Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#201 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple Ruin

inside the room

Going down the stairs into the next chamber. The air is filled with gnats and flies, swarming in large numbers, drawn by both the sticky-sweet smell given of by the heap of tarry rags and inevitably drawn to any light source that the group carry.
The unseen gnome pulls the front of his robes up to cover his nose and mouth before heading over to the odd gnatty pile in the corner to investigate it closer.
Vennar will be looking for incoming hostiles from the side that he is currently on.
Mortar & Vennar proceed down the steps, swatting away the irritating bugs. The cleric approaches the door and the invisible mage goes to poke among the detritus littering the strange smelling mass. As the gnome gets closer, he realises midden heap of rags are actually dissolving articles of clothing with flakes of sloughed flesh and bones are still clinging to them. An old leathery boot still has a foot inside that a long rope-like sticky root is coiled around. As he nears the mound, each footstep causes minute tremors upon the foliage of the plant as it senses nearby movement. Too late the cry, as he and the cleric are both taken by surprise.

https://youtu.be/xm-0jrrn680?si=hjKAS36xmVBlCVp0

the above link is to a household drosera or sundew plant. However in the corner to this room is a giant and actually 'sentient' plant, with long sticky tendrils and an instinctive carnivorous nature ...

Sundew tendrils vs Vennar: [1d3]=2 vs Mortar [1d3]=1Sundew tendrils vs Vennar: [1d20]=7 [1d3]=3 [1d20]=16 [1d3]=3Sundew tendrils vs Mortar: [1d20]=10 [1d3]=2

As Vennar reaches out for the door handle, two long tendrils strike out for him. The first tendril slaps into his shield carried on his left side. But instead of being parried away like a normal blow, the bulbous head of sticky leaf does just that, sticking on the shield like a string suction cup. You feel the tension in the vine pulling at the shield trying to draw you closer. A second tendril strikes you around the neck area, attaching itself on exposed flesh between your armour and helm, -3hp The sticky gel on the tendril is acidic to touch and begins to rapidly burn upon your skin, your free flowing blood absorbed by the plant and energising it to exude more corrosive stickiness.

Mortar is also struck, the carnivorous plant ignorant of his unseen nature. Those behind on the stairs just see a single long tendril flick out from the heap and a spray of blood erupt at gnomish height as he is also attacked. -2hp

Both characters feel each tendril stuck to them pulling them in the direction of mass of thick leaves that centre the main body or stem of the plant. You can resist this of course but each tendril stuck upon you hampers your free movement and attack routines with a cumulative -1 penalty (so Vennar is -2 to hit unless you drop the shield, Mortar is -1 to hit) and each are drawn incrementally towards it.

Actions for Vennar & Mortar

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Sticky and corrosive tendril of Sundew
Sticky and corrosive tendril of Sundew
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#202 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple Ruin
Master and Familiar cross the plank, then Edel waits at the exit from the room, for Fawkes to return.
Edel waits patiently by the door of 'the treacherous room', content not to kick the beam into the cellar void just in case an expeditious retreat this way is called for. He watches out for Fawkes who has gone exploring in the interior courtyard of the ruin. Rogger torch bears in the passage just ahead of him, carrying the dimmed lantern with Esther & Galadria. Next come Goran & Durrant by the alcove.

This leaves Brick & Olleg & Jacupo on the stairs entering the room. This trio can react now to the unfolding surprise attack in the room ahead.

Actions Everyone please

Health status & conditions:

Galadria: 16/17hp
Vennar: 16/19hp
Fawkes: 2/17hp
Goran: 16/16hp
Olleg: 31/33hp
Brick: 18/18hp
Mortar: 8/10hp
Durrant: 7/7hp
Edel: 11/11hp (14/14hp with Pallas the Owl:
3/3hp)
Esther: 3/3hp.
Jacupo: 10/15hp
Rogger: 5/10hp

Armour Class:

Fawkes: 7/7/7
Galadria: 3/4/4
Vennar: 0/4/1
Goran: 3/7/3
Olleg: 4/6/6
Brick: 2/3/3
Mortar: 8/10/8
Durrant: 9/9/9
Edel: 7/7/7
Pallas the owl: 7/7/7
Esther 10/10/10
Jacupo 9/9/9
Rogger 10/10/10

7.00am:
Illumination: dim lantern in chamber, infravision.

Spells Available:

Galadria: DE cantrip, any 3/4 x 1st, 1/2 x 2nd lvl
Vennar: DE cantrip, any 4/4 x 1st, 3/3 x 2nd lvl
Fawkes: DE cantrip, any 2/2 x 1st lvl

Jacupo: DE cantrip, any 3/4 x 1st lvl, 2/2 x 2nd lvl.
Rogger: DE cantrip, any 2/2 x 1st.

Mortar: DM & RM, any 4/4 x 1st, 2/3 x 2nd
Durrant: DM, RM & Kn, any 4/4 x 1st, 2/3 x 2nd
Edel: DM & RM, any 3/4 x 1st, 3/3 x 2nd.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#203 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple courtyard:

Fawkes cautiously creeps to the gap in the boundary wall, wary of hidden threats. Standing by the former doorway, he concentrates upon the cairn of stones, the dark igloo's entrance giving off a definite and insidious aura of evil. Hard to pinpoint the exact dweomer, but it majors upon a hatred for light, life, freedom. Whatever or whomever inhabits its dark recesses seems best left alone. Fawkes is about to take a step to another corner but suddenly you feel a bony hand clutch upon your shoulder.

Temple Ruin: random vs 1 [1d6]=1 encounter
Bogeyman encounter type: [1d8]=3 skeletons!Skeletons: [2d6]=8 numberTemple: courtyard bogeyman [1d20]=9 [1d4]=4 misses.

The rogue so concentrated upon his study of the cairn neglects his immediate bounds and he looks up into the face of a skeleton. The figure is dressed in ragtag dungarees and clutches a pairing of shearing scissors which he uses to prune some of the white berries sprigs which dot the creeper vines that spread along the standing walls. Beyond him stand several other 'gardeners' who each go about a menial task, dragging a lawn roller over the same patch of rubble, one pouring water upon a corner plot of tomatoes, another pulls up weeds whilst others with trowels in hand mindlessly dig holes for the same pulled up plant to be re-rooted elsewhere.

Once Fawkes presence is detected, they initially stand to stare and scrutinise him, not sure if the Half-orc cleric is an intruder wandering out of bounds or legitimately part of the Temple community.

Actions please Fawkes

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#204 Post by Ythgar »

Goran, Halfling Thief, 16/16

Goran exclaims "Vinegar!" and dashes toward the cry of alarm, dropping the flagon as he goes and pulling his bow off his shoulder as he goes.

When he reaches the doorway, if he can see a clear shit to whatever cause the alarm, he will take it.

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#205 Post by Scott308 »

Durrant Winterflame - Human Magic User

Hearing the cries of alarm from the other room, Durrant tries to keep up with Goran, dashing to see if he can offer any aid. Seeing some sort of plant creature attached to his companions- well, one anyway, and one tendril hanging out in midair with blood somehow nearby- he casts one of his precious few offensive spells. Even if it isn't terribly effective in this situation, it is the most he can do to help right now. Holding his hands in front of him, a sheet of flames leap from his fingertips, he aims to try engulfing the scraps of clothing as well, in hopes of setting them on fire and creating a secondary burn for the plant creature to contend with.
Durrant casts Burning Hands, which will do 3 points of damage to the plant.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#206 Post by Rex »

Brick

Brick, rushing to cry of alarm will charge the plant creature and attack with his sword.

He loudly declares "Going in!" so everyone knows where he is.

Sword, Bastard [1d20+2]=4+2=6 to hit [2d4+5]=2+5=7 sm damage [2d8+5]=9+5=14 lg damage

I doubt it maters but I wasn't sure what size the plant qualifies as.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#207 Post by Stirling »

Fawkes

I try not to over react to the skeleton who has grabbed me. With eight of them I can try to turn them but I have no guarantee that such an attempt will be successful, even to Turn all of them. I want to avoid conflict if I can.

So instead I am going to try to bluff and taking off my sheepskin cloak, my vestment of bones is my priestly ephod. So I try to look like I am 'part of the commune' and will go to the rusty wheelbarrow and grab a spade, making out I am gardening too.

If I can bluff them to leave me alone, I will try to slip away, back through the gap in the wall and catch up with the others.

I don't want to draw attention though so will wait a turn or two to get the right time to slip away unnoticed.

To slip away ...
Fawkes: Move Silently thief skill vs 26% [1d100]=60

To get from collapsed ledge to the end of the beam ...

Fawkes: Climb Walls vs 91% [1d100]=91

(FFS, that was close to another fall ...).
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#208 Post by gurusql »

Vennar

Vennar will let go of the shield (for now) and strike back at the giant plant with his morning star. (-1 not included)

Morning Star: [1d20+1]=15+1=16 Dmg SM:[_2d4+1]=(3+1)=4+1=5 L:[1d6+2]=4+2=6
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#209 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Mortar tries not to panic once he is pulled towards this gnome eating plant.

When he sees the others rushing in to help, he tries to maintain his current active spell by letting them eliminate the monster first.

Holding his action as long as possible, hoping the others can either sever his tentacle or kill the thing outright, if that outcome doesn't seem likely, he pulls out his dagger, trying to free himself from the threat.

Dagger Melee Attack [1d20]=17 Dam [1d4]=4
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#210 Post by Edeldhur »

Straither wrote: Sat Jan 04, 2025 11:06 pmThe rogue so concentrated upon his study of the cairn neglects his immediate bounds and he looks up into the face of a skeleton. The figure is dressed in ragtag dungarees and clutches a pairing of shearing scissors which he uses to prune some of the white berries sprigs which dot the creeper vines that spread along the standing walls. Beyond him stand several other 'gardeners' who each go about a menial task, dragging a lawn roller over the same patch of rubble, one pouring water upon a corner plot of tomatoes, another pulls up weeds whilst others with trowels in hand mindlessly dig holes for the same pulled up plant to be re-rooted elsewhere.

Once Fawkes presence is detected, they initially stand to stare and scrutinise him, not sure if the Half-orc cleric is an intruder wandering out of bounds or legitimately part of the Temple community.
Would Edel notice any of this?
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#211 Post by Howman »

Olleg, Dwarf, 31/33

Sparing no time to think, Olleg charges with Brick towards the plant and begins hacking away at the main stem with his bastard sword. If possible, he will try to get roughly in between the main plant and Vennar, so that he can help the cleric free himself if he is dragged too close to the main plant.

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#212 Post by Edeldhur »

Edel

The Wizard moves to join the others further inside the complex, as he hears the commotion and the shouts for vinegar.

(Probably will peek around the corner from the top of the stairs)
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#213 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple Courtyard

Fawkes almost 'foorks' things up.

Skeletons: reactions? [1d100]=85 (favour his presence rather than attack)

The relentless gardeners perceive the wanderer and stare at him with bony-faced, placid grins. Disrobing from his designer outwear to reveal his more Highport urban wear (fox fur jerkin, overvest of bones, studded vambraces), the cleric-rogue cuts a less imposing figure and with his best orcish misaligned toothy smile, bluffs the skeletons that he is actually part of the Temple priestly community. He doesn't try and Turn Undead or other offensive gesture, rather he withdraws slowly, arms himself with a spade and begins to feign rooting around the wheelbarrow.

The skeletons however are drawn towards him, perhaps seeking comfort or direction. (result of failed MS roll, you cannot just sneak away).

The group shuffle around from the southern courtyard area, crossing the rubble strewn areas or going around the gaps in the remaining boundary walls still in place. Roller brings his rusty implement, trailing it in squeaky rotations behind him. Clipper cuts random sprigs of flora, snipping some ivy berries and mistletoe, Spadey digs in the footsteps of Fawkes, two Weedies start to pull up the overgrowth by its roots, Can pours thin air from an empty watering can upon the briars and thorns. Others convene to do menial tasks. Simply put, Fawkes cannot just blend into the background and sneak off after being observed. The second observation the skeletons make is the new gap in the wall which opens to the cellar void. It sparks some interest at least and Clipper goes to investigate it, staring into the cellar and at the giant ant colony activity below. Whilst his focus is taken for a moment, Fawkes tries to slip by, fumbling upon the last remnants of the ledge before it gives way under his feet. Somehow by the skin of his teeth he manages to cross before the rest of the ledge gives way.

Clipper becomes a cropper? vs 50% [1d100]=30

Clipper becomes a cropper, the skeleton standing in the gap of the newly collapsed wall suddenly drops into the cellar as more flooring gives way, landing upon the previous pile of rubble.

Skeletons reactions after fall? [1d100]=33

Fawkes can follow after the others, hearing the hue and cry of some conflict ahead

The skeletons behind look at their fallen comrade and as one, form a skeleton ladder. One lying down on the edge of the courtyard drop into the cellar, the next climbs over him and grabbed by the wrists, dangles for the next in line to proceed one after the other until they form a joined up ladder of bones.

However, it seems their intent is not just to create a climbing frame for Clipper to climb back up. Rather they look to cross the cellar and recreate a ladder of skeletons and clamber up the other side and follow after the Temple intruder.

Next Actions for Fawkes.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#214 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple Ruin.
Fawkes is a few rounds behind this encounter so can rejoin when the conflict is resolved.
Galadria, Esther & Rogger join with Edel, they group on the stairs into the next room (5), as a strange battle ensues in front of them.

Vennar releases his shield which is dragged across the floor as the tendril stuck to it retracts. The other one around his neck begins to burn him more, -1hp but he manages to swing his weapon to bludgeon the extended pseudopod and snap it as one might break a branch. -5hp.

Olleg rushes down the steps, severing the other tendril, -4hp. Brick also declares rushing in, aiming to hack apart the plant but amid the flurry of activity, his strike is parried aside. Durrant summons a spread of flame, fanning it out from the top of the stairs to arc over his unseen comrades as Jacupo directs his attack with being able to see those still invisible. The Burning Hands flame splashes upon the giant Sundew drosera but the viscous, tarry sap acts as a flame retardant and though the rags stuck upon it burn, the flames only inflict minor branding to the surface of the plant. -2hp. Goran sends a volley of arrows but each shaft fails to pierce deeply enough through the layer of rubbery resistance that is building up on the creature's surface, -2hp & -2hp Again, only minor wounds are sustained.

Mortar melts a little more, -1hp , severing the tendril that burns him, -4hp. Once the tendrils are cut, the acidic nature stops and suction breaks on each grip.

However, the creature as some base instinct and with its need to feed awakened by the groups entry into the chamber, it once more manifests a number of pseudopods to grapple with the nearest combatants.

Sundew tendrils vs Mortar: [1d3]=3 vs Brick [1d3]=3 vs Vennar [1d3]=1 vs Olleg [1d3]=1

Attacking by tremor-sense, it sends a trio of acidic, sticky tendrils out towards the unseen duo. It is a crucial moment as both Mortar & Brick are not only struck but each get gagged by the tendrils that coil around their faces and over their mouths and noses. In the struggle to free themselves from the grapple, they also struggle to breathe and begin to feel the faintness of losing consciousness.

Mortar -4hp
Brick -2hp

Sundew tendrils vs Mortar [1d20]=14 [1d3]=2 [1d20]=20 [1d3]=1 [1d20]=11 [1d3]=1

Sundew tendrils vs Brick [1d20]=1 [1d3]=1 [1d20]=9 [1d3]=3 [1d20]=20 [1d3]=2

It also senses the movement by the door and aims once more to latch onto those nearby,

Sundew tendrils vs Vennar [1d20]=17 [1d3]=3 vs Olleg [1d20]=5 [1d3]=3

Vennar -3hp is struck again.

Next actions everyone please
Health status & conditions:

Galadria: 16/17hp
Vennar: 13/19hp
Fawkes: 2/17hp
Goran: 16/16hp
Olleg: 31/33hp
Brick: 16/18hp
Mortar: 4/10hp
Durrant: 7/7hp
Edel: 11/11hp (14/14hp with Pallas the Owl:
3/3hp)
Esther: 3/3hp.
Jacupo: 10/15hp
Rogger: 5/10hp

Armour Class:

Fawkes: 7/7/7
Galadria: 3/4/4
Vennar: 0/4/1 (1/5/2 minus shield)
Goran: 3/7/3
Olleg: 4/6/6
Brick: 2/3/3
Mortar: 8/10/8
Durrant: 9/9/9
Edel: 7/7/7
Pallas the owl: 7/7/7
Esther 10/10/10
Jacupo 9/9/9
Rogger 10/10/10

7.01am:
Illumination: dim lantern in chamber, infravision.

Spells Available:

Galadria: DE cantrip, any 3/4 x 1st, 1/2 x 2nd lvl
Vennar: DE cantrip, any 4/4 x 1st, 3/3 x 2nd lvl
Fawkes: DE cantrip, any 2/2 x 1st lvl

Jacupo: DE cantrip, any 3/4 x 1st lvl, 2/2 x 2nd lvl.
Rogger: DE cantrip, any 2/2 x 1st.

Mortar: DM & RM, any 4/4 x 1st, 2/3 x 2nd
Durrant: DM, RM & Kn, any 3/4 x 1st, 2/3 x 2nd
Edel: DM & RM, any 3/4 x 1st, 3/3 x 2nd.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#215 Post by Rex »

Brick

Brick starts to slash away.

If possible he will target in this order:
First, the main plant, if he can't reach it
Second, the tendrils holding Mortar if he can determine which they are (attacking something not there etc.), if not then
Third, the tendrils attacking him


Bastard Sword [1d20+2]=14+2=16 to hit [2d4+5]=5+5=10 sm damage [2d8+5]=14+5=19 lg damage
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#216 Post by Ythgar »

Goran, Halfling

Goran will maneuver for his best shot and fire two more arrows at the plant.

3 arrows remaining in quiver! 4 subject to retrieval from sundew.

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#217 Post by Edeldhur »

Edel

The Wizard lets fly a magically conjured missile of pure force at the plant creature.

Magic Missile [2d4+2]=4+2=6
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#218 Post by OGRE MAGE »

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#219 Post by Stirling »

Fawkes

Fawkes: potion of Healing [2d4+2]=6+2=8hp

I will use my potion to restore some health back, +8hp

Watching the skeletons descend one after the other into the cellar then walk to try and climb up the near side, fills me with some dread. Ideally we need stop them following. I will run after others to warn them.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#220 Post by gurusql »

Vennar

Vennar not having a bladed weapon has no choice, but keep attacking the plant

Morning Star: [1d20+1]=3+1=4 Dmg SM:[_2d4+1]=(1+1)=2+1=3 L:[1d6+2]=4+2=6
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