Chapter 3: The Monastery at Dimwater

[Mant72]

Garden of the Serpent: Round 1

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Hearing Luna’s scream, the party responds by rushing forward to assist their companion. The cleric lies at the base of the fountain wrapped within the serpent’s vise-like coils. It continues to constrict, tightening its hold, giving voice to the priest’s bones as they audibly crack and splinter beneath the snake’s crushing grip.

Osprey, Phineas, Aric, and Yon dash up the covered walkway to aid Luna.

Osprey tries to hack at the creature’s writhing tail so as to not strike the young cleric. The warrior-mage misjudges his angle and fails to hit.

Phineas attempts to stab the vile serpent, but instead, the halfling slips and leaves a deep gouge in the side of the fountain.

Intending to help free the imperiled priest, Aric lunges at the constrictor with his bastard sword, but the barbarian's blade whisks silently by the deadly serpent.

Yon, cleric of Light, takes aim at the snake’s massive head and brings his club down with accuracy and force; however, it doesn’t seem to phase the creature as it continues to mercilessly crush the life out of the cleric (10 HP total damage from constriction; Luna dies).

Wil quickly abandons his exploration of the garden shed and tries to sprint over to deliver a deadly kick. The monk misses as his foot sails past the serpent.

Hexalon and Kragg hear Luna’s cry of pain and hastily return to stand just outside the garden’s perimeter. They are unable to comprehend what is taking place, as their vision is obscured by the thick vegetation. They frantically call out to their companions within for an explanation.

Actions for Round 2!

- Initiative: Party [1d6] = 4 vs Monsters [1d6] = 3. Party wins.

- The constrictor snake is considered a larger than man-sized creature, so, unfortunately, Yon’s critical hit only causes 2 HP damage.

- Damage from Giant Snake Constriction: [2d4] = 4 Luna is at -4 HP.

- Damage from Giant Snake Constriction: [2d4] = 6 Luna is at -10 HP and perishes.

- HP Status: viewtopic.php?f=337&t=5274

[Storm11]

Hex watches the approach to the garden from just within the gate, hiding behind some of the thick tangle of plant life, sling ready.

"What is occurring in there," he calls as the clerics cries abruptly cease.

RIP: Luna of Luna.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg "Knew better than to go in there." the dwarf says to Hex with his sword in hand "But I just am not willing to rush into that overgrowth. I'd be like a field mouse rushing to a snake in that overgrown garden."" ironically not knowing what lies on the other side of that garden.

[Storm11]

"Innit tho," the halfling nods to his dwarven comrade.

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey swings again at the enormous snake.

To hit with LONGSWORD [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17; Damage S/M [1d8] = 4; Damage L [1d12] = 10

[ravenn4544]

Wil shouts out, "Kregg! Hex! To arms! Battle is upon us! Luna has fallen!" He'll use his momentum from his missed kick to spin around with a knife-edge hand attack on the snake's skull.

To hit with Open Hand [1d20] = 2; Damage S/M/L: [1d3] = 1

[Storm11]

"Did you hear that, the lofty acolyte has fallen. We should assist don't you think hmmm?" says the halfling paling. Looking at Kragg he throws his long topknot of blonde hair over his shoulder and spins around, rainbow robes billowing, and begins to move carefully into the garden, following the sounds of combat, daggers bared. "I knew this garden was an ill omen, yes yes yes. Nature, no good can come from it!" he muttered as he went.

[Inferno]

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

Phineas lends his 'mythical' shortsword to the effort once more. The pointless death of their comrade moves him to exclaim bitterly: "There is no profit in this fight, like all our meaningless battles with the animal infestations of these outer buildings! We foolishly let our strength dwindle while the true prize is within our sight!"

Phineas: Shortsword: To Hit: [1d20] = 15, Damage: S/M: [1d6] = 3, L: [1d8] = 5

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg shrugs "Like lambs to the slaughter I guess there isn't much else but charge into it Hex."

[Grognardsw]

Aric hacks again but the snake eludes him once more.

Bastard sword attack (THACO 20) [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6 Damage SM [2d4+4] = 4+4 = 8, L [2d8] = 9

[ChubbyPixie]

Dismayed at the ineffectiveness of his blow and at the sound of Luna being crushed like a twig, Yon swings his club again at the creatures head.

Attack with Club (20): [1d20] = 9, Damage vs. s/m [1d6] = 4, vs. L [1d3] = 3

[Mant72]

Garden of the Serpent: Round 2

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Sensing that its prey has perished, the giant constrictor uncoils to release the crumpled and broken form that was once Luna. The moon-cleric's face is frozen in a rictus of sheer agony, and his spine is twisted at a horrific, unnatural angle.

After missing with a kick, Wil fluidly moves into another martial form and attempts a knife-hand strike to the serpent's head. Yon fights his sense of discouragement, takes up his club, and swings at the creature. The snake's speed is phenomenal as it darts out of the way and evades both of their attempts.

Phineas, perturbed that his companions continue to explore the outbuildings while the monastery's true treasures lie in wait, swings his 'renowned' blade and misses the enormous snake by mere inches. Aric wields his heavy blade in a deadly arc but the barbarian's aim is off, and he too fails to connect.

The immense reptile wheels around, hisses loudly, and lashes out to strike the giant northman. It slams down hard on Aric's shoulder, sinks its teeth into his muscle, and forcefully wraps around his chest. Its grip tightens as the barbarian groans in pain (4 HP damage from bite; 5 HP damage from constriction).

Fueled by rage, Osprey swings his long sword with precision and cleaves a huge gash into the serpent's side.

Finding this quarry too formidable, the serpent releases Aric almost as quickly as it grappled the barbarian. Aric immediately gulps in a huge lung full of air and winces in pain as his ribs expand. The wretched serpent begins to slither off into the safety of the undergrowth.

Hexalon and Kragg are reluctant to enter the tangled garden, but hearing Wil's cry for help, they know their companions are in dire need of assistance and heed the call to join the fray.

- Initiative: Party [1d6] = 2 vs Monsters [1d6] = 2 Simultaneous.

- Giant Serpent Attacks: Osprey (1), Aric (2), Phineas (3), Wil (4), Yon (5) - [1d5] = 2 Aric.

- Giant Constrictor Snake Attacks Aric: [1d20] = 17 Hit.

- Damage from Giant Snake Bite: [1d4] = 4

- Damage from Giant Snake Constriction: [2d4] = 5

- Hexalon and Kragg have now reached the battle and may take action for round 3.

- Hit Point Status: viewtopic.php?f=337&t=5274&p=233463#p233463

[ravenn4544]

Wil tries to refocus his inner calm briefly before attempting another knife-edge attack:

To hit with Open Hand [1d20] = 6; Damage S/M/L: [1d3] = 1


I guess he doesn't like snakes.

[Storm11]

Hex stops as he sees the retreating monstrous snake disappearing into the foliage.

"What in Aunt Sabalynes dust draws is THAT?" he gasps before seeing the i hired barbarian and then the crushed cleric. "Luna! NO! Say it isn't so!" he whispers his hand shooting to his mouth.

He looks warily around the overgrown garden in dismay, looking for anything else that might attack or be drawn by the blood before them all.

[coil23]

Osprey Palearctic, elven fighter/magic-user

Osprey swings his sword again at the serpent before it escapes into the underbrush. I want to know this is a corpse before we lay our heads down to sleep tonight, he mutters through gritted teeth.

To hit with LONGSWORD [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18; Damage S/M [1d8] = 5; Damage L [1d12] = 5

[GreyWolfVT]

Kragg charges into battle attacking with his sword at the giant snake. Scimitar [1d20] = 5 to hit [1d8] = 1 dmg

[Inferno]

P.T. Codswallop, halfling impresario:

Phineas was happy to see the tail end of the snake. "Please allow it to make good its egress," he expounded.

Careful for eggs and hatchlings, the little entrepreneur gingerly searched the statue and immediate area to try to discover what poor Luna gave his life for.

[Grognardsw]

Aric rages at the retreating snake and leaps forward to get in a parting cleave.

Bastard sword attack (THACO 20) [1d20+3] = 11+3 = 14 Damage SM [2d4+4] = 4+4 = 8, L [2d8] = 4

[ChubbyPixie]

Yon also takes a swing at the retreating snake. While his wisdom warns him otherwise, his anger at the death of Luna, though he barely knew him, drives his actions.

Attack with Club (20): [1d20] = 2, Damage vs. s/m [1d6] = 5, vs. L [1d3] = 2

...he is overcome by emotion, however...

[Mant72]

Garden of the Serpent: Round 3

The diminutive halfling, Hexalon, can only stand in shock, nervously gripping his long topknot, staring in horror at the broken corpse of Luna while some of the other party members continue to attack the retreating serpent in hopes of vanquishing it before it departs.

Wil, Yon, and Kragg all miss with their attempts, but Aric and Osprey land parting blows on the colossal serpent. The creature is gravely injured and grows extremely sluggish; however, it finally escapes its pursuers and makes its way into the dense undergrowth.

Phineas warns the others not to provoke the dreadful serpent any further, but yet again, the halfling’s wisdom goes unheeded. He slowly shakes his head at their folly and takes the opportunity to investigate the statue and fountain, hoping to discover what Luna might have sacrificed his life for. He notices nothing peculiar about the statue, but among the leaves and twigs that have collected in the bottom of the fountain, the impresario spots an old finger bone that still wears an ornate, silver ring.

It is now midmorning, and the sky is still overcast. An eerie quiet hangs over the party as they stand in the overgrown garden reflecting on the loss of Luna.