Giantslayer: The Hill Giant's Pledge [IC]

[lostsole31]

R3T25: Phaevin squints and brushes his nose attempting to ignore the irritating stench, but it is too sickening (sickened). He goes to shoot the mass of brambles directly to the south with a fiery arrow, but he is struck in the chest for 12 + grappled!

R3T18: The primary horror wriggles and makes strange noises, and a third animated bramble (3) rips out of the hill between itself and Phaevin, and moves south to attack Galakhar. Galakhar tries to parry but ends up having to do more dodging to avoid the attack. Animated Bramble #1 closes on Aasgar and slams him in the chest (12 mod DDP) and holding him fast (grappled) and taking him out of stance. Meanwhile, Animated Bramble #2 constricts Phaevin for 23.

R3T17: Abenor rallies past the sickness and gets into his long-armed stance so as not to impale himself. He drops his wakizashi and attacks the main bramble monster two-handed, hitting for 25 + 9 force.

R3T12: Aasgar, this is a place you don't want to be a as a two-hand stylist - grappled - because you can't use a weapon two-handed, and without any grappling skill you can't use any of your stances or maneuvers. At least the wretched stink of rot will no long bother you. What do you do?

Galakhar on deck, Cici in the hole ...

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar concentrates and calls on the spirit of Uskroth to infuse him with power and then tries to break the grapple.

Spoiler: Technical Information

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Using Uskroth's Armour and activating Righteous Might.

Breaking free of Grapple roll: (1d20+14)[19]

[lostsole31]

R3T12: Aasgar concentrates and calls on the spirit of Uskroth to infuse him with power. Though he doesn't have the focus to try to get out of the grapple, the bramble strains to keep him held as the dwarf is now 8'10" tall, and weighing in well over 3/4 ton!

Spoiler: Inspiration

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Warning Roar.

R3T10: Galakhar brilliantly tumbles away from his animated bramble and downs an extract which causes his entire musculature to swell up.

R3T9: Cici recovers from the blighted aura's sickening effects and concentrates on a spell, and a blast of golden particles covers two of the servitor brambles and the main one. It appears both servitors are wiggling more erratically. Unfortunately, even though Phaevin technically was outside the effect, his grappled condition and being brought close to an animated bramble means he is blinded as well. She then repositions to the east.

R3T6: Ivilva's voice is heard casting right next to Aasgar, but she is not seen. It is not a quick incantation, for she continues it ....

End Round 3, Begin Round 4 ...

R4T25: Phaevin, roll a Fort save to get over being sickened. You have a bow in hand and are currently blinded by friendly glitter. What do you do? At the end of your round, you then get a Will save to no longer be blinded.

Enemies on deck and in the hole ...

[Admyral]

Phaevin mutters a nasty curse in Dwarvish, mainly because they have the best curse words, and tries to push down the sickness.

He twists and bends attempting to free himself from the brambles and draw his sword.

Spoiler

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Fort Save versus sickness (1d20+6)[20]
SA: Attempt to break grapple
IF successful, MA: Draw Rapier keeping bow in off-hand
Will Save versus Blindness (1d20+4)[21]

[lostsole31]

R4T25: Phaevin mutters a nasty curse in Dwarven, mainly because they have the best curse words, and that vitriol rallies him past the sickness. He twists and bends attempting to free himself from the brambles. Normally, trying to beat such mass with brute force is a foolish proposition, and he does still fail, but his adrenaline at least makes it difficult for the bramble as it fights to maintain its hold. Despite still being held, Phaevin then manages to wrench free his rapier .... at least he has partial success, even as the flakes of gold clear from his eyes and he sees again.

R4T18: There is a tearing and squelching sound as yet another bramble frees itself from another mound ... the one SW of Aasgar. It disappears west and south, to where the indirect glow of the lantern is that Galakhar holds. Aasgar's bramble continues to hold him, more branches wrapping around him to constrict for 3 mod (+15 DDP). Phaevin has a better hold against the smaller aiuvaran, squeezing Phaevin for 30, though the bramble still seems to have problems from the golden dust, even as #3 thrashes wildly.

R4T17: Abenor slashes at the primary bramble to strike it for 20.

R4T12: Aasgar, you are still grappled, but mighty and powerful in a way you've never enjoyed now that Uskroth's armor is activated, but you are still limited from using your greataxe with both hands in the grapple. What do you do?

Galakhar on deck, Cici in the hole ...

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar struggles mightily to break free of the hold while calling out tactical advice to his allies.

Spoiler: Technical Information

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SA: Break free from grapple

(1d20+13)[30]

SwA: Defending the Pride: Grant all allies w/in 60' a +4 morale bonus to AC for 1 rd.

[lostsole31]

R4T12: Aasgar struggles mightily and breaks free of the hold while calling out tactical advice to his allies, his voice carrying farther than normal with his prodigiously large lungs. He is inspired with his last withheld maneuver, but at the cost of his wounds showing ever more (13).

R4T10: Galakhar, probably unseen by most as he is against the southern wall midway into the room, is heard calling out, "If you can bypass the base brambles to do so, make your way to the leader and cut it down and the others will fall as well! These servitor-brambles aren't even real plants, but animated plant-like constructs."

Despite his own advice, he is limited by his available path and is seen coming in to engage the blinded bramble (#3). He takes a quick sense of the thing and then hits it with an upwards thrust that does 21.

R4T9: "Got it! Thanks, Gal," says Cici. "But that big one Abenor is fighting is definitely some type of plant. Fits the description of something I've heard called a 'brambleblight' before, but that's all I know of them."

Now that Aasgar got away from his, Cici has to be more careful and aerobatically moves from Bramble-1, but then exposes herself to the brambleblight itself even as she was taking out a small amber stick. The brambleblight misses Cici thanks to Aasgar's advice, and Bramble-1 also tries to attack her but misses wildly. Cici goes down to a height of 10' and the southeastern corner before casting her spell. With a loud crack and a flash, a lightning bolt goes partly through the brambleblight (11 electricity) to hit Bramble-3 squarely (20 electricity).

R4T6.1-.0: Ivilva's voice finally ends the long casting she made. A rat with thick, gnawing teeth appears to the east of Bramble-1, flanking with Aasgar. It bites and gnaws the servitor bramble for 4.

End Round 4, Begin Round 5 ...

R5T25: Phaevin, you are in a very bad way, barely conscious and grappled by Bramble-2. What do you do?

Brambleblight and all animated brambles on deck and in the hole ...

[Admyral]

Pushing down the panic, Phaevin says as loud as he can, "Need... some... help!"

He then hums a song of healing attempting to keep himself conscious.

Spoiler: tech info

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MA: None SA: Cast Cure Moderate Wounds on Self (2d8+5)[16]

[lostsole31]

R5T25: Pushing down the panic, Phaevin says as loud as he can, "Need... some... help!"

He then hums a song of healing attempting to keep himself conscious, working past the thrashing about from being grappled, only to realize with horror that he had expended all of his best spells already.

R5T18: Being pressed by the little creatures, the brambleblight whips out a set of thorns at Abenor and Cici. The elf cuts the thorns coming at him out of the air, but Cici gets hit in the chest for 8 and her left shoulder for 8. Bramble-1 swings at the rat. Bramble-2 constricts Phaevin for 28, squeezing his body in half, and then it releases the halves of the half-elf to fall to the ground in wet, glumpy sounds. Bramble-3 swings wildly in Galakhar's direction. Bramble-4 comes up behind Galakhar and hits him in the lower back for 10 mod + grappled.

R5T17: Mercifully for his focus, a mound was in the way, keeping Abenor from seeing Phaevin's gruesome death. He still fails to get past outer branches with a long-armed swing.

R5T12: Aasgar, Phaevin was on the other side of the mound, which means you didn't see his death, either ... only hearing his call for help, and unidentifiable wet sounds.

Galakhar on deck, Cici in the hole ...

[BuckGodot]

Hearing the advice from Gal, Aasgar lets loose with a roar and continues away from the thing that grabbed him, looking to engage with the main plant. "Somebody help Pheavin!"

Spoiler: Technical Information

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MA: Can't see on the map how far I can go. Move East until Aasgar sees the big bad and engage.

SwA: Encouraging Roar:(GL1-B, SwA, Allies w/in 30' +2 morale attk/ dmg)

[lostsole31]

R5T12: Hearing the advice from Gal, Aasgar growls and tries to bowl over the bramble to the east of him, but fails to get a good purchase to do that and stays where he is. Failing that, he shouts, "Somebody help Phaevin!"

Aasgar's DDP empties out, and he feels the effects of 15 damage.

R5T10: Galakhar suddenly changes form into a rocky creature of similar size, and in doing so, rips out of the bramble's grasp. He tumbles over, past and through the blinded bramble (#3), ducking a swing from the primary brambleblight, to stand face-to-face with that creature.

R5T9: In a bad way, Cici keeps her position and altitude, and uses her own hex to give herself 6 healing.

R5T6.1: The summoned rat bites Bramble-1 for 5.

R5T6: Ivilva's voice is heard next to Phaevin, though she is unseen. "Your aiuvaran friend is dead, dwarf. He was ripped in half at the abdomen. There is no power that can restore him."

End Round 5, Begin Round 6 ...

R6T18: Bramble-1 strikes the dire rat. But instead of squishing it, it simply disappears with a *pop!* Bramble-2 swings where it heard a noise (Ivilva's voice) and misses wildly. Bramble-3 swings wildly where the little person ran over and through it, missing. Bramble-4 disappears to the west. The main Brambleblight strikes Galakhar in the chest for 9 mod and misses with the second attack.

R6T17: With the brambleblight occupied by Galakhar, Abenor hits it from behind for 26.

R6T12: Aasgar, what do you do?

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar sets his footing and decides it's best to eliminate the foe in front of him and then move on to the main baddie.

Spoiler: Technical Information

Show

SwA: Enter Golden Commander Stance

Attack action using Risky Strike and Dazing Attack (Dmg + 3d6. Fort save or be dazed 1 round.)

(1d20+14)[21]

Damage: (1d12+17)[24]
Dazing Attack Damage: (3d6)[13]

[lostsole31]

R6T12: Aasgar sets his footing and decides it's best to eliminate the foe in front of him and then move on to the main baddie, striking Bramble-1 and destroying it.

R6T10: Galakhar stabs the brambleblight in a major sap transfer point for 20 + 1 bleed. The brambleblight's thorns scratch at Galakhar, but don't penetrate his new rocky hide.

R6T9: Cici flies in close and acrobatically, concentrates on a spell, and blasts the upper parts of the brambleblight with a jet of flame that it partially ducks for 5 fire.

End Round 6, Begin Round 7 ...

R7T18: The main brambleblight takes 1 bleed and swings around to attack Cici, but she flies around both attacks. Bramble-2 swings wildly where Ivilva's voice was last heard. Bramble-3 misses Galakhar who turns around and riposte's under the blow and destroying it. Bramble-4 appears to Aasgar to the west.

R7T17: Abenor crits the brambleblight and destroys it, and the animated brambles all shatter and fall, though are still moving impediments.

Combat Ends!

As soon as the last bit of animated bramble falls, there is a blast of green energy that washes over the heroes, healing all of their wounds. (Not including Phaevin ... who is not wounded, but dead.)

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar stands in shock. ”Where did that come from?” he asks. Then he move solemnly over to Phaevin to start gathering his remains.

[lostsole31]

Phaevin's body shudders and warps. The earth churns over him as if to bury him in honor in this fane of Nature...

... before spitting him back out. Standing up, and partially changed. He is ... similar ... to the half-elf you once knew. But now, you couldn't quite call him a half-elf anymore.

His tricorne went under the earth when he was momentarily buried, but never resurfaced. Not that it would matter, as his head could no longer keep such a bit of frippery on his head anymore, what with massive, almost tree-like horns projecting outward and behind him. There is the hint of a green tattoo partially hidden peeking from his mithral shirt and chemise, and his gear is mostly the same, but more changed than his head is the lower part of his body .... thick, almond-brown fur covers the lower part of his legs before the color lightens on the fur before reaching very sturdy hooves. Out of the back of his pants projects something like a deer's tail - short and fluffy. This .... replacement ... has his bow still in hand. He no longer has a lyre tied to his pack, but rather a set of pan pipes are on a lanyard around his neck. He is an inch or so taller than before, even with the now backwards-bending nature of his legs, and is of a much broader and sturdier build than before. His eyes are slightly lighter in shade then before, and there is an oddity about his pupils.

[Admyral]

"Aasgar, Galakhar, Cici, Abenor... I...", the newcomer pauses and visibly appears to by looking for words. "I was... I am your friend." He sings a short arpeggio then says through a smile, "Is this my voice now?"

Shaking his head as if clearing cobwebs, "Nevermind that, I bring... word... yes, word, that we have been betrayed. The green hag has snuck into the vault, masquerading as one of us... We... We are in danger."The newcomer pulls the bow from his back and tests the weight in his hands.

[BuckGodot]

Aasgar holds up his axe defensively... Unsure how to proceed... "Who... What are you? Why should we trust you?"

Spoiler: Technical Information

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Maintain stance.

Sense Motive: (1d20+13)[31]

[Admyral]

"I'm me. I am...", the newcomer pauses, seemingly looking for words in the air.

"Calen."

"Yes, that is a good name," Calen adds. "As for "what" I am, Aasgar, I am clearly me," he says as he looks down while making a sweeping gesture with his free hand.

<*"[Dwarvish Curse Word]!"*> he exclaims. He holds up one of his legs to get a better look. "They said there might be changes but..." Calen's voice trails off.

"Ah, my friends, I can certainly see the confusion," says Calen after regaining some composure.

"Let me ask you this; why should you NOT trust me?", he says making a shrugging motion with his shoulders and then glancing down at one of them in mild surprise.

[lostsole31]

Meanwhile, the power of Uskroth's armor runs out and Aasgar returns to regular size, as does Cici's glitterdust cloud. Abenor picks up his wakizashi, and sheathes both blades and closes.

[lostsole31]

Surprise Round ...

Ivilva's voice is heard casting a spell, and ripping from the ground and the mounds all around are writhing brambles, roots, grasses, and branches grasping at everything around, with the characters primarily at point zero. Aasgar and Lucette get entangled by the vegetation. Meanwhile, Galakhar had quick drawn his rapier, entered a stance, and moved to the southwest.

Ewigga Thorhide, the green hag that the bard-formerly-known-as-Phaevin had fought w/ the Nargrymkin siblings (along with her now-deceased marsh giant Grenseldek), appears to the majority of the party to the northeast. Her cackling voice making it easy to find her even if she isn't seen.

Begin Round One ...

R1T32: Abenor enters his hunting stance and disappears north and northwest out of sight. Even though he wasn't entangled, the constantly grasping plants slow his movement.

R1T23: Calen, you are not entangled (now), but that doesn't mean the field of grasping plants aren't making things difficult. What do you do?

[Admyral]

"Foul creature! You have no business here!" Calen bellows and fires a flaming arrow at the newly revealed hag.

Spoiler: Tech Info

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SA: Attack Ewigga with Shortbow: ATK:(1d20+11)[17] DAM:(1d8+1)[7] + (1d6)[3] fire