Aye. Changing course now without good reason would be unwise.
After tending to the wounds, the adventurers once more set to completing their cartography work. They eventually set down for the night, camping a healthy distance away from the water.
Unfortunately for Dar, he is not able to find enough food to sustain the whole group.
What is clear to the group is that this forest continues to the south and southeast, but following the river northeast the terrain becomes marshy. This excites Zelkeke. Through Senizar he says, "It is possible we are nearing the lands of my people. But know that our ancestral territory is large, and would take many days to cross. And though I have not traveled through all our land, my village was bordered on the west by water."
He looks to you, curious which route you all want to take.
The half orc ponders the others words for a while before he speaks. I agree, I don't see a reason to think any other direction would be better. He broods for a few more moments If we could find a safe way across the water, it might make sense to go back to the ocean and continue along the coast looking for New Riddonport. He looks around at the others. Any more thoughts about building a raft or some magic to get us safely across the water?
Dar does ask a few questions to Zellkeke via the wizard. Questions about the flora and fauna of his marshy homeland.
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The next morning's sun seems auspicious, though by Dar's reckoning it'll be two days before the adventurers reach the swampland ahead. With the forest canopy providing shade, it's a manageable journey through the charted territory.
And fortune smiles, with Dar able to forage and catch game enough that the group eats well. No one thinks about their dwindling supplies.
+1 for Scout
+1 for Scout
Rain clouds roll in overnight, and by morning a downpour hits that has everyone up early. And it's while the group is hastily stuffing gear away into their packs that they're greeted with the sound of a loud ululating croak from a boggard!
The sound of a whirling sling comes after, a stone flying out towards Zelkeke!
Fortunately for the iruxi the stone flies wide.
Angry at having been caught unaware, Zelkeke advances menacingly towards the nearest boggard. Frills open at the side of his neck, furthering the effect as he does so.
It's taken aback by the sudden display! Which is enough for the iruxi warrior to grimace through his own uncertainty as he lashes out with a clawed fist!
ROUND 1
Green - CROAK (-7hp, Frightened 2)
Senizar - Go + Will save
Zelkeke - FRILLS
Haedrig - Go + Will save
Red - TBD
Blue - TBD
Dar - TBD + Will save
Haedrig only feels slight heeby-jeebies at the uncanny croaking sound. He hustles to stand with Zelkeke, and strikes at the wounded croaker.
Slightly fazed by the boggad, Senizar stands his ground. with a spidery phrase and an arcing motion of his hand, he causes an arc of electricity to form between two of the boggards:
He then hurls his staff forward at the center boggard
for
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Haedrig's axe swing is easily knocked aside by the boggard.
Senizar's magic is effective though, especially as his staff flies out to strike one!
The two boggards in the back split up, one joining in the melee with Haedrig and Zelkeke while the other moves to get a better view.
Zelkeke bears the brunt of the attacks!
He's walloped hard with two powerful swings, dropping to the ground!
Meanwhile, a sling stone flies at Senizar!
It then adds another stone to the sling, beginning to swing for another throw.
ROUND 1
Green - CROAK (-7hp, Frightened 2)
Senizar - ZAP (-3hp)
Haedrig - Miss
Zelkeke - FRILLS (Dying 2)
Red - HIT (-12hp)
Blue - Hit (-2hp)
Dar - Go + Will save
Round 1
Will Save
The druid decides to stand near Senizar and apply his magic from a distance. Keep an eye on the blue boggard and stay behind me Senizar
Focusing his power Dar brings Papa Storm’s fury down on the red boggard.
Cast Tempest Surge DC15
Electricity damage
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The boggard manages to avoid the worst of the tempest from Dar.
With Zelkeke on the ground, the attention turns to Haedrig. First, another terrifying croak echoes through the area!
It then lashes out with its tongue at the dwarf!
And when that fails, it tries again!
ROUND 2
Green - CROAK (-7hp, Frightened 1)
Senizar - Go + Will save (-3hp)
Haedrig - Go + Will save
Zelkeke - TBD (Dying 2)
Red - TBD (-17hp)
Blue - TBD (-2hp)
Dar - TBD + Will save
the second croak stings like the first. It doesn't stop the magic though:
Senizar steps up, perhaps foolishly. "If we don't heal Zelk, he'll die!"
Cursing sulfurously, and unconcerned with the noise, Haedrig snaps up his shield and tries to take the monsters down quickly, so they can see to their friend.
Attacking Green.
(if the first one drops green, then move closer to red instead.)
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Dying 3 now
Haedrig's axe cuts through the shoulder blade of the a boggard, the creature's croak it's last! He steps in closer to another, planning to bring more of the same.
The boggard lets out a terrifying croak in response before attacking Haedrig!
But the attacks are easily deflected by the warrior.
Movement to the north asks as a precursor for Dar as a sling stone flies out at him!
ROUND 2
Senizar - Zap (-3hp) + Will save
Haedrig - Kill + Will save
Zelkeke - TBD (Dying)
Red - Miss (-21hp)
Blue - Sling (-2hp)
Dar - TBD + Will save x2 (-5hp)
Will Save
Will Save
Round 2
Grimacing at the sling stone the druid moves a little out of the way and concentrates the Mother's healing touch on his fallen comrade.
Heal hps to Zelkeke
Action 1: Move
Action 2-3: Heal spell
the dwarf, finding his rhythm, gives a deep-throated mocking croak back at the boggard. When he glances down to see Dar help Zelkeke, he also barks out a triumphant laugh.
He locks eyes with the standing foe, glances at the one bleeding out at his feet, and looks back at the standing one--and gives an evil grin. His shield snaps up, and his axe swings back, sailing forward with a mighty dwarven warcry
COME ON and fight me, ye clay-eatin' toad faced PUKES!!! COME GET SOME!!!
stride toward the remaining beastie, please!
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Senizar steps behind his dwarven ally, working through a spell. With an outstretched finger a bolt of lightning arcs out toward the remaining boggard!
Zelkeke stands, seeing the dead boggards around him. He hears the sound of sling whirring and rushes towards it!
The last boggard panics, firing a sling stone at Zelkeke... which is all the opening the iruxi needs!
It pays dearly for attempting to strike so close, but nonetheless fires!
Dropping its sling, it draws a morningstar and tries to brain Zeleke.
ROUND 3
Senizar - Zap (-3hp)
Haedrig - Kill
Zelkeke - Move + AoO
Blue - Miss (-21hp)
Dar - Go (-5hp)
Haedrig lumbers up and lays the smack-down on the last boggart.
To the victors go the spoils. Do any of them carry any trinkets?
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Haedrig searches the corpses of the boggards, finding the obvious at first. Three morningstars, three slings, as well as 26 sling stones among them all. Their armor is made of leather, and is serviceable if sized for them. What he also finds is that each of them have a satchel filled with their food: dried frog's legs, crocodile jerky, and a blood pudding that Dar identifies as having been made from a bloodseeker. It's enough to feed someone for 10 days... assuming you want to eat it.
The druid smiles as he goes over the new provisions, especially the frog legs. He is interested at trying the blood pudding.
Do we think the several pit traps that Senizar was nice enough to find, were dug by boggards?
"Dar, if this food is rotten, can you purify it? I can handle something unappetizing."
"Dar, if this food is rotten, can you purify it? I can handle something unappetizing."
Haedrig grabs a piece of jerky and chomps it stoically. It's food.
"Dar, if this food is rotten, can you purify it? I can handle something unappetizing."
Hmmm… Actually I am feeling I have a little extra so I can manage an extra spell. Sure, can purify if need be.
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It's clear to Dar that the food is edible. But not at all enjoyable.
With the boggard threat out of the way, the adventurers continue on. By the end of the night they find themselves at the edge of the forest. They camp down, knowing full well that travel through swampland will require patience and endurance.
With the swamp before them, the group sets to learning the lay of the land. Zelkeke, who seems more comfortable in this wet and marshy terrain, seems unperturbed by how slow you each need to move. He ranges ahead, pointing out paths as best he can.
Fortunately Dar's skill at finding sustenance bears fruit. Or, this case, fungi as he finds a number of edible fungi that provide nourishment without any wild hallucinogenic side effects.
The second day of reconnoitering within the swamp, is a warm and sunny one. But it's certainly not a quiet one. The wet terrain is veritable breeding ground for mosquitos, their drone seemingly ever-present. And of course that drone precedes many, many bug bites.
It's while Haedrig is testing the sturdiness of a log though that he notices another sound replacing it: a sort of slimy churning sound. When the adventurers look west, the see the source: a seething, undulant mass of squirming leeches!
+1 for Scout
+1 for Scout
+1 for Scout
ROUND 1
Haedrig - Go
Swarm - TBD
Senizar - TBD
Dar - TBD
Zelkeke - TBD
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Over the days, Senizar spends time with his journal. In the select few altercations with the boggards, he noted their speech patterns and general conveyance. It appears they have an extremely simple language. Given the repeated phonemes he concludes that they have a SVO ordered language. At first he assumed everything was in the imperative due to a lack of person in the verb forms, but it turns out that boggards actually simply have a two person language. There is likely some inflection in declension, but for the moment, it's beyond Senizar.
He spends days practicing what he can, building conjugations, declensions, and the occasional synopsis. His vocabulary is extremely limited, but it appears that many boggard nouns are built via compounds (likely also via portmanteau, but that level of nuance will require more information.)
Haedrig, look out!
Haedrig has nothing to deal with swarms of small beasties...he backpedals away from the writhing mass, calling out Err.. suggestions boys??
Throw the cold bomb!
Oi! I forgot about that...
he takes out the vial, and weighs the distance between him and the leeches. He holds it ready, waiting for them to close & make an easier target.
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Haedrig prepares to throw a frost vial should the writhing mass of leeches come closer.
He does not have to wait long.
and 1 Splash
The vial seems particularly effective, with many of leeches dying instantly. But there's still a lot more.
With surprising speed they move easily through the murky swamp waters, only slowing when they get to dryer land.
And they begin to climb over Haedrig, looking to find exposed flesh!
ROUND 1
Haedrig - Vial
Swarm - Move (-9hp)
Senizar - Go
Dar - Go
Zelkeke - TBD
Round 2
The druid stares in one part disgusted by and one part awed by nature's power. Being that said swarm is crawling over his comrade he decides to act. First he quickly wracks his brain for everything he knows about swarms and leeches...
Action 1: Recall Knowledge, Nature
Senizar levels a riotous cone of colors at the swarm, careful not to hit Haedrig!
He then backs up a bit!
Round 1 continued
Seeing the dwarf's cold bomb seemed to work well, the druid takes a moment to gather his power and calls on Papa Storm's cold brutal winds. He casts Ray of Frost
Frost Ray cold damage
Round 1 continued
The druid focuses his power and calls on Papa Storm's brutal cold. Cast Ray of Frost
Ray
Cold damage
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Although it doesn't have the same kind of splash as the vial, Dar's magic does damage as it strikes a clump of leeches.
Zelkeke lashes out with his claws, hoping to keep some away from him and Haedrig.
He stumbles over a jutting root though, missing completely. But he has more in him.
And tries again...
The iruxi never manages to get close, surprised by how singular the swarm is at avoiding his attacks.
ROUND 2
Haedrig - Go
Swarm - TBD (-15hp)
Senizar - TBD
Dar - TBD
Zelkeke - TBD
Taking his cue from Zelkeke, Haedrig swings his axe at the swarm. Maybe if he tilts it a bit, using more of the flat surface, he can dissipate it more...
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Haedrig is also surprised at how deftly the leech swarm avoids his strikes, his axe not connecting in any meaningful way.
The swarm surges over Zelkeke as well, and the leeches bite the two warriors!
plus DC 21 Fort save
plus DC 21 Fort save
Crit Fail or Fail Twice: Go to Stage 2
Stage 1 clumsy 1, sickened 1, and –5-foot status penalty to Speed (1 round);
Stage 2 clumsy 1, sickened 1, and –10-foot status penalty to Speed (1 round)
Regardless, you will need to make another save at the end your turn. Success means you improve a stage (Stage 0 means it's over), and failure means that you go to the next stage
Zelkeke stumbles and gags as he is repeatedly bitten, the leech venom taking hold!
ROUND 2
Haedrig - Miss + Fort save x2 (-14hp)
Swarm - Bite! (-15hp)
Senizar - Go
Dar - Go
Zelkeke - TBD (-14hp)
Round 2
The druid focuses a bit more of Papa Storm’s fury. Casts Tempest Surge
Electrical damage
DC16
LAcking a better option, Senizar zaps the swarm with some electricity of his own:
[dice=Reflex]1d20+11
Dar is shocked to see the swarm completely avoid Papa Storm's power!
The druid curses in goblin tongue.
2 fails. Poison: stage 2 (sickened 1; clumsy 1)
Haedrig continues to swing wildly at the leeches.
<--BOOM crit. Poison is gone.