IC II

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"Gardo is correct...although this isn't so much of a law vs chaos conflict between the treants and the ironborn." He turns to the treant and says, "It may be worthwhile pointing out the edges of your demesne to the ironborn. There is plenty of land for them to expand, even ignoring your area...Now; let us go slay this abomination."

[thirdkingdom]

Fourthmonth, Eighteenthday

The adventurers continue north, through a lightly wooded section, but soon after the demeanor of the wood changes: the trees get closer together, and a dampness can be felt on the air. Haaki, Newton, and Notai notice it first; the trees and vegetation begins to look sick, the new spring growth wilted, almost sunburnt.

Up ahead a river, or perhaps a large stream, can be seen through the trees, some seventy yards away, along with the remnants of a collapsed stone bridge. A foul miasma hangs in the air, and all is quiet.

Posting the hex map again:

Hex 237.122.png (27.49 KiB) Viewed 515 times

[shaidar]

Newton

"Shall I sneak up and take a closer look?"

[sulldawga]

Newton

"Shall I sneak up and take a closer look?"

Telemachus

"Sure, but take no unnecessary risks."

[thirdkingdom]

The Dam

Newton creeps forward, through the undergrowth, leaving the reins of his mount in Ribar's hand. The river, for it is a river, albeit a small one, at only about forty feet wide, spreads out into a placid pond. The remnants of an ancient stone bridge dam the eastern end; at a glance it looks as though it fell some time ago, as it is covered in moss and dirt, and has a few brave saplings -- now withered and dying -- growing up amongst the rocks. It looks as though it might be relatively easy to cross the collapsed bridge, perhaps by going single file, and leading the horses rather than riding them.

The surface of the pond formed on the western side of the collapsed bridge is still -- almost preternaturally so -- and covered with a thick sheen of some irridescent, viscous substance. The smell in the clearing is almost overpowering, rank and musky. The treant was right; most of the vegetation surrounding the pond is dead, or dying.

As Newton moves to return back to his comrade there is a loud CRAAACK, and a dry branch snaps under his foot!

http://orokos.com/roll/764727: 1d20 3

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

Feargus' head pops up at the snap. "What was that? Was that Newton? He's not yelling yet so..."

[shaidar]

Newton grabs the best cover available and peers out to see if anything heard him.

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

The mage closes to the far edge of Fireball range, Casfrea at his side.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton grabs the best cover available and peers out to see if anything heard him.

Round One

Sure enough, there's a moment's pause, and then a . . . thing . . . breaches the surface of the water, sending concentric ripples of oil water lapping the shore. Its head is long, and narrow, like an eel, with a sinuous body covered in a coat of long, wicked looking spines. Newton notes that some -- maybe most, he can't tell -- of the creature's body is still in the water. Short, vestigal arms ending in talons clutch at the air as the creature's head twists and turns, looking for the source of the sound!

To clarify, at this point Newton is the only one who can see the creature, unless anyone wants to advance. He *thinks* he's well hidden.

[shaidar]

Newton stays as still as possible, trying to gauge the size of the creature and hoping he's not spotted.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton stays as still as possible, trying to gauge the size of the creature and hoping he's not spotted.

Round Two

Sadly, it seems that Newton did not do a good enough job concealing himself in the undergrowth, as the thing's head swivels towards his hiding place. It hisses, a snake-like, bifurcated tongue tasting the air, and slithers out from the pool, propelling its long, eel-like body forward by means of the spines that cover its body. It is truly a bizarrre and alien creature.

Sneak Check: http://orokos.com/roll/765013: 1d20 1
Newton has time to act during Round Two, after which point we will be rolling initiative.

[shaidar]

Newton

"Guys, Help!" he shouts, before casting Entangle at the creature.

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

"...and there's the yelling. Let's go. Mardan - Stay here. Mind the horses."

Feargus slides his mace out and readies his shield as he tramps through the undergrowth towards the sound of Newton's voice. "Hopefully this doesn't go the same way the last aberration went..."

[VonAlric]

Gardo

"Wulfka, Notai, let's be careful. Use arrows at first as we close, if needed draw sword and spear to close ranks. Be quick! Mariusz! Watch the horses!"

Drawing sword and readying shield, Gardo charges ahead.

[thirdkingdom]

Feargus

"...and there's the yelling. Let's go. Mardan - Stay here. Mind the horses."

Feargus slides his mace out and readies his shield as he tramps through the undergrowth towards the sound of Newton's voice. "Hopefully this doesn't go the same way the last aberration went..."

Hahahahaha!

[Atlictoatl]

Haaki, the Feather Witch

Haaki moves forward, behind the men-at-arms, her dogs moving with her, until she gets eyes on the creature.

Is it about horse size/mass, or very clearly much larger than that?

What's your ruling on Telekinesis? It can only move up to 2000cn of weight, and a creature might weigh more than that, but I could see an argument for using telekinesis to move a creature's foot as it was walking and when it might have less weight/mass than that within a specific limb taking a step, thus disrupting its movement in some way. The unwilling creature would get a save vs. Spells, naturally.

[thirdkingdom]

Haaki, the Feather Witch

Haaki moves forward, behind the men-at-arms, her dogs moving with her, until she gets eyes on the creature.

Is it about horse size/mass, or very clearly much larger than that?

What's your ruling on Telekinesis? It can only move up to 2000cn of weight, and a creature might weigh more than that, but I could see an argument for using telekinesis to move a creature's foot as it was walking and when it might have less weight/mass than that within a specific limb taking a step, thus disrupting its movement in some way. The unwilling creature would get a save vs. Spells, naturally.

I'd allow that. Targeting a weapon that a creature is holding, for instance, to try to keep it immobile, or your example. I would *likely* grant an advantage to the save of some sort, depending on what you're trying to do.

[thirdkingdom]

Round Two

The creature is fast but Newton is faster. He utters a word to a spell and the vegetation surrounding the lake, sickly though it is, whips and bends towards the eel-creature, slowing but not stopping it. Frustrated that it can't get within melee of its target the creature hisses and arches its back; two of the spines shoot forth, like crossbow bolts, but whistle past Newton's head. He sees they are covered in a wicked-looking slimy substance.

The creature and Newton are separated by perhaps ten yards or so.

The other adventurers will arrive in time for Round Three
Initiative, PCs first:: 2#1d6 1 1
Save v spells:: 1d20 8 That's a fail, but the creature is going to use an ability to automatically succeed on the roll. It still only moves at half speed, though.

Creature will attack with two spines: Second rolls are saves for Newton:: 2#1d20+8 12 10 2#1d6 4 3 2#1d20 3 20

Man, you lucked out there!

[shaidar]

Newton retreats to join up with his advancing companions, as he does so he calls out "'Beware the entangling grass, and the thing shoots tail spines."

He will then fire his bow at it.

If the thing gets initiative and closes to melee before he can move then he'll attack with axe instead

[The_Wanderer]

Feargus

Feargus charges forward until he comes upon Newton and then places himself protectively between Newton and the direction Newton was coming from...and hopefully behind a tree...until he hears what Newton saw.