"And yet, we find this evil in the untamed wilds, Ranger," Belwick says. "We're here at the behest of the people of Saltmarsh after all, and are trying to protect the city and its citizens. Knowing the evil, the dark, the danger is important. So if you can share more information about them, I would appreciate it. Because I would certainly like to know their location."
"So let us see that it stays here, like the Rangers of the Gnarley Forest have done for generations..."
Venn thinks for a bit, "I know little else of their ways, and certainly else of their tactical motivations. We can try to track them though."
Baghotir follows the conversation, and it's an odd one. "Yeah, what the hell are they doing out here? I mean, I know what we're doing out here which is weird enough. But what about them?"
When Venn suggests tracking Baghotir perks up. He does what he can to help, though he suspects they won't find much in a marsh.
"If there are tracks to be found, let's follow them. The lizardfolk can afford to wait for news on the death of a crocodile."
Caelius looks to Venn. "So you don't know them know them you just know they're evil. Got it." He puts his blade back in the sheathe. "Should we really leave their bodies here for the crocodiles?"
Venn struggles to make sense of the tracks, "Typical, chaos and madness follows their sort."
But easy enough, Venn. They came from the coast, and it looks like they were following the river, similar to your own course.
You muse over all of this as you divide up the cultists' gold... And you notice that they are not actually Keoland Lions. They are marked with a Gold Crown on one side, and the profile of a woman with Flan features on the other.
"Interesting. The United Kingdom of Ahlissa, which is NOT our immediate neighbor.... makes the Scarlet Brotherhood thing make a little more sense."
"How so Venn?" Caelius asks as he wasn't as familiar with the situation or the Regional conflicts.
vs DC 12
Baghotir knows a little, surprising even himself. But even then, he has to shake his head with Caelius, "Yeah, what does it mean?"
"Ahlissa is a big country in the east, far from here. And while I'm not sure I remember all the specifics, I do know that the Brotherhood pours out of the Southeast Flanaess like it's a womb of zealots."
"Yes, exactly," Belwick speaks with supreme confidence. "The coinage is an interesting sign. It doesn't tell us why they're here, but knowing where they came from is valuable."
"Now I propose we push on to the lair of the lizardfolk. Ideally, we take the coast back, tracking their route in case there's additional signs," the baron says, looking up at the sun. "We won't reach the lair before sunset, will we? Looks like another evening with the mosquitoes before we can claim our reward."
Baghotir will heal himself with spells instead of a short rest. "I hope we run into nothing further this day."
He'll head off with the others following the river trying to push it this day so they don't have to sleep in a swamp. A worthy goal!
After another 4 slow going hour through the muck, you come across an odd and amazing sight.
An enormous tree is being assaulted by what looks like thousands of rat. The tree is... Humanoid! It is swatting at the rats with enormous, lashing branches. It cries out in pain and rage.
It is now after nightfall. I need to know about light sources.
Condition: None
- - -
Baghotir, as the sun sets low, casts light on his warhammer and strides at or near the front of the party - both as a target should someone jump the group, but also as a light source.
When he sees the tree and rats he swears, "More swarms it looks like - and a big one!"
He moves up a bit (to 60' away) and casts Sacred Flame on the swarm.
Sacred Flame (Dex 14)
Baghotir enters the battle, which puts us into initiative. Hold tight.
ROUND 1
(Map updated. Difficult Terrain. Each 1' of movement costs 2'.)
1. Baghotir SACRED FLAME
2. Treant
3. Roberts
4. Belwick
5. Alisanne
6. Caelius
7. Rat Swarms
8. Venn
Full Damage
The Tree Man slams swarms with it's branches.
and
Resisted. 16 Points. Rats die, but there are thousands more.
Everyone but Venn is up!
This is an odd encounter. Alisanne keeps her distance from the rats.
Alisanne scans about the area, seeing if there's anything more, perhaps someone or something directing the rats.
Alisanne earns Heroic Inspiriation!
Hidden in the upper branches of a nearby tree is a small humanoid wearing filthy robes and camoflauged by bits of nature and Barkskin(TM). He is conducting the rats with a small wand.
Caelius grabs his shield as he rushes in to help the tree. "Don't worry Tree-man. We're coming to help!" He ducks low to avoid a swinging branch as he uses hs weight to smash several rats with his shield.
HP 40/40
AC 17 (+2 (19) w/ Shield)
Short Rest Die 4/4
Action Surge 1/1
Superiority Die (D8; Disarming Attack, Sweeping Attack, Menacing Attack): 4/4
A deep, resonant voice answers, "Help me, Little Man. These Rats are gnawing at my bark and seek my very heartwood!!!"
Bludgeoning damage--resisted. But a hit.
With Alisanne pointing out the source of the rats, Belwick weaves a spell. When the three glowing darts appear he waves a hand, sending them flying at the robed humanoid.
"Can it be? To see such a creature!" Venn barely even registers the threat.
Roberts deftly shish-kababs a number of rats! Betwixt her efforts and those of Caelius, one, "swarm", has been scattered.
Belwick blasts the little man in the tree. but it keeps up the motions of it's little wand and the rats attempt to burrow and chew into the Tree Man.
The Tree Man screams and it is a terrible thing, like Obad-Hai himself is in pain. It cannot take much more punishment like this.
The little man cackles with evil delight! "Though I may die, my Lord and I will destroy this monster first! Bwahahahaha!"
Venn is up, then we start Round 2.
No! No! No!" Venn whispers words of magic to hasten his feet and to help him attack like the wind. He recklessly rushes past the rats and to the other side. He shimmies up the tree to try and tear the wand from the miscreant's hand.
The little man shrieks and swats at Venn with a stick, repeatedly.
"Give that back HU-MON!"
There's a crack of profane energy and Venn feels a roll of pure thunder hit him.
DC12 Strength,
Success? Half damage.
Failure? Full damage and you fly out of the tree, and fall.
ROUND 2
1. Enemy Druid THUNDERWAVE!
2. Baghotir
3. Treant
4. Roberts
5. Belwick
6. Alisanne
7. Caelius
8. Rat Swarms
9. Venn
Condition: None
- - -
Baghotir drops his warhammer and rushes to the swarm, drawing his battleaxe as he does so, "Let's see how you like to be slashed!"
As a bonus action, he'll try to do it again.
You see the Tree Man's eyes go WIDE at the sight of your axe, but your slashes kill many rats!
Damage is still resisted, but it's a goodly amount.
Venn's concentration is fine... And he...
(pending roll from Venn)
...Does NOT have the wand.
(Druid interacts, opposed STR to grab it back. His 9 beats Venn's roll of 1+Athletics on slack.)
The Tree man bellows and calls to the tree the little Druid is in.
"Friend! You have a skulker in your midst! Help an Alder-Friend out and squash that little bug."
The tree shifts and twist and , Hit for and for the tree seems to envelop and twist around the little man. There's an audible squish and blood drips down into the marsh.
The Rats remain.
ROUND 2
1. Enemy Druid THUNDERWAVE! DEAD
2. Baghotir AXE HITS
3. Treant ANIMATE TREE, KILLS DRUID
4. Roberts
5. Belwick
6. Alisanne
7. Caelius
8. Rat Swarms
9. Venn
Belwick notes the wand that the now dead creature held. Thinking back to his studies under Oriel Blackmane, he considers whether he could wrest control of the rats if he retrieved the wand.
Belwick recognizes Druidic Magic, the Old Magick. It works under different theories than his own. Some things work the same though, and that wand could be the source of the control, or it could be an implement, used in place of material components. It may also just augment, enhance or change the caster's magic. The specific spells used by the druid and the wand would need to share certain pattern in order for Belwick to use the wand.
No action is used to recall this knowledge. Your turn is still your own.
"Without risk, there can be no reward," Belwick says, moving forward before speaking an arcane word. Swirling mist surrounds him, and seconds later he stands beside the downed humanoid.
And their wand.
He picks up the wand, attempting to manipulate it, and curses when he realizes he simply doesn't have the time needed to figure it out.
"Fine. Burn, you filthy rats."
Belwick has the wand!
The Treant screams and seems to go mad, thrashing about at the site of fire that misses the swarm... And hits the treant!
The Treant takes double damage from the flame.
Belwick burns away a significant number of rats!
The Treant does NOT take 18 Points of Fire Damage and be set aflame.
"WIZARD! WATCH THE FIRE!!!"
Caelius moves around the treant and continues to kick, smash and smoosh rats with his shield.
HP 40/40
AC 17 (+2 (19) w/ Shield)
Short Rest Die 4/4
Action Surge 1/1
Superiority Die (D8; Disarming Attack, Sweeping Attack, Menacing Attack): 4/4
Alisanne closes with her team and calls out to Venn, You're doing the woods proud, nature boy!
For 10 minutes, the creature can add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This can be added after seeing the roll, but before knowing the outcome.
If a creature has a Bardic Inspiration die from you and casts a spell that restores hit points or deals damage, the creature can roll that die and choose a target affected by the spell. Add the number rolled as a bonus to the hit points regained or the damage dealt. The Bardic Inspiration die is then lost.
When granting a creature a Bardic Inspiration die, you summon a Mote of Potential that orbits within 5 ft. of the creature.
Ability Check. The Bardic Inspiration die can be rolled again - choose which roll to use.
Attack Roll. The target and each creature of your choice that you can see within 5 ft. of it must succeed on a CON saving throw (DC: 14) or take thunder damage equal to the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die.
Saving Throw. The creature using the Bardic Inspiration die gains temporary hit points equal to the number rolled on the Bardic Inspiration die +4
She then holds her ground, having little that would be effective against the swarms.
ROUND 2
1. Enemy Druid THUNDERWAVE! DEAD
2. Baghotir AXE HITS
3. Treant ANIMATE TREE, KILLS DRUID
4. Roberts HITS
5. Belwick FUEGO!
6. Alisanne Venn, Venn, he's our man...
7. Caelius HITS
8. Rat Swarms
9. Venn
The rats... Chew and burrow.
. . . .
The ancient Tree man yells and takes another
Venn to close Round 2 and then Baghotir to start Round 3.
Condition: None
- - -
"Yeah, sorry about the ax tree-man. I was hoping it would be more beneficial than my hammer against the rats. But it's not. Fear not - I won't use it on you I promise!"
He continues slashing at the rats, moving as needed to keep swinging. His first swing feels weak, so his uses his channel divinity for a bonus from god!
(channel divinity)
As a bonus action, he'll try to do it again.
Venn brushes off his wounded body and takes the inspiration and shoves it right into the stupid rat faces:
for
The Mote of inspiration explodes and a crack of thunder sounds through The Hool. A score of rats dies!
Baghotir hacks and slashes and eliminates a number of rats as well!
The Treant and the animated tree do their very best to swat vermin.
.
.
.
.
ROUND 3
1. Enemy Druid DEAD
2. Baghotir AXE HITS
3. Treant SLAM, SLAM, SLAM, SLAM
4. Roberts
5. Belwick
6. Alisanne
7. Caelius
8. Rat Swarms
9. Venn
Belwick murmurs an incantation and waves his hands, forming the arcane sigils needed to conjure three glowing bolts of magical energy. With a flick of the wrist he releases the magic, sending it out to strike down a swarm of rats.