Zero's Bounty #20: Burden in Bloodcove (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

Forgot the protector tree. Too late to edit--the tree prevents 20 of the damage but is destroyed.

Wow. I'm liking that tree and Hancock wasn't even the one to get hit! so, how does the fact that it is behind bars affect what Hancock can do? Is just swinging for it make sense or does he need to be near where it sticks its head out to attack. Not that he will necessarily attack.

"Shdbkoff!"

"He says you should back off. And I, for once, am in agreement with him. These things are valuable animals and they can't harm anyone with their tongues cut off."

They're in a wooden crate, not a cage. It's open at the end, but essentially has walls--if thin ones--at the sides and back.

Seeing the tree destroyed, Maxamed decides to bring down the true wrath of nature on this annoying chameleon. Breaking out into a horrifying dance full of low groans and sounds indistinguishable form a death rattle. Tok speaking up, like a giddy child. "Ohhh! you've done it now Chameleon! Should've just played dead!... BEHOLD!"

◆◆◆ Maxamed casts Summon Animal, heightened to level 2.

As the dance reaches it's crescendo... a Swarm of Squirrels appears on the battlefield, swarming over the Chameleon. Biting and chittering at it.

Tok blinks for a moment, then says "Squirrels? Really?..."

swarm actions
◆Nibble: Each enemy in the squirrel swarm's space takes piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 (DC 15 basic Reflex save).
◆Nibble:Each enemy in the squirrel swarm's space takes piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 (DC 15 basic Reflex save).
◆Scrabbling Swarm The squirrels clamber over the creatures in their space. Each such creature must succeed at a DC 17 Reflex save or become clumsy 1 as long as it remains in the swarm's space.

Turn end

"Ouch!" Charlies feels the pain inflicted on Estes while the angel just silently whimpers from the lessened damage he has taken, thanks to the Protector Tree. Estes moves closer to the giant chameleon while Charlies focuses deeply on the link between them to boost the power of Estes' attacks. The angel bludgeons the chameleon with his wings twice.

Estes's +1 Wing Attack vs Purple, Non-lethal: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27 (Non-lethal from Hallowed Strikes)
+1 Wing Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 bludgeoning damage

Estes's +1 Wing Attack vs Purple, Non-lethal, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 - 4 = 23 (Non-lethal from Hallowed Strikes)
+1 Wing Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7 bludgeoning damage

◆ Act Together (◆ Stride of Estes, ◆ Cast a Spell, Boost Eidolon of Estes)
◆ Strike of Estes
◆ Strike of Estes

I forgot to incorporate the bonus on Estes's previous attacks from Charlies +1 Handwraps. Reminding myself on that from now on.

Hancock rushes to the front and tries to close the cage.
Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Athletics: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 5 = 24

*stride
*interact
*interact

I'm thinking that since Hancock is higher on the init, if he succeeds, he will interrupt Charlies actions. If your rule that it is first post goes first, then the map needs updating and I don't know if there is room for Hancock to try this.

Hancock rushes to the front and tries to close the cage.

[dice=Athletics]1d20+9
[dice=Athletics]1d20+9-5

*stride
*interact
*interact

I'm thinking that since Hancock is higher on the init, if he succeeds, he will interrupt Charlies actions. If your rule that it is first post goes first, then the map needs updating and I don't know if there is room for Hancock to try this.

It is my understanding this is less a cage, per say, and more a giant wooden crate that Jom used his crowbar to pop-open the side facing south. That said, I can easily see an argument for the ability to close such a front anyways... in-which case... super evil. trapping the chameleon in the box with the raging swarm of squirrels XD

Shayla stays where she is but hurls three throwing knives in rapid succession at Purple.

Throwing Knife vs Purple: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Throwing Knife vs Purple, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Throwing Knife vs Purple, MAP 2+, Agile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Piercing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Piercing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Piercing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

◆◆◆ Strike

It critically succeeds its save both times; not bad!
Estes hits twice, though I admit I'm unclear on how he's doing so from outside the crate.
Hancock... closes the crate. If someone wants to nail it up so it stays closed, go ahead and make a (fairly easy) Crafting check.
Shayla would hit with two of those, but the crate being closed makes that harder. If she'd like to do something different..

Maxamed summons squirrels that surge over the solitary... creature. It proves surprisingly adept at evading (and stomping on) the smaller animals and seems unharmed by their assault.

Estes's wings prove a much more effective weapon, battering the beast.

And then Hancock gets ahold of the wooden cover that Jom recently pried off and slams it back into place, cutting the giant chameleons off from the outside world.

Dran'Thal, Shayla, and Jom's turns.

Initiative:
Dran'Thal (Guidance)
Shayla
Jom (-12, prone)
Purple Giant Chameleon (-17, Severed tongue, -2 status to Acrobatics and Athletics)
Hancock
Charlies (-6)
Maxamed

Shayla will wait and see if someone does nail it shut.

Crafting:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Hearing to nail the crate, the dwarf tries it.

If it doesn't work I will use hero point

The two giant chameleons, both with tongues severed and one unconscious, are once again sealed within the largest crate.

Well so we dealt with it. It seems we should tell that there are chameleons in it. Next crate?

Hancock takes out a pen and inks DANGEROUS! Giant Chameleons Inside.

Maxamed, remembering they are being paid to remove any threats, and perceiving the Chameleon as a threat to anyone who would open the crate, will sustain the squirrels for the full minute. With a Scrabble to try and inflict clumsy, and a nibble, until the only sounds they hear is the squirrels, or the swarm gets killed by the chameleon, or the time runs out.

Jom continues lying on his back but he turns his head to face Charlie's, "Thanks bud. I guess I don't get to die yet."

He then sighs and closes his eyes.

"Well, we must be careful on the remaining crates that we will be inspecting." Charlies advises Jom. "Maybe we can check that one next?" he tells the others while pointing at a smaller crate in the northern part of the map. "It is smaller than this one so I suppose it has smaller danger in it?" he surmises, shown in his face that he isn't sure either if there is logic in it.

Jom thrust ls his hand in the air with a thumbs up. "Go team go!"

This time Hancock examines the crate before opening it, listening for noises from inside or traps.

The northern crate makes no noise, though it does have a strong smell. It's pungent, but floral and perhaps slightly sweet.

Hancock wrinkles his nose and sneezes.

recall knowledge: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 to recognize the scent

Charlies gets a bit close to the crate and wafts the scent emanating from it to know if he can identify the smell. Nature +6

"This smells familiar, but I am not sure what it is," he tells the others and gets closer again to sniff more from it.

It's difficult to determine exactly what the crate contains from the smell alone beyond "a lot of different, pungent plants."

Charlies concludes that the crate could very reasonably contain a legitimate shipment of medicinal herbs, or even just spices, though the odor could mask something else.

He and Hancock also note that their eyes and nostrils are starting to sting just from being near the crate. It might be wise for the adventurers to cover their faces as much as possible before opening it, even if nothing is wrong at all.

Hancock indeed wordlessly pulls out an old r-shirt and wraps it around his head. His whole head. It is thin enough by his eyes that he can see through it but not very effectively.

Bruce follow suit, though he used a hanky and is not quite so thorough about it leaving his eyes clear, Naturally he takes the extra precaution of being nowhere near the crate.

The dwarf prepares himself for the opening with a scarf on his nose.

Opening the crate reveals that it's split into multiple compartments overflowing with plants--most of which Charlies realizes are not native to the Mwangi Expanse.

The competing aromas are overpowering. Charlies is able to identify the plants as medicinal herbs from Xa Hoi in Tian Xia, meant to be administered in tiny amounts.
Their aromas produce no lingering effects. Replacing the lid--or simply moving further away--should alleviate the stinging and slight dizziness all three are starting to feel.

Bigger is better, so Hancock moves tot he crate to the south and examines it.

"The odor is too strong." Charlies complains after opening the crate to reveal the non-Mwangi native plants inside. He quickly covers his nose and begins to move away from it now that he feels dizzy. "Maybe someone could close it?" he suggests from afar while taking a breath of fresh air. His eyes are also watering from too much aromas the plant might be producing.

The dwarf closes the crate before to go to the one Hancock would like to see open.

The next is a simple wooden crate that looks easily opened, with hinges and a latch.

This one has no particular smell beyond the wood of the box.

So guys, are you ready to open this crate?

He raises his shield.

Shayla has a look at the box for traps.

Perc +7, Thievery +11

Shayla finds nothing unusual about the create itself.

Hancock wordlessly starts prying the top off the box.

Charlies has no spell he can use to detect whether its contents are magical or not. He instead raises her shield as well, being ready just in case it has wild creatures in it that may attack them again. "Open it."

The crate opens easily and is filled with irregular parcels wrapped in butcher paper and twine. These wrappings are marked with magical sigils, carefully scrawled in red ink.

Jom groans as he slowly rises from his laying position. He dusts himself off and does some minor stretches.

Hancock backs off, magic not being his thing.

Shayla does the same, not really knowing much about magic other than it can be useful at times.

The dwarf looks at the runes trying to understand something.

Arcana +8

Charlies moves aside to give way to Dran'Thal to inspect the runes. So what do you think are those runes for?" No Arcana here.

Religion would also work here. Or Nature or Occultism, but with more difficulty.

Dran'Thal recognizes that the sigils have a necromantic effect--likely preservation magic.

I would like to try Religion +8 to Recall Knowledge about the runes as well.

Charlies is unfamiliar with the runes in question. He's not able to confirm Dran'Thal's report, but also has no evidence against it.

Well should we open it or leave with a report? It’s easier like this.

Hancock shakes his head no and waves his hands as if to ward the others off of messing with the thing.

Si the dwarf closes the crate and moves to the next one waiting for the rogue before opening.

With enough time having likely passed by now, Maxamed will trundle over to see what everyone is looking at before Dran'Thal closes the crate.

What does Maxamed's various knowledges say about these packages, now that their interest has been tweaked. +9 Arcana and Occultism, +8 Nature and Religion, +9 society if it somehow matters... Oh! And +9 necromancy Lore if it matters... Dubious knowledge here... So if all rolls involved, I can't wait for the motley of info to siphon through... Also, Casts Detect Magic, because why not.

Maxamed does detect magic. He concurs that the runes indicate preservative necromancy--though a part of him thinks it's possible that it's a trap of some kind.