Barrow Moor: Search for the Forgemaster

[Spearmint]

This thread is for the searchers gathering to follow Orgoth into the Barrow Moor in an attempt to locate and aid the Forgemaster Priest who seems to have inexplicably left his domain in order to facilitate the release of Lizardmen captives.

Helix Village, Duchy of Aerik.

June 29th 1066.

https://www.unseenservant.us/forum/view ... 26#p662426

Following this conversation with Gern, the Forgemaster's nephew, Orgoth has rallied the willing and able to set out as a reinforcing posse, 'somewhere along the trail'.

Looking for a dwarf and co' under the thick prevailing mist that shields all but the closest of figures might be a forlorn task. But hope is kept and fortified by able comrades, they quickly set out.

Orgoth, Sir Dewey, his 'squire' Copperpiece, Sigrid, newcomer Gideon and two torchbearers, Kane and Abel.

Barrow Moor random and even more random [1d6]=1 [1d6]=2 [1d10]=3

The first hour takes you to the outskirts of the settlement, past the last small holdings on the extreme perimeter of the Duchy patrols. After this, you are in the wilderness. Another couple of miles takes you close to the Herne Ring, the large circle of standing stones that form the sacred enclosure where devotees of Herne go to make pilgrimage or offerings. Orgoth of course has just been at another sacred grove, partaking in the blessings of Herne's Hunt and receiving divine favour in return. Buffed out with a broader shoulder and the extra confidence that gain rank and experience has brought him.

Sir Dewey has gained a shadow. At least a half-orc youth that is under his current mentorship. The boy is a bit of an untamed rascal presently, but proudly states he can lock and load his crossbow as quick as 'the big guy' and will happily jab the point of his dagger into the backside if anyone to slow to add the Sir pronoun when addressing Sir Dewey. Sigrid has proved more than just a pretty face. Facing off against Undead, hags and even befriending a bagpipe playing troll.

Gideon Hawke might be enthralled by such hallowed and experienced adventurers but brings with him the aid of St Ygg and divine blessings, especially upon the Moor where the Unhallowed walk, is in desperately short supply.

Torchbearers Kane & Abel light the way, so far following a much travelled path that meanders from the trade road southwards, going around the quicksand like bogs and towards the field of Mammoth Bones. From Helix to entrance to Barrow Mounds,

A) west via the Shrine of Herne then south and circling the Mounds to approach them from the south. 7.5 miles across the Moor from the forest edge. Journey time approx 5 hours across Moor.
This way is shorter but considered more dangerous as the region directly north of the Mounds has many notorious 'quicksand' like bogs.

, not expecting to need to travel so far, intercepting the sought after dwarf somewhere along the journey.

There is an interception en route. Walking in the trail, the croaking of frogs and chittering of grass crickets is a constant background noise. However a mile past the Herne Ring the vanguard of the group stumble upon the body of a dead adventurer. He is being swarmed over by a multitude of black scarab beetles, their shiny carapaces streaked with splotches of the dead man's blood. They nibble and feast, tearing the man apart under numerous grinding teeth and grasping portions of flesh to roll up into little parcels that they begin to carry away in Dung Beetle fashion. These critters are no bigger than a boot and ordinarily might be squished under a heavy stomp. But they swarm over the man and along the trail in several batches, a score of critters in each. Kane & Abel swipe at them, clearing them away from the deceased man with wafts of their burning firebrands. However they soon shout an alarm as a trio of man sized beetles, each with great grasping claws that look as long as serrated broadswords, jagged and vicious appear from the undergrowth.

The tyrannids don't just have an aggressive presence, they have an eerie, otherworldly feel that doesn't fit right even among the many strange inhabitants of the Barrow Moor.

These beetles are distinctly coloured, one a fiery red that glows like lit coals, a second has an icy blue like a frozen sky and the third looks sickly green.

actions everyone please




Health Status:

Kane: 6/6hp.
Abel: 6/6hp

Sir Dewey: 11/22hp
Copperpiece: 6/6hp

Orgoth: 33/33hp
Sigrid: 11/14hp
Gideon: 8/8hp

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth fires his heavy crossbow at the beetle that is furthest from anyone so he doesn't risk hitting one of the party.

Heavy Crossbow [1d20]=12 to hit [2d6]=8 damage

"Fall back to me!"

Orgoth drops his crossbow and switches to his spear and shield.

[tanker405th]

Gideon

Following Orgoth's lead, Gideon will attempt to hit the same beetle with his sling.

Sling, bullet to hit: [1d20]=6, Damage [1d4+1]=1+1=2

He will then follow Orgoth's orders to assemble. Right behind you, Orgoth!

Gideon tucks his sling into his belt to have his mace and shield at the ready.
-1 sling bullet

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

"What are those things? Sorcery!" He points to the targeted beetle and instructs Copperpiece. "Fire away, lad. But keep your distance."

"With you." He calls to Orgoth and forms a shield line of two. "Sigrid?! What can you do to take one of these out of the fight? Maybe the green one?"

"Is it just me or do they look elemental? Watch out for ranged attacks!"

[Darithe]

Sigrid

Awed by the size of the creatures, she pauses a moment after Sir Dewey entreaty and then reaches into her component pouch, pulling a pinch of rose petals and tossing them up as she intones, "falla í svefn" and points, with her other hand, to the center of the green one.

Casting Sleep.
Chance to Retain Spell vs. 14 Int.[4d6+1]=10+1=11

[Spearmint]

Tyrannid terror


Copperpiece: heavy crossbow [1d20]=10 damage [2d6]=9
Number of Sleep affected Beetles vs 1, 2, none, none [1d4]=2 Swarm number affected [4d4]=11

With the alarm call, those with prepped range weapons each loose shafts or stones at the large green beetle as it rears upon its hind legs, each missile clattering across its hardened carapace and ricocheting away into the long grasses.

Words are uttered, curses for missing, a prayer to St Ygg, a spell invoked. A number of the swarming scarabs scuttle slowly before turning belly up, curling legs and abdomens into a tight protective ball as Sleep overcomes them. Two of the coloured beetles still, the fiery pulsating red and the ice-blue calming, their vivid colours fading. The two torchbearers strike out, taking advantage to brand one beast, deciding with a bit of wisdom that the blue one might have more vulnerability to their firebrands than the other.

Kane and Abel use Firebrands [1d20]=17[1d4]=4[1d20]=16[1d4]=4

It is a decision that pays extra dividends for the Sleep restrained creature is torched -16hp blistering and charring before it awakes from the slumber and manifests a radiance of bone chilling cold that snuffs out the tongues of fire in hissing clouds of steam.

Beetle Blue: ice effect vs Kane & Abel, dex Saves or freeze vs 10 & 10 [4d6]=15[4d6]=16. Ice damage [2d6]=10

Neither of your doughty torchbearers can dodge away from the sudden icy grip, freezing in place covered in frost and icicles, -10hp each. The deathly cold enough to still heartbeats and freeze them motionless, unbreathing in place. Their fates sealed when the horned green beetle charges, taking on the duo vanguard of the group who cannot resist the trample and massive horn.

Stag beetle charge [1d20]=13 damage [2d6]=7

The two are smashed, trampled and in their frozen state, obliterated under the rampage. -7hp each.


Health Status:

Kane: deceased
Abel: deceased

Sir Dewey: 11/22hp
Copperpiece: 6/6hp

Orgoth: 33/33hp
Sigrid: 11/14hp
Gideon: 8/8hp

The fiery red beetle is asleep, the blue severely burned, the green unharmed and surrounding it is a pea-green cloud of misty spores. A quarter of the scarabs that mingle on the trail are asleep, others scuttle over the body and the scattered pieces of the thawing dead torchbearers.

actions please

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth advances and attacks the closest beetle.

"Keep your distance if you can!"

Silver Spear +1 [1d20+3]=10+3=13 to hit [1d6+4]=1+4=5 med damage [1d8+4]=6+4=10 large damage
Wasn't sure if they are considered large.

Shield Bash [1d20+2]=1+2=3 to hit
Natural 1 with his shield.

[tanker405th]

Gideon

Heeding Orgoth's command, Gideon remains in the rear.

Clutching his holy symbol and outstretching his hand St. Ygg, though we be walking amidst darkness, let your guiding light shine forth!

Targeting the eyes of the green beetle, using his daily casting of light.

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

"Blast!" He exclaims as the pair violently meet their ends. "Copperpiece! Light a throwable to burn that blue one. Everyone leaves the sleeping red one be!"

Sir Dewey calls to Orgoth. "I don't like the sight of those spores. Reminds me of what you found below."

"Nice work Sigrid! Got anything else to keep them at bay?"

He keeps his shield up and is ready to protect those behind him.

[Darithe]

Sigrid

Sigrid stands horrified by the sudden demise of Kane and Abel before Sir Dewey's call draws her mind to focus on the matter at hand. Her hands weave the threads to call forth arrows. Both fingers pointed at the green beast, she intones a single word, "fleinn". Two glowing arrows fly from her fingertips as the spell flies from her mind.

First Arrow: [1d4+1]=1+1=2
Second Arrow: [1d4+1]=1+1=2
Chance to Retain Spell vs. 14 Int.[4d6+1]=18+1=19

[Spearmint]

Tyrannid Terror.

Two eruptions of sickly green blood, tainted pus that reeks of fetid rot spurt from under the carapace of the Green Beetle as magic missiles pierce its thick hide. -4hp.

Green beetle save 16+ vs Light spell [1d20]=20

A cloud of Light erupts above it, shiny brightly in a haze of pea-soup mist, the beast shaking off the directed attack to blind it. Once more it attacks, horned down and in Rhino fashion, scuttling with speed enhanced by wings that flap furiously to turbo boost its charge.

Green 'Stag' beetle charge [1d20]=15 damage [2d6]=6

It collides with Orgoth, bashing aside his shield and brutally goring the half-orc -6hp. But it he has braced himself, planting his spear in the ground and receiving the impact, impaling the beast for double damage -10hp as it runs him aside. Orgoth give me a save vs Poison please as you come within the radius of the spores the green beetle leeches out.

Copperpiece, rips a potion of his sleeve, tying it around a flask of oil and striking it alight, hurls the ad-hoc firebomb at the injured Ice Blue beetle.

Copperpiece: Molotov vs Beetle: to hit [1d20]=18 breakage vs 12+ [1d20]=14 damage [2d6]=10

It is an excellent throw, accurately crashing to break open and spill a pool of fiery oil all over the frozen creature. Vulnerable to the flames, the creatures withers under the heat, taking damage from the fire. -20hp

The sudden conflagration and brilliant light of the spell light up the area normally shielded from view by the mist. It reveals another strange creature, a humanoid sized creature that looks like a half beetle with a shrimp head and walking upon birds clawed feet. You wonder 'what in earth' is this but the sudden Light shining in a cone of holy brilliance from the paladin's shield tells you this is nothing from earth. It chitters in some infernal clacking, exposed in the Light. It moves to the sleeping beetle, getting astrid it and waking it from the ensorcelled slumber, causing it to open its shell to release brittle and awkward wings.



The black swarm of large beetles become a wave of critters that leave their nibbling and gnawing of the dead to scuttle as a swarm towards the quartet.

actions please

Sir Dewey: 11/22hp
Copperpiece: 6/6hp

Orgoth: 27/33hp
Sigrid: 11/14hp
Gideon: 8/8hp

Blue beetle: deceased
Green beetle: -14hp
Red beetle: uninjured.
Beetle daemon: uninjured
Swarm: at least a score of critters.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Save vs Poison (13) [1d20]=11

If able he attacks the horned beetle.

Silver Spear +1 [1d20+3]=15+3=18 to hit [1d6+4]=4+4=8 damage

Shield Bash [1d20+2]=19+2=21 to hit

[Darithe]

Sigrid

Frantic at the sight of Orgoth being gored, she decides to try once again to remove opponents from the fray. Putting one slim hand into her components pouch she again tosses rose petals into the air and speaks in northern, "falla í svefn" focusing on the red beetle and the swarm if the area of effect will include them.

Casting Sleep
Chance to retain spell vs. 14 Int.: [4d6+1]=15+1=16

[tanker405th]

Gideon

Slightly stunned at the sudden carnage and feeling a little less than helpful, Let's see if this light helps my aim this time! There's a quick whirl and release.

Sling targeting the new rider

Sling, bullet to hit: [1d20]=20, Damage [1d4+1]=2+1=3
Natural 20

Remaining in the backline with Sigrid for the moment to continue ranged attacks

[Monsieur Rose]

Sir Dewey

"Keep clear! Copperpiece! Reload and fire at the wings! Keep your distance!"

Sir Dewey closes to engage the green beetle with Orgoth, attempting to flail around its protective shell.

Flail(17): [1d20+1]=14+1=15
Flail Damage: [_2d4+2]=(2+3)=5+2=7 L:[1d6+2]=6+2=8

Shield Bash(17): [1d20]=13

[Spearmint]

Tyrannid Terror upon the Barrow Moor.

Sleep spell vs Beetle Swarm [4d4]=8

Invoking another Sleep spell, a significant number of the swarm curl up under the soporific effects, ending their charge to overwhelm the group. Using more flasks of oil, Copperpiece lays down a fiery barrier that bars the remaining beetles from scuttling too close. Or so he hopes. Under some demonic compulsion, the shiny black beetles charge headlong into the flames, the vanguard crisping and burning, spitting sparks of greasy fat that bubbles and spurts as they melt. As they die in the flames, other try to run over their bodies but the oil is fierce and proves a sufficient barrier to immolate the threat. The blue beetle burns under the last flames, ashen and destroyed. The green beetle turns to charge again, facing two martial experts who take it on. In true matador fashion, both paladin and warrior skewer the beast that implodes in another cloud of spores as it is torn open from head to anus. -7hp & -8hp.

Poisoned by the initial cloud of diseased spore release, the -2 to hit penalty proves no hindrance to the coughing Orgoth

I will take each successful Shield Bash as enough to shelter behind and manoeuvre the beast so that when it erupts, you are both outside the cloud spore's 5'ft range.

Gideon targets the daemon rider upon his fiery red beetle steed. His stone has blessed accuracy, smashing the creature squarely in the forehead and while the hurled stone might otherwise replicate a Davidian giant-slayer attack, it has a lesser effect though a significant one.

the critical hit would be -8hp but the attack has no magic, arcane or divine to empower it so it does not injure the strange critter. However the critical attack does impair the daemon's ability to control the 'fire' beetle:

Fire beetle [1d20-2]=4-2=2

Thereby it's release of a gout of flaming liquid. A line scorched into the earth like a thin stream of lava which might have melted hearts and heads, misses the group, burning instead along the trail ahead.

The creature exits into the mist. The SunShield dims its cone of light.

A strange encounter, certainly an eerie one that might have greater implications than just 'a random encounter with brigands or wandering creatures'.

The poison effect is temporary. As minutes pass your throat clears and breathing becomes better. Frozen initially and then smashed into pieces before being nibbled and then burned, Kane and Abel's skulls only can be found and laid to rest, formally marking their grave sites. Along the trail are the bodies of unlucky excavators caught up in the previous Daemon beetle ambush. They have nothing of value and are in similar immolated and eviscerated pieces as your torchbearers.

actions please as you deal with the aftermath.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth will try to give Kane and Abel a proper burial and say a prayer to Cromm over their graves.

"Simple men, doing the best they could, and displaying bravery till the end. Rest in peace."

Could we get an update on the parties condition?

[Spearmint]

Sir Dewey: 11/22hp
Copperpiece: 6/6hp

Orgoth: 27/33hp
Sigrid: 11/14hp
Gideon: 8/8hp

[Rex]

Orgoth

Thanks

Once everything is wrapped up, "We should keep moving. Whatever that creature was it knows where we are and I would like to change that."

[tanker405th]

Gideon

Gideon will assist Orgoth with lying Kane and Abel to rest, as well as the other unfortunate excavators if time allows--and the party is agreeable.
Sprinkling a small amount of holy water over their final resting place, St. Ygg, we thank you for our compatriots, who so bravely assisted us during this time of peril. Please grant them mercy and peaceful rest.

Turning to the party, Is everyone okay? I may be able to ask St. Ygg's blessing upon your injuries if need be. If not, I believe Orgoth is right and that we should be gone from here with all haste.