Barrowmaze: BRAGging Rites

[Spearmint]

Exploring beyond the Mural.

The Barrow Grove.

"Oh, great and mighty hunter. Come present your offering. Hunt your kill to offer in worship. Does one come seeking the God's favour empty handed?" the words of the animated Caryatid where spoke aloud but directed to Sven. Your feeling is the 'tomb guardian' is aware of the presence of all of you but addresses its speech solely to the bearer of bow and helm. The mausoleum doors are closed, certainly shut to egress inside by physical means. You cannot push the doors open or locate any lock to pick.

"I can trap it for you?"

Gerdal says. could you explain how you plan on doing so.

Others mill about, ever wary in a strange environment. No threats emerge from the forest fringe, nothing to immediately threaten you (apart from provoking a stine pillar to wrath perhaps).

actions please.

[sastaz]

Gerdal says. could you explain how you plan on doing so.

Entangle!

[Spearmint]

if you are within range.

[sastaz]

Yes, absolutely. At this point she's just asking the opinions of the others. How far away are we vs the spell range? She also has Chameleon Skin spell to help her sneak closer if needed. Depending on the direction of the wind, the stag might rely on eyesight or smell/sound.

[Spearmint]

The stag looks to bolt. You have no ranger with you so tracking or stalking it may be an issue but Smokie might be able to follow scent well enough.

The request to 'hunt your kill to offer' does not specify this stag only. You might hunt or offer other animals.

Orgoth suggested his crossbow but the conclusion might be that an actual hunted creature is needed rather than an item.

Of course, Sven could try to Knock spell the doors open.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven isn't one to pass up a good opportunity, though he knows very little about shooting a bow.

He borrows one of the others arrows, (k)nocks it in the magic bow he carries, draws the string back, and takes a deep breath before releasing it slowly as he lets the arrow fly towards the stag's heart.

Random D20 [1d20]=16 maybe?

If his skills prove inadequate, he allows Yardi or one of the others to fire the bow instead.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth, seeing Sven shoot takes a shot with his crossbow as well.

Heavy Crossbow [1d20]=12 to hit [2d6]=7 damage

[redwarrior]

Isvand, Seeing the others shoot, sends a sling stone wizzing where the animal was.

Sling Attack [1d20+1]=6+1=7 Damage [1d6+1]=3+1=4

[Spearmint]

maybe?

Probably not ...

the arrow goes high and wide, the mage stretching new found muscles against the pull of the bowstring but the range and unfamiliarity with the weapon mean his arrow thuds into the nearest tree rather than piercing a Stag's hide. Crossbow bolts and sling shots are equally ineffective and startled by the sudden intrusion into its grazing peace, the Stag bolts into the forest depths.

Yardie gets equipped with the antlered helm and bow. It looks like a hunt is on.

Your halfling carved golems are fascinated by this place. They move half your speed which may hinder stalking a stag. They can follow or you can leave them at the mausoleum.

Smokie can scent the trail the stag took, ordinarily a wolf pack would run down such prey, chasing them to exhaustion over many miles. That might not be so practical here, especially if you got lost and struggled to find the Mural Portal again. And you are not a wolf pack but men on foot. But you are armed with magics and should you manage to sneak upon any grazing beast, a sorceress Entangle could snare one for an easier kill.

Barrow Maze: mural forest: Stag Hunt random vs 1 [1d6]=2 [1d6]=1 [1d6]=6 options [1d10]=7

There is no path cut, the dense forest close and shadowed. Entering it has that eerie feel, of stepping into forbidden depths. Birds tweet on branches before flitting quickly as you near, far off the echo of hooting primates, trunks covered in fungi growths and shiny slugs that slither nibbling relentlessly. Smokie is your guide, sniffing, checking for the Stag's musk. It takes several turns to gain more than a fleeting image of russet hide before it leaps again over hollow and bush to sprint of sight.

Fleeting images is what you often encounter. Several large squirrels, fur black as coal dash around tree trunks, helter-skelter spiralling up and across boughs quickly before a bead might be drawn upon them. They chitter then fall silent, dashing with leaps from tree to tree high above you. There is a long pause, listening for a bark of deer, a rustling of leaves or snapping of twigs.

Gerdal's cohort, the befriended woodpecker 'rat-a-tat-tats' somewhere behind you. Looking you spy no sudden danger but surmise the 'bird's eye view' notices what you can't see.

actions please and could I take a basic marching order as that might help any randomisation.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth reloads his crossbow as he waits for a plan.

"We may not make the best hunters."

[OGRE MAGE]

I would suggest the gnolems stay at the mausoleum, but that isn't my ultimate call. If not, perhaps they can be carried?

Sven sulks.

"Dammit! I should have tried a magic missile instead, but I thought the bow might have to be used."

"I dont think we make the best hunters, but we have plenty of magic on our side too."

If the opportunity presents itself, Sven will use any of the spells at his disposal which might help slow or stop the animal completely. (Sleep, MM, Levitation, Web, etc.)

"These other animals are acting strange. Keeping just out of reach, it seems. Are they real? Or some kind of an illusion? Why are they acting like they know something is coming for us?"

The young mage thinks about levitating himself above the trees for a better birds eye view of the area, but waits to see what happens first.

Smokie
Yardie
Orgoth
Sven
Gerdal
Gnimish
Isvand

[sastaz]

Gerdal has a look around and sighs.

"This does not seem like an ordinary forest. Maybe the animals are simply used to every visitor hunting them to present them as offering on that shrine? So we might just have to work harder than during a regular hunt. I mean I guess, never been on one. If I'd known we were travelling to a forest, I would have prepared more useful magic. Maybe we should come back once I have some more useful spells? Like you say, it seems like something or someone is watching us."

[Rex]

Orgoth

"I am sure something is watching us, it may be the Horned God, I don;t know. But if we are going to hunt I say we hunt."

[redwarrior]

Isvand runs as fast as he can to keep the group, let alone the stag, in sight. When he gets a clear shot, he grabs one of the magical sling stones he won in the contest and sets in in the pocket before winding up and letting fly.


Sling Attack wit +1 stone [1d20+2]=11+2=13 Damage [1d4+1]=4+1=5

[Spearmint]

Exploring beyond the Mural.

The Barrow Grove.

Yewwy & Willo are more than happy to wait by the mausoleum. The enchanted forest grove much more preferable to their liking than the fungus tainted dungeon corridors. They lament that Master Reggino was not laid to rest here rather than the ooze coffer. "Perhaps you could repatriate his body for us?" they ask.

Yardie: Herne bow [1d20]=14 [1d6]=2 [1d20]=6 [1d6]=1

okay, let me just edit some actions as I should factor in combat variables. Sven missed with the bow due to his Weapons of Proficiency penalty. However using the x3 for 'outdoors' yardage rather than 'dungeon' feet, with a clear shot both Orgoth and Isvand would wound the creature.

Injured by stone, bolt and arrow, the Stag staggers, bloodied and fraught into the undergrowth, bounding away from the group in a frantic haphazard way. Though out of sight, it leaves a significant trail.

The hunt still on and you are nearer your kill. But are the hunters also the hunted? The Woodpecker has given his warning that some dangers approaches though it must be camouflaged from sight. Gerdal herself takes to leafy, shadowed patterns and melds in chameleon fashion into the forest background.

Amos brings up the rear of the group. You pause considering the environment but cannot perceive anything or hear anything out of the ordinary. Pressing on but watchful.

Having injured the stag you think your quarry will not go too far before you can close in upon it. Yardie nocks another arrow, his first proving some proficiency, his second proving a need for target practice. A hundred yards, then a hundred more. Each step following a trail of leaves more bloodied than the last. Soon by s hollow, the exhausted and wounded Stag is seen and the mercenerary looses another volley, this time both pierce the stag and it keels over. The group move to lay hold of their prize.

Yardie: Herne bow [1d20]=16 [1d6]=5 [1d20]=17 [1d6]=5

Maybe entangle will not be needed ... however entangle is what you get. Approaching the slain Stag, suddenly the ground erupts with thrashing roots and vines. The branches on the undergrowth extend stalks that twist and twine, trying to snare legs and arms, restraining some, hindering the free movement of others.

actions everyone needs to save vs spells or be caught in the AoE of the Entangle. Those failing get restrained, those passing can exit the grasping root area. While Gnimish is able to wriggle free, Amos & Yardie are snared as they approach the stag.

Entangle spell save: Amos vs 15+ [1d20]=5 Gnimish vs 13+ [1d20]=14 Yardie vs 17+ [1d20]=4

[redwarrior]

Isvand cries out as very ground seems to dive away from him, and roots grow instantly over his legs and between his toes. Held fast, he can only hope that these plants don't grow over his mouth!

Save vs Spell target 12 [1d20]=1

[Rex]

Orgoth

Save vs spells (16) [1d20]=3

Orgoth struggles to break free. "Where is the caster?" He readies his crossbow.

[OGRE MAGE]

Oops, I forgot to put Amos on the list.

Save vs. Spells (11) [1d20]=8

Sven is also caught up in the aggressive undergrowth, doing whatever he can to keep his hands and arms free from being entangled.

If possible, he looks around the entire area for whoever cast the spell at them. "Gerdal, was that you?"

Then he shouts out loud. "We meant no harm here! We are simply travelers passing through this realm who wanted to leave a fitting offering at the mausoleum back there! We don't want to fight you! Show yourself so that we may parlay in peace."

[Spearmint]

The Barrow Grove

I will post this to keep you on tenterhooks while I await Gerdal's saving throw.

The writhing roots nab the unsuspecting group and tie several by hands and feet. Smokie turns invisible and manages to tear himself away from the twisting stalks. Sven, Orgoth, Isvand join Amos and Yardie in being restrained from further movement.

Gerdal blends in, her Familiar Harkazz's trait to help her camouflage makes her almost indistinguishable among the sudden eruption of violent greens and brown undertones.

the way I understand the Entangle is from this defining line, 'entwine about people holding them fast'. So a save lets you escape the area but a fail snares you arms and legs, stopping spell casting as well as movement, even limiting those who hold a bladed weapin from cutting themselves free for the duration.

Gnimish scrambles free, hacking at his binds and stumbling out of the reach of the aggressive plants. Out of the frying pan but into the fire ... while others struggle and look for the source of the ambush; dread figures of muscled foilage stalk across the high boughs, sneaking in predatory panther like fashion, creeping upon his prey, ready to pounce. The gnome is alone and though warding himself with loaded pickbow, the threat is too well camouflaged and unseen.

[sastaz]

Gerdal, being familiar with the plants' creaking sound as they stretch and twist, manages to sidestep and although tripping, quickly crawling out of the enchanted area.

Save vs. spell (12): [1d20]=14

She does not answer Sven's call, instead preferring to stay camouflaged and (maybe) unnoticed by the hunters.

Desperately trying to figure out what could save the group, she reminds herself that just like her, these creatures are not all powerful, their spells have limits and duration as well.

She quickly grinds some petals between her fingers and mumbles some silent prayers to forgotten gods. And suddenly the area is plunged into darkness.

Okay so she will cast Darkness 15' radius, trying to catch all the hunters if possible, buying time for her friends to escape or the Entangle spell to end. Range is 30 yards outside, so should be enough? If she can't catch the hunters, second best would be to cloak all her friends in the dark so the hunter's cant locate them before the Entangle spell ends and they can fight back.

Retain lv 2 spell vs 15 [4d6+2]=14+2=16 grrrrr

"I've bought you time, try to cut yourselves loose before they come! I can't stop them myself even if I wanted!"