Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8359386" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #057: Garthok the Thunder Boar Avatar of Talos, a Shambling Mound, the Moonboar and Newt's new Demon 'friend'. </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NPCs</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7</strong></p><p><s><strong>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </strong></s><strong>RIP*</strong></p><p><strong><s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard</s> RETIRED</strong></p><p><strong>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Servants/Familiars</strong></p><p><strong>Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks</strong></p><p><strong>Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar</strong></p><p></p><p>This is session 57, and yet another cracker, and with yet more fighting, of course... the start of the finale, at least for this part of the adventure.</p><p></p><p>Oh, but here's a new thing-</p><p></p><p>The date is Eighth-day, 8th Mirtul, 1493 Year of the Purple Dragons</p><p>The time is 10:29 AM</p><p></p><p>I figure I start every session on Fantasy Grounds with the above (and a recap of the previous session), so- I may as well put it here too.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad are in pursuit of a pack of Talos worshipping half-orcs and their boar chums, they're heading at speed through the Dreadwood, which is looking very dark and foreboding at the moment, there's a storm brewing.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers are of the opinion that this particular storm signals the arrival of Garthok, avatar of Talos.</p><p></p><p>I appreciate the storm-thing is a tired trope but... they're Talos-worshippers, adherents of the Storm Lord etc. so, forgive me...</p><p></p><p>In the last session the PCs defeated another Talos style ambush- and another Gulthias Tree with a big bag of Blights for company, but the adventurers- as stated, put paid to the attack, or else the attempt to slow them down.</p><p></p><p>Therefore, after defeating the Blights the Dark Squad do a little further (cautious) investigating of the tree, and find a few more low level treasures- tributes left for the evil sentient plant, and then... well, Newt burns the ugly plant to the ground.</p><p></p><p>It's what he does, the other members of the Dark Squad try to ignore the fact that the cackling tabaxi capers and dances around the tree inferno, singing praise to his fire demon overlord- Belphegor.</p><p></p><p>Imagine the scene- Ram & Vinnie heads bowed pretending to exchange urgent exhortations, Daktari looks on, slightly bemused, or else confused- it's one of his go-to options. The barbarian is trying really hard to listen to his two articulate companions, and to nod along and grunt in all of the right places. But... in the background, behind the earnest adventuresome trio is the mad tabaxi- screaming and whirling like a dervish as the roiling inferno, like a twisting staircase of flame reaching up to the dark heavens, seethes and burns the latest Gulthias Tree to charcoal black.</p><p></p><p>He's a distraction, that Newt.</p><p></p><p>Warlock's and their patrons, whatchya gonna do? Laugh at them? Try to manufacture some sort of plausible deniability (this is Vinnie's game)? Or else just ignore the strutting mad peacock (Ram's practice)?</p><p></p><p>Still, it never gets dull.</p><p></p><p>[Burn the Gulthias Tree 300 XP]</p><p></p><p>Then, after securing the trail onwards, a short rest- the adventurers were pretty beat up after the last fight, Newt puts up another Leomund's Tiny Hut, and welcomes his colleagues in- all smiles.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141495[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Newt welcomes his colleagues back into the Leomund's, he's made scones.</strong></p><p></p><p>Like the previous crazy never happened.</p><p></p><p>Then onwards...</p><p></p><p>On the trail through the Dreadwood, and eventually a regular path is discovered, and once again it's Vinnie and Daktari that are leading the Squad through the darkening forest, the pair are by far the best trackers.</p><p></p><p>About two hours or so along the path and there's a large stone ahead, around which the trail bifurcates only to meet up again on the other side of the rocky erratic. Most odd, or at least... but, what's this. Vinnie spots a druid mark on the stone outcropping, but Ram cautions his comrade and checks the place out first- no traps, the rogue thinks.</p><p></p><p>The druid mark indicates that something is buried at this spot, and sure enough (after more cautious investigation) a bark-paper note is unearthed, again using druid sign the author has communicated-</p><p></p><p>“WARNING! GNOLLS AHEAD.”</p><p></p><p>[Gnoll warning 200 XP]</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad take precautions as they move on, and ready themselves for another fight. What they don't do however (sigh) is wonder for a second who left this druid sign here for them to find... and remember we're in the Dreadwood. A place not known for its friendly faces.</p><p></p><p>Note, I may have left my own erratic (well-hidden) in the paragraph above, hopefully the Dark Squad can spot my subtle query.</p><p></p><p>Thirty or so minutes later and the gradient is increasing, the trail is heading deeper into the Dreadwood, and quite definitely uphill. Eventually it winds into a slew of verdant canyons, lots of re-checking from the trail-finders but the Dark Squad are still on course.</p><p></p><p>However, the warning message.</p><p></p><p>Eventually, after a little more chatter- including a brief spat between the druid and the warlock about who's familiar is the best-</p><p></p><p>“Well, Owly can see just as well during the day as the night, and he looks nicer!”</p><p></p><p>“Gerald, is just way cooler- and I get to ride him- no contest!”</p><p></p><p>You'll note Vinnie's peon to Owly (above) is not written in a French/Mediterranean accent, that's because it wasn't Vinnie saying the line, it was Jim (Vinnie) and Bear (Newt) playing Top Trumps with their respective animal companions.</p><p></p><p>[Top Trump Familiars 100 XP]</p><p></p><p>Anyway, it is decided that an aerial recon of the area ahead is needed, Owly & Gerald are sent aloft.</p><p></p><p>Twenty minutes later and Vinnie and Newt are certain that there are gnolls within the canyons through which they must travel... or do they have to go through the canyons? Vinnie is certain that the area ahead can be avoided- they can go around, it'll add a little time to their journey and they'll have to pick up the trail again, but... no threat.</p><p></p><p>Then an odd thing happens, although not so odd if you've been with this narrative for a while- everyone is in favour of avoiding this encounter, everyone- except Newt.</p><p></p><p>Newt, oddly/surprisingly, is of the opinion that the gnolls must burn, and that the Falcon specifically tasked them to kill these creatures, which is exactly what the Dark Squad should do- he thinks.</p><p></p><p>Note, just to add a little clarity- Belphegor has let Newt know that he needs to add more souls to the fire, he will receive favour from his fiery demon lord if he sends 100 fresh souls Belphegor's way. So, gnolls have souls...</p><p></p><p>There follows a swift-ish debate- Vinnie & Ram offer up cogent and reasoned arguments about why going around the gnolls would be the smart thing to do. Newt sticks to his guns, and repeats/rehashes his one dodgy argument- the Falcon said to kill gnolls.</p><p></p><p>Actually, gnolls were on the list of creatures for which the Falcon offered a bounty, she didn't however specifically tell the Dark Squad to kill gnolls- she did tell the adventurers to find and follow either the boars, or the gnolls, into the Dreadwood.</p><p></p><p>But that all happened a long time ago- about three days ago in game time, in Session 50a, that's seven weeks ago real world.</p><p></p><p>Ten minutes later and Vinnie and Ram are getting desperate, they're scratching around for fresh reasons why the Dark Squad should just avoid the gnoll encounter.</p><p></p><p>Newt however is steadfast, he has ignored everything that Vinnie and Ram have said so far, and just repeated his line.</p><p></p><p>“The Falcon said...”</p><p></p><p>Eventually, it is decided that Owly & Gerald should be sent aloft for another recon mission, this after I (your bemused DM) made all of the PCs make an Insight check to realise that the last aerial recon failed to reveal... a leader type. The Dark Squad know from hard earned experience that the gnolls must have a strong leader somewhere in their midst.</p><p></p><p>Also the DM was trying to get things moving.</p><p></p><p>The second aerial recon reveals, of course, that hidden within an ancient and partially collapsed primitive stone building atop one of the mesas is... another of the Talos worshipping half-orcs.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141496[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The obligatory Talos-bothering Half-Orc is spotted, and thus the encounter gets a spot on the Dark Squad's to-do list.</strong></p><p></p><p>[Double good recon and amusing chatter 400 XP]</p><p></p><p>Well, that does it.</p><p></p><p>All thoughts of going around the encounter are set aside- the Dark Squad are going in, but first a little Pass Without Trace from Vinnie in order for the PCs to creep back into an advantageous position.</p><p></p><p>Although, a word about climbing- the tabaxi, of course, has a climb speed- he is however terrible at athletics. So, when he wants to do a bit of climbing (because he has a climb speed) I (your kindly DM) usually say something like- “Yeah, no problems- make an athletics check, just don't roll real low”, or, “... just don't roll a '1'”. Real low in our game is an adjusted roll of '5' or lower.</p><p></p><p>Every time I say this to Newt, well... he rolls very low, more often than not- very, very low. This evening he tried climbing twice, he rolled a '2' and a '1'.</p><p></p><p>So, the PCs eventually get into position- this after Ram lowers a rope down to help the tabaxi (with a climb speed) to get up onto the particular mesa that they have selected for the starting point of their attack.</p><p></p><p>[Ram helps Newt (with a climb speed) up onto the mesa 40 XP]</p><p></p><p>There are about eight or so gnolls hidden in the canyons here, with the Talos half-orc up in an elevated position- a (formerly) well-hidden lookout, atop the next mesa across. But the Dark Squad are content to watch and wait until the Talos-worshipper is concentrating his search efforts elsewhere. At which point Ram and Daktari, with Vinnie's Pass Without Trace going until they move out of range, head forward. The pair leap ten feet from one mesa to another, and then creep up on the enemy leader.</p><p></p><p>Seconds later and the half-orc is screaming, and only just clutching onto life- Ram crits with his sneak attack, Daktari also doesn't miss, and now he's raging. This in the surprise round, and then the pair get initiative again, and just keep on hitting. The enemy boss goes from ninety hit points to fewer than ten in a matter of moments.</p><p></p><p>The gnolls hear the screams and come running, some attempting to jump from mesa to mesa, others having to climb up to help their leader.</p><p></p><p>Newt blasts one of the approaching gnolls- repeatedly, leaving it critically wounded, why is this interesting you ask yourself, well... remember this guy.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141497[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>That's the Gnoll, officer! Its not like I did it on purpose (have the Hexed Gnoll flee) I just figured that the critically injured fellow had seen enough. </strong></p><p></p><p>Daktari and the rogue are hit by the Talos half-orc's Thunderwave, but that's the last attack it makes- Ram sticks his rapier through the creature's heart- dead.</p><p></p><p>At which point a few of the other gnolls have made it to the fracas, and they're rampaging- running screaming at the Dark Squad pair.</p><p></p><p>Ram and Daktari take a few hits, but they give far more than they get, as always.</p><p></p><p>Meantime Vinnie, safely ensconced on the next mesa over, has been throwing Produce Flame spells into the fracas-</p><p></p><p>Vincenzo: Lord Belphegor take zis soul! Zut alor! I did not mean zat!</p><p></p><p>That is until another gnoll climbs up onto the rocky outcropping to join him.</p><p></p><p>Oh, but do you remember the critically injured gnoll that Newt blasted, well this feller was also Hexed by the tabaxi warlock, and so... the gnoll flees, and is out of sight (and off the map) in seconds. Which gets a reaction.</p><p></p><p>“No, wait! My Hex spell- that lasts eight hours, if the gnoll doesn't die... I can't... But... No!”</p><p></p><p>Newt abandons the fight (and his comrades) and attempts to chase down the fleeing critically wounded gnoll. Which he does, eventually, but not before he has used an inspiration point, his feline agility, and... a scroll of expeditious retreat, all in an effort to get in range of fleet footed badly wounded (but Hexed) bastard.</p><p></p><p>I think the above nicely sums up Newt- single-minded to the point of obsession, prepared to sacrifice everything, and happy to abandon his colleagues in an instant.</p><p></p><p>Oh, and by the way some folk would read the above and think that the author was criticising the player, I'm not- great work Bear, loved that you started/insisted on the fight, and then abandoned it after maybe two turns of the action.</p><p></p><p>However, the encounter gets wrapped up quickly- particularly when Daktari grabs up the fallen body of the Talos half-orc and hoists it above his head. The barbarian screams cod-Russian obscenities for a short while, and then throws the corpse in the face of a gnoll climbing up to attack.</p><p></p><p>That's a sign.</p><p></p><p>A bunch of the gnolls immediately flee the scene- one or two stick around and get slaughtered, and the enemy harassing and attacking Vinnie is blasted to pieces by Newt, when he finally gets back to the fight.</p><p></p><p>Note, until Newt arrived back on the scene Vinnie was attacking the gnoll on him with his staff of birdsong shillelagh, if you remember he expends a charge every time he hits with his enhanced staff in order for the device to make various bird calls.</p><p></p><p>The druid's gnoll opponent is obviously very confused by this, every time he gets hit the pain is accompanied by a vociferous Cluck, a Caw!, or a Hoot.</p><p></p><p>The fight is over.</p><p></p><p>[Talos & Gnoll canyon ambush 1500 XP]</p><p></p><p>There's a short break for healing- Vinnie in particular took a beating, and then to search the fallen and grab a few mementoes of the fight- this to claim the Falcon's reward for slaying the evil humanoids.</p><p></p><p>Newt, as is his want, also takes the time to fill a few flasks he keeps about his person (for just such a purpose) with fresh blood- the warlock bleeds the gnolls corpses, and again his three companions make small talk while this goes on.</p><p></p><p>Here's the scene-</p><p></p><p>“Ze storm seems to be concentrating itz effurts in zat direction, up ze 'ill.” Vinnie notes, and points, while striking a thoughtful pose.</p><p></p><p>“Which means we'll be heading that way too, most likely.” Ram concludes with a smirk.</p><p></p><p>Daktari nods sagely in agreement, while all the while in the background Newt cuts gnoll throats and tries to get the bloody spurts in his flasks- and not on his clothes, talking to himself in his fiendish voice as he goes about his work.</p><p></p><p>“That's right, bleed for me you filthy bastards! BLEED!”</p><p></p><p>Plausible deniability my arse.</p><p></p><p>A little while later and Vinnie and Daktari are convinced, the trail leads up the hill, which is now crowned with black angry clouds- the way ahead is lashing rain, only illuminated every now and then by a fork of lightning, the storm's pace beaten on a thunderous drum.</p><p></p><p>“I sink Garthok is on 'iz way!” Vinnie captions.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141498[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Dark Squad press on- deeper into the Dreadwood, which is starting to look a bit spooky.</strong></p><p></p><p>But it's hard going up the hill, and the Dark Squad are moving slowly now- very cautiously. Nearly two hours later, as they finally approach the summit- in driving rain, Vinnie adds another Pass Without Trace spell to the mix.</p><p></p><p>Oh, but Newt has also used his Rod of the Pact Keeper to get another warlock spell power back.</p><p></p><p>On the summit of the hill is a circle of standing stones, and within the circle a pair of capering Talos-worshipping half-orcs, and a half-dozen or so twirling twig blights, joining in the mad cap storm dance.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141499[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Note the clouds and rain, and the line of sight, oh and the capering Talos worshipping lunatics within the stone circle. It's about to get flamey!</strong></p><p></p><p>The ritual has started...</p><p></p><p>That's enough for Newt-</p><p></p><p>Newt: Belphegor is Lord- let the flame preserve.</p><p></p><p>The tabaxi drops a Fireball into the midst of his enemies, no time to make a plan- let's get on with this, and of course only the half-orcs survive the fiery conflagration.</p><p></p><p>But the Dark Squad are in a rush, and happy to burn inspiration points when needed.</p><p></p><p>The nearest half-orc survivor barely has time to blink when Ram gets to him-</p><p></p><p>Ramshambo: Time to die!</p><p></p><p>And then Daktari-</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I cut off your Hair/Moustache!</p><p></p><p>And-</p><p></p><p>Daktari: Daktari smash!</p><p></p><p>And, of course, the classic-</p><p></p><p>Daktari: You are my Little Pony!</p><p></p><p>The half-orc survives the sudden onslaught, but only just.</p><p></p><p>Now time for the fight back...</p><p></p><p>You'd think...</p><p></p><p>Newt gets into it again with a pair of Belphegor Fiery Blasts, the badly wounded Talos-worshipper doesn't survive.</p><p></p><p>Therefore deprived of their kill Ram and then Daktari race over to get into action against the remaining half-orc Talos-botherer.</p><p></p><p>Ramshambo: Tickles doesn't it?</p><p></p><p>Ram crits the bad guy, and already the fellow is heavily wounded (remember he's already survived a Fireball).</p><p></p><p>While,</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I cut off your Cock!</p><p></p><p>Just to note there's a random body part location table roller thing now attached to Daktari's random chat roller- at least for this response.</p><p></p><p>The last half-orc miraculously survives the ordeal (but he's on less than 10 HP, and he started with 90) and then tries to blast the Dark Squad attackers with a Thunderwave- which, alas, only causes a little hurt to the barbarian and the rogue.</p><p></p><p>Ram and Daktari grin at the walking corpse half-orc, they'll make him pay for that in a second.</p><p></p><p>But not just yet.</p><p></p><p>At which point however a third Talos-adherent half-orc emerges from nearby vegetation and hits the Lightning Bolt button, Ram evades all hurt- stylish, Daktari's rage however prevents none of the pain.</p><p></p><p>Vinnie in the meantime takes advantage of the storm- he Calls Lightning and begins blasting, but the storm is blasting right back, a bolt of lightning slams down into the druid.</p><p></p><p>Note, there's a random lightning strike on one PC every turn, it's only 1d10 lightning damage- save for half, but it'll get annoying before the end, and besides... the effect may serve another purpose.</p><p></p><p>Read on.</p><p></p><p>During the above action a bunch more twig blights emerge from the shrubbery and start clawing at our heroes.</p><p></p><p>There are about twelve twig blights in total in this encounter, although half of them were destroyed in the Fireball. I'm just using them to annoy folk by this point- particularly Ram.</p><p></p><p>However...</p><p></p><p>Ram kills the second very badly hurt half-orc Talos worshipper dead, another rapier through the heart.</p><p></p><p>Ramshambo: Sharp isn't it?</p><p></p><p>While Daktari chases the newly revealed Lightning Bolt throwing half-orc down, and starts cutting.</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I am Daktari! Look at my beautiful hair!</p><p></p><p>Now, at last, the fight back begins, no- really.</p><p></p><p>The storm conjures another lightning bolt (not one of Vinnie's) which slams into the ground just to the right of Daktari, and then tearing itself from the spot comes a massive, over a dozen feet tall and as wide, shambling mound.</p><p></p><p>The great beast towers over the gurning barbarian, and then flails impotently at Daktari.</p><p></p><p>Damn!</p><p></p><p>You know how it is, you unleash a big bad guy and his attack rolls, with advantage, are an adjusted '12' and '13', and that's four D20s, and +8 to hit.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141500[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>It's getting busy for Daktari & Ram, note Newt does a great job of staying clear of the terror.</strong></p><p></p><p>The last remaining Talos-worshipping half-orc begins chanting and screaming, sending swirling ribbons of energy to boost the attacks of his comrades.</p><p></p><p>Moments later, in the ultimate of ironies, Vinnie Calls Lightning down onto the last of the Storm Lord's adherents, leaving the poor bugger staggering and critically wounded.</p><p></p><p>Another lightning bolt from the storm blasts Ram, but only a little.</p><p></p><p>Newt keeps on fiery blasting- mostly twig blights, remember he's always looking for a way to use his Dark Ones Reward to keep topping up his temporary hit points.</p><p></p><p>Newt: Burn BASTARD!</p><p></p><p>Ram catches up with the last half-orc Talos botherer and cuts the poor bugger's throat.</p><p></p><p>Just an aside, but worthy of note, Ram has finished off three of the four half-orc's Talos-fools slaughtered in this session.</p><p></p><p>Lightning bolts (half-a-dozen of them) blast the earth as Talos (perhaps) loses his cool, and suddenly standing out in the open, a little way down the hill, staring and snorting at Vinnie is the largest boar the druid is ever likely to see. Ever.</p><p></p><p>Garthok is twelve feet tall to his massive furred shoulders, his huge head larger than the druid is tall, the Storm Lord's avatar's tusks crackle and spit lightning.</p><p></p><p>The great boar puts its head down and charges.</p><p></p><p>Vinnie screams like a little girl.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141501[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Garthok arrives, note Vinnie's token just to left of the huge boar. God help the druid, the skull and crossbones token on the screen is a dead Twig Blight, this puny creature survived for two whole turns against Vinnie and Newt. The Twig Blight had something like 6 HP, Garthok has got a few more...</strong></p><p></p><p>Alas the druid's words/sounds are lost to the storm- although Newt spots that something is happening down the hill.</p><p></p><p>Back atop the rise, and oblivious to the arrival of Garthok, Daktari and Ram get in a tangle with the shambling mound (and keep in mind I gave this plant bastard a lot of hit points, 150+).</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I am Daktari! I am MVP!</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I am Daktari! I am riding you!</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I am Daktari! Look at my beautiful hair!</p><p></p><p>All the favourites, Daktari keeps on hitting but also keeps on rolling low for his damage.</p><p></p><p>The few remaining twig blights are also congregating towards this fight.</p><p></p><p>The shambling mound slams the barbarian repeatedly, and now Daktari's bloodied, and also entwined by the plant creature's snaking tendrils- that's not good.</p><p></p><p>Back down the hill...</p><p></p><p>Vinnie gets his naughty word together, and then hits the charging Garthok with a Blight spell, and for full effect, although the great boar just shrugs the pain away, and charges closer...</p><p></p><p>Vinnie gets back to screaming and turns tail and runs, diving into nearby vegetation and cleverly putting a massive tree between the avatar and himself, once situated he wildshapes (if only for the hit point buffer) into Vincen G Squeezy Snake (a huge creature, the same size as Garthok).</p><p></p><p>Moments later and the storm finds the druid/snake, and he's blasted by a lightning bolt- Garthok however is thwarted in his charge, the great boar has to readjust his aim and circumnavigate the tree, and the vegetation. The great beast is somewhat dismayed to discover that he's now facing a massive constrictor snake.</p><p></p><p>Back up the hill...</p><p></p><p>Ramshambo: Now that must have hurt?</p><p></p><p>Ram crits the shambling mound and then rolls spectacularly high for 47 points of damage with his magical rapier (including lots of sneak attack, of course).</p><p></p><p>Daktari joins in, the raging barbarian also crits the shambling plant.</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I cut off your Left Arm!</p><p></p><p>But the plant monster has the last laugh, it lurches forward and at the same time grabs up and plunges the grappled Daktari into its body- the barbarian is engulfed!</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141503[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>"Hellooooo! Helloooooooooooo! I sink der bulb has gone! Anybody?" The inside of a Shambling Mound from Daktari's POV.</strong></p><p></p><p>Thankfully Daktari takes a breath before he is engulfed, however he's effectively blinded, and grappled, and restrained and being crushed within the plant beast.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly Ram is all alone with the shambling mound and the remaining twig blights.</p><p></p><p>That's really not good.</p><p></p><p>Back down the hill...</p><p></p><p>Vincen G Squeezy curls around Garthog and begins constricting the giant boar Talos avatar.</p><p></p><p>Although, for just nine points of damage this turn.</p><p></p><p>WARNING! Look away if you are a PC.</p><p></p><p>Garthog has a big bag of hit points, and I most surely mean that- a real big bag of hit points, a suitcase full- if you like.</p><p></p><p>So, Squeezy doing his thing may not be enough, but read on- because the hits keep on coming.</p><p></p><p>Then, a squat orc demon, a Tanarukk- snarling in its abyssal tongue, suddenly appears behind Garthog, and starts hacking at the boar beast's furred arse with its wicked looking sword.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141502[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>WTF? Clue- see top right of picture, that's right- the tabaxi is grinning.</strong></p><p></p><p>A little way back up the hill, Newt- newly encircled by gnoll's blood, completes the casting of his Summon Greater Demon spell.</p><p></p><p>The tabaxi grins, as his new hire gets to work.</p><p></p><p>Although there's still a lot of WTF from the other players.</p><p></p><p>Note the tanarukk gets to make a saving throw to escape Newt's control at the end of each of its turns- a Charisma DC 16 save, and the creature is -1 on its save.</p><p></p><p>On its first attempt it rolls... a '16', that's an adjusted '15' of course.</p><p></p><p>Phew!</p><p></p><p>A lightning bolt blasts down from the storm and into Garthok, healing the great boar.</p><p></p><p>Damn!</p><p></p><p>Back up the hill...</p><p></p><p>Twig blights attack Ram, the rogue is soon surrounded.</p><p></p><p>Back down the hill...</p><p></p><p>Garthok meantime, caught in the coils of the huge snake, fails to get free or else do harm to the wildshaped druid.</p><p></p><p>I mean... could they win this fight?</p><p></p><p>Halfway up the hill, between the two fights...</p><p></p><p>Newt, alas cannot see much of the fight between Squeezy and Garthok- it's all happening behind a tree and a bunch of vegetation. He can however see the shambling mound threatening Ram, and so he launches his unerringly accurate fiery blasts (confidence is everything) for a hit and a crit.</p><p></p><p>Newt: Too hot to handle?</p><p></p><p>Newt: Belphegor consumes thee!</p><p></p><p>Back up the hill...</p><p></p><p>Ram also keeps on stabbing, while on the inside of the plant beast Daktari keeps struggling, and cutting out with Shatterspike.</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I cut off your Body!</p><p></p><p>Daktari: Vinnie is my Little Pony!</p><p></p><p>Daktari: I am Daktari! Look at my beautiful hair!</p><p></p><p>Although the barbarian shouldn't be speaking- he's holding his breath in there.</p><p></p><p>The plant tyrant is beyond bloodied- there are holes in the great beast's body- and every now and then Shatterspike lances out of the beast.</p><p></p><p>However- seconds later and Ram too is bloodied, and staggering. The shambling mound repeatedly slams the rogue, and then ensnares the half-elf within its tendrils, he's going nowhere.</p><p></p><p>Back down the hill...</p><p></p><p>Garthok has a strong word with himself, the avatar of Talos gets his mojo back and sets to goring the massive Squeezy, who goes from just short of full hit points to very very bloodied in an instant. It's not just the great boar's tusks that tear- it's also the lightning blasts that frazzle.</p><p></p><p>Vinnie needs help fast...</p><p></p><p>The struggling mortally wounded Squeezy is suddenly spotlighted by a shaft of pure silver moonlight, the beam pierces the roiling black clouds, the hellish storm and the turmoil rain.</p><p></p><p>Help has arrived.</p><p></p><p>The druid experiences a moment of silence and absolute clarity as everything just stops for a second.</p><p></p><p>Then a female voice like a song.</p><p></p><p>“Blessings to thee silver champion,</p><p>The light of the moon mantle thee,</p><p>A goddess wishes you fare and good fortune.</p><p>Hammer the foe! Fight back!</p><p>Will you accept my shift and take to the task?”</p><p></p><p>Vinnie gulps and then nods- grinning.</p><p></p><p>Only this is all just happening in his head, of course.</p><p></p><p>In that moment, and in the glare of the silver moon, Squeezy is gone- and standing in the great snake's stead is a thickset boar-headed humanoid, with the shifter druid's features, and with a great two-handed maul in its hands.</p><p></p><p>The Moonboar tests the weight of its new weapon, and then grins and beckons the slightly flummoxed but now disentangled Garthok back to the fight!</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]141504[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Moonboar gets into it, ignore the Vinnie token- that shouldn't be visible. Oh, but note that Newt has drawn on his protective Gnoll blood magic circle. Everything is under control... nothing to worry about, well... we'll see. </strong></p><p></p><p>The tanarukk keeps slicing at Garthok's rear, thankfully it's still under Newt's control.</p><p></p><p>We'll see how long that lasts, and remember the demon sticks around for 1d6 rounds if and when it breaks the warlock's control.</p><p></p><p>But that's all we have time for this evening, and we went well over time.</p><p></p><p>Just for info Ram is well beyond bloodied, he's also being grappled by the shambling mound, and is also surrounded by twig blights.</p><p></p><p>The massive shambling mound is also beyond bloodied.</p><p></p><p>Daktari is, of course, situated within the plant tyrant- the barbarian is blinded, restrained, grappled and being crushed- but he's still fighting.</p><p></p><p>Newt hasn't taken a hit, the tabaxi warlock is keeping out of the way- directing his new toy the tanarukk, while standing statue within a protective circle of gnoll's blood. Screw his colleagues, he's alright.</p><p></p><p>While Vinnie, well- the druid has somehow been transformed into the Moonboar. The druid however is still facing Garthok.</p><p></p><p>Garthok, the giant boar avatar of Talos is just barely wounded- for all of the druid's efforts so far.</p><p></p><p>It could go either way, although I've learned never to bet against the Dark Squad.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this-</p><p> </p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Survive.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> DESTROY (Garthok)!<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Back to the Falcon?<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Goblins in the Dreadwood.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Nightshade in the Dreadwood.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. <br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Locate/check-in with Tarbin Tul. </li> </ol><p></p><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p><p></p><p>PS For the players- I need a little chat at the start of the next session, if I forget then remind me, the subjects for discussion are- </p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> The addition of a sidekick NPC, for me to bot.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> A review of the to-do list. </li> </ol></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8359386, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #057: Garthok the Thunder Boar Avatar of Talos, a Shambling Mound, the Moonboar and Newt's new Demon 'friend'. Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7 Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7 Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7 NPCs Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7[/B] [S][B]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/B][/S][B]RIP* [S]Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard[/S] RETIRED *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. Servants/Familiars Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar[/B] This is session 57, and yet another cracker, and with yet more fighting, of course... the start of the finale, at least for this part of the adventure. Oh, but here's a new thing- The date is Eighth-day, 8th Mirtul, 1493 Year of the Purple Dragons The time is 10:29 AM I figure I start every session on Fantasy Grounds with the above (and a recap of the previous session), so- I may as well put it here too. The Dark Squad are in pursuit of a pack of Talos worshipping half-orcs and their boar chums, they're heading at speed through the Dreadwood, which is looking very dark and foreboding at the moment, there's a storm brewing. The adventurers are of the opinion that this particular storm signals the arrival of Garthok, avatar of Talos. I appreciate the storm-thing is a tired trope but... they're Talos-worshippers, adherents of the Storm Lord etc. so, forgive me... In the last session the PCs defeated another Talos style ambush- and another Gulthias Tree with a big bag of Blights for company, but the adventurers- as stated, put paid to the attack, or else the attempt to slow them down. Therefore, after defeating the Blights the Dark Squad do a little further (cautious) investigating of the tree, and find a few more low level treasures- tributes left for the evil sentient plant, and then... well, Newt burns the ugly plant to the ground. It's what he does, the other members of the Dark Squad try to ignore the fact that the cackling tabaxi capers and dances around the tree inferno, singing praise to his fire demon overlord- Belphegor. Imagine the scene- Ram & Vinnie heads bowed pretending to exchange urgent exhortations, Daktari looks on, slightly bemused, or else confused- it's one of his go-to options. The barbarian is trying really hard to listen to his two articulate companions, and to nod along and grunt in all of the right places. But... in the background, behind the earnest adventuresome trio is the mad tabaxi- screaming and whirling like a dervish as the roiling inferno, like a twisting staircase of flame reaching up to the dark heavens, seethes and burns the latest Gulthias Tree to charcoal black. He's a distraction, that Newt. Warlock's and their patrons, whatchya gonna do? Laugh at them? Try to manufacture some sort of plausible deniability (this is Vinnie's game)? Or else just ignore the strutting mad peacock (Ram's practice)? Still, it never gets dull. [Burn the Gulthias Tree 300 XP] Then, after securing the trail onwards, a short rest- the adventurers were pretty beat up after the last fight, Newt puts up another Leomund's Tiny Hut, and welcomes his colleagues in- all smiles. [ATTACH type="full"]141495[/ATTACH] [B]Newt welcomes his colleagues back into the Leomund's, he's made scones.[/B] Like the previous crazy never happened. Then onwards... On the trail through the Dreadwood, and eventually a regular path is discovered, and once again it's Vinnie and Daktari that are leading the Squad through the darkening forest, the pair are by far the best trackers. About two hours or so along the path and there's a large stone ahead, around which the trail bifurcates only to meet up again on the other side of the rocky erratic. Most odd, or at least... but, what's this. Vinnie spots a druid mark on the stone outcropping, but Ram cautions his comrade and checks the place out first- no traps, the rogue thinks. The druid mark indicates that something is buried at this spot, and sure enough (after more cautious investigation) a bark-paper note is unearthed, again using druid sign the author has communicated- “WARNING! GNOLLS AHEAD.” [Gnoll warning 200 XP] The Dark Squad take precautions as they move on, and ready themselves for another fight. What they don't do however (sigh) is wonder for a second who left this druid sign here for them to find... and remember we're in the Dreadwood. A place not known for its friendly faces. Note, I may have left my own erratic (well-hidden) in the paragraph above, hopefully the Dark Squad can spot my subtle query. Thirty or so minutes later and the gradient is increasing, the trail is heading deeper into the Dreadwood, and quite definitely uphill. Eventually it winds into a slew of verdant canyons, lots of re-checking from the trail-finders but the Dark Squad are still on course. However, the warning message. Eventually, after a little more chatter- including a brief spat between the druid and the warlock about who's familiar is the best- “Well, Owly can see just as well during the day as the night, and he looks nicer!” “Gerald, is just way cooler- and I get to ride him- no contest!” You'll note Vinnie's peon to Owly (above) is not written in a French/Mediterranean accent, that's because it wasn't Vinnie saying the line, it was Jim (Vinnie) and Bear (Newt) playing Top Trumps with their respective animal companions. [Top Trump Familiars 100 XP] Anyway, it is decided that an aerial recon of the area ahead is needed, Owly & Gerald are sent aloft. Twenty minutes later and Vinnie and Newt are certain that there are gnolls within the canyons through which they must travel... or do they have to go through the canyons? Vinnie is certain that the area ahead can be avoided- they can go around, it'll add a little time to their journey and they'll have to pick up the trail again, but... no threat. Then an odd thing happens, although not so odd if you've been with this narrative for a while- everyone is in favour of avoiding this encounter, everyone- except Newt. Newt, oddly/surprisingly, is of the opinion that the gnolls must burn, and that the Falcon specifically tasked them to kill these creatures, which is exactly what the Dark Squad should do- he thinks. Note, just to add a little clarity- Belphegor has let Newt know that he needs to add more souls to the fire, he will receive favour from his fiery demon lord if he sends 100 fresh souls Belphegor's way. So, gnolls have souls... There follows a swift-ish debate- Vinnie & Ram offer up cogent and reasoned arguments about why going around the gnolls would be the smart thing to do. Newt sticks to his guns, and repeats/rehashes his one dodgy argument- the Falcon said to kill gnolls. Actually, gnolls were on the list of creatures for which the Falcon offered a bounty, she didn't however specifically tell the Dark Squad to kill gnolls- she did tell the adventurers to find and follow either the boars, or the gnolls, into the Dreadwood. But that all happened a long time ago- about three days ago in game time, in Session 50a, that's seven weeks ago real world. Ten minutes later and Vinnie and Ram are getting desperate, they're scratching around for fresh reasons why the Dark Squad should just avoid the gnoll encounter. Newt however is steadfast, he has ignored everything that Vinnie and Ram have said so far, and just repeated his line. “The Falcon said...” Eventually, it is decided that Owly & Gerald should be sent aloft for another recon mission, this after I (your bemused DM) made all of the PCs make an Insight check to realise that the last aerial recon failed to reveal... a leader type. The Dark Squad know from hard earned experience that the gnolls must have a strong leader somewhere in their midst. Also the DM was trying to get things moving. The second aerial recon reveals, of course, that hidden within an ancient and partially collapsed primitive stone building atop one of the mesas is... another of the Talos worshipping half-orcs. [ATTACH type="full"]141496[/ATTACH] [B]The obligatory Talos-bothering Half-Orc is spotted, and thus the encounter gets a spot on the Dark Squad's to-do list.[/B] [Double good recon and amusing chatter 400 XP] Well, that does it. All thoughts of going around the encounter are set aside- the Dark Squad are going in, but first a little Pass Without Trace from Vinnie in order for the PCs to creep back into an advantageous position. Although, a word about climbing- the tabaxi, of course, has a climb speed- he is however terrible at athletics. So, when he wants to do a bit of climbing (because he has a climb speed) I (your kindly DM) usually say something like- “Yeah, no problems- make an athletics check, just don't roll real low”, or, “... just don't roll a '1'”. Real low in our game is an adjusted roll of '5' or lower. Every time I say this to Newt, well... he rolls very low, more often than not- very, very low. This evening he tried climbing twice, he rolled a '2' and a '1'. So, the PCs eventually get into position- this after Ram lowers a rope down to help the tabaxi (with a climb speed) to get up onto the particular mesa that they have selected for the starting point of their attack. [Ram helps Newt (with a climb speed) up onto the mesa 40 XP] There are about eight or so gnolls hidden in the canyons here, with the Talos half-orc up in an elevated position- a (formerly) well-hidden lookout, atop the next mesa across. But the Dark Squad are content to watch and wait until the Talos-worshipper is concentrating his search efforts elsewhere. At which point Ram and Daktari, with Vinnie's Pass Without Trace going until they move out of range, head forward. The pair leap ten feet from one mesa to another, and then creep up on the enemy leader. Seconds later and the half-orc is screaming, and only just clutching onto life- Ram crits with his sneak attack, Daktari also doesn't miss, and now he's raging. This in the surprise round, and then the pair get initiative again, and just keep on hitting. The enemy boss goes from ninety hit points to fewer than ten in a matter of moments. The gnolls hear the screams and come running, some attempting to jump from mesa to mesa, others having to climb up to help their leader. Newt blasts one of the approaching gnolls- repeatedly, leaving it critically wounded, why is this interesting you ask yourself, well... remember this guy. [ATTACH type="full"]141497[/ATTACH] [B]That's the Gnoll, officer! Its not like I did it on purpose (have the Hexed Gnoll flee) I just figured that the critically injured fellow had seen enough. [/B] Daktari and the rogue are hit by the Talos half-orc's Thunderwave, but that's the last attack it makes- Ram sticks his rapier through the creature's heart- dead. At which point a few of the other gnolls have made it to the fracas, and they're rampaging- running screaming at the Dark Squad pair. Ram and Daktari take a few hits, but they give far more than they get, as always. Meantime Vinnie, safely ensconced on the next mesa over, has been throwing Produce Flame spells into the fracas- Vincenzo: Lord Belphegor take zis soul! Zut alor! I did not mean zat! That is until another gnoll climbs up onto the rocky outcropping to join him. Oh, but do you remember the critically injured gnoll that Newt blasted, well this feller was also Hexed by the tabaxi warlock, and so... the gnoll flees, and is out of sight (and off the map) in seconds. Which gets a reaction. “No, wait! My Hex spell- that lasts eight hours, if the gnoll doesn't die... I can't... But... No!” Newt abandons the fight (and his comrades) and attempts to chase down the fleeing critically wounded gnoll. Which he does, eventually, but not before he has used an inspiration point, his feline agility, and... a scroll of expeditious retreat, all in an effort to get in range of fleet footed badly wounded (but Hexed) bastard. I think the above nicely sums up Newt- single-minded to the point of obsession, prepared to sacrifice everything, and happy to abandon his colleagues in an instant. Oh, and by the way some folk would read the above and think that the author was criticising the player, I'm not- great work Bear, loved that you started/insisted on the fight, and then abandoned it after maybe two turns of the action. However, the encounter gets wrapped up quickly- particularly when Daktari grabs up the fallen body of the Talos half-orc and hoists it above his head. The barbarian screams cod-Russian obscenities for a short while, and then throws the corpse in the face of a gnoll climbing up to attack. That's a sign. A bunch of the gnolls immediately flee the scene- one or two stick around and get slaughtered, and the enemy harassing and attacking Vinnie is blasted to pieces by Newt, when he finally gets back to the fight. Note, until Newt arrived back on the scene Vinnie was attacking the gnoll on him with his staff of birdsong shillelagh, if you remember he expends a charge every time he hits with his enhanced staff in order for the device to make various bird calls. The druid's gnoll opponent is obviously very confused by this, every time he gets hit the pain is accompanied by a vociferous Cluck, a Caw!, or a Hoot. The fight is over. [Talos & Gnoll canyon ambush 1500 XP] There's a short break for healing- Vinnie in particular took a beating, and then to search the fallen and grab a few mementoes of the fight- this to claim the Falcon's reward for slaying the evil humanoids. Newt, as is his want, also takes the time to fill a few flasks he keeps about his person (for just such a purpose) with fresh blood- the warlock bleeds the gnolls corpses, and again his three companions make small talk while this goes on. Here's the scene- “Ze storm seems to be concentrating itz effurts in zat direction, up ze 'ill.” Vinnie notes, and points, while striking a thoughtful pose. “Which means we'll be heading that way too, most likely.” Ram concludes with a smirk. Daktari nods sagely in agreement, while all the while in the background Newt cuts gnoll throats and tries to get the bloody spurts in his flasks- and not on his clothes, talking to himself in his fiendish voice as he goes about his work. “That's right, bleed for me you filthy bastards! BLEED!” Plausible deniability my arse. A little while later and Vinnie and Daktari are convinced, the trail leads up the hill, which is now crowned with black angry clouds- the way ahead is lashing rain, only illuminated every now and then by a fork of lightning, the storm's pace beaten on a thunderous drum. “I sink Garthok is on 'iz way!” Vinnie captions. [ATTACH type="full"]141498[/ATTACH] [B]The Dark Squad press on- deeper into the Dreadwood, which is starting to look a bit spooky.[/B] But it's hard going up the hill, and the Dark Squad are moving slowly now- very cautiously. Nearly two hours later, as they finally approach the summit- in driving rain, Vinnie adds another Pass Without Trace spell to the mix. Oh, but Newt has also used his Rod of the Pact Keeper to get another warlock spell power back. On the summit of the hill is a circle of standing stones, and within the circle a pair of capering Talos-worshipping half-orcs, and a half-dozen or so twirling twig blights, joining in the mad cap storm dance. [ATTACH type="full"]141499[/ATTACH] [B]Note the clouds and rain, and the line of sight, oh and the capering Talos worshipping lunatics within the stone circle. It's about to get flamey![/B] The ritual has started... That's enough for Newt- Newt: Belphegor is Lord- let the flame preserve. The tabaxi drops a Fireball into the midst of his enemies, no time to make a plan- let's get on with this, and of course only the half-orcs survive the fiery conflagration. But the Dark Squad are in a rush, and happy to burn inspiration points when needed. The nearest half-orc survivor barely has time to blink when Ram gets to him- Ramshambo: Time to die! And then Daktari- Daktari: I cut off your Hair/Moustache! And- Daktari: Daktari smash! And, of course, the classic- Daktari: You are my Little Pony! The half-orc survives the sudden onslaught, but only just. Now time for the fight back... You'd think... Newt gets into it again with a pair of Belphegor Fiery Blasts, the badly wounded Talos-worshipper doesn't survive. Therefore deprived of their kill Ram and then Daktari race over to get into action against the remaining half-orc Talos-botherer. Ramshambo: Tickles doesn't it? Ram crits the bad guy, and already the fellow is heavily wounded (remember he's already survived a Fireball). While, Daktari: I cut off your Cock! Just to note there's a random body part location table roller thing now attached to Daktari's random chat roller- at least for this response. The last half-orc miraculously survives the ordeal (but he's on less than 10 HP, and he started with 90) and then tries to blast the Dark Squad attackers with a Thunderwave- which, alas, only causes a little hurt to the barbarian and the rogue. Ram and Daktari grin at the walking corpse half-orc, they'll make him pay for that in a second. But not just yet. At which point however a third Talos-adherent half-orc emerges from nearby vegetation and hits the Lightning Bolt button, Ram evades all hurt- stylish, Daktari's rage however prevents none of the pain. Vinnie in the meantime takes advantage of the storm- he Calls Lightning and begins blasting, but the storm is blasting right back, a bolt of lightning slams down into the druid. Note, there's a random lightning strike on one PC every turn, it's only 1d10 lightning damage- save for half, but it'll get annoying before the end, and besides... the effect may serve another purpose. Read on. During the above action a bunch more twig blights emerge from the shrubbery and start clawing at our heroes. There are about twelve twig blights in total in this encounter, although half of them were destroyed in the Fireball. I'm just using them to annoy folk by this point- particularly Ram. However... Ram kills the second very badly hurt half-orc Talos worshipper dead, another rapier through the heart. Ramshambo: Sharp isn't it? While Daktari chases the newly revealed Lightning Bolt throwing half-orc down, and starts cutting. Daktari: I am Daktari! Look at my beautiful hair! Now, at last, the fight back begins, no- really. The storm conjures another lightning bolt (not one of Vinnie's) which slams into the ground just to the right of Daktari, and then tearing itself from the spot comes a massive, over a dozen feet tall and as wide, shambling mound. The great beast towers over the gurning barbarian, and then flails impotently at Daktari. Damn! You know how it is, you unleash a big bad guy and his attack rolls, with advantage, are an adjusted '12' and '13', and that's four D20s, and +8 to hit. [ATTACH type="full"]141500[/ATTACH] [B]It's getting busy for Daktari & Ram, note Newt does a great job of staying clear of the terror.[/B] The last remaining Talos-worshipping half-orc begins chanting and screaming, sending swirling ribbons of energy to boost the attacks of his comrades. Moments later, in the ultimate of ironies, Vinnie Calls Lightning down onto the last of the Storm Lord's adherents, leaving the poor bugger staggering and critically wounded. Another lightning bolt from the storm blasts Ram, but only a little. Newt keeps on fiery blasting- mostly twig blights, remember he's always looking for a way to use his Dark Ones Reward to keep topping up his temporary hit points. Newt: Burn BASTARD! Ram catches up with the last half-orc Talos botherer and cuts the poor bugger's throat. Just an aside, but worthy of note, Ram has finished off three of the four half-orc's Talos-fools slaughtered in this session. Lightning bolts (half-a-dozen of them) blast the earth as Talos (perhaps) loses his cool, and suddenly standing out in the open, a little way down the hill, staring and snorting at Vinnie is the largest boar the druid is ever likely to see. Ever. Garthok is twelve feet tall to his massive furred shoulders, his huge head larger than the druid is tall, the Storm Lord's avatar's tusks crackle and spit lightning. The great boar puts its head down and charges. Vinnie screams like a little girl. [ATTACH type="full"]141501[/ATTACH] [B]Garthok arrives, note Vinnie's token just to left of the huge boar. God help the druid, the skull and crossbones token on the screen is a dead Twig Blight, this puny creature survived for two whole turns against Vinnie and Newt. The Twig Blight had something like 6 HP, Garthok has got a few more...[/B] Alas the druid's words/sounds are lost to the storm- although Newt spots that something is happening down the hill. Back atop the rise, and oblivious to the arrival of Garthok, Daktari and Ram get in a tangle with the shambling mound (and keep in mind I gave this plant bastard a lot of hit points, 150+). Daktari: I am Daktari! I am MVP! Daktari: I am Daktari! I am riding you! Daktari: I am Daktari! Look at my beautiful hair! All the favourites, Daktari keeps on hitting but also keeps on rolling low for his damage. The few remaining twig blights are also congregating towards this fight. The shambling mound slams the barbarian repeatedly, and now Daktari's bloodied, and also entwined by the plant creature's snaking tendrils- that's not good. Back down the hill... Vinnie gets his naughty word together, and then hits the charging Garthok with a Blight spell, and for full effect, although the great boar just shrugs the pain away, and charges closer... Vinnie gets back to screaming and turns tail and runs, diving into nearby vegetation and cleverly putting a massive tree between the avatar and himself, once situated he wildshapes (if only for the hit point buffer) into Vincen G Squeezy Snake (a huge creature, the same size as Garthok). Moments later and the storm finds the druid/snake, and he's blasted by a lightning bolt- Garthok however is thwarted in his charge, the great boar has to readjust his aim and circumnavigate the tree, and the vegetation. The great beast is somewhat dismayed to discover that he's now facing a massive constrictor snake. Back up the hill... Ramshambo: Now that must have hurt? Ram crits the shambling mound and then rolls spectacularly high for 47 points of damage with his magical rapier (including lots of sneak attack, of course). Daktari joins in, the raging barbarian also crits the shambling plant. Daktari: I cut off your Left Arm! But the plant monster has the last laugh, it lurches forward and at the same time grabs up and plunges the grappled Daktari into its body- the barbarian is engulfed! [ATTACH type="full"]141503[/ATTACH] [B]"Hellooooo! Helloooooooooooo! I sink der bulb has gone! Anybody?" The inside of a Shambling Mound from Daktari's POV.[/B] Thankfully Daktari takes a breath before he is engulfed, however he's effectively blinded, and grappled, and restrained and being crushed within the plant beast. Suddenly Ram is all alone with the shambling mound and the remaining twig blights. That's really not good. Back down the hill... Vincen G Squeezy curls around Garthog and begins constricting the giant boar Talos avatar. Although, for just nine points of damage this turn. WARNING! Look away if you are a PC. Garthog has a big bag of hit points, and I most surely mean that- a real big bag of hit points, a suitcase full- if you like. So, Squeezy doing his thing may not be enough, but read on- because the hits keep on coming. Then, a squat orc demon, a Tanarukk- snarling in its abyssal tongue, suddenly appears behind Garthog, and starts hacking at the boar beast's furred arse with its wicked looking sword. [ATTACH type="full"]141502[/ATTACH] [B]WTF? Clue- see top right of picture, that's right- the tabaxi is grinning.[/B] A little way back up the hill, Newt- newly encircled by gnoll's blood, completes the casting of his Summon Greater Demon spell. The tabaxi grins, as his new hire gets to work. Although there's still a lot of WTF from the other players. Note the tanarukk gets to make a saving throw to escape Newt's control at the end of each of its turns- a Charisma DC 16 save, and the creature is -1 on its save. On its first attempt it rolls... a '16', that's an adjusted '15' of course. Phew! A lightning bolt blasts down from the storm and into Garthok, healing the great boar. Damn! Back up the hill... Twig blights attack Ram, the rogue is soon surrounded. Back down the hill... Garthok meantime, caught in the coils of the huge snake, fails to get free or else do harm to the wildshaped druid. I mean... could they win this fight? Halfway up the hill, between the two fights... Newt, alas cannot see much of the fight between Squeezy and Garthok- it's all happening behind a tree and a bunch of vegetation. He can however see the shambling mound threatening Ram, and so he launches his unerringly accurate fiery blasts (confidence is everything) for a hit and a crit. Newt: Too hot to handle? Newt: Belphegor consumes thee! Back up the hill... Ram also keeps on stabbing, while on the inside of the plant beast Daktari keeps struggling, and cutting out with Shatterspike. Daktari: I cut off your Body! Daktari: Vinnie is my Little Pony! Daktari: I am Daktari! Look at my beautiful hair! Although the barbarian shouldn't be speaking- he's holding his breath in there. The plant tyrant is beyond bloodied- there are holes in the great beast's body- and every now and then Shatterspike lances out of the beast. However- seconds later and Ram too is bloodied, and staggering. The shambling mound repeatedly slams the rogue, and then ensnares the half-elf within its tendrils, he's going nowhere. Back down the hill... Garthok has a strong word with himself, the avatar of Talos gets his mojo back and sets to goring the massive Squeezy, who goes from just short of full hit points to very very bloodied in an instant. It's not just the great boar's tusks that tear- it's also the lightning blasts that frazzle. Vinnie needs help fast... The struggling mortally wounded Squeezy is suddenly spotlighted by a shaft of pure silver moonlight, the beam pierces the roiling black clouds, the hellish storm and the turmoil rain. Help has arrived. The druid experiences a moment of silence and absolute clarity as everything just stops for a second. Then a female voice like a song. “Blessings to thee silver champion, The light of the moon mantle thee, A goddess wishes you fare and good fortune. Hammer the foe! Fight back! Will you accept my shift and take to the task?” Vinnie gulps and then nods- grinning. Only this is all just happening in his head, of course. In that moment, and in the glare of the silver moon, Squeezy is gone- and standing in the great snake's stead is a thickset boar-headed humanoid, with the shifter druid's features, and with a great two-handed maul in its hands. The Moonboar tests the weight of its new weapon, and then grins and beckons the slightly flummoxed but now disentangled Garthok back to the fight! [ATTACH type="full"]141504[/ATTACH] [B]The Moonboar gets into it, ignore the Vinnie token- that shouldn't be visible. Oh, but note that Newt has drawn on his protective Gnoll blood magic circle. Everything is under control... nothing to worry about, well... we'll see. [/B] The tanarukk keeps slicing at Garthok's rear, thankfully it's still under Newt's control. We'll see how long that lasts, and remember the demon sticks around for 1d6 rounds if and when it breaks the warlock's control. But that's all we have time for this evening, and we went well over time. Just for info Ram is well beyond bloodied, he's also being grappled by the shambling mound, and is also surrounded by twig blights. The massive shambling mound is also beyond bloodied. Daktari is, of course, situated within the plant tyrant- the barbarian is blinded, restrained, grappled and being crushed- but he's still fighting. Newt hasn't taken a hit, the tabaxi warlock is keeping out of the way- directing his new toy the tanarukk, while standing statue within a protective circle of gnoll's blood. Screw his colleagues, he's alright. While Vinnie, well- the druid has somehow been transformed into the Moonboar. The druid however is still facing Garthok. Garthok, the giant boar avatar of Talos is just barely wounded- for all of the druid's efforts so far. It could go either way, although I've learned never to bet against the Dark Squad. The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this- [LIST=1] [*] Survive. [*] DESTROY (Garthok)! [*] Back to the Falcon? [*] Goblins in the Dreadwood. [*] Nightshade in the Dreadwood. [*] To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair. [*] Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. [*] Locate/check-in with Tarbin Tul. [/LIST] Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. PS For the players- I need a little chat at the start of the next session, if I forget then remind me, the subjects for discussion are- [LIST=1] [*] The addition of a sidekick NPC, for me to bot. [*] A review of the to-do list. [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
Top