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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