Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 100/100 Monday February 5th, 2018 10:57:50 PM
"The staff is yours, Pressi."
Move - if he senses the underground critter is coming his direction, he moves away, diagonally.
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d100=9 ; d20+25=36 ; 4d8+12=34 ; d20+36=40 ; Monday February 5th, 2018 11:09:00 PM Kezzem is out of ideas. Maybe he can stab the rock.
Murphy announces that something is underground. He ups his endurance and tries to get a bead on where the movement is coming from. Using his incredibly keen senses, he notices the patterns the vibrations make in the dirt, the slight movements of ground vegitation, and the transfer of kinetic energy from underground through his entire person. The answer he comes up with is: everywhere.
Hobie offers the staff to his more naturally inclined companions. On Murphy's suggestion, he gets some distance between himself and everyone else. He sends Pippa off some place safe and looks for a nice rock to stand on. Unfortunately for him, it's nothing but rich dirt all around. Well, except for that big ol' meteor over there. Hobie, Highlight to display spoiler: {I rolled a D100 & gave you 50% odds there would be a nice big rock to stand on. Rolled a 9...}
Pressi she prepares a barkskin spell & gets ready to move closer to the meteor. She pulls from her knowledge of magic to see if he can figure out what this thing is. Her knowledge falls short; she's never heard of anything like this. Still, she has a flash of insight about the nature of the red hue: woldsblood. Only a bloodwitch would recognize it, but the signature is unmistakable. The meteor has been touched by woldsblood.
Harper gets ready to pounce on something.
Bliss feels the movement too and shields himself. A quick knock to his own chest confirms he's still protected by barkskin.
The vibrations increase slowly at first, then suddenly. The party is suddenly covered by an enormous spray of dirt as a gargantuan, armor plated worm errupts directly underneath Hobie. Its purple hue is marred by deep red veins that stretch along its length. Hobie seems none of that, unfortunately. It's just a mass of teeth that close around him tearing and crushing. Worm hits AC 36 for 34 damage. The worm holds Hobie in his mouth - CMB check 40 vs CMD 24 - Hobie is grappled. Also, make a fort save VS DC 30.
***
I know we're a map loving bunch, but this is literally one gargantuan creature you're fighting. Unless it proves more problematic than I think it will, I'm going to forgo one this time.
Bliss / CatBliss (AC27, HP96of96) (Cayzle) d20+28=41 ; Tuesday February 6th, 2018 10:32:10 AM
Bliss changes into a housecat and tumbles toward the monster, getting as close as 35 ft movement will get him. Hopefully that's in the same space as the monster, or right adjacent.
Tumbling to avoid AoOs, but at -5 because he is hurrying ... 41!
Bliss is AC27, if the worm wants to bother taking a nip at a little kitty. It'll go down to 25 when he starts raging, but that will be next round.
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+10=12 ; d20+10=11 ; d20+11=25 ; Tuesday February 6th, 2018 11:01:12 AM
(To DM: Need to know if Harper still has stoneskin. Since it lasts 80 minutes and the trip was 60-90 minutes, I thought I should make sure it didn't expire already, though if Bliss' barkskin is still on....)
DM Edit: Sure, it can still be active.
Harper charges at the worm, taking a swipe with her claws as if going after a scratching post and ultimately doing little damage. (Attack Rolls 12, Nat 1)
Pressi flies by the creature, trying to activate her knowledge lore (Touch Attack 25 to learn about creature) (If she can use spectral hand to make the touch attack, she uses that instead.)
-----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message spectral hand
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 48/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 3 d20+8=27 ; d20+12=26 ; Tuesday February 6th, 2018 12:05:22 PM
Hobie fails his Fortitude Save (I needed a Nat 20 and I got a 19!!!!!)
Hobie uses all of his strength pushing back at the teeth of the worm as he tries to escape from the gargantuan beast. 26 CMB vs worm CMD.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 100/100 Tuesday February 6th, 2018 12:28:43 PM
[Note for Hobie: A hero point would put you over]
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, shield other (Pressi); Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+10=12 ; Tuesday February 6th, 2018 11:35:15 PM
"Hold on Hobbie!"
Kezzem eyes the worm with his evildar as he grabs Hobbie and attempts to aid him in escaping from the worm.
OOC: detect evil worm (move action), aid another Hobbie (action)
CMB: 12.
Since that beats a 10, that should give him an extra +2 on his CMB check for a 28 total.
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d20+36=55 ; 4d8+4=26 ; Tuesday February 6th, 2018 11:55:54 PM Bliss shrinks down into attack cat mode & weaves his way past any counterattack by the worm.
Pressi swoops down and attempts to glean the creature's weaknesses. She learns quite a bit...
OOC: You know everything on the SRD regarding the worm, as well as the fact that it's immune to mind control/enchantment/etc and any sort of nausea-based attack. It's obvious the worm is suffering from the same disease that affected the other ones you just fought.
Harper's claws are no match for this thing's armor.
Hobie tries to break free, but the worm is just too strong, even with Kezzem's assistance. He begins to feel light headed. As the teeth from the worm dig into his outstretched hands, red veins begin to form from the wounds. It's the last thing he sees before he vanishes down the throat of the worm.
Grapple check to swallow whole: 55. Hobie is swallowed and takes 26 damage. Per the swallow whole rules, you can attempt to cut yourself out with a one-handed slashing or piercing weapon.
Kezzem detects no evil, but it's unlikely that improves his disposition towards the worm.
The worm finishes swallowing Hobie, then turns towards Bliss...
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Earth Elemental AC 26 HP 120/120 DR 5/-- Darkvision 60 Tremorsense d20+17=20 ; d20+17=33 ; 2d8+9=18 ; Wednesday February 7th, 2018 2:55:19 AM [Sorry, all. Started work shortly after 5am, and continued with work until a few minutes ago (after 11pm PST). Boss is in hospital, so am picking up the slack. No time for a Murphy post until now. If DM Carl will so allow, I'll compress two rounds of action into one post...]
On seeing the purple worm burst forth, Murphy transformed into a huge earth elemental. In the back of his mind was a sense of guilt, insofar as he encouraged people to scatter, and Hobie did - right into the emerging maw of the worm. Not allowing himself to dwell overlong on that, he earthglides to the side of the worm [last round].
[This round] He then begins to beat upon the chitinous barricade of the creature's thick skin. His first blow, though sound enough for other situations, does not harm the animal (AC 20). His second slam attack, however, makes a local bruise (AC 33, 18 hp damage).
Bliss / CatBliss (AC27, HP96of96) (Cayzle) Wednesday February 7th, 2018 9:45:11 AM
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+8=25 ; d20+8=28 ; d20+8=28 ; d3+4=7 ; d3+4=6 ; Wednesday February 7th, 2018 11:39:53 AM
"Oh this is bad," Pressi grumbled as she tried to think of something, anything, that would make a difference to this thing. (She could try curing its disease, but wasn't sure what it would do even if she were successful.)
But she had one credo that she followed throughout her life: If you can't do something simple, do something crazy.
"Here goes everything," she muttered as she cast Blink upon Harper (share spell ability) and then began to fly upward - near Bliss but out of range of the worm should it change its mind. She tried to keep her spectral hand close to her as she did so.
WIth a whimper, Harper reared back and then proceeded to jump into the worm next to Hobie. (50% chance she takes damage but this should work otherwise.) Trying to free him, Harper proceeds to scratch away from the inside. (Attack 25 and Nat 20 Crit confirmed. Damage 7+12.)
-----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message spectral hand flying broom
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 22/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 3 d20+15=26 ; d20+15=25 ; d20+10=25 ; d3+4=6 ; d3+4=5 ; d3+4=5 ; Wednesday February 7th, 2018 11:46:09 AM
Hobie is hurting bad, and feels like he doesn't have much time. He reads Bliss' article (Free action), and then clicks his heels to haste himself.
(Can I full attack while I'm in the belly of this thing? If not, just use the first attack)
Using Katinka's silver dagger, Hobie slashes three times with consistent accuracy and force.
1st Level Shield, True Strike, Obscuring Mist, Grease, Feather Fall
2nd Level Resist Energy Fire, Invisibility, Invisibility, Cat's Grace
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 22/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 3 Wednesday February 7th, 2018 11:54:12 AM
ooc: Scratch those last two attacks, Old Hobie had Quick Draw, I forgot New Hobie doesn't, so Move Action draw dagger, standard action is that first attack . But if I'm not bleeding out next turn, I'd like to know if I can full attack or not.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, shield other (Pressi); Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+16=34 ; d20+16=33 ; d20+11=23 ; d20+11=16 ; d3+2=3 ; d3+2=5 ; d3+1=2 ; d3+1=2 ; Wednesday February 7th, 2018 1:30:53 PM
"Hobbie!" cries Kezzem. He goes to work with his daggers, hoping he doesn't stab Hobbie inside the worm.
Bliss-Cat focuses on the task at hand, pinpointing his concentration on digging INTO this horrible thing and saving Hobie. He attacks the monster, claw, claw, and bite, hitting AC 25 for 13, AC 17 for 13, and AC 21, the bite, for 16 nonlethal damage. [OOC: Adjusted numbers to add in rage after rolling]
He just hopes it makes a difference.
SANITY INFO
Spells used today: Lvl 1: 5+1, used 1 (shld o fth) Lvl 2: 4+1, used 3 (resist energy, blindness, cmw) +1 (barkskin) Lvl 3: 3+1, used 2 (silent still shld o fth) Lvl 4: 1+1, used 1 (threefold aspect)
Other stuff used: Grimalkin ritual - housecat Bramble Armor used 1 Wood Fists used 0 Breath of Life used Death Knell used
Rage: used 2 rounds
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d100=37 ; d100=62 ; d20+25=29 ; 4d8+12=29 ; d20+36=37 ; d20+25=28 ; 2d8+12=21 ; d4=2 ; Wednesday February 7th, 2018 10:00:01 PM
Ooooooo-weee. Humble's Sword is fighting a purple worm.
Murphy decides to fight the worm on its own turf and turns into a huge earth elemental before pounding his stone fists against the worm.
Pressi knows a bad situation when she sees one. She casts blink on her trusty companion and, in a stunning display of loyalty, Harper tries to leap into the worm.
Harper starts blinking and tries jumping through the worm's armor and into its guts. She manages to phase out in time and comes to inside the worm (d100 = 35). Her own attacks prove solid enough (20% miss chance = 62 - success) and tear through the worm's digestive tract.
Hobie is in rough shape. He struggles to pull the silver dagger Tink gave him and finds it becomes much easier when, surprise surprise, Harper appears below (above? next to? whatever...) him and tears open the worm's digestive tract. With the dagger, Hobie's able to finish cutting through and finds himself and Harper tumbling out of the structurally superfluous hole he and Harper made.
When the two of them have a moment to notice, they'll find themselves covered in dirt and slime. Hobie also feels just awful.
Kezzem is having none of this beast eating his friend. His daggers fly, punching through the worm's armored hide three times before finally bouncing off the scales.
Bliss can't tear open the inside of the beast from the outside. Good thing he doesn't need to anymore! One claw and his bite tear through the worm. How his claws are long enough in cat form to do that is anyone's guess!
The worm follows through with its attack on Bliss, forgoing careful aim and just slamming its mouth down on the tiny cat hurting it. Worm hits AC 29 for 29 damage (heh). Bliss must make a Fort save VS DC 30. Somehow, Bliss avoids getting caught up in the worm's teeth! (Nat 1 on grapple check for worm.)
From behind Kezzem, the tail of the worm errupts from the ground. The stinger on the end impales itself in Kezzem's thigh. Hit AC 28 for 21 damage. The stinger lingers a moment before withdrawing; Kezzem can feel poison flowing into him through the wound. Fort save DC 25 or take 2 STR damage
Worm: 41 damage, plus 16 non-lethal
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 22/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 3 Wednesday February 7th, 2018 10:40:02 PM
Hobie, feeling sick and beat up, is very thankful for his friends' help.
He takes a full withdraw action to move as far away as he can from the worm (40 ft)
DM Note: Withdraw only affects the first 5' of movement. This thing has way more than 5' reach.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 22/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 3 d20+8=12 ; Wednesday February 7th, 2018 11:10:17 PM
In that case, if you'll let me change my action, Hobie will attempt to cast Mirror Image defensively, using his arcane bond to cast it unprepared.
He fails, and loses the spell. He takes a five foot step away from the worm.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Earth Elemental AC 26 HP 120/120 DR 5/-- Darkvision 60 Tremorsense d20+17=27 ; d20+17=21 ; 2d8+9=14 ; Thursday February 8th, 2018 11:54:55 AM
Murphy continues his underground assault, adjusting positioning as needed as the worm moves about. He strikes for 14 hp damage, but his second slam is not enough to penetrate the thick armor.
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d8=3 ; d8=6 ; d8=4 ; d8=4 ; d20+10=22 ; d20+10=19 ; d20+10=14 ; Thursday February 8th, 2018 4:34:30 PM
After some time trying to ascertain whether she needs to help out Kezzem, Pressi uses her last 4th level spell to cure Hobie, moving her spectral hand to cast CCW.
(Why not Breathe of Life? She's holding onto it in case she needs to resurrect someone.)
(CCW = 25 HP)
Harper claws away at the worm (hopefully flanking Bliss or Kezzem)
(Bite Attack 22, Claw Attacks 19 and 14 - all miss)
-----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message spectral hand flying broom
Raging Fort save vs DC30, using a hero point for a preemptive +8 ... Bliss rolls a 41 and is unaffected.
Bliss keeps on fighting! He attacks, claw, claw, and bite, hitting AC29 for 13, AC17 for 13, and AC22 for 18 nonlethal.
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d20+25=33 ; 4d8+12=32 ; d20+36=46 ; d20+25=30 ; 2d8+12=21 ; Friday February 9th, 2018 10:34:43 AM Hobie starts getting away from this thing, careful not to draw its attack. He tries casting a spell, but can't pull if off defensively and loses it.
Murphy keeps on pounding on the worm.
Pressi gives some much needed healing to Hobie, while Murphy scratches ineffectively against the worm's armor.
Bliss heroically resists the disease he feels trying to take him, then claws a chunk of the worm's scales off.
The worm single-mindedly continues biting at Bliss, this time snatching the cat up in the mass of teeth. Bite hits AC 33 - Bliss takes 32 damage and is grappled.
The worm's tail swooshes over to the earth elemental that keeps smashing it. Hit AC 30 - Murphy takes 21 damage, but is immune to poison in his state.
Worm - 68 damage + 16 non-lethal
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 109/109, CMD 24, 2 str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+14=21 ; 5d6=21 ; d20+16=23 ; d20+16=17 ; d20+11=21 ; d20+11=17 ; d3+1=4 ; d3+1=4 ; d3+1=3 ; d3+1=4 ; Friday February 9th, 2018 12:11:54 PM
SV Fort: 21. Fail.
Kezzem lays hands on himself to heal from the sting.
Healing: 21.
He then continues to stab with his daggers. With Str damage, there is no difference between hands.
Bliss wriggle-wriggle-wriggles out of the monster's mouth, or so he hopes!
If I knew the monster's CMD, I might precommit to adding 8 to my escape artist check to escape ... well, let that go. If Bliss misses the check by 4 or less, he'll use the retroactive point. If he misses by more than 4 and rolls low, he may use the point to reroll. well, let's get to it ...
Bliss makes his escape artist check to escape ... and rolls a 36! With the retroactive point, that beats a CMD40 ... ???
As a free action, Bliss sprouts his Bramble Armor. That inflicts 5 damage? And maybe makes Bliss a less palatable morsel?
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Friday February 9th, 2018 3:40:30 PM
(Bliss - the worm's CMD is 40. You should be fine with the retroactive point.)
"Murphy, if you have any good damage spells," she begins, "it's time to break it out. Reflex preferred."
Pressi, circling the worm, activates her focused curse (immediate action). Spinning her spectral hand towards the worm, she fires off a bestow curse (-4 penalty). (necro spell, Will DC 18)
Harper circles the worm, trying to get a good flanking position vs Bliss.
-----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message spectral hand flying broom
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 47/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 3 Friday February 9th, 2018 4:07:43 PM
Feeling a bit healthier thanks to Pressi, Hobie decides to risk an attack of opportunity to get himself away from the horrible purple worm.
Hobie clicks his boots of Haste to double his speed and makes a double move away from the worm, possibly taking an AoO. He moves 80 ft to be 85ft away, drawing his bow as he moves.
Rounds of Haste Left 5/10
====== Spells Prepared Bonded Object Free Spell
0 Level Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Message
1st Level Shield, True Strike, Obscuring Mist, Grease, Feather Fall
2nd Level Resist Energy Fire, Invisibility, Invisibility, Cat's Grace
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Earth Elemental AC 26 HP 120/120 DR 5/-- Darkvision 60 Tremorsense d20+17=35 ; d20+17=37 ; d20+17=33 ; 2d8+9=19 ; 2d8+9=19 ; 2d8+9=18 ; d20+15=27 ; d20+25=33 ; Friday February 9th, 2018 8:11:34 PM
Since it is right up close, Murphy decides to try to break the stinger, and whatever it is attached to. He slams hitting AC 35 for 19 hp damage, then rolls a critical threat 37 and converts to a critical hit AC 33, for 19+18=37 hp damage, total 56 for the round.
"Hi, love. I'm hitting the worm from below, and kicking its... stinger. Give me a moment, I'll see what I can do.
"How is everyone doing, Pressi? Say, did you know that some of these worms have gems inside? Tough skin, though." ====== Knowledge, Nature: 27 Perception: 33 Tremorsense is active
P.S.: It is that Murphy only 'scratches ineffectively' when he fails to hit the AC, but is more effective when he penetrates it? Or that none of his blows are effective?
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d20+2=6 ; d20+21=32 ; 2d8+12=18 ; d4=3 ; d4=2 ; d20+21=39 ; 4d8+12=40 ; d20+32=37 ; d20+21=28 ; 2d8+12=16 ; Saturday February 10th, 2018 1:28:42 PM Kezzem feels his strength wane a bit from the poison. He's able to heal the damage from the sting, but not the poison, unfortunately. He's unable to penetrate the worm's scales with any of his strikes.
Bliss pulls from some deep barbarian/witch reserve and leaps from the worm's mouth! His fur bristles with brambles, hopeful disuading the worm from chomping on him again.
Pressi bestows a curse on the worm. She feels it batter aside the worm's meager mental defenses and take hold successfully. The worm suddenly looks much less coordinated. Harper's in position to flank.
Hobie risks a rushed retreat. The worm's stinger rises to meet him, leaving a deep scratch that oozes...something. AoO hits AC 32 for 18 damage. Fort save DC 25 or take 3 STR damage.
Murphy wants to break the worm's stinger, but it's flown off to intercept Hobie. He instead continues beating against the worm, knocking entire scales off the worm (along with the flesh they were attached to).
The poison coursing through Kezzem continues to do its damage. Fort save vs 25 or lose 2 more STR.
The worm is pretty sick of whatever is hurting it so badly from below. It dives back down underground, catching Murphy in his elemental form.
OOC: I'm unclear on whether Murphy is underground or not. I *think* he's underground, hence the worm burrowing to you. If you're not, it just turns to bite you. If the worm has to burrow, Kezzem, Bliss, and Harper get an AoO.
The worm's mouth finds Murphy, chomping down hard and gripping. Bite hits AC 39 for 40 damage (not counting DR). Grapple check is 37 - Murphy is grappled.
With Hobie out of reach from further attacks, the tail whips back to Kezzem, sinking its stinger into the opposite thigh for 16 damage. Fort save DC 27 to avoid another dose of the poison.
Worm - 124 damage + 16 non-lethal
Kim: Just flavor text. No DR or anything special going on.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Earth Elemental AC 26 HP 120/120 DR 5/-- Darkvision 60 Tremorsense Saturday February 10th, 2018 2:39:16 PM
Murphy is ~20 feet underground. Can't post more - no time - will do later.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 29/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 2 d20+8=23 ; d20+16=27 ; d20+16=30 ; d20+16=29 ; d20+11=23 ; d6+14=15 ; d6+14=19 ; d6=5 ; d6=3 ; d6+8=11 ; d6=4 ; d6+8=13 ; d6=1 ; d6+8=14 ; d6=2 ; Saturday February 10th, 2018 3:04:57 PM
(I typed up my whole thing with my rolls and everything, and then realized I could use a Hero Point to boost my Fort Save by 2 and pass it, so all of the plusses in my rolls above were assuming that I failed the save, but I've adjusted them in the posted numbers. Sorry for the confusion)
Hobie takes the hit from the stinger and winces in pain, but he remembers heroic deeds from the past, and the poison doesn't seem to bother him.
He takes aim at the purple worm who swallowed him whole, ready to bring the beast down.
With haste still in effect, Hobie lets loose a full round of arrows.
1st attack (Manyshot) Attack 29 Damage: 10 Piercing, 5 cold, 14 piercing, 3 cold (this is the two d6+14s, I didn't realize that I forgot to subtract three from my attacks for Deadly Aim, so we'll just count it as regular damage, d6+9)
1st Level Shield, True Strike, Obscuring Mist, Grease, Feather Fall
2nd Level Resist Energy Fire, Invisibility, Invisibility, Cat's Grace
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 29/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 2 Saturday February 10th, 2018 3:07:49 PM
ooc: Kim posted while I was writing my post. If Murphy is 20ft underground, and the worm is burrowing to get to Murphy, is enough of the worm still above ground enough to shoot at? Or do I need to rewrite my post?
DM Edit: Worm's at least 32' long and has to burrow, not earthglide. There's still a bunch of worm above ground.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 93/109, CMD 24, 2 str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+14=28 ; d20+14=29 ; d20+16=25 ; d3+1=2 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+16=22 ; d20+11=17 ; d20+11=21 ; d3+1=2 ; d3+1=3 ; d3+1=4 ; d3+1=4 ; Sunday February 11th, 2018 12:57:52 AM
Fort SV DC 25: 28. Fort SV DC 27: 29.
AoO: +1 Returning Dagger Attack: 25. Damage: 2.
----
Kezzem continues to stab at the worm.
"If it's head burrowed into the ground...maybe I should just try to not think about what I'm stabbing."
#1: +1 Returning Dagger Attack: 34. Damage: 2.
#2: +1 Returning Dagger Attack: 22. Damage: 3.
#3: +1 Returning Dagger Attack: 17. Damage: 4.
#4: +1 Returning Dagger Attack: 21. Damage: 4.
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+10=13 ; d20+10=24 ; d20+10=27 ; d20+10=16 ; d3+4=7 ; Sunday February 11th, 2018 2:41:31 PM
"I don't know what you're complaining about," Pressi scolded Kezzem. "I have to choose between touch spells or my whip."
And not really even that, she thought to herself as spell slot after spell slot fell away. With a sigh, she spun the spectral hand again, hitting Kezzem with delay poison (8 hrs). A 3rd level spell and a couple of first level spells remained before she'd have to fight the worm with ghost sounds.
Harper follows her AoO with a full round barrage.
(Attack Rolls: 13, 24, 17, 16 - only one of her claws catches, for 7 damage.)
-----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message (15 mins left) spectral hand (7 mins left) flying broom (6 hrs left)
Harper stoneskin (10/DR) (10 mins left) blink (6 rnds)
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Earth Elemental AC 26 HP 69/120 DR 5/-- Darkvision 60 Tremorsense d20+17=18 ; d20+17=35 ; 2d8+9=22 ; d20+25=32 ; Monday February 12th, 2018 12:22:37 AM
The 32' tall earth elemental is bitten by the 32' long wine-colored woldworm. "Ouch!" says Murphy. Jarred by the attack, his first attempt to counter falls well short (nat 1). However, his backswing comes through, for 22 hp damage (AC 35).
"Pressi, it might take me a bit to come to the surface. This thing likes the taste of earth and stone, and that's the flavor I'm conveying at the moment." ========== Perception: 32 Note: If the worm is only 32' long, then Murphy likely would have been more like 10' or so below the surface. I thought it was maybe 80 to 100 feet in length. Also note - subtracting 5 from each attack (21-5, 40-5) for 51 hp total damage, due to DR 5
Bliss / CatBliss (AC23, HP55of116) (Cayzle) d20+14=16 ; d20+16=27 ; d3+11=12 ; d6=2 ; Monday February 12th, 2018 11:20:29 AM
Bliss AoO ... a very rare thing for Bliss, because he has 0 reach! It only comes into play when a creature in the same square as Bliss moves out of that square, provoking an AoO for "leaving a threatened space."
But that works fine in this case! As the worm drives underground, it provokes, and Bliss BITES!
Bite attack hits AC16 with a nat 2 ... a miss, darn it!
But evidently a part of the tail is still above ground! Bliss charges that, again with the bite ... hits AC27 for 14 nonlethal damage to the crazed worm.
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown Monday February 12th, 2018 11:35:51 AM Hobie is finally, finally, no longer being eaten or stabbed and is far enough away to use his trusty bow in relative safety. He uses the opportunity to put several holes in the worm.
Kezzem tries to do the same, but the swiftly burrowing worm's scales make it difficult for this dagger to penetrate. He does score one glancing hit.
Pressi and Kezzem both have concerns about touching the rear end of the worm. She delays further damage from the poison affecting Kezzem while Harper scratches at the worm's armor. (Worm's AC is 26, so none of those hit.)
Murphy starts beating on the worm that's trying to eat him. Nice. He manages to clobber the thing good.
Bliss bites into the worm's rear end, evidently not sharing any of the same concerns Kezzem and Pressi have. He hits an artery, or whatever passes for an artery in a worm. Anyway, it's bloody. Ichor flows quickly from the wound, and pretty soon it just goes limp.
With the worm limp, Murphy is easily able to escape its jaws, but feels something coursing through his...veins? He's not sure. Something feels wrong, though. Murphy, make a Fort save VS DC 30.
Things are quiet for the moment. In the post-combat silence, the only sounds that can be heard is a slight hum from the meteor.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Earth Elemental AC 26 HP 69/120 DR 5/-- Darkvision 60 Tremorsense d20+13=20 ; d20+25=34 ; Monday February 12th, 2018 1:40:03 PM
Murphy's Fort save is 20 - a fair bit less than the needed DC 30. However for the past two levels, he has been immune to poison. However, if this is some sort of meteorite infusion - then we shall see, eh?
If he is still in control of his faculties, Murphy rises to the surface, fully, and says, "There's a big open mouth down there. Is everyone all right? I feel... odd. Well, more than the usual odd." ========= Perception: 34
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 29/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 2 Monday February 12th, 2018 1:49:14 PM
When the worm goes limp, Hobie slowly and steadily approaches the group, bow still readied in case the worm should come back to action.
"I could really use some healing guys, does anyone have any spells prepared? Or could anyone use my wand on me if not?"
(ooc: Guys I wanted to share with you since you are kind of like friends who I talk to everyday in one way or another, I got exciting news today. My visa has been approved, and I will be moving to Prague, Czech Republic to teach English as a Second Language. I will probably move in about 3 weeks or so. Other than maybe the day or two of the actual move it shouldn't affect my posting here.)
Bliss winds down after the fight. He's tired. Wowsy. He sits down (still in cat form) and closes his eyes as he rests.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24, HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d4=1 ; 5d6=18 ; 5d6=19 ; 5d6=15 ; 5d6=12 ; 5d6=18 ; Monday February 12th, 2018 6:23:49 PM
OOC: Congrats Nick! Kezzem will cast lesser restoration on himself to restore his strength from the poison.
Lesser Restoration: 1 (Kezzem is still down 1 strength).
"I think we're all down quite a bit on the heath front. I'm about tapped on spells, though I'm not eager to burn our through wands just yet. Let me do some hand laying first."
Kezzem will lay on hands on Hobbie, Bliss, Murphey.
Hobbie: 18 Bliss: 19 Murphy: 15.
Kezzem will lay hands of Bliss and Hobbie once more each.
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+19=21 ; Monday February 12th, 2018 9:33:31 PM
(OOC: Congrats Nick)
Pressi began to float her way down by the side of the giant worm, stroking Harper in the rare times that she didn't blink out of existence. "That'll do, cat. That'll do."
As Kezzem began to take the healing duties, Pressi reminded him that she could only stop the damage temporarily so they would have to book it back home. (Probably should grab some neutralize poison scrolls too. Or better yet a real cleric.) She does cast Detect Poison on Kezzem to have a better idea of what she is dealing with.
She checks the worm once again before moving on to the meteor (Perception 21).
-----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message (15 mins left) spectral hand (7 mins left) flying broom (6 hrs left)
Harper stoneskin (10/DR) (10 mins left) blink (6 rnds)
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown Monday February 12th, 2018 10:00:39 PM
That is awesome news, Nick. Congratulations!
***
Humble's Sword enjoys a brief respite. A welcome one, considering how much that worm hurt a few of them. Heals get tossed around and Kezzem's poison is still delayed.
Murphy and Hobie do not feel well. Both feel sick to their stomaches and are warm to the touch. The beginnings of a purple rash can be seen spreading from the bite wounds inflicted by the worm, even if the wounds themselves have been healed. They're starting to itch pretty badly. They're tough enough to shrug it off and go about their business, but it's worrying.
Also worrying is the fact that the worm is still...moving? Pressi sees movement from the worm's limp body, but it doesn't look like the worm is any more alive than it was a few moments ago.
The mystery is solved quickly as huge masses of small, pink grubs begin pouring from under the worm's scales. There are easily thousands of them. They gather in two big swarms and begin worming their way towards the resting adventurers.
Knowledge, Nature DC 17, Highlight to display spoiler: {These are rot grubs. They infest live victims at devour them from the inside. They're usually white, but these ones are pink.}
It is super gross. It's probably a real good thing Hobie and Harper made it out of the worm so quickly...
***
Back in combat! Here's a map. I ploped you guys down in the middle of it, but feel free to move yourselves where you think you would have been.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Monday February 12th, 2018 11:16:48 PM
OOC: Kezzem's lay on hands would have relieved Sickened and Nausea conditions, although that would just be treating the symptoms.
Kezzem moves closer to the nearest swarm so that he's between it and Blisss. He takes a defensive stance.
OOC: total defense
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 84/120 DR 5/-- d20+15=35 ; d20+25=31 ; Tuesday February 13th, 2018 12:15:43 AM
"Thank you for the healing, Kezzem." During the moments of down time, Murphy asks each person about what they observed, and did, and what happened to them during the battle. He also pets the popping-in, popping-out Harper, scratching behind his ears when he can.
"We need to report what we can to the WLA, as well as our governing authorities, and fellow adventurers. Now, about the Meteor - and that red grass." Murphy takes a closer look at the grass to see if it looks at all familiar to him.
Then, the worm appears to move... After a moment of observation, Murphy says, "Those are rot grubs. Huh, pink, these ones. They'll burrow under your skin, and eat you from the inside out. Energy - fire, cold, negative - that'll knock 'em down. If you're infested, remove disease does it, too." As he speaks, Murphy wild shapes from rocks and earth to hot flames - a huge fire elemental. He then moves to cover one of the rot grub swarms (AI14, and upwards, and leftwards). Any that touch him, are subject to burning.
Either that, or he'll be infested with a lot of hot little rot grubs.
Some of the red wavy grass may also be affected by the flames as he passes by.
[Knowledge, Nature: 35 (nat 20) vs DC 17. Perception: 31
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 29/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 2 d20+9=24 ; Tuesday February 13th, 2018 12:26:22 AM
Hobie shouts out to the group “Stay away from those things! Those are rot grubs!! Kezzem, dont mess around with them!”
He promptly double moves, 40 feet, to S4 (I’m on a tablet and can’t move him myself right now)
Does my 24 knowledge nature glean any additional info? Particularly special attacks and movement types(flying or ground only, how fast, etc.)?
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 29/82 AC 26 CMD 28 Hero Points 2 Tuesday February 13th, 2018 12:28:14 AM
Also Hobie’s HP is 59, I will update header tomorrow when I’m on my PC
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+8=17 ; d20+6=12 ; 2d6+2=10 ; Tuesday February 13th, 2018 10:11:06 AM
(Nature Roll just makes it.)
Pressi turned from irritation to godsmacked horror as Murphy actually chose to wade into the creatures and Kezzem moved to block. "For planar sake, they're worms. We can just, you know, walk away from them."
Understaffed and underpowered, Pressi wasn't in the mood for yet more fights, but she took the opportunity to fly in, calling a hornet's nest to keep the other swarm busy. (10 damage NL)
Harper made her way towards the meteor, sniffing at it and the ground, watching it closely (Perception 12).
----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message (15 mins left) spectral hand (7 mins left) flying broom (6 hrs left)
Harper stoneskin (10/DR) (10 mins left) blink (4 rnds)
Bliss turns into a halfling and backs away from the worms. "UGH!"
"Fireball, anyone?"
He backs away around the meteor, staying at least 10 ft from it too.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 84/120 DR 5/-- Wednesday February 14th, 2018 10:13:14 AM
Murphy wonders how the rot grubs outside of him are faring. And, if that queasiness - from rot grubs? - he was feeling a moment ago before he re-wild shaped is dissipating, now that he is a furnace.
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown 2d6=5 ; 2d6=2 ; 2d6=6 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2018 12:04:43 PM Kezzem's super paladin powers have his nausea issues under control, not counting whatever stomach turning the grubs are causing.
Note: The illness causes nausea, but not enough to actually give the nauseated condition. Just a tummy ache at this point.
He puts himself between Bliss and the grubs and takes a defensive stance, but realizes his fancy footwork and armor mean nothing to rot grubs (swarms have zero reach and do damage automatically by occupying the same space as the thing they're attacking).
Murphy discusses the need to inform the WLA and anyone else who needs to be aware of whatever's going on. He starts quizzing his companions and making notes for said report. When the grubs pop up, the knowledgeable druid knows exactly what they're dealing with. These things may be naturally occurring creatures that play an important role in the food chain, but that doesn't mean he needs to volunteer to be eaten.
Of course, that's exactly what he does. Transforming into a fire elemental, he passes over the red grass (which does not burn and seems wholly unimpressed by the flames), and wades into the grubs. Hundreds of grubs die very quickly. Unfortunately for Murphy, there are thousands. The grub corpses char into inert carbon inside him, somewhat dampening his flames. Inside the balls of char? Hundreds of hungry rot grubs insulated by their dead brothers and sisters.
Murphy takes 5 damage from the grubs. Make a DC 19 reflex save to avoid infestation. Also, fort save DC 18 or be nauseated for one round because gross. Roll your damage vs the swarm. Don't bother to hit, just roll damage and add 50% since it's basically an AoE attack.
(Elementals aren't immune to disease, unfortunately for them.)
Hobie also knows what those things are. (OOC: You know everything on the SRD about rot grub swarms) He moves into a better position.
Pressi notes, not incorrectly, that they can just avoid the worms. She's right, of course. The party could spend the entire day walking circles around the swarm. Might make it tough to sit and inspect that meteor, though. She summons a swarm of her own to deal with the grubs.
Bliss wonders if anyone has a fireball handy, then backs up towards the meteor.
The swarms stay put, dealing with Murphy and the wasps respectively.
Swarm1: Waiting on Murphy's damage roll Swarm2: 9 damage Wasp swarm: 3 damage
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20+17=28 ; d20+17=27 ; d20+12=31 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2018 2:25:30 PM
ooc: I'm seeing some debate online on whether the 1d6 of cold damage from a Frost Longbow would count as weapon damage, making them immune, or if it is energy damage that would still affect them even though the arrow's 1d6+9 wouldn't go through. I'm gonna ask for a DM ruling on it, and I'll just post two courses of action depending on what you think.
Option 1: Hobie fires a full round of arrows at the swarm, expecting the magical cold to do some damage.
Manyshot AC 28, Damage 3 Cold, 6 Cold Rapid Shot AC 27 Damage 6 Cold Iterative AC 31 Damage 3 Cold
Option 2: Hobie knows his arrows are useless against a swarm, so he takes a vial of acid from his handy haversack and moves 20 feet closer to the swarm.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Wednesday February 14th, 2018 2:28:20 PM
ooc: I just remembered that Hobie has this ability from his Wizard levels. Would this work against swarms?
Telekinetic Fist (Sp) As a standard action you can strike with a telekinetic fist, targeting any foe within 30 feet as a ranged touch attack. The telekinetic fist deals 1d4 points of bludgeoning damage + 1 for every two wizard levels you possess. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown Wednesday February 14th, 2018 6:02:36 PM
I read it as a cold arrowhead, not a little explosion of cold. You'll likely kill a dozen or so grubs that are touching the arrowhead out of thousands. Your telekinetic fist I'd allow to do its full damage.
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Wednesday February 14th, 2018 6:10:59 PM
"Yeah, I think Lance was in charge of the fireballs."
As the hornet's nest fades from view (I think it's a single round damage spell), Pressi tries to think if there is anything left in her spell book.
Finally, she fires a Rose Control spell upon Murphy, trying to reignite his flames.
(If this is against the rules, she fires a last Bestow Curse upon the swarm attacking Murphy, the 50% take no action form.)
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+18=28 ; d6=6 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2018 11:06:07 PM
"Here, catch!"
Kezzem draws and throws a flask pf alchemist fire at the grubs.
Bliss thinks about a magic solution, seeing as he has no desire to touch those nasty worms. He moves around so that he has line of sight to the worms, then casts his Vomit Swarm spell.
Bliss chokes, then vomits out a swarm of wasps to fly out at the worms (Bliss makes sure no friends are in the path of the wasps.)
As with all swarms, the wasps do not roll a to hit. They inflict 2d6 damage ... rolled 3 damage ... plus poison Poison (Ex) Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1 Dexterity damage; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.
SANITY INFO
Spells used today: Lvl 1: 5+1, used 1 (shld o fth) Lvl 2: 4+1, used 4 (resist energy, blindness, cmw, vomit swarm) +1 (barkskin) Lvl 3: 3+1, used 2 (silent still shld o fth) Lvl 4: 1+1, used 1 (threefold aspect)
Other stuff used: Grimalkin ritual - housecat Bramble Armor used 2 Wood Fists used 0 Breath of Life used Death Knell used Hero Point used 1 Fire Resist used 0
Rage: used 3 rounds
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Wednesday February 14th, 2018 11:35:23 PM
Thanks Carl, Hobie is gonna do Option 2 from my post
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Wednesday February 14th, 2018 11:40:46 PM
Hobie will also shout out to his friend "Murphy! What if you dug a big hole as an earth elemental and we just buried these suckers? Could we starve them to death underground? Or at least buy us a day to come back tomorrow with some Burning Hands, etc. spells prepared?"
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 84/120 DR 5/-- 2d6=6 ; d20+9=15 ; d20+9=20 ; 3d6=9 ; d20+25=37 ; Thursday February 15th, 2018 2:16:04 PM
Last round - 2d6=6 fire damage to grubs (over a wide area- maybe the whole top layer or so?)
This round - Murphy stands up (move action - and showing as smaller on map, as his 32' is more of height at the moment), with some new interior features. [I did not think elementals, in general, were free from rot grub infestations, however, as energy destroys them, including fire, I was thinking they would have a real tough time surviving a fire elemental, and the heat of the body. Let's say some could make it past the initial flames, but the flaming heat of the interior ashes and embers would kill them by, say, the next round.]
He casts flaming sphere, starting on the near front corner of the swarm (roughly AH13), causing 9 hp damage to the swarm underneath. ====== Reflex vs rot grub infestation - 15/19 (fail) Fort vs feeling ill (20+4 I forgot to add)/18 (success) Perception monkey roll: 37
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d4=1 ; d6=3 ; Thursday February 15th, 2018 3:09:42 PM Hobie grabs a bottle of acid from his pack and gets in closer to the swarm. He suggests Murphy try to bury the grubs. Might work...these things burrow into flesh, not soil like most grubs.
Pressi notes how useful their wizard would be right now. Thinking outside the box, she tries to raise Murphy's temperature somewhat. It's successful in dampening his infestation.
Kezzem hurls a vial of alchemist's fire onto the swarm. It's a pretty potent weapon against the swarm.
OOC: AoE attacks do +50% damage, and I'm including several splash bonuses as well. 15 damage total.
Bliss sends a swarm of his own to attack. The battle between the swarms is pretty unsettling. The carnivorous wasps are able to sting and kill many grubs, but several get caught by the grubs and are dragged down into the swarm. Yuck.
Murphy leaves the swarm. He killed many grubs, but even in his current state they're still a threat to him. He instead rolls a flaming sphere onto their masses.
OOC: Here's my decision on fire elemental vs rot grub swarm: you can be infected, but so long as you're outside the swarm your natural heat will prevent the infection from lasting long. Murphy takes one CON damage from the initial infestation. Outside the swarm the damage should continue for 3 more rounds. I'm halving that (because you're a fire elemental) and rounding down (because of Pressi). You'll lose 1d4 CON next round, then be free of the grubs, assuming they don't reinfect you.
Swarm 1 shows no interest in Murphy, heading instead for the closest fleshy target, Kezzem in this case. Swarm 2 does the same with Pressi.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 54/90 DR 5/-- 3d6=11 ; d4=4 ; Thursday February 15th, 2018 6:01:56 PM
The flaming sphere Murphy directs to roll into the swarm (AE14) for another 11 hp damage. "Press, I'm calling lightning in a moment, so don't fly right over the swarm after about six or eight seconds. And I am grateful for the warmth I feel from you." He casts call lightning. It won't show up until later next round.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+18=33 ; d6=4 ; Thursday February 15th, 2018 6:41:30 PM
Kezzem backs up from the swarm and throws a second flask at the swarm coming towards him.
Bliss's wasps inflict 7 damage this round (plus poison).
Bliss activates his fire resistance (swift action), moves over to Murphy, and casts Cure Light Wounds, curing 7 hp to Murphy.
SANITY INFO
Spells used today: Lvl 1: 5+1, used 1 (shld o fth) Lvl 2: 4+1, used 4 (resist energy, blindness, cmw, vomit swarm) +1 (barkskin) Lvl 3: 3+1, used 2 (silent still shld o fth) Lvl 4: 1+1, used 1 (threefold aspect)
Other stuff used: Grimalkin ritual - housecat (now off) Bramble Armor used 2 Wood Fists used 0 Breath of Life used Death Knell used Hero Point used 1 Fire Resist used 1
Rage: used 3 rounds
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20+14=19 ; d4+1=4 ; Friday February 16th, 2018 1:43:43 AM
Hobie moves straight over to column AA, and attempts to attack the swarm with a telekinetic punch. 19 vs Touch AC 4 Damage
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Friday February 16th, 2018 1:44:19 AM
Saorry, I forgot to specify Swarm 1
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Friday February 16th, 2018 3:37:22 PM
"Oh no how can I possibly avoid this swarm? You know, once they become rot butterflies."
Flying above them well out of reach, she drops a create water spell on top of them.
Bliss watches carefully to see how his swarm is doing against the other swarm
Perception 22
DM Carl - Purple Worm Meteor Showdown d4=4 ; Saturday February 17th, 2018 11:06:50 PM Murphy moves his flaming sphere along with the swarm, burning hundreds of the things as it rolls over them. He calls lightning down from the sky, watching to see what happens when it shows up.
Kezzem makes a tactical retreat, throwing more alchemist's fire on it.
Bliss's wasps continue their assault on the grubs as he heals Murphy of some of the effects of their intrusions.
Hobie punches the grubs with magic. Several of them splat open, while the rest feast on their dead.
Pressi gets one of the swarms wet.
The grubs infesting Murphy are burnt away at last, but take a piece of him down with them. Murphy suffers 4 CON damage. The infestation is now officially done.
Swarm one crawls as fast as it can towards Bliss and Kezzem, but the combined assault finally breaks them apart into easily dealt with numbers. Swarm two collects under Pressi, grubs climbing on top of one another trying to get to her.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20+14=30 ; d4+1=4 ; Sunday February 18th, 2018 9:46:24 AM
Hobie takes a 5 foot step back further from the worms, and launches another telekinetic fist at them.
Attack 30; Damage 4
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 61/90 DR 5/-- Monday February 19th, 2018 3:30:26 AM
Murphy finishes his spell - and now has up to ten fingers worth of lightning columns to call forth. However, as the swarm has moved directly under Pressi - he's not releasing any at the moment. Rather, he shoos the firey sphere over to the swarm beneath her.
"Thanks, Bliss!"
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 61/90 DR 5/-- Monday February 19th, 2018 9:17:26 AM [I rolled 4 CON damage and applied it last round (reflected in hp current/max) - was your post, DM Carl, simply a ratification of that, or an addition to it? Am thinking ratification, based upon what you earlier wrote, but want to be certain. -Kim]
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+17=37 ; d20+17=32 ; 2d20=15 ; 2d6=4 ; Monday February 19th, 2018 6:42:18 PM
"Hey Press, move out of there. I've got an alchemist's cocktail with that swarms name on it."
Kezzem will ready to throw his last flask at the swarm should Pressi move out of the way.
OOC: Ignore the 2d20. Accidentally hit that before I finished change the d20s to d6s.
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Monday February 19th, 2018 8:47:26 PM
"Ok, just one last thing," she replies as she temp controls the swarm column, freezing the water they are soaked in. "One of you is throwing the lemon, right."
Pressi rockets 10 feet to the left. "Oh, be sure to mind the turn."
Harper sprints through the column.
DM Carl - Ok, let's see what's going on with this meteor... Monday February 19th, 2018 9:40:10 PM
Lightning, fire, water, but no lemons come crashing down on the last swarm, killing every last grub in it.
DM Note: This idea worked well on paper, but gameplay is not bearing it out as fun. So, let's move on! Kim, I'm not 100% what you're asking, but you should be down 5 CON total.
Silence falls as battle stops again, but nothing else seems determined to pop up. Things are quiet, except for a slight hum from the meteor. The red growth from the meteor's impact site continues to spread quickly at roughly 1' a minute. Not blazing fast, but pretty quick by plant standards. Previous attempts to burn the stuff away have been absolutely useless. It does not give a lick about fire.
Also, Hobie and Murphy are still feeling quite ill. A quick self-check by Murphy confirms no lingering rot grub infection, at least.
---
XP Time! Everyone gets 5K XP for the worm, grubs, and other diseased animal fights. Hero point to Pressi for blinking Harper into the worm to save Hobie. I'll consider any player nominations for hero points in case I've forgotten something heroic.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20=17 ; Monday February 19th, 2018 10:23:16 PM
ooc: So Kezzem's lay on hands took away the sickened condition, is it back, or am I just feeling generically not well with the purple rash developing?
"Guys, I'm feeling really terrible and this rash is kinda frightening. Can any of you figure out whats going on with this?"
Hobie tries to think hard and remember anything he might know about this thing. Knowledge 29 if Arcana, 26 if Nature or Planes, and 25 if anything else.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20+21=38 ; Monday February 19th, 2018 10:24:50 PM
He will also to detect magic on his rash and spellcraft if necessary is 38
Happy his wasp swarm helped to kill those grubs, Bliss is sorta glad after all that he hocked them up OUT OF HIS STOMACH.
"Okay, I knew there would be hairballs in my future when I set off down this bloodwitch path," Bliss muses, "but bugs?!"
While his wasp swarm lasts, he sends it at the fallen star, wondering if the wasps will damage it, or it, them!
He takes out his staff-sling and loads it, thinking that maybe he should huck a bullet at that thing.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 61/90 DR 5/-- d6+5=10 ; Tuesday February 20th, 2018 2:08:03 PM
Murphy, finding that fire does the grass no harm, flicks a lightning arc for 10 hp damage (DC 18 with help of Owl's Wisdom) at a small portion of the red grass to see if that has any effect - positive or negative - on the nearby patch of grass.
"How are you all doing?" asks the flaming druid. "I'm feeling a bit ill, myself. Thought I could stomach those rot grubs - guess I was mistaken. It's like my body - such as it is - has been structurally weakened. Like a building with termite-nibbled timbers."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Tuesday February 20th, 2018 6:09:43 PM
"Remind me to get more of those things," says Kezzem. "They worked a lot better against those worms than my daggers would have."
"Hey Murph, you're looking a little green there. You okay?"
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Tuesday February 20th, 2018 8:18:03 PM
"Hey Bliss. You still have remove disease and lesser restores right?" If not, Pressi uses her new hero point for one more 2nd level slot.
With few spells left she relies on her spellcraft and knowledge skills and her perception. She considers a divination but wants to narrow her question first.
DM Carl - Ok, let's see what's going on with this meteor... Tuesday February 20th, 2018 8:56:51 PM
Hobie ponders, but to his knowledge this isn't like anything he's ever heard of before. His detect magic shows a deep red aura in his veins, branching out from the initial wound and spreading quickly.
ooc: No one has an official condition at this moment, mercies or no. You just don't feel well.
Bliss is glad he didn't vomit wasps for nothing. He loads a bullet in his staff, pondering whether to throw it or not.
Murphy tries electrocuting the grass, but it's just as unimpressed by lightning as it is by fire. He addresses concerns about his well being.
Kezzem checks on his friend, giving himself a mental note to buy more alchemists' fire.
Pressi discusses healing duties with her fellow bloodwitch. She'd have to reach down deep to pull off any more today.
The meteor continues to sit there, letting out a low hum.
Bliss / CatBliss (AC23, HP55of116) (Cayzle) d20-1=9 ; Tuesday February 20th, 2018 9:02:11 PM
Bliss says, "I think I still have Cure Disease, unless they have retconned it off the list yet."
He ponders ... "Nope, I can cure someone. Who is sick?"
Bliss walks around, reaching up to feel foreheads.
Untrained Heal 9.
[OOC: What happened when the wasp swarm hit the meteor thing?]
Bliss asks his friends, "Should I huck a bullet at it? And who needs to be cured?"
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 61/90 DR 5/-- Tuesday February 20th, 2018 11:17:57 PM
Murph readies to launch a lightning bolt at the wasp swarm if it looks to start moving angrily in their direction. "Take care of Hobie, Bliss."
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) Huge Fire Elemental AC 27 HP 61/90 DR 5/-- Tuesday February 20th, 2018 11:17:57 PM
Murph readies to launch a lightning bolt at the wasp swarm if it looks to start moving angrily in their direction. "Take care of Hobie, Bliss."
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Wednesday February 21st, 2018 9:44:34 AM
"I could use some healing, you can use my wand if you don't have any healing spells left"
After any healing
Hobie stands about 30 feet from the meteor, holding his bow. "Should I try shooting at it?"
DM Carl - Ok, let's see what's going on with this meteor... Wednesday February 21st, 2018 10:16:19 AM
OOC: Missed the wasp thing. My apologies.
***
The wasps buzz around the meteor to little effect. Obviously they can't injure a big rock, but the meteor doesn't seem to care about them either. Maybe the hum gets a little louder? Without any way to check the dB level, it can't be certain either way.
Bliss / CatBliss (AC23, HP55of116) (Cayzle) d20+7=20 ; Wednesday February 21st, 2018 10:56:21 AM
Bliss runs over to Hobie and casts Cure Disease using a third level slot because he has used up all his second level slots.
Bliss makes a caster level check to cure the illness. He rolls a 20! Is that good enough?
"How are you sick, exactly, dear Hobie?" he asks. Bliss is a little out of it, but struggling gamely to catch up. Sometimes when he is a cat his thoughts get scattered, and after he returns to two-legger form he has to chase and pounce on them to get back up to speed.
Of course, sometimes Bliss's thoughts get scattered when he is in halfling form, too, so there's that. :-)
He lets his wasps continue to swarm on the meteor until the spell expires (7 rounds total).
SANITY INFO
Spells used today: Lvl 1: 5+1, used 2 (shld o fth, CLW) Lvl 2: 4+1, used 4 (resist energy, blindness, cmw, vomit swarm) +1 (barkskin) Lvl 3: 3+1, used 3 (silent still shld o fth, one more I forgot what, cure disease) Lvl 4: 1+1, used 1 (threefold aspect)
Other stuff used: Grimalkin ritual - housecat (now off) Bramble Armor used 2 Wood Fists used 0 Breath of Life used Death Knell used Hero Point used 1 Fire Resist used 1 rnd
Rage: used 3 rounds
Pressi (Melvin)-AC 21 (23), HP 70/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+8=17 ; d8+5=10 ; d8+5=11 ; d8+5=10 ; d8+5=13 ; d8+5=13 ; Wednesday February 21st, 2018 5:18:15 PM
Pressi uses the same trick on Murphy, curing his disease. (17 check) She also uses her wand for 5 CLW charges (57 HP for anyone who wants some.)
Harper runs around the meteor, pawing it playfully.
----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message (15 mins left) spectral hand (7 mins left) flying broom (6 hrs left)
Harper stoneskin (10/DR) (8 mins left) blink (1 rnds)
Just before Pressi goes to help him, Murphy changes back into his halfling form, thinking that the usefulness of flames has waned for the time being. He knows that she can resist fire, but he wants to be irresistible to her.
He extracts his wand of cure light wounds, and uses it liberally where needed. He starts with Bliss, bringing him up to full hit points (+5). Then Pressi, bringing her to 1 hp short of full (3+9=12). Then Hobie (8+9+7=24), who needed 23 hp healing. Then Kezzem (7+8=15), 1 hp shy of full. Then himself (6+6+5+9+7=35, 6 more than needed). Ignore the fat-fingered d3=1. Harper for 6 (one more than needed). So, aside from Pressi and Kezzem, all have full hit points - except that Murphy's loss of 5 CON points brings him down to 50, rather than 80 hp - unless Pressi's Remove Disease also repaired that damage.
"The meteor spreads its influence through the burgeoning grass. What can we do to check it? If people - and Harper - will stand back at least 21 feet from the center of the landed rocky sphere, I can cast ice storm, and see if that harms or slows it." He waits for a moment to ensure all are outside the area, then casts the spell, causing 11 hp bludgeoning damage plus a paltry 3 hp of cold damage as cold balls of hail fall in the first round, followed by several rounds of heavy snow and sleet for 9 more rounds after the first, limiting visibility (-4 Perception within the area), and making the ground difficult terrain during that time.
He observes (Perception 24) to the best of his ability the results to the grass and meteorite during that time (though he may perform other actions, too).
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 Wednesday February 21st, 2018 7:03:04 PM
Header fixed (I think)
DM Carl - Ok, let's see what's going on with this meteor... Wednesday February 21st, 2018 9:59:47 PM
Hobie feels Bliss' spell take effect, and immediately begins to feel better. It's just a moment before the rash and nausea are gone. Pressi also manages to cure Murphy of the same affliction, though he still feels the effects of the rot grubs (no longer diseased, but the CON damage remains).
Using wands, Murphy and Pressi both heal the party up from the wounds inflicted by the purple worm. Murphy begins making plans on how to best deal with the meteor.
Then Harper gets curious.
As she bats playfully at the meteor, the hum gets loud, then louder, then painfully loud!
Harper must make a DC 30 fort save or be deafened and stunned. Everyone else needs to make a DC25 fort save or be deafened.
Saves or not, the sound is seriously painful and shows no sign of diminishing.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+7=16 ; d20+11=13 ; d20+5=8 ; Thursday February 22nd, 2018 9:43:38 AM
Harper rears back, deafened and stunned. (Never really had a chance.) Mewling loudly, she stands back.
"Son of a...." Pressi grabbed her ears, deafened herself. "Mom was right. I should have just gone evil and gotten it over with. Bet she's not dealing with stuff like this."
She has the presence of mind to try and push Harper away. (CMB Roll 8+4=12).
----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message (15 mins left) spectral hand (7 mins left) flying broom (6 hrs left) deafened
Harper stoneskin (10/DR) (8 mins left) stunned deafened
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20+8=21 ; Thursday February 22nd, 2018 1:56:28 PM
Hobie is thankful for the healing from his friends.
When Harper causes the Meteor to burst, Hobie is overwhelmed by the sound and is currently deafened.
He clasps his hands over his ears and doesn't know what else to do.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 d20+14=16 ; Thursday February 22nd, 2018 7:00:17 PM
Fort Save: 16.
"What was that? What? I said whst was that? What? What was what?"
Bliss, hearing nothing, stands still and tries to figure out what is going on.
So far as he can tell, everyone is deaf. So at least they are all in this together!
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 d20+8=21 ; d20+25=35 ; Friday February 23rd, 2018 4:27:44 AM
Murphy's ears are overcome by the sound of the meteorite.
He moves away a bit, covering his ears to mitigate further damage.
[I take it he never yet had time to cast ice storm over the meteor.]
He looks around to see if there is anything coming their way. ==== Perception: 35
DM Carl - Ok, let's see what's going on with this meteor... Friday February 23rd, 2018 6:24:28 AM
Kim: No, Harper batted the meteor before your spell went off. You're free to try casting it now, of course.
***
The sound coming from that meteor is just too much for Humble's Sword. The entire party is deafened, unable to hear anything other than the stone's cacophony. Those with the presence of mind to pay attention see the red grass growing from it surge and begin enveloping it as tendrils shoot out much faster, spreading like snakes in every direction.
The shiny meteor begins to dim under the grass' assault. Turning a deep red, then black. In an instant, the meteor flares bright red and explodes. Shards of it fly in every direction along with waves of red energy.
Then...silence and stillness. The noise has stopped, aside from a ringing in everyone's ear. Shards of the meteor hang in the air, and the grass' forward movement has momentarily halted. Nothing moves except for the party. Nothing, that is, except for the shimmering orb of energy that appears above ground zero. It spins like a vortex, but otherwise just hangs there.
A few moments pass before a small, dark-skinned head pokes through. He's shouting something, but what is anyone's guess. He waves you forward towards him with some urgency.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 Friday February 23rd, 2018 2:33:51 PM
Murphy decides to heed the beckoning of the person whose head pokes out of the shimmering orb.
He moves forward, points to his ears, and says in the common tongue, "I cannot hear you. A loud noise just rendered me - and," he senses that Pressi, at least, is similarly affected, "at least some of my friends deaf. I will pull out some paper and pen, though, and, if you understand my language, you can write, so I know what you are saying." He does as he says, writes, "I am Murphy. Who are you?" Then reads out loud what he just wrote, and hands the paper and pen to the dark-complected fellow.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Friday February 23rd, 2018 2:56:26 PM
"Murphey, you need to speak up," says Kezzem. "I can't understand the words coming out of your mouth."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d100=46 ; Friday February 23rd, 2018 4:32:56 PM
Harper stares at the figure guesturing towards them and then produces a guesture of her own. Who knew a leapord could make such a guesture, but she does it.
Her second guesture translates to "I'm keeping an eye on you."
Pressi can sort of make out what Murphy is doing (thanks to the perma-link) but has to shout to Kezzem to speak up.
Taking a chance, she uses her domain slot to try to cast Comprehend Languages (20 or under fails - she casts solidly) and messages Murphy to add that she's doing this as a way to communicate (if he writes something down himself), and will cast detect thoughts next.
----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) message (15 mins left) spectral hand (7 mins left) flying broom (6 hrs left) deafened
Harper stoneskin (10/DR) (8 mins left) stunned deafened
Bliss tries to read lips, but is sad to realize that there are no rules for doing so in this version of reality.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Sunday February 25th, 2018 3:51:42 PM
Hobie holds his bow at the ready, arrow not drawn, but his hand at the quiver. He says nothing. Just watches
DM Carl - Ok, let's see what's going on with this meteor... Sunday February 25th, 2018 4:45:29 PM
The stranger whose head sticks out of the portal looks at the note passed to him, then looks back up at the portal he's still sticking out of. It begins to waver just a bit. With a worried look, he scrawls quickly on the paper:
This portal collapses in 10 seconds. If you're still here, that exploding meteor will kill you all.
He looks imploringly at the party, waves them on, and disappears back in it.
***
DM Note: I'm very much against railroading you guys, but this is part of the larger, Woldwide event. Forgive me. Regarding read lips, I'd allow a linguistics roll for that, but Bliss would fail the DC I'd set it at.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 Sunday February 25th, 2018 5:41:08 PM
If the stranger is inviting them to jump through his portal, Murphy holds out the paper, urges with gesticulations for all to run forward, mounts and cats and all, and get onboard, NOW! He communicates likewise via his mental link with Pressi.
Then he jumps in and, if possible, waves an arm to indicate he is still alive, and COME!!
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Sunday February 25th, 2018 9:57:42 PM
Hobie watches Murphy jump in and without hesitation, he leaps in after him.
Bliss / CatBliss (AC26, HP92of96) (Cayzle) d20+33=39 ; Monday February 26th, 2018 5:11:36 AM
Bliss changes into a housecat. He may be deaf, but maybe a cat's eyes and nose can compensate. Cat-Bliss dashes and leaps through the portal. Acrobatics 39; that's a 39 ft long jump!
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Monday February 26th, 2018 10:56:45 AM
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Pressi grumbled as teammate after teammate fled into the portal. "Honestly, does anyone here have any sense of self preservation?"
Harper began to whine at the shrieking, glowing meteor.
"If that beckoning creature kills us, I am going to be so mad," Pressi grumbles as she and Harper lept forward into the portal.
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 Monday February 26th, 2018 11:33:05 AM
Since Murphy knows Pippa well, and has ridden her on many an occasion, and he trained her a little, he gives her the 'Come here now!' whistle, and likewise for Rumpus - unless Kezzem handles the pony first.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Monday February 26th, 2018 6:19:03 PM
"Hey everybody, we're all gonna get dead!" says Kezzem as he and Rumpus dive into the portal. "Everbody into the portal!"
DM Carl - Spirited Away Tuesday February 27th, 2018 9:58:15 AM
The party, including those with four legs, enter the portal. Some more happily than others. The Wold shifts as one by one they enter. A final swirl of distorted colors flashes by: red, then blue, then purple, yellows, and greens. Then, everything goes black.
Slowly, sight returns to everyone. The party finds themselves floating peacefully above misty green hills. Deep valleys exist between the hills, each a small world all their own. In one, a beautiful elven city with impossibly tall towers sits under a shimmering dome. In another, giant lizards the size of houses thunder around the landscape. Singing flowers fill another valley; they are unlike anything seen in the Wold. Your hearing returns, though there is little to hear other than the air moving past and your own voices. The four-legged members of Humble's Sword are surprisingly at peace with flying over the landscape.
Knowledge, planes DC 20 (Murphy autopasses), Highlight to display spoiler: {the party has entered the Vales of Twilight, an outer plane ruled by Maab.}
The flight slows and the party descends into a valley covered by tall grasses. Near the center is a lodge made of woven grasses over the massive rib-bones of some long dead creature. You are delicately deposited near its front entrance.
Inside is the person who beckoned you inside. He is surprisingly short; shorter than even the smallest of halflings. His skin is dark, but his eyes and hair are a sharp gray. He is dressed in a combination of woven grasses and animal hides, and is adorned with beads and feathers. An oversided headdress of feathers and woven grasses sits atop him.
He is obviously quite old.
He sits cross-legged in front of a large fire. Without taking his eyes off the fire, he motions for the party to enter.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers d20+4=17 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2018 2:22:36 PM
Pressi watches below as things float in and out of consciousness. "So, which of these worlds has the Europop cover again?"
She attempts to remember her basic knowledge of plains but falls short.
Eyeing the short grey being, she struggled to think of a coherent response to any of this.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 d20+9=22 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2018 3:02:26 PM
Hobie turns to Pressi, "This is the Vales of Twilight. I've only read about it, but theres no mistaking."
Hobie walks forward, confused, a bit afraid, but he knows he's on someone else's plane right now, and cautious compliance is probably the safest course.
Keeping Prowler in hand, Hobie follows the beckoning, and sits cross legged at the fire.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Tuesday February 27th, 2018 4:06:21 PM
OOC: Can we hear again?
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 d20+8=18 ; d20+25=41 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2018 10:15:25 PM
"Oh! oh! - Silhanor told us about this place. He's an elf, a druid of Maab. This is - yes, you're right, Hobie - this must be the Vales of Twilight!" He claps his hands together in glee. Then he asks Pressi, "What is the 'yore apop cover'?"
As they pass over various areas, Murphy remarks on what lies below. He flips his piece of paper over, and quickly begins to sketch the elven city below [Profession: Artistry: 18 for the quality of his initial sketch]. The thundering lizards he considers, pondering the possibility of wild shaping into some of the forms some day.
The vale of the singing flowers somehow brings to mind the story that Airin, Selithe and Kendry told of the day they entered Hovel with 'Lomar, the Friendly Ogre,' singing a song of that name about the huge ogre, beating a complex rhythmic tatoo on a drum in time to the song, bearing halfling children on broad shoulders, and surrounded by young halfling adventurers - predecessors to Humble's Sword, really - to the wonderment and pleasure of the townsfolk who, under other circumstances, would like as not have run screaming at the sight of an approaching ogre.
So overwhelmed was Lomar by the joyful welcome he received into the halfling town, that he stopped, sat down (carefully, so as not to squish any nearby halflings), and wept giant tears. Where his tears fell, a flower sprung forth.
Murphy tells this story as the pass overhead, and concludes with this thought. "Out of music came a flower on that day. And now, beneath us, out of flowers come music."
The druid takes out another sheet of paper, and sketches a map of the valleys they have transversed, giving each one a name.
And they land amidst tall grasses. He strives to identify those he can, and to catalogue in his mind discernible characteristics of those he cannot immediately identify. Are there any grasses similar to the few items he has seen made of Sargrass?
He joins his companions in entering at the fellow's invitation.
"Venerable One, thank you for saving our lives. Pardon my question, but, um, how did you happen to open a portal to where we were, that we might be saved?" Murphy asks politely, with respect in his voice tempering his curiosity.
====== [OOC: Is our host really smaller than small Bliss? - the smallest halfling Murphy knows of.]
On the way, Bliss listens excitedly as his friends say that they are in the Valleys of Twilight. He changes into a halfling as the party flies on, so that he can say, "Oh! Oh! This is where the Fey Queen, Queen Maab herself lives! Can we visit her? Can we? Can we? She's a friend of mine!"
"I think."
===== =====
At the lodge, Bliss enters and bows low and say, "Hello grandfather! Wowsy, this is a swell place. Are you a guest of the Queen? Have you met her? My name is Bliss. It's nice to meetcha! Are you worried that a spark from your hearth could catch the grass on fire? Did you bring us here? Did the Queen mention me when you saw her? I'm a new friend of hers, you know. Not really pals of course, but you know. I met a liontaur in a dream once who had feathers and beads. Are yours magical? What do they do? Are you hungry? I have some special elf food you can try."
Bliss digs out his special always-full magic elf lunchbox. It has Arwen and Legolas on the sides.
Bliss holds out his hand for a shake.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Wednesday February 28th, 2018 10:36:15 AM
"Sometimes Press says the strangest things, Murph."
"Um, am I the only one weary of someone who calls herself Queen Mad?"
DM Carl - Spirited Away Wednesday February 28th, 2018 10:45:33 AM
OOC: Yes, in this new place your hearing is functioning normally. As for the dude's size, he's comparable to Bliss' 2'8" frame, but lean as opposed to a halfling's typical fluffiness.
Reactions to the newcomer range from caution to downright exuberance. Hobie enters and sits. The small man nods hello without speaking. His demeanor is stoic, but not unfriendly.
Murphy pockets several drawings and greats him, but is promptly bowled over by a very excited Bliss. The stranger listens to the halfling's outburst patiently, motioning to the rest of Humble's Sword to join him inside and sit. Grass mats are the only seating in the lodge. Good things everyone's so close to the ground anyway.
He turns to Murphy in a clear voice that carries obvious wisdom. "Sit, and your questions will be answered." He looks curiously at Bliss' hand, eventually gripping it in a very firm handshake. He shakes once, and once only, then motions for Bliss to sit, "The Fey Queen is quite occupied, young one, and time is short. I have much to tell all of you."
Only when you're inside does the meaning of that statement carry its true weight. The grass exterior of the lodge is not visible inside. Where walls should be, there is only fog. Through it, other groups, talking to other versions of this strange man can be seen. They shift constantly. One moment he is addressing a handsome human decked out in full plate armor bearing the symbol of Domi. The next, a small gnome lovingly stroking a small cat. None of the images persist long, and no sound can be heard other than what happens in this room. Briefly, a group of obviously seasoned adventurers can be seen, including Garret and Katinka. She locks eyes briefly with Hobie and smiles before vanishing in the fog.
The only constant in the fog is this stranger addressing many other souls. He raises his hand in unison with all the other versions of himself. Holding is palm forward in a "stop" motion he speaks, "I am Mahyawu." He picks up a large bundle of sage and unceremoniously drops it in the firepit in front of him. A huge plum of sweet-smelling smoke rises. "I speak for the Manfri, for our Sarr. The Wold is in great danger."
The smoke coalesces, showing a vision of the Crystal Mountains. Under the mountains, the red grass from the meteor's crash site grows in great abundance, cracking stone and crystal until the mountain can take no more and explodes, sending huge chunks flying far. "This has already taken place. I plucked you from where this piece of the Crystal Mountains landed." The vision zooms into what is obviously the meteor Humble's Sword was investigating, following the trajectory until it lands in the Red Hills. The red grass immediately begins spreading from the impact site. "We call this bloodweed. It is what our Sargrass has become since it departed from your world." In the vision, the grass spreads rapidly, consuming everything before it. Humble's Ford, the Tree of Parting, Plateau City, even The Float and Hook City are covered and choked by the grass. "The bloodweed is set to end all life as you know it. All will succumb to the disease the bloodweed spreads, or perish at the hands of its victims. I believe you've seen first hand its effects."
The scene in the smoke vanishes, replaced by nine symbols. Lines connect each symbol to a point in the center. "Our Sarr has told me to gather help. We require...artifacts from the untainted Sargrass to restore our home. He reaches into the smoke, touching a symbol bearing the outline of a small humanoid. "I believe this to be you: our bigger cousins." The symbol is replaced by a crystal shard. "A shard of the crystal that grew the Crystal Mountains. With this, you can cleanse the spread that has already begun near your home." The vision shifts to the six of you merging the shard with the meteor, killing off the bloodweed emanating from it. "Seek out the Monks of the Sargrass. They can remove shards of the Crystal Mountains without splintering them. Even we Manfri have been unable to learn their secrets."
He motions to a book and a small horn made from steelgrass sitting next to Kezzem. Who knows how long they've been there, but no one noticed them before. "Take these. Use the horn when you are successful and ready to return. The book details the cleansing ritual." He stands. His other versions in the fog stand in unison. "I will send you to the untouched Sargrass when you are ready."
He looks on expectantly.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Wednesday February 28th, 2018 12:23:42 PM
Upon seeing Katinka's smile, Hobie remembers her encouragement and is filled with strength and courage.
He listens to the old man's words and stands up immediately after he finishes.
"OK! Let's go! What are we waiting for?"
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Wednesday February 28th, 2018 4:52:17 PM
"I try to think of what I did to deserve this," Pressi muttered to herself. "Plateau City wasn't supposed to count."
Turning to Murphy, "Europop means I had a severe case of writers block. I'll think of better comments later, but it'll have to do for now."
To the elf, "I'm sorry, sir, but even if I were inclined to believe a word you said, you're throwing a lot of concepts at us. Danger from what? We were chasing Ve'el, what's this Crystal Mountain, you know what with meteors being not crystals. Bloodweed? Manfri? Shards?
"And what we are waiting for, besides the fact that the lot of us still have poison, disease or just zero spell slots left, and we're still missing our biggest offensive gun, is any idea of what a shard is even supposed to look like or what it does. Hey, I'm all for the rush in and show courage, but I'd like to know what I'm rushing."
Bliss watches with wide eyes as the visions of other adventurers appear in the fog. He waves to the gnome with the cat!
"Wowsy! Wowsy!"
Bliss shakes his head and tries to understand. "So we have to find a special monk, then find this shard thing, then ask the monk how to move it to our meteor, and then merge the shard into the meteor?"
"We can do that!"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Wednesday February 28th, 2018 8:25:03 PM
Kezzem looks at the horn and book, then back to the party. As he often does, he uses humor to mask his discomfort when feeling out of his element.
"I swear they were like that when I got here."
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 Thursday March 1st, 2018 2:29:34 AM
The druid listens with care, filing away many unfamiliar words and ideas.
"I have many questions. I hope none are deemed impertinent. Answer only those you believe are germaine.
"Is 'Mahyawu' your name, or a title? What is its meaning?
"Who are the Manfri? Are you cousins to us halflings?
"What does 'Sarr' mean?
"As Pressi has pointed out, we are injured, and well below our normal capacity and, until Lance returns to us, we are only five - plus our animals. I myself was greatly sickened by rot grubs, others of us also were affected, and my health is poor as of... just before you called us here.
"Though no doubt time is of the essence, some healing, some counter to the blows we already have taken might put us in a better position to deal with whatever we may encounter.
"All that said, as Bliss said, I think we are willing to do as you ask, as it sounds we may have a role to play in helping to heal the Wold, and to block the invasive plantlife before it wipes out most of our lives."
DM Carl - Spirited Away Thursday March 1st, 2018 10:19:12 AM
Mahyawu patiently sits and listens to everyone's questions. He smiles warmly before continuing.
"We sometimes forget how unknown the Southern Continent is to so many." He waves his hand once through the still voluminous smoke, and an image of a huge, grass-covered plain coalesces. It is no ordinary grassy plain; the grasses are varied in size and color, but all are at least 10 feet tall. Some higher than 30. An enormous range of crystal cuts through the center of the plain.
"The Sargrass," he begins. "This was once the deadliest land on the Southern Continent. The grasses of the Sargrass could poison, flay, or suffocate those foolish enough to wander in. Those who survived the grasses usually fell victim to the hardy beasts that call the Sargrass home. During the last great migration(*), the Sargrass vanished from the Southern Continent and now exists as a plane all its own. But, it is starting to return...
He makes a motion in the smoke, and the view sharpens in on the crystal mountains cutting the plains in half. "The Crystal Mountains, where the meteor that threatens your home came from. The crystals here are very sensitive to sound and vibration, exploding in their presence. Many peoples have been flayed alive by these explosions."
He motions again, and a large beehive-like structure made from grass can be seen. "Rattledam. The only city in Sargrass. The monks that live here know a chant that calms the crystal range. They are the only ones we know who can retrieve a shard without shattering it. Do not speak of the outside world in Rattledam. They do not take kindly to it."
He inhales deeply, and breathes outwards sharply. The smoke disperses quickly. He holds up his hand again and repeats, "I am Mahyawu. It is the only answer I know to give. Our Sarr is our tribal leader, as you may have guessed. The Manfri have lived in the grass for as long as we know. We believe ourselves to be your cousins, but have no memory of life before we were the Manfri."
"I regret that I cannot allow you to rest before I send you to the Sargrass." He motions to the fog that surrounds the room. "Preparing to send so many adventurers is taxing, and we will not be able to do so again. I will send you to Rattledam. So long as you respect their wishes to remain insulated from the outside world, you will find its citizens to be kind and generous."
He continues looking expectantly at the lot of you.
***
(*) The Southern Continent goes through the Great Migration every several years. The geography of the entire continent shifts, sending its various cities and landmarks to new locations within its landmass. Last time it happened, the Sargrass vanished.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Thursday March 1st, 2018 1:56:20 PM
"Very well, I shall be glad to play along, for now."
Murphy responds, "Thank you. Let us be sent, then, and we will figure it out as we go along. May I carry the book? Is there any harm in looking it over before we carry it out?"
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50/50 Thursday March 1st, 2018 4:10:54 PM
"Carry out the ritual, I mean."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Thursday March 1st, 2018 5:20:08 PM
"This Sargrass place sounds nasty. Any chance we could go after an evil macguffin on a nice beach instead?"
Bliss / CatBliss (AC26, HP92of96) (Cayzle) Friday March 2nd, 2018 2:40:07 AM
Thank you, Master Mahyawu," says Bliss. "Can I ask one last question? This bloodweed, how do we cure it? Some of us were infected with it. Are we going to be ok?"
DM Carl - Spirited Away Friday March 2nd, 2018 10:12:36 AM
Mahyawu looks the party over. "I sense none of the bloodweed disease in any of you. It can be cured by divine healing like most other disease, thankfully."
OOC: Murphy and Pressi (I think) cured the disease earlier.
He throws a small bundle of twigs, feathers, and herbs onto the fire. A swirling portal quickly opens above the flames. "The Sargrass is deadly, Kezzem, but beautiful. It is our ancestral home. Be careful, but know I wouldn't send you anywhere you couldn't handle."
The portal waits.
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 59/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Friday March 2nd, 2018 10:27:23 AM
Hobie gives himself a quick tap with his wand of shield and offers to the group "anybody want a quick 1 minute shield boost? Just in case." He will tap anyone who requests it.
Then, still brimming with confidence, Hobie grips Prowler in his left hand, smiles at his group and says "Let's go!"
He runs forward and leaps headlong into the portal.
======== Shield = 1 minute Rounds of Haste Left 4/10
====== Spells Prepared Bonded Object Free Spell
0 Level Detect Magic, Read Magic, Light, Message
1st Level Shield, True Strike, Obscuring Mist, Grease, Feather Fall
2nd Level Resist Energy Fire, Invisibility, Invisibility, Cat's Grace
Hobie Browncloak (Nick T) HP 82/82 AC 25 CMD 27 Hero Points 2 Friday March 2nd, 2018 10:30:38 AM
Updating HP on Header, I realized I never updated after Murphy healed me a couple days ago.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 24 (28 total defense), HP 93/109, CMD 24, 1 Str damage; Rumpus - AC 26, HP 62/62, CMD 24 Friday March 2nd, 2018 2:05:49 PM
"I suppose beautiful, but deadly is better than silent, but deadly," says Kezzem. "Well, let's head out, I guess. Hopefully we can stop in that town to rest for a bit. I'm quite out of spells and stuff."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 21, HP 82/83, CMD 20; Harper-AC 21, HP 56/61, CMD 23; Followers Friday March 2nd, 2018 2:54:56 PM
Pressi looked over her resources left. A couple of L1 or divination spells. Both Breath of Life and Death Knell. And a couple of minor tricks like guide/mislead, clairvoyance, and tracking. Oh, and a couple of low level wands and scrolls.
It's going to be a bit of a day. And on top of it all, she's not supposed to bring up things about the outside world. How is she supposed to keep bringing up her past, thus keeping herself from exploding.
To Hobie, "I appreciate the offer, but I think you can only cast shield on yourself. And I might hold off on buffs until we see where we are."
She readies an obscure mist to fire unless they are beamed down into a town area.
"Ok, here goes nothing," she moves towards the portal.
----------
both: resist fire (shared spell) failed AC ritual (-1 to saves against spells)
Pressi protected by other (Kezzem) flying broom (6 hrs left)
Bliss erupts in laughter at Kezzem's silent but deadly joke!
"We already had loud and powerful back home!" he shouts.
But the little guy does not forget his manners. "Thank-you Mister Mahyawu! You're the best!"
Then Bliss changes into a cat and pounces through!
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50 (due to temp Con drop)/80 Saturday March 3rd, 2018 3:15:03 PM
As Mahyawu speaks, Murphy subvocalizes salient points, fixing them in his mind. "Sargrass. Great migration. Crystal Mountains. Rattledam. Monks. Calming chant for crystals. Sarr. Manfri. Kind and generous. Deadly, but beautiful. Be careful."
He gently opens the book with the ritual to get a feel for what is inside.
Then it is time to go. "Yes, thank you, Mahyawu. We will endeavor to do as you request. May the others gathered nearby do their parts well."
Book tucked under his arm, Murphy joins the others and passes through the portal, glancing over his shoulder with a nod of respect to Mahyawu before finding himself on the other side.
"Might anyone be able to offer minor restoration at some point, perhaps after a rest? The disease may be cured, but the effects linger within me." [down 5 Con] After a pause, he considers. "Perhaps one of the monks may be able to help me with that."
Murphy Leafwin Pipewood Druid 10a (Kim) AC 21 HP 50 (due to temp Con drop)/80 Saturday March 3rd, 2018 3:15:43 PM
And then, Murphy looks around to see where they are.
LOG ON