Rootabega Flanus's page

'Heeeeelp!'
The frightened elf's screams rip into the night
'There's another one in here somewhere...perfect...account for the wind this time...and we should have a big sticky doofus about to turn into a snowball and roll down the hill'
Root hurls his final tanglefoot bag at the beast, with a grunt-turned-scream
ranged touch +5:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
After hurling the bag, Root takes a 5' step away from the beast and towards Eitri
'Here's someone we can agree on killing Dwarf, although what you do with it after that is totally up to you"

I need a group init. please!

initiative:1d20 ⇒ 15

Staring at the figure as it charges out of the blizzard, Root is filled with an unexpected feeling of calm
"Huh, I must not be sober after all..."

Yeah, I'm pleasantly surprised with the Druid's general ability to have a clue w/r to the game system

Root makes eye contact with his fellow watchers as he retrieves and throws a large bag with one smooth movement.

ranged touch at the figure with a tanglefoot bag 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

previously rolled (see further up when choosing shift) 16+9=25
Unaware of his upcoming nudity, Root puts in a pretty good impression of a diligent member of the watch

"Psst, hey, isn't there something a little off about that snow eddy?"

"Whaaaa?"
Root leaps up from a deep slumber, ears twitching and a grin spreading across his pointy features:
"Nude, count me in! Tell me more about those bedsheets, dreamboat."
quick as a wink Root is out of his armour and racing around the snowdrifts leaping, laughing and happy about the lack of caltrops. He tries to tackle Borondon with an easily avoidable leap. At some point he returns to the fire to warm up.

good to have the ruling on entangle before any combat here! Root'll have to switch the entangle out come dawn - it'll work nicely as a 'summon nature's ally if required before then' - which reminds me, I should check the duration, the list of creatures for level one was sad.

Root enjoys his time puttering around the defences. Failing to use anything sharp, he tries to talk one of the rogues into using snow-buried ropes tied to rocks to trip potential assailants.

"We could also roll large rocks onto the paths and bury them beneath the snow he muses, caught up in his project"

"Mott, what's a remuda horse?"

Root fusses about trying to entice the drifts of snow into forms for defencesurvival1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17.
Working with the guards, and anyone else available, he attempts to form and harden the drifts into limited ramparts to provide cover and maybe a bonus to attack and defence. Finally, he grabs one of the more martial minded of the dwarves and tries to figure out the lay of the land, likely routes of attack, and places where the vegetation beneath the snow will support 'entangle' spells. In the areas most likely to be crossed by attackers, Root plants caltrops close to the ground and under the snow unless there are no caltrops available in the party or in the caravan stores...

Root will take the midnight watch this time. Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Aunt Ferralia sits among several other older women, watching the pairings of the young Vagabond dancers like hawks overseeing a chicken coop. She nods to the druid and makes a gesture of good fortune his way.[/i]

"Feyling, ve had interseting times so far on this journey, yes?" Serrano calls out. Although he strives to be lighthearted in tone, Root can sense that the recent attacks have unsettled him.

"Interesting times all right, and we've attracted the attention of powerful creatures. It's the sort of combination that's likely to have us all turned into fertilizer before our time."

Root participates in Sondergang's service, surreptitiously slipping the stinking bag into one corpse pile or another. After the ceremony he slips away for a dust bath and a roll in some fragrant herbs. Dirty, leafy, and better smelling, he makes a half-hearted attempt to commune with the natural guardians of the area to figure out what happened
survival1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8.
'Here we go again' Root mutters to no-one in particular
Returning to camp Root checks in on his comrades and the girl. Although he has a token tankard (well, six) after a few minutes he retires to the company of the wanderers, preferring friendship to camaraderie.

'Please help us with this girl'
Root imposes on his new-found gypsie-like friends as they continue with their defensive preparations
'I'm sure the Lady Crystal can help you - I guess she's been through a lot and will have a lot to tell us.'
Looking down at the girl as he hands her over Crystal or Auntie? Root takes the opportunity to give her a quick once-over heal check1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
'You're a strong healthy lass, these folks will take good care of you.'

Before leaving, Root pulls his new friend (the 'gypsie man he spent part of the night drinking with) aside and whispers:
'Listen, this might not be the time, but I seem to have the smell of death about me...I'm comfortable with most of my odours, but this one is as hard to take as it is new. I'd almost rather smell like a dwarf! So what I'm asking is, do you have magic against this sort of thing?'

'Splitting it crown to crotch': kudos on the wordplay / graphic imagery.

Root bears down and concentrates on running towards the girl

And Root,Zombies like all corporeal undead are now subject to criticals

Thanks for the update. End of an era! Do you happen to know what the alignment for mindless undead is going to be?

Root's form is rigid with rage as the bird reports
'When will I learn, oh when will I learn? Yes, you saw a mouse, well done.'
Root closes his eyes and breathes deeply
'Next time I'm summoning you into a fire, enjoy thinking about that'
Dismayed by the not-unexpected results of the eagle's recce, Root looks around for someway to be useful, and hopefully his eyes wander to the form of the child rushing, screaming down the bank. With bow in hand he prepares to leap to the ground and sprint to her aid

I think undead are still immune to critical hits (but not sneak attacks) I base this on nothing.

'Shoulda shot Eitri - it'd be easier than telling him he's right about these #@$% Orcs'.
Root appears to be deep in thought as he mutters to himself
no actions this round, just waiting for the Eagle to pass on its scouting report - it has 6 seconds and I don't believe it shares a language with Rootabega.

LMAO Rootabaga may be the best/worst druid ever.

Thanks! There didn't seem to be a lot of creative space for atypical druids. Turns out, I was wrong: there's lots of ways to have a relationship with nature.

Hearing Navorn's warning, Rootabega springs into action; preparing his bow and keenly watching from his vantage point whilst waiting for his idiot eagle to return with 'tidings'
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
If he can see any undead no matter how far away, he will shoot:
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 241d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
cool maybe I'll pick off a dwarf if there are no undead in sight! ;}
anyway next roll is for crit:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

just want to confirm 'group initiative'. My understanding is that the first person to bother rolls and the rest of us simply apply our modifiers to that roll?
If that's true then Root has a 10 - thanks Bor. - +3 = 13. Let me know if I'm doing this right please.

Root watches the eagle soar into the sky and stares into the sun for a little too long.

'Arrrgh, we're being attacked by colourful spots'

"Here's an argument for NOT eating your spirit animal" mutters Root.
Sighing, he waves his arms a bit and summons an eagle summon nature's ally 1 - burns CLW for it and sends it high in the air to search for Orcs or other interesting creatures in the area.
Root finds a conspicuous high point among the caravans and keeps a sharp lookout while awaiting the bird's report. 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

with no martial training, intimidate, or diplomacy, Root is content with making the issue (security)known, and letting the 'professionals' look after their best interests.

Divel runs back through the woods to the caravan.

"Camp, murdered, orcs, gone."

"Oh. Oh. Uh-oh."

'And a good morning to you to'
Root looks around for someone he knows, finding no-one he addresses the air . 'What's up? Where is Crystal going in such a hurry? Where are the dwarves?'
He knuckles his eyes for a few moments and rubs his face with his palms before trying to get a sense of the situation our of his bleary eyes

Root'll take a -2 to perception due to his current state - likely a much larger penalty if the sense of smell is required. 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Hawking, scratching, stretching, then gagging; another new day for Rootabega Flanus.
just what is that stench? i'll be changing my name to 'Rot' if I don't get a bath soon
"Hey, is there breakfast, I'll puke if I have to choke down another vilebeeeeeeeerry"
Root, forgetting he had been exiled to the top rear of a baggage cart because of the exciting new smell, topples over backwards and off the side of the cart.
"Ouch."

"Good elf, that "beast" we slew was carrying these items. You might find them interesting." He drops the pouches at the elf druid's feet.

"Yeah, yeah" responds an impatient Root, tucking the pouches under his arm.

His friend Serrano is cooking up some breakfast in a skillet. The smell of fresh Garonan sausages fill the air. A few of the Vagabonds sport fresh dressings, pointing to recent wounds. Despite this, the air seems merry at the wagon. As Rootabega walks up, Serrano stands and claps him on the back.

"Friend Rootabega! Thank Desna the orcs didn't get you! I vas vorried, you vere fighting that big thing dere vith the bat wings?"

A tiny wizened woman in a rainbow-hued peasant skirt who took over cooking the sausages as Serrano rose to greet Root spits into the fire and makes the sign of the evil eye.

"Debil beasts on de rize, de dark forzez coome frum dat Dvarffish hellhoole in de mountains," She mutters in a thick accent.

Serrano glances back at the fire

"Hush Aunt Ferralia, now is not de time."

The old woman gives an audible 'FEH!' and returns to her sausages.

"Hrrmm. I know, we have several of the 'debil beasts' in this party alone. Root looks up from the tempting sausages: "Unless, you mean? ...

Tears still streaming from his eyes he leaps to catch the tray of sausages before it overturns, exchanging a scalded hand for breakfast.

"Haaah haaa haa, oh my indeed. So the orcs and assorted windged beasts are flocking from a nearby dwarven ruin? I, ah misunderstood - thought your dislike for the LFR's was a touch overdone, Serra."

Root looks over to Serrano: "Actually, I mostly hid under the wagon. But listen, your Aunt's story has piqued my curiosity, with your permission, I'd like to hear more?"

Selecting a goodberry from a belt pouch, Root holds up an empty glass and c@cks his head to Serrano while waggling the glass suggestively.

Root sees the Vagabond wagons fully up and aware. It is almost dawn, and the light is greying up. He is not sure, but he thinks he sees his conversation buddy Serrano GazGorno tending the campfire with a few others.

Root veers directly towards the campfire of Serrano to inquire about their health and to investigate early morning drinking.

I really appreciate the posts by Crystal. She's[?] doing the heavy lifting. Because the mood is already set, it makes it easy for me to have fun either going along with it or going against it. And I enjoyed the performance with the arrow in the back as well as Divel's reaction (which wouldn't have been possible without the awesome setup). Something should be done about these dwarves though.

"I hunt these beasts because they do things like this!" says Eitri pointing at the body of Tovar and staring at Root. "The money is only a means to an end. It allows me to buy things like food and better weapons, so I'm better equipped to fight monsters like the ones we just defeated. But if we allow these creatures to go unchecked they will commit more atrocities and kill more good men. I think I'll keep this, if you don't mind. I'm sure I can put it to better use than you."

With a belch and a hiccup Root turns on the Dwarf: "Beasts? I've seen what you greasy miners do to 'check' a threat. Besides, the only atrocity I saw tonight was that blob of lard flashing in the moonlight."

Muttering about where to find enough booze to 'drown the dwarves' Root pushes past Crystal.

hey, thanks for picking up the 'conversational gauntlet' nice to have interesting, angry, arguing heros!

Root's head bobs this way and that, trying to follow all of the action.
Holding his wand out by his belt, he makes a halting step towards the carriage: Arianna, little peach...
Just then he recognizes the importance of 'soldiers with shovels' and with a sigh he follows them to their fallen comrade.

On the way he overhears Eitri's comment and stops long enough to hand him five gold pieces. "There, if you're ever called on to slaughter me for gold you can say you've already collected. Careful when you're collecting scalps dwarf, in addition to disease, these orcs sometimes coat their topknots with poison in anticipation of just such a scene as this..."

Root then continues on the the location of the fallen where he makes sure the soldier is dead, and then takes his turn shoveling. He offers around a flask, and drinks heavily.

if anyone needs cure light wounds (clw) from the wand (currently 50 charges) just let me know how many charges you used and roll the d8+1 yourselves. I recommend saving your potions for when you REALLY need to heal yourself.

Divel follows Merzhan, plucking out arrows gently.

"Arrows. Good."

Root unships the party wand of cures and prepares to treat Divel. Instead, he stares fixated on the spectacle caused by Crystal and then at the young woman who emerges from the carriage.

He continues waving the wand idly, staring at the scene as a grin; part lascivious, mostly approving, spreads across his face.

"You should be fine now Divel..."

Panting, eyes crazed, it takes Root a few moments longer to shake off the bloodlust, but seeing the beast dead and the orcs fleeing, he cancels the entangle spell, sheaths his sword and then turns his attention to Merzham.

'Ouch' he mouths: "let me help with your wounds". And he casts a healing spell. clw d8+3=8 hand rolled

"Anyone else feel like some healing, or do we move straight to drinking?"

Saliva and sweat flying (and dripping) from his rage-twisted face Root presses his attack.
1d20+7=14, 1d10+4=6, 1d20+7=19, 1d10+4=10 oops, a formatting error there. I'll go with the first set of rolls and that looks like a miss!

Sorry to mess things up *bows in appology*

Wow, you should mess things up all the time!

Root hears the happy sounds of feeding bats in the background as he juggles brings his elven blade to the ready position and charges, screaming elven profanities, at the winged creature I wonder what that club feels like?
1d20+9=14 well, I was hoping for a better result than that. not going to bother rolling damage. I am trying to draw any attack of opportunity toward Root. The bats have this round to torment their victims before they do whatever it is they do at the end of the spell

Hey, thanks for the map update! Looks like Root will have to change his targeting and aim the swarm at the back-end of the pack near him. And immediately stop concentrating on it (will last two rounds and will attack the nearest creatures)

"Stupid orcs, now everyone gets to enjoy bat-wings" Root laughs as a fetid swarm of bats begins to rip the flesh from the bones of the rearmost two creatures.
Root then rolls clumsily out from under the wagon and stands up.
"Skull Lord's advent?" He snorts derisively. "These jesters come and go, lets have a mead, talk this over...find out what YOU want from this crazy world!"

Still need to know what to do about prepared spells.

I put mine in Root's profile. Works ok for me (have to have another tab open to use him anyway). So far no complaints from the DM or any of the players...I'm new but I get the feeling this is a 'do what works for you' kind of game - don't expect a lot of micromanagement.

"Hear that Eitri? It wants the humans, we're off the hook!"
Chuckling to himself, Root summons a swarm of bats. Aware of their tendency to surprise with their targets, Root aims the spell close to where he saw the most orcs stuck.
ideally Root's targets will form a delightful archipeligo allowing the bats to move from target to target without coming back towards the party until most of the orcs are dead. still, he knows how these things can turn out.
Bat basics: d6 damage, immune to weapon damage, nauseate (dc 11 if creature starts rounds in same square), cause 1 point of bleed damage (non cumulative), 13 hp, occupy 2 contiguous 5' squares
So Root's going to keep concentrating on the swarm until he has to move, it starts heading towards friendly targets, or the swarm is killed

"Hard to say Eitri, hard to say."
Root's voice muffled from his position somehow vibrates the wagon.
"Really though, it seems just the sort of thing a dwarven cleric would be eager (or should I say compelled?) to slay...but apparently you'd rather cram your bulbous dwarven buttocks into that nightmare metallic contraption..."
if you don't respond with a crack about Root's current position, I will be horribly disappointed! ;0

Ingra guards Borondon, she becomes a protective barrier letting him focus on offense and death-dealing, while she protects his exposed areas not protected by mighty dwarven steel! what level are we? I may cast a spell instead....

3rd level seems to be the norm

"Wow, winged ogres! What was in that stew! Still, wings huh?"
A wicked grin splits Root's face as he crawls under the wagon and begins casting another spell.
like Root to get prone under the wagon and begin casting a full-round-spell, summon swarm (bat). I'm unsure if it will take Root a full round to move back 5' and get under the wagon, but that does seem fair, and it will start his casting at the beginning of the next round.

shoooot! let me nip this in the bud, this is Root round#1, he cast the entangle during the surprise round. sorry to add to the confusion!

Root round 2
"Avoid the plants, friends. Here's some light to make compost by!"
Root waves his hands some more and produces a spot of light at the front of the horde zero level light spell at the top right of m19
With what might be mistaken for grim competence in another (any other), Root draws his elven blade and steps forward almost to the edge of the roiling roots.

well, if you're just planning on staying up the tree, there are some benefits to being entangled - you won't fall out of the tree, and you can still fire your bow. The save DC is pretty low...good luck?

right place at the right time!
Face rapt with joy, Root taps into the raw power of the earth and allows the plants to vent their silent rage on the orcs.
or he casts 'entangle' DC 14 reflex. 40' radius spread failure imparts the 'entangled' condition. Root casts it on the intersection of the lines between q/r and 21/22. Should catch all of the orcs, and those that make their save may have to save again unless they exit the area.

Root is on 20. 17 (someone else rolled) +3 for Root's bonus to initiative

Rootabega Flanus wrote:

Root sniffs the air...say, is that wild furtongue root you're using to season the stew? knowledge nature 1d20+6=17. What a fantastic idea! It would really mean a lot for me to join you in a bowl...?"

The man bows and gestures at the simmering pot.

"Please! Accept my vagon's courtesy feyling. It is indeed furtongue you smell, my Aunt Ferralia collects it ven ve traverse the Great Forest."

The man grabs a rough wooden bow and similar ladle. Root notes that the eating utensils are made with an almost Elven eye for detail, simple yet elegant. He hands them to Root.

"I am Serrano GazGorno, Tinker and silversmith, at your service."

"Serrano GazGorno Tinker, silversmith and wonderful host! Rootabega Flanus, glutton, layabout, and most recently 'mercenary'. Although I'm not too fond of THAT title"

Perhaps Root points his 'perception' in a fortunate direction while watering the shrubbery: 1d20+9=28

never been able to capture the JRR elves in an RPG. Not really player characters (or maybe the magic disappears whenever they are reduced to numbers?) Anyway, I'm really enjoying this character. Chose elf mostly because I don't like them, and I don't much care for druids - and who knew, it's lots of fun - although my playing of this character might not be considered iconic by some (most...all?)

oops, elves are back to sleeping. bad for elves in general, good for this character! looks like he'll be on the last watch if he can be

In response to the Vagabond's challenge Root smiles warmly and responds:
"Mostly sleep. And eat. Say, great workmanship on the belt - like the blouse too. And the murals on your wagons...really takes me back to my elven childhood. {Sigh} many a night we'd sit out under the stars and enjoy a good meal together."

Root sniffs the air...say, is that wild furtongue root you're using to season the stew? knowledge nature 1d20+6=17. What a fantastic idea! It would really mean a lot for me to join you in a bowl...?"

"Well theoretically we elves only need four hours of 'trance'. While I prefer closer to sixteen, as a special favour to you I could try four hours resting at the start of the evening and then spend the rest of the night awake?"

Root then wanders off to enjoy the company of the vagabonds.

"If they like nature, they're gonna looove me!" He hums happily to himself.

Later in the day, Root stretches mightily yawns and passes gas with a tremendous roar. After a good scratch, he takes in his surroundings. Perception 1d20+9=26

Root finds a comfy spot in a wagon carrying gear and allows the fresh air and bumping of the wheels to lull him to sleep.

I had Root spend 750 of his starting gold on a wand of clw. Happy to make that contribution...but wouldn't mind Root pulling a couple of hundred from the party treasury (like him to have a potion of invisibility just in case!)