The group returns to the old man, finding him just finishing herding the alpacas back into the barn. After asking him about the gold studs, he answers, "Well, Rockford was something of a stud himself and I had placed the studs on the alpaca to denote how many offspring he had sired. Well I am kinda surprised that the golden studs weren’t stolen, they are gold. Whatever was responsible probably had no interest in material wealth."
"Do you happen to know more about this alpaca killer?" he asks back. "Do you know who could that be?"
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The Samurai returns for a quick Q&A with the Farmer. Otani does seem to be Itching to track down this mysterious alpaca blood-sucker.
We may have a lead, but we must return to the scene of the crime! Return to your chore, good Farmer, whilst we further investigate.
Once the group begins to return to the scene, the Tengu shakes his head.
Looks like we are dealing with a beast, not a murderer, as it were.
The Samurai looses his Katana....
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Once far away from the farmer, Rybar says "Based on what Wilhuff has mentioned regarding the gold studs, it is clear that our quarry isn't intent on gaining wealth. Therefore it is likely to be a creature, one that is dependent on blood to survive. It may be a vampire, bat, chupacabra or bloodseeker."
Rybar readies his weapon, a hatchet. He also takes a pendant made of a silver coin and wears it. He then looks to his companions to see what they now want to do.
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Moist finds the farmer's explanation of the studs simple enough. It matches the motivation of a bloodsucker in the short term, but possibly not the long term.
I wonder if this monster is intent on wiping out the herd. That doesn't ultimately make sense but if it keeps greedily attacking the more... "productive" members it will find a more meager food source soon. Hmm...
He croaks once as he thinks on it, but quickly prepares himself to move on.
Onto the hunt I suppose! Zepth, it seems like you traced the tracks into those woods over there. Are you our tracker? Or what do they call it... "ranger"?
After asking the old man, they return to the crime scene to follow the trail of whatever is killing the alpacas recently. They follow the trail into the tree line and they find themselves surrounded on both sides by a rising escarpment of dirt, eventually narrowing to a section where the walls around them rise about 10 feet high that leads to an area where trees here stand about 30 feet tall on average, while the rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet.
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"Hmm we are a bit bottled in here, I'd like to see what's up the top."
Olegaro will choose to scale the nearby wall to the North.
but will stumble badly as he attempts to climb it. He will try again though
with much more success! Unless he is interrupted at the top, he will tie a few knots in a rope, secure it to the nearby tree trunk and drop it down for others to follow up if they choose.
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Rybar begins to head for the cliff, seeing that he's better suited to that task when he realizes that the party is being split. He calls out to Hanu and Olegaro so that they'd realize it and says "Perhaps this is not a good time to separate. Let us stay together."
Despite being burdened with armor, Rybar goes with Moist to make sure that the Grippli is guarded.
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Otani walks up to the crevasse. The Tengu peers down the 10' drop, shrugs and follows on the log.
The fully armored Samurai falls!
Although, he is actually seen gliding safety down to the bottom.
Skyborn
While down here, may as well take a looksee.
The smiling Tengu begins to Search.
After a few minutes, he attempts to climb back up.
Still smiling...
And....
After a third attempt, the Tengu stands next to Moist.
Piece of cake.
After a short time, everyone is able to get out of the pit through the fallen logs or climb on its walls. Looking around, Zepth fails to find any trail.
But... moments later, they hear some rustling and stretching near the rocks!
(Call to Arms)
(Call to Arms)
(Call to Arms)
(Incredible initiative)
(Call to Arms)
With weapons and shields out, most of you are quick to notice that the > blood-sucking-creature < that Rybar might recognize has just woken up from hiding!
Terrain Features: ! Black circles are trunks of 30-ft-ish trees that can provide Standard Cover (+2 to AC, Reflex, Stealth; can Hide).
! The rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet. Squares with fallen trunks and rocks are Difficult Terrain.
! The hole with fallen trunks on the left is 10 ft deep. The trunk stretches 20 feet in length; crossing it requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check to Balance. Alternatively, you can attempt to scale the nearby 10-ft high walls with a successful DC 15 Athletics check to Climb.
ENCOUNTER MAP
Other Notes: ☘️ - Hero Points
❖❖❖CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT!❖❖❖
➤ Rybar (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17) (17/17 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Zepth (☘️ 2/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Otani Yoshitsugu (☘️ 2/3) (AC 18, 19 w Shield) (15/15 HP, 1 temp HP) | Minor Curse (-2 to AC and saving throws lest you Strike)
➤ Olegaro (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 19 w Steel Shield) (20/20 HP, 1 temp HP)
Blood-sucking Creature (- HP, 1 temp HP) | w Standard Cover, Hidden
Moist Definitely (☘️ 2/3) (AC 15) (12/12 HP, 1 temp HP)
Hanu, Friend of the Wood (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
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"Aha! There it is. Time to end the preying on the herd."
Seeing the enemy unmasked, Olegaro will charge forward to engage it, ending up just to the South of it. However, if anyone in the first group is preparing to buff he will hold until they are done.
◆ ◆ Sudden charge - stride up to 50 feet and strike with flail for damage
◆ Raise shield - Steel Shield (Hardness 5, HP 20, BT 10) +2 to AC
(starting east of Moist) NE, E (difficult), NE, E, NE, NE, N
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Feeling the rise of his blood, Otani--Reacts--quickly ↺Calling his company to Arms!
To Arms! To arms!
The Tengu then ◆reaches for a javelin to Strike the Bloodsucking insect from afar!
The Tengu then cast ◆ Shield.
EDIT!
After actually seeing the Battlefield before them, Otani realizes that he will need to get into Range. He ◆Stride into range.
Because of the voices of warriors dying and the clashing of swords and shields sounding in his ears, the Oracle uses the most direct route to get the ugly, misshapen beast into view.
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"By the Cosmic Caravan! It's a Chupacabra!" he leaps into action.
◆Exploit Vulnerability
◆Stride
◆Stride
Rybar doesn't bother with a Mortal Weakness and instead goes for a Personal Antithesis. He digs into one of his pockets and sprays salt on his hatchet. He then charges towards the creature.
He follows Olegaro's path, and stands 10 feet behind him - which is as far as his feet would take him.
Zepth summons an accompaniment for his musical performance, which easily inspires his allies!
Olegaro makes the first attacks by charging towards the creature and hitting it squarely in the chest! He then raises his shield.
Otani joins Olegaro to get in close range of the creature, but the tree is somewhat blocking his view.
He hurls his javelin but the creature is quick to notice his attack.
Rybar tries to exploit whatever weakness the creature might have, but he fails to recall a salient weakness about the creature.
The creature attempts to ◆ bite Olegaro!
piercing damage
With the successful bite, it allows the creature to ◆ Grab the fighter! It then begins to ◆ suck his blood!
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage (from Round 1 to Round 4): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.
Terrain Features: ! Black circles are trunks of 30-ft-ish trees that can provide Standard Cover (+2 to AC, Reflex, Stealth; can Hide).
! The rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet. Squares with fallen trunks and rocks are Difficult Terrain.
! The hole with fallen trunks on the left is 10 ft deep. The trunk stretches 20 feet in length; crossing it requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check to Balance. Alternatively, you can attempt to scale the nearby 10-ft high walls with a successful DC 15 Athletics check to Climb.
ENCOUNTER MAP
Other Notes: ☘️ - Hero Points
❖❖❖CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT!❖❖❖
➤ Rybar (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17) (17/17 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Zepth (☘️ 2/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Otani Yoshitsugu (☘️ 2/3) (AC 18, 19 w Shield) (15/15 HP, 1 temp HP) | Minor Curse (-2 to AC and saving throws lest you Strike)
➤ Olegaro (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 19 w Steel Shield) (-2/19 HP, 1 temp HP) | Grabbed (DC 18 to Escape). Drained 1, Dying 1
Blood-sucking Creature (-6 HP) | w Standard Cover, Hidden, Quickened 1
➤ Moist Definitely (☘️ 2/3) (AC 15) (12/12 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Hanu, Friend of the Wood (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
Each time you get a full night’s rest, your drained value decreases by 1. This increases your maximum Hit Points, but you don’t immediately recover the lost Hit Points.
Thankfully, he brings his shield up to reduce the damage he may take.
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Moist stays back from the thick of it, and thinks on his dreams. In these moments he doesn't get "lost in them," so to speak. It's more that he remembers them to call interesting parts of those experiences into being. In this case he manifests a set of dancing lights behind the creature which begin a flashing, dazzling light show.
Failure The creature is dazzled until the start of your next turn and must attempt a new save against the spell whenever it starts its turn adjacent to the lights.
Critical Failure As failure, but the creature is also fascinated by the lights until the start of your next turn.
He then raises one forearm, across which his mind manifests a force shield that he hides behind. He peeks around it to see how the creature reacts to his light display.
The creature is temporarily dazzled by the blinding light brought upon by the grippli psychic! He then forms a shield with his imagination.
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage (from Round 1 to Round 4): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.
Terrain Features: ! Black circles are trunks of 30-ft-ish trees that can provide Standard Cover (+2 to AC, Reflex, Stealth; can Hide).
! The rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet. Squares with fallen trunks and rocks are Difficult Terrain.
! The hole with fallen trunks on the left is 10 ft deep. The trunk stretches 20 feet in length; crossing it requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check to Balance. Alternatively, you can attempt to scale the nearby 10-ft high walls with a successful DC 15 Athletics check to Climb.
ENCOUNTER MAP
Other Notes: ☘️ - Hero Points
❖❖❖CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT!❖❖❖
➤ Rybar (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17) (17/17 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Zepth (☘️ 2/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Otani Yoshitsugu (☘️ 2/3) (AC 18, 19 w Shield) (15/15 HP, 1 temp HP) | Minor Curse (-2 to AC and saving throws lest you Strike)
➤ Olegaro (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 19 w Steel Shield) (5/19 HP) | Grabbed (DC 18 to Escape), Drained 1 | Steel Sheild (5/20 HP, Broken)
Blood-sucking Creature (-6 HP) | w Standard Cover, Hidden, Quickened 1, Dazzled (until start of Moist's turn in Round 2)
Moist Definitely (☘️ 2/3) (AC 15) (12/12 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Hanu, Friend of the Wood (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
Each time you get a full night’s rest, your drained value decreases by 1. This increases your maximum Hit Points, but you don’t immediately recover the lost Hit Points.
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Tracing his path towards the distant melee, Hanu holds aloft his staff and twirls it with a practiced whirl, slowly at first, then gaining speed and centripetal velocity, causing the local flora to gather into a miniature vortex that begins to surround our primal primate, green and vital, and his aura grows, until, with a swinging motion, a miniature cyclone breaks off from the central windstorm, and hurls itself at the bloodsucker, cutting and slashing with violent currents!
◇) Release
◆) Stride
◆) Channel Elements
◇) Elemental Blast
◆) Shield
↺) Shield Block
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Rybar runs to the side of Olegaro, and tries to use his training to generate a personal weakness for this Chupacabra. He digs into his pouches of esoterica, and finds a bit of garlic. He slices the garlic in half using his hatchet, closes in on his target and swings his small axe at it.
◆Exploit Vulnerability (-2 for standard cover)
◆Stride (moves to east of Chupacabra)
◆
(+2 for weakness)
Hanu drops his weapon and calls the elements of Air from another Plane to blast at the creature. Both the attacks miss though before he raises his shield.
Rybar knows it has no weakness to exploit. Nevertheless, he can make it more personal with the blood-sucking creature. His attack is also a miss.
Zepth states the obvious and heals Olegaro, not much but enough to keep him alive.
Otani throws another javelin but it goes sideways.
Olegaro attempts to escape to no avail. Even his attack is not effective.
The chupacabra ◇ releases Olegaro and ◆ claws him.
The attack misses, fortunately. It then ◆ moves around the tree stump and ◆ Pounces the vanara!
slashing damage
It scratches his face but thankfully he blocks some damage with his Shield. it then ◆ runs among some tree stumps nearby.
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage (from Round 1 to Round 4): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.
Terrain Features: ! Black circles are trunks of 30-ft-ish trees that can provide Standard Cover (+2 to AC, Reflex, Stealth; can Hide).
! The rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet. Squares with fallen trunks and rocks are Difficult Terrain.
! The hole with fallen trunks on the left is 10 ft deep. The trunk stretches 20 feet in length; crossing it requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check to Balance. Alternatively, you can attempt to scale the nearby 10-ft high walls with a successful DC 15 Athletics check to Climb.
ENCOUNTER MAP
Other Notes: ☘️ - Hero Points
❖❖❖CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT!❖❖❖
➤ Rybar (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17) (17/17 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Zepth (☘️ 2/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Otani Yoshitsugu (☘️ 2/3) (AC 18, 19 w Shield) (15/15 HP, 1 temp HP) | Minor Curse (-2 to AC and saving throws lest you Strike)
➤ Olegaro (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 19 w Steel Shield (5/20 HP, Broken)) (10/19 HP) | Drained 1
Blood-sucking Creature (-6 HP) | Quickened
➤ Moist Definitely (☘️ 2/3) (AC 15) (12/12 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Hanu, Friend of the Wood (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (13/18 HP) | Kinetic Aura active
Each time you get a full night’s rest, your drained value decreases by 1. This increases your maximum Hit Points, but you don’t immediately recover the lost Hit Points.
Olegaro takes the opportunity to attack the creature while it leaves him but it misses. Moist flies over the (amped) dancing lights close to the creature but it is already immune to its dazzling effects. He then cautiously moves and raises the shield again.
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Raising his staff in one hand, he reaches with his other in the opposite direction, pulling east and west, as his body begins to sprout twigs and other flora - the two trees adjacent to the bloodsucker then "clap" together, smacking it between them, while immediately in the ground in front of him, another tree grows spontaneously from a saproling to an oak, itself swaying with primal energy, protective of the man and monkey nearby!
◆) Elemental Blast
◆◆) Timber Sentinel
A slim, symmetrical tree travels from the Plane of Wood. You conjure a tree within 30 feet, as a Protector Tree spell of a rank equal to half your level rounded up. If you use this impulse again, any previous one ends, and an ordinary tree remains.
Protector Tree
A Medium tree suddenly grows in an unoccupied square within range. The tree has AC 10 and 10 Hit Points. Whenever an ally adjacent to the tree is hit by a Strike, the tree interposes its branches and takes the damage first. Any additional damage beyond what it takes to reduce the tree to 0 Hit Points is dealt to the original target. The tree isn't large enough to impede movement through its square.
If the tree is in soil and survives to the end of the spell's duration, it remains as an ordinary, non-magical tree, and continues to grow and thrive. The GM might determine that the tree disappears immediately in certain inhospitable situations.
If Olegaro misses, Rybar takes the chance to retaliate in his stead and his weapon connects!
Olegaro follows it but is having a hard time to hit, perhaps he is drained too much.
Hanu calls the aid of the forest but smacking the creature with the surrounding branches of the trees close to the creature is too slow for it. He calls upon another tree to give them protection.
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage (from Round 1 to Round 4): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.
Terrain Features: ! Black circles are trunks of 30-ft-ish trees that can provide Standard Cover (+2 to AC, Reflex, Stealth; can Hide).
! The rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet. Squares with fallen trunks and rocks are Difficult Terrain.
! The hole with fallen trunks on the left is 10 ft deep. The trunk stretches 20 feet in length; crossing it requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check to Balance. Alternatively, you can attempt to scale the nearby 10-ft high walls with a successful DC 15 Athletics check to Climb.
ENCOUNTER MAP
Other Notes: ☘️ - Hero Points
❖❖❖CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT!❖❖❖
➤ Rybar (☘️ 0/3) (AC 17) (17/17 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Zepth (☘️ 2/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Otani Yoshitsugu (☘️ 2/3) (AC 18, 19 w Shield) (15/15 HP, 1 temp HP) | Minor Curse (-2 to AC and saving throws lest you Strike)
Olegaro (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 19 w Steel Shield (5/20 HP, Broken)) (10/19 HP) | Drained 1
Blood-sucking Creature (-20 HP) | Quickened
Moist Definitely (☘️ 2/3) (AC 15) (12/12 HP, 1 temp HP)
Hanu, Friend of the Wood (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (13/18 HP) | Kinetic Aura active
Each time you get a full night’s rest, your drained value decreases by 1. This increases your maximum Hit Points, but you don’t immediately recover the lost Hit Points.
Rybar's hatchet does not connect, but almost. He then goes behind the tree. Zepth gets closer and sends electricity at the creature!
But it is much quicker than the spark and is not hurt at all. Meanwhile, Otani is able to slice through the beast, hurting it in the process.
It ◆ pounces Rybar this time!
piercing damage
And ◆ scratches him!
piercing damage
That brings down Rybar. It ◆ runs away again and ◆ farther away, as if it tries to be chased.
Party Conditions: Inspire Courage (from Round 1 to Round 4): +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.
Terrain Features: ! Black circles are trunks of 30-ft-ish trees that can provide Standard Cover (+2 to AC, Reflex, Stealth; can Hide).
! The rocks to the north rise to a height of 20 feet. Squares with fallen trunks and rocks are Difficult Terrain.
! The hole with fallen trunks on the left is 10 ft deep. The trunk stretches 20 feet in length; crossing it requires a successful DC 12 Acrobatics check to Balance. Alternatively, you can attempt to scale the nearby 10-ft high walls with a successful DC 15 Athletics check to Climb.
ENCOUNTER MAP
Other Notes: ☘️ - Hero Points
❖❖❖CHARACTER IN ➤ BOLD TYPEFACE CAN ACT!❖❖❖
➤ Zepth (☘️ 2/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (18/18 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Otani Yoshitsugu (☘️ 1/3) (AC 18, 19 w Shield) (15/15 HP, 1 temp HP) | Minor Curse (-2 to AC and saving throws lest you Strike)
➤ Olegaro (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 19 w Steel Shield (5/20 HP, Broken)) (10/19 HP) | Drained 1
➤ Rybar (☘️ 0/3) (AC 17) (0/17 HP) | Dying 1
Blood-sucking Creature (-31 HP) | Quickened
➤ Moist Definitely (☘️ 2/3) (AC 15) (12/12 HP, 1 temp HP)
➤ Hanu, Friend of the Wood (☘️ 1/3) (AC 17, 18 w Shield) (13/18 HP) | Kinetic Aura active
Each time you get a full night’s rest, your drained value decreases by 1. This increases your maximum Hit Points, but you don’t immediately recover the lost Hit Points.