Thinking about it more, this combat is a little tough, because its all of the party, then all of the bad guys, split up a bit more I could see it having more uses or in a instance where Violant acts first and I respond before any else posts, then it gives everyone a clear indication of what my character's actions/intentions will be.
Samael tries and fails to slice the golem twice, his knife making nothing but fancy sparks ring out on the golem's tough exterior.
Oppa command Doxie and her teeth roil with ice-y frost as she just barely is able to bite the creature once, owing her success to flanking she has.
Wilbur smashes down another section of wall, now a 10 foot wide section is freed up, while Lyra fires off some needle darts but the darts plink against the Clay Golem without much effect.
clay golem will save:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 For a brief moment everyone beholds the air around the golem ripple as it seems to accelerate and perform a number of different before visible locking into one, showing it plans to Punch Doxie.
Ning suffers some of the damage that Kwan took from the fungus fist. Unfortunately Kwan feels something get into him when the fungal fist broke skin, he's bleeding slightly and the wound burns.
Kwan shields Yuranosuke and attempts a counterstrike but misses, he brings his katana around for the backswing and succeeds in slicing the Fungus. His sword cuts through the spongey flesh of the Myceloid more more than he was expecting.
Ayane tries to sing but starts coughing on some spores and barely ekes out an inspiring whistle, and badly throws a rock in the general direction.
Ning provides some much needed healing, between Kwan and Ning they restore him nearly back to health, he looks better but the veins around his earlier wound are already streaking with purple.
Yura designates his preys and brings his Shaun Ji around but misses twice.
ah I misunderstood you, as it pertains to this spell, the way I'm reading and from these two different discussions on the spell here and here and this random youtube video examining the spell here
Basically though you cast the spell, I make a will save, depending on my save result, I have to commit to doing those actions on my next turn or losing those actions.
so you cast it, and I fail the save, I commit to the actionsof: I attack Doxie and I attack Oppa.
Now knowing that, Oppa and Doxie decide to withdraw or go invisible or make themselves unable to be attacked, then I lose my 2 actions on my turn that I committed earlier.
Let me know if you want to do something different or stick with your turn, I'll roll my save and commit to actions based on my result
the way I read it, is you make me commit to doing something on my next turn, at the time of casting the spell. So if I said "I strike Doxie" and doxie ends up moving and is no longer a viable target but there are other targets available, I have to will make save to not try and follow doxie to strike her and to fulfill my action as part of the spell.
Oppa and Doxie move up to the wall, with doxie ducking inside to take cover just as Violant launches a violent sonic explosion on the wall and roof overhead catching the Boggards.
One of them just barely avoids the blast, the other was less fortunate and explodes in a spray of frog guts.
The walls and ceiling take considerable damage. most of the walls and ceiling in the are around yall take 15 pts of damage of 32 hp. Basically any more of the sections that are just above ground level are 1 hit from their broken threshold and not far from being collapsed in.
Boggards 1 and 2 move another 60 feet, on land they aren't the quickest creatures. Boggard 3, covered in his nearby friends guts, is enraged at Violant.
And casts a spell, a green acidic hand reaches out and grabs her trying to pull her closer.
Reflex Save DC 21:2d8 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6
The Draconic Golem finishes powering up to life and lumbers toward the commotion, it walks slowly up to Doxie and Oppa and punches one of them.
doxie high, oppa low:1d20 ⇒ 11
Lyra and Wilbur slam into the wall again, a large hole has been punched through it, nearly breaking through.
the section has gained the broken condition, is at 12/32 hp
Lyra and Oppa can see inside this first entryway, The interior walls of this hallway are covered with six-inch wooden spikes carved to resemble dragon’s teeth. Along the north wall stand four wooden doors, and a statue of a humanoid dragon stands in the center of the room.
The humanoid dragon statue eyes glow bright red and smoke begins to emit from its mouth as the statue comes alive.
Arcana or Crafting DC29:
This is a Clay Effigy, lay effigies are crafted in the image of a deity and used as guardians of tombs or sacred crypts. Clay effigies have the power to lay curses upon their victims as punishment for intrusion, leading many to believe that these oft-ancient constructs have a touch of the divine in them. Out of an abundance of caution, superstitious folk still tread lightly around elaborate or particularly well-crafted statues that resemble clay effigies even in the slightest. Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, mental, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, spirit, unconscious, vitality, void; Resistances physical 10 (except adamantine), spells 10 (except cold, earth, or water)
Lyra abandons the wall and charges back into the water, both her and Wilbur attacking the giant croc, but only Lyra is able to score a blow doing minor damage.
Sam tries a dirty trick but the Croc bucks him off and into the water, discombobulated(prone in the water?) but Samael is still able to flick a dagger out and score a pretty good hit on the creatures underside.
Oppa empowers Doxie who leaps at the Crocodile, delivering a bite to the back of its neck.
Stom brings his axe down hard, returning the favor with a counter critical blow. but has no luck knocking the creature prone or with his second attack.
Violant launches what would normally be a thundering spell it instead gurgles with acid. Deinosuchus reflec:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34 But the creature half submerged in the water avoids the worst of it.
The Boggard Swampseers run to get a closer look, another joining the rampart having from from near the front of the building.
The Deinosuchus is only an animal and after a brutal beatdown, it just received, it knows better than when to push a losing fight. It withdraws into the Swamp.
Samael, Oppa and Lyra rush forward out of the mist, with Lyra sending a cracking force blast into the hardened clay wall as if she intends to bring the wall down.
Violant prepares herself with mirror magic while remaining in the mist and water.
Stom rages, the water bubbling around him, and prepares an attack incase something tries to attack him or Violant within the mist.
The Boggard Swampseer on the wall croaks and nearly falls off the rampart as a bunch of humanoids come charging out of the mist. It begins croaking loudly, in a signaling manner. Stomping and waving its spear.
The Deinosuchus(giant crocodile) surges in the water, its back surfacing its eyes looking around with hungry intent. left group1, right group2:1d2 ⇒ 1. It cruises forward toward Stom, Violant and Samael still hidden in the mist.
Stom brings his axe down to bear on the Crocodile as it enters the mist.
“what?” it asks softly. “I told you,” it says, voice small now, wounded. “They vanished.”
But the lie lands poorly, everyone in the group can tell. Its smile twitches a little too late. A little too wide. “I did not hurt them,” it says carefully. “Not at first.” The creatures eyes grow with a hungry look. Spores on its body start to drift off, as the myceloid body vibrates every so slightly, it eyes each of you "I suppose I’ll have to settle for a banquet instead of a snack!”
“I had a home once,” the myceloid says softly. “Deep below the earth. Warm caves. Soft soil. Singing spores drifting through the dark” Their expression twists. “But they drove me out, I found this grove, the kodama here were kind to me. They welcomed me beneath the trees. Shared their home. Then one day they were simply gone. But perhaps one of you could stay awhile?” they ask carefully. “Just overnight. Share a meal with me. Talk.”
Ning:
You don't believe a single thing this creature has said
Ayane knows that this is a Myceloid, The ambulatory fungus creatures called myceloids are notorious for spreading deadly purple pox, controlling creatures' minds, and devouring humanoid flesh. For a myceloid colony, any battle with humanoids is cause for excitement, as this new fodder presents so many delicious and satisfying possibilities. Myceloids eat communal meals consisting of a series of corpses, beginning with creatures they killed in combat, followed by any that died in service while controlled by Spore Domination. As they dine, they offer tasting notes, claiming they can taste intangibles like innocence or despair. They save any creature that died from purple pox as dessert. The new myceloid birthed from the corpse gets the first slice!
They are capable of spreading deadly disease and if they are hit too hard they are known to explode, spreading disease dust over the area. The disease they can spread can kill a humanoid within days for the particularly hard or as quickly as few minutes for those with weak constitutions.
“Oh... no. Not anymore.” The mushroom-humanoid brushes a hand lovingly along the mold-covered bark of a nearby willow. “The grove takes care of me. Feeds me. Keeps me warm when the nights get cold and empty.”
Giving a firm nod, "Thank you, I don't believe I've seen you in the village before, welcome, if you're going out in the wilds I am running low on Ren Shen(Red Ginseng Root) and Bai Shao(White Peony Root)," With that she steps back behind the curtain to her back room and alchemical workshop to continue whatever it was she was doing.
With little else to do, your group sets off, each with a dose of antiplague. Its a longer walk, though easiest to stick to the road it still takes about 3 hours to get to the South and to the grove. The locals are familiar with the particular willow grove, it was a frequent location for romantic getaways for youths, close enough to the village and protected by a more lenient Kodama.
The creek-side road diminishes to a trail here as it approaches the once-idyllic grove of willow trees, but today, the foliage has become overgrown with sheets of gray and pale yellow fungi. More colorful spotted mushrooms or warty toadstools grow where underbrush once did.
As you push deeper into the grove, you eventually spot movement between the trees. A hunched figure steps carefully from behind a willow trunk, its body covered in layered fungal shelves and soft white fuzz. A broad mushroom cap sprouts from one shoulder like a parasol. Wet black eyes blink at the party. The creature startles dramatically , clutching at its chest. “Oh! Visitors?” it says in Common, voice airy and damp. “Please, please, don’t be frightened,"
funnily enough, your stealth rolls were enough to beat the boggard guard right over head, just not enough to beat the giant prehistoric 2-ton crocodile that lurks in this swamp
I was trying to make a border to show the roof's edge basically, there is a thin rampart/walkway that has boggard guards patroling before it then slopes up to a more natural roof.
The clay walls are rough and have periodic handholds, requiring a DC 17 Athletics check to Climb.
Also, they appear to only be made of hardened clay, its entirely possible for someone to koolaid man their way through if they were strong enough/could do enough damage, which I'm all for seeing happen just for the sheer chaos of upending the natural order lol
Your group tries to sneak in under the cover of mist, but turns out its much harder than you imagined trying to swim and sneak through the muck.
You hear something large displace the water and feel it surge through the water towards your group, though the mist blinds you as much as it conceals you.
The water isn't hard to swim through, you don't have to make athletic checks but it its all difficult terrain unless you have a swim speed or make an athletics check once per turn to actually "swim" for the round
Wagging her finger, "those giant eyes of yours wont work on me this time, you keep those paws where I can see 'em," she looks to the others, "Thank you Yuranosuke, now besides these antiplagues, is there anything else I can get you?"
The swamp water is only 5 feet deep but the soft muddy ground makes walking impossible even for those taller than 5 feet, y'all can make stealth checks but also will need athletic checks to swim, the swim isn't terribly hard
Getting closer, you guys can see 4 boggards patrolling the rampart of the citadel, it looks the only way to access the rampart is a ladder. More of a scaffolding than a true rampart to provide overlook on the nearby swamp water.
Nodding, the ageless Elf fiddles and starts to peruse through different bottles, picking some up, opening them and sniffing them before putting them back while she listens to Kwan's request, "mmmm I see, I had a feeling you would need some alchemy supplies no doubt, I started brewing extra just in case. I was starting to think you had forgot about old So-Jin or not. But I'm happy to see you didn't and more than happy to help you with your request," she offers a playful wink to Kwan, smiling, "Now lets see here, one, two, three, four, oh five, six. Almost didn't see you down there Ayane, keep your nose out of where it doesn't belong," she adds sternly, before putting a few potions down on the counter, "Here, six antiplagues, you said disease right? You can have these ones on me this time, but don't forget about me again. Why you didn't even check up on me during the attack!"
Also, I forgot, but within the city limits you get a +1 status bonus to Survival, Medicine and Society checks from the blessing of the three coins way back in chapter one. I gotta annotate that somewhere...
Your group moves to bid Great Willow ado when he holds up a tiny hand "wait wait, you gave me a gift, I should give you one in return," he walks back under the roots of the tree and rummages around in whatever that space may be before coming back out with a length of silk rope, "its a magic rope, it will extend if you tell it too but only once a day so use it wisely if you need it,"
With that your group heads off to Graveside Manners (W4) which is another 45 minute walk from the tree to the alchemist shop, entering inside a tiny bell rings when you enter the small cemetary house. An elf, You So-Jin comes out of a backroom separated by a cloth tapestry, "Ah I was wondering when you'd show up. I'm guessing you need something?"
You So-Jin at Graveside Manners the herbalist/alchemist/burial ground/cemetary house would definitely sell Antiplague which would help with diseases, its expensive but she could probably be talked into knocking down the price. Alternatively, you could also take samples of the fungus and ask You So-Jin to make a vaccine but would require waiting a day or two [/url]
Examining further, The swamp water surrounding the fortress is 5 feet deep. To reach the fortress, you'll have to swim, fly, or take a boat, and must Avoid Notice as they approach if they want to keep from being detected. The fortress palisades surround the central building like a ledge, rising 15 feet out of the water. Several 30-foot-high watchtowers break up this palisade ledge. The central building is 20 feet tall and flat-roofed, save for the area at the rear of the fortress, which rises another 20 feet in height with a domed ceiling. The fortress walls are made of hard-packed clay. There are dragon pillars similar to what you have already destroyed though these seem to not be active right now. They look dormant.
To give y'all the vantage point, I'm gonna say Renali helped you guys climb a nearby tree to get a better vantage point before the swamp water got too deep
Most of the locals are familiar with the Grove Great Willow is talking about, its about 5-6 miles to the south (D7 on the hex map), it is a popular spot for young lovers to spend time, its an idyllic grove of willow trees with a small pond.
Looking to Shen, "Thank you, you may examine the fungus, I have caught it in time to stop its growth but, my friend's grove is completely overrun, seemingly overnight. I can't imagine they would let it get that bad without asking for help from the other spirits in the area. I am worried,"
your group could make it there by the evening. Would be about 30 minutes to hike down the hill, then about 3 hours to walk there.
Shen you take a look at the fungus and think its relatively harmless if contained like Great Willow has done. Though left to fester, would definitely produce Slime moulds which is a type of Ooze.
general info about slime moulds:
A slime mold appears as a mound of earth and detritus covered in a thick layer of fungus that exudes a faint stink of decay. The fungus shares a symbiotic relationship with the slime mold, serving as an external digestive system while gaining access to the nutrients it needs. The ooze remains perfectly still until living prey passes within reach, then it lashes out with its disgusting pseudopods. With a touch, a slime mold can infect its prey with a foul contagion known as slime rot, a horrific disease that painfully breaks down a victim's flesh. At first, the disease manifests as painful rashes and agonized joints. In the later stages, though, the flesh of the affected creature begins to liquefy and run in rivulets as the creature's spores continue to work. Death, when it occurs, swiftly causes the resulting body to split open and release a brand-new slime mold.
“Scouting is wise,” she hisses quietly. “Belmazug has become paranoid lately. More patrols. More guards near her chambersss.”
She glances toward Renali with visible respect. “The spider woman probably already saw more than I could.”
Renali folds her arms, silk line still swaying faintly above her. “The fortress sits on firmer ground than the surrounding swamp,” she says. “Only a few safe approaches without sinking knee-deep into mud. The cultists know that.” Her expression darkens slightly. “There are watchfires near the outer perimeter. Charau-ka patrols. Boggards too.”
Hezle and Renali are able to guide you close enough you can make out the fortress well enough. Thick roots of gnarled trees crisscross this portion of the jungle, as the sodden earth gives way to the waters of a darkened swamp. A squat fortress made of red clay rises out of the murky water, surrounded by towering dragon-shaped pillars topped with blazing bonfires.
Looking off to the distance, to the borders, "There is a powerful one curse at work. I can feel its edges all around. We are in a cage now. When it happened on the first day of summer, I was confused. I was alone. I could not hear my friends’ voices. I jumped to visit my closest friend and they were not there, but a foul-tempered mushroom was, and I had to run away all the way back to here. Alone. I don’t know what to do. I dare not leave this tree again when this curse is all, but I can look for its edges from here. I will tell you more, but before I do, I need to know my friend is safe. You will go to save her from the angry mushroom, and then I will help.”
Shen:
This fungal infestation does appear to be contained, you imagine with the tree spirits magic and the size of the Great Willow it should be able to purge it before too long, though without the Kodama this would likely spread quickly. It doesn't look deadly, more akin to the beginning stages of slime mould.
Nodding to Yuranosuke, "I think I remember you, thought you were just a nosy raccoon, running through my tree branches, you're lucky I was tired," He then looks right at Ayane when he mentions raccoon, like he thinks she is a pest, "You can call me Great Willow, I am the tree and the tree is me,"
Your group, refreshed heads out to end things with the Cinderclaws for good, sneaking up to the Fortress of Sorrow, Renali drops from the treetops on a line of spider silk, "There is someone awaiting in the bushes along our route, a kobold, I'm not sure if this is a trap,"
Moving forward cautiously, a familiar face steps out with her hands up, its Hezle the Kobold alchemist you met at the poisoned gold mine. Voice like a hiss, "The dragon shield is down, you've disabled all of the pillars then, yesss?" I found the rest of my kobold tribe, they are safe, they were sick from the mine but have gotten better, thank you for sparing me, I am not sure what we'll do when the Cinderclaw are defeated and the Elves retake control of their territory. For now, though, remember you promised to try and rescue the leader of our tribe, he is being held prisoner by Belmazug. His name is Kyrion, I am sure he is kept wherever Belmazug is. What's your plan for attack?"
The Great Willow's expression lights up at the presentation of a shimenawa, the rewarding hard work reduced the DC to 4 lol
Lowering their fists, They speak in a tiny, almost childlike voice, but
in a slow and very methodical manner, as if taking care with their word selection "Wow, that looks really well made, it will make a fine addition to my collection," it says, spreading a hand toward the Great Willow tree itself where you all can see hundreds of unique Shimenawa's dangling from the branches interspersed among the willow leaves. Its hard not to notice the fungus, "An infection I brought back from a visit to check on a friend to the south. I am fighting it back but I fear for my friend,"
Ayane, Kwan and Yuranosuke work together to make a pretty nice quality shimenawa that you believe will make a fine offering.
Setting out, its only a 25 minute hike up the hill to reach the Great Willow, its about a mile but all up hill. As you start to reach the top The forest thins around the hilltop, leaving an eighty-foot-diameter clearing at its summit. Atop the hill in the center of the clearing grows the Great Willow—the only willow tree present in much of the forest. Looming at a height of nearly ninety feet, the Great Willow is also quite large for its kind. Yet the reason the Great Willow has held such a place of reverence in Willowshore’s history has more to do with the spirit said to dwell within it. At least a few years have passed since anyone has visited the Great Willow, but even from the clearing’s edge, it’s apparent that something seems amiss with the tree, for some sort of gray fungal growth has seemingly infested its lower roots.
Standing there, admiring the tree, a small wood like creature emerges from the roots, standing defensively, tiny fists upraised ready to defend its tree. It isn't much taller than Ayane. Before you're able to get within 30 feet of it, it calls out "Who are you that dares approach the Great Willow!"
Yeah just expanding, this one feels like they packed a lot of level ups into the adventure. Spoiler, you’re expected to end this book at level 9. You get all of one dungeon/fortress at level 8. Feels like it’s moving really fast
Also re reading through, I forget this is a 1-20 adventure path sometimes with the intent being actually level 20 lol. Because of this, you all should level up to 8 before assaulting the Fortress of Sorrow
Samael spends time disabling the pillar, a deft hand at this point, once it powers down, he notices the air loses a little bit of its electrical charge.
He moves to stealth away.
sam stealth:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34 and is gone before the creatures guarding the pillar can comprehend why its no longer powered up.
All that remains is A13, right across the water from where you guys are at. Its been a long, grueling 30 days in the jungle. I'd be prepping spells and making final preparations for assaulting a fortress. Let me know when we are ready to proceed
Gm roll to see how successfully Oppa straps a bomb to Doxie's back:
crafting:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Oppa you feel pretty confident that you've strapped the powder keg to Doxie's back in such a way that she could quickly release it to land on the ground Doxie can release the barrel as an action.
fast forwarding time
Samael tries to sneak through the sheets of rain and lightning toward the yellow pillar. Lyra you again notice something in the trees above, though not dragons. They look like something you've fought already, Sabosans, humanoid blood drinking man-bat creatures.
Samael you are able to sneak up to the pillar, you notice the air feels charged with electricity, all your hairs are standing on end.
Its only about a 20-30 minute walk up the hill to get to the Great Willow if you guys want to do that first instead of retrieving the boats, let me know
Frowning, "unpleasant news, confirms there was angry spirits still from that nasty business but they had no part in the Governor's disappearance now,"
She spreads the map thing again, "look here, we need to determine if this fog is preventing us from reaching the Coast and Karahai or if it has trapped us entirely. It'd be long, dangerous and pointless to walk the edge of the fog for the whole region, no. Instead, I think you pay a visit to the Great Willow(W29) and beseech the spirit that lives in it for whatever wisdom it has on what's affecting us,"
locals of willowshore:
Willowshore’s Great Willow (area W29) sits atop a hill overlooking town, a visible landmark and a source of pride among many locals. Said to be the first place Master Zhi Hui visited on her search for the Tan Sugi, the tree has endured through the years as one of the town’s symbols, yet no road or trail has ever been laid to the hill’s summit. Everyone knows that a spirit dwells within the tree, a kami who calls themself Great Willow and who watches over the town, yet few feel it’s wise to disturb or potentially annoy the spirit. As such, visits to Great Willow tend to happen rarely, and only at times when Willowshore needs advice from the spirit world
Nature DC 16 or Willowshore Lore DC 14:
An offering is usually customary, wine or sake suffices
Nature DC 26 or Willowshore Lore DC 24:
A really great offering would be a custom-made, hand-crafted twisted rope known as a shimenawa. The spirit uses them to drape over tree branches or to create spiritual ropes in its likeness
