Encounter 5: School Pasture
Doh, I missed the above two posts before writing this... let's just say that Jynxx's warning comes just a moment before the creature appears. (And don't worry, there is nothing toxic or anything about the mud itself.)
The children screech laugh as they join in the mud fight. Hyza looks a bit exasperated, but doesn't try to stop them, only telling them not to go into the pasture. They cluster around the gate and behind the fence, while Jaronel runs back and forth, gathering up mud for them to throw.
After one of the children scores a particularly good hit on Chaku, the goliath roars in mock anger and slams his maul into the ground once more. Not only does mud fly, but also the ground shakes perceptably. Confused, the combatants fall silent and hold their fire as the ground continues to shift and rumble beneath their feet. The entire pasture is shaking! The cows low nervously and stamp their feet.
Then, in a shower of mud, dirt and rock, a huge serpentine form erupts from the earth in the center of the pasture! Not a snake nor an insect, but some bizarre amalgam, it has short legs set around a round body encased in chitonous scales. Its hissing head towers ten feet above a terrified cow, nasty-looking mandibles clicking, smoking fluid dripping from its maw...
The poor animal is frozen, trembling with fear, although one of the others immediately breaks into a run, slamming into the pasture fence, breaking through the barrier. It looks like it will keep going into the forest.
After a moment of stunned silence, the tiefling girl lets out a piercing scream of terror, and is soon joined by the other children (and Jaronel). Hyza looks shaken but tries to calm the children and starts to herd them back up the hill away from the pasture. Cillani, who had kept her distance from the pasture, moves to assist.
"Snap out of it, Jaronel!" she says sharply, tugging at the lad. He shakes his head to clear it and begins helping too.
[sblock=Perception DC 15]The tremors have subsided, but the ground is still shaking slightly, and ripples are visible in the mud patches here and there. It seems there are more creatures moving under the ground or in the mud, but you can't pinpoint their locations. But there seems to be at least one (if not more) under each of the four big mud patches.[/sblock]
[sblock=Init]
Azryah; Chaku; Jynxx; Kaeysari; Papolstaanas;Enemy (1d20+1=2, 1d20+2=18, 1d20+1=6, 1d20+3=4, 1d20+3=17, 1d20+10=17)
No surprise... Chaku won initiative and may act before the snake thing. Then it will take its turn, then back to the players' turn...[/sblock]
[sblock=Initial Positions]
I placed the PCs in spots that seemed reasonable based on the described actions - everyone just inside the pasture with Chaku and Papolstaanas ahead in the first muddy patch.
If it seems to anyone that your character would be someplace different, let me know. I did not place Chaku or Papolstaans inside a mud patch since it is hindering terrain that would require a skill check at the start of their turn, and I didn't want to force that on them without warning. But if Mezegis or Mewness would prefer to start a square or two further south inside the mud patch that's fine. Also, if anyone wants to be outside the pasture (not shown on the map) assume it's just clear terrain on the other side of the fence.[/sblock]
[sblock=Status]
18 Chaku - G11 -
40/40 (10/10) AP: 1
17 --- ENEMIES ---
Large Snake Creature - P11/Q12 -
no damage
---------------
17 Papolstaanas - H9
40/40 (12/12) AP: 1
6 Jynxx - E6 -
29/29 (8/8) AP: 1
4 Kaeysari - G6 -
39/39 (10/10) AP: 1
2 Azryah - E4 -
34/34 (9/9) AP: 1
[/sblock]
[sblock=Terrain]
Pasture Fence This low wooden fence provides cover to creatures behind it. It takes a DC 10 Athletics check to climb or hurdle it. (There are gaps in it as well.)
Deep Mud The entire pasture is fairly muddy, but the brown areas are especially deep mud. When a character enters or starts his turn in an area of deep mud, he is slowed until the end of his turn, unless he succeeds at a DC 15 athletics check. (You only must make the check once per turn - if you succeed, you can move normally in the mud for the rest of the turn.)
Stream difficult terrain
Rocks/Boulders - difficult terrain, and provide cover. [/sblock]
[sblock=Enemies]
Huge snakey creature
HP ??, bloodied ??
AC ??, Fort ??, Ref 13, Will ??
Basic Attack: Claw +8 vs AC; 1d8+5 damage
[/sblock]
[sblock=Map]
[/sblock]
