Chpt. 1: To the Palace

[greyarea]

Shen, Monk

Shen will chop the creature with his hand if it gets close enough!

[jdluna]

Bjorn bashes at the creature with his mace.

[1d20] = 13

[1d8] = 3

[tkrexx]

Whispering Flint, Human Illusionist (hp 9/9)

Flint backs his horse slightly from the small carrion, pulls a tiny bar of metal from his pouch and begins his famous whispering.

Casting Phantom Armor on himself (AC3, AC1 with dex bonus, +1 to saves, absorbs 3hp damage before dispelled). I'll note the added hp in later posts.

[tkrexx]

Honnilee, Halfing Thief (hp 18/18)

The Thief lets out a shrill, child-like yelp at the awful sight. She fights the instinct to dismount and find a place to hide, for there may be more of these heathen creatures lurking about. When she gets her wits, she quickly draws her short sword, but will stay out of the way.

[Grognardsw]

With surprising speed the monster leaps at Andover's throat. The ranger leaps back, swinging his sword around. The creature bounces off his banded-armored chest. Spellslasher slices the vile little monster nearly in twain. As it's flopping to the ground the snapping sound of a whip is heard and the leather coil almost strikes the creature. Shen the monk judges the distance too far for a punch, and was wary of the half-orc's whip potentially hitting him.

The wormy abomination lands on the ground and is quickly smashed by Bjorn's mace. It gives a final, high pitched piercing death cry that is almost painful to hear. Greenish blood splatters about from the impact.

All is silent then, even the constant background chitter of the swamp.

During the combat, Whispering Flint did his namesake whispering of an alteration enchantment while rubbing a tiny metal plate. Shimmering into existence over his robes is a gleaming suit of plate mail.

In the rear of the action, Idwellin clutches his sling, its enchanted treant wood enabling the druid to commune with the nearby flora. The twisting ground vines to Idwellin's right complain of insects and worms, and naught else. To his left, droopy bushes bearing berries warn you not to eat them. The fronds beyond whisper words of worth: "No more toothies grow toward you that we feel. The two-legs wilted here five suns past, leaking sap, and fell like a rotted tree. Now the waters claim it. Wait--"

Then some of the horses start to whine, shake their heads, stamp nervously.

Attuned to nature, the Druid notices disturbances - a parting, perhaps - among the higher swamp fronds and droopy tree branches. Something is coming. It's big, fast.

The plants scream to Idwellin: "Run!"

As the druid is about to raise alarm, it bursts through the swampy underbrush with the fury of a mother whose young has been killed.

Actions!

Baby monster combat Round:
Initiative: Monster Initiative [1d6] = 1, Party Initiative [1d6] = 1 - Simultaneous
Swamparasite To Hit [1d20] = 10, Damage [1d4] = 4
Speak with Plant: Duration 1 round/level = 3 rounds. 60' diameter. Note you need to converse with one particular plant at a time, it is not a broadcast telepathy.
Phantom Armor: Duration - in effect until it receives 3 HP damage.
Please spoiler your dice rolls going forward.
Thanks!

[Zhym]

Andover Thindel, Half-Elf Ranger (hp: 31/31)

Andover attacks with Spellslasher.

Assuming "it's big" means size L:
Spellslasher vs. L: [1d20+4] = 16+4 = 20 Damage: [1d12+7] = 6+7 = 13

OOC: I presume this is a new combat, so this is a single-attack round for 3/2 attacks per round?

[Eulalios]

Idwillen, Human Druid (hp 17/17)

if there seems time enough:" Entangle that."

fall back option: don shield and brace spear to take a charge; "Honilee, behind me."

[tkrexx]

Honnilee, Halfling Thief (hp 18/18)

Honilee, behind me.

The tiny Thief quickly obeys, wheeling her mount to the rear. She will vault from the saddle, landing some 5 feet behind the Druid and look for safe foliage to hide in, perhaps to get behind the beast, yet holding her position.

[tkrexx]

Whispering Flint, Human Illusionist (hp 9+3/9+3)

The Illusionist backs his horse away farther and draws a dagger. He will only throw his weapon if and when a clean shot becomes available. As it stands the Ranger could be struck with any errant missle.

[NJWilliam]

Poltux the Proud, Half-Orc Fighter

Poltux turns his horse so he has a proper angle on the beast from the swamp and lashes his whip at it.

Poltux Whip attack (THAC0 18): to hit [1d20] = 18, damage [1d2] = 2, entangle [1d100] = 79

[Grognardsw]

The serpentine swamp monster vaults from the undergrowth, surprising the adventurers. None of you have seen its like before. The monster's enraged eyes glare at Bjorn and Andover, who are closest to the dead baby monster, their guilty weapons green with its blood. The mother hisses and rears up to its full twelve-foot height, lashing out its six-foot long arms ending with clawed webbed hands as large as a buckler.

She swipes at Bjorn and the cleric's shield takes the brunt, pushing the dwarf back two feet with the force. He feels the creature's fetid breath on his face as her maw attempts to bite his head off but misses. The dwarf's height serves him well now.

The swamp creature's other clawed hand grabs the ranger, lifts him up like a rag doll and tosses him over his shoulder to land twenty feet behind in the swamp. The ranger lands with a thud in muddy water. Then Andover realizes its not water but quick sand.

Idwellin intones an alteration enchantment, his hands weaving in the air while he twists a piece of mistletoe. Suddenly vegetation comes to life, twisting and extending to ensnare the monster and Bjorn. Though the Druid puts the 40' effect diameter of the spell at the edge so as to not entangle the whole party, it is not possible to avoid ensnaring the cleric as well.

The swamp creature howls and struggles against the living plants entangling her. She swipes her free claw trying to cut free, to little effect.

Poltux, about to lash his whip, pauses in light of the situation. Honilee is wary of backstabbing the creature, for the entangling plants may ensnare her as well.

Actions! Given surprise round, I'll let you restate actions for this next round. If an action is stated, please include spoilered roll.

Monster Surprise: Monster Surprise on 1-3 [1d6] = 1 Surprises all except Druid who had plant warning.
Initiative vs. Druid: Monster Initiative [1d6] = 5, Party Initiative [1d6] = 6
Casting time of Entangle is 3 segments, hence the Druid goes on Segment 8, Monster on Segment 6. See Rules thread on Initiative if questions.
Monster Surprise Round Attack:
Monster Claw / Claw / Bite: [1d20] = 8, [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 2
Monster Damage Claw / Claw / Bite [1d10] = 8, [1d10] = 2, [1d12] = 8
Ranger takes 2 HP damage from throw. The bigger concern is you're sinking.

Monster Save vs. Entangle: Saving Throw [1d20] = 3 Swamp monster is held fast! It cannot move, though given its height, one arm and its mouth are still free to attack.
Idwillen Save vs. Entangle: Eulalios please roll Idwillen's save vs. Spell.

Surprise Round Over.
Regular Melee Round One:
Regular Melee Round Initiative: Monster Initiative [1d6] = 6, Party Initiative [1d6] = 4 Monster wins.
Monster slashes at plants to little effect.
Party's turn...

[jdluna]

Bjorn engages the sexy creature with his mace

[1d20] = 5

Won't bother with damage

[Zhym]

Andover Thindel, Sinking Half-Elf Ranger (hp:29/31)

Andover looks about for something to grab hold of. A branch, a vine...just about anything. Not a great option in a place such as this, where even the branches and vines may be treacherous, but a better alternative than sinking. As he does so, he spreads his arms and tries to lay back to slow the progress of the quicksand.

[Eulalios]

Idwillen's Saving Throw [1d20] = 17 (Death 10; Petr 13; Rod 14; Breath 16; Spell 15) {would have asked for a bonus for Wilderness Movement + Plant Speak, but don't need it ...}
Idwillen's Short Sling Cast (THACO: 20) [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, S/M Damage [1d4+2] = 1+2 = 3, L Damage [1d4+2] = 3+2 = 5

Idwillen easily avoids the twisting vines and moves to a spot with firmer footing, readying his sling. The writhing monster is tall enough to give a well clear shot above Bjorn Shortlegs. Idwillen tries the cast, and misses as the monster twists its serpentine body aside.

Plant Speak still is active ... and Wilderness Movement ... "Friends, let me pass, please ... and please do warn me if your roots touch very loose, wet sand! Staying within seventy foot sling range, but not going into the circle of grasping vines and branches, Idwillen tries to reach the edge of quicksand. His passage leaves the flora untouched.

[Zhym]

Andover shouts to the druid: "Hey, if you're still talking to the foliage, would you ask some of it to give me a hand here?"

[NJWilliam]

Poltux the Proud

Poltux dismounts out of the reach of the swamp creature and sees if he can get within whip range of Andover.

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, Magic-User

Ianin shouts, "If the whip cannot reach and help him, I can summon an Unseen Servant to take something out to him!"

[Eulalios]

Idwillen, Human Druid (hp 17/17)

While reloading his sling, the druid looks for a sturdy, non threatening, and fairly mobile plant near Andover. " Could you bend a limb to aid the sinking two leg?"

[jdluna]

[1d20] = 6

Failed the saving throw

Hey guys, could use a hand here

[tkrexx]

Honnilee, Halfling Thief (hp: 18/18)

Now THIS is more like it! Monster trussed up, unable to chase her down and eat her, Honnilee is loving this. Returning her short blade to its sheath, she untwines her sling and takes aim with what surely must be a giggle.

Thief to hit sling (THACO: 20) [1d20+2] = 10+2 = 12 S/M Damage [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3 L Damage [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4

1 sling bullet marked off.