Decades ago, witnesses reported a fearsome cryptid outside of the quiet River Kingdoms town of Shimmerford. Dubbed the Mosquito Witch, it was rarely seen since and quickly became a beloved local legend that the town celebrates and promotes to attract visitors. But when recent attacks began savaging livestock and townsfolk alike, many have started believing the Mosquito Witch was real all along. The PCs travel to Shimmerford to unravel the cryptid mystery, but might they just become the witch's next victim?
female arctic elf scout fighter 5 | ♥61 | ⛨23; resist cold 2 | F +9 R +13 W +11 | Perc +11; low-light vision | Stealth +11 | speed 30 ft. | Exploration: Avoid Notice | ⚕none
Endra draws her bow and an arrow as she stalks forward, as if she's back home scouting for goblins. She keeps the wall of the cave to her back and wheels out to the right side, stopping to peer forward in the darkness.
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Lair of the Mosquito Witch! (Part Two)
As Kwon and Peaches follow Nikebei who follows Endra who is nearby Kappa's lightsource on the Eastern side of the cave, Manny lights the way for Brayka and Oscre on the Western side of the cave...
male skyborn tengu alchemical sciences investigator 8 | HP 86/86 | AC 26 | F +13 R +16 W +15 | Perc +16 (+1 vision; low-light) | Stealth +15 | 30 ft | Vials Available 6/6 | Hero Points: 1 | Active Conditions: —
Oscre nervously scratches his hair. ”Anyone got a light? Gets pretty dark in there.”
Female Goblin (Charhide) Barbarian(Cook)/3 Hero Pts 0, HPs 43/48(53), AC 20, F +9, R +7, W +8, Perc +8 , Athletics, Medicine(E) +8, Acrobatics, Diplomacy, +7, Survival +6, Craft, Lore: Cooking, Gladiatorial +5, Speed 25, Focus Pts 1/1, Exploration Mode: Investigate
With the darkness, Nikebei makes lights dance over Kwon, Peaches and himself before moving into a space he hopes will be protected by the two pronged entrance to the caves.
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Nikebei adds additional light in the form of glowing spheres that float around himself and his wards, while the party pauses to try and identify the sound...
Keeping light radii in mind, I am revealing the map slowly as PCs move deeper and deeper into the cave...
Brayka peers ahead into the cave with his darkvision, then stumps with Manny forward on the Western side. Shield is hefted and flail awaits, ears and eyes straining as he eases forward. As he progresses, he scans for oddities that could signal either foes or traps.
Same condition as Manny, fatigued = poor sleuthing and preparedness, but at least Brayka can see ahead.
Female Goblin (Charhide) Barbarian(Cook)/3 Hero Pts 0, HPs 43/48(53), AC 20, F +9, R +7, W +8, Perc +8 , Athletics, Medicine(E) +8, Acrobatics, Diplomacy, +7, Survival +6, Craft, Lore: Cooking, Gladiatorial +5, Speed 25, Focus Pts 1/1, Exploration Mode: Investigate
"Best we follow Brayka and Manny. Then if Endra, Manny and Oscre can lead on between Manny and us, you will still be able to see with the lights."
Assuming Endra, Oscre and Manny follow Manny and Brayka, 2 of Nikebei's lights hover over Endra and Oscre, with the other hovering over Nikebei. It takes one action for Nikebei to concentrate on keeping the lights on and placed where he wants them.
“I hear something scuttling closer to us. That reminds me, I haven’t had anything tasty since that beet juice ... ”
Brayka stands still for a moment and tries to align his sight to the source of the sounds, even if just to figure out which hallway the noises are coming from:
◆Seek: 30ft cone centered on the hallway to the East of Brayka, trying to determine if the noise is coming from there Perception (auditory):1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
He also takes a minute to rack his brain to see if the scuttling sounds like any animal he’s heard before:
◆Recall Knowledge : Nature:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Players, gunna take Brayka's cue and transition to Encounter Mode - go ahead and roll Perception for Initiative, using that same result to check against the "Perception (Auditory)" DCs above. I will begin tabulating your results as they come in!
...
Brayka:
Something is definitely sneaking from around that kiddy corner 25 feet east of you!
I am going to rule that you are Readying your Recall Knowledge action, and "banking" your check result for now. Think about what single question you want to ask when it shows itself.
male skyborn tengu alchemical sciences investigator 8 | HP 86/86 | AC 26 | F +13 R +16 W +15 | Perc +16 (+1 vision; low-light) | Stealth +15 | 30 ft | Vials Available 6/6 | Hero Points: 1 | Active Conditions: —
Oscre’s jittery fingers fart to his remaining bombs in his bandolier as he listens and smells for the scuttling creature.
male skyborn tengu alchemical sciences investigator 8 | HP 86/86 | AC 26 | F +13 R +16 W +15 | Perc +16 (+1 vision; low-light) | Stealth +15 | 30 ft | Vials Available 6/6 | Hero Points: 1 | Active Conditions: —
waiting for rainzax to confirm the final order and that he’s ready. Other than NPCs, should be Endra, myself, Nikebei, Oscre, Manny, Kappa. Best of dice rolls to you all :)
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Lair of the Mosquito Witch! (Part Three)
Endra - so fast to react! - if you'd like to Act before reading the second spoiler below, you are welcome to go, acting on the knowledge in the following spoiler instead:
Endra:
There is a sound coming from the "donut" shaped nearest eastern nook. A small creature.
Endra, based on that knowledge, you can choose to Act or Delay. If you Delay, instead the following happens:
Everyone, only if Endra delays:
As Endra and Oscre listen to a rustle, it's apparent source springs out from just around the nearest eastern crook, and seeing the party, feigns a look of surprise "Derrrp!!" and immediately busts into a full stride due north, through the passageway, and disappearing around the corner.
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Lair of the Mosquito Witch! (Part Three, Round One)
Endra strides to the closest eastern nook's passageway, and spies a tiny fey creature wilding a tiny but sharp shortsword, which looks ready to stab her. Without so much as a thought, her arrow knocked, she shoots it dead point blank.
Then she is abruptly ambushed.
Another fey creature steps from around the northern passage, twiddling it's bloody fingers and mumbling in a strange speech. It bites off a piece of it's own tongue and spits it into it's hands, as dark energy begins to swarm around it, almost like a cold feeling but chilling to the very soul. A moment later, a giant bloodsucker flies from around the same passage - this one looks larger than any the PCs have seen around shimmerford so far, it's proboscis possessing sharp course hairs that point nastily in the opposite direction! - and latches onto Endra, drawing blood from her body and engorging itself, and instilling within her a profound sense of lethargy, greater than she entered the caves with, as if drawing the very marrow of her bone. Finally, another tiny fey creature, identical to the one she had slain not a moment ago, creeps around the other side of her carefully, seizing it's advantage, and slashes at the elf with it's tiny shortsword, cutting a bleeding wound into her backside.
The fey surrounded by the foul aura cackles "Tee Ha Ha HA!" grinning it's sharp pointy teeth "You should never have come looking for Us, for Here we Be!" wild eyes filled with a mania befitting it's menacing aegis!
Endra is sucked for 4 damage, then slashed for 7 piercing and precision damage. She is not only fatigued, but now also drained.
NG Male Wildwooded Halfling Wizard (Abjurer) 1 | Hit Points:14/14 | AC 15 (16 w/mage armor) | For +5 Ref +5 Will +7| Perception +5 (Keen Eyes) | Hero Points 1/1 | Conditions: mage armor | Speed 25 ft | Exploration Mode: detecting magic | ◆ | ◇ ◈ | ↺ |
Kappa summons forth a fearsome and mighty...broom. Which begins to aggressively sweep one of the little blue monster's to death, or at least slightly annoys it.
Broom Stats:
Perception +3; darkvision
Skills Athletics +5
Str +0, Dex +1, Con +0, Int -5, Wis +0, Cha -5AC 16 (14 when broken); construct armor; Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +3
HP 6; Hardness 2; Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, mental, necromancy, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, unconscious
Construct Armor Like normal objects, an animated broom has Hardness. This Hardness reduces any damage it takes by an amount equal to the Hardness. Once an animated broom is reduced to less than half its Hit Points, or immediately upon being damaged by a critical hit, its construct armor breaks and its Armor Class is reduced to 14.Speed 15 feet
Melee Single Action bristles +6 [+2/-2] (agile, magical, finesse),
Damage 1d4 bludgeoning plus dust Dust A creature hit by an animated broom’s bristles must succeed at a DC 15 Fortitude save or spend its next action coughing. Even if hit by multiple dust attacks, the creature has to spend only 1 action coughing to clear the dust out. A creature that doesn’t breathe is immune to this effect.
Sweep:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Piercing, Fort DC 15 or lose an action due to coughing:1d4 ⇒ 2 2nd Sweep, agile:1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 4 = 15 Piercing, Fort DC 15 or lose an action due to coughing:1d4 ⇒ 2
♥️ 107 | AC 27 | Saves 16/17/16|Focus Points ☑ | PFS# 133608-2001 | Male Human Bard (Level 9) | | ☘️ 2 | Spells DC 27 (Occult)-/3/3/2/1/1 (Divine) - | Perception +13 |◆◇↺ |
"I don't know where you came from. But that bloodsucker is making a mess, and I know how to stop it!" Manny poses heroically and Inspires Courage among his allies.
He spanks the bloodsucker with his whip.
Whip:1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17 Nonlethal Slashing:1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
male skyborn tengu alchemical sciences investigator 8 | HP 86/86 | AC 26 | F +13 R +16 W +15 | Perc +16 (+1 vision; low-light) | Stealth +15 | 30 ft | Vials Available 6/6 | Hero Points: 1 | Active Conditions: —
Oscre shuffles to a more advantageous position and hucks a flask of acid at the bloodseeker. ”We’ll see who’s sorry we showed up!”
Stride, Strike bloodseeker with Quick Bomber, Demoralize the northern attacker with the darts.
Female Goblin (Charhide) Barbarian(Cook)/3 Hero Pts 0, HPs 43/48(53), AC 20, F +9, R +7, W +8, Perc +8 , Athletics, Medicine(E) +8, Acrobatics, Diplomacy, +7, Survival +6, Craft, Lore: Cooking, Gladiatorial +5, Speed 25, Focus Pts 1/1, Exploration Mode: Investigate
Seeing Endra having trouble in the fight as she is surrounded by foe, Nikebei utters some words of the occult and sends surrounds her body in a warm purple glow, that sinks into her skin soothing her injuries and bolstering her mind. As he says "The magic, it's taken its toll, I fear my powers have all but left me, I need to rest." the halfling sighs a big sigh.
◆◆: Cast Soothe on Endra 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 HPs and +2 to mind saves (if max HPs it might also stop the bleed?) ◆: Sustain Dancing Lights
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Lair of the Mosquito Witch! (Part Three, Round Two)
Endra swats at the bugger that comes to suck her dry, connecting despite the beast latching onto her and draining her vitality...
...When Manny steps up to center stage to inspire his allies, and whips the creature latched onto his friend, though it remains tight (7 damage). Then out of nowhere, Kappa summons a deadly housebroom, which promptly begins sweeping at the creature about to introduce itself as "Gwibble" (coming soon), dusting him to great dismay (maybe 6 damage; see below). Equally out of nowhere, Oscre puts on his meanest face, but only manages to burn the same Sucker with a hot vial of acid, perfectly distributing the dose all over the creature without spilling a drop on his ally (8 inspired critical and 1 splash = 9 acid; lingering 1d6 persistent). It is in this moment that Brayka remembers that the only "weakness" a Bloodsucker has is, well, weapons? (No weakness). That said, he yells at Endra to brace herself for when the proboscis breaks as it may cause her to spurt even more blood. When Nikebei, responding to this advice, steps in to suffuse her with soothing energy and steeling her against mental attacks (12 healing back to "full" ((15/15 drained)); +2 vs mental) all while keeping the lights on...
...And then the other foot drops. Two more frenzied fey burst from the northern passage and continue to surround Endra on all sides - cackling madly as they assail her with pin-sized "swords" - both striking Endra in her vital areas (-7 then -6 piercing) - nearly dropping the poor, tired, drained, elf...
...But not dropping her yet! Endra and Brayka exchange a brief glance before leaping into action!
Recall Knowledge (Nature) vs Pink, Perriwinkle, and Polychromatic? (DC 14):
Mitflits, with AC 15 and 10 hit points each, who fight like rogues (sneak attack). Vengeful little f@@+ers - if you attack one and don't kill it, they are known to fly into a rage in single-minded retaliation!
Critical Success? Ask one question...
Recall Knowledge (Nature) vs Gwibble? (DC ?? ((hard)):
The DC is 20. One question on Success...
...
Kappa - please make a Will save for your Broom (consequences pending...)!
Brayka’s memory flashes back to another beset Elf and another cackling mage. The screams and exhortations for him to run. The charcoal/ozone smell of disintegrating flesh . . . Brayka’s fingers blanche as they tighten on the sharkskin wrapped haft of his flail. Not again.
“Maril, for her sake, guide my hand.” The potency crystal affixed to the pommel of the flail flares and then flakes away. The flail absorbs and then emanates the crystal’s soft citrine light.
◆ Strides past Pink(? Closest to party) to get next to Pink, Periwinkle and Sucker. map updated
Manny’s song bolsters Brayka’s heart. The ball of Brayka’s flail disappears into a whirling blur as he descends on the fey.
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
With a flash of crystal, Brayka's flail fells the two fey closest to him - and their cackling suddenly ceases. The third points to his fallen comrades, giggling now at the fate that has befallen them, with an unhinged madness!
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Lair of the Mosquito Witch! (Part Three, Round Two)
Without the inspiration bonus, the broom misses twice...
The tiny fey darts around and swipes twice at Brayka - missing once then striking true - cackling with glee as it draws blood from the goblin "Hee!" it squeals as the blood spurts over it's smiling face (Brayka takes 2 piercing)...
...Then the Barbed Bloodsucker - still attached to Endra even as she drinks a potion and swings wildly - sucks the rest of the life out of her, as her flesh shrivels against her bone, looking as if she hasn't eaten in a month, and dying of malnutrition, a new shade of pale, crumpled on the ground... And yet, the beast's thirst seems yet unquenched, as it reels to suck the last of what little remaining life is left in her!...
...When he speaks, his voice is course yet high-pitched "It is I, mighty Gwibble the, uh, the Witch, and now, like the rest, and this one here, you shall fall or be sucked dry!" As he steps closer, you can feel the aura around him getting stronger, casting a dark energy that seems to partially counteract Manny's own aura of inspiration (Brayka, Manny, please make Will saves!), and he brings down a dripping blade upon Brayka, a jagged dagger coated with a black poison, cutting into the goblin for minimal damage (2 piercing plus 1 precision), he infects his bloodstream with a virulent black ichor!...
Brayka, please make a Fortitude save!
Oscre, please roll Bloodsucker's persistent acid damage!
Kappa, you sense that your broom immune to Gwibble's aura! (No save needed, sorry)
female arctic elf scout fighter 5 | ♥61 | ⛨23; resist cold 2 | F +9 R +13 W +11 | Perc +11; low-light vision | Stealth +11 | speed 30 ft. | Exploration: Avoid Notice | ⚕none
Break free, Liberating step (Athletics):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 If that wasn't sufficient and she in in fact Dying 2... Recovery (Flat check, DC12):1d20 ⇒ 17
Gravelands Survivors | ☘️ @ Barlespin (☑□□□□/□), Malendyl (☑☑□□□/☑), Marius (☑☑☑□□), Red (☑☑☑□□/□), Squishy (☑□□□□/□) | Action Symbols ➤ (◆), (◆◆), (◆◆◆), (◇), (↺) | Spell Templates | Status Symbols: ♥️ hit points, ☘️ hero points, ✋ held items, ⚕ status condition
Gwibble is swacked by the broom, but manages to maintain his composure (2 piercing, critical success), and both fey manage to partially dodge the electric attack (2 electric to Gwibble, Polychromatic)... The tiny fey's smile turns into a frown, and it sets it's sights upon the small wizard!...
QM Screen:
3d20 ⇒ (20, 9, 10) = 39
Having broke free from the first round of sucking (damage negated, latching broken), the Barbed Bloodsucker lashes out at Endra again 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22, and moving back onto her body, then immediately drains more blood in one full-bodied suck 1d6 ⇒ 5, leaving her shriveled on the ground for certain!...
♥️ 107 | AC 27 | Saves 16/17/16|Focus Points ☑ | PFS# 133608-2001 | Male Human Bard (Level 9) | | ☘️ 2 | Spells DC 27 (Occult)-/3/3/2/1/1 (Divine) - | Perception +13 |◆◇↺ |
Will Save:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
"Begone, monster!" Manny points at Gwibble the Witch. "You don't belong in this world!" Manny Inspires Courage among his allies.
He Steps up to the Bloodsucker as it claims Endra and tries to avenge her. Memories of the sucker draining his life flood in and for a moment, he feels fear. That's all the time needed for him to miss- badly.
Whip:1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6 Nonlethal Slashing:1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
