Quest #31 "Jungle Beaver"

[kruk]

Lerrick

What evil is this? The cleric nearly loses her balance on the branch. She regains it quickly, then scampers down the trunk of the tree to the ground and moving to a position (behind Tlachtga. She then begins to pray to to summon the power to turn the undead creatures.

If she can't turn undead this round she will try to do so next round.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"I knew it!" exclaims Maag. He draws 'arry der Bastard's sword and turns to face the creature rushing at him and Andron. Once it's within reach, he brings the large sword down with tremendous power, but steps dangerously close to his opponent as he does.

'arry der Bastard Sword (THACO 18) [1d20] = 14 Dmg S/M [2d4+5] = 7+5 = 12 Dmg L [2d8+5] = 12+5 = 17

Save vs Death, Paralysis, Poison = 13 [1d20] = 7

+1 from Bless not included.

The dice roller giveth and the dice roller taketh away... Fingers crossed that Maag got him first.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Save vs Paralysis (10) [1d20] = 6

She casts Faerie Fire on them.

+2 to hit for everyone once/if she gets the spell off.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche carefully watches as Alordan and Gramble approach the rather stiff capybeaver. After their trips to the small island, he understood now Alordan's normally pessimistic outlook. If something doesn't look dangerous here, it's probably even worse.

Just as his spell to detect evil auras expires, he notices a hint of evil in the vicinity of the rodent, like a glint of gold deep underwater. The alarmed expressions of the hunters foiled the surprise, but not the impact, of the deathly looking humanoid that leaps onto the muddy bank from the river.

If not by appearance, the charnal and grotesque smell confirms the source and nature of the rodent's paralysis. A ghoul, or more technically, a lacedon. A water ghoul. A splashing sound and a curse from Maag heralded the arrival of another lacedon behind them. Andron retreats a few steps towards Lerrick's perch as he reviews his options.

He recalls that a Protection From Evil spell is proof against ghoul attacks, but realizes with a silent curse he lacks the required material components. An attempt to turn it would be less than likely to succeed, so he opts for the traditional approach.

Casts Light at the south ghoul.

Save versus Paralysis: [1d20] = 17

[ravenn4544]

Alordan attacks the evil thing in the water. They never run into 'good' things in the water, it seems.

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 10+1 = 11 (THACO=18)
Long Sword Damage(+1 str/+1 weapon) = S/M: [1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8 / L: [1d12+2] = 7+2 = 9

Save vs Paralysis (13) [1d20] = 7

OOC: didn't include any bonus from the bless spell - which would be awesome to take advantage of here

[OGRE MAGE]

Sorry for the delay here, but this is a pretty important roll for Wolfpack and I am reluctant to act for him in this particular case. You know what they say about suspense.

[wolfpack]

Gramble slips and misses his attack

[1d20+3] = 2+3 = 5


save
[1d20] = 5

[OGRE MAGE]

Death From The Shallows
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Buggy

The awareness and suspicion from the cautious group likely saves them, as they are barely able to get the jump on the advancing water monsters. Gramble and Alordan attack first as the beast lunges towards the ax wielding fighter. His swing is foiled by the sticky mud he stands in, allowing one filthy wet claw to rake the back of his hand and arm. 2 dam Gramble suddenly stiffens and becomes rigid with paralysis, trying in vain to continue his attack. Alordan swings away as well, connecting by the grace of Lerricks blessing and chopping off the hand that just struck his companion. A gush of watery greenish blue ooze pours from the monsters horrific wound, but that doesn't seem to reduce its desire to kill the ranger one bit.

Maag also steps forward to greet his ghoulish adversary, while Andron and Tlachtga frantically casts spells from behind the friendly thug. His heavy sword chops the monsters arm off at the shoulder, a blow that would have surely killed a normal man, but not this watery abomination. It leaps at the thief anyway, biting into his neck hard enough to produce a bright spray of spurting crimson blood, until he too seizes up form the bites terrifying after effect. 10 dam from a crit

As both of the monsters suddenly start to glow a purple hue from the aid of druidical magic, making them easier to target, a bright light also appears in the face of the one trying to eat Maag, essentially blinding it for the duration of Andron's illumination spell. That's when the priest of Rao notices that this ghoulish monster of the deep has a badly rotting wooden peg leg below its knee instead of a normal lower appendage.

Lerrick sees the horrors appear and quickly hops down from her elevated perch, moving towards them while brandishing her holy symbol in an attempt to chase off the undead monsters attacking her friends. (give me a d20 roll for the turn, please)

Actions!

position map:
X=glowing monsters

2775DB9F-AA61-4932-95E5-0CF8622B01C3.jpeg (57.52 KiB) Viewed 467 times

Gramble 17/24 (Paralyzed)
Alordan 19/22
Andronichishche 8/11 1/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st Light:80
Lerrick 17/20 5/5 1st 2/4 2nd Bless:1
Maag 5/17 (Paralyzed)
Tlachtga 13/16 1/4 1st 3/3 2nd FF:8

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga touches Maag from behind, Cure Light Wounds.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 4

Spell slot struck.

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric stops and says in a strong authoritative voice Begone foul creatures!!

turn undead (4th level cleric): 1d20: [1d20] = 5 uggh

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche could only watch in horror as the lacedon attacking Maag completey ignores the brutal sword slash that severs one of its arms at the shoulder. Only years of discipline kept him focused on casting a Light spell at their undead foe. As the ghoul continues it charge, bodily connecting with the half-orc and planting its face to tear into the thick neck, Andron's spell conjures a globe of light directly onto its eyes. It was too late to help the poor thief though, as Maag awkardly slumps to the ground in rigid paralysis.

A similar heavy thud to his left suggested Gramble had met a similar fate and a quick glance in that direction confirmed it, as Alordan braces for another attack by the now one handed ghoul. In less than a second, Andron's acute mind assesses the situation and calculates his options. The nearby ghoul now blinded, left the other as the more serious threat. Still unsure of his chances to turn them and out of spells, he moves to his left towards Alordan and reaches into his pack.

He pulls out the holy water sprinkler named Withering Venom. Andron twists the head so that the holes align, priming the liquid inside for use. To avoid accidently spraying the ranger, he waits until the combatants' maneuvering allows him a clear shot at the ghoul, then flicks the sprinkler to rain liquid upon it.

[Quonundrum]

Oh, Andron should be 0/4 1st level cleric spells now. He had cast Light, Voice of Rao, and Detect Evil earlier on the beach.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan sizes up the movement of the evil creature and see's it's defenses weaken with only one hand! He darts in and drives home a sword strike!

Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19 (THACO=18)
Long Sword Damage(+1 str/+1 weapon) = S/M: [1d8+2] = 5+2 = 7 / L: [1d12+2] = 2+2 = 4

Dagger Attack (off-hand) [1d20-1] = 4-1 = 3

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag lays on the floor, desperately trying to flex his muscles to break the horrible paralysis.

[OGRE MAGE]

Oh, Andron should be 0/4 1st level cleric spells now. He had cast Light, Voice of Rao, and Detect Evil earlier on the beach.

Thank you!

I wonder if it would help if I rigged up some kind of shock collar to zap me every time I forget to adjust those.

[OGRE MAGE]

Lacedonia
Moonday, 22nd of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Buggy

Unable to see anything else but the food it is chewing on, the peg-legged water ghoul eating Maag takes another bite, 3 dam just as Tlachtga moves forward to heal the unmoving hoodlum.

As if things weren't bad enough, a second pair of these undead monsters begin crawling up from under the surface of the water, heading straight for the fallen Gramble lying there in the mud. One of them has a rusty hook protruding from its left forearm where its wrist and hand used to be.

Andron remembers the sprinkling device they found on their last adventure, pulling it out and splashing the horrid lacedon with the liquid contained within. The withering venom doesn't seem to have much effect on the undead creatures, but the priest of Rao does notice something strange happen once it splashes on any nearby vegetation. Any greenery growing on the bank that was contacted by the liquid instantly browns, shrivels up, and dies, right there in front of his eyes.

Alordan isn't taking any chances with 2 more deadly monsters on the way, ducking its one armed attack while pivoting to put himself into position for a powerful and accurate slash that concludes with him beheading the slobbering threat attacking him.

Then Lerrick steps up with authority and commands the beasts to retreat. To her surprise, they instantly obey her. Reluctantly stopping their attack, they slowly return back into the river again.

Though alive, Maag and Gramble are both still unable to move from their positions on the river bank.

Actions?

Gramble 17/24 (Paralyzed)
Alordan 19/22
Andronichishche 8/11 0/4 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/2 1st Light:79
Lerrick 17/20 5/5 1st 2/4 2nd
Maag 6/17 (Paralyzed)
Tlachtga 13/16 1/4 1st 2/3 2nd FF:7

[ravenn4544]

Alordan makes sure the thing is dead. He'll check on Maag and bind any wounds as best he can. Under his breath can be heard, "Hunting beavers and now fighting the walking dead..."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga touches Maag again, Cure Light Wounds. "I only have one more healing spell."

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 8

Spell slot struck.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche blinks in surprise at the effects from using Withering Venom. He was expecting, more like hoping, it would damage the ghoul, but the shriveling foliage at least confirms his earlier thoughts about the device. The arrival of two more lacedons abruptly demands his attention, however, and he carefully twists the sprinkler head shut, considering the situation.

An erupting fountain of blue-green fluid from the now severed head of the ghoul facing Alordan at least proves that the creatures could be killed. He stows Withering Venom into his pack and looks to his right to check on Maag and Tlachtga.

Andron notices with relief the footpad yet lives as he reacts to the healing magic from the druid. This is tempered by the blinded peg legged ghoul continuing to gnosh on the half-orc's neck, though.

A clear and stern female voice from behind him heralded the divine rebuke from Lerrick's god, Pelor. He sighs deeply in relief as the lacedons are forced to obey and retreat from the muddy banks back into the river.

Andron's eyes widen in alarm when he sees the hook handed ghoul, a sudden realization dawning in his mind. Slipping on the muddy ground, he struggles to drape one of Gramble's meaty arms across his neck. He pivots to half carry the large human while keeping his gaze on the now retreating peg legged ghoul.

Straining through the effort, he says, "We have to get away from here ... now! No time to explain ... we must get back to the beach!" Breathing heavily, he plods up the bank to follow the trail south.

[Quonundrum]

If Gramble's hand isn't locked around the hilt of Labrys, he makes sure to grab the weapon with his free hand.