COMBAT ROUND TWO

Thorgwain moves to get to Larn. He falls when a branch vine wraps around his legs and smaller strangulation vines begin their attack, creeping around arms, legs, and neck for exposed flesh.  The red stripe of the vines stick to the skin and begins the digestive process while tightening its grip to strangle its victim.  Thorgwain is forced to drop his weapon and grapple with vines to keep them from wrapping around his neck, all while still holding his breath.  The vines begin contracting toward the main vine, pulling Thorgwain along the ground slowly.

The vine attacking Valeros switches targets as Duivelssmak approaches to lend the warrior an assist.  The cleric whacks the branch vine solidly with the blunt weapon, but does little in the way of actual damage.  Like a rope, these vines are rather immune to small blunt forces.  Valeros is unable to connect with the vine with the axe.

Durwe begins to climb the middle of the cleft to get to the main part of the vine, but two branches of the main vine move to attack him with strangulation vines swaying in eager anticipation of sustenance.  Durwe fends off the attacking vines, sacrificing the ability to attack to do so.

Aramil moves around others to get up to the main vine.  He begins climbing, but does not make it far when a branch vine attacks.  Aramil is pulled to the ground before the warrior can reach the large vine.  He struggles to keep the vines from strangling him.

Elmona targets the main vine with her bow and fires.  The arrow lodges into the side of the main vine above.  A total of three magic missiles target the main vine and strike unerringly.

Danielle, Camilla, Myshra, and Larn continue to be immobilized by the pollens.  Xune and Thardhrom have yet to be in a position to act, situated as they are in the back of the marching order.  The cloud of pollens thins as the companions retreat from its advancement.  It still comes, but is beginning to dissipate. 

---

Begin combat round three.
Thorgwain and Aramil can break free of the vines with a successful OPenDoors roll (5-6 on a d6) with STR adjustments applicable. If they break free, they may attack.
Holding breath: Thorgwain (4rnds), Valeros (6rnds), Durwe (5rnds), Aramil (4rnds)
For those avoiding the cloud, range to target(s) is now 50 yards.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:51, Mon 05 June 2023.

Val tried yet again to hit the vines, trying to aid Thorgwain with his axe, but was ineffective!

---

15:56, Today: Valeros rolled 4 using 1d10.  initiative.
15:56, Today: Valeros rolled 9 using 1d20+4.  to hit.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:26, Tue 06 June 2023.

The vine was too quick, and Aramil did not make it to the main part of the plant, busy as he was fighting desperately to keep himself free. He hacked again as a tendril lashed out at him once more.

---

23:27, Today: Aramil rolled 8 using 1d10.  initiative.
23:28, Today: Aramil rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  attack roll, sword.
23:28, Today: Aramil rolled 5 using 1d8+2.  dmg.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:12, Wed 07 June 2023.

Seeing that his melee attacks are useless, Duivelssmak puts away his mace and runs to the aid of Thorgwain, attempting to help him break free of the vines.

Elmona tried to shoot the vine again but was not successful. She kept edging away from the oncoming cloud

Durwe slashes at the branch vine with his sword.

"Finn, aim for the main vine!" Durwe shouts, unaware the mage was already doing so.

---

Durwe rolled 10,13,3 using d10,d20,d8.  Init, ToHit, Dmg (unmodified)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:36, Tue 06 June 2023.

Finn continues to slowly move backwards away from the cloud of spores. He might be able to keep this up for a couple more rounds and then have to figure out whether he had enough oil to continue or watch his friends perish.

He fires the wand again at the main part of the plant following Durwe's suggestion.

---

OOC: Last initiative as he waits, 5 points of damage.
02:13, Today: Finn rolled 5 using 2d4+2 with rolls of 2,1.  Magic missile.

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:15, Wed 07 June 2023.

Having expended her magical energy for the day and lacking a ranged weapon, Xune raged in silence from her position in the back rank. Unable to do anything but get in the way or distract, she adjusted her grip on the sword in her hand and waited for an opening, an opportunity to do something useful.

COMBAT ROUND THREE

Thorgwain continues to pull and strain against the vines that hold him, even with Duivelssmak's aid.  For now, the two of them deflect the vines trying to wrap around his neck to strangle him.  The red stripe sears the skin of Thorgwain's arms and legs as the digestive secretions affect his flesh.  Aramil likewise is unable to break free of the hold the vines have on him.  He is able to keep them from wrapping around his neck, but he too feels the effects of the secretions as she strains and pulls against the vines. Being held the way he is, he realizes an attack with his sword is futile.

Duivelssmak has to stop aiding Thorgwain when a vine attacks him.  He manages to dodge the entwining vines for now.

Durwe is unable to make headway in getting to the main trunk of the vine as he is again attacked by vine. For now, he manages to avoid being trapped within the grip of a branch vine.

A vine attacks Valeros as he moves to aid Thorgwain.  The vines wrap around his extremities, finding flesh where it can.  The digestive secretions sear his skin and pain lances within the fighter's mind.  Strangulation vines move toward his neck, but he manages to fend them off with both of his hands, having to drop his sword in the process.

Finn executes another trigger word and the wand expels two more magic missiles that streak up the cleft of vegetation to strike in the same spot as before.  The two missiles penetrate the thick cord of vine, shredding the inner linings before disappearing in a misty vapor.  The damage sustained is enough to sever its connection to all branching vines.  They all go limp, freeing those who are held.  The air still remains heavily saturated with pollens.

As some of the companions move further back, they realize they are now out of the area of effect of the pollens.  At sixty yards, the air is clear and fresh.

Having only moments of air left in their lungs, those within the area of effect untangle themselves from limp vines and working together, move themselves and the immobilized companions to fresh air.  It takes an hour and a half before all the immobilized characters have regained control of their mobility.  In that time, the cleft of vegetation has cleared of pollens, but the danger in moving forward is the spore pods still on the branch vines that can pop if disturbed.  A way forward will have to be worked out.

---

End of Combat rounds.

"[Private to group Drow: What in the infernal Hells was that?!]" Xune barked as the party finally found respite from the assaulting vegetation. "I hope there are no more of those nearby; it took too much to defeat that one."

"Well done everyone" Elmona said "We all survived that most unpleasant incident and are all in one piece"

"So can we just move around it? Is there something stopping us doing that?"

"I think we should destroy it. Burn it out. Do we have enough oil to do that?" He looks around at everyone, his glance lingering momentarily on Elmona.

"Burning is too risky and may backfire on us." Durwe replies to the suggestion.  He thinks on their way forward.  "Perhaps we will have to climb the steep wall instead of climbing up the cleft.  It's that, or everyone hold their breath as we move past it."

"Not me." Elmona said shaking her head "I observe it is quite easy for us get past if we want. We have stones and slings and arrows. The creature only has a limited number of spores. We can cause them to pop. After a few goes we can just walk past it"

"I would like to destroy it, but that looks quite hazardous and we have an important mission to undertake. Unless someone has a way to do that simply and safely, I recommend we move past it"

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:16, Thu 08 June 2023.

Valeros nods his head in agreement to the opinions, admitting he was wrong, "Okay, very valid points that show great wisdom, lets get moving and get around and away from this evil plant!" he says in reply.

"A wise summary" Elmona agreed with Valeros "And perhaps we can return here later and deal with it properly after our tome has been destroyed. I am uncomfortable leaving it for the same reasons you espoused, friend Valeros. It's only the bigger threat that pushes me to say "let's move on"

---

[Private to Elmona: edited for spelling tome instead of tomb. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:15, Thu 08 June 2023.

Valeros smiles to Elmona and grunts agreement, then signals Durwe to lead the way after everyone is ready to travel. It took a while for the spores to wear off.

Finn looks around for Syssylminsyl, making sure their temporary charge is safe, or still with them.  He holds his breath and helps retrieve the unconscious fellow questors out of the sporecloud.  He finds himself pulling out Cami, lying her down with her pack behind her head.  Healing is cleric work but he helps guard the others until they wake up.

A thought forms in his head; their party may not have been the first to meet this carnivorous plant. Before the others wake up he cast the spell 'Detect Magic' and scans the bottom of the cleft and the top where the roots are. If he sees anything he holds his breath and enters the area, retrieving anything interesting around the emanations.

With some of the party still out cold Finn settles down and studies his spell book to regain his spell back but fails, blaming it on his exposure to the spores. Once the party's awake he listens to the discussion before commenting.

"I have rope in the grappling hook. Too bad we can't harvest that pollen, it would be useful if we meet something really horrible."

04:46, Today: Finn rolled 20 using 1d20+1.  Con check - rememorize spells.


[Private to Finn: Spore pods can be carefully harvested. They can be sold as arcane regeants for the crafting of wands, and other majiks.  Being uncommon, they are quite valuable. They could also be ued as a ranged weapon if handled correctly.

Finn recovers an old leather pouch containing two magic potions among some old clothing and a few bones at the base of the cleft. They are labeled Climb and Health]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:49, Thu 08 June 2023.

Alaion steps over to the human mage and holds out a hand, "My time to hold the MM wand."

---

[Private to Alaion: edited to add quotes and reference to which human.

Finn]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:19, Thu 08 June 2023.

"We could just walk through carefully, not disturbing the pods. Slow is better." Camilla says, offering her suggestion. "I have an empty bag Finn if you want to collect some of those pods."

Myshra cringes inside as the paralyzing effects wear off. Her whole body tingles as her muscles awaken. It is quite an unpleseant feeling that eventually subsides. She regards the cleft of vegetation. While not loving the idea of walking through, it seems the best course. She is not really very good at climbing.

Duivelssmak looks over his companions, trying to determine who is in most urgent need of healing.  Like the others, he’s worried about the path ahead.  But any way they choose is fraught with danger.

[Private to Duivelssmak: Refer to the NOTES thread for Book of Vile Darkness for the injury comparison between characters. ]
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:02, Thu 08 June 2023.

"Agreed." Durwe says in reply to Valeros. He leads the way through the branch vines which contain all the pods of pollens. He moves slowly and carefully, moving aside vines here and there to make the way clearer for those behind him. It takes twenty minutes to reach the summit of the cleft which also happens to be the top of the last ridge they would have to traverse. The peak extends sixty yards before dropping in elevation into the denser forest. The trees beyond the ridge are high topped, some of the largest trees ever seen by the humans in the group and the underbrush thins a bit, making movement a little easier.

As the orher companions all gather with him atop the ridge Durwe explains, "We are still two leagues from the monastery."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:48, Thu 08 June 2023.

2nd of Gort, Mōnandæg 1450 hrs, clear skies, 85 degrees

The companions breach the ridgeline. From that vantage, they can see back to the distant lake and forward are the tops of trees all the way to mount Droskar and beyond. Injuries are then assessed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:26, Thu 08 June 2023.

Valeros was happy he was used to this kind of activity, though he was a bit out of shape after a break from the yards. He talked quietly with Elmona as they walked, and anyone else that wanted to converse as well. He was unhappy with his performance against the vine, he felt he should have done better. No one was hurt too bad, they would be taken care of soon if it was bad.