GM Badblood's Down the Verdant Path #09-14 (Inactive)

Game Master Lance K

Jack starts to climb up the hill of mulch when he notices the thick packed mulch begin to move. Suddenly a creature composed of a large, cup shaped yellow flower and tendrils like long spindly spider legs rises out of the mulch.

Jack, Holmes, and Adowyn all see the mulch move, but everyone else is surprised by the creature's emergence from the hill of mulch.

Weather: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Season: Winter (difficult terrain)
Surprise Round - 1 standard or move action
Adowyn - 1 action
Alecto -surprised
Flower Monster
Relgar
Holmes
Bahram
Jack

Adowyn casts Feather Step to improve her ability to move on the ice.

Not sure if making a Knowledge check also counts as an action.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Yep, Knowledge checks and letting your allies know relevant information are considered free actions in first edition.

Adowyn recognizes the creature is a basidirond, also known as a mindfrond. It is a carnivorous fungal plant that has all the common immunities that one would expect a plant to have, such as immunity to mind-affecting abilities, poisons, paralysis, polymorphing, sleep, and stun effects. Their most feared ability though are their spores, which cover their tendrils and can be ejected as a cloud. These spores can cause their victims to experience terrifying hallucinations, which then make them easy prey.

Speaking of which, the creature shakes and quivers, but doesn't do anything else.

But Bahram and Jilla need to make Fort saves.

Season: Winter (difficult terrain)
Surprise Round - 1 standard or move action
Adowyn - 1 action
Alecto -surprised
Flower Monster
Relgar - surprised
Holmes - 1 standard or move action
Bahram - 1 standard or move action
Jilla - surprised

fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Oooh. That's bad. Back up everyone."

Why did I volunteer to climb up there!

Enacting his archaeologist's luck free action. Bahram tries to chop this thing down.

+1 great axe: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 = 27

dmg: 1d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The basidirond is outside Bahram's reach, so unless he's striking one of the trees holding a bindle bag, then he doesn't have anything to strike at. I'm going to have him take full defense so we can move on. And I'm botting Holmes.

Holmes shoots an arrow at the strange plant creature. He tries to remember something about the creature they are facing but can't think of anything beyond what Adowyn recalled. As he thinks about what the creature could be, he watches as his arrow flies by the strange creature.

Kn: Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Short Bow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Weather: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The snow on the ground rapidly melts and brilliant colored flowers sprout out of the ground and tree branches as the season turns to spring. The air is suddenly thick with pollen, making everyone begin to wheeze and sneeze as their allergies go into overdrive. It takes a bit more effort to speak or even breath, effecting spellcasters most of all.

Season: Spring (20% casting failure on spells with verbal components)
Round 1
Adowyn
Alecto
Basidirond
Relgar
Holmes
Bahram - Full Defense
Jilla - tripping

The ground is no longer difficult terrain

My bad. I thought that I saw that I was next to it

Adowyn fires an arrow at the foul fungal fiend!

MW Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 221d8 ⇒ 7

I described that I was standing next to the Bahram and even trying to remove the bag with my vine-hand, so I placed myself on the map in a right place. Do I need to roll a fort saving throw too?

Alecto looks with delight at the greenery and the sea of flowers around, and then finally notices the battle that has begun.

This plant is beautiful. Don't kill it!

She takes a step back and casts a spell.

Charm Person, DC16 Will | Bloodline Arcana: Whenever you cast a mind-affecting or language-dependent spell, it affects creatures of the plant type as if they were humanoids that understood your language.

Cast: 1d100 ⇒ 53

Sure, Alecto will need to make a save as well.

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Adowyn hits the plant with a normal, steel tipped arrow. The arrow bounces off the creature's tough hide, barely cutting it.

1d6 ⇒ 6

The basidirond shambles towards Bahram and swings a tendril right at his head! The half orc ducks out of the way!

Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Blunt plus DC 14 Fort Sv: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

1d6 ⇒ 2

Everyone sees Alecto frantically clutching at her arms and pulling at her clothes with a look of confused terror on her face. Meanwhile Jilla is shouting and smashing the ground with her rolling pin.

Round 1
Adowyn
Alecto - trippin'
Basidirond
Relgar
Holmes
Bahram
Jilla - trippin'

Relgar has a bird eye view of the situation.

"People, spread out. It can only chase one of you. And it is a plant. How fast can it move?"

The gnome is barely able to get his words out before letting out a giant sneeze.

The sorcerer rides Gregor gently advancing slowly on the warm spring winds. His wand of summon monster pops out of his spring loaded wrist sheath and he attempts to activate it.

20% spell failure, 1-20% is a fail: 1d100 ⇒ 6

I would argue that spell trigger activation would not fall under casting a spell with a verbal component but it is easier to roll first then have a discussion first. :)

Edit- typical rolling. Alright, time for the discussion. :)

Holmes takes a shot with his Darkwood Shortbow.

darkwood shortbow attack (1d6+1/×3): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Piercing damage, cold iron arrows (Cold irons arrows are cheap enough that I only buy Cold Iron): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

And misses badly. He then moves away a short distance.

Meanwhile Jilla is shouting and smashing the ground with her rolling pin.

So no difference in Jilla then...

spell completion items like scrolls would require the check, but spell activation items like wands don't. Don't forget your summons fort save if they move into melee though.

Bahram considers staying and banging with this big plank creature.

I can take this thing. Cough cough.

Deciding that Relgar's idea might be better, Bahram does a full retreat.

kn. Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

What is that thing?

Bahram withdraws away from the creature and immediately starts feeling a bit better. Unfortunately, he can't remember anything about this kind of creature that would be useful in the moment. Relgar pulls out a wand and starts casting from it. He can barely speak due to the thick pollen in the air, but he is able to stammer out the single command word necessary to activate wand. It begins to hum as it gather's spell power.

Holmes takes another shot, then moves away from the plant.

1d4 ⇒ 2

Pollen conditions remain heavy, making spellcasting difficult.

1d6 ⇒ 3

1d4 ⇒ 3

Alecto throws her crossbow to the ground and runs away.

Round 2
Adowyn
Alecto - trippin', 3 rds.
Basidirond
Relgar
Holmes
Bahram
Jilla - trippin'

Adowyn moves over to Jack and fires a cold iron arrow at the fungal fiend!

Alternating between Ghost Blanch and Adamantine Blanch cold iron arrows; I'm keeping track in my notes.

MW Composite Longbow, PBS, DA: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 - 1 = 231d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Adowyn hits the plant with a cold iron tipped arrow, which seems to be fully effective against the creature.

The creature then moves up to Jilla and smacks at her with a tendril.

Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Blunt+Spores: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

1d6 ⇒ 1

Jilla ignores the tendril striking her and flops down on her belly, kicking her legs and moving her arms just like she is swimming.

Round 2
Adowyn
Alecto - trippin', 3 rds.
Basidirond -6
Relgar
Holmes
Bahram
Jilla - 9, trippin', prone

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Holmes takes a step back to maintain some distance from the creature and lets another arrow fly.

darkwood shortbow attack (1d6+1/×3): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Piercing damage, cold iron arrows : 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

I don't know what this thing is either,

Bahram pulls out the newly commandeered bow, and takes a shot, using a bit of luck.

bow: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16

damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 + 2 = 12

+2 luck to hit & dmg, +1 magic dmg, +2 str dmg

"Can we burn it?

Bahram then moves out to the side a bit.

Relgar's summoning finally ends and then a celestial fire beetle appears. The giant sized insect flies next to it and attempts to bite it.

Bite attack, Smite Evil: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage, +1 if evil: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Fire beetles are fairly useless but they are the only summon at level 1 which are immune to Mind Affecting Effects. Hopefully it will be a nice distraction.

AC:12 HP:4 Fort: +2

Relgar sneezes again.

"Try, if you have fi..r..e (achew)"

"I am not getting anywhere near that thing."

The gnome begins the slow activation process of starting up the wand again to summon another creature. He nudges Gregor to close slightly with the creature but slowly ascends as well to be well off the ground.

Adowyn recognizes the creature is a basidirond, also known as a mindfrond. It is a carnivorous fungal plant that has all the common immunities that one would expect a plant to have, such as immunity to mind-affecting abilities, poisons, paralysis, polymorphing, sleep, and stun effects. Their most feared ability though are their spores, which cover their tendrils and can be ejected as a cloud. These spores can cause their victims to experience terrifying hallucinations, which then make them easy prey.

This is what Adowyn learned with her Knowledge check.

Believe it or not, the spores are not a mind-affecting effect. And bugs do have senses (they can be blinded or deafened for example). I don't see any reason it would not affect a beetle.

One thing I missed is that the spores on its slam attack actually have a different effect than the spore cloud it can release. The spore cloud causes hallucinations, whereas the spores inflict a disease on the strike.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
1d6 ⇒ 1

Relgar's summoned bug falls to the ground, rolls on its back and begins flailing its legs in the air, yet another victim to the basidrond's hallucigenic spores.

Holmes finally ends his unlucky streak with a direct hit on the basidrond's flowery head. The cold iron sizzles as it pierces the fleshy petals. Unfortunately, Jack doesn't have much luck landing his shot.

Weather: 1d4 ⇒ 1

The air suddenly freezes again and all the moisture on the ground is now covered in a layer of frost, making it hard to move around.

Round 3 - Difficult Terrain
Adowyn
Alecto - trippin', 3 rds.
Basidirond -13
Relgar
Beetle - trippin'
Holmes
Bahram
Jilla - 9, trippin', prone

Not liking seeing Jilla alone with the foul fungus (not counting the twitching beetle), Adowyn sends Leryn to attack!

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Or not...guessing that won't get it done for Leryn to attack.

Adowyn fires two more cold iron arrows!

MW Composite Longbow, PBS, RapS, DA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 261d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11

MW Composite Longbow, PBS, RapS, DA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 171d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7

There are advantages in everything! Alecto did not want to participate in the murder of a predatory flower - she will not do it. Optimism and positive thinking are the key to success ))

Sound judgement, preparation and teamwork are the keys to success. Count on your mates to pull you through when you are tripping out. ;)

Some weed killer would not hurt either. :)

Sound judgement, preparation and teamwork are the keys to success. Count on your mates to pull you through when you are tripping out. ;)

Some weed killer would not hurt either. :)

Plant B Gone

Adowyn gets another arrow into the basidrond, but the other one fails to penetrate its thick skin. The arrow that hits causes some serious damage though.

1d6 ⇒ 2
1d6 ⇒ 5

Alecto starts stomping the ground around her. Lerwyn stands near the plant creature, their legs shaking as they whimper helplessly.

Even Jilla: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Blunt+spores: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The basidrond slams Jilla around again with its tendril. Spores start entering her mouth and eyes.

Fort save needed. The spore effect on the slam is a disease effect.

1d6 ⇒ 2

Jilla spends the round attacking the ground again with her rolling pin.

Round 3 - Difficult Terrain
Adowyn
Lerwyn -trippin'
Alecto - trippin', 2 rds.
Basidirond -24
Relgar
Beetle - trippin'
Holmes
Bahram
Jilla - 20, trippin', prone, Fort Save vs Disease

Poor Jilla doesn't know which way's up as the plant's spores are making her crazy!

Fort save vs Disease: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

This seems like a good thing to stay away from.

Holmes shifts to get a slightly better angle.

darkwood shortbow attack (1d6+1/×3): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Piercing damage, cold iron arrows: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

And we're back

Pausing for a second, Bahram digs around in his pack to pull out an alchemist's fire. Giving it a toss, he hopes for the best. It's hard to pick how a Target in the melee.

alchy: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 - 4 - 2 = 21

Touch attack: +2 archaeologists luck, - 4 firing into melee, -2 out of first range increment

dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3

add 1pt. If dmg from a swift arcane strike? Not sure if it would apply to this.
1 pt splash dmg. Sorry! 1d6 next round as well.
Move: retrieve item
Action: toss

"Let's hope it burns!"

Relgar finishes off his summoning and a celestial eagle appears below him. The eagle flies towards the plant creature.

Fort save vs spores: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Sadly I fear that is not high enough. :)

Beetle Round 2/3.
Eagle Round 1/3.

With both of Relgar's summons out of action the sorcerer puts his wand away. In the cold, clear air he is able to speak properly again and he sends two missiles towards the very naughty plant creature. In the meanwhile Gregor ferries his master a short distance away.

Magic Missile, CL check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Magic Missile, CL4 : 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

@GM Badblood - There are now two incapacitated summons next to the plant creature as well as Lerwyn that are suitable targets. To a plant creature without a brain food is food. At least that is my hope. :)

@Jack - Your Archaeologist Luck bonus should apply to the damage as well on a direct hit. :)

Actually 14 passes. Make your eagle's attack roll (I'm assuming just 1 attack because it should have to move to get into melee)

This seems like a good thing to stay away from.

Holmes shifts to get a slightly better angle.

[dice=darkwood shortbow attack (1d6+1/×3)] 1d20 + 6
[dice=Piercing damage, cold iron arrows] 1d6 + 1

And we're back

At the rate things are going, does Holmes have any cold iron arrows to spare? I'm down 13 of the things.

The celestial eagle tries to take a bite out of the nasty plant creature.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Damage, Smite Evil +1 point if evil: 1d4 ⇒ 3

An active "threat" to the plant creature. That has to be worth something. :)

@Jack - Your Archaeologist Luck bonus should apply to the damage as well on a direct hit. :)

I guess that's true. It's not very often he is not swinging his axe. Splashy things are out of his area of expertise.

@ GM Badblood: Add 2 pts of dmg to the alchy for Archeologist's luck please. 1 more if arcane strike also applies, whish it seems that it would.

Yep, Jack, I'm counting both luck and arcane strike. They won't apply to the splash damage or to the burning on the next round though.

Unlike most diseases, the spores start effecting Jilla immediately, rotting the gnome's flesh.

Constitution Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Holme's arrow misses, but Bahram has a lot more luck. Lobbing a flash of fire into the air, it sails over the basidrond's head. But then it bounces off a tree branch and lands right in the middle of the plant's central fleshy flower. The creature bursts into flames, with hot fuel flying out and splashing Jilla and Relgar's summoned critters as well.

Relgar's eagle doesn't land a blow but the gnome also follows up with a pair of missiles that rip off one of the creatures vines and puts a small hole in its central flower.

Weather: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Winter jarringly turns into spring, and the air becomes thick with choking pollen againt.

Haven't rolled for Fall or Summer yet!
Madness: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Madness: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Alecto continues stomping at something invisible on the ground, while Adowyn's pet wolf rolls around on the ground whimpering helplessly.

Round 4 - Pollen (20% spell failure)
Adowyn
Lerwyn -trippin'
Alecto - trippin', 1 rds.
Basidirond -36, burning
Relgar
Beetle -1, trippin'
Eagle -1, Fort save needed
Holmes
Bahram
Jilla - 21, -1 Con damage, trippin', prone, Fort Save vs Disease

Fort save vs disease: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

It seems like the eagle is still not tripping out from the spores. Go eagle! :)

Adowyn fires two more cold iron arrows at the foul fungus!

MW Composite Longbow, PBS, RapS, DA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 261d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9

MW Composite Longbow, PBS, RapS, DA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 241d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7

Adowyn fires two shots right into the basidrond's central flower. Oozing sap is leaking out of the creature and its tendrils are flailing around weakly. It moves almost like it is drunk.

The damage on those arrows brought it down to 0, which makes it staggered. It amazing how often that happens!

The plant mindlessly swings a tendril at the eagle and crushes the bird with one deadly swoop. The summoned creature turns into sparkling white dust as it is sent violently back to its home Plane. Then the basidrond spins around in a circle before collapsing on the ground. As it lies there it continues to burn.

Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Blunt: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Jilla - 21, -1 Con damage

Jilla violentluy coughs out a thick glob of shiny pink and orange slime. It leaves a disgusting taste in her mouth but at least the spores seem to be out of her lungs.

The combat is over and once again the most injured person out of the group is Jilla, but at least she is still standing. The seasons suddenly shift again and the leaves turn fiery reds, oranges and yellows. A stiff wind blows, dispersing the invisible pollen cloud and letting those afflicted regain their senses. But unfortunately, the party is not out of danger yet, as they can hear drumming in the distance that is rapidly approaching.

The party has three rounds to prepare before whatever is beating that drum reaches them! No one is hallucinating anymore at least.

Jilla finally gets to her feet, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Whoa! Not sure what happened there. I think I fell down . . ."

"This seems to be a thing now." Bahram says as he moves to heal Jilla again. Once with a spell and once with a wand.

cure spell: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
cure wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Someone should try and grab the colors off of that tree in case we have to make a run for it." the half orc suggests, as he disappears.

Vanish, cast on the third round, lasting for four rounds.

We've had nightmares in reality. Alecto shakes her head. It's a pity that this fellow was so uncooperative. She looks at the plant for a couple of seconds, then forgets about its existence forever. Hearing Bahram's words, Alecto turns her hand into a vine and finally tears the bag from the branch. Then she looks for a place to hide, which she does, trying to merge with the plants.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Relgar readjusts his equipment while Gregor keeps them both airborne.
They descend slightly to 25 feet above the ground.

"Hopefully we will not have to fight these people as well."

Holmes tries to see if he can pick out the bag with the colors quickly.

Perception check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Then he will try to climb and knock down likely looking bags until just before the drums reach the clearing.

Climb check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

if he has another chance to climb

Climb check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

He plans to be on the ground out from under the tree when the drums arrive.