GM Lantern: A Fistful of Flowers (Inactive)

Game Master breithauptclan

Most of the guests are looking a bit concerned, but are keeping their composure while they let Constance take care of the problem in her own yard. One of them, however, has a scowl clear on her face. "You said that the plants couldn't be intelligent enough to talk," she mutters loud enough to be heard - which earns her a quick glance from Constance.

Constance and the party guests have not spotted anyone other than Popcorn, though they are all on guard. Stealth into the open area where the tables are isn't going to work, though you could try a dash and grab.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

“You hired the candlemaker from Petalbrook to kidnap my friends Amie, Zitha and Solyin. I would have to check if any of the other leshies are kidnapped.”

Looking towards the jars she then says “Wave your hands Amie, Zitha and Solyin!”

The party doesn’t want me trying diplomacy…

"Not only that, but you didn't animate them yourself!" Pixie pipes up indignantly, gesturing toward Amie, Zitha, and Solyin. She rests her hands on her hips, glaring up at Lady Constance. "And we don't belong to any humans. We're Wardens of the Forest, and we've been charged with rescuing our kidnapped people."

Perception DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 hero point - I believe I may be out of them now.
Perception DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Pixie turns to the guests who clearly look uncomfortable and are muttering about intelligent plants. "Our people have been stolen for your entertainment, making them no better than slaves for your amusement. Does that sit well with you?" She challenges, glaring at the fancy-dressed tallfolk.

forgot a diplo roll

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

All of the tiny leshies have pressed themselves up against the glass enclosures, watching intently. When Popcorn calls out, your three friends start waving frantically. Some of the others start doing so as well. Which causes a low murmur to go through the rest of the guests.

I think, Pixie, you have been recording of spending hero points faster than you are actually able to. From what I am seeing from the history, and what you have regained as rewards for battles won, you all started the approach to the fence with 3 again.

Melanie scowls even deeper when she sees the tiny captive leshies waving in response to the request. "I knew it. Not as dumb as they look just because they can't talk." She does a double-take at the actual meaning of that sentence, but is interrupted in her thoughts by Pixie.

"Our people have been stolen for your entertainment, making them no better than slaves for your amusement. Does that sit well with you?" She challenges, glaring at the fancy-dressed tallfolk.

"Constance, maybe you should just let the little plants go with the big ones. I'm sure they know how to take care of plants - being ones themselves."

While Popcorn and Pixie have the nasty lady distracted, Cedar attempts to make her way unnoticed to the closest table that contains a known Leshie. She studies to dome trying to decide if she along with the Leshie inside would have the strength to lift the dome.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Watching the tall ones murmur to each other while looking at their jarred kin and themselves, Fengal steps out from the shrubbery they were hiding in.

Intimidation: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Hero Point Indimidation: 1d20 ⇒ 17

"Pixie an' Popcorn 'ave the right o' it. Kinfolk were taken from their 'omeland by a brute of a man. Ye can talk to 'im, if ye wan' ta see if our story be true. Darius be 'is name, an' gave Miss Constance's name as 'is proprietor for stealin' our kin," Fengal calls out before stamping a foot in the ground and pointing towards Constance angrily. "OI! YOU GIVE US OUR KIN, AN' NE'ER RETURN TO THA VERDURAN FORES' AGAIN!"

The glass domes are too heavy for the tiny leshies to lift on their own. They are also on the center of the table, so it will be out of reach for small creatures from the floor. You can climb on a chair or onto the table itself with no check and can push over the dome - where it will roll onto the floor and shatter with a satisfying crash - also with no check needed.

The chairs and table are difficult terrain. Which isn't as important when not counting time in actions, but will be useful information to know if/when combat breaks out.

Constance looks a bit shocked as two more angry plants step out from her bushes making threats. Switching tactics, she scowls and starts yelling as well.

"I don't have to stand here in my own home and listen to such slander. You make big accusations, but haven't shown any evidence. You think you have a case? Sue me. I'll destroy you in court."

"Honestly, can you believe the audacity of some ... things," she says, while looking back at her guests. But in looking back, she sees two facts staring back at her that she is not happy to see. One, that most of her guests do in fact believe the audacity, and two, that there is a fourth leshy now climbing onto one of the tables.

"Hey! Get down from there, you stupid sneaky shrub. Those are my plants," she shrieks - all pretense of civility lost.

Surprised, Popcorn says “You want to go to fey court?”

Constance looks a Popcorn with a venemous smile. "You are coming here into my yard and accusing me - an upstanding paragon of this city. This is the jurisdiction of the court of Judge Avenry. Maybe circuit Judge Haverwendt. I have no idea who this Judge Fey is that you are talking about, but there is no way that you are going to get the case moved to some random remote court."

"And you," Constance points one bony finger at the guests, "had better tell me which of my neighbors it is that has been copying my ideas and creating these mockeries." she sweeps a hand in the general direction of Popcorn, Pixie, and Fengal. "Is this your idea of a prank? The recorded voices are a nice touch, but your plan isn't going to work. Start talking, or I'll have you all arrested too. You know full well that I have personal ties to both Avenry and Haverwendt. So don't do anything you'll regret later."

“Kidnapping happened in our forest. A clear violation of the treaty between us fey folk and you humans.”

“I don’t know any Judge Fey either. I thought you meant a real court, beings like Count Ranalc, Ng, or The Lantern King. Most sensible beings wouldn’t want to get them involved, which is why I was so surprised.”

Taking a few steps back, Fengal looks at Popcorn and Constance, "Ye woul' call for The Lantern King? Here?! Ah don' think she woul' like tha'."

“I agree, it would be a bad idea. That is why I was surprised she suggested fey court.”

"You know," Constance sneers at Popcorn and Fengal, "name dropping works a lot better if you are using real names of real people. You're just embarrasing yourself at this point." She looks over at Melanie again hoping to get some support. "Unbelievable, don't you think?" When she sees Melanie's cold stare in return, she scowls even more.

"Completely unbelievable. Frederick!" she calls out to a butler stationed at the far side of the courtyard. "Summon Alex and the stable hands. I demand that all of these beastly plants and these traitors be removed from my yard in the next five minutes."

Frederick looks at Constance with a rather concerned expression. "Madam, I do recognize those names that your visitors mentioned. If the little plants did come from the forest it would very much be bette-"

"Frederick!" Constance shrieks again. "How dare you talk back to me. You are fired. Not only fired, you can pack up your shack and take your family and just leave Rosentry. I'll make sure you never work anywhere here again.

"So hard to find competent help." She glares at you each in turn as well as the guests. "Fortunately, I know how to make my own." She gives a tight lipped smile and calls out suddenly, "Honey, Mint, Wisteria, Bamboo: Restrain these intruders," she points to Melanie and the other guests, "and destroy all of these weeds," she shouts while pointing at you.

From the bushes along the walls, four plant creatures emerge. These are probably leshies, but they were not created with any degree of skill or care. You can easily see why the guests and townsfolk were willing to believe that all leshies are unintelligent.

The Bamboo leshy is long and thin and rather snake looking in its movements.

The Honeysuckle leshy looks pretty quick and agile.

The Mint leshy is much larger than any of the others - including all of you.

The Wisteria leshy has long tangled branches.

Initiative
Cedar perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Fengal perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Pixie perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Popcorn perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Bamboo perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Honeysuckle perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Mint perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Wisteria perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie

The enemy leshies all need one action to move into the room, so I am giving you all one action as well to use on moving, drawing items or weapons, activating abilities like Rage, or other such things. The only restriction on actions is hostile actions. Those will need to wait for initiative order. And the only restriction on movement is that you don't move past the farthest table.

The enemy leshies all move farther into the courtyard, following the instructions of Constance to the best of their ability.

The party guests, hearing the threat of being captured and restrained, all back away towards the back wall.

You are all able to use your one action at any point here. Honeysuckle is first up, and I'll post that in the morning. If you haven't used the bonus action before then, we can retcon it in as needed.

Popcorn gets out her warflail. “Oh, this is the sort of diplomacy I excel at!”

The Honeysuckle leshy sees Popcorn on the other side of the table as being the easiest target to reach. It wordlessly and nimbly dashes past the chairs in its path and swings a whiplike branch at Popcorn.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

◆Stride, ◆Stride, ◆Strike (miss)

Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie

The garden gates are still locked closed. DC 20 thievery to unlock and open them. I'll allow a DC 20 Athletics to break them open too.

Popcorn gets angry and moves towards one of the tables before swinging on Honeysuckle. Fire leaps from her war flail as she swings it,

◆ Rage
◆ Stride, provoking
◆ Strike

war flail: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 (disarm, sweep, trip),
Bludgeoning damage, Draconic rage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 +4 Fire damage

Nimble though it is, the Honeysuckle leshy is not skilled enough in combat to swing again as Popcorn moves around it. Popcorn lands a hard rage and fire infused blow.

pre-action:
Attempt to knock off the dome from the cage I am in front of.
You are free

Cedar pulls out her bow and gets off two shots at Honeysuckle

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Hero pointing that first one
attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Nope

"You are free"

Constance glares balefully at Cedar. "That's theft," she bellows. Then as the glass dome rolls off the table and shatters on the ground, she adds, "and destruction of property."

The Wisteria leshy lumbers over to Popcorn and lashes out with a gnarled branch.
strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Missing with the first attack, it takes another swing
strike: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 4 = 21
damage(bludgeoning): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

which connects.

◆Stride, ◆Strike, ◆Strike

The large Mint leshy clomps its way over to Cedar and brings a large fist down on her.
strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
damage(bludgeoning): 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

And then another
strike: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 4 = 10

which she avoids.

◆Stride, ◆Strike, ◆Strike

The Bamboo leshy takes the other path around the table to get to Popcorn, much to the dismay of the two ladies there, who cower into the bushes a bit as it passes.

It strikes out at Popcorn
strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
damage(bludgeoning): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

then twists itself into a tightly bent position that looks ready to strike out again at a moment's notice.

◆Stride, ◆Strike, ◆Bend Back

Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie

-Just before Combat-
With all of the shrieking from the woman, and the hostile leshies coming to meet the group, Fengal pulls out their longspear.

-CURRENTLY-

Fengal looks at the hostile leshies, "Ah woul' prefer no' ta do this, but ye leave no choice." Waving their hand, a bolt of electricity lashes towards Wisteria and Honeysuckle before Fengal then stabs towards Honeysuckle.

Electric Arc vs Wisteria and Honeysuckle | DC 19 Reflex Save: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

Attack vs Honeysuckle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage | Piercing: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Seeing the fungus leshy waving their hands and spear around, the Bamboo leshy strikes out. It launches its head towards Fengal while he is busy casting a spell.

↺Coiled Opportunity: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

The wide mouth snaps shut just inches away from Fengal's elbow. Bamboo quickly reels its head back towards the rest of its body and back into its normal position.

Reflex Wisteria: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Reflex Honeysuckle: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Both the Wisteria leshy and Honeysuckle leshy dance around a bit as the electricity hits them, but they manage to avoid the worst of the damage. With all the dancing around, Fengal isn't able to quite pin down the leshy with his spear.

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Round Tracking
Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie
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Cedar mentioned that this was easy to miss. So I am trying to make it more noticeable and distinct.

I apologize for the wait on me! Doctor's appointments all over today.

Before Combat

Sensing the situation heading south, Pixie casts Nettleskin on herself.

During Combat

"Ugh, this is so like human nobles!" Pixie complains, stepping forward a bit and assessing the situation. As much as she'd love to use one of her better spells, like Burning Hands, it seemed too many of her allies were in the crossfire. Instead, she holds her spongy hands in front of her to cast Produce Flame at Honeysuckle.

Spell Attack, Ranged: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Pixie casts Guidance on herself before she finishes...just in case.

Her attack misses, but...If I read it correctly, Pixie's bloodline is earth elemental - so her damage with these elemental spells becomes bludgeoning with the Earth trait rather than Fire and it's rubble rather than fire. If I'm not, then...ignore all of that? I feel silly for how often I get confused by some of this stuff.

Actions: Produce Flame, Guidance. AC 16; HP 32/32; Nettleskin 9/10 rounds; 2/4 1st level spells left; Guidance active.

"What is taking so long?" Constance shrieks. "I want all of those troublesome plants subdued immediately!"

-----

In a bravery induced from panic, Melanie slips past Pixie - careful of the thorns that have suddenly sprouted from the leshy - and rattles the gates of the courtyard. "I can't get them open. Constance," she calls across the battle, "you can't keep us here. Let us out. Who has the key for this gate?"

-----

The Honeysuckle leshy, hearing the commands from its master and seeing that Wisteria and Bamboo are already handling the snapdragon, turns its attention elsewhere. Turning around, it spots Cedar on the other side of the table, and Pixie nearby. It chooses the latter and steps over to Pixie.

Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
damage(bludgeoning): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 x2: crit for minimum damage
thorns: 1d4 ⇒ 2

It hits Pixie rather hard, but takes a thorn in its arm in the process. It pauses for a moment to consider how to handle this new development.

Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

But it can't really figure out any better plan.

Stride, Strike, Recall Knowledge

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Round Tracking
Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie
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Zitha hops down to the chair near Pixie, and Solyin follows her to the edge of the table. Both are looking a bit nervously at the larger Honeysuckle leshy that is right next to them, but the dangerous plant seems to be ignoring the tiny ones.

Cedar shoots off one more arrow from her bow toward the Mintleshie

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Then lets loose at it with
color spray

While Mint is considering its next attack against Cedar it wasn't expecting the root leshy to shoot it at point-blank range.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

And it certainly wasn't expecting to be blinded by a brutal assault of colored light.

Failure causes Stunned 1, Blinded for 1 round, and Dazzled for the rest of its expected lifespan.

I had to go through the history and recalculate Honeysuckle's HP. Something wasn't adding up right. From what I am seeing, Popcorn clobbered it for 18 damage and Fengal zapped it for 4 after it succeeded at the save. Have I missed anything?

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Round Tracking
Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie
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Sounds right to me! 22 damage so far.

Popcorn yells at Constance “I’m working on subduing all your invasive species! Shouldn’t take too much longer.”

She then swings at Orange. Sorry, I don’t know which are which except by border color
war flail: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 (disarm, sweep, trip), Hero Point
Bludgeoning damage, Draconic rage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 +4 Fire damage

war flail: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 (disarm, sweep, trip)

She then sweeps it around and attacks Red.
war flail, MAP, Sweep: 1d20 + 10 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 10 - 5 + 1 = 9 (disarm, sweep, trip),
Bludgeoning damage, Draconic rage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 +4 Fire damage

Frustrated, she continues the swing around to attack Orange again.
war flail, MAP, Sweep: 1d20 + 10 - 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 10 + 1 = 11 (disarm, sweep, trip),
Bludgeoning damage, Draconic rage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 +4 Fire damage

I can put the color markers in the action description too so that you can at least match up the colors to the special abilities that you want to avoid or eliminate.

Wisteria swings a limb of tangled vines at Popcorn.

Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
damage (bludgeoning): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

When the vines hit, instead of pulling them back, the Wisteria leshy wraps them around Popcorn and squeezes.

Constrict (DC 18 Basic Fortitude save): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Orange: ◆Strike, ◆Grab, ◆Constrict

-----

Mint takes a look around and sees something that it has never seen before - nothing. It takes a moment shaking its head and rubbing at its eyes trying to get them to work again, but it is not effective. Frustrated, it slams its fists at where it thought it last saw Cedar, but hits nothing but the table. It makes a low bellowing sound of anger - the first vocal noise you have heard any of these leshies make - and begins feeling its way around the table.

Green: ◆Stunned 1, ◆Strike blindly, ◆Stride

-----

When Mint hits the table, Solyin takes a panicked and premature leap onto the chair still occupied by Zitha. In a tangle of tiny branches, both roll from the chair to the ground and land in a heap.

-----

Bamboo, seeing that Popcorn is in the hands of Wisteria, continues its instructions to defeat all of the unknown large leshies at the same time. It bends itself into a taut position and launches its head at Fengal again.

Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
damage(bludgeoning): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Then it bends itself taut again ready to launch again at a moment's notice.

Red: ◆Bend Back, ◆Strike, ◆Bend Back

Popcorn isn't looking so healthy at the moment, though he still has about as many HP as the rest of you. The Honeysuckle leshy (yellow) is also looking rather ragged at the moment.

And both of these spoilers are freely accessible. I'm using the spoiler feature to avoid cluttering the screen.

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Round Tracking
Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie
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Stabbing at Bamboo with their spear, Fengal then drops the weapon and shoots a ray of warm sunlight at Popcorn. "Figh' on, an ta'e thi' blessin' o' tha sun!"

attack | Longspear, Reach: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Heal | Two Action: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

ACTIONS
◆ Attack
◆◆ Heal

As Fengal casts his healing spell, the Bamboo leshy takes advantage of the distraction that the spellcasting requires to attack again.

↺Coiled Opportunity
Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

And misses once more as Fengal's spellcasting moves his hands around too fast for him to target properly.

It is not required to drop the spear, though you certainly can if you have some plan in mind. You can cast using somatic components with your hands full.

Pixie takes a step back and then aims a rock squarely at Honeysuckle's chest.

Spell Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Unfortunately, the rock goes wide, and Pixie grumbles at her failure.

Actions: Step, Produce Flame. HP 22/32. 8/10 Nettleskin, AC 16.

"I can't get them open. Constance," she calls across the battle, "you can't keep us here. Let us out. Who has the key for this gate?"

"Don't you dare open that gate," Constance screeches.

Seeing the Honeysuckle Leshy staring in confusion at Pixie, still covered in spiky thorns that hurt a lot to hit, Constance hollers at it, "Don't just stand there looking stupid. Keep her away from the gate. And stop those plants."

Honeysuckle dutifully goes over to Melanie and grabs at her and swats at Fengal.

◆Stride, ◆Grapple, ◆Strike

Grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Strike: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 4 = 13

Melanie shrieks and flails ineffectively as the leshy wraps a rough hand around her arm.

Fengal continues dodging attacks from his foes.

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Round Tracking
Honeysuckle
Cedar, Popcorn
Wisteria, Mint, Bamboo
Fengal, Pixie
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"Wow, what idiot created these monstrosities? All the leshies I know are nice and mostly cute."

♪This lady is weird,
We are awesome and they are just dumb
So kick these dumb creatures in the bum.

Cast Inspire Courage with Lingering Composition
performance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Cast Heightened level 2 Phantom pain at the yellow one.

Honeysuckle Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Success, so full damage, but no persistent damage
Mental damage (inspired): 4d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 2) + 1 = 9 That's enough

The Honeysuckle leshy grimaces in pain for a second, then collapses. The wood stiffens and splits as it falls over. A burst of primal energy is released and all of the plant creatures in the area absorb some of that energy.

Verdant Burst healing: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

General Status
Inspire Courage: +1 attack rolls, +1 damage

Melanie screams again as the leshy grabbing her collapses and explodes. She flinches from the burst of energy, but it doesn't seem to do anything to her.

-----

Constance stands there stunned as her Honeysuckle leshy falls. "You... you... you filthy wretches. You can't do this to me."

-----

Zitha and Solyin pick themselves up off the ground and scamper past Pixie and hide in the bushes.