splash damage: 2 + 1 = 3

Reflex: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Unconcerned with the vines around him, Varret moves closer, shooting three more times at the plant. Stride, hunted shot, strike. The first two arrows are committed, but if the plant goes down to one of them then he will spend his third action to Hunt Prey on the dryad.

+1 Composite shortbow (1st): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

+1 Composite shortbow (2nd): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Zarindlara braces her longbow against her legs, allowing her to fire accurately at a close opponent. She fires two arrows at the dryad.

+1 Composite Longbow Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
ouch!: 1d8 ⇒ 3
deadly if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 5

+1 Composite Longbow Attack: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 5 = 26
ouch!: 1d8 ⇒ 2
deadly if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Enter Point Blank Shot Stance, Strike twice

Gurmire lobs a bomb at the dryad — who doesn't catch it. Instead, she's engulfed in a sudden and violent conflagration! Tuns out, plant-people are also vulnerable to fire… 24 fire and 3 splash, 3 persistent on her turn

The plant also takes some splash… which is super-effective! 3 splash and 5 weak So many flammable things in this forest!

★★★★★★

Varret darts a single arrow into the plant, who stubbornly refuses to die. It doesn't help that two of his three shots fly wide…

★★★★★★

Zarindlara crits on the first shot against the dryad, and then strikes again on the second. Adding in Inspire turns the first shot into a 29, which crits! Net 15 damage

★★★★★★

A Lunchtime Conversation: End of Round 2!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.
All allies Inspired.

Packet -24 HP, potion in hand
Flytrap 1 -49 HP, Grabbing Keats
Dryad -41 HP, Burning 3
Pip Entangled, used one action to inspire, 2 actions left
Varret
Zarindlara PBS STance, Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Gurmire Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Keats -11HP, Grabbed, shield raised

Seeing how well the plant lady burns, Gurmire gulps. "Oops, wasn't expecting her to burn so well. Did we want her alive, because that might be difficult now."

Slight rewind!

Realizing that she could not ready an action to disrupt a spell, Pip continues to inspire courage. To the dryad, she says, "I wish we could have worked together. I had no desire to see a beautiful nature spirit burn."

Although normally she would try to heal and save an enemy, the dryad's murderous commentary makes Pip choose something other than her normal healing magic. With more enemies potentially arriving, she casts magic weapon on her bow.

◆◆ Magic Weapon

Just as Pip enspells her bow, a group of six small, crocodile-faced creatures rushes from the foliage! They look like slender but wiry humanoids with a head resembling a crocodile’s, rust-colored skin, and blood-red eyes… their sharp teeth look perfect for serrating humanoid flesh. They carry spears and shields as well! Art on the slifde

Packet pauses, potion in hand as this new development unfolds…

★★★★★★

A Lunchtime Conversation: Unexpected Guests! Top of Round 3!

Terrain:The spell area marked on the top left of the map is difficult terrain due to the entangle effect.
All allies Inspired.

Packet -24 HP, potion in hand
Flytrap 1 -49 HP, Grabbing Keats
Croc-Person 5
Croc-Person 6
Croc-Person 2
Dryad -41 HP, Burning 3
Croc-Person 3
Pip Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed), Magic Weapon on bow
Varret
Zarindlara PBS Stance, Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Croc-Person 1
Croc-Person 4
Gurmire Entangled (–10-foot circumstance penalty to Speed)
Keats -11HP, Grabbed, shield raised

♫ Welcome to the jungle, where everything has teeth
No false fey cameraderie, kind of a relief...
We are the people that can find whatever you may need
Especially carnivorous plants that make you bleed

In the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Feel my, my, my crocodile
Uh, they, uh want to hear you scream
Down the jungle, welcome to the jungle
Watch it bring you to you
We're gonna cut you down, huh ♫

___
* Source: Welcome to the Jungle by Guns and Roses