Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday April 12th, 2023 7:41:13 AM
Having proven capable of literally tying the enemy in knots and being very mobile with her helmet Stohp swims towards the front, 2nd or 3rd in line. She indicates the mound with the visible entrance as her choice.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Wednesday April 12th, 2023 9:34:52 AM Status: Water breathing, Freedom of Movement Stock takes up his position as the vanguard. He gets out his flail and tests it in the water before pushing forward toward the mound with the opening.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=17 ; Wednesday April 12th, 2023 12:26:35 PM
Bartomus looked at each of the mounds and then over at his fellow Shields. He tried talking and saw merely a strand of swirling bubbles. He made a note of where Stohp and Stock started to move to and looked over at Zander to see if he was going upfront or not. He would fall in somewhere in that front to middle portion as best as he could without pulling or pushing everyone about. He tried using a tiny whirl of water and bubbles to point to the same mound that Stohp was pointing at.
Perception - rolled a one to get 16 - second now.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=48 ; Wednesday April 12th, 2023 2:56:45 PM {Swim speed 30ft, Darkvision, Water Breathing}
Delia takes her bow out and then follows after Stohp. She gravitates towards the front since she will need to be close to use her bow in the lake.
She keeps a watchful eye out for any nearby plant clusters, whether they look hungry, sentient, or otherwise. She also takes a moment to attune to the natural rhythms of the underwater terrain so that she can be alert to any changes in that rhythm.
========================= Perception: 48 (nat 20 to balance out Bart lol)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Wednesday April 12th, 2023 3:05:16 PM
Zander gestures to the opening they can see, thinking they'd work their way in from the outside. Being on of the less hindered by being underwater from his magic items he takes rearguard. "If we need more light I can cast Daylight on something. I would guess it might draw some attention though."
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 12th, 2023 11:24:36 PM
Stohp points toward the rightmost mound, with the visible entrance, as she moves into the 2nd or 3rd position in line.
Stock moves into the front of the lines, testing his flail along the way… which seems much happier being free to move…
Bartomus once more tried to speak, but if only he knew a language designed for underwater use… he manages some incomprehensible clicks and is glad no dolphins are nearby to chuckle over his attempts to use their clicks as some kind of simplified underwater language. He saw Stock and Stohp moving towards the rightmost mound, and then looked to see if Zanderallen was following them, and sees Zanderallen taking rear guard in the Shields’ formation, so Bartomus settles into the middle behind Stohp, once more sending gentle vortices to guide all of the Shields towards where Stock was leading them. Bartomus looks around a bit, and is quickly satisfied that no monstrous plants are coming to attack them.
Delia draws her bow as she swims after Stohp, not easily seeing Bartomus in water form, but once Delia attempts to take a position alongside Stohp, or perhaps back and to either side of Stohp, and then the “heavy water” becomes much more noticeable to her, and the gentle guiding vortices start up again, assuring her that she swims alongside and between Stohp and Bartomus. Delia has a keen eye out for any monstrous plant attackers, but sees none… for now.
Zanderallen has taken rear guard, flexing his unhindered underwater fighting ability, and suggests that he could cast Daylight if it was wise.
Armalad silently swims into a middle-front position parallel to Delia, gripping Second Elder’s Wrath as if her life depended on it, with Joker following just behind.
(OOC - SHIELDS’ northern (of the Float) cross formation:
Stock Stohp Delia and Bartomus and Armalad Zanderallen
(with Delia and Armalad alert for opportunities to “swim up” alongside Stohp for a better shot))
The northern cross stalks the Lake floor, and at times swims a few feet above it, as within three minutes the Shields arrive at the first mound. No monstrous plants to greet them it seems.
The rightmost mound is about a 50’ diameter hemisphere, with a 25’ high “ceiling.” The walls and ceiling of this dome appear to be made entirely from a mix of seaweed, reeds, kelp, and various other plant fibers. Gasps aren’t very audible when they’re from water instead of air, but nonetheless the superb natural knowledge of Armalad, Bartomus, and Delia causes each of the three to at lease pause in admiration of the organic structure and its architecture… and perhaps wonder if anyone on the Float could put this knowledge to use making underwater structures on the Lake floor directly beneath the Float.
Stock is at the front, and with his Darkvision he can see clearly inside… in black and white. Delia too, but being perhaps 10’ back can’t quite make out the farthest wall. Likewise Armalad with low-light vision can see fully inside, and in color, despite being perhaps 10’ back from Stock.
The three can all see that this mound appears empty, though someone or thing could hide just on the other side of the walls immediately around the opening. In the center are three smaller rectangular mounds arranged in a triangular formation, but without the sides touching at corners. Various small mounds are around each larger mound as kinds of concave “bowls” though empty of contents. This mound appears to have a purpose, though no visible occupants as of yet, at least while the Shields stand and float outside the 10’ by 10’ opening.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+24=34 ; d3=3 ; d20+24=30 ; d20+20=36 ; d20+12=13 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+12=31 ; d20+10=24 ; d20+10=24 ; d20+10=21 ; d20+10=29 ; d20+10=29 ; d20+18=38 ; d20+13=19 ; d20+4=20 ; Wednesday April 12th, 2023 11:49:07 PM
Armalad and Joker study the mound and the opening, drawing upon their senses and their breadth of knowledge. Any insight they discover they will share with the group. Armalad also casts detect magic and turns her 60 foot magic detecting cone in the direction of the mound if it reaches.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 13th, 2023 8:05:47 AM
An empty mound. Stohp wonders if most of these are empty and how long it will take to check them all.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Thursday April 13th, 2023 9:08:55 AM "Are these noose-reed houses? Or maybe some underwater creature's home that's been taken over?" she asks, quietly as the underwater echo allows.
She continues to stay alert to threats outside of the hut as her allies focus on the hut itself.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=33 ; Thursday April 13th, 2023 12:23:26 PM "We might have to change the name of this place from Moundtown to Mound-Ghost Town.
Rectangles and triangles are hardly shapes of nature..."
Stock enters the mound, staying just inside the entryway, and his eyes track left to right across the "room", finally settling on the various mounds and bowls of different shapes and orientations. He touches the wall of the mound and notes any reaction to his contact. ======= Perception 33, looking around
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+7=15 ; d20+16=29 ; Thursday April 13th, 2023 4:36:48 PM "Pretty Impressive," Bartomus said allowed, but all that came out was swirls of water and bubbles. He wasn't paying attention to those but rather lost in thought with the other nature-oriented members of the party looking at the weaving done to create the mound in front of them and presumably the others as well.
When Stock headed into the mound, Bartomus followed floating behind and above the dwarf.
Knowledge Nature for 15 looking at the mound and convex weavings; Perception 29 - entering the building above and behind Stock
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Thursday April 13th, 2023 10:39:09 PM
Armalad and Joker consider the mound and the opening, searching their minds for some clue that will trigger productive academic analyses. Then Armalad casts Detect Magic and begins scanning in the direction of the mound, the 60’ cone reaching just shy of the far wall. No magic detected right now, including in the triangular formation of the three smaller rectangular mounds. (OOC – since we’re in posts (and not combat, yet) please feel free to describe up to 10 rounds (1 minute of that precious Freedom of Movement duration on Armalad’s friends) of Detect Magic use per post.) While they’re thinking, Armalad and Joker continue to expand their admiration of the construction/growing techniques and/or spells that must have been needed to make plants grow in this seemingly artificial way, or were they all bound together like ropes, twined about each other? The plants certainly, with the Detect Magic not registering them as magical, are either conjured or are simply real seaweed, reeds, and kelp. Armalad, as a scholar, often frequents whatever passes for a library in the Float – the WLA’s files, the Star Mages Guild, and anywhere else that membership or a non-member price can buy access to knowledge… and she has not read or heard of anything like this… it seems within the realm of Druidic magic… perhaps Bartomus may know something, some specific spell or ritual, she thinks to herself.
Stohp jumps to the conclusion the mound is empty – there’s a lot of evidence to back that up, but no one has yet poked their head through the doorway to check behind the immediate walls surrounding the opening – perhaps sahuagin are even now floating to the sides and above the opening… no, even underwater, she’d have smelled their oily-fish smell by now!
Delia wonders aloud, as aloud as expelling and vibrating water can be loud, whether this is a mound for the Reeds, or a mound for another that’s been taken over, and then returns to being astonishingly aware of the Shields’ surroundings. No threats yet.
Stock wonders whether this is a “ghost town,” and then muses that regular shapes aren’t a thing Nature likes to do… at least not often… Stock steps inside the mound, stopping in the opening itself, and scans the whole interior, confirming Stohp’s suspicion that it’s empty of antagonists… thus far. His gaze settles on the center of the interior, pondering its implied geometry, and then touches the wall and… it’s a wall made of entwined lengths of reeds, seaweed, and kelp. A seemingly artificial structure made solely out of natural materials. Stock’s keen Darkvision assures him that nothing’s here… unless it’s made of water like Bartomus, or hidden in some way…
Bartomus is impressed by the natural materials in an unnatural configuration. He is further impressed that it’s not just one mound, but a “mound town.” Bartomus then followed above and behind Stock, creating an area of somewhat thickened water around Stohp, but Bartomus chooses not to occupy her space, allowing his water-elemental-self to stretch and elongate as needed. Bartomus begins to wonder whether the structure was crafted… or spell-crafted, that is, conjured, non-magical reeds and seaweed and kelp summoned from some other plane or elsewhere on the Wold. While he muses about those possibilities, he too scans around the mound, using his elemental body-granted Darkvision, and sees what Stock sees – nothing but the mound, the triangular arrangement of rectangular mounds in the center… and then Stock touches the wall! Bartomus half-flinches, suddenly expecting the mound to be a cunning trap, a giant vine-monster that comes alive and swallows the Shields whole in its “mouth” of rotating razor-sharp teeth! But, no such luck. The mound is the mound… today… now.
Zanderallen brings up the rear, but lacking aid to his sight, realizes it’s a bit dark in there… thinks about his one Daylight spell, but, seeing no fracas, vortices, or other clues to battle, instead focuses on watching out for a Reedy attack from the rear…
Once it’s clear that Stock is not immediately slaughtered by Reeds, Armalad moves up to scan better inside with her Detect Magic, and confirms to the Shields that there’s nothing magic here, and agrees with Stock that there’s nothing moving around inside. The triangular pattern is artificial though, and perhaps academically intriguing for long-term study… if the Shields weren’t on a mission, and a slightly-less-than-two-hours-timer on those pesky Freedom of Movement spells…
Stohp takes stock, and notes that it’s taken the Shields 3 minutes to get here from the vantage point, and 2 minutes of poking around. 5 minutes. She thinks about the whole “mound town” layout and guesstimates that if everything was empty, perhaps another 25 minutes or so for the smaller mounds, and who knows for the moundplex – is it one big chamber inside, or a series of them? Still, barring strange occurrences, the 2-hour duration of the Freedom of Movement spells should be plenty… oh, better allow for time to call the merfolk to transport the corpses, of course…
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=28 ; d20+24=32 ; d20+24=34 ; Thursday April 13th, 2023 11:29:24 PM
Armalad says, "Should we proceed to the next outer reed complex or go directly to mound town?"
To Bartomus she asks, "Could some druidic ritual or magic have convinced these reeds to assemble in this way?"
Whatever her companions decide to do she keeps her magic detecting cone at the ready and her eyes peeled.
Perception: 28 Know[Arcana]: 32 Spellcraft: 34
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday April 14th, 2023 7:58:33 AM "We might as well make a thorough search. Check each in turn. This one is empty, but we don't want to leave an ambush of enemies waiting to sneak up from behind if one of these groups of mounds has them."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Friday April 14th, 2023 8:42:20 AM "Agreed, Stohp. Better safe than sorry. And, we need to make sure we don't miss any."
She continues to be on high alert.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Friday April 14th, 2023 3:59:16 PM
Waiting in the rear sometimes made things drag, and sometimes it meant you got to hang out and enjoy the ominous lake floor while your friends inspected the eerie plant mound. "I agree, we can sweep out this side quickly before heading to the central mound. At the very least it will give us a known safe retreat path if things go south."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=17 ; Friday April 14th, 2023 4:05:37 PM
Bartomus did a quick swim about the mound and shot out and over Stohp back out to where the rest of the Shields were talking. He sent a little vortex to the next mound on the same side and made his way over to it.
He waited for one of the other Shields to catch up and kept glancing at the next mound, but also tried to find the other Shields who were coming to inspect this second mound.
Perception - yep, watery Bartomus is distracted apparently as he rolled a one for the perception for a total of 17
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Saturday April 15th, 2023 9:29:18 PM
Armalad queries the group on where to go next. She then asks Bartomus whether druidic magic could have created these mounds. Armalad maintains her Detect Magic and continues sweeping while awaiting her replies. Bartomus and other Shields light up with the magic of their gear and occasional spells, so Detect Magic is functioning… just not finding anything within this mound.
Stohp suggests it would be best to check all of them, just to guard against later ambushes, if any.
Delia agrees with Stohp, continuing to be on high alert.
Zanderallen marveled at the Lake floor while listening to his companions strategize. He then agrees with Stohp and Delia to check the last two mounds on this side before proceeding into the moundplex.
Bartomus swims around the empty mound quickly, absorbed in observing its details and completely ignoring Armalad’s question directed to him. He then swims back outside and starts sending vortices towards the next mound, somewhat impatiently waiting for the other Shields to follow. Then perhaps all these vortices turned him about one too many times, because it took him a while to realize he was looking in the wrong direction for the Shields! He re-orients himself and waits patiently for the Shields to follow his vortex-walk.
Stock keeps staring at various places in this mound in turn, but finally convinces himself that it truly is empty, of all but water, despite the unnatural geometry.
The Shields soon agree with Stohp’s plan and find Bartomus’ vortices pointing the way to the next mound. Knowing that this side of moundtown only had the one visible entrance, the Shields exit the rightmost mound via its one “southern” entrance, and go clockwise around the outside, through the “alley” between this mound and the next one, and see that the next mound has a “northern” opening but the mound closest to the moundplex doesn’t, leaving its “east” and “west” as remaining possibilities.
This second-rightmost mound’s round opening is also about 10’ by 10’ and open to the Lake as well. As the Shields round the bend from the second-rightmost’s “east” to its “north” they no longer have the advantage of approaching from straight-on to see directly inside.
Armalad senses no magic on the exterior wall of this mound.
This mound, like the other hemispherical mounds, is likewise made of woven reeds, seaweed and kelp.
From your current approach, those with darkvision and low-light vision can only see a diagonal swath about 5’ deep into the opening – no sign of trouble, yet…
SHIELDS – what is your battle/exploration plan for this mound?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=30 ; Sunday April 16th, 2023 3:46:42 PM
Bartomus turned back to the second mound in their exploration and looked about as water elements might - did that mean turning around or did they just shift front for back and back for front? He would have to ask one of the Shields about that when they were topside next.
He looked over the mound and the opening. Studied it closely. Then if he felt it was not a threat, he would push forward and enter the room. Any odd feeling would have him spin a vortex in some fashion to warn the rest of the Shields.
Perception 30 - if seems safe, he's going to pull a Stock and go on in. If not, try to warn everyone.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+17=18 ; Sunday April 16th, 2023 10:54:02 PM
Stohp lets the others investigate the hut, keeping an eye out as best she can for other enemies (perception 18)
Armalad continues to look around using her magic detecting cone and senses looking for anything strange or threatening.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=35 ; Monday April 17th, 2023 8:52:55 AM Status: Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement
Stock bustles into the new mound in front again. He adjusts his spectacles and scans the inside of the mound.
======= Perception 35
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=31 ; Monday April 17th, 2023 9:18:14 AM
Delia swims up next to Stohp and keeps watch with her. "I hope nothing is in the third hut. But I also hope there is. This waiting... it's making me nervous," she mutters. Most new terrains she can find her way through, but underwater is finally odd enough to slightly unnerve her and bring out some agitation.
Perception: 31
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Monday April 17th, 2023 9:54:42 PM
Bartomus, feeling his water-oats, as it were, swims ahead of the Shields speedily, darting this way and that to “look” around the mound and its entrance. Then, peeking waterly around the opening, Bartomus’ Darkvision judges the coast to be clear and he enters…
Stohp Freely Moves to a spot near the Mound entrance, and then stands guard, watching for ambushes.
Armalad likewise stands guard while swimming forward, attempting to gain an arc of vision that will enable her senses and Detect Magic to peer into the opening. Her swimming is not only not as fast as Bartomus’, but also not as fast as those empowered with Freedom of Movement to hustle, nay, to run on the Lake floor. Joker is also not as fast as Bartomusm but is fast enough to playfully swim backwards just a bit faster than Armalad swims forward. Armalad realizes she is the only Shield without a magical swimming or movement aid of some kind that functions underwater, as Delia casually and easily swims past Armalad, almost as fast as Joker.
Stock has likewise left Armalad in the metaphorical dust, Freely Running up to and into the mound’s entrance, scanning around.
Delia swims to a point perhaps 10’ short of Stohp, Free Running being faster than the swimming granted by the flippers, and likewise begins keeping watch. She has been practicing “speaking” underwater, and though it feels to Delia like shouting, she is just now barely able to make herself heard clearly, without distortion, to Stohp, perhaps helped by Stohp’s head being inside a bubble of air… the Lake floor has earth, plants, even tall enough plants one might mistake some for small “trees” in height… but still the mostly-silent stillness… the water moving in and out of her lungs without drowning her… at some level Delia would give much to be on the surface again, away from this alien land… sea… scape, with the distorted sun so far above this undersea Wold…
Zanderallen continues to guard the back, Freely Running until to go further would place Armalad at the rear of the group, and then he stops, seeing Stock race inside ahead, and tenses himself for possible battle.
Bartomus and Stock, both inside this new mound, find yet another empty space inside, but this time there are but two rectangular mounds, long sides in parallel, in the center of the mound. Each rectangular mound in this chamber is approximately 10’ long by 5’ wide, and there is a kind of humanoid shape made of reeds, seaweed, and kelp lying on each rectangular mound. Approaching closer, Bartomus and Stock, each with Darkvision, see the eerie black and white image of empty “eye sockets,” and openings moreso than mouths, with purely empty space within. It is almost like a reedy humaniform body, yet hollow inside as though it were a suit of reedy armor. Curiouser and curiouser…
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+24=37 ; d20+24=44 ; d20+24=28 ; Monday April 17th, 2023 10:02:10 PM
Armalad says to the others, "I can hardly move compared to the rest of you. I don't suppose anyone has a freedom of movement spell so I could catch up to the rest of you easier."
Armalad makes her way slowly inside the mound. If she can't see anything she'll cast light on the underwater bow. If she can reach what Bart and Stock sees she wants to examine it.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 18th, 2023 6:59:02 AM
As the others tell what they've found Stohp considers. "It sounds like these things are being stored for later use. Either to be worn by some group of people, or activated by some kind of magic. It might be worth trying to take apart the reed things."
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Tuesday April 18th, 2023 8:30:11 AM
Stock moves up to the reedy humanoid shape and pokes it with the handle end of his flail. He is curious if it holds its shape or is more flexible like a fabric and whether it regains its shape if it gets distorted
"Can anybody tell if these are magical?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Tuesday April 18th, 2023 8:48:21 AM
At the report of what's in there, Delia grimaces, "What is here that is trying to imitate humanoids?"
Delia cannot offer magical assistance to Armalad, but she does offer to pull the other archer along with her as she swims if it would speed them up at all. (light load is only 133lbs, currently carrying ~35lbs of gear, but idk how heavy Armalad+stuff is or how underwater would impact weight calculations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Tuesday April 18th, 2023 3:13:50 PM
Upon hearing what is inside the building Zanderallen hustles up to the front entrance, "I need to see this." Zanderallen starts to concentrate and sweeps the room and the reed bodies? with Detect Evil
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=33 ; d20+7=22 ; Tuesday April 18th, 2023 3:58:46 PM
Bartomus rolled his eyes, if water elementals have actual eyes, as Stock came rushing into the room. He chuckled and then looked over the dwarf's shoulder, which actually wasn't all that difficult, in either elemental or Taur form. The suit of reedware was what he had seen something moving about in on his first visit. He swirled about it and studied it closely. He could see that it was hollow and that got him wondering if in fact there was something else at play down here. He started making a mental catalog of the size of creatures that could fit into that reedware.
Perception 33 on the reedware; Knowledge nature for some insight into the potential wearers of the suit for 22
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 18th, 2023 10:43:03 PM
Armalad asks for magical aid with swimming, so she doesn’t have to be reliant on the kindness of Shields… She manages to struggle-swim to a point 30’ from the entrance and 20’ from Delia, seeing a narrow swath inside with her low-light vision, which is good because she hasn’t yet had time to cast light, having done all that swimming! None of the Shields are able to help her, but then Joker comes close, and whispers in the strange tongue of the merfolk, ARMALAD ONLY Highlight to display spoiler: {”You ok slowpoke? Boss-woman, me thought you messed up only taking the bow from the table of stuff. Look in pack. Me got you stuff!” You feel Joker open the top of your pack, rummage around, and then Joker swims in front of you, holding some gloves and flippers towards you. You recognize these as Gloves of Climbing & Swimming and most importantly, Swimming Flippers like the ones Delia is wearing.}. Joker opens Armalad’s pack, retrieving some items, and then swims just in front of her, offering her the items. (OOC Perception DC 15, if you’re outside with Armalad Highlight to display spoiler: {Joker appears to have retrieved a set of gloves and flippers.})
Stohp muses aloud about what these plant-humaniform “bodies”/”armors” might be for, and suggests the Shields might want to take one apart.
Stock moves closer and pokes it with his flail’s handle. The plant-humaniform holds its shape, as though a tightly-woven basket, giving only slightly in comparison to the strength in Stock’s legendary thews. He then moves back out to the entrance, and uses his water-filled lungs to ask the Shields for someone to check it for magic. Stohp, in an air bubble, can hear him and the air bubble creating a slight megaphone effect (heard out to 10’ instead of 5’), Stohp is able to relay this question to the other Shields.
Delia hears Stohp’s report from Stock, and grimaces at… an invasion of plant-people? No, too silly… or is it? Delia offers to help tow Armalad. Then Joker shows something to Armalad from Armalad’s pack. Delia considers the physics of one swimmer trying to tow another. (OOC – good news, buoyancy means weight is little issue… but weight brings inertia with it, so much like James the Turtle towing the dragon ship, it takes a bit to get going, but once you’re going, you can maintain. Delia, being a physical warrior type, realizes all this in half a second.)
Zanderallen too hears Stock’s report from Stohp, and then hustles up to the entrance, announcing his desire to see also, as well as starting his Detect Evil… only to realize that at this depth, and with the mount interior out of direct sunlight, his unaided human eyes cannot see a thing inside the mound, but for the entrance walls going 5’ forward, and then the sun’s rays are cut off, the distortion of the water diffracting and curtailing the usual twilight that might extend inside such a structure on the surface. His Detect Evil is another matter entirely… initially, he sees no evil ahead through the entrance and into the mound. Zanderallen considers, perhaps another Shield has a magical light… regular torches and my lantern won’t work here… my sword may flame on… or not… hmm… what to do…
Bartomus was not at all surprised when Stock gate-crashed the mound, chuckling, as only a water elemental can, in response! Bartomus swirled around the “reedware,” still viewing it in only black and white as no one had yet brought a magical light source inside. Darkvision made it easy to spot things stark contrasts could reveal, but harder, nay, impossible, to notice any nuanced color patterns, if any. BARTOMUS Highlight to display spoiler: {(OOC spoiler because Bartomus presently cannot communicate well with the Shields) finds that the “reedware” is almost taur-sized, but not wide enough across the front or back to be worn by a taur, and really, the only thing that might fit would be an oversized human, probably male… but if this were a construct, or some form of created being, then it would be incomplete, most likely, lacking whatever its creator wanted it to have inside… to Bartomus it seems equally likely to be armor for some strangely tall and skinny humanoid as it does to instead be a hollow shell meant to be filled perhaps with more plant matter, and then set loose upon the Wold… one thing is clear – if meant as armor, then any “humanoid” with a reverse-knee-joint compared to the more human-like species of the Wold would definitely NOT be able to fit in the “reedware”…} Bartomus did witness Stock poking at the “reedware” and observe its natural strength, like a kind of super-wicker-basket, or rope made from exceptionally strong grasses… or, here, reeds, seaweed, and kelp.
The Lake’s quietness is almost taunting the Shields – what are these plant-humaniforms (“reedware”)… where are the Reeds…
SHIELDS – What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 18th, 2023 11:30:09 PM
Armalad reaches into her pack and dons the gloves and fins. She then moves to catch up to the rest of the shields where she will hopefully be able to cast light and examine what the others are looking at.
She says to Joker, "Thanks for that. Don't forget you have fast healing underwater."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday April 19th, 2023 8:23:21 AM
Stohp waits for the others to complete their magic checking.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Wednesday April 19th, 2023 9:14:48 AM
Stock stows his flail again and grabs the reedware. He then tries to see how difficult it is-if it is even possible-to pull it apart.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=33 ; d20+16=23 ; Wednesday April 19th, 2023 7:00:56 PM
Bartomus took note and started thinking of the type of creatures that might wear such armor. He wanted to show it to the merfolk, but Stock had grabbed it. He rolled his watery eyes and swam up and over the dwarf towards the other Shields. He looked at the third mound on this side and then glanced at each of the opposing mounds.
Perception 3rd mound on the right for 33; and then a perception check on the other three mounds across the way 23.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Wednesday April 19th, 2023 9:01:06 PM "Strange. Well unless they start moving I guess we should move on." Zander will back out of the entrance to allow others to investigate but will start looking towards the next mound.
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 19th, 2023 10:52:03 PM
Armalad thanks Joker and puts on what appear to be a set of gloves and a set of fins. She then more quickly swims, as fast as Delia now, to the rest of the Shields gathered at the mound’s opening. Armalad then drops her Detect Magic to cast light on a handy object (OOC please describe in your next post) and looks ahead, her lowlight vision granting her color vision inside the mound, showing her a decently wide cone-shape within, the walls to either side obscuring her view of the emptiness Stock reported there. As with the first mound, the walls, floor, and ceiling are all made of tightly-woven greenish reeds, blue-green seaweed, and greenish kelp. The same with the two rectangular mounds in the center and the foreboding plant-humaniform shapes thereon. Perhaps most importantly, Armalad looks on the scene with a wizard’s eyes, one knowledgeable in the arcane… ARMALAD only Highlight to display spoiler: {Your keen elven eyes see the details on the “faces” of the plant-humaniforms from here, though the angle is poor. While perhaps Bartomus, more focused on nature, wherever he is in the area in water-form, might ponder these semi-hollow shapes to have an equal chance of being some form of plant full-plate armor as being inanimate constructs… one word comes to Armalad’s mouth (DC 15 Knowledge: Arcana, which she automatically succeeds at): golems. Perhaps golems-in-progress, but Armalad would place her gambling chips on golems under construction, even from here. She will need to get closer to improve her analysis. Her heart starts to beat a bit faster. PLANT Golems – she has never heard of even one existing - can such a thing even be created in the Wold?!? Who could cross the magic streams of the arcane and the primal?!?}
Stohp continues to guard the Shields against outside attack while the spellcasters pull out their metaphorical magnifying glasses and tomes of knowledge.
Stock stows his flail and then starts to lift one of the reedware. Stock is mighty (OOC STR 19) but finds the reedware both bulky and has significant mass and inertia, even with the buoyancy of the Lake helping him. He then moves on to see if it can be easily rended apart with his bare hands. It cannot – much like a ball of twine, it would be easier were there a loose “thread” than this construction, where any reedy ends are hidden within. Stock recalls from the battle with the Reeds that only Zanderallen’s sword didn’t face physical resistance when hitting the Reeds… and if Stock cared to, he need only draw his magical adamantine dwarven waraxe and get to work if he wanted to cart away the reedware in tiny pieces.
Bartomus begins narrowing the field of who might be capable of wearing such reedware as armor. He was about to reach for a reedware, but Stock had grabbed one of the two reedware, so Bartomus, using his Huge watery strength and size, floated the other reedware off its rectangular mound and out the entrance, startling Stohp, Delia, Armalad, Zanderallen, and not so much Stock because little impresses Stock. The Shields quickly put two and two together and realize Bartomus must be at work, even if it’s very difficult to see him right now. Bartomus’ act does bring a reedware out into what sunlight penetrates this deep, so now every Shield has seen one with their color vision, noting the greens and blues of the plants that make up the reedware. Bartomus is about to go further with his plan (BARTOMUS’s eyes only Highlight to display spoiler: { to show it to the merfolk, and then he realizes – he can’t speak in this form… he can’t speak the merfolk language… and the merfolk might, not seeing Bartomus, perceive the reedware to be some kind of monstrous attacker. Bartomous, with your great WISDOM, you know you are nigh-invisible in this form when not attacking, and you know that you can’t presently speak the merfolk language, what are the details of your plan regarding the reedware and the merfolk?} and pauses a brief moment. No Shield can see Bartomus’s “eyes” look in the direction of the next closest mound to the center, but look they do, scanning, but not finding anything more than has been seen… yet.
Zanderallen says that unless the reedware starts moving, the Shields should move on, and begins to step back out of the entrance, and then suddenly there is light from behind him! Armalad has suddenly appeared and enabled Zanderallen to see past the entrance and about 10’ more into the chamber. This is not quite far enough to see the rectangular mounds Stock described, but perhaps Armalad can light things up more inside. Still, Zanderallen realizes he would be a slow searcher inside, and so was just about to turn around when suddenly a plant-humaniform came speeding out of the chamber! They ARE attacking! They… At that moment Zanderallen and the others feel the thicker water that indicates Bartomus is moving past them in water elemental form, and Zanderallen realizes that the reedware is still inanimate on its own… it’s being “carried” by Bartomus. Still… Bartomus’ act gave Zanderallen a chance to see the reedware in what sunlight reaches the bottom of the Lake floor. Then the reedware’s motion stops. What is Bartomus up to?
Delia continues to be on guard, like Stohp.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday April 19th, 2023 11:03:21 PM
Armalad casts light on her underwater bow as she swims into the mound to scope out the contents.
She surveys the reed structures and puts 2 and 2 together and gets plant golem? She calls out to the other shields, "Unless I am mistaken and I doubt that I am mistaken it looks like these reed sculptures are actually a kind of work in progress plant-golem. I don't know if you should be playing around with the plant golem Bartomus."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 20th, 2023 8:29:30 AM
Stohp passes along Armalad's message if necessary and adds again they should probably destroy the things as the find them if they are a potential threat later.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=29 ; Thursday April 20th, 2023 8:51:57 AM "Plant golem tells us wizard then. It's still possible a druid is around here somewhere but definitely wizard."
Stock starts making his way to the third mound (closest mound to the center on the right I think) and once he arrives, swims around to find the entrance and inspects the inside from the doorway again.
========= Perception 29
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Thursday April 20th, 2023 9:19:25 AM "That's great. I love fighting wizards," Delia deadpans, "So, destroy them or move on? Either way, we should do it quickly."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Thursday April 20th, 2023 4:28:03 PM "What foul experiments are being carried on down here? If they're merely work in progress let's continue on. We do not have forever."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=21 ; Thursday April 20th, 2023 5:26:53 PM "Well that didn't go as I thought it would." Bartomus said to himself as no one could understand him as he watched Zander nearly loose it with the reedware he brought out. He swirled about and made sure to stay out of the way of his fellow Shields and let the reedware drop down to the ground. He heard Armalad's suggestive warning and shrugged in acknowledgement, or rather he though he shrugged.
Plant Golem, interesting he thought to himself. In his mind, he had gone a completely different way, maybe like an underwater lizard, if there were such things, that could have this attached to it. It would explain the huts and a settlement. You wouldn't need a settlement for something you could create as needed, or at lest that is what he thought.
He moved on towards the other mound, but held back as others were already exploring it. He tried to follow what they were doing while also studying the tall mound. He had his suspicions that that is where they really needed to go.
Perception tall mound - 21
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Thursday April 20th, 2023 11:25:14 PM
Armalad’s bow now glows with a light spell, 20’ in radius. Using that light and her keen elven eyes, Armalad, now flippered, swims easily inside this second-from-right mound for further investigation. After careful consideration of her vast arcane knowledge, natural knowledge, and having hung around a druid and ranger for a while, Armalad announces an interesting conclusion to the Shields – the plant-humaniforms/”reedware” are most likely plant golems in the construction process. She yells, with water-filled lungs, to warn Bartomus of this discovery, but Bartomus and the other plant-golem-in-progress are a significant distance outside the mound Armalad entered… if only Bartomus knew the tongue of the merfolk she could “shout” in a way to easily reach him… instead, even after swimming back to the mound’s entrance her “shout” only reaches any Shield standing 10’ outside the entrance of the mound at best, such as Stohp, Delia, and Zanderallen, and of course Stock was basically still in the entrance from giving his report, so also heard Armalad’s discovery and “shout.” The way Stohp and Zanderallen react, their air bubbles must really help capture underwater sounds with less distortion.
Stohp hears Armalad’s warning, and, not being able to see Bartomus, but able to see the plant golem he’s “carrying,” her helm of underwater action enables her to zoom close enough to the golem to relay Armalad’s message to Bartomus about the “reedware” likely being a plant golem under construction!
Stock wastes no time in concluding a wizard must be involved, perhaps a druid too. He slides the plant golem husk he was carrying back in to the mound it came from and then [i]freely runs over to the next right-side mound that is closest to the center moundplex, seeking and soon finding the entrance, wasting no time and just stands there in the entrance looking inside with his dwarven eyes…
Delia has a bridge to sell the Shields, half-heartedly, and her joke is humored. She asks the Shields near her (Armalad and Zanderallen, since the others have moved towards the next mound to some extent or another) whether the plant golem husks should be destroyed or left as-is before the Shields move to the next mound.
Zanderallen is astonished at the possibly-foul experiments going on in moundtown, but votes that the Shields head for the next mound since spell clocks are ticking and the plant golem husks are inanimate.
Bartomus realized that Zanderallen’s reaction was not what Bartomus had planned, and began to drop the reedware just as Stohp arrived to pass along Armalad’s warning about plant golems under construction. Bartomus had assigned a low chance of the reedware being any kind of construction meant for animation, but Armalad does know wizardry… if true, that leaves the moundtown’s existence unexplained… why would one need or want several mounds if they weren’t occupied with, say, Reeds, and instead all the mounds were apparently being used for was…
After coming to that unsettling conclusion, Bartomus headed for the next mound, seeing only Stock ahead of him. He moved to a point about 40’ behind Stock, so as not to interfere by way of his Huge watery form, but still able to use his form’s darkvision to peer through the 10’ long opening and 10’ more into the mound in the usual black and white imagery. Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {doesn’t see far enough yet to reach the center of the room, but so far the mound walls are similar to the other two mounds, and there’s nothing besides Stock moving in the entrance hallway or 10’ deep into the chamber.} Bartomus is curious to see more inside, but also muses about simply getting on to the moundplex…
Stock has the best view of this third-explored mound thus far, and STOCK’s eyes only Highlight to display spoiler: {see that in the center of this otherwise empty chamber is one big rectangular mound, perhaps 20’ by 10’, and one plant-golem-in-progress lying on the mound, perhaps a full 12’ long, 6’ wide, and 3’ thick. Like the other two, which look like weaklings compared to this one, this plant-golem-in-progress is an empty shell… except for that eerie glowing, even in black-and-white, from a small trough just to the left side of the mound… some kind of glowing energy in the trough, and reeds and vines connecting the trough to the mouth of the plant golem husk, and it's still 15’ away from Stock in the entrance, but it looks like this strange magical (?) device is… filling… the golem?!? There might only be minutes… or a half-hour… or something… before its work is complete, and… then… what?!?}
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+24=41 ; d20+24=39 ; Thursday April 20th, 2023 11:31:48 PM
Armalad tries to reason if it is better to leave the plant golems alone or try to destroy them. She knows full-formed golems are very tough to destroy usually but maybe these partially formed golems aren't as tough and should be destroyed lest they develop to cause problems.
She decides to think for a moment about what the best course of action is. She then shares that information with Delia and whoever else is nearby considering no one else knows Aquan besides Joker
Know[Arcana]: 41 Spellcraft:39
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+17=27 ; Friday April 21st, 2023 6:24:01 AM
Stohp has stated her thoughts so will just have to see if the others agree. For now she'll keep her eyes open and pass messages for people to coordinate with her increased mobility (perception 27)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=33 ; Friday April 21st, 2023 9:57:39 AM
Bartomus moved a bit closer towards the larger main mound (10') while continuing to be able to respond to whatever Stock had discovered in the third mound. He was still pondering what Armald had said about the reedware and what it could represent.
Perception 33
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=33 ; Friday April 21st, 2023 9:57:40 AM
Bartomus moved a bit closer towards the larger main mound (10') while continuing to be able to respond to whatever Stock had discovered in the third mound. He was still pondering what Armald had said about the reedware and what it could represent.
Perception 33
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+16=30 ; d10+19=28 ; Friday April 21st, 2023 12:51:23 PM Status - Water Breathing, Freedom of Action Stock swims back and does his best to gather the others close enough so they can hear him yell and says, "There's another plant person in there - probably a golem - and it looks like it is being built. It's being filled with some kind of energy. We should stop it until we figure out what is going on. Follow me..."
He then swim-runs into the room and draws his axe. He swings it trying to permanently damage the trough.
============ Power Attack hits AC 30, 28 damage, adamantine weapon
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 Friday April 21st, 2023 3:52:08 PM
Zanderallen follows Stock over to the next mound. He can't see inside the dark mount but Stock's words tell him all he needs to know. He feels his way inside casting Daylight on his blade. ============= Daylight Duration 120 minutes
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Saturday April 22nd, 2023 9:54:25 AM
Delia kicks off after Zanderallen and Stock, passing on his shout, or at least his obvious "there's a threat" actions" to anyone nearby who can hear her.
She keeps her bow out, trying to swim to where she can see into the mound in question.
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Saturday April 22nd, 2023 11:55:48 PM
Armalad considers the dilemma of the plant golem husks, whether to leave them alone or destroy them. She shares her thoughts with Delia.
(OOC – I saw the skill rolls, but this is purely a roleplaying choice as to the best way to deal with a potential threat while spell timers continue to count down…)
Stohp waits to see if others agree with her, and while she waits plays relay racer, passing messages between Shields somewhat far apart. She continues to watch for danger, but sees none… for now.
Bartomus moved 10’ closer to the moundplex while staying somewhat near Stock in case he needs help. He continued to ponder Armalad’s analysis of the reedware and whether she could be right.
Stock Freely Runs about, gathering the Shields for communication. He may not know where Bartomus is, but his frantic actions draw Bartomus’s attention and he draws near to the crowd of Shields Stock has summoned.
Stock reports his findings, ‘yelling’ to about 10’ distant with his water-filled lungs, that this third mound has a plant golem inside, under construction, and even now being filled with energy! He implores the Shields to stop it now, before it’s too late. Stock directs the Shields to follow him, drawing his axe as he [Freely Runs] back inside the mound.
Zanderallen listens intently to Stock, absent-mindedly tapping the side of his helm of underwater action and then, a few tiny bits of banana fall out of the edges of the helm, floating there in the Lake, and at once glass lenses slide down from the top of the helmet and cover Zanderallen’s eyes. He can now see about five times farther, and about five times more clearly, than the light and water distortion allowed before! Bananas… oh, that Wiz-Bang at the Catacombs!
Zanderallen then Freely follows Stock back to the third mound, casting Daylight on his blade to ensure that between the helm’s lenses and his spell that he will see! As he finished his spell, at once the inside of the mound is illuminated, so that all with a view can see, in color, the astounding vision of the blue-green reed/seaweed golem being filled with strange arcane energies from a small trough just to the side, the energy travelling along reeds and vines from the trough to the plant golem! The energies are multispectral and ominous for all that they are silent…
Delia’s legs pound the Lake waters, propelling her forward about as fast as she could move on land. Delia repeats Stock’s key points to ensure everyone heard his underwater ‘yell’ distinctly, then swims to where she can see inside the now-Daylight’ed mound, drawing her bow as she arrives. Stock and Zanderallen are a bit in the way, but she can still see much of the multispectral energies – not so bright that they were illuminating outside the mound before, but still astonishing to view with the Daylight making them clear at a distance!
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=24 ; Sunday April 23rd, 2023 5:56:46 PM
Bartomus took up a guard position turning outward towards the open water knowing that at his size, he couldn't rush into the space. He glanced back over his shoulder as the effort was made by Stock to destroy the energizing trough and feeding system.
Hold any action and going "on guard" to scan the area to see if there is any response to the attack on the charging station.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=21 ; d20+18=28 ; Monday April 24th, 2023 12:30:44 AM
Armalad and Joker follow Delia in going after Bartomus keeping eyes peeled for potential threats
Perception: Armalad:21 Joker:28
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+17=32 ; Monday April 24th, 2023 7:39:30 AM
Stohp has neither the strength or weaponry to break these things so just has to watch and guard the area (perception 32)
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Monday April 24th, 2023 8:48:22 AM Status - Water Breathing, Freedom of Action
Stock moves up to the trough filling the golem and slams it with his axe.
"This probably won't make us any friends down here."
============ Rolling over the attack from the previous post - Power Attack hits AC 30, 28 damage, adamantine weapon
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 13/13 SE 5/5 d20+21=31 ; d8+17=24 ; Monday April 24th, 2023 2:28:27 PM "Not usually in the business of making friends with things that eat people." Zander moves alongside Stock and starts hacking at the reeds and vines connecting the golem to the trough, hoping to sever the connection without causing too much damage to the golem itself. He marvels once again at how freely his sword swings through the water. ===================== 31 to hit 24 slashing damage
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=47 ; Monday April 24th, 2023 6:24:23 PM
Delia will pull out one of her adamantine arrows, look at Stock and Zander, and tuck it back into her quiver.
She will examine, without touching, the trough the magic is coming from.
Perception: 47
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Monday April 24th, 2023 10:39:41 PM
Bartomus stands guard at the third mound, facing outward until the entrance is less clogged with Shields. He watches Stock begin to enact the plan to destroy this plant golem being fed by strange energies, nearing completion! Bartomus expects an ambush once the Shields begin attacking the plant golem construction site.
Armalad and Joker join Bartomus and Stohp in guard duty, watching with keen vision, somewhat affected by the distortion of the water, but still able to (with lowlight vision) see at far distances.
Stohp, recognizing that she’s specialized in nonlethal attacks for the most part, also stands guard outside.
Stock Freely Runs inside, adamantine waraxe in hand, and raising it high over his head, Freely Chops down, aiming to split the trough and its multispectral contents in half, commenting as he swings that the Shields have let slip the dwarf of war…
Zanderallen agrees with Stock, and Freely Runs behind Stock, arriving alongside as Stock raises his axe over his head and begins his downward swing, Zanderallen likewise having raised his sword, aiming for the connecting reeds and vines, and beginning his own downward stroke…
Delia briefly pulls out one of her adamantine arrows, looks up and over at Stock’s adamantine waraxe held high by mighty dwarven warrior thews, and puts it back into her quiver. She follows Zanderallen and Stock into the mound, letting them race forward as she stops at the end of the entrance, no need for her Goggles of Darkvision while Zanderallen’s Daylight spell is active, and peers deeply at the trough with multispectral light and energy radiating, suffusing the reeds and vines reaching out of the trough and up and onto and into the plant golem lying on the huge rectangular mound… in the brief moment before Stock’s adamantine waraxe begins to (attempt to) cut at the trough, Delia marvels at what appears to be, to a primal spellcaster, arcane energies traveling primal conduits to slowly build an arcane construct of primal materials… Armalad’s words ring true in her mind as Stock’s waraxe strikes the trough…
Few things in the Wold can stand up to an adamantine edge falling upon them with only the force of the Wold’s gravity pulling it down – neither leather nor even iron or steel would do well. Add to Woldian gravity the irresistible mighty thews of an experienced dwarven barbarian… well, nothing short of some of the strongest magical weapons or armor can take such a hit. The trough is clearly heavily infused with magic, but not of the kind that makes its woven reedy sides and ends impenetrable to an adamantine edge with nigh-incalculable force behind it…
Stock’s adamantine waraxe swiftly separates the trough’s glowing woven reeds from glowing woven reeds all the way to the Lake Floor, and Zanderallen’s sword cleaves through yet more connecting reeds and vines as the energies of the trough go out… and then explode in a blinding flash!
No Shield “hears” or “feels” the force of any explosion… waves of multispectral light expand from the (presumably) sundered trough (Stock’s mighty thews think it’s sundered!).
Bartomus, Armalad, Joker, and Stohp were all facing away from the entrance when Zanderallen’s Daylight suddenly grew in intensity, blasting out of the mound, past and around the three, who each reflexively closed their eyes with the extra split-second of warning that facing away gave them.
Stock, Zanderallen, and Delia:
Fortitude Save DC 30 vs. the multispectral light, or be blinded!
(OOC – Stock, yes, Dwarven +2 vs. spells/spell-like abilities applies.)
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 24th, 2023 11:16:01 PM
Armalad asks, "Should I switch to my adamantine arrows too? I only have 40 of them so I don't know how much of the plant golems I could damage."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 25th, 2023 7:09:44 AM
Stohp reviews what the others have told her. "If energy was still being sent to these things then they may be incomplete. It might be better to rush to the center and deal with the source then spend a lot of time destroying each of the golems on the way."
She'll resume acting as messenger so everyone can hold a real conversation despite the underwater difficulties and help guide the blind until their vison clears or someone magically restores them.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+12=17 ; Tuesday April 25th, 2023 9:30:46 AM
Fort: 17
Delia recoils as the light she was examining explodes. She shields her eyes, but it was too late. She'd already been incensed.
She opens her eyes, blinking away tears (an extra strange feeling underwater) and rubbing her eyes. She looks around frowning, pulls her darkvision goggles back on over her eyes, then freezes. She turns white as she says, voice tinged with panic "Uh guys? I can't see."
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+20=37 ; Tuesday April 25th, 2023 9:43:41 AM Water Breathing, Freedom Stock has a momentary thought that his inner reservoir of rage would be useful to sever this conduit (and survive what comes after) but severs it anyway. He blinks away the stars that fill his vision and turns to Z.
"Wow. Did you know that was going to happen? Problem solved I guess."
He inspects his work to make sure the golem threat is truly ended.
======== Fortitude 37
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=26 ; d20+16=24 ; Tuesday April 25th, 2023 10:52:04 AM
Bartomus saw the flash of something that illuminated the area and wondered what his fellow Shields had actually done to cause it. Surely, he thought to himself, it couldn't have been from cutting up the reedware?
He scanned the other three huts to their left and then scanned the tall mound for any response to the flash of light. He suspected that such an event would be a bit hard not to have noticed.
Perception three huts - 26; Tall mound -24
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 d20+21=34 ; Tuesday April 25th, 2023 11:51:22 AM
Zander throws his shield in front of his face, slamming his eyes shut as the explosion of magical light blasts out. He blinks several times, first fearing blindness but his eyes adjust back to the normal light and he looks around. He nods to Stock, "Didn't expect that, but that should solve it. Of course if anyone was looking vaguely this direction they know we're here."
He sees Delia reaching around in the start of a panic and quickly moves over to her, taking hold of one of her hands. He automatically slips into a re-assuring tone, "I'm here, don't fret Delia. I'll have you sorted in a moment. Just stay calm." Zander intones softly and his hand starts to glow with white light. He gently touches Delia's face and with a warm glow her vision should return. ========================== Fort Save: 34
Lay on Hands Mercy: Blindness on Delia 12/13 remaining
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 25th, 2023 10:40:18 PM
Armalad saw, before the blast, Delia considering adamantine arrows and asked Shields nearby whether she should use any of her 40 such.
Stohp considers the fact that these husks were under construction, and suggests to the Shields that they all head for the moundplex to cut off the head of the snake, as it were. Then she resumes being underwater messenger, looking to see if anyone was fully blinded by the multispectral explosion. Stohp soon finds and helps Delia, who seems to be the only Shield so affected.
Delia recoils from the sudden star birthed before her eyes… reflexively trying to blink away tears while rubbing her eyes. It takes her a moment, but then she realizes and exclaims simultaneously that she’s blind!
Stock thought about raging during the strike, but trusted in his mighty thews powering adamantine, perhaps straining harder than if he had raged, and because of that, by a fluke, happened to close his eyes from the exertion as the waraxe cleaved through the trough… and entirely missed being blinded! Blinking away some afterimages from the light that did penetrate his eyelids, Stock turns to Zanderallen and expresses his astonishment, and then his elation that the problem in this mound seems to be solved. He then looks over the finely severed woven reeds of the trough… reminds him of something… reminds him of how against the Reeds, Zanderallen’s blade for once seemed as or more effective than his own flail… Stock realizes that all these Reeds seem somewhat vulnerable to slashing weapons, something the Shields had briefly mentioned in the aftermath of the battle with the Reeds, but this moment made it transparently clear to Stock.
Bartomus was startled by the increasing Daylight, at least that’s what he thought it was at first, and kept his watery eyes “away” and “closed” from the sudden intensity behind him, wondering what had happened with the Shields who’d entered the mound once more! After a moment he opens his “eyes” and “blinks” them over and over, freshening the water that makes his “eyes.” Able to see again without afterimages, Bartomus scanned the farther three huts, though the distortion was somewhat significant at this distance, and did not see any approaching foes or large movements visible hundreds of feet away. Then he looked at the moundplex for a more local security response from the Reeds, but the moundplex’s opening is far and pointed away from this mound, so anyone…thing… inside may have seen nothing at all… he hopes… but continues his vigilance.
Zanderallen had an eye on Stock while his own blade was heading down to sever connecting reeds and he saw… something… sundered (?)… in the multispectral energy coming from the trough and reflexively raised his shield and closed his eyes as he felt his blade slice through some connecting reeds, then hitting empty air, all while his closed eyelids lit up like someone shining ten bright lanterns at his eyelids at the crack of dawn! Then the light faded away, and, feeling it safe, he opened his eyes, blinking many times as if he thought himself blinded, but there was his vision and he turned and saw Stock, the trough split in twain, and several connecting reeds also severed. Zanderallen tells Stock that he didn’t expect it, but agreed this mound was solved, though anyone with the correct vantage point would know something had happened!
Zanderallen turns to look out the entrance, perhaps to begin cheering on the Shields, when he sees Delia blindly groping about. He is swiftly by her side, the water not slowing his free stride at all, and begins reassuring her. Then Zanderallen summons Domi’s mercy, his hand glows with white light and, lifting up Delia’s Goggles of Darkvision a bit, he touches Delia’s forehead between her eyes… and just like that, Delia’s vision returns!
Stock looks around the mound once more and reports that the danger seems gone, but that in the trough are some unusual, even rare, materials, previously hidden by the multispectral light! Stock sees in the cleft trough (Stock’s Eyes Only, for now: Highlight to display spoiler: { a mix of rare, raw, and uncut gemstones in a rainbow variety of colors, leaves and reeds and sticks of various colors and type, some recognizably above-ground only, even if Stock might not know their names.})
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+24=34 ; d20+24=34 ; Tuesday April 25th, 2023 11:04:49 PM
Armalad wonders out loud, "Do you think if the golems become fully formed and you destroy one it blows up in blinding blast like that one did or do you think that one had that blinding blast because Stock destroyed it while the magicks were still creating it so the disruption of the magic needed an outlet?"
She puts her own knowledge of Arcana to the task and then posits the most likely explanation
If it is the former she says to the others, "We'd best press on to the central mound as I would imagine that blinding feature is present once they become fully formed and having us all go blind in combat would be most unfortunate, so if we can destroy whatever is powering them at the source maybe it won't come to that?"
Know: Arcana - 34 Spellcraft: 34
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday April 26th, 2023 7:33:50 AM
Stohp resumes her position for their traveling formation and is ready to head to the central mound.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday April 26th, 2023 10:00:20 AM
Bartomus moved forward after hearing the others indicate that the central mound was their objective. He swims forward angling towards the opening as he continues to monitor the large mound,
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=24 ; Wednesday April 26th, 2023 10:01:07 AM Perception 24 -- forgot to add it before hitting submit.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Wednesday April 26th, 2023 11:49:16 AM
As a hand touches hers, Delia recoils and snatches Zander's wrist defensively. Hearing his voice, she releases the hand and waits. She breathes a sigh of relief as the pain in her eyes fades and the darkness bleeds back to light, "Thank you. That... yeah, thanks."
She takes a moment to settle herself, again reaching for Hawky before realizing he's gone. Then she joins the others, ready to go to the center mound.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Wednesday April 26th, 2023 2:03:54 PM Water breathing, Freedom of movement
Stock inspects the severed trough, picking out any uncut gems that look valuable and says, "A lot of this stuff - rocks, vegetation - is stuff that I can recognize is from the surface. Makes me think whoever is running the show is at least familiar with the surface, if not from the surface."
"Agreed, Armalad. Onward to the center then."
Stock half swims half runs out and toward the central mound to find a way in. "If we can't find a door, I bet I can cut a doorway in from the outside."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 Wednesday April 26th, 2023 3:07:49 PM
Zanderallen keeps a hand near as Delia regains her sight to make sure she keeps her balance. He smiles gently at her unspoken words simply answering, "Domi's gifts are for all." His face hardens again as he turns back to the task at hand.
"Somebody with plant knowledge from the surface, this sounds like something Briadoc would be involved with. We better get moving now." Zander freely jogs along the lake bed towards the center mound. looking for an entrance but staying with the group.
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 26th, 2023 9:42:23 PM
Armalad wonders whether a fully operational plant golem would explode in a blinding flash when slain. Pondering deeply, she thinks, and then announces to the Shields that she believes the latter explanation is more likely… perhaps the trough had been magical itself, in addition to having arcane energy to send to the plant golem husk… not quite a retributive strike as from breaking a powerful staff, but perhaps similar… Armalad suggests that it’s time to move on to the moundplex.
Stohp falls into the Shields’ traveling formation, ready to move on to the moundplex.
Bartomus, having heard the Shields discuss moving on to the central mound, flows ahead of Stohp, crossing back towards the moundplex and flowing around it, spotting a dark spot (it’s a good distance past 60’ darkvision) that may or may not be the entrance. Bartomus sees nothing he would recognize as a threat.
Delia, ever on guard, even when blind, recoils when an unknown hand touches her, then groping to “see” and grabbing the wrist she finds! Then her waterlogged hears hear the somewhat distorted voice of Zanderallen as it leaves his air bubble and vibrates the water on and in her ears, and she relaxes at the sense of familiarity. The sigh of relief from sight restored to her eyes couldn’t come soon enough, but it came, and delight is written all over the archer’s face! Delia thanks Zanderallen curtly, but with respect. Momentarily looking for Hawky, left above on the dragon ship, she soon remembers where he is and then falls into Shields formation with Stohp.
Stock rummages around in the trough, coming out with handfuls of shiny stones. He briefly describes some of what he sees, including that the trough’s materials are part undersea plants and part surface-dwelling plants. Stock agrees with Armalad about moving on to the moundplex and falls into Shields formation at the head, and then Freely Runs forward, towards the moundplex, looking this way and that, feeling the limitations of darkvision that only reaches sixty feet, and beyond that is no better than standing on the surface under the Wold’s sun. He picks a direction and begins circling the moundplex to the left.
Zanderallen is ready to aid Delia, should she require it, as she recovers her sight. He assures her that Domi wants all to receive Domi’s gifts. Zanderallen’s face then becomes as granite as his focus turns to the next task: the moundplex! He comments that with parts of surface plants on the Lakefloor, perhaps Briadoc is involved. Zanderallen urges the Shields onward toward the moundplex, freely jogging into Shields’ formation and then urging the Shields onward.
Resuming the Shields’ Cross Formation, the Shields somewhat quickly make their way to the moundplex’s entrance, a mere process of elimination to circle around until the entrance presents itself.
(OOC – Map! (more details added as the Shields can observe them.)
stocK is placed on the map, bottom left. The Shields’ Cross, with each Shield’s actual present size, is up top; note that Bartomus’ Water Elemental Form is Huge while stohP is merely Large. )
Stock has led the Shields, with Free Barbarian Speed, to the entrance, about ten feet wide and circular in shape as with the prior mounds. This moundplex is much larger, however, and has not just one gigantic room, but one or more corridors as well!
At the entrance, under normal circumstances, Stock, Bartomus, and Delia all have Darkvision 60’, and based on their marching order, Stock would see out to (column M) where a 10’-wide opening appears on the left-hand wall, and Bartomus and Delia only see to (column J) and might, by squinting, believe a turn or opening is coming up on the left. Armalad’s low-light vision would enable her to see all the way to the end (column Y), though not in great detail. Still, she’d be aware of the 10’-wide opening on the left, that the corridor continues, and that it appeared to come to an end. Zanderallen and Stohp both have helms of underwater action, granting them five times normal sight distance than a human would see at this depth and looking ahead through so much water, and this would be enough to see similarly to Armalad, but only to (column J) because the interior goes from kind-of-light to no light very rapidly.
Yet, all of that is irrelevant because Zanderallen’s Daylight spell will be shining 60’ ahead for quite a while, enhancing both his and Stohp’s helm-vision, as well as Armalad’s low-light vision! From Zanderallen’s back rank, Daylight springs forth 30’ past Stock (through column G), where Stock has Darkvision another 30’ beyond that (column M). Armalad can see clearly all the way to the back (column Y). Bartomus and Delia’s first 50’ of vision are in bright Daylight and their last 10’ of vision (column J) is in Darkvision. Zanderallen and Stohp can both see to the end (column Y) as well, because five times normal daylight vision is pretty far.
What the Shields see, lighting up the moundplex with Daylight is even more intricate and tightly-woven reeds, seaweed, and kelp walls than the other mounds. The blue-greens of the deeper waters permeate the moundplex in some kind of alien fractal pattern, would that the Shields even knew what fractal meant in this time-lost Wold! The floor and ceiling inside this first corridor are woven reeds and seaweed as well as the walls.
Dare the Shields enter a… building (?)… so natural and yet so alien?
SHIELDS – duty calls you forth, but in what marching order, now that the corridor’s size prevents the Shields’ Cross and will force Bartomus the Elemental to Squeeze through the corridor, his water packed so tightly that none can pass through him?
First, pick a spot to be on the map, anywhere up through (column J) but no further. Second, in your post include what square (B35, D36, etc.) you want to be in. Third, if you are bigger (Bartomus and Stohp), then pick a square where your UPPER LEFT CORNER will be (keep your starting square in row 35).
SHIELDS – what thoughts and preparations do you discuss amongst yourselves just before entering the moundplex? (include all spells you cast, note the durations, and observe that spells lasting 1 minute/level or less (15 minutes at most, depending on caster level) may or may not last the entire time you spend in the moundplex. Assume you have up to 2 minutes to cast everything you need to, but no more, because Stock is impatient about smashing evil... (DM grin))
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+21=41 ; Wednesday April 26th, 2023 11:24:10 PM
Armalad uses the pearl of power in her Mage's guild pendant to recast her Mage Armor spell targetting Joker.
As far as positioning goes it will be F35 and F36 for Armalad and Joker
Armalad keeps an eye out for traps as they move through the mound
Perception: 41 when searching for traps
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 10 hours - Joker Mage Armor = +4 AC for 10 hours - Armalad (this one was cast when we first went down here) Water Breathing = 20 hours worth of water breathing, can share up to 9 other people, dividing the duration by those it is shared with gloves and fins: swim speed with swim bonus
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 27th, 2023 7:17:46 AM
(I'm getting a 404 error when I click on the map)
Stohp will get directly behind Stock so she can provide support with her greater reach.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Thursday April 27th, 2023 9:12:14 AM Status: Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement Stock swim marches ahead. His only preparation is to psych himself up and ready his axe - now that he knows it appears to be the right tool for this job.
"Z - you are my conscience at times like this. Do we take prisoners?... I must be growing soft if I'm asking that before we fight." [i]======= Move to J35 Here's a correct map link: Map
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=34 ; Thursday April 27th, 2023 5:03:27 PM
Delia swims up to just behind Stohp, confident in even her underwater ability to aim around her Taur friend and leaving the spot next to Stock for Zander.
move to G35; perception 34 to observe any threats through water echoes, disturbances, or other not as reliant on sight methods since she can't see too much underwater or around Stohp
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 Thursday April 27th, 2023 5:42:20 PM
As they approach the entrance Zanderallen will pray to Domi to enhance his blade with a divine spirit. He pushes up towards the front with Stock, "At the moment we're still trying to talk to somebody, but this is looking less and less like a random attack on the Float so I'm preparing for the worst." ================== Move right behind Stock at I35
Divine Bond - Upgrade sword to +5 Flaming Speed - Duration: 15 minutes
Armalad focuses on her pearl and then casts Mage Armor on Joker. She then begins looking for traps. It appears there are none near her present position.
Stohp freely walks directly behind Stock, to take advantage of her long arms.
Stock freely strides, just reaching the corner of the opening on the left. He then, with watery lungs, turns to Zanderallen at his side and asks whether prisoners will be taken or not.
Delia closes in just behind Stohp, and readies herself for archery, not really needing her Goggles of Darkvision because Zanderallen freely runs past her and by Stohp to take the lead with Stock, his Daylight now illuminating the entire corridor and into the next opening. Delia is at once thankful for being able to see, though the water distorts things at farther distances, but also grimaces in that the Daylight has likely cost the Shields all hope of surprising any Reeds here… presuming the Reeds have eyes or something like them. Did they?
Zanderallen has just finished freely running to the front, and skids to a stop a little bit, if one can do that underwater! Then he summons Domi’s blessings and his blade strengthens, any stronger glow being dwarfed by the Daylight spell on it. Zanderallen replies to Stock that he’d like to speak to someone, but the situation looks not at all like a random attack on the Float…
Armalad was staring at the floor, walls, looking for traps when all of a sudden all of the Shields came rushing past her, their wakes pushing some loose reeds this way and that in the weave. Well, maybe not all. She hadn’t felt Bartomus’ living water push past her, so he must be behind her, probably close by.
Bartomus, seeing that the narrow corridor might force him to be front-line if he raced ahead, and his watery form were compacted enough, so he paused to allow the Shields to take their pick of marching order positions while he considered what preparatory spells he might cast, if any.
(OOC – Bartomus, next post please feel free to “step back in time” and note what your two minutes were spent doing prior to the Shields getting in place to explore the moundplex.)
SHIELDS – now that you are in position, only Stock, and to a greater extent, Zanderallen, are able to peek around the corner and see further than the first 5’ of the opening. They see the opening leads into a large room with the back wall some 40’ or so away from the opening. The blue-green patterns on the reeds in the walls, floors, and ceilings continue as far as Stock and Zanderallen can see. There are two very small traces of what appear to be viscera in the entrance, each no more than might fit between a human index finger and thumb tightly close to one another.
What do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday April 28th, 2023 6:21:22 AM
Stohp follows the lead of the pair in front, hand on her flail in case of combat or ambush.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=42 ; Friday April 28th, 2023 8:39:39 AM
Delia swims forward after Stohp, fanning out to the side as the enter the larger room. She has her bow in her hand, largely relying on her magically improved legs to propell her. She keeps an eye out for any reeds that don't quite move with the current or any other threat Zander's miniature sun reveals.
Perception 42
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +17 (2d6+9) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=18 ; Friday April 28th, 2023 10:27:30 AM
[2minutes prior - sorry] Bartomus swam upward and waited for the others as he was going to have to squeeze into and through that space. When the others get assembled and start working their way into the mound, he finished casting two spells for his own needs.
He squeezed himself into the corridor feeling his density increase as he did so. He wondered if his pressure had any effect on the walls he was slipping past and pushing against. When he turned and got into the larger area, he adjusted accordingly and looked about. Move to J30
Spells cast - Command Plants will last for 15 days Bull's Strength - raises strength to 28 - adding an additional plus two to damage and attack
Perception once coming to a stopping point at J30 - 18
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 Saturday April 29th, 2023 8:15:11 AM
Zander nods to Stock and the rest as he see everyone stacked in the corridor. Knowing his light is giving them away anyway he walks around the corner into the room, calling out, "Hello, anybody home?" ======== Move to L33
Stohp follows the lead of Stock and Zanderallen, her flail ready for battle!
Delia follows behind Stohp, intending to fan to one side once the Shields enter the large room. Her bow in hand, magical flippers propelling her forward, she is alert for any danger, especially minute disturbances from reeds, even ones that are part of the moundplex.
Bartomus had swam upward, waiting for the Shields to assume their ‘marching’ formation (and oddly, to Bartomus, three of the Shields were in fact marching, not swimming!), then he considered the spells he wanted to cast. Command Plants would require him to target specific plants at Close range, so despite its lengthy duration he knew he needed to cast that in battle, once any Reeds or other monstrous plants revealed themselves, or were found. He elects to just cast Bull’s Strength on himself, which he knows will last 15 minutes… enough time to find at least the first battle of however many battles there will be today!
Zanderallen nods to Stock and the Shields in formation, and then boldly walks around the corner and calls out a greeting.
Stock, anxious to deal with the Reedy threat once and for all, maintains formation and wordlessly moves ahead with Zanderallen. (OOC – to K33)
Armalad moves alongside Delia, looking for traps. (OOC – DM rolled 4+20 = 24 base, 25 for traps) Joker moves just to the side, able to peek around the corner.
Bartomus fully squeezed into the corridor, coming up just short of being able to see more than where Stock and Zanderallen had progressed.
All seems peaceful…
Delia shatters the silence, but with water in her lungs only those 10’ away can make out what she says - Bartomus, Stohp, Armalad, Joker ONLY: Highlight to display spoiler: { “It’s a trap – there’s a Reed RIGHT THERE!!!!”}
Still, while the water garbled her words too much for Stock and Zanderallen to understand, each turned back to see if she was calling for help, but she was dead serious, her left arm outstretched and using her bow to point at a section of moundwall (M33 and M34).
Delia has her bow in her left hand and has nocked an arrow, looking for a target in that direction. She shouts again, out to 10’ - Bartomus, Stohp, Armalad, Joker ONLY: Highlight to display spoiler: { “The Reed is right there, I bet it’s going to attack Zanderallen! Lift your helmet eyecovers so you can see! This is an ambush!” }
All is quiet on the moundplex front, other than Zanderallen’s greeting and Delia’s frenetic words from her water-filled lungs.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday May 1st, 2023 12:49:40 AM
Armalad casts message targetting the party and tells everyone, "Delia says that it is a trap and that there is a reed ready to attack Zanderallen"
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 10 hours - Joker Mage Armor = +4 AC for 10 hours - Armalad (this one was cast when we first went down here) Water Breathing = 20 hours worth of water breathing, can share up to 9 other people, dividing the duration by those it is shared with gloves and fins: swim speed with swim bonus
Spells Prepared: 0th - Ray of Frost, Light, Message, Detect Magic 1st - Magic Missile, Mage Armor - cast, Mage Armor, Shield, True Strike, Detect Hidden Doors 2nd Selective Burning Hands (DC 17), False Life, Mirror Image, See Invisibility, Hideous Laughter, Invisibility 3rd Water Breathing - cast, Water Breathing, Lightning Bolt, Invisibility Sphere 4th - Selective Fireball (DC 19), Confusion, Resilient Sphere, Black Tentacles 5th - Cone of Cold, Selective Shout (DC 20), Cone of Cold
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday May 1st, 2023 7:06:36 AM
Stohp will reach out and touch those in front of her to indicate they should halt then repeating Delia's message to them.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=26 ; d20+25=43 ; Monday May 1st, 2023 9:04:50 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement[i]
Stock turns around and scans the area as he moves left to make room for the rest of the group to enter.
[i]========== Perception 43 Move to G30
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +17 (2d6+9) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+1=16 ; Monday May 1st, 2023 10:10:45 AM
Bartomus, hearing that there is a reed mat ready to attack attempted to speak in the language of water elementals and water plants (?) with a command to the reed mat to stand down in its attack. He tries to emphasize this command in hopes that it can be heard by any other reed mats ahead of the party.
Command plants - Charisma role of 16 versus its Charisma if this can work; 60' range; Will save negates command effort it appears http://legacy.aonprd.com/coreRulebook/spells/commandPlants.html#command-plants
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+24=35 ; d8=1 ; d6=1 ; Monday May 1st, 2023 6:17:04 PM
Delia nocks an arrow and draws, and then pauses as she hears what seems like a spell echoing out of Bart's water-form.
She readies to fire should hostilities begin.
====================== Readied Attack: 35 -1 for each 5ft of water between Delia and the reed who would be doing the attacking. Damage: 15 (14 piercing, 1 cold)
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) d20+10=23 ; Monday May 1st, 2023 9:49:09 PM
Armalad casts Message and with the barest of whispers is clearly heard in the ears of the rest of the Shields, repeating Delia’s warning about Zanderallen being in danger.
(OOC – On the Message cantrip –
Message is not a voice channel where everyone can speak and be heard by everyone else – Armalad, the caster, is like a dispatcher for a taxi service, capable of speaking to any number of recipients, even all of them, at once, BUT the rest of the Shields may only use Message to speak to Armalad alone, otherwise they may have to “shout” with water-filled lungs, etc.
If you use Message to communicate during a post, use the phrase, “[my hero] Messages Armalad that XYZ is happening…”
Hugh can simply write, “Armalad Messages Shields A, B, and D only as follows:” or “Armalad Messages all Shields the following” etc.)
Stohp, simultaneously with Armalad’s spellcasting, taps Stock and Zanderallen on their shoulders and repeats Delia’s warning to them. Then Stohp gets a bad case of echo when Armalad’s magical voice appears in her ears via Message.
Stock turns around at Stohp’s touch and communication, and then as he begins to slowly move out of the way of other Shields (to J33) and scan the area around him he begins hearing Armalad’s Message.
Bartomus listens to Armalad’s repeat of Delia’s warning. He still wishes he knew one of these underwater languages, but he knows Command Plants will enable him to communicate with any plant who fails to resist the spell, so after casting the spell in the general direction of the wall behind Zanderallen, he begins trying to somehow make his watery body make sounds. He hadn’t seen an attack start yet, but still he forced out the command to stay still and hoped the Reed would have to obey.
Delia nocks an arrow, pulling back in anticipation of battle as she listens to Armalad repeat everything she just said… and then there is churning of the water, something not quite like the ‘sound’ of Armalad spellcasting next to her, yet vibrating her eardrums – Bartomus must be spellcasting! She does not let loose her fingertip of doom just yet, but Readies to shoot the first Reed, plant, whatever to attack the Shields!
Zanderallen is looking around, puzzled that nothing is moving or responding, and then Stohp touches his shoulder and repeats Delia’s warning. Then Armalad’s magical Message comes in with stereo effect. He turns to look at the walls to his right again, facing them with sword in hand. He stares intently (PER = 23) but cannot see anything but the woven reeds and seaweeds and kelp of these strange moundplex walls. Then almost imperceptible waves of water touch him, flowing past. Too far away to realize Bartomus has cast a spell, he dismisses them as mere coincidence to the task at hand. Looking at the wall again, the reeds had been ever so slightly rocking back and forth with the motion of the Lake, but now they did not move at all. Curiouser and curiouser thought Zanderallen.
Armalad keeps her eyes peeled for any threats, ready to communicate to the party anything that she sees
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 7:12:39 AM
Stohp waits for someone to make a decision to advance, attack, or otherwise deal with the ambush. Presumably someone who's spotted the enemy and can do something about them.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=30 ; Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 9:24:55 AM
Stock keeps pushing forward, wall on his left and Shields on his right. He does not see an obvious target or threat. He pushes forward to the opening at F27 and takes a look.
========= Perception 30
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=25 ; Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 10:24:24 AM "Well, now that's fascinating," Bartomus said aloud when the reed beast didn't attack Zander. Or, at least that is what he heard while the others simply saw bubbles and probably heard gurgling, swishing sounds.
He followed in behind the Shields and turns to the reed beast. He nodded at the obedient mat and smiled at it. He then looked about at the walls to see if there were any mats.
Perception - 25
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 d20+22=38 ; d8+18=26 ; Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 1:55:52 PM
Zander holds for a moment, not quite sure what is going on. With no further developments he shrugs his shoulders and walks into the center of the room, ready to attack anything that attacks him. ==================== Move to J30
Ready attack 38 to hit, 26 damage
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=33 ; Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 4:23:35 PM
Delia stays put for the moment, continuing to watch for any reeds moving out of the natural water current and trying to keep aware of Bart's water current and ready to defend.
===================== Perception 33 Readied Attack repost: 35 -1 for each 5ft of water between Delia and the reed who would be doing the attacking. Damage: 15 (14 piercing, 1 cold)
Whack-a-Mound (DM Wayne) Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 9:06:42 PM
Armalad actively looks for threats, the slightest bit of motion worthy of an arrow, or perhaps at least a Messaged broadcast to all the Shields and Joker. Armalad ONLY Highlight to display spoiler: { Her narrow focus makes her think that she sees a Reed, or Reeds, in (M33, M34, N34)… not a bit of movement, well-blended in, but Zanderallen’s Daylight (M33, M34) and her low-light vision (N34) combine to tell her that she must be looking at the Reed Delia warned about… but… what to do? It… or (shudder) they… seems to be a part of the very walls itself! }
Stohp readies to follow the next plan another Shield directs, weapon in hand.
Stock begins to move in the direction of the next exit to the room, but walks 10’ (J33 to I31) and stops – the whole wall is bluish-greenish woven reed, seaweed, and kelp, but (Stock ONLY) Highlight to display spoiler: { Zanderallen’s Daylight illuminates (F30, F29) just right and Stock sees a 10’ by 10’ area (ceilings are 10’ here) where some occasional streaks of red are visible… a strange, alien red that Stock has only seen once before on that tiny plant that almost ate Hasan’s thumb! The weave seems to be moving more than the slow rocking of the Lakewater would account for… Stock knows what he must do. }
Stohp sees another Shield finally advancing and falls in step behind Stock. Zanderallen later runs around and then in front of her, on her right, and then he stops, noticing Stock is staring at a particular section of moundwall…
Bartomus whispers his amazement, but the only one that hears it is Armalad, via the Message, though it comes to her as garbled watery noises, not as an actual language. Bartomus sees Stohp move ahead, which creates enough space for him to ooze forward another 10’, still squeezed and compacted, but now his ‘head’ is at the front, and with Zanderallen’s Daylight (Bartomus ONLY) Highlight to display spoiler: { can look at the Reed whose location he guessed (M33, M34) from Delia’s warning. Odd, he thought… Zanderallen wasn’t attacked… he trusted Delia on the location, but stare as he might he can’t tell the Reed from the wall, especially after he commanded it to stop moving. His only clue of success is that none of this wall section is slowly rocking with the slight motion of the Lakewater, when other wall sections around him do have that slight movement. Bartomus pauses and wonders, given the 60’ range of the spell, whether he caught any more Reeds than this one, and if so, whether they resisted his spell. He’d need to get closer to (M32 and beyond) to see if they too are frozen in place. }
Zanderallen pauses a moment, still a bit puzzled. Following Armalad’s Message he doesn’t believe anything has changed, so he shrugs and moves to (J30) and walks abreast with Stock towards the next opening when Stock stops walking, and turns to face the wall to his left (F30, F31), staring at it intently. Zanderallen stops too, in the center of the room, blade ready for action!
Delia feels Bartomus’ compacted water flow past her, and silently thanks him for leaving a walkway into the room. She notes (Delia ONLY) Highlight to display spoiler: { that the Reed she spotted earlier (M33, M34, and now also N34 she sees) is frozen stiff, not even the slightest movement. Did Bartomus’ spell slay it or command it? Probably the latter, given his reverence for the Wold’s nature. }
The Lakewater is so thick it seems one could cut it with a knife!
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday May 2nd, 2023 11:53:04 PM
Armalad messages to the team, "I think I see the reeds that Delia warned about but they seem to be part of the wall itself. I could shoot it with an adamantine arrow but would it make more sense for someone to take an axe to the reeds? Delia or I could tell you if you were getting warmer to the specific reed and then you would take the axe to that reed maybe breaking it?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 7:04:29 AM
Stohp is starting to get a little antsy. Whatever they are doing they should do it.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=26 ; Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 9:11:32 AM
When an opening appeared, or if he could squeeze and flow between the others, Bartomus tried to move into the room. He continued to scan the walls and ceiling where ever he was at.
If possible, move to K28 - Perception looking at the walls in this room first at the one patch of wall identified and then elsewhere including the ceiling.
Stock (JonM) HP: 203/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 0/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+16=32 ; d10+19=26 ; Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 9:41:27 AM
Stock turns to the others and bellows out, "Looks like that angry red reed is buried in the walls I'm on it. There are few problems with walls that axes can't solve."
Stock moves up to the wall and slams it with his axe.
=========== Move to G30 Power Attacking the wall! hits AC32, 26 adamantine slashing damage
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 1:11:29 PM
Delia will point the enthusiastic dwarf towards the specific reeds that were trying to attack Zander, moving into the open room as well. As she passes everyone, she will inform them, "With Bart's spell, these plants shouldn't be a problem for a while. Not sure if that will last if we start killing them though."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 159/159 AC: 15 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 6:54:41 PM
Zanderallen continues to hold in the center of the room. "So the walls want to kill us, but then Bart did something, and now Stock might make them angry? Is that the gist of it?"
"It's a Trap!" - Admiral Ackbar (DM Wayne) d20+16=26 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+16=21 ; d3=1 ; d20+16=31 ; 2d8+7=14 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=17 ; d8=1 ; d8=6 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=35 ; d20+16=32 ; 2d8=4 ; d20+18=28 ; 2d8+7=15 ; Wednesday May 3rd, 2023 11:44:43 PM
Armalad Messages the Shields that the Reed(s) Delia spotted seem to be part of the very moundwall itself. She suggests that she or Delia guide Shields to strike with adamantine weapons at the correct wall section.
Stohp hears Armalad’s Messaged plan of action, but no one has given the “go” order yet, so Stohp is more than a bit unsettled by the pace.
Bartomus finally sees a path where his temporarily “heavy water” wouldn’t crush a Shield against the wall, so he flows (squeezes) to a point where he’s more the size of a watery hydra (height of 10’) than a watery giant (height of 15’) (center of mass K28) and looks around the two walls closest to him (top and right of room), benefiting from Zanderallen’s Daylight, seeing easily in color. Bartomus ONLY Highlight to display spoiler: { does not specifically see Reeds in the two walls nearest him, but as he traveled past the suddenly frozen-still moundwall where he’d cast Control Plants on the Reed Delia spotted approximately (M33,M34), now he sees that at the border of two 5’ wall sections (M28, M29), one of them is frozen despite the gentle rocking of the Lakewater (M29), and one is not (M28). Could his spell, with its 60’ range, have controlled more than one target? Two… wait, if they’re all 10’ by 10’, then three monstrous plants were affected (counting 10’ at a time from the 30’ diameter of M34 through M29)!!! Hmm… Stock’s still staring at that far section of wall… could that be a… fourth… monstrous plant? }
Stock, his lungs filled with water, shouts to the Shields, but only Zanderallen, Stohp, and Bartomus are close enough to hear his voice, so he also whispers a reply to Armalad via Message, leaving only Delia and Joker unaware of his call to battle against the “angry red Reed”. Then Stock rushes the wall like a runaway horses-and-carriage, adamantine waraxe in hand, and his weapon easily cuts through regular woven reeds… and apparently tougher monstrous plant material too!
(OOC – this is the Surprise Round – only Stock makes an attack this Surprise Round)
In the depths of Turtle Lake, there is little sound but for the movement of air bubbles, perhaps a momentary flow of rushing water, whirls, and eddies, little more sound than the Woldian Void… but Stock hears… feels… his water-filled grunt of satisfaction as many blue-green woven reeds fall from the wall, strange sap/not-sap, liquid/not-liquid falls from the many red petals now visible!
Stock, and all other Shields inside the room, see a wounded but apparently fully adult version of the tiny red thumb-eater plant in a ten-foot section of the moundwall, rising up and ready for battle, ready to respond in kind to Stock’s wounding first strike!
Delia moves into the open room Messaging her comment to Armalad, picking a spot by Stohp (K30), and then actually gurgling water in her mouth and lungs to tell Stohp and Zanderallen the same thing. As she finishes, she thinks Bartomus is nearby too. Surveying the room, functionally very hard of hearing due to being underwater, it is not until she looks around for Stock, who seems to have moved first and gotten ahead of her, that she sees what the other Shields see in the room – Stock with waraxe in hand and ahead of him a towering and very Large version of that thumb-eating tiny red plant! Her right hand is already reaching into her quiver for just the right arrow as she considers if now is the time to begin shooting…
Zanderallen holds his position in the center, and puzzles out the happenings aloud, wondering if Stock might make them angry at precisely the moment Stock’s waraxe cleaves into the moundwall and exposes the Blood Lily!
(OOC – Round 1 of battle begins!!!)
Its silent howl of pain, if it has one, completed, the heretofore legendary Blood Lily is before the Shields!
Hundreds of long and thin blood-red petals form a spherical shape atop its central stem. A pair of stout vine-like appendages sprout from either side of its central mass. In the room, Bartomus and Delia marvel at its large radiant blossom, a ball of scarlet spikes reminiscent of a sea urchin.
AT ONCE the scarlet “sea urchin” fully faces Stock and launches four flaming-red flechettes, that is, four of its hundreds of petals become stiff and sharp as knives and are launched like porcupine spines at sullen Stock, but Stock is able to freely dodge two of them and angles his waraxe to block the other two! Stock stands unharmed… for now.
From an adjacent wall (F32, F33) a Reed bursts forth, a tangled mass of thick reeds extending from a bulbous pod split by a wide thorn-toothed maw, occupying part of the room, and two familiar tendrils lash out from it to strike and grapple Stock! The tendrils are upon Stock in a flash and as Stock ducks out of the way of the first one, the second one scores a solid hit!
(STOCK – take 14 damage)
A tiny wisp of Stock’s blood enters the Lakewater…
And with that, the strangely cunning monstrous plants all make their move… those not under Bartomus’ spell!
From the top wall (I25, I26) reeds rotate in the moundwall, revealing sinister scarlet in a 10’ by 10’ shape, which fully bursts forth from the moundwall with a diagonal step and slings two scarlet spikes at each of Stock and Zanderallen, one of them piercing deep into Stock!
(OOC – second one was a critical threat, but is not a critical hit; damage is 1 point (this one fails to beat Stock’s DR), and 6 points (this one gets some damage past Stock’s DR). The petal spikes are excessively sharp and the second hit Causes a Bleeding Wound to STOCK. (because it beat his damage reduction)
STOCK, at the START of each of your posts in this combat, take 1d8 Bleeding Damage (DR does not apply). Bleeding can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or through the application of any spell that cures hit point damage.)
(ZANDERALLEN – please update your AC in your posts – you have Freedom of Movement and are wearing your Full Plate – your header says AC 15 instead of 31 right now)
Of the other two aimed at Zanderallen, one veers wide but the other strikes deep in his right side (Zander – it Critically Hit you for a total of 4 damage!) and Causes a Bleeding Wound to ZANDERALLEN!
ZANDERALLEN, at the START of each of your posts in this combat, take 1d8 Bleeding Damage (DR does not apply). Bleeding can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or through the application of any spell that cures hit point damage.)
Suddenly, another Reed moves forth (from K25, K26) and brushes past nigh-invisible-watery Bartomus on its way to strike at Stock. (BARTOMUS, Take An Attack of Opportunity!) It greedily reaches out towards Stock with a tendril, flanking with its two “friends” on the other side of Stock, just hitting through its pure cunning! (STOCK - take 15 damage)
Finally, another Blood Lily becomes visible (in M27, M28) but cannot get through Bartomus’ Huge watery form so it moves through the Moundwall, between the top Blood Lily and Reed (B2 and S2 on the map) until it fully emerges beyond them, then turns to “face” Stock.
(BARTOMUS – If you have Combat Reflexes, this is your Second Attack of Opportunity in this Round.)
SHIELDS – it’s your half of Round 1… Fight!
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+10=21 ; d20+20=23 ; d8=3 ; d6=4 ; 4d6=12 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 2:37:34 AM
Armalad whispers at Joker, "Create an illusion of an ink cloud and stay close to me"
Joker uses the wand of silent image to create a 4x4 ink cloud covering Armalad, Joker and the 2 squares in front of them and follows Armalad as she moves to K 33. Joker is at L 33 and there are 2 squares of illusionary inkiness at K 32 and L32
(Armalad's save vs Illusion: 21)
Armalad fires an arrow targetting B1 as Armalad has concealment from the illusionary ink cloud and B1 is within 30 feet, B1 should be sneak attacked
Armalad is using both deadly aim and many shot with this attack
23 vs B1's Flat Footed AC, if that hits 1d8 (3) + 1d6(4) electric + 11 x2 + 4d6 (12) = 28 + 8 electric + 12 sneak attack
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+21=22 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 8:03:55 AM
Stohp has handled the reeds before so she'll move towards one of them to grapple (not sure what each enemy is, can you add them to the map key and move Stohp towards a reed?). Unfortunately she isn't able to get a good grip (22, nat 1. I think it's technically replacing an attack rolls, so can auto miss on a nat 1?)
Stock (JonM) HP: 220/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 1/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d8=2 ; d20+19=31 ; d20+14=24 ; d20+9=25 ; d10+23=27 ; d10+23=32 ; d10+23=30 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 9:17:19 AM Status: Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement and now RAGING! Stock yells out, "Found them!" He sees wisps of his blood floating in the water. This drives his rage forward and he lets loose on the reed in front of him, cutting and slashing at the red reed.
Somewhere in his brain he notes the blood leaking out of him but he rationalizes that he still has plenty more to give. ====== Map Link Just confirming on damage last round, you weren't including DR right? So 14->11, 1->0, 6->3, 15->12 2 Bleed damage Also confirming enemies close to Stock - B1 is the one that struck first, S2 struck last, S is Stohp right? But it also looks like it attacked? So is S outside of the wall Stohp but S inside the wall an enemy? Raging Power Attack vs B1 hits AC 31, 27 damage PA vs B1 hits AC 24, 32 damage PA vs B1 hits AC 25, 30 damage
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+6=19 ; 2d6+6=10 ; d20+6=16 ; 2d6+6=12 ; d20+6=16 ; d20+6=19 ; d20+6=25 ; 2d6+6=11 ; 2d6+6=14 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 10:24:28 AM There were a group of them here and some aren't moving. Bartomus said to himself and tried to process the information that he observed. Then Stock let loose.
"Wait Stock, wait," Bartomus tried yelling affirming what Delia and others were saying, but dwarves gotta dwarf.
Things started to move and Bartomus watched as a reed mat with one of its telltale tendrils brush past him and slammed it with both of the watery fists he formed. Then he looked about and saw both a reedy mat come out of the wall and a blood Lilly right behind it. Bartomus slammed one fist at the reed and then looked hard as he aimed for a weaker spot where slammed a second fist.
AOC - two slams - 1st with a 19, for 10; 2nd with 16 for 12; Does not have that feat, but does have cleave..will consider that the next round
Attack on S2 - two slams 1st with a 19 for 11// second for 25, and using Vital Strike for 2xs regular damage of 14x2 = 28
I don't believe I can use Cleave after this set of attacks, will use that next round
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 147/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 d8=8 ; d20+10=12 ; d20+22=34 ; d20+22=32 ; d20+17=33 ; d20+12=14 ; d8+18=20 ; d8+18=20 ; d8+18=19 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 6:11:28 PM
Zander barely notices the initial scratch but holds back a yowl as the salt water hits the bleeding wound. He'd deal with that later. He finally had something to hit. He steps up to the reed closest him, free movement and magically enhanced speed making a blur under the water. ============== AC Updated: sorry about that
Bleed Taken: 8
Divine Bond: +5 Speed 15 minute original duration
5 foot step to I29
Full attack on S2 Spellcraft 12 no fire 34 to hit, 20 damage 32 to hit, 20 damage 33 to hit, 19 damage 14 misses
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+18=31 ; d20+18=24 ; d20+13=14 ; d20+8=11 ; d8+14=19 ; d6=3 ; d8+14=16 ; d6=5 ; d8+14=20 ; d6=6 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 10:56:41 PM Reminder that Stock, Zander, and Stohp are affected by Freedom of Movement and the reeds cannot grapple y'all
Delia blows some annoyed bubbles at the blood lilies she has to fight underwater as she repositions closer with her swim speed and raises her bow.
===== 5ft "step" to J30 should be 20 ft away from B1 (-4) - forgot to add point blank to attack roller Attack 1: 32 to hit; 22 & 21 damage (19 piercing, 3 cold, 16 piercing, 5 cold) Attack 2: 25 to hit; 26 damage (20 piercing, 6 cold) Attack 3: 15 - nat 1 Attack 4: 12 to hit;
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday May 4th, 2023 11:13:18 PM
Time slows down for Armalad and Joker as combat heats up. (OOC: Checking In)
"It's a Trap!" - Admiral Ackbar (DM Wayne) d20+16=22 ; d10=6 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+16=26 ; d20+16=31 ; d20+15=27 ; 2d8+7=17 ; d20+16=23 ; d20+16=24 ; d20+16=21 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=18 ; d20+16=34 ; d8=4 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+16=27 ; 2d6+4=12 ; 2d6+4=6 ; d4=1 ; d4=4 ; Thursday May 4th, 2023 11:21:49 PM
Armalad and Joker move into action, entering the room and then in quick succession Joker uses a wad to create an inky cloud.
(OOC - DC 12 Will Save for any Shield interacting with it to “see through” the figment. STOHP – roll that Will Save since Joker created the figment with 1 square of you inside it! Success = behave like it’s not there; Fail = it’s dark there and hard to see through!)
Armalad nocks an arrow on the go in Second Elder’s Wrath and shoots at B1, the arrow flying as though on the surface, in air, narrowly missing Stohp on the right and Reed #1 on the left, catching Blood Lily #1 flat-footed from within the ink cloud! The arrow sinks in deep, electric arcs cauterizing the leaves and petals as it goes!
Stohp moves forward to grapple a Reed (“Stranglereed,” thus S# on the map; here she reaches for S1.) but fails. (OOC - Reeds are CMD 32 for grapplers, etc. Combat maneuvers fail on a 1 just as attacks fail on a 1. Core Rulebook, p. 198.)
(OOC –
STOCK – yes, your DR calculations are correct – apply your own DR. I noted that you did not Bleed from the petal that hit you but failed to beat your DR.
Re: “S” and Stohp – the Legend in the top left of the map (row 6) indicates Stohp is represented with a P. No Shield is represented by an S. I neglected to make “S” into “S1” which I have since fixed.
Now added to the Legend, beginning in G2 and G3:
S# is a Stranglereed (“Reed”) B# is a Blood Lily. B on its own is Bartomus (currently taking up 9 squares as a Huge Water Elemental
B1 is the Blood Lily that struck at Stock first, but missed with all 4 attacks. B1 is also the Blood Lily Stock cut out of the moundwall with his first strike in the surprise round. B2 is the Blood Lily who launched 2 petal blades at each of Stock and Zanderallen, wounding both of you.)
Stock yells that he’s found them, but everyone except Armalad (via Message) is too far away to hear Stock’s water-filled vocal cords gurgle his announcement. Then he notices his own blood in the water from the petal-blade, with more oozing out, and becomes enRaged! Stock, Freely Attacking, executes a Full Attack routine so completely that the water swirls about him violently, his first swing glancing off a suddenly hard and sharp group of petals and then on the backswing he beats the plant’s defenses and cuts deep with his adamantine waraxe!
(OOC – Blood Lilys are AC 25 when not flat-footed.)
Bartomus considered that there was more than one monstrous plant here, some not moving. And then Stock happened. He reflexively called out for Stock to wait, but the only one who heard his static-y gurgling in no particular language was Armalad via Message.
(OOC – An Attack of Opportunity is 1 attack – it is not a Full Attack. Bartomus lacks Combat Reflexes, so he only gets the 1 attack of opportunity this round.)
When Reed #2 (S2) leaves the wall to go attack Stock, not noticing the watery Bartomus, Bartomus takes the opportunity to swing a large watery “fist” at it, missing (result = 19, AC is 23 for a Stranglereed / “Reed”). When the third Blood Lily also moves past him, Bartomus is not able to re-orient himself in time to strike at it. He re-orients himself and then sets about water-pummeling the Reed (S2) into submission! (OOC – I am ignoring the second d20 roll in your post, since it was for an AoO you didn’t qualify to take) Bartomus’s right fist swings hard at the Reed, but rolls off the Reed like… well… you know… and then he brings his left fist down in a hammer-like blow, striking harder but still rolling off… Bartomus reshapes himself in anticipation of his next attacks…
Zanderallen shrugs off the critical hit, but then the water hits the bleeding wound and he stifles a yelp! (Turtle Lake has less salt than one might think – Turtle Lake appears to drain to an ocean from the official Woldipedia player map of the Crying Wood region, but Lakes are typically freshwater… estuary effects at most.) The stifling is made easier by the call to battle in the somewhat silent deep – the air bubble of his Helm makes the occasional sounds a bit clearer than if he was fully immersed in water. Then, like a flash, Zanderallen is next to a Reed in a 5’ step (S2) and with his blade’s Speed, creates violent turbulence in the Lakewater around him as he executes… strike, spin, parry, thrust, turn, stab, and slice… water on that last attempt. Zanderallen’s first three cuts leave many stray bits of tendrils and other plant matter floating around him!
Delia swims 5’ and unleashes her fusillade of arrows upon the Blood Lilys, her multishot freezing its last moving parts and shattering it like an ice sculpture! Quickly selecting a new Blood Lily, since her arrows sink so deep in them compared to Reeds, she spies (B2) readying a run towards Stock and hits it with her second shot, with the wounded Lily nimbly zigging when Delia’s final two arrows zagged! (B2) continues on towards Stock…
The plants now have two sources of fresh blood in the water… what will they do?
Round 2
A Reed (S1) saw and felt the touch of a meaty fist, and it rotates in place, orienting its mouth of shark-like teeth at Stohp, attempting to strike/grab with its tendrils and bite with that serrated orifice! (ignore Roll #2, the d10; accident) It tries mightily, but Stohp completely eludes its grasp, from tendrils and orifice alike!
Another Reed finds its pain caused by the source of fresh blood in front of it (S2) and likewise it attempts to grab and bite Zanderallen, striking him with only one tendril (17 damage) and attempting to grip him, but Zanderallen freely escapes its grasp!
[deleted reference to B1’s rolled and missed attacks since Delia posted just before I was about to post.]
Another Blood Lily (B3) explodes four scarlet spikes at Stock, who freely dodges three of them, but then the fourth one strikes home (4 damage, so 1 beats DR, but Stock is already Bleeding, and Bleeding does not stack.)
The final Blood Lily (B2) moves past its comrades and partially merges into the Moundwall, leaving enough of it exposed to flail two vines at Stock, striking twice!
(STOCK – the first hit is 12 damage. The second hit is 6 damage. Both get some damage past your DR, injecting strange and alien plant toxins into your dwarven blood… Two doses of Blood Lily poison are active in you – you are now bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll TWO DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Specify which save is for “dose 1” and which is for “dose 2.”
Track each dose’s saves separately – if you get two consecutive successful saves against one dose, you are cured of both doses.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Round 2 poison info:
Fort DC 23 (once each)
IF Dose 1 fails = 1 CON damage + Sickened. IF Dose 2 fails = 4 CON damage + Sickened.)
SHIELDS – it’s your half of Round 2… Fight!
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+21=29 ; d20+21=40 ; Friday May 5th, 2023 6:54:19 AM
Stohp tries this grappling thing again, failing on her first try but succeeding on her second (grappling is a move action for her, 29 and 40)
Stock (JonM) HP: 200/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 2/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d8=7 ; d20+23=34 ; d20+23=34 ; d20+19=30 ; d10+23=28 ; d10+23=33 ; d20+19=32 ; d20+14=26 ; d20+9=22 ; d10+23=28 ; Friday May 5th, 2023 9:47:31 AM Status: Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement, RAGING!, Bleeding Stock keeps churning up water steadily filling with chunks of vegetation and his blood. As the Blood Lily closes to attack he swings once...and then keeps swinging. He is humming a dwarven cooking song as he chops...although in this water it's unlikely anybody else can hear it.
========= Bleed - 7 damage Dose 1 Save: 34 Dose 2 Save: 34 - OOC Fortunately Stock's save against poison is +23 right now so just a Nat 1 is a failure. I'm assuming if I get two consecutive passes on both doses AND there is not a third dose then there is no need to keep rolling right? Using Unexpected Strike for first attack - Power Attack vs B2 hits AC 30, 28 damage Full attack - Power Attack hits AC 32, 33 damage (accidentally rolled damage first) Power Attack hits AC 26, 28 damage Power Attack 3 hits AC 22
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=22 ; d20+6=21 ; d20+6=10 ; Friday May 5th, 2023 10:48:11 AM
Bartomus looks upwards to get a sense of the height of the chamber they are in and then goes forward with his effort to pummel the reed next to him. But, both attacks missed their mark.
Attack for 22 against 23 miss, attack for 10 against 23 miss on S2
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+20=39 ; d20+20=27 ; d20+20=21 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+10=16 ; d8+14=17 ; d6=3 ; d8+14=20 ; d6=2 ; 2d8+28=43 ; Friday May 5th, 2023 2:06:27 PM Water Breathing, Swim Speed 30ft, Darkvision 60ft Sorry for late post! I had one mostly typed out and then got pulled away but had it in my head I had finished it
Delia kicks again to reposition, taking a half second to resettle with sights on her new blood lily target, countering range with range. The power of her first shot takes her a little off guard underwater and her later shots suffer because of it.
==================== 5ft swim to I30. Full attack at B3. Point blank shot and I think -3 for range. Second target would be B2. Attack 1: 39 to hit - crit threat, 27 to confirm; if confirmed: Damage 63 & 22 (17+43 piercing, 3 cold) & (20 piercing, 2 cold)
Attack 2: 21 to hit; nat 1 Attack 3: 18 to hit; Attack 4: 16 to hit;
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 127/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 12/13 SE 5/5 d8=3 ; d20+22=36 ; d20+22=27 ; d20+17=19 ; d20+12=19 ; d20+10=13 ; d8+18=19 ; d8+18=25 ; Friday May 5th, 2023 8:11:22 PM
Zanderallen marvels at this freedom as his arm just slips out of the vines embrace without a care. But the pain of the slice keeps him grounded in combat. Almost detached from the fight a train of thought goes through the back of his mind that the lake is fresh water, so why does that Blood Lily petal string so much. Questions for another day as the active part of his mind brings his blade to bear on the Reed in front of him. ======== Full attack, Spellcraft 13 still no fire 36 hits, 19 damage 27 hits, 25 damage 19 misses 19 misses
"It's a Trap!" - Admiral Ackbar (DM Wayne) d20+21=29 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+17=26 ; 2d6+4=9 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+16=23 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+16=17 ; Saturday May 6th, 2023 11:27:31 PM
Stohp redoubles her efforts and lands a grappling hold on S1!
Blood Lily (B2) didn’t notice until after it had moved in and struck at Stock that Stock struck back! Not only did Stock strike back, he then enters a rage-nado of blows, agitating the water around him like something not yet invented in the Wold! The Blood Lily (B2) is cut deeply twice more by the adamantine-bladed Stock vortex, but remains in place, flexing its petal-blades and vines!
Bartomus optimizes his shape as best he can, and thankfully unlike the other mounds where the ceiling was 20’ high only at the very center of the hemisphere, this larger moundplex seems to have a 20’ high ceilings in this room, but the entrance and the entry hallway was but 10’ by 10’ by 10’. He swirls and agitates his water and tries to give a jab-hook combination like he’s seen Monks do, but without their training each of his slams barely misses his target (S2).
Delia quickly repositions herself and unleashes a fury of arrows at the farther Blood Lily (B3), her first shot sinking in so deep the fletching can no longer be seen, but the resonance of her bowstring throws off her aim with her next few shots, which all miss by a few inches.
Zanderallen smiles as he freely and easily flows out of the Reed’s grasp, though still pained by the petal-blade that seems to have severed a minor artery… Still Zanderallen presses on, willing his blade to enflame… but it goes out as soon as it appears, and the magical steel edge, everpresent, cuts on… one… two… water doesn’t make a “whiff” sound when he misses… twice… and the fight rages on, though the Reed (S2) seems heavily wounded…
Armalad appears lost in thought, though ready to act once she decides on a course of action.
Round 3
Stohp’s foe (S1) tries to put Stock under its control, but barely fails to break Stock’s hold on it!
Stock’s foe (B2) lashes at blood-covered Stock, all of his pores oozing his blood, with its vines and one of them hits (9 damage, START AND TRACK DOSE #3 DC 23 Fortitude Save), but fails to yank Stock off his feet.
(OOC – I forgot last round, but a Blood Lily vine strike is not just damage and poison, but also a free action trip attempt that does not provoke an AoO.)
Zanderallen’s foe (S2) angrily tries to grab and consume its metallic prey once more, unable to penetrate Zanderallen’s full plate armor with either its tendrils or its shark-toothed maw.
Delia’s foe (B3) cunningly moves back slightly and then out of sight, only to reappear a moment later next to Stock and strike at him with one vine, zigging when Stock zags, missing him!
SHIELDS – it’s your half of Round 3… Fight!
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 2d6+6=8 ; 2d6+6=15 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 12:05:29 AM
Bartomus smiled, if water elementals could smile, and transforms himself into a vortex of water whirling about where his center is (base 10' at J27/28 K27/28) and moved into and behind the reed next to him. His vortex went to the roof of the room they were standing in. He continued to move along the woven wall and into the blood lily that was attacking Stock
Vortex/whirlpool slam into S2 and move, as I understand it, to G27/28 & H27/28 - Reflex save of against 23 to avoid taking slam damage - Damage for S2 if failed = 8; has to make a 2nd reflex save to avoid being pulled into the vortex.
Same for B2 - Reflex save against 23, otherwise take 15 points damage. Not sure if B2 & S2's volume would exceed the vortex.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 2d6+6=8 ; 2d6+6=15 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 12:05:32 AM
Bartomus smiled, if water elementals could smile, and transforms himself into a vortex of water whirling about where his center is (base 10' at J27/28 K27/28) and moved into and behind the reed next to him. His vortex went to the roof of the room they were standing in. He continued to move along the woven wall and into the blood lily that was attacking Stock
Vortex/whirlpool slam into S2 and move, as I understand it, to G27/28 & H27/28 - Reflex save of against 23 to avoid taking slam damage - Damage for S2 if failed = 8; has to make a 2nd reflex save to avoid being pulled into the vortex.
Same for B2 - Reflex save against 23, otherwise take 15 points damage. Not sure if B2 & S2's volume would exceed the vortex.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=27 ; d20+18=36 ; d20+13=22 ; d20+8=23 ; d8=2 ; d6=6 ; 4d6=16 ; d8=7 ; d6=3 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 12:51:54 AM
(OOC: Sorry I fell asleep and woke up after midnight; if I'm gonna post on Sundays for Fridays I need to post earlier rather than later)
Armalad makes a full attack action against B3 from within the inky illusionary cloud as Joker maintains the illusion
(OOC: Armalad has precise shot, so she can fire into melee without risking hitting her friends)
(1d8+1d6 +1d6 Shock +11) x 2 on first of full attack +4d6
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+26=38 ; d20+26=45 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 7:36:46 AM
Having secured the grappling advantage Stohp tries to repeat her trick of tying the monster up with it's own tentacles (grapple 38 to maintain and pin, 45 to tie up)
Stock (JonM) HP: 189/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+23=38 ; d20+23=42 ; d20+23=31 ; d8=5 ; d20+19=24 ; d20+14=34 ; d20+18=25 ; d20+9=15 ; d10+23=25 ; d10+23=32 ; 2d10+46=54 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 9:46:31 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement, Raging, Bleeding Stock's rage chopping continues. Beneath the raging exterior he is starting to get annoyed that they just. won't. die. His focus drifts momentarily to the similarities between this and chopping wood. Sometimes it is a chore and you just need to keep working; keep chopping... He snaps back to the present and chops away at the weed.
======= Poison Dose 1 Fort Save: 38 (2 saves in a row) Poison Dose 2: 42 (2 saves in a row) Poison Dose 3: 31 (1 save) Bleed Damage: 5 PA1 vs B2 hits AC24, 25 damage if it hits PA2 hits AC34 Threat, confirms (?) with 25, If it doesn't confirm - 32 damage; if it does confirm - 86 damage PA3 hits AC15 Map Link
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+21=33 ; d20+21=28 ; d20+16=27 ; d20+11=16 ; d8+15=16 ; d6=2 ; d8+15=21 ; d6=5 ; d8+15=20 ; d6=1 ; d8+15=23 ; d6=6 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 4:00:47 PM
Delia continues her barrage at the same target, despite its repositioning. She forces a thick breath in and out, steadying herself from the previous volley's odd interaction with the underwater combat.
============================================= Full attack at B3 (-2 range, +1 point blank shot) Attack 1: 33 to hit; 18 & 26 damage (16 piercing, 2 cold) & (21 piercing, 5 cold) Attack 2: 28 to hit; 21 damage (21 piercing, 1 cold) Attack 3: 27 to hit; 29 damage (23 piercing, 6 cold) Attack 4: 16 to hit; miss
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 158/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 11/13 SE 5/5 d6=4 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d20+22=29 ; d20+22=42 ; d20+26=41 ; d20+17=33 ; d20+12=13 ; d20+10=27 ; d8+18=23 ; d6=3 ; 2d8+36=52 ; d6=5 ; d8+18=24 ; d6=6 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 4:01:30 PM
Zanderallen quickly heals some of his wounds, stopping the irritating bleeding in the process. He then takes a short hop to the left, moving to support Stock as the Reed he's fighting seems to be wearing down. "For being legends these Blood Lilies are awfully hard to kill." ============= 5 ft step to H29
Swift Action - Self Lay on Hands 29 healed plus bleed stopped
Full Attack starting with S2, if S2 drops remaining attacks into B2 27 to bring the FIRE 29 to hit, 23 damage + 3 fire Nat 20, 41 to confirm, 52 damage + 5 fire 33 to hit, 24 damage + 6 fire Nat 1 misses
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday May 8th, 2023 8:16:44 PM
Time slows down for Armalad (OOC: Checking in; will try to post earlier tomorrow)
"It's a Trap!" - Admiral Ackbar (DM Wayne) d20+11=21 ; d20+11=29 ; d20+9=16 ; d20+9=29 ; d8=3 ; d6=4 ; Monday May 8th, 2023 11:00:24 PM
(OOC – BARTOMUS – rules on Whirlwind (a Supernatural Ability).
Bestiary p.306, Whirlwind (Vortex is just an underwater version) – “The whirlwind is always 5 feet wide at its base, but its height and width at the top vary from creature to creature (minimum 10 feet high). A whirlwind’s width at its peak is always equal to half of its height. The creature controls the exact height, but it must be at least 10 feet high.”
Bartomus, with a 20’ ceiling here, you/vortex are one 5’ square at ground level, and 10’ by 10’ at the ceiling (20’). Some back of the napkin volume calculations (not exact math, but starting from one 5’ by 5’ cube the first three height increments and four at the top you’re at a minimum of 7 cubes, maybe even 8 to 10. The plants are all size Large, (eight 5’ by 5’ by 5’ cubes) but a lot of that is vines/tendrils ‘occupying combat space’ so…
You can hold up to two in your vortex.
BARTOMUS – next, a Supernatural Ability takes a Standard Action to activate. (Core Rulebook, p.183, in the table of actions that take a Standard Action to use.)
Finally, my copy of the Bestiary p. 127 indicates a vortex DC of 22, not 23.)
Bartomus begins swirling his watery body around and around with Supernatural speed, forming a water vortex that is 5’ wide and long on the mound-ground (J28), and 10’ wide by 10’ long at the top, and a total of 20’ in height. Nearby, Zanderallen and Delia can feel the vortex-waves at their strongest, except, of course, for the Reed next to all three of them (S2) which Bart-vortex plows into! S2 is battered (8 damage) and looks like it might stop moving at any moment, but is still animate enough to not be caught up in the vortex!
Bart-vortex continues moving into the nearby Blood Lily (B2), which likewise is battered (15 damage) yet remains animate and is not caught up in the vortex! (OOC - Natural 20!) (Though for the moment it remains within the Bart-vortex as Bartomus stopped movement in (G28))
Armalad continues her innovative trick of being inside an illusionary ink cloud that she herself can easily ignore and opens up with a fusillade from Second Elder’s Wrath at the Blood Lily (B3) actively poking its vines out of the wall to sneakily attack Stock! Armalad’s shots are not as precise as those of Delia – she must still take her allies into account to avoid hitting them in the back! Here, Armalad is fortunate – a corner of (B3) can be shot without shooting Stohp in the back (F30) – and Armalad threads that needle, needing only her first shot to sink deep into the hapless Blood Lily, electrocuting its way into, through, and out the other side of its thick trunk and with that, it ceases moving but for the gentle rocking motion of Turtle Lake!
Armalad looks for her next target, and again threads the needle, avoiding Delia and Stohp as her second arrow plunges deep into (B2, at G29)’s trunk, not coming out the other side, but with the same result – (B3) slowly stops moving as well!
Figuring Zanderallen can take an accidental hit easier than Stohp, Armalad again shifts targets to (S2, at I27), thankful that the swirling water mass moved out of the way – she might have had to try shooting over Zanderallen’s shoulder… hmm… the ceilings are 20’ tall in here… she thinks to herself that she could simply swim higher in any future battles and not have 6’6” masses of steel in the way of her shots.
(OOC – Armalad could have done a vertical “5-foot mini-swim (step)” upwards to avoid any chance of her Medium allies granting cover to the Large foes from her arrows… likewise with 20’ ceilings, each Shield will have some ability to control their height by simply swimming up (or down), as though all of the Shields could fly…)
Armalad’s third shot misses (S2), but her fourth shot just barely hits its central bulbous pod, sinking in, strange sap-like substance oozing out, and it too stops moving!
Stohp’s muscles move with the memories of her prior hog-tying of the Reed during the attack on the fisherfolk and she quickly works a second tendril into her grasp and then ties the tendrils in a knot! Surely a prisoner-plant for questioning?
Stock lets out a small gasp as in but a few seconds Armalad has finished off three of the four remaining combatants and Stohp has hog-tied the fourth! Battle over? Stock’s wound still bleeds and visions of the murdered fisherfolk enhance his Rage as the poison leaves his system (all three doses) and he moves (5’ step to G31) just enough to unleash his own vortex of adamantine upon the doomed (S1), who thankfully has fewer defenses than a Blood Lily, and is grappled and pinned to boot! Stock’s first blow is nothing special – it hits, it cuts deep, but his backswing, oh, that backswing, it comes in at an angle the hog-tied Reed wasn’t expecting and nearly cuts it in half! The Reed is still moving… barely playing dead enough for Stock’s third swing to miss it!
Delia, left with only one target, but impeccable aim, finishes off the Reed with her first arrow, neatly severing it in half at the point Stock left unfinished, no easy trick with an arrow, underwater!
With that, the Shields’ foes, not counting any of those Bartomus Commanded earlier, are no more.
Zanderallen heals some of his wounds and then steps to assist Stock, but Stock no longer needs his help! He surveys the scene and sees the fading electric arcs indicating Armalad’s three kills, along with a Reed that looks largely like only Stock cut it apart! Zanderallen’s sword then lights up in flame, but no visible targets remain.
Armalad… is satisfied, though with the inky cloud none can see her expression.
(Stohp missed my instruction to make a DC 12 Will Save vs. the Inky Illusion, as part of her was in it at the time – if made, then Stohp alone was able to see exactly how pleased Armalad was after dropping three plants in one round!)
Armalad Highlight to display spoiler: { notes, on the eastern (right) wall, about a 30’ wide section (M29 to M34) is completely frozen and not moving like the woven reeds on the other wall sections. Curiouser and curiouser. }
SHIELDS – you’re out of combat time, but Stock is still visibly bleeding – what do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20=3 ; Tuesday May 9th, 2023 7:25:05 AM
Stohp does not make the will save so cannot see through the cloud (11). She notes the sounds of combat dying down even if she can't see all of it and starts to relax.
Stock (JonM) HP: 159/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d8=5 ; d8=8 ; d8=2 ; d8=5 ; Tuesday May 9th, 2023 9:15:00 AM Fatigued, Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement
Stock scans for any more moving weeds. Not seeing any, his shoulders slump and blood continues to seep out of his wounds.
"Bah. It's just a scratch. It doesn't seem to want to stop though and I don't want to attract any other underwater life with its smell."
He takes a potion out of his bag, and hillarity ensues as he pops the cork and puts his entire mouth on the vial. trying to force as much of the fluid as possible into his mouth. He then waves his arms at Zanderallen, pointing to his various cuts and bruises with eyebrows raised pleadingly. ======== Bleed - 5 pts Potion of Cure Serious 20 pts, bleeding stopped
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=36 ; Tuesday May 9th, 2023 3:15:23 PM
Delia started to move towards Stock to stop the bleeding, then let a small smile slip out at his struggles with underwater drinking. Once she sees his wounds no longer actively spewing blood, she turns her attention away and looks for any additional threats.
============= Perception: 36
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 158/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 5/5 d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; Tuesday May 9th, 2023 4:00:36 PM
Zanderallen gives Stock a blank look for just a moment before shrugging his shoulders and starting to turn away. Then he walk swims over to his dwarven friend, "Alright, where did the plant try and eat you?" He then provides some requested healing. ============= Lay on Hands - Stocks Heals 33 HP 10/13 remaining
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=29 ; Tuesday May 9th, 2023 4:49:59 PM
Bartomus let the moment of the vortex end tossing anything he had swirling about towards the far corner of the room. As he did so, he made mental notes on how his vortex worked versus how he thought it might work.
Then, he resumed his form at the opening of the hallway next to him. GHI 26/27/28 He scanned it for any signs of additional reeds, blood lilies, and the like.
Perception 29
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday May 9th, 2023 8:08:29 PM
Armalad tells Joker to drop the illusion and uses her message spell to tell the others that there is a section of wall that appears to be frozen and not moving like the other reeds.
"It's a Trap!" - Admiral Ackbar (DM Wayne) Tuesday May 9th, 2023 11:08:53 PM
Stohp, like the rest of the Shields, has lost track of Armalad due to the inky cloud near the room’s first entrance. She notes all of the plants ceasing their movement, especially the one she had hog-tied, making it easy prey for Stock’s waraxe and an arrow from a Shield archer, and takes an audible breath within her air bubble…
Stock’s rage runs out, and he takes deep inhales and exhales of Lakewater, as his wound keeps bleeding. He pulls out a healing potion and uncorks it very close to his mouth, being quick to suck in as much as he can before it merges with the Lakewater. His bleeding finally ceases. Stock smiles as he waves at Zanderallen with one arm and points to his wounds with the other.
Delia was concerned for Stock’s babbling brook of blood, but once his intense labors rewarded him with healing from a potion bottle and the bleeding stopped, she had a smiling sigh of relief and then set to guard duty, alternating her gaze between the two exits.
Zanderallen is puzzled at first… Stock, really… Charades in the middle of this mission? … OH! RIGHT! and then regains his senses and freely walks to Stock, inquiring as to his wounds, given that Stock bled from all of his pores at once after the Blood Lily struck him! Zanderallen then sets about healing Stock with his devotion to Domi.
Bartomus shifted back into his Huge Water Elemental form, once more occupying vast amounts of space in the room. He considered his theories before using his vortex ability in the fisherfolk attack, and in this battle, and felt much more confident that he now knew instinctively how his size and shape changed in vortex form, what it was good for, and what it was not good for. Bartomus looked over the short hallway in front of him and saw that he’d have to move further in to see what was around the corner. He recalled that the other Reed(s?) he Commanded before the battle were still back at the other entrance, merged into the Moundwall. He knew his spell would last for about two weeks, and hoped no one would figure out a way to break his hold over them. Bartomus considered… hmmm… once the Shields have solved this “moundtown,” what should the Shields do with the plant(s?) under his command before his spell runs out?
Armalad directs Joker to cease concentrating on the inky cloud, and Joker does so, the cloud soon fading from view. Then she Messages the Shields that there is a section of wall unmoving, resisting the ebb and flow of the Lakewater that gently moves the reeds on all of the other walls.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday May 10th, 2023 8:17:11 AM
Stohp is ready to move on when the other's are.
Stock (JonM) HP: 192/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Wednesday May 10th, 2023 9:32:48 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement
Stock tries to get a grasp on where Bartomus is...and then where his head (?) is, if there in fact is something like a head on the elemental. He then yells, "I'll still lead the way." He squeezes past the watery form and moves ahead to see what comes next.
======= Move -> E25
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=44 ; Wednesday May 10th, 2023 11:12:15 AM
Delia swims over to the unmoving wall Armalad pointed out and examines it closely. If her visual search leads to nothing, she pokes it with an arrow.
Perception: 44
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=35 ; d20+11=19 ; Wednesday May 10th, 2023 4:15:54 PM
Bartomus watched as the other Shields went to inspect the very obedient reeds... and did Delia have an arrow in her hand.
He tried yelling no, and then instead directed a small swirl of water at her moving hand as he stepped further into the small corridor.
perception around corner 35; range role on the stream/current a Delia's arrow hand 19 for the super soaker current.
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) Wednesday May 10th, 2023 10:45:13 PM
Stohp readies herself to move on once the Shields begin moving. She gets her wish as Stock gurgles something to Zanderallen and Delia and begins moving in to the new corridor. She freely follows, though some ‘thick water’ gets over/around her in the process. Is her head inside Bartomus?!?
Stock looks around, trying to recognize Bartomus’ watery head while deep underwater, and the closest he can come is reaching out with his right hand and feeling the water being a bit ‘thicker’ in certain places, if that’s possible. He then walks close enough to Zanderallen and Delia and the ‘thick water’ to tell the three Shields that he’s still going to lead the way, and freely proceeds ahead down the twisting corridor, after passing through some ten feet of ‘thick water…’
Delia swims over to the unmoving wall Armalad noted, and looks over it closely. Delia (only) Highlight to display spoiler: { sees this is actually a 30’ wide by 10’ tall section of moundwall that’s frozen in place compared to the wall to the left, or even above the 10’ mark. She notes a Reed (M29-M30), a Blood Lily (M31-M32), and another Reed (M33-M34). While Bartomus’ watery form has kept him silent for the most part but for occasional vortices, Delia recalls when the Shields were about to enter that she felt spellcasting nearby (OOC – spellcasting is always an obvious act, even if the verbal component is expressed differently by a druid in water elemental form), and since no one else’s lips or arms were moving, it must have been Bartomus. He has somehow… Commanded the Plants to remain still. Delia has adventured long enough to know that if this is remotely similar to the novice spell Charm Person among wizards that if she pokes any of this wall with one of her arrows it might break the spell on that plant and set it free to attack the Shields, starting with her. She considers her options.}
Bartomus watches as Delia swims to inspect the moundwall, arrow in her hand. He desperately tries to gurgle a “Noooooooo….” but fails, so he sends a minor vortex to push her arrow hand suddenly but not violently. Then he flows towards the new corridor and peeks around the corner, having flowed into the 10’, 15’, and 20’ heights of the inner Mound, no longer squeezing between Shields, but above them!
Delia is not at all injured by the vortex, but does notice Bartomus’s now-familiar watery “touch” and considers whether the two are thinking the same thoughts right about now. Delia’s arrow hand does not yet jab into the moundwall, though it may…
Meanwhile, back around the corner, with Stock, Stohp, and Bartomus… Stohp’s vision comes to an end 10’ inside the new room (Zanderallen hasn’t begun walking his Daylight over there yet and the mound is pitch black this far inside without his lit blade), but Stock and Bartomus see ahead, in the black and white of Darkvision:
The wide, spacious hallway continues around a somewhat sharp curve that reverses your direction, and as the water flows in and out of your lungs, bringing life-giving energy as though it were air, the hallway opens up into a very large room, wider than it is long, and still with ceilings as high as a column of three very tall human men, were they able to hold themselves in place. There are two large seaweed mounds in here, each about 5’ tall and 20’ long, apart, but at a right angle to each other. At the end of the one on the left, that parallels your path, is the hand and lower arm of a humanoid, and likewise straight ahead of you on the left edge of that seaweed mound are the fingers and hand of an adult human man, the gently rolling waters almost making it seem like the fingers… the hand… is waving at you just a little bit. Bile makes a valiant attempt to rise out of your stomachs, but the Shields’ tummies are made of cast iron and Stock and Bartomus hold back the physical expression of their recognition of the semi-intact viscera ‘waving’ at them…
(OOC - STOHP can see her immediate position from the Daylight and about 10’ into the new room, but even her enhanced eyes cannot resolve the berm 20’ ahead of her, let alone the small body parts, until more light comes into her zone.)
The two mounds, or berms, are made of the same material as the moundwall, but rising to a height of 5’ tall (blocking Stock’s vision straight ahead due to his height). Stymied by the opaque mounds, Stock simply freely moves straight up 5’ and can fully see the room (but for row 12 just yet; out of Darkvision range of both Stock and Bartomus).
SHIELDS – What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday May 10th, 2023 11:25:16 PM
Armalad moves to catch up to the others and if she saw what Bart did to Delia she messages him asking, "What do you know about those strange unmoving reeds?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday May 11th, 2023 8:12:44 AM
(Can you relink the map so I don't have to scroll up several weeks to find it again?)
Stohp waits for the group to get back together again expecting another ambush up ahead.
Stock (JonM) HP: 192/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=37 ; Thursday May 11th, 2023 9:12:14 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement
Stock makes his way into the room and takes a long look at the mounds and the body parts, trying to piece together what is happening here.
[/i]========= Map Link Perception 37, are the body parts attached to these mounds or just adjacent to them?[/i]
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Thursday May 11th, 2023 1:54:44 PM
Delia connects the dots in her head about the unmoving section of plant matter on the wall being due to Command Plants. She nods to herself, knowing that they will be a non-issue for quite some time. She waves her hand to him in acknowledgement as she moves away from the wall to follow Stock into the next room.
If they are regathered, she will comment out loud that, "Those reeds were hit by Bart's plant spell. They'll stay the way they are for, oh a week or two, if nothing messes with them."
(OOC) I currently have Command Plants prepared so I'm making the assumption Delia completely knows how it works
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=27 ; Thursday May 11th, 2023 4:07:49 PM
Bartomus flowed into the room above Stock and began looking about at the situation they had discovered. He realized that in one way, they might be able to just negotiate to take the remains that were being used as trophies, maybe, he thought. Or, were those something else?
Move to F/G 19 Perception of the room its ceiling - 27
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 158/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 5/5 Thursday May 11th, 2023 5:31:13 PM
Zanderallen moves up to the berms and pushes up on top to shed light on what his allies are looking at.
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) Thursday May 11th, 2023 11:06:45 PM
Map:
Armalad, only 10’ from Delia, felt the after-flow so strongly she thought Bartomus was trying to get her attention… but for seeing Delia’s arrow hand jerk violently. She has a hunch and Messages Bartomus, pointing her finger towards the hallway, just catching enough of his ‘thick water’ by chance that Bartomus hears Amalad’s question about what he knows about the frozen moundwall section.
Stohp pauses, waiting for the rest of the Shields to catch up and light the way. She readies herself for some sort of ambush in the meantime.
Stock freely swims in a bit more (H18), so as to see more of the room while some 7 to 10 feet above the moundfloor. He now sees the left wall (row 12), and then spends some time looking over the hand with fingers on the moundfloor – the hand is connected to a lifeless arm which is connected to the lifeless remains… what little remains… of a human man’s body. There was only one human male among the list of the lost… He looks to his left and sees that the hand and lower arm of a humanoid, a slender, though muscled arm, continues to what remains of a slender body, missing one ear… but the other ear comes to a point… the head and face have little left, but Stock feels some sense of recognition….
Delia’s synapses fire faster at Bartomus’ sudden and forceful vortex, and it all clicks for her… no danger… so long as the frozen wall is not disturbed. She waves in the general direction of the ‘thick water,’ i.e. the next hallway, as she swims to catch up with Stock, Stohp, and the rest. Delia manages to pass along her discovery to Stohp, and she hopes, Bartomus/’thick water’, in person, and also Messages Armalad the same. Delia is able to swim some distance (E23), passing alongside Stohp and under Bartomus (at the time) and at her new perch about 7 to 10 feet off the moundfloor, her Goggles of Darkvision grant her the same view Stock and Bartomus had when they first rounded the corner – the berms, the viscera, but not (row 12).
Bartomus then flows forward fast, technically squeezing around Stock a little, but not so much it bothers either of them. From here he makes the same observations as Stock just now. Bartomus ponders whether the plants could be negotiated with in order to recover the corpses without issue.
Finally, Zanderallen brings the Daylight, ending in (G20) about 7 to 10 feet off the moundfloor, and bringing the detail of true color to Stock and Bartomus’ findings as well as enabling Delia and Stohp to see the left wall (row 12).
Stohp had been patiently waiting for this and moves up until the closeness of Zanderallen and the ‘thick water’ make it clear there’s a Shields traffic jam. She stands taller than the berm, but if there’s to be an ambush of ranged attackers, she has some cover at least.
A glance through the next opening reveals just a 5’ section of another berm before the light reaches its bright distance and things dim rather quickly after that, the Lakewater diffracting the Daylight ever more the further away things are…
Back in the room the Shields are in, color vision reveals the dark skin of the slender arm and other body parts… there (J15) lies the remains of Jerma Mylyl… at least there’s enough to bury… there was only one adult human male among the lost, and with the identification of Jerma’s remains comes the confirmation that the body directly in front of Stock must be Edvards Shanoza, the widow Fabricia’s husband… late husband…
Somehow, the silence of the deep makes it all the worse… and if any Shield were to shed a tear at the losses of Fabricia and the Lads, well, the Lakewater has obscured that bit of history to all watchers…
(OOC – if your Shield would shed a tear, use italics to note it as internal character thoughts, for the benefit of the players and the DM, even as your Shield may hold a stoic, emotionless face as the plants’ carnage faces you straight on, with what is left of Jerma and Edvards’ faces, if anything…)
Armalad realizes everyone else has left the room, leaving her in the dark but for a portion of Daylight and her low-light vision so she nods to Joker and the two swim ahead to catch up some, arriving just behind Delia.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday May 12th, 2023 2:09:38 AM
Armalad moves up and decides to stay more with the group from now on. She doesn't want to be in the rear, rear but she wants to be towards the back.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+17=20 ; Friday May 12th, 2023 7:53:56 AM
Stohp looks carefully around, expecting the arm to be a divirsion and an attack to come from another direction while they try to collect it (perception 20)
Stock (JonM) HP: 192/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Friday May 12th, 2023 9:24:21 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement
"Well that is one mystery solved - the location of the remains of these two." Stock purses his lips and kneels close to Edvard's body.
"The bigger mystery though is what is making these plants homicidal. And of course the half made plant golems. Those two things feel like the same mystery though." He remembers that it is difficult to hear him and he mimes to the others a question - do we take these two out of this place now and leave them outside?
========= OOC - Anybody remember how many bodies we are recovering?
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=37 ; Friday May 12th, 2023 11:24:56 AM (OOC - I think there were 2 fisherfolk and 3 or 4 lads? That was a bit ago though)
Delia takes in the sight of those murdered by the plants and shakes her head. A tragedy like this shouldn't happen to people just trying to feed their families or to those just trying to help others.
She asks Armalad to Message the group, "Unless someone wants soggy corpses in their Bag of Holding, if they're left at this point, they'll still be here when we come back through."
She keeps a close eye on the walls for any other sign of aggressive reeds or blood lilies.
===================== Perception 37
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=19 ; Friday May 12th, 2023 8:33:26 PM
Bartomus nodded in agreement with both Stock and Delia. Then realized that they couldn't see him. So, he tried raising the a bit of water from in front of their faces upward, then downward so they might get a nodd of the head so to speak.
He flowed over and around to the opening on the far side of the door and peaked down the hallway.
Move to L23/24; Perception 19
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 158/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 5/5 Saturday May 13th, 2023 8:14:54 AM
Zander stops dead as the light reveals the scene before them. When it was just for food it was bad enough. But these creatures hadn't even eaten them. Just mangled and dragged the bodies off. Zander's vision blurs as he blurts out a barely coherent burst, [/b]Who, What, Why?! Who would do this?"[/b]
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) Sunday May 14th, 2023 12:02:14 AM
Map:
Armalad resolves to keep pace with the group while remaining in the rear.
Stohp expects an ambush based upon the horrific viscera before the Shields and so looks this way and that for monstrous plants to come out from the walls again!
Stock notes that part of their mission is complete – locating these two remains. He tries, with water-filled lungs, to wonder aloud on the viciousness of these alien monstrosities and the half-made plant golems, trying to connect all of the dots in his mind. He tries to ‘yell’ his question, about whether to move bodies now, to the Shields, but remembers his diaphragm isn’t vibrating air all that much right now, so he Messages Armalad (now in sight) and makes gestures to supplement the questions the Shields cannot hear.
(OOC1 - Bartomus hears, being right next to Stock… Zanderallen realizes Stock is trying to talk but hasn’t moved the 5’ closer needed to overcome watery distortion of sound. Everyone else is too far.
OOC2 – Shields rescued 2 of 4 lads who stayed with the fisherfolk, but Jerma and Triggan had been taken before the Shields arrived, along with Fabricia’s husband Edvards and daughter Nuray.)
Delia grimaces, shaking her head at the horrors before her. She Messages Armalad to pass along to the group that the Shields should leave the bodies for now, and recover them on the way out. Delia also watches out for an ambush, whether from the next room or from the very walls, floor, or ceiling themselves!
Bartomus nods in agreement with Stock (whom he can just hear) and Delia’s suggestion (which Armalad repeated via Message), then realizing that water nodding in Lakewater isn’t too visible… He tried making water move up and down in front of their faces to mimic a nod, then flowed over the berm adjacent to him and took a look deeper into the next room with his Darkvision.
Zanderallen stops in his tracks, dumbfounded at the partial remains of Edvards and Jerma… His mind races… Do the plants get full, and then leave the excess just lying around… do they have any feelings of malice to go with their apparent wolfpack mentality? (Said mentality being unheard of amongst plants to begin with!) Some parts were eaten, or at least gnawed off… how much animal flesh could the plants digest? Were they like those few plants who eat insects? In the end, Zanderallen splutters out his many questions, which, thanks to his air bubble, Stock and Stohp can hear, but not the departed Bartomus, and in his frenzied exclamations he forgets to Message Armalad.
Bartomus peered into the next room as deeply as his Darkvision allowed, and **only he** sees a bit more than the partial berm at (Q23) that Zanderallen’s Daylight revealed, stopping just 5’ past the berm. From his new perch, Bartomus sees more, perhaps almost all, of the berm straight ahead, as well as another berm a bit off to his left and… a strange glowing patch of seaweed, pulsating with light that glows somewhat bright, then fades to almost nothing over 5 seconds, and then back to fully bright again over the next 5 seconds… He has never seen anything like this before! If something is bioluminescent, it just glows, fairly constantly, not with anywhere close to this much variation! The other Shields must be at the wrong angle to see this from where they are… perhaps the berm in front of him is absorbing too much of the light, or perhaps whatever color it is makes it blend in a bit, or the Lakewater diffracts it too much at a distance… If only Darkvision wasn’t in black and white alone – the seaweed must be glowing in a single color, not making it easy to spot compared to the sun’s light which contains all of the colors as any glass prism can show… but not ruining his Darkvision either, just letting him see its bright-dim oscillation. What is it ?!?
SHIELDS – What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday May 14th, 2023 8:54:39 PM
Armalad resolves for her and Joker to stay just in front of Delia and for her to act as a routing hub for any messages coming her way from any team member.
She tells the others to leave the remains for now and that we will pick them up when they get back and asks Bartomus about what if anything he can see in the next room.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Sunday May 14th, 2023 10:13:13 PM
Bartomus tried tora9se himself up a bit higher and talks rewards the party.
"light and two big perms up ahead in next room," Bartomus spoke in what ever language elements spoken. He hoped someone could understand him.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Sunday May 14th, 2023 10:13:15 PM
Bartomus tried tora9se himself up a bit higher and talks rewards the party.
"light and two big perms up ahead in next room," Bartomus spoke in what ever language elements spoken. He hoped someone could understand him.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday May 15th, 2023 7:00:24 AM
Well nothing's jumped out of them yet so best to get moving. Stohp motions for the group to keep moving.
Stock (JonM) HP: 192/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=26 ; Monday May 15th, 2023 8:36:45 AM
Before moving on, Stock pokes at the berm closest to him with his axe. Assuming there is no reaction, he will continue onward.
======== A single move gets to L22. If stock can go further he will get into the next room - Q22 and look at the glowing thing Perception 26
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Monday May 15th, 2023 4:05:54 PM
Delia will join the group peering into the next room. Once she can see the pulsing light - does it look anything like the energy that was going into the plant constructs outside?
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 158/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 5/5 Monday May 15th, 2023 4:45:09 PM
Zander shakes off his rage and moves forward with the others, keeping pace with Stock.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=37 ; d12=12 ; d20+18=22 ; Monday May 15th, 2023 10:55:07 PM
Armalad and Joker move up with Delia to peer into the next room
Perception - Armalad: 37 Perceptoin - Joker: 22
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) Monday May 15th, 2023 11:19:00 PM
Map:
Armalad decides to attain and maintain marching order just in front of Delia, and to pass along Messages as necessary. She Messages the Shields to leave the corpses here for pickup later, and then Messages Bartomus asking for his report.
Bartomus attempts to reply to Armalad’s Message, but his watery form has no air to vibrate, nor even a diaphragm… his reply comes back as nonsense clicks.
(OOC – to Message back, one has to be able to whisper in a relevant language. Water Elementals can only speak Aquan without help, and Bartomus, not knowing Aquan, can only make nonsense clicks as he attempts to speak in Common, and those nonsense clicks do come back through the Message – it’s like Armalad is hearing a random mishmash of Aquan sounds, none of them amounting to words, akin to a humanoid listening to a dolphin.)
Stohp, seeing no ambush has come, motions for the Shields to head for the next opening, and begins freely advancing some, but allowing Stock and Zanderallen to race ahead as usual.
Stock freely walks towards the next opening, poking at the berm he passes along the way… but nothing happens other than the reeds getting a little mussed up. He continues forward, walking down from the 10’ level to the 5’ level when he encounters ‘thick water,’ i.e Bartomus. Stock takes a position at the end of the next opening (Q22) coming back to the 10’ height to see over the berms, and sees what Bartomus saw, and more!
Delia swims (double-moves) ahead to almost the opening’s end (M23), though Armalad sprinted to keep just ahead and finish ahead, and Delia likewise finished at a 10’ height to see above the berms, at least to one side of Stohp as Armalad looks around the other side of Stohp.
Zanderallen frees himself of his rage and freely moves forward, keeping pace with Stock, ending up just behind Stock, again at the 10’ altitude.
The last room you entered had Jerma Mylyl, or what remained of him, and his gear, as well as Edvards Shanoza. Hopefully, the final Lad, and Fabricia’s daughter Nuray Shanoza, can be recovered in the next room.
The next room is rather large and has many mounds within. There is a total of four of those bioluminescent patches of seaweed, each independently oscillating bright-dim, back and forth, back and forth… it was easier for Stock to notice before Zanderallen brought his Daylight blade into the room, but the oscillating glow remains noticeable… Two are filled with huge plantmass as just masses, not even close to humanoid like the under-construction plantmasses in the other mounds. The other two have the beginnings of huge plantmasses but are only large clumps about medium size. It’s hard to figure out if they’re even supposed to be anything other than perhaps a magical experiment or aberrant plantgrowths of some type or another.
From a 10’ swim height, just behind the rounded top edge of the berm some 15’ to Stock’s left (P19/Q19), a woman’s hand is visible, along with her wrist, and then her arm descends down the back side of the mound opposite from you. On the mound Stock has stopped over is an armored, hairy creature’s hand, wrist, and again the rest of the arm descends down the side of the mound straight ahead of the rest of the Shields (Q3). They can only be Nuray Shanoza and Triggan Best.
Shields, your final grim tasks are ahead of you. What do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+17=26 ; Tuesday May 16th, 2023 7:14:33 AM
It seems they've hit a dead end but they haven't found who or what is responsible for making all of this and sending the attack. Stohp looks around for hidden ways to keep going (perception 26)
Stock (JonM) HP: 192/203; AC: 28/25/16; DR 3/-; CMD: 35; Rage: 3/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Tuesday May 16th, 2023 9:02:40 AM "Dead end indeed. In more ways than one..." Stock mutters this to nobody in particular. He walks past the woman's hand, confirming it looks to be that of Nuray Shanoza and up to the Huge Plantmass. He pokes it with his axe.
======== Move to R16
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+24=40 ; d8=7 ; d6=2 ; Tuesday May 16th, 2023 11:48:58 AM
Delia continues to swim forward, when she sees Stock poking at something, she pulls her bow up, ready to provide covering fire. Part of her wonders why only arms and hands have survived and where the rest of the bodies might be. Once a lack of threats has been verified she is interested in poking around in the berms next to the remains of those they went to recover.
============== Swim to Q23 above the berm and ready an arrow if something tries to attack Stock.
Readied Attack 40 (-1 for each 5 ft) to hit; 22 damage (20 piercing, 2 cold)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 158/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 5/5 Tuesday May 16th, 2023 6:09:59 PM "This makes no sense. What is going on here? If we weren't underwater I'd say we burn this whole place to the ground." With nothing further to contribute at the moment Zanderallen begins the grisly task of gathering up the remains in the room.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=25 ; Tuesday May 16th, 2023 7:24:50 PM
Bartomus shifted and if possible, he moved to near where Stock went. He studied the room and the masses in it.
Move to R 20/2; perception25
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+24=35 ; Tuesday May 16th, 2023 8:46:44 PM
Armalad says over the message, "Do you think those plant golems need the dead bodies to form? Could they be some sort of necromantic construct hybrid?"
Stohp perceives a dead end, and wants to know more so she looks around carefully.
Stock mutters/bubbles a dark joke to himself as he walks closer to the slim female form… though damaged, with gruesome chunks missing, there is still some hair on a scrap of her head that looks to be the color the fisherfolk provided to the Shields for identification. Stock continues freely walking past her remains and stops in front of the Huge Plantmass and pokes it with his waraxe.
Delia swims past Stohp, raising her bow and nocking an arrow as she sees Stock’s water-distorted shape poking at a Huge Plantmass with his waraxe. She takes aim at the Huge Plantmass and patiently waits for her opportunity.
Zanderallen is flustered and frustrated… flustrated at the path of carnage and the dead end. He straps his blade on his back that the Shields might still see Daylight and begins the solemn task of gathering the remains near each other in preparation for calling the merfolk to carry them.
Bartomus flows over and around and through Shields, briefly assuming a lengthy worm-like shape to get past Stohp who has stopped in the opening and then moves nearer the center of the room, studying it and the plantmasses of various sizes in it.
Armalad muses over the Message her theory about the golems possibly needing dead bodies to form.
As the Shields move to recover the bodies of Nuray and Triggan, and Stock pokes at a plantmass with his waraxe… SUDDENLY Huge plantlike forms stir and each rise to a full 15’ in height, whose bulk was concealing some of the bioluminescent seaweed with their own planty-nature oscillating bright-dim… the seaweed on the moundfloor beneath them glows no more… their strange energies, drained… strange humanoid bones beneath them along with scatterings of metal weapons and armors atop some of the moundfloor once covered by the plantform’s Huge mass… The towering plant hulks also no longer glow, but instead waves several vines… tendrils… vindrils… swirling about a blue-green mass that shimmies and rotates until scarlet lilys come out from their masses and adorn their bodies and… the Scarlet Seaweed Hulks stand revealed from their surprising hiding places!
With the silent scream of death, hatred, and abhorrence for all that the Shields represent, the Plant… Things… stride forward, the scarlet lilies covering their “bodies” seemingly rocking back and forth in the familiar pattern of the lake water, almost hypnotizing you in place… but true heroes that the Shields are, you all shrug it off and ready your muscles, tendons, and minds to bring justice… to avenge… to revenge? No, true heroes to the core, you enter battle to recover the dead… and to end this threat to the innocent fisherfolk of Float City and to the food supply for the Float once and for all!
(OOC
DELIA – your prediction has come true and a Huge and Alien 15’ Tall and 15’ Wide Scarlet Seaweed Hulk TOWERS over Stock and is clearly rearing back to attack him.
Take your Readied Attack prior to taking your Round 1 actions as normal.)
Round 1
The Hulks, their construction complete, animated by powerful and unknown magical energies, begin their Shield-breaking mission!
Stock’s foe rises and then swings one mighty vindril at Stock, its near-clumsiest attack still slamming hard into Stock, drawing blood… ALL of Stock’s blood it seems, as Stock oozes blood from every pore, the familiar poison of the Blood Lily coursing through his veins, delivered with the pounding force of this… this… magical plant hulk!
(STOCK – the hit is 20 damage before DR. One dose of Blood Lily poison is active in you – you are now bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll ONE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Round 1 poison info:
Fort DC 23
IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.)
The Hulks are so tall their ‘strides’ ignore the 5’-tall berms that the 5’- and 10’-tall Shields often must maneuver around or over – the other Hulk swims/flows/moves through the water naturally but recklessly charging the hapless Zanderallen who cradles part of what was once Triggan… And the Hulk finishes its charge by swinging a vindril at Zanderallen from a full 15’ away, easily shaking a plate of his full plate armor enough for Blood Lily poison to seep past… Zanderallen’s armor goes Scarlet as blood escapes all of his pores and begins to coat his steel suit!
(ZANDERALLEN – the hit is 32 damage. One dose of Blood Lily poison is active in you – you are now bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll ONE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Round 1 poison info:
Fort DC 23
IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.)
SHIELDS – the Scarlet Seaweed Hulks, animated as suddenly as a spring-loaded trap, drain the very lifeblood of your warriors, perhaps intent on adding Stock and Zanderallen’s skeletons to their stash of fisherfolk and Lads’ bones!
(Armalad racks her brains – arcane eight-ball says…. “mayyyyyybe…”)
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 97/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+21=36 ; Wednesday May 17th, 2023 7:08:54 AM
The creatures may be huge, but no so huge she can't try to grapple them. Stohp moves to intercept S2 and grab on (grapple 36)
Stock (JonM) HP: 220/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 4/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+18=23 ; d20+11=18 ; d20+19=39 ; d20+23=35 ; d20+14=15 ; d20+9=10 ; d10+23=24 ; 2d10+46=59 ; Wednesday May 17th, 2023 9:49:58 AM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Action, RAGE
"Oh no you didn't. Time to whack some weeds."
Stock willfully ignores the blood seeping out of his body and stares at the thing. He then enters his barbarian rage with a scream...that doesn't travel more than 5 or so feet. He then starts to slash. The water fills again with bodily fluids and plant matter and the freedom of movement spell throws off his timing enough so that he flubs two of the slashes.
======== Fort Save 25 vs DC23 (forgot to add +2 for the Hardy bonus of dwarves) Knowledge Nature 18 - Anything worth noting on these things? Power Attack hits AC39, Critical Threat confirms (?) vs AC35, 24 damage if not a crit, 83 damage + the target is sickened if a crit Sickened: The character takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Power Attack 2 hits AC15...nat 20, nat 1 :) Power Attack 3 hits AC10...nat 1 x 2!
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+19=26 ; d20+19=32 ; d20+14=31 ; d20+9=22 ; d8+14=17 ; d6=3 ; d8+14=22 ; d6=4 ; d8+14=16 ; d6=2 ; d8+14=19 ; d6=2 ; d8+14=19 ; d6=2 ; Wednesday May 17th, 2023 12:24:58 PM
The plant mass rears and Delia's shot is released. She glances between the two things, then kicks towards Stock and unleashes a volley on their foe. She keeps on eye on Stock's wounds as he continues to bleed.
============================================================== Readied Attack (40 -1 for each 5 ft, +1 point blank) 36 to hit; 23 damage (20 piercing (+1 point blank), 2 cold) at S1. 5ft swim to R19 Full attack 20ft away (-4 underwater, +1 point blank)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 126/159 AC: 31(29 Charge) Smite AC:37(35 Charge) T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 4/5 d20+21=28 ; d20+23=41 ; d20+27=44 ; 2d8+36=47 ; Wednesday May 17th, 2023 4:16:57 PM
Zander slides several inches on the lake bed as his hastily raised shield fails to block the tentacle slam. What would be a loud "Oof" is quickly dampened by the water but the crunching of steel echoes through the room. He grimaces as he feels the poison burning in his veins but burning is all it does. Heedless of danger he charges the plant mass, trying to move through the threatened area as quickly as possible. He can't remember if Blood Lilies possess a locus of evil but it doesn't matter to him, he calls down Domi's wrath upon them regardless of effectiveness. Whether guided by divine or mundane forces his blade bites deep into plant matter as he yells, "FOR TRIGGAN!" ======================= Daylight Divine Bond +5 Speed
Fortitude Save 28: 1 success
Swift Action: Call Smite Evil on S2 If Evil (+6 to hit and AC, +15 damage)
CHARGE S2 end in square S24 +2 to hit -2 AC combined with drawing sword
41 potential crit, 44 to confirm, 47 damage
If Evil 47 to hit, 50 to confirm, 77 damage
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 2d6+6=18 ; Wednesday May 17th, 2023 4:57:16 PM
Bartomused sighed as loud as water could sigh and move to the other side of the bulking mass twirling into a vortex going as wide and tall as he could muster trying to slam and pull the creature attacking Stock. He also started thinking of next steps.
Move to u16 while vortexing. I believe that it needs to.make a save against the DC22...damage of 18 (2d6+6)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+10=30 ; d20+20=24 ; d8=2 ; d6=5 ; 4d6=17 ; Wednesday May 17th, 2023 9:27:01 PM
Armalad tells Joker to use the 10 x 10 ink cloud illusion again and to follow her.
Will Save to resist illusion: 30
She then advances to R19 Joker in toe and uses her single multi-shot against the hulk with sneak attack
24 vs AC (1d8 (2) + 1d6 shock(5) + 11) x2 + 4d6(17) sneak attack if that hits 26 + 10 shock + 17 sneak attack if 24 hits
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) d20+34=53 ; 4d8+12=36 ; d4=3 ; d20+36=56 ; d20+8=13 ; d20+31=46 ; d20+33=44 ; 4d8+10=27 ; d4=1 ; d4=3 ; d20+34=39 ; d20+34=44 ; d20+36=51 ; d20+36=56 ; 4d8+12=25 ; 4d8+12=37 ; d4=1 ; d4=4 ; d4=2 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 12:21:43 AM
Stohp attempts to grapple the supple vine-y hulk and does not succeed. The strength of this Scarlet Seaweed Hulk far exceeds that of the Reeds… also, the Hulk has a Reach that far exceeds Stohp’s, and the Hulk takes its Attack of Opportunity as Stohp closes in! A lengthy vindril lashes around Stohp’s right leg, smothering it in Blood Lily poison with a sting and snap like a whip, were it to ever cross Stohp’s air bubble… and then it (free action) YANKS her leg hard and Stohp is on her back on the lakefloor, TRIPPED. (Natural 20, hit CMD 56)
(STOHP – the hit is 36 damage. One dose of Blood Lily poison is active in you – you are now bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll ONE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Round 1 poison info:
Fort DC 23
IF Failed = 3 CON damage + Sickened.)
(OOC – and yes I forgot to roll the free trip attempts on Stock and Zanderallen last round – call it favor of the gods of the Wold)
Delia was READY, and lets loose the first arrow of war, which hits but fails to sink very far – these Hulks might even be MORE resistant to arrows than the Reeds! Then the icy particles from the Frost on her bow seem to multiply across the surface of Stock’s foe (S1) and it is now moving visibly slower…
Stock unleashes his RAGE, ignoring the scarlet poison and ignoring his own blood seeping from his pores, loosing a gurgling scream of injustice to be avenged! He freely and fully attacks his foe (S1), scoring a Sickening waraxe swing across what may have been a Critical part of its seaweedy mass – Stock’s waraxe exits the gaping wound, covered with planty gore! (OOC - PG, of course!) Surprised by his instant success his next two swings go wild and the Hulk easily dodges them, despite its Huge size! (Stock knows no details of these Hulks other than experiencing the seeming mix of the poison of the Blood Lily with the strength of a Reed and bearing the size of one of the Great Giants!)
Delia notes Stock’s bleeding but presses her attack – time enough to heal later (she hopes)! Her multishot bounces harmlessly off the Hulk’s seaweedy mass, its bodily weeds and reeds contracting just in time to be too hard to sink into! Delia’s next two shots manage to dig in a tiny bit each and her fourth shot bounces off quickly, catching the wrong angle of attack.
Zanderallen has the air knocked out of him by the vindril’s hit, shoving him a few feet along the Lakefloor as the vindril had skipped past Zanderallen’s shield to land on Zanderallen, whose full plate armor rung like a bell, the distorted sounds echoing quickly in the moundplex off of the Shields and those strange piles of metal and bones where the Hulks had stood up from. Blood dripping from all of his pores, Zanderallen focuses on the holiness of Domi and for now, his body fights back this venomous intrusion! His weapon hand free now that the vindril’s impact knocked Triggan’s remains loose from his arms, Zanderallen’s blade is AT ONCE in his strong right arm as he Freely Charges the Hulk (S2), heedless of danger. This time, however, the Hulk had already taken its Opportunity to Attack an incoming foe… Zanderallen summons all of his faith in Domi and attempts to Smite the voiceless Scarlet Seaweed Hulk, his blade connecting easily and chopping deep into the heart of alien horror that is this verdant little moundplex of horrors… his blade’s Daylight exits the Hulk as quickly as it entered, leaving a gaping opening where it had struck! Yet, the light of Domi’s Smite simply falls off the Hulk like water off a duck’s back…
Bartomus swims over and above and around the Hulk fighting Stock (S1), taking up the 20’ height and filling in all the gaps where it stands, the Hulk not even seeming to realize that the sudden flow of water indicates a new foe. Then Bartomus’ watery form begins contracting, rotating, and forming a watery vortex from above the Hulk’s “head,” if it can even be said to have such a thing… “top” (?) and drills it down towards the bottom of the Hulk. The Hulk is far too massive to be caught in the vortex, but it can be battered by the visceral swirling and pounding of Bartomus’ watery form, and perhaps because it is Sickened and even Slowed (by Delia’s frosty arrows), it is minorly damaged by the vortex, unable to dodge it, yet its seaweedy makeup resisting the bulk of the blunt impact.
Armalad has Joker use the inky cloud illusion again after they both advance to a position directly above Delia. Armalad immediately disbelieves the illusion as it appears in the 10’ and 15’ heights above Delia, and then Armalad nocks two arrows at once and lets loose against the Hulk engaged with Stock (and, though its hard to see, Bartomus), both of her arrows bouncing harmlessly off its seaweedy mass!
Round 2
Stock’s foe (S1) is affected by the sickening slice and Delia’s frosty arrow, but still slings one vindril at Stock, easily wrapping its vindril around his left leg and then yanking hard, beating Stock’s awesome resistance to trips due to his dwarven stability (44 vs. CMD 40) and thrashing Stock to the floor, Prone, as yet more Blood Lily Poison enters his dwarven frame!
(STOCK – the hit is 27 damage before DR. One additional dose of Blood Lily poison is active in you – you are bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll TWO DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the Second Round of the initial hit, and the First Round of this hit, vs. the 6-round duration of each dose.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Once one of the two doses is up to two consecutive successful saves, all doses are cleared from your body.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Combat Round 2 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (2nd of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 1 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 2 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 3 CON damage + Sickened.)
Zanderallen’s foe (S2) doesn’t like Stohp, but seems to perceive Zanderallen, being closer and causing damage, as the primary threat and so it slams two vindrils in his direction, hitting easily both times, and with one around each of Zanderallen’s legs it yanks hard and Zanderallen is on his back, prone like Stock! (each free trip attempt beat Zanderallen’s CMD by 20 or more)
(ZANDERALLEN – the hits are for 25 damage and 37 damage respectively. Two additional doses of Blood Lily poison are active in you – you are bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll THREE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the Second Round of the initial hit, and the First Round of the second hit and the third hit, vs. the 6-round duration of each dose.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Once one of the three doses is up to two consecutive successful saves, all doses are cleared from your body.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Combat Round 2 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (2nd of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 1 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 2 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 3 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 2 CON damage + Sickened.)
(OOC – Stock and Zanderallen and Stohp are all PRONE!
Prone: The character is lying on the ground.
A prone attacker has a –4 penalty on melee attack rolls and cannot use a ranged weapon (except for a crossbow).
A prone defender gains a +4 bonus to Armor Class against ranged attacks, but takes a –4 penalty to AC against melee attacks.
Standing up is a move-equivalent action that provokes an attack of opportunity.)
SHIELDS – could Zanderallen’s favor with Domi finally be running out? Will this moundplex be his final resting place? Can Stock and Zanderallen and Stohp stand up again without getting their lights knocked out?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 61/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+9=25 ; d20+21=36 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 7:39:03 AM
Stohp resists the poison and grimly crawls towards the thing - standing will just get her tripped again and she's familiar with that endless cycle. Once within reach she'll try to grapple again - she can't exactly disarm or trip the thing since it's floating in water without legs. 36 again so probably fail.
Stock (JonM) HP: 196/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 5/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+23=43 ; d20+19=32 ; d20+14=15 ; d20+9=22 ; d10+23=32 ; d10+23=24 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 9:21:33 AM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement, Raging Stock bellows in fury as the thing tries to trip him, avoiding being tripped and then starts chopping again.
======== Poison Dose 1 Fort save 43, second save, all poison is cleared Strength surge to avoid being tripped: The barbarian adds her barbarian level on one Strength check or combat maneuver check, or to her Combat Maneuver Defense when an opponent attempts a maneuver against her. This power is used as an immediate action. PA1 hits AC32, 32 damage PA2 hits AC15 PA3 hits AC22, 24 damage
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 2d6+6=13 ; 15d6=48 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 10:50:57 AM "NO!" Bartomus shouted as he watched the moving, hulking mass of seaweed send Stock to the ground and his vortex continued to pummel the creature about him. He worked the spell he was thinking of when these things attacked and let it loose within the vortex touching the creature.
Vortex against hulk for 13, save against DC 22 to only take half; and then, Casting Blight for 48 points, 1/2 if a Fortitude save against 18 (if headband still in effect, otherwise against 16)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 93/159 AC: 31(27 Prone) T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 4/5 d20+21=39 ; d20+21=40 ; d20+21=24 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; d20+15=25 ; d20+15=25 ; d20+18=35 ; d20+22=42 ; d20+18=19 ; d20+13=28 ; d20+8=13 ; 2d8+36=45 ; d8+18=26 ; d20+10=27 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 3:02:00 PM
Being tripped and falling underwater was a unique sensation, but with how easily the plant hulk could pull him off his feet there was no point fighting to stand up against such reckless hate. Instead he struggles to bring his arm to bear from the ground, hacking at the lower portions of the hulk. While Domi's power was not able to smite these hulks it could still heal him, which he swiftly takes advantage of. ================= Daylight Divine Bond +5 Speed
Fortitude Dose 1 Save 39: 2nd success Fortitude Dose 2 Save 40: 1st success Fortitude Dose 3 Save 24: 1st success
Swift Action Lay on Hands: Heals 29 Neutralize Poison Effect on Dose 2 - 25 cured, Dose 3 - 25 Cured
Full Round attack on S2 while Prone -4 to hit, 27 for FIRE
35 potential crit, 42 confirms, 45 damage plus 2 fire 19 (Nat 1) misses 28 to hit, 26 damage plus 1 fire 13 misses
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+19=21 ; d20+19=34 ; d20+14=17 ; d20+9=23 ; d8+14=18 ; d6=1 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 3:21:03 PM
Though her arrows are not doing much, the cold seems useful... so she will continue to fire. She sends a concerned glance at Stohp and Zander as their feet get swept out from under them in underwater motion and her volley doesn't connect as well as she would have liked.
======================= S1: -3 total Attack 1: 21 to whiff Attack 2: (got button happy, -2 more for) 32 to hit - 19 damage (18 piercing, 1 cold) Attack 3: 17 to miss Attack 4: 23 to miss
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=35 ; d20+18=24 ; d20+13=18 ; d20+8=27 ; d8=5 ; d6=5 ; 4d6=16 ; d8=6 ; d6=1 ; Thursday May 18th, 2023 9:23:46 PM
Armalad whispers to Joker to keep concentrating on the ink cloud while she makes a full attack this time with her bow. At least one of her shots makes it, including her first shot where she shoots 2 arrows at once
35 vs AC for (1d8 (5) + 1d6 shock (5) + 11) x 2 + 4d6 sneak attack = 32 + 10 shock + 16 sneak attack 24 vs AC miss 18 vs AC miss 27 vs AC for (1d8 (6)+ 1d6 shock(1) +11) if that hits = 17 + 1 shock
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) d20+8=27 ; d20+7=19 ; d20+17=37 ; d20+17=23 ; d4=1 ; d20+34=45 ; d20+34=43 ; d20+34=44 ; 4d8+12=25 ; 4d8+12=22 ; 4d8+12=29 ; d4=1 ; d4=4 ; d4=1 ; Friday May 19th, 2023 2:05:46 PM
Stohp’s Tauric blood resists the poison, though her blood still pours from her pores, and grimly crawls close enough to attempt to grapple, but fails again. Stohp wonders if this hulk is so strong that it’s nigh-impossible for her to grapple it.
Stock’s primal rage surges through all of his muscles as he resists the hulk nearly 30 times his mass, and remains standing, shrugging off the hulk’s poisons as he does so! His waraxe at the ready, Stock freely dishes out seaweed salads to anyone who wants them as his first chop slices another deep gash in the scarlet hulk, but his second and third swings fail to cut through as it flexes viny “muscles.”
Bartomus remains in vortex form, straining to slam his foe with torrents of water but the hulk proves too strong for it! No mean feat, Bartomus then casts Blight at the hulk (S1) while whirling around it! He successfully delivers the attack, but the hulk is made of sterner stuff (save = 19) and more importantly must have some inherent magical protection because the hulk is entirely unaffected by Bartomus’ spell! He wonders, Just what sort of unnatural monstrous plant is this hulk, anyways?
(OOC – Bartomus, this is a Touch Attack, requiring you to roll to hit your target. I see you have a BAB of +11, and in elemental form, your total Strength bonus is +6 (+2 from 14, +4 from elemental shape) for a total of +17. Rolling for you, you get a natural 20, a critical threat! The roll to confirm, however, is 23, which does not confirm. As above, it seems to have some magical protection, resistance, something!)
Zanderallen knew it was logical, but still was bemused that freely moving underwater also enabled freely-being-tripped underwater! He looks for the hulk’s big toes, but finding none Zanderallen begins hacking methodically at its (S2) bottom/underside/whatever, cutting and cauterizing deeply on the first swipe, but his awkward position results in the rest of his swings missing… curiously, as the fire bites into the hulk, the hulk begins moving faster, just as Delia’s frosty arrow made the other hulk slower!
Delia mutters about resistant plants, but seeing the slowing effect on this hulk (S1) she continues firing, only hitting on her second arrow, doing a little damage, and frosting it up more.
Armalad has Joker keep up the ink cloud and then she unleashes a flurry of arrows, hitting only with her double-shot (multishot), with one arrow precisely hitting a weak spot and digging in deep, electric arcs burning petals as it goes, and the other barely penetrating the hulk but delivering its full electric payload as it does so.
The hulk (S1) seems staggered, retracting its petals, sticking them out, retracting again, and then… the hulk explodingly unravels into a dispersed mas of seaweed vines and blood lily petals, releasing its poison into the surrounding waters in a ten-foot radius!
(OOC – Armalad, the hulks have Damage Resistance, and manyshot calls out that it applies twice, once to each of the two arrows. Reading your math, I see one mistake – I think you are supposed to roll 2d8, not 1d8 * 2. Same goes for the Shock 1d6. For ease, we’ll finish this battle your way (*2) but I’ll double-check Paizo’s FAQ, etc. later. Here, that means I need the following information whenever anyone (you or Delia) manyshots because damage resistance is much more common this far in the Shields’ epic tales:
(STOCK – There is no damage associated with this, but it is one more dose of Blood Lily poison, re-poisoning you after your body flushed the prior two doses!
Roll ONE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the First Round of this hit, vs. the 6-round duration.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Combat Round 3 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 1 CON damage + Sickened.)
(Bartomus – your water elemental form is immune to this liquid poison – it simply doesn’t intermix with your watery form, and stays in the Lake in the area where the hulk fell… for now. Be careful not to drag any of it with you as you flow around the room…)
Round 3
If the second hulk noticed the first hulk’s destruction, it shows no signs of it! Seemingly magically sped up by the fire of Zanderallen’s blade, it proceeds grasping at Zanderallen with not one, not two, but THREE VINDRILs, pounding Zanderallen deeper and deeper into the moundplex floor, though it appears Domi must have smiled upon Zanderallen because had fate been any different the hulk could have spelled his underwater doom… again!
(ZANDERALLEN – the hits are for 25, 22, and 29 damage, a sum of 76 damage. THREE new doses of Blood Lily poison are active in you – you are bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll THREE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the First Round of all three hits, vs. the 6-round duration of each dose.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Once one of the three doses is up to two consecutive successful saves, all doses are cleared from your body.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Combat Round 2 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 1 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 2 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 3 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 1 CON damage + Sickened.)
SHIELDS – only one somewhat wounded hulk remains… but is Zanderallen on his last legs… knees… something?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Stock (JonM) HP: 196/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 6/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+23=30 ; Friday May 19th, 2023 3:23:16 PM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement, Raging Stock spits out the poison cloud and then remembers he is underwater. The limitations to this underwater fighting spur on his rage. He spins and tries to close on the weed attacking big Z.
He yells out, "You may flourish beneath the waves, but you're still nothing more than a soggy twig in my eyes!"
======== Poison Save 30 Double Move to T24
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+27=32 ; d8=7 ; d6=1 ; Saturday May 20th, 2023 12:33:28 AM
Realizing that the value of her arrows is more in the cold slow than damage, Delia moves closer and aims a single shot, taking her time with one arrow to find somewhere her shot can sink in. After her shot, she moves next to Zander and Stock so that she can be either an extra target or provide assistance as needed if either go down.
===== Move to U22, non-deadly aim single attack, -2 range, +1 point blank. Shot on the Run feat - move to T23.
32 to hit; 14 damage (13 piercing+1 cold)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 61/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+9=28 ; d20+21=24 ; d20+21=30 ; Saturday May 20th, 2023 2:54:25 AM
Stohp doesn't really have many options other then grab things and try to pin them. She resists the poison (28) and tries again but fails.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 4d8+15=35 ; Saturday May 20th, 2023 1:27:49 PM
He didn't like what he was seeing. Zander was being pummeled like a puny earthling and Stohp was grasping while oozing blood everywhere. On top of that, he seemed to be in a cloud of stuff that he could only guess was as vile as it seemed to be hanging in the water.
As carefully as he could, taking the full movement around and over the thing in the corner next to him and eventually coming aside Zander, Stohp and where Stock had moved to. Then he touched Zander hoping that the cure would be of help to their warhorse! While he did so, he came up with a plan for helping Stohp.
[I]Take the full 60' of movement to go over and about the 5' wall to the right of AJ trying to ensure none of the poison follows along or if it does, it's moved away from the party. Coming to rest at TUW-21.
Cast Cure Critial Wounds on Zander - Heal for 35[i/]
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 64/159 AC: 31(27 Prone) T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 4/5 d20+21=22 ; d20+21=30 ; d20+21=33 ; 7d6=12 ; d20+15=17 ; d20+15=27 ; d20+15=32 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=21 ; d20+11=28 ; d20+15=22 ; d20+6=22 ; d8+16=18 ; d8+16=24 ; d8+16=22 ; d8+16=20 ; d8+16=18 ; Saturday May 20th, 2023 2:32:56 PM
Zanderallen grins as the flames of his blade burst out against the plant hulk. The grin quickly turns to curses as the hulk speeds up in pummeling into the ground. The poison burns and Zander gasps as it boils inside him. He nods in thanks to Bart for the healing as he further heals himself. He then returns the favor as best he can, prone and reeling from poison. He suppresses the flame of his blade. =============== Daylight Divine Bond +5 Speed 1 Con Damage Sickened -2 to hit, damage, saves, skill and ability checks
Fortitude Dose 1 Save 22: Failed Fortitude Dose 2 Save 28: 1st success Fortitude Dose 3 Save 31: 1st success
Swift Action Lay on Hands: Heals 12 Neutralize Poison Effect on Dose 1 - 17 not cured, Dose 2 - 27 Cured, Dose 3 - 32 Cured
Full Round attack on S2 while Prone -4 to hit 30 to hit, 18 damage 21 to hit, 24 damage 28 potential crit, 22 to confirm, 22 normal + 20 crit damage 22 to hit, 18 damage
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) d20+35=51 ; d20+37=44 ; d4=4 ; d4=2 ; 4d8+12=41 ; d20+34=37 ; d20+34=41 ; 4d8+12=27 ; 4d8+12=24 ; d4=4 ; d4=3 ; d4=3 ; Saturday May 20th, 2023 11:46:28 PM
Stock spits out the poison cloud and then remembers he has to breathe water… yuck! He spins and freely races over towards the remaining hulk (S2), attempting to finish adjacent to the hulk, however…
The hulk finds it Opportune to Attack Stock as Stock advances, and lashes out with a vindril which finds purchase, hurting and poisoning Stock as well as Tripping him! (At T23’, 10’ out, AoO triggered for moving from 15’ threat reach to 10’ threat reach, 44 vs. CMD 40 (including Dwarven Stability))
(STOCK – the hit is for 41 damage. TWO doses of Blood Lily poison are active in you – you are bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll TWO DC 23 Fortitude saving throws at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds)
You are on the First Round of this new hit, and Second Round of the poison cloud, vs. the 6-round duration.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Combat Round 4 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (2nd of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 2 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 2 CON damage + Sickened.)
Delia shoots on the run, taking an accurate shot at the hulk (S2), which, though it is moving slightly faster, and thus is slightly harder to hit than before, still connects solidly, no sap dripping from the wound but frost from her arrow spreads over it and reduces the hulk to its prior normal speed. Delia finishes by swimming directly over Stock’s tripped body, the hulk too busy with recovering from opportunely attacking Stock to attack her as well, and finishing where she intended, adjacent to Zanderallen and the hulk, bow in hand.
Stohp’s Tauric blood resists the poison once more and she is no longer poisoned! She again reaches for its planty bulk, trying twice, but its verdant mass resisting her both times.
Bartomus was shocked at the power of these hulks, smashing Zanderallen into the moundplex floor like he were a Lakeview Lad while Stohp continually failed to find purchase on the hulk as blood ever-oozed out of her pores! He began flowing towards Zanderallen, exiting his vortex form along the way, some orange cloud coming with him but he guides it into the berm to Armalad’s left and then ‘somersaults’ over the berm leaving the scarlet seaweed hulk’s poison behind and flowing to the side of and over Stock, and then flowing a portion of himself over to Zanderallen, who feels first a strong lakeflow and then healing energies enter his body. Bartomus’ voice is not heard, but Zanderallen strongly feels spellcasting energies nearby and makes a correct deduction.
Zanderallen smiled as his blade burst forth into flame and cut into the hulk, but his efforts weren’t rewarded exactly as he expected! Thankfully Bartomus helped him, and then he suppressed his blade’s flame and continued his prone assault on what he hoped was the hulk’s big toe… darn plant masses – no big toes to hit! Once more only his first attempt cuts into the hulk, doing at least some damage but this ‘tree’ may take a while to fell!
Armalad considers her attack options as the hulk’s vindrils lash at Zanderallen again!
The hulk (S2) lands two more solid blows on Zanderallen!
(ZANDERALLEN – the hits are for 27 and 24 damage, a sum of 51 damage. TWO new doses of Blood Lily poison are active in you – you are bleeding copiously from all of your pores!
Roll THREE DC 23 Fortitude saving throw at the start of EACH of your next SIX posts. (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the First Round of all three hits, vs. the 6-round duration of each dose.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Once one of the three doses is up to two consecutive successful saves, all doses are cleared from your body.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Combat Round 4 poison info:
(NOTE – 1 point of CON damage does not yet cause any penalty to the saving throws you are about to roll – it’s every two *full* points of CON damage that give you a -1 on Fort saves.
The Sickened -2 on saves does apply, of course.)
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 2 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 3 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 3 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 3 CON damage + Sickened.)
SHIELDS – only one somewhat wounded hulk remains… but Zanderallen may be nearing death’s door…
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=30 ; d8=1 ; d6=3 ; d8=7 ; d6=1 ; 4d6=13 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+13=20 ; d20+8=28 ; d20+8=23 ; d8=7 ; d6=2 ; d8=4 ; d6=6 ; Sunday May 21st, 2023 11:59:26 PM
(OOC: I could have sworn I looked up manyshot when I first got it and I thought the FAQ said since the arrows go at the same time you multiply by 2 but if you want me to roll individually I will. )
Armalad shifts to S2 with Joker maintaining the illusion she also switches to her Adamantium arrows this time
30 vs AC for (1d8 (1) + 1d6 shock (3)+11) + (1d8(7) + 1d6 shock(1) +11) + 4d6 sneak attack (13) = 12 + 3 shock + 18 + 1 shock + 13 sneak attack 27 vs AC for (1d8 + 1d6 + 11) = 18 + 2 shock damage 20 vs AC; miss 28 vs AC threat of crit , 23 to confirm = no crit = (1d8 (4)+ 1d6(6) + 11) = 15 + 6 shock
5 adamantium arrows fired, 4 hit, chance to recover 1 of them after battle
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 61/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+21=30 ; d20+21=33 ; Monday May 22nd, 2023 7:21:12 AM
Stohp continues to have trouble impeding the enemy.
Stock (JonM) HP: 158/248; AC: 26/24/14; DR 3/-; CMD: 36; Rage: 7/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+23=25 ; d3=1 ; d20+23=36 ; d20+19=39 ; d20+23=29 ; d10+23=33 ; d10+23=25 ; d10+23=28 ; Monday May 22nd, 2023 9:08:40 AM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement, Raging, Starts Turn Prone In his raging state, Stock refuses to believe that he is bleeding out of all his pores. He stands up, doing his best to avoid the behemoth and attacks.
===== Map Poison Save 1 25 Poison Save 2 36 Move Action Stand If Stock is attacked and tripped again while standing, he will convert his Standard action to another move action and try to stand again. 5 ft. Step to U24 Power Attack hits AC39, Threat confirms(?) vs AC29, No Crit: 33 damage, Crit: 86 damage and Sickened
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+16=33 ; Monday May 22nd, 2023 10:14:25 AM (OOC did I get pushed forward by Stock or something? I ended my move last turn at T23, so I'm going to assume I'm still there since we are able to move in 3D) Delia will 5ft swim back to T22 and defensively cast (if needed, Concentration 33vsDC 19) Delay Poison on Zanderallen. No poison, in his system or added to his system, is able to affect him for the next 12 hours.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 39/159 AC: 31(27 Prone) T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 10/13 SE 4/5 d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ; d20+15=26 ; d20+15=25 ; d20+15=24 ; d20+16=36 ; d20+20=26 ; d20+16=20 ; d20+11=12 ; d20+6=25 ; 2d8+32=36 ; Monday May 22nd, 2023 3:49:26 PM
Zanderallen barely pushes himself back up from the 2nd slam of the great hulk, his vision reeling as he bounces off the ground repeatedly. He barely notices Delia's touch, his brain shutting down non-essential functions to hold on to consciousness. He clutches at some inner resolve, or maybe grim acceptance that he has no way out, as he continues pouring Domi's power into his injuries. The curing light dims way too fast as it tries to diffuse to way too many cuts, bruises, and cracked bones. But he let's out a gasp as the burning in his veins threatens to overwhelm his as the poison is purged from his system. He then sucks in a big gulp of air and weekly calls out as he swings his blade, "That the best you got? I can do this all day." His first blow takes all his strength as he uses all of his might to Heroically drive it deep into the beast. =============== Daylight Divine Bond +5 Speed 1 Con Damage Sickened -2 to hit, damage, saves, skill and ability checks
3 Doses of Posion in system, currently delayed
Swift Action Lay on Hands: Heals 26 Neutralize Poison Effect on Dose 1 - 26 cured, Dose 2 - 25 Cured, Dose 3 - 24 Cured
Full Round attack on S2 while Prone -4 to hit 36 (Nat 20) 30 to confirm Using Hero Point for +4 after the roll since I'm pretty sure 30 is their AC, 36 damage 20 misses 12 misses 25 potential crit but misses
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+6=9 ; d20+6=22 ; Monday May 22nd, 2023 3:49:57 PM
Bartomus saw some improvement in Zander and Stohp still looked like they were struggling to regain their footing. However, he thought that maybe he could reach out and try smashing the remaining hulk of seaweed. But, both attempts failed and he was simply flaying about in the water like some child playing at the shore.
Water elemental slams - 9 against AC - fail; and 22 Against AC, I think that was a fail earlier in one of the fights.
"No... no... no... it cannot be!" (DM Wayne) d20+34=37 ; 4d8+12=21 ; d4=4 ; d4=4 ; d4=3 ; d4=1 ; Monday May 22nd, 2023 10:16:05 PM
Armalad changes targets to the remaining scarlet seaweed hulk (S2) and begins firing adamantine arrows from an altitude convenient to avoid firing within inches of the Shields, hitting the hulk with her doubleshot (manyshot), the adamantine arrows not helping at all versus the resistant woven reeds and seaweed of the hulk, with one of the arrows giving a spark as it sinks into a weak spot in the hulk and the other arrow sinking in a bit and likewise giving a spark. Two misses and then the fourth shot (fifth and final arrow) strikes home, but in a tough spot, not cutting any woven seaweed but scorching much seaweed with arcs of electricity!
(OOC – its AC is 30, so just the first two plus the final arrow (nat 20) hit; chance to recover two of them, the second and third shots (the third and fourth arrows))
Stohp again earnestly tries twice to get a hold on the hulk but it seems to be too strong! Perhaps if Domi smiled upon Stohp…
Stock stands up and the hulk takes advantage of the opportunity, slamming him hard on the right shoulder as Stock begins to rise! (21 damage, 1st dose)
(OOC – AoOs resolve prior to the triggering event, so the hulk cannot keep Stock down in this way, given it only has 1 AoO/round. On its next action, however…)
Stock’s eyes would kill if they could, and he continues his rise to completion, denying the reality of his own blood seeping out of all of his pores, he wills his pores to close, and they do! He then freely steps right next to the hulk (T24) and makes a mad slash at it with his adamantine dwarven waraxe, striking a solid blow, but missing that weak spot with Armalad’s adamantine arrow sticking out of it… yet Stock must have accidentally hit something critical, for the hulk (S2) seems staggered, retracting its petals, sticking them out, retracting again, and then… the hulk explodingly unravels into a dispersed mass of seaweed vines and blood lily petals, releasing its poison into the surrounding waters in a ten-foot radius catching Stohp, Zanderallen, Stock, Bartomus (whose watery form is immune), and narrowly misses Delia who presciently swam back just enough bare seconds before!
Zanderallen is caught off guard by the spreading poison, his face protected by his air bubble but the torrent of poison seeping in through limbs and body (4th dose for Z). Likewise Stohp (1st dose) and Stock (2nd dose).
Delia, free of combat, is about to swim to Zanderallen to cast Delay Poison, but now suddenly a poison cloud is in front of her! Dare she suffer the poison herself in order to save Zanderallen, surely drinking some of the poison as she breathes water on the way to him?
(OOC – Delia, feel free to cover two posts of content in the next one: 1) what did Delia do when faced with the poison cloud and knowing her spell is only delivered by touch; and 2) what does she do next after this DM post?)
Zanderallen, suffering from four doses of Blood Lily poison, smashed, battered, struck down… and yet not destroyed… spits out some blood and perhaps a tooth, prays to Domi and heals the poison (Zanderallen will need a 4th Saving Throw for the poison cloud dose) and he shouts at the floating remains of the scarlet seaweed hulk, “Was that the best you had? I can do this all day!” Zanderallen slowly rises to one knee…
Bartomus, seeing that Zanderallen and Stohp were no longer in danger, began planning how to aid the Shields, half of them once more exposed to poison, blood seeping from all of their pores!
(STOCK – The attack of opportunity did 21 damage (noted above), and the poison cloud added the second dose, re-poisoning you after your body flushed the prior doses!
Roll up to six DC 23 Fortitude saving throws per dose (resolve all of this in your very next post). (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the First Round of both doses, vs. the 6-round duration.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Round 5 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.
Dose 2 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 4 CON damage + Sickened.)
(STOHP – There is no damage associated with this, but it is a dose of Blood Lily poison!
Roll up to six DC 23 Fortitude saving throws (resolve all of this in your very next post). (frequency is 1/round for 6 rounds).
You are on the First Round of this hit, vs. the 6-round duration.
This poison takes TWO consecutive successful saving throws to cure – make one save, miss the next, you start all over again.
Failed Save = 1d4 CON damage and Sickened.
Round 5 poison info:
Fort DC 23 Dose 1 (1st of 6 rounds) IF Failed = 3 CON damage + Sickened.)
(Zanderallen – the rolls are above – either Lay on Hands or start rolling up to six DC 23 Fortitude saves vs. your 4th dose (from the poison cloud), resolve it all in your next post. 1 CON damage and Sickened if Failed.)
SHIELDS – poison still courses through the veins of your comrades – WHAT DO YOU DO?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday May 22nd, 2023 10:46:45 PM
Having nothing else to do besides retrieve her arrows which seems insignificant compared to the problems experienced by her friends Armalad heroically tries to help her friends.
(OOC: burning a hero point to grant someone a +4 to one of their Fort Saves)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 61/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+9=29 ; d20+9=22 ; d20+9=16 ; d20+9=13 ; d20+9=24 ; d20+9=15 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 7:03:21 AM
Despite her low con Save Stohp resists the poison again (29, 22, going to take Hugh's bonus to instantly clear it)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115; AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+12=32 ; d20+12=15 ; d20+12=26 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 9:49:55 AM (OOC: I think I lost track of where I was on the map. My goal was to be in the NE square from Zander, so I would be in the poison radius, actively casting Delay Poison on Z when it exploded. I already had a concentration check of 33 if that's needed)
Delia remains focused on completing the spellcast on her beat-up friend, the new dose of poison only making her more determined. She feels no ill effect. Yet... As soon as she finishes the spell, she will try to move back and out of the poison cloud. If she had to move to Zander, she will move out round 2.
If anyone else looks like they actively suffering from being poisoned (though she's not terribly worried about Stock, given his hardiness), she will cast Delay Poison on them. If not, she will cast it on herself round 2. At latest, she casts it on herself round 3. (3 prepped)
Fort save 1: 32 success Fort save 2: 15 fail Fort save 3: 26 success
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 4d8+15=35 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 10:20:23 AM
Bartomus watched in bewilderment as yet another one of the creatures exploded sending a filth into the watery interior of the mound. He quickly took a look at Stohp and then Stock seeing both had been battered pretty hard.
"Ladies first," he said aloud but still relatively clueless that no one could hear him. He sent a swirl about Stohp as he cast his second and last significant curing spell. Although, he had another thought for Stock after he finished this.
Cast Cure Critical Wounds on Stohp - +35
Stock (JonM) HP: 95/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+23=27 ; d20+23=26 ; d20+23=29 ; d20+23=34 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 1:53:12 PM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement, Fatigued for a while "Ugh. The water tastes bad now. Do you taste that, Zanderallen? It's kind of bitter and kind of metallic. Yuck. Speaking of which - Z you don't look good."
While Stock probably also looks like death, he is totally oblivious to this fact. ======== Dose 1 Save 1: 27 Dose 2 Save 1: 26 Dose 1 Save 2: 29 Dose 2 Save 2: 34 Kept raging while making saves so I marked off two more rounds of rage...but now am fatigued again
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31(27 Prone) T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 d20+15=29 ; 14d6=39 ; 7d6=24 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 8:10:15 PM
Zanderallen grins crookedly back at Stock, "Huh, that's strange. This helmet bubble keeps the water out and I taste the same thing. Must be the poison. I don't know what you're talking about, I've never felt better." the cry of pain as Zander tries to stand up cuts off his statement about feeling alright. He then channels more of Domi's power. First into his own wounds, and then into everyone once he sees no one appears in immediate danger from poison. ==== 1 con damage
Lay on Hands self x2 heals 39 hp and 29 cures last dose of poison
Lay on hands x2 to channel positive energy everyone heals 24 hp
5 lay on hands remaining
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) d4=4 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 9:39:31 PM
Armalad tries Heroically to use her vast store of knowledge about plants to help Stohp resist the Blood Lily poison, and succeeds!
Delia heroically leans into the poison cloud enough to cast Delay Poison on Zanderallen, though several seconds later it costs her!
(OOC – failing the round 2 save means being Sickened and take 4 CON damage as Delia’s blood oozes from all of her pores!
No concentration needed – this is basically contact poison absorbed by the skin, etc.)
Delia then buys herself some time by casting Delay Poison on herself.
Bartomus was startled by yet another exploding plant monster! He looked over Stohp and Stock, and then flowed over to Stohp, casting Cure Critical Wounds on her. Those nearby could swear the flowing water ‘sounded’ like spellcasting.
Stock gives the poisoned water a bad review, bad enough to maintain his rage a bit longer as he wills his body to expel the poison and his pores finally stop seeping his own blood! He feels fine now, if significantly wounded, but the rest of the Shields look at him aghast at his scarlet uniform!
Zanderallen manages a grin at Stock, and tries valiantly to pretend he is unwounded, but his body rats on him! He then calls upon Domi’s power to heal himself and the other Shields.
As the Shields look at each other, healed or mostly there, Delia and Zanderallen still look a bit sickly and may need more specialized healing. After a full minute has gone by, the sickly feeling passes but the lingering damage to some Shields’ bodily constitution remains.
The Shields take stock of the room by the Daylight of Zanderallen’s blade, though some areas are shadowed by the berms. To the left of the entrance lies the remains of Nuray Shanoza, and beyond her, now that the scarlet seaweed hulks are no more but for their slowly-lessening poison clouds, lie piles of strange bones along with weapons, armors, and other artifacts atop bioluminescent moss that has been drained of its light.
To the right of the entrance lie the remains of Triggan Best, fallen in disorder after a hulk slammed merciful Zanderallen who was cradling Triggan’s remains at the time. Beyond the remains likewise lie piles of strange bones along with weapons, armors, and other artifacts atop bioluminescent moss that has been drained of its light.
The other two patches of bioluminescent moss have merely Medium-sized piles of scarlet seaweed upon them, and beyond those smaller piles are yet more strange bones, but no other artifacts.
SHIELDS – answers to mysteries and clues to new mysteries lie strewn about the moundplex room… What does each Shield do next?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d100=29 ; d100=56 ; Tuesday May 23rd, 2023 11:27:43 PM
Armalad tries to retrieve the 2 adamantine arrows, looks like one arrow was damaged beyond usage but the other is still intact so she picks up her wayward arrow.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 61/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday May 24th, 2023 6:56:03 AM
Stohp thinks back, checking her memory on if there was a split in the path or other indication that there is more to check out in the giant mound.
Stock (JonM) HP: 141/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d8=4 ; d8=5 ; d8=8 ; Wednesday May 24th, 2023 10:02:06 AM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement Stock wanders over to the pile of bones, weapons, armor and other things. He pulls out a potoin on the way and sucks out the fluid inside. He then picks through the pile looking for anything of obvious value.
"There were mounds to the right, a moundplex in the middle and mounds to the left. I think when we are done here we explore the mounds to the left."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 85); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+11=14 ; d20+11=27 ; Wednesday May 24th, 2023 10:22:26 AM Water Breathing, Darkvision, Swim 30ft, Delay Poison (12 hours), -4 Con
"Well that's just my favorite thing," Delia mutters as she feels the poison hit. After she casts Delay Poison on herself, she will swim to the strange bones and examine them as she waits for the Sickened feeling to pass.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 3d8+15=33 ; d20+16=29 ; Wednesday May 24th, 2023 10:38:02 AM
Bartomus swirled about Stock having offered some help to Stohp. He giggled at Stock's comment and tried suggesting to the dwarf that the scars might help improve his looks this time. He took a moment and let the energy build and then tapped the dwarf on the back when it was time to do so. The energy shifted and flowed about the dwarf.
The Bartomus scanned the floor and the pile of debris that had sat underneath the latest to explode nightmare. He also took note of what the floor was made of in this mound.
Bart has used all CCW spells, now one of two CSW - note mainly for me - Cure SW for +33 on Stock. Perception for 29
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 d4=2 ; Wednesday May 24th, 2023 1:51:11 PM
Zanderallen returns the favor to Delia by casting Lesser Restoration, curing some of the damage from the poison she subjected herself to in aiding him. He rests for a moment doing nothing more than holding up his blade to illuminate as much of the room as possible while nursing his bruises. ========================= 1 Con Damage
Lesser Restoration cures Delia 2 Con damage
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=37 ; Thursday May 25th, 2023 12:23:04 AM
Armalad searches the area for other interesting things. (OOC: checking in)
Perception: 37
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday May 25th, 2023 8:18:48 AM
Stohp remembers to update her header, an incredibly rare a occurance that she rarely remembers to do unless she takes damage. This will probably get her killed one day.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=31 ; Thursday May 25th, 2023 9:31:31 AM Underwater Breathing, Freedom of Movement Stock's keen eyes spot Bartomus, shrouded in an ethereal mist that causes the water around him to ripple and sway. With a grunt of acknowledgement, Stock pivots his attention back to the cache of treasures before him, his hands eager to delve into the spoils of their recent conquest.
========== Perception 31
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Thursday May 25th, 2023 4:45:30 PM
Zanderallen continues to catch his breath and adjust his armor to lessen how badly the dents press into his body.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=33 ; Thursday May 25th, 2023 7:55:02 PM
Bartomus looked at the pile of things that had been left when the weed matty thing attacked.
Perception 33
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday May 25th, 2023 9:59:08 PM
Armalad takes her time searching. (OOC: Checking In)
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Thursday May 25th, 2023 10:22:36 PM
Armalad moves to retrieve her bespoke arrows, but only one is intact.
Stohp runs through the moundplex in her mind, looking to see if another path was missed, but she doesn’t believe so. There are, however, multiple interesting piles of bones, weapons, and armors here in this room…
Stock heads over to one of the piles of bones, weapons, armor, and so forth, sucking in a potion along the way. He begins speaking, but no one can hear him the dozens of feet away he is from the Shields, except Armalad via Message.
Delia shudders as the Blood Lily poison takes effect, sapping her endurance. She casts Delay Poison on herself, buying her hours for Bartomus or someone to cast Neutralize Poison on her. Then she follows Stock to the pile of bones, etc. She thinks carefully about the bones, but they don’t seem to be aberrant. Looking at them in the light of nature, Delia’s mind is illuminated as she realizes Highlight to display spoiler: { the bones seem to be of very large lizardfolk…. Nooo… Scion lizardfolk similar to the ancient guardian lizard folk encountered defending the Dragon Crown (All That Glitters, Sept 8, 2021)… Nooo… these are skeletons for even larger lizard folk of even more ancient stock than the Scions…}
Bartomus flows around Stock, barely catching Stock’s comment about further exploration amongst the other mounds. He makes a joke but at most Stock only notices burbles of Lakewater. Bartomus then casts Cure Critical Wounds, healing Stock. He then flows in and around the debris, examining each. The bones seem familiar, perhaps more thought (OOC Knowledge: Nature) may grant insight. Bartomus begins swirling certain items above the pile, seemingly valuable, bringing them to Stock’s attention as though on a platter of Lakewater.
Stock and Bartomus see atop the ‘platter’ of Lakewater a minor treasure horde.
(OOC:
A pair of gold bracers and a large emerald. Stock’s dwarven eyes go wild with dwarven greed at the emerald’s size and apparent value, even to a casual appraiser not giving it deep thought.
The Bracers don’t feel like gold – they are gold, but are much tougher… enchanted, perhaps?
Each Bracer bears an emblem of a single eye centered over an open, tooth-filled maw…
A potion. A scroll (well, a sealed scroll case – might not be wise to open it here!). A silver ring with arcane engravings. A shortsword not at all rusty from being underwater for who knows how long.) An electrum ring with arcane engravings.) A javelin. A wand.
Zanderallen smiles as he returns the favor to Delia with Lesser Restoration, restoring some of her sapped endurance. Then he focuses on holding his blade to illuminate the room as best he can to help those searching the room for clues…
Armalad begins searching the pile of bones, weapons, etc. nearest her, at the opposite end of the room from where Stock is. She is skilled at sifting through treasure piles it seems, quickly putting the bones in one pile and the other items in another pile, and then looks at each in turn.
(OOC:
A pair of gold bracers and a large emerald. Armalad’s elven eyes go wild with elven intrigue at the emerald’s size and apparent value, even to a casual appraiser not giving it deep thought beyond wondering if any spell requires such a large emerald as a material component.
The Bracers don’t feel like gold – they are gold, but are much tougher… enchanted, perhaps?
Each Bracer bears an emblem of a single eye centered over an open, tooth-filled maw…
A heavy steel shield seemingly untouched by corrosion despite however long it’s been submerged in the Lakewater. A potion. A staff, exquisitely engraved in draconic with seemingly every known rune regarding abjuration magic. A strange bottle… no… carafe… no… very exotic, perhaps from one of those far-off desert realms… A darkwood shield not at all waterlogged from submersion in Lakewater. A rod. A medallion.)
Stohp reflects upon her present capabilities after having been healed.
Stock rifles through the presented treasures, doing his best to identify them.
Zanderallen continues recovering from almost being killed a second time at the bottom of the Lake, and focuses on repairing his armor.
Bartomus also continues to review the pile he’d selected. (OOC – Perception a second time isn’t necessary – the first roll gave the information I provided above. However, since Bartomus has had extra time to think, I will apply your die roll to Knowledge: Nature as you would likely also come to the same conclusions as Delia did earlier: Highlight to display spoiler: { the bones seem to be of very large lizardfolk…. Nooo… Scion lizardfolk similar to the ancient guardian lizard folk encountered defending the Dragon Crown (All That Glitters, Sept 8, 2021)… Nooo… these are skeletons for even larger lizard folk of even more ancient stock than the Scions…}
SHIELDS – What do you do next?
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+1=20 ; Friday May 26th, 2023 9:42:01 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement Stock takes his time looking over the hoard, looking for value and likely seeing wealth everywhere. He turns around and shouts at the closest Shields, "There's still the question of who did this? Whose stuff is this? Whose golem was that? I think we keep moving to the last set of mounds to the left of this place."
======== Appraise 20, 22 on nonmagical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20=4 ; Friday May 26th, 2023 9:51:43 AM
[i](Thanks for that Mitch. Your header post really made me laugh lol) Water Breathing, Darkvision, Swim 30ft, Delay Poison (12 hours), -2 Con [i]
Delia nods gratefully to Zander and pokes at the bones a little more, she will describe to nearby Shields that these are very large, pre-Scion lizard-folk. She will try to determine the age of the bones. (Just a roundabout are they as ancient as their size would imply or new enough to be a more immediate concern)
======================= Bone Age: Know Nature would be 17 Heal would be 18 Survival would be 26
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=34 ; Friday May 26th, 2023 10:23:15 AM
Bartomus noticed that Delia was still not up to par, but his mind raced to find the best way to relieve her. He rolled that around in his mind as he processed what he had seen amidst the hoard. The bones weren't what he expected to be here. He also couldn't figure out why these things had come to life. The merfolk had said that the blood lillies were rare, almost mythic, so why did they exist here and what brought them to life?
He punctuated Delia's information with a swirl of water
He went back to one of the two larger mats that were along the side wall and focused on them for a few moments.
[I]Perception - focusing on the other large mats and looking for any evidence of a similar collection of things. [/1]
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday May 26th, 2023 11:36:14 AM
Stohp considers. "Could this stuff be automated? Like it's just set to make these things that used to be under someone's control and now it just keeps making them and they occasionally run amuck? I think trying to destroy these things where the plant monsters form will either stop the problem or draw the attention of whomever is doing this so that's probably the first step regardless."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Friday May 26th, 2023 6:39:59 PM
Zander agrees with Stoph, "I don't know what Blood Lilies are doing at the bottom of the Lake but destroying these energy pools is a good first step. I don't want any more of those hulks, if one of them got to the float it could do some serious damage."
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Saturday May 27th, 2023 12:04:20 AM
Stock can scarcely control his dwarven lust for all things gold and gem-like, maybe magic too! Then he cuts to the chase, asking questions via Message and asking Armalad to repeat to the group and relay replies back to him, which she graciously agrees to do now that combat is over. He lists mysteries including: who was the attacker; whose stuff is this; and who made the golems (hulks). Stock finishes by suggesting the Shields move on to the remaining mounds.
He then looks over the items in front of him, trying to assess their worth, plus or minus. Stock thinks (not spoiler tagging because the info would be shared soon enough) the emerald is in the neighborhood of 15,000 gp… if that’s not an overlord’s ransom, most people would think it was! The golden bracers have the heft of being made out of actual gold, not just gold-plating on some other material… At least 1,000gp for the materials… possibly more if it’s enchanted in any way as the gold would be close to 100% pure based on how much spellcasters whine and bargain in the many marketplaces Stock has passed through. The other items are harder to gauge, possibly or definitely magical, and that probably means moving both of the large piles (Armalad’s and Stock’s) together back at Shields HQ and having Armalad get to work with spells and brainpower. The silver ring is probably in the 50-100gp range based on apparent purity and craftspersonship, and the electrum ring maybe twice that.
Delia smiles at Zanderallen’s healing and looks over the bones some more. She uses Message, with Armalad as dispatcher, to quickly communicate to the Shields the nature of these bones, “very large, pre-Scion lizard folk, very likely from ancient stocks, though I’m not aware of any active populations of that size in a large area around Turtle Lake.” Delia then turns her attention to clues as to the age of these bones… Highlight to display spoiler: { these bones are much more recent than ancient… by the scrapings and scars on the bones it appears some of these pre-Scion lizard folk were used as living sacrifices to power the creation of the scarlet seaweed hulks, likely along with the drained magical power of some of the “normal” weapons, armor, etc. in the pile with them. }
Bartomus pondered how best to help Delia. Zanderallen did something divine that seemed to help her, but does primal magic have access to similar spells?
(OOC – Yes – Lesser Restoration is a Druid spell too. Bartomus may or may not have it prepared re: the spells he chose for this expedition)
Bartomus next began pondering the bones, and after that he pondered the sources that animated the plant heaps into scarlet seaweed hulks. His mind then raced on to why a seemingly mythic plant monster should suddenly show up, not just as a handful (four of them) but also as some kind of strange plant construct, clearly created by… something…
After swirling water at the end of Delia’s relayed Message, he flowed over to another bioluminescent seaweed mat, with but a Medium weight of plants in the center, entirely inanimate. The seaweed mat dimmed and glowed, but the plantmass in the center did not glow at all… not yet…
Stohp ponders, and then Messages to the Shields the question of whether this was some form of automated workshop. She suggests that destroying plantmass growing places like this mound and others would put a dent in the threat to the Float in the short term.
Zanderallen agrees with Stohp – destroying these bioluminescent seaweed structures and the plantmass on top of them would be a good start. He voices aloud what was already rustling at the back of each Shield’s mind – the danger to the Float if these hulks were to attack it!
Armalad ponders the treasures before her.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d4=4 ; Saturday May 27th, 2023 10:32:39 AM
Bartomus realized he could try to restore Delia to a lesser degree or outright heal her, but still wondered what they had ahead of them. He choose the latter and stayed in close proximity to Delia then touched her when the spell was completed.
Restore Lesser - for 4 - Here's the details - so, that should offset some of the damage being done by the poison. Bart didn't prepare those spells, but has the Heal in reserve to do so once we leave this place. Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject's ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject's ability scores. It also eliminates any fatigue suffered by the character, and improves an exhausted condition to fatigued. It does not restore permanent ability drain.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Saturday May 27th, 2023 10:46:58 AM
Delia lets everyone know that these bones are probably not as old as they should be for the difference between ancient and modern lizardfolk. And that it appears they were used for sacrifice.
She wonders if the Lads met with the same fate or if they were victims of hunger. She agrees with destroying anything potentially harmful.
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Saturday May 27th, 2023 11:32:01 PM
Bartomus identified the druidic spell that would likely restore Delia. He then pondered what lay ahead. Bartomus flowed near Delia and cast Lesser Restoration on her, restoring her bodily endurance. Any sickness she felt from the poison would have to fade with time, or perhaps require a magical cure.
(OOC – Delia is under a Delay Poison right now, which didn’t help the CON damage, but does make her immune to poison for a time, and thus to the sickening aspect. Delay poison specifically does not cure ability damage already taken prior to receiving the spell.)
Delia gives a fuller explanation on the bones to all, relayed by Armalad’s Message. She wonders whether Triggan and Jerma were used to make scarlet seaweed hulks (sacrificed) or simply victims of hunger. In hindsight, Delia leans towards the hunger explanation given the pre-Scion lizard folk bones lacked any fleshly remains.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=21 ; Sunday May 28th, 2023 10:52:14 AM
Bartomus still didn't feel like he was understanding what had transpired here to create the creatures that they fought and apparently, that were trying to create another pair of such creatures. He looked closer at the walls and wondered how long the building had been there. He had too many more questions than answers.
He made a series of bubbles and currents and moved himself back out into the other room and took a great look around it.
Perception 21 in the other room
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+24=35 ; d20+24=43 ; d20+24=38 ; d20+24=41 ; d20+24=39 ; d20+24=34 ; d20+24=28 ; d20+24=34 ; d20+24=35 ; Sunday May 28th, 2023 8:59:08 PM
Armalad casts Detect Magic and tries to identify all the various magic items before her.
Spellcraft: 37, 45, 40, 43, 41, 36, 30, 36, 37
(OOC: forgot the racial +2)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday May 29th, 2023 9:42:53 AM
Well if nothing else is threatening the shields then it's about time to start dismantling this place permanently. It'll take hours if not days but needs to be done. She wants there to be nothing left of this place but debris so that these events cannot repeat.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Monday May 29th, 2023 6:40:47 PM
If we have investigated everything, Delia will join Stohp in deconstruction.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday May 29th, 2023 9:12:44 PM
If Armalad has gleaned all she can from the pile of magical goods then she too will join in deconstruction efforts.
(OOC: Checking In)
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Monday May 29th, 2023 11:27:17 PM
Bartomus was still puzzled by the process to create the scarlet seaweed hulks, seemingly including and yet beyond druidic power alone. He then flowed back into the prior room to search for more clues, but finds none other than the remains of Jerma and Edvards.
Armalad sets about identifying the magic items in the pile nearest her.
(OOC:
A pair of gold bracers – Bracers of Armor +6 +3 heavy steel shield. Potion of Beast Shape I. Staff of Abjuration (25 charges). Efreeti Bottle +3 Darkwood Heavy Shield: power (1) Blinding; power (2): Energy Resist 10: Sonic. Rod of Metamagic, Empower, Lesser. Medallion of Thoughts.
List does not include the items in the pile Stock is rummaging through.)
Stohp Messages to the Shields the need to completely tear down the moundplex to the last wall and floor.
Delia agrees in Message with Stohp.
Armalad agrees with Stohp also, but a pile remains near Stock so she swims over and catalogues his pile.
(OOC – the Spellcraft rolls are all more than high enough from the first group, so with combat apparently over, Armalad’s effort (and Spellcraft and Detect Magic) quickly gain her the following information on Stock’s pile:
A pair of gold bracers – Bracers of Armor +6 Potion of Neutralize Poison A scroll (well, a sealed scroll case – might not be wise to open it here! LATER, on the dragon ship, Armalad will learn this is a scroll of Greater Heroism). A silver ring with arcane engravings – Ring of Spell Storing (holds 5 levels of spells) Shortsword of Subtlety (+1 shortsword with an extra +4 to hit and damage on a successful Sneak Attack) Ring of Wizardry (III) +2 Javelin. Wand of False Life (50 charges))
Stohp soon finds that her great strength is not enough to rend the reedy, seaweedy walls by brute force and so borrows a magical blade from the piles, but even as she cuts a section of reedy wall it quickly grows back within seconds! Stohp is no spellcaster, but suspects powerful magics are at work, powerful magics that must be dismantled before the moundplex can be destroyed by several Shields hacking with magical blades and the like. She Messages this finding to the Shields.
Nuray and Triggan’s remains ever so slowly roll back and forth in the natural flow of Turtle Lake.
SHIELDS – what do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday May 30th, 2023 10:11:54 AM
Stohp wasn't really expecting to cut down the building by hand. She suggests they go consult the merfolk who no doubt know far, far more about underwater construction and demolition then the party.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Tuesday May 30th, 2023 10:34:10 AM Water Breathing, Freedom of Movement
"There is one more area left to explore. I think we go there - maybe then we can get some answers."
======== Loot sheet is updated with these finds. Some big dollar items there. Please put in your bids.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Tuesday May 30th, 2023 3:59:54 PM "I agree Stock. Let us finish clearing this entire complex. Somebody has to be responsible for this mess. There aren't any other rooms hidden in this mound are there?"
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Tuesday May 30th, 2023 8:50:01 PM
Stohp suggests the Shields consult the merfolk on ways to dismantle the moundplex.
Stock reminds the Shields of the remaining mounds to the left of the moundplex center the Shields stand in.
Zanderallen agrees with Stock, and then wonders aloud, via Message whether there are any more rooms in the current mound.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday May 30th, 2023 9:57:05 PM
Armalad messages the others, "Do you think if we collect the remains or take out the glowing reeds maybe we interfere with whatever is going on here? I'm not sure if I have any spell capable of disrupting what is going on here but maybe the remains or the glowing weeds are the key to what is going on?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Tuesday May 30th, 2023 10:21:00 PM "Are the merfolk near enough to recover the remains while we investigate the last mound? Or are they too green for bits of people? If we do send this complex crashing down, I don't want the folks above to lose what little peace burying these remains might bring."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday May 31st, 2023 12:20:57 AM
Bartomus was lost in his floating about, but none of his thoughts allowed him to answer the questions he had. He looked about and nodded at the others. He had an idea on how to try to take the mound apart. But, he also felt that they needed to take Stock's suggestion.
He could explain what he saw and what he might want to do to the merfolk, but they also needed to continue on with the exploration and determine what else was going on.
He moved further along towards the exit of the mound. They needed to get more answers.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday May 31st, 2023 7:01:09 AM
Stohp is glad of the reminder that there is in fact more spots to look for answers as she had thought they had run out of places to look.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Wednesday May 31st, 2023 9:35:35 AM
Stock helps to carefully gather the remains (there doesn't seem to be much to grab) and lays them on the lake floor outside the complex.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Wednesday May 31st, 2023 2:14:40 PM
Zanderallen helps gather up all the remains from two rooms, carefully keeping the various bits apart. "Last set of mounds first. Then we'll come back in here and see if we can smash apart those energy nexus. Armalad, do you want to call the merfolk over to collect these remains?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=31 ; Wednesday May 31st, 2023 3:03:02 PM
As they begin to leave this particular complex, Delia will keep an eye on their surroundings to see if the fight has brought any onlookers.
Perception: 31
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday May 31st, 2023 8:36:03 PM
Armalad calls out to the merfolk in Aquan to come and collect the remains
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Wednesday May 31st, 2023 9:50:43 PM
Armalad confers (via Message) with the Shields as to whether collecting the remains, or perhaps the remaining bioluminescent reeds, might help the situation.
Delia asks (via Message) whether it’s time to call in the merfolk pall bearers to transport the remains, or whether the remains are somehow contaminated by the moundplex.
Bartomus considered the best way to take the moundplex apart, and then thought about what Stock said. He decided the Shields should press on to finish exploring the moundplex and flowed towards the next room, further towards the exit of the moundplex.
Stohp realizes she had forgotten about the remaining mounds.
Stock helps as an interim pall bearer, to get the remains of the Lads and the fisherfolk outside the moundplex so the merfolk can more easily find and transport the remains.
Zanderallen joins Stock in doing so, and once done, Messages the Shields that the next stop is the final group of mounds, and then back to the moundplex to see about destroying as much as possible. He asks Armalad to call in the merfolk to transport the remains.
Delia stands guard, watching and, to the extent the Lake allows, listening for any belligerents here to interrupt Stock and Zanderallen solemnly recovering the remains of Jerma, Triggan, Edvards, and Nuray.
Armalad nods at Zanderallen’s request, joining him outside and then in a series of strange clicks oddly suited to transmission in water, signals the merfolk in Aquan.
The merfolk soon arrive, and their greenness to horror, as Princess Melanie had noted (in Aquan), is evident. Stomachs visibly churn and gurgle without air to carry the gurgles to the watching Shields… and then one of them takes command and they begin loading the separate piles of what once were Lads and fisherfolk into separate nets, almost bags (unusual for merfolk in any past encounter the Shields have had), and then once Zanderallen and Stock have assented that all the remains they could find are accounted for, the lead merfolk salutes the Shields, and says something in Aquan.
Armalad Highlight to display spoiler: { hears the lead merfolk say, “I know the King, and especially the Princess, would share the King, and especially the Princess, would share your sorrow were they here. We will safely deliver the remains to the fisherfolk on the dragon ship. I cannot speak for our leaders, but I hope, once your tasks here are done, you will seek out Princess Melanie again to share your knowledge of these horrible foes of all!}
With that, the lead merfolk turns and gestures for the others to follow, and all of them head towards the surface, at an angle, back in the direction of the dragon ship, give or take.
SHIELDS – you have done what you were asked – the remains are recovered and on their way back to the dragon ship, and eventually the Float, and it seems you’ve dealt great punishment to the footsoldiers of some heretofore unknown source of malevolence… the remaining three mounds on the other side await… do you go to the closest one first, the middle one, or the farthest one… or do you race back to the dragon ship, just happy to be alive?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday June 1st, 2023 8:10:30 AM
Stohp isn't ready to be done here until they can be sure this won't just repeat next month. She indicates her vote with a motion to the closest remaining mounds.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Thursday June 1st, 2023 9:08:12 AM
Delia nods in agreement with Stohp. She allows the Shields to form up, then heads towards the uninvestigated mound.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=20 ; Thursday June 1st, 2023 10:57:19 AM
Bartomus moved along to the closest mound once Stohp and Delia pointed in that direction He spent some time looking at it as he approached.
Perception 20 - Also, are these mounds just growing atop the lake bed? Assuming that, but wanted to be certain.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Thursday June 1st, 2023 4:01:02 PM "Everything we've seen indicates that there must be some force behind this. We can't stop until we find that."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Thursday June 1st, 2023 7:44:02 PM
Zanderallen leads the way to the closest mound, sword still glowing brightly.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday June 1st, 2023 9:40:28 PM
Armalad clicks in Aquan at the departing Merguards, "We will of course share what we know with the Princess and King should he wish. Thank you for your help in this matter and for your condolences. I will pass them along to the family of the fisherfolk and the adventurers who were escorting them."
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Thursday June 1st, 2023 11:47:16 PM
Stohp argues in favor of finishing the job down here, gesturing to the final mounds.
Delia agrees with Stohp, waiting for the Shields to form up and then she falls in formation as the Shields progress forward.
Bartomus easily flowed ahead of the Shields to the nearest mound and then observed it for a bit, pondering whether and/or how the mounds are growing… on top of the Lakebed… or from it? Bartomus is inclined more towards natural analysis, but given his deep knowledge of nature, after staring and pondering a while, DC 25 Knowledge Nature Highlight to display spoiler: {comes to the conclusion that the mounds are artificially constructed of natural materials, the artificialness coming in how well-optimized the weaving of reed and seaweed is, not to mention some form of regrowth/regeneration enabling it to quickly heal sword and axe cuts. Also, the woven reeds of the moundfloor, standing outside the mounds, seem to continue their artificial wovenness into the very Lakefloor itself, kind of grafted into the Lakefloor instead of growing out of it.}
Stock argues that there must be some force behind the moundplex and the monstrous plant attacks, and that the Shields must be the ones to find that force!
Zanderallen leads the way to the closest mound, blade still glowing brightly, and the Shields still deep enough at the bottom of the Lakefloor as to have difficulty telling time, other than that the sun has not yet set and the freedom of movement spells haven’t run out… yet…
Armalad converses in Aquan with the merfolk as they depart, but none but Armalad and the merfolk understand what was said.
Zanderallen freely leads the Shields to the next mound, in practiced underwater battle formation, trusting that Bartomus remains ever near and ever watchful over the Shields.
Armed with Daylight, Zanderallen pairs with Stock at the front of the next mound’s entrance and as the two gaze onward, in the center of this otherwise empty chamber is one big rectangular mound, perhaps 20’ by 10’, and one plant-golem-in-progress lying on the mound, perhaps a full 12’ long, 6’ wide, and 3’ thick. This plant-golem-in-progress is an empty shell… unlike its twin on the opposite side of the moundplex, nothing glows here but Zanderallen’s blade. The trough next to it is empty of glowing magical energies… perhaps awaiting a resupply from… who… or… what?
Though hypervigilant as always, the Shields behind Stock and Zanderallen see no ambushes or anything dissimilar in construction to the other mounds… beyond the lack of “magical fuel” for this plant-golem-in-progress.
SHIELDS – What do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday June 2nd, 2023 6:52:31 AM
Stohp idly wonders what large scale underwater construction equipment made by merfolk might look like and how effective it might be at tearing this place down.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed d20+25=33 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 10:29:59 AM
Stock walk/swims around the room, feeling his natural rage tick upward a bit with frustration. He waves his arms and then mouths, "Nothing?" to the other shields.
If nobody sees anything, he is ready to move on, hoping for some closure to this growing mystery. ========== Perception 33
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 d20+28=36 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 10:39:04 AM
Delia moves in with the group, arrows nocked, but bow not drawn. Yet. She continues to keep a practiced eye out for any out of the ordinary movement.
Perception: 36
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+7=16 ; d20+16=19 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 10:42:22 AM
Bartomus got distracted by his fellow Shields moving into the mound and so his efforts to study the relationship between the mounds and the lake itself were for not. He peeked into the mound and related to Stock's frustration. He too will move on to the second mound unless someone shouts about something vital in this one.
Knowledge Nature - 16 -- He may come back to this point fyi; Perception 19
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+7=16 ; d20+16=19 ; Friday June 2nd, 2023 10:42:22 AM
Bartomus got distracted by his fellow Shields moving into the mound and so his efforts to study the relationship between the mounds and the lake itself were for not. He peeked into the mound and related to Stock's frustration. He too will move on to the second mound unless someone shouts about something vital in this one.
Knowledge Nature - 16 -- He may come back to this point fyi; Perception 19
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Friday June 2nd, 2023 12:42:49 PM
Zanderallen goes into the mound to light the interior for his friends. When the room comes up empty he slams his sword into the plant golem husk in anger. "Who just sets up a monster building station and then leaves it?" Once the place has been thoroughly searched he leads to the next mound.
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Saturday June 3rd, 2023 10:54:20 PM
Stohp contemplates what underwater demolition tools the merfolk might have, and whether they would be effective vs. the mounds.
Stock mutters about having nothing to raging smash, and gestures for the Shields to move on to the next mound.
Delia continues to stand guard.
Bartomus had switched his attention from the relationship between the mounds and the Lakefloor to the Shields’ investigation, and too was disappointed to find nothing new, and then looked to the next mound. He left, still puzzling over the relationship.
Zanderallen likewise was frustrated that there were no clues in this mound, and his blade cut deep into the plant golem husk with his desire to avenge the Lads and the fisherfolk. He rails at the unknown moundmaker for not staying at this “monster station” to be defeated by the Shields at once. After the Shields have finished searching this mound, Zanderallen and Stock lead the way to the next mound.
The middle mound on this side mirrors the middle mound on the other side, and again, only husks without the glowing fuel that feeds their construction.
The Shields’ frustration is palpable now as they head for the final mound, which mirrors the farthest mound on the other side, again with no clues, no magical fuel.
SHIELDS – you have cleared the mounds of foes… and of some magical treasure that may have been fueling the plant golems’ construction… what do you do about the mounds now… and is there anything remaining to recover and bring to the Float for analysis?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday June 4th, 2023 8:39:20 PM
Armalad says, "Maybe we take some samples of things to the surface? I could swing by the Star Mage's guild and see if any of my guildmates might be able to help us?"
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=23 ; Sunday June 4th, 2023 9:25:16 PM
They were all empty. Bartomus took a bit of time and looked over the way things were laid out trying to find some idea of how long the mounds were there and why they were laid out as they were. He then swam back to where the large mound was and figured it would be worth the effort to try.
He focused on the area around the side where the large mats were and cast the spell.
Perception for layout; then cast Soften Clay and Stone on the foundational area of the large mound
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday June 5th, 2023 7:12:41 AM
Stohp waits to see what effect Bartomus's spell has.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Monday June 5th, 2023 9:03:07 AM Water Breathing, Darkvision, Swim 30ft, Delay Poison, -2 Con
Delia rolled her shoulders from the high tension of finding nothing. She will then thoroughly search the area for any traces of movement in and out - she's not sure what trail might be left underwater, but she won't be much use dismantling the complex.
============= Take 20 to search for tracks: Survival 49(42 + 7 to find tracks, if constructs are involved, another +2)
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Monday June 5th, 2023 9:49:36 AM "I think we take what we can back up, including the remains. Then we encourage the merfolk to start a bit of local gentrification. The Star Mages are a good place to start - as are the Druids, Bart. We should grab whatever we can of the golem building constructs."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Monday June 5th, 2023 2:09:07 PM "We should take or attempt to destroy the energy sources. Get samples and do research. Something is going on at the bottom of this lake and I don't like it." Zanderallen will try and determine how hard it would be to remove part or all of the glowing energy sources in the central mound.
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Monday June 5th, 2023 10:47:00 PM
Armalad suggests samples be gathered for analysis at the Float, perhaps at the Star Mages Guild. She recalls unusual symbols on some of the recovered treasure that feel familiar somehow… perhaps the WLA librarians would know more… or perhaps even she herself with some time alone on the Float in the library with their books and her own records.
Bartomus lets it sink into him that the remaining mounds were empty… some partial construction, but nothing active. He considered whether he could see clues as to the history of the mounds, and then swam back over to the moundplex… back inside and to the room where the hulks had attacked. Bartomus then cast Soften Earth and Stone on the foundational Lakefloor beneath the reedy/seaweedy floor. He then pushes against the moundfloor to see if it gives more now that nearly a 40’ by 40’ section of the underlying Lakefloor has been softened. Bartomus knows that wet earth will become thick mud, and that’s what it feels like as his massive water-hand pushes against the still-intact reedy moundfloor. With the softening of the Lakefloor, this section of the moundfloor can be pushed and pulled a little, up and down, no longer woven tightly into the Lakefloor. The moundfloor itself is still intact, just able to undulate with sufficient force, such as that of a Huge Water Elemental. The Moundplex floor feels more like a strong wicker basket that has come free of its mooring than a solid building on the float about to break because its stone floor lacks support.
Stohp noticed vast quantities of water swiftly moving, and figuring Bartomus was up to something, followed him back in to the moundplex, freely running to try to keep up. She arrives back in the hulk room just as the waters make it obvious some kind of spellcasting is happening and then she watches the waters “shimmy” and undulate the moundplex floor. It appears that Bartomus’ spell has done something to separate a large section of the moundplex floor from the Lakefloor… but not the entirety of the moundplex.
Delia stretched her neck and shoulders, repeating tiny exercises a valuable mentor had once taught her, and, still alert, began actively searching for… tracks? She thinks, it would be much easier on the Lakefloor… this moundfloor is like a huge wicker basket, almost so tightly woven as to be impenetrable! The only construct ‘tracks’ are where the Huge masses were resting on the bioluminescent seaweed structures before arising/swimming above the moundfloor and remaining so for the entire battle. The Stranglereeds and Blood Lilys, however, left their own version of “tracks” as they swam – the bits and bobs of viscera that first led Bartomus to find the moundplex, and then continued inside the moundplex itself. The bones… they were of a larger creature, and when she turns her eyes to looking for humanoid footprints… she doesn’t find any of the Shields, as each simply didn’t weigh enough… but the Ancient Scions… they may have swam here but once they entered the moundplex they walked, or bounced, but there were still residual impressions… did they walk of their free will? Did they know what fate awaited them? Who or what was so strong to either amass all of the magical treasure or… if the Ancient Scions had it, then to defeat them? Delia’s musings are broken momentarily when Stock begins speaking over the Message.
Stock Messages the Shields that they should bring back to the Float as much as they can, including any remains not already given to the merfolk to take to the dragon ship. He suggests the Shields encourage the merfolk to take over the moundplex as a way of keeping it out of the hands of whatever force was behind the attack and the hulks. Stock agrees with Armalad, and then also suggests the Druids to Bartomus, who hears the Message but remains unable to whisper back a reply while in water elemental form. Stock concludes by emphasizing the need to bring as much of the demolished Huge hulks along as possible.
Zanderallen adds by Message that the Shields should take or attempt to destroy the energy sources, whatever remains now that the Shields have confiscated the remaining items still enchanted. He agrees with Armalad and stock about gathering samples and having research done, concluding that he has a bad feeling about this situation. Zanderallen returns to the hulk room after Bartomus’ casting is long since over, but Stohp is still standing there, deep in thought. He freely walks on towards the remaining mounds, the Medium Incomplete plant golem husks and the barely-glowing bioluminescent seaweed structures. After doing a few test cuts he concludes that yes, he could remove the glowing parts… they don’t seem to regenerate the way the rest of the moundplex does… but when he cuts away a bit that bit slowly ceases to glow… an enchantment, perhaps, on the whole patchy seaweed structure? Standing there, he also is reminded of those much-larger-than-human bones on the other patches gone dark, where the magical treasure was recovered.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday June 5th, 2023 11:03:13 PM
Armalad starts collecting samples for study. She tries to fully detach any biolumenescent plants she comes across and takes as much as is practical from both the mound walls and husks
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday June 6th, 2023 6:55:59 AM
Stohp waits for the others to finish any remaining investigations.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Tuesday June 6th, 2023 9:32:01 AM
Not expecting to have found much, Delia nods along with her thoughts. She assists Armalad in gathering the materials she wants before they start any destroying.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday June 6th, 2023 10:40:11 AM
Bartomus looked over at the others and stopped moving the mound about.
He shrugged and understood Stohp's approach. Then he turned back to a section of the wall that was made up of the seaweed woven into its tight pattern. He had an idea.
He cast a spell and then asked a couple of questions of the plants in that section.
"Who encouraged you to be woven together so well?"
"Could you describe how the glowing power came to be?"
Cast Speak with Plants on part of the wall not loosened from the lake bed and asked those two questions.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Tuesday June 6th, 2023 11:36:57 AM
Stock heads back to the mound where the golem husk was being "filled" with energy and where his axe broke that trough of energy. He looks for the source magical device that was supplying the energy and tries to pick it up to bring back to the Float.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Tuesday June 6th, 2023 4:42:56 PM
Satisfied with the samples they seem to be able to collect, Zanderallen assists Aramalad in any large scale cuttings she wants. "I guess this will have to do. Unless the plants know more I guess it's back home and to the library to try to match this up with something."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday June 6th, 2023 8:49:03 PM
Armalad takes inventory of her samples (OOC checking in)
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Tuesday June 6th, 2023 11:40:14 PM
Armalad sets about gathering samples, including doing her best to fully detach any remaining bioluminescent plants. She is successful in this, and though not many were left, she has all of them (three 5’ by 5’ thin ‘mats’ of them in all, which seemed to have sent their seaweediness through the moundfloor and into the earth below, and with Bartomus’ softening of the Lakefloor, Armalad had a much easier time gathering larger amounts of the bioluminescent seaweed without immediately killing them… She mentally notes that a large bucket of water might be desirable to keep them alive during analysis on the float… perhaps a donated rowboat half-full of water or somesuch. The moundwalls are resistant, but some donated time from Stock’s adamantine axe nets enough samples, even with their apparently enhanced regeneration. The hulks are much easier to hack off samples of, especially the partially-completed husks.
Stohp waits for the others to finish playing detective.
Delia assists Armalad in the gathering, organizing, and storing of the many samples Armalad takes.
Bartomus notices the Shields’ activities and stopped undulating the moundfloor… so much… Nodding at Stohp’s patience, he turned towards a moundwall and cast a spell. Highlight to display spoiler: {The woven reeds and seaweeds are pretty dumb, even for plants, but in answer to the first question, “The two-legged one with power like you.” In answer to the second one, “The two-legged one came with power and gave power to glow.” (OOC – you’re at the moundwall/seaweed’s helpfulness limit. It’s not hostile, but it also has little ability to pay attention to detail other than slurping up plant nutrients from the Lakefloor…) }
Stock returns to where he nearly blinded Delia for life and recovers the remains of the trough, hoping that Armalad or Bartomus or someone can make sense of it with more time.
Zanderallen smiles as Armalad, with Delia’s help, gathers a plethora of samples, and then Stock returns with the remains of the trough from the other mound. He lends his blade to cutting any samples Armalad requests.
Armalad, with Delia’s help, finishes packing and organizing her samples… stray bits of seaweed prove able as ‘ropes’ of a kind to enable strong Shields like Stock and Zanderallen to freely carry the bulky loads to the surface as though walking up stairs to the surface.
SHIELDS – any last investigating, gathering, and/or attempts to destroy the moundplex, etc. before returning to the dragon ship?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday June 7th, 2023 7:41:03 AM
Stohp is ready to go for now, but she'll be back. She is determined to see this place destroyed even should it take an army of merfolk workmen and several weeks of work.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday June 7th, 2023 11:16:07 AM
Bartomus nodded in understanding as to what he had been told. He made a point of thanking the responsive plant and adding that he appreciated the information. Then as he was about to leave, he asked one more question.
"Did the two legs also bring in the nasty plants with the sharp thorns and teeth?"
He waited and after getting whatever response he might get, he again kindly thanked the plant and moved back out to join the others. He spun a tight circle of water upwards and looked at the others before ascending slowly to the surface.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Wednesday June 7th, 2023 3:12:29 PM
The moment Stock senses that the Shields' devling is complete, Stock swims upward to reconnect with the boat and actually breathe air again.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Wednesday June 7th, 2023 4:30:10 PM
Even with all the freedom given him by the ring and helmet Zanderallen is very ready to head to the surface. He loads himself up with the samples and pushes off for home, as soon as water Bart finishes talking to plants.
"What... were... those things?" (DM Wayne) Wednesday June 7th, 2023 10:01:17 PM
Stohp makes plans to thoroughly destroy the moundplex with the Shields and the merfolk.
Bartomus asked a final question of the moundplex seaweed/reed wall, Highlight to display spoiler: { and it replies, “Yes.” } Bartomus then moved to rejoin the shields, flowing in a tight circle of water, and then moving above the Shields and looking back to see when they would follow.
Stock was the first, having Armalad load him up with the bulkier samples and Zanderallen handing him any stray viscera that couldn’t be identified by where it was found in the moundplex. Once loaded he freely moved… swam… flew(?) through the water upward, breaking the surface for the first time in many hours, forcing his lungs to eject the Lakewater and begin breathing honest Woldian air once more!
Zanderallen was the second, pausing only to load himself, and be loaded with by Armalad, anything else that the Shields were taking besides themselves. He too, having felt Bartomus flow fully outside the moundplex and up into the Lake, and seeing Stock leaving first, Zanderallen then freely moved… swam… flew(?) to the surface, leaving behind unpleasant experiences, such as the one hulk nearly pounding him into Stranglereed-meal on the floor of the strange moundplex, poison coursing through his veins… then he too breaks the surface, finally able to tap the helm to turn off its magically-refreshed air bubble and to once more breath honest Woldian air, catching the scent of the water, the air, the forests a long swim away… perhaps even the peculiar smells the Float generates, that are strong enough to waft miles away on air currents…
Stohp sees this, smiles, and gestures to Armalad and Delia to follow as Stohp then freely moves… swims… flies(?) to the surface to join Stock and Zanderallen.
Armalad and Delia begin following, but at a much slower pace, even with their magical flippers.
Bartomus sees the speed difference and forms himself into a gentle vortex, ‘carrying’ them faster than they can swim, and the three join Stock, Zanderallen, and Stohp on the surface.
Those Shields with extra keen eyes easily spot (DC 20) the dragon ship, perhaps 200’ away from where you surfaced directly over the moundplex. As you begin moving, or freely moving in that direction, Bartomus once more is able to raise Armalad and Delia to the water speed of the other Shields and in less than half a minute the Shields are at the dragon ship, water level.
Voices call from above, and rope ladders are rolled over a railing while two rowboats are lowered to give the Shields a chance to sit and get their bearings before the sailors use the rope pulleys to get the rowboats and Shields on board.
Hasan is quickly there as sailors bring blankets to help dry the Shields off. Some offer to put the many bundles of samples in the hold. Others offer to take you to the few private rooms on board so you can perhaps change the garments under your armor.
As the many sailors offer to help you, Hasan says, “Shields, thank you! You’ve done the impossible – we suspected the bodies wouldn’t be completely intact, but the merfolk delivered the remains, we identified Edvards and Nuray, and Fabricia will plan their funerals once she finishes mourning, which may not be for some time. But you have set her heart slightly at ease – she knows she can bury her family in a place she can return to over and over, to remember the good times. And you have helped we fisherfolk too – we all know, or knew, each other very well and you have brought closure to us on the most horrible thing we have ever experienced! I hope the threat is over but…. (looks at all the samples) it looks like not for a while. We don’t have your magic or skills, but if there’s anything we can do to help you put a stop to who- or whatever was behind the attack – we’re here for you – call on us for anything, especially sailing your ship to wherever you need to go!”
With that, Hasan falls in with the others, helping with the samples, getting all of you and dry blankets to the private rooms, and so forth. Then he bellows out orders for the fisherfolk to get the dragon ship underway. Finally he heads to the railing and calls out to Rick and James to hook to the front again and prepare to bring Nuray, Edvards, and the Shields home to the Float!
As you head to your rooms, the familiar spellcasting of Belba is heard over the railing, and once more James becomes Colossal, a slipstream of water forms beneath him, and the dragon ship’s sailors set sail and row heartily towards the Float!
SHIELDS – You have a good amount of minutes before you are back on the Float. While you are together, divided into a few private rooms, how do you relax and take comfort after such a harrowing delve into the deeps of Turtle Lake?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 123/123 AC 21; Slam +6 (2d6+6) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 11/6/1;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday June 7th, 2023 10:37:52 PM
Bartomus waited and when all of the others were back up on the turtle he splashed himself aboard. Then he changed back into his taur shape and took a deep breath. He took a few moments and listened to Hasan and nodded in consolation.
He then suggested that Hasan and the rest of the fishing fleet avoid this area for a while. He made his way towards the other Shields and whispered.
"So, the plants down there were created by a humanoid. That person also brought in the various nasty, merfolk legendary plants that nearly took you under Stock." Bartomus shared what he had learned with the others. "I think talking to the druids is spot on. But, we don't know why this was all done, unless it was to threaten the food supply of the Float."
He took a breath and waited for what the others thought might be going on.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday June 7th, 2023 11:15:19 PM
Armalad says to those who are thankful, "We need the donation of a rowboat that we can submerge to keep our samples of the plant structures down there. We need to do some research and it would help to preserve them on the service with this rowboat. Hopefully we can figure out who is beyond the original attack and who is building the structures below and put a stop to them."
She then says to Bart, "I need some samples to take to the Star Mages. I think they could aid in researching the origin of this new magic and perhaps aid in tracking who is ultimately behind it.. They have mages more powerful than myself there as I have split my time between archery and magic so I think they could help."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 111/111 AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday June 8th, 2023 7:56:30 AM
Stohp talks to the others about ways to destroy the complex lest more of those things be made. Right now her best plan is to get the merfolk to bring what construction tools they have to dismantle the thing while the Shields guard them from whatever defenses remain that might try to stop it. Sure the thing tries to magically sow itself back together, but enough hands and the right tools could in theory outpace it's repair efforts or cause it to run out of power to repair eventually. She expects it'll be a long laborious process but the alternative is leaving the thing down below to spit out more of those monsters.
Stock (JonM) HP: 174/203; AC: 27/25/15; DR 3/-; CMD: 33; Rage: 9/38 used; 30 ft. Swim Speed Thursday June 8th, 2023 9:00:13 AM
Stock listens to Stohp and points out, "The Merfolk don't need CONstruction tools as much as they need DEstruction tools. That seems like a smaller ask to me. Without knowing the humanoid power behind this though, we can't be sure this won't just be rebuilt somewhere else..."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 102/159 AC: 31 T: 13 FF: 14 CMD: 31 LoH 5/13 SE 4/5 Thursday June 8th, 2023 5:05:22 PM
Zanderallen stops with the others just briefly to express his agreement. "Our ultimate goal needs to be to find whoever created that structure, hopefully the druids, starmages, or merfolk can point us in a direction. Now if you excuse me I need to attend to my gear. The sooner it's all dried and oiled the better." With that he enlists the aid of a sailor to undo his full plate and begins the arduous task of getting it all cleaned up. The enchantments on it should help but he wasn't going to take any chances when it came to rust.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 115/115(max HP temp decreased to 100); AC 29/17/23; CMD 39 Thursday June 8th, 2023 5:30:48 PM
[I](ooc: sorry, should have thought ahead and asked for a sub yesterday. A kids ministry event made for a 12 hour day :) ) Delia thanks Bart for the swimming speed assist.
As they climb back onto the boat, Hawky jealously reclaims his human, digging his talons into the shoulder guard specifically reinforced for him to perch on. Delia pats him absently as she listens to the demolition conversation, thinking about how they might be able to track down this humanoid power.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 91/128 AC25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday June 8th, 2023 9:20:42 PM
Armalad prepares her portion of the samples for transfer to the Star Mages guild. She hopes to keep them intact in water. (OOC: Checking in)
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