Stirge 6 moves at the last moment and Diabolical's bolt misses. Rapha'ellya tries again to swat away all the little monsters with her radiant emanation, but when the blast of light subsides only Stirge 1 has fallen to the ground - the indomitable Stirge 6 still stands.
"Run!" Khessa shouts "We must regain distance!"
So the angelic cleric obeys, while Stirge 6 tries to sting her in the back...
The Stirge's trunk does not forgive the Aasimar cleric this time, who is bitten for the first time while trying to escape - the monster attaches itself to her back and is dragged away with her, then. Far from disturbing it, this simply allows it to suck more blood from the poor victim, who collapses to the ground unconscious, with a pitiful groan.
Khessa screams out all her rage and seems to find new energy in it. Trying to elude the murderous slime, she runs in turn, reaching the fallen angelic heroine and bringing down her greatsword on the monster that has survived too long.
Khessa's sudden burst of rage and vitality surprises the ooze, who fails to take advantage of the opportunity to strike her. It also surprises the stirge, who was about to avoid the blow, but is grazed and that is enough to kill him.
The slime advances and, unable to reach the blonde arcane warrior, focuses on her. She moans from an unexpected mental attack, while her head feels like it is about to explode...
Diabolical rushes to make the fallen Aasimar swallow the magic acorn: "I understand your love for meditation, Rapha'ellya, but now is the time to wake up and run!"
The angelic cleric, recovering, is initially confused, but it doesn't take long to notice that the Stirges are finally all dead and that the slime is near. The next moment, she is already remembering Khessa's plan! The Aasimar cleric stands up and retreats with the tiefling.
Khessa follows the two friends and, from a distance, unleashes her magical fire against the psychic amoeba.
[[ OOC: Now... the party has 30' of movement. The ooze 10'. So the party can move and attack and the ooze can't reach them even if it dashes. Th eonly hope of the ooze is to get his ranged psychic attack back before the heroines can kill it ]]
The magic mote of fire hits the psychic ooze squarely, making it sizzle no less than it had done with Khessa's armor before. A long-distance battle begins, in which the 'Triple trouble' tries to take down the dangerous opponent before it is able to assault their minds again...
Although the tenacious amoeba seems more resistant than it should to Khessa's magical flames and regularly manages to ignore the mournful sounds of death with which Rapha'ellya attacks it, Diabolical's bolts strike mercilessly instead - and within moments the ferocious battle ends with the gelatinous opponent collapsing and dissolving.
Victory!
It takes then almost no effort to completely destroy the fragile brain-like fungus gowning in the water. Once it's destroyed, so is the the source of the stream's corruption!
The sounds of the forest seem to breathe a sigh of relief as you make your way back to Borogrove's clearing. The air is noticeably fresher, the sour tang that had previously hung heavy now completely absent. The stream you cross babbles merrily, its water sparkling clean and clear. As you enter the clearing, Borogrove stands waiting, a gentle smile etched into his bark-like face.
"Welcome back, travelers" Borogrove's voice rumbles, a deep, resonant sound that seems to vibrate through the very ground beneath your feet. "I see you have been successful. The forest sings a new song this day, a song of healing and renewal. The waters flow free once more, cleansed of the foulness that plagued them".
He gestures with a massive, branch-like hand towards the stream, where sunlight dances on the clear surface.
"The change is palpable," he continues, his amber eyes glowing with warmth. "The very air feels lighter, the trees themselves seem to stretch towards the sky with renewed vigor. I felt the darkness recede as you worked, a weight lifting from my ancient heart. The forest thanks you. And so do I".
Borogrove lowers his gaze, his expression filled with gratitude.
"You have shown great courage and resolve, venturing into the heart of the corruption and restoring balance to these woods. This was no small task, and your efforts will not be forgotten. The creatures of the forest will sing tales of your bravery, and the trees themselves will whisper your names on the wind".
He pauses, a low rumble emanating from deep within him, almost like a contented sigh, as he collects something from inside a nearby hollow tree trunk and reverently hands it to the 'Triple trouble': it is another acorn, like the one he had already provided previously (and which saved the life of a certain brave Aasimar)... and a staff whose magical nature is evident from the numerous flowers (all different) that sprout from it.
"I think it's only right that this should go back to you," Rapha'ellya tells Diabolical, passing her the acorn "considering the good use you made of the previous one..."
"Then this should be yours," the angelic cleric hands the staff to Khessa "since you are the one who makes our hope bloom!"
"But then there's nothing left for you..." Khessa protests timidly (though fascinated by the pretty, mysterious magical object).
"For me?" the black-braided Aasimar puts an arm around each of her other two friends. "I lost my people... and now I have you. I have received the greater reward."
Rapha'ellya's Word of Radiance: each Stirge who fails at DC 13 Constitution Saving Throw gets 6 radiant damage.
Stirge 6: 17
Stirge 1: 6
Ooze’s Lair (Encounter 4)
Let's assume initial distance is 30'.
Order:
Diabolical: 20
Stirge 4: 20Stirge 2: 18Rapha'ellya: 15 (4 dmg)
Stirge 3: 10Stirge 5: 8Stirge 6: 7
Khessa: 7 (9 dmg)
Stirge 1: 4Psychic Gray Ooze: 0
Round 2
Stirge 6 moves at the last moment and Diabolical's bolt misses. Rapha'ellya tries again to swat away all the little monsters with her radiant emanation, but when the blast of light subsides only Stirge 1 has fallen to the ground - the indomitable Stirge 6 still stands.
"Run!" Khessa shouts "We must regain distance!"
So the angelic cleric obeys, while Stirge 6 tries to sting her in the back...
Stirge 6's Attack of Opportunity: 23 Damage: 5 (piercing)
Stirge 6's Attack: 20 Damage: 6 (piercing)
Ooze’s Lair (Encounter 4)
Let's assume initial distance is 30'.
Order:
Diabolical: 20
Stirge 4: 20Stirge 2: 18Rapha'ellya: 15 (dying)
Stirge 3: 10Stirge 5: 8Stirge 6: 7
Khessa: 7 (9 dmg)
Stirge 1: 4Psychic Gray Ooze: 0
Round 2
The Stirge's trunk does not forgive the Aasimar cleric this time, who is bitten for the first time while trying to escape - the monster attaches itself to her back and is dragged away with her, then. Far from disturbing it, this simply allows it to suck more blood from the poor victim, who collapses to the ground unconscious, with a pitiful groan.
Khessa screams out all her rage and seems to find new energy in it. Trying to elude the murderous slime, she runs in turn, reaching the fallen angelic heroine and bringing down her greatsword on the monster that has survived too long.
Khessa recovers 11 HP thanks to Second Wind.
Psychic Gray Ooze's Attack of Opportunity: Attack: 15 Damage: 3 (bludgeoning) + 9 (acid) = 12
Khessa's Attack: 7 Damage: 10 (slashing)
Ooze’s Lair (Encounter 4)
Let's assume initial distance is 30'.
Order:
Diabolical: 20
Stirge 4: 20Stirge 2: 18Rapha'ellya: 15 (dying)
Stirge 3: 10Stirge 5: 8Stirge 6: 7Khessa: 7
Stirge 1: 4Psychic Gray Ooze: 0
Round 2
Khessa's sudden burst of rage and vitality surprises the ooze, who fails to take advantage of the opportunity to strike her. It also surprises the stirge, who was about to avoid the blow, but is grazed and that is enough to kill him.
The slime advances and, unable to reach the blonde arcane warrior, focuses on her. She moans from an unexpected mental attack, while her head feels like it is about to explode...
Psychic Crush vs Khessa: Damage: 9 (psychic) or half (4) if she passes a DC 10 Intelligence Saving Throw.
Khessa's Intelligence Saving Throw: 6
Heroic Inspiration used to reroll: Khessa's Intelligence Saving Throw: 16
Ooze’s Lair (Encounter 4)
Let's assume initial distance is 30'.
Order:
Diabolical: 20
Stirge 4: 20Stirge 2: 18Rapha'ellya: 15 (??? dmg)
Stirge 3: 10Stirge 5: 8Stirge 6: 7Khessa: 7 (4 dmg)
Stirge 1: 4Psychic Gray Ooze: 0
Round 3
Diabolical rushes to make the fallen Aasimar swallow the magic acorn: "I understand your love for meditation, Rapha'ellya, but now is the time to wake up and run!"
The angelic cleric, recovering, is initially confused, but it doesn't take long to notice that the Stirges are finally all dead and that the slime is near. The next moment, she is already remembering Khessa's plan! The Aasimar cleric stands up and retreats with the tiefling.
Khessa follows the two friends and, from a distance, unleashes her magical fire against the psychic amoeba.
The magic acorn heals 6 HP to Rapha'ellya.
Khessa's Fire Bolt Attack: 24 Damage: 6 (fire)
Psychic Crush (Recharge 5–6): 2
Ooze’s Lair (Encounter 4)
Let's assume initial distance is 30'.
Order:
Diabolical: 20
Stirge 4: 20Stirge 2: 18Rapha'ellya: 15 (4 dmg)
Stirge 3: 10Stirge 5: 8Stirge 6: 7Khessa: 7 (4 dmg)
Stirge 1: 4Psychic Gray Ooze: 0
Round 3
[[ OOC: Now... the party has 30' of movement. The ooze 10'. So the party can move and attack and the ooze can't reach them even if it dashes. Th eonly hope of the ooze is to get his ranged psychic attack back before the heroines can kill it ]]
The magic mote of fire hits the psychic ooze squarely, making it sizzle no less than it had done with Khessa's armor before.
A long-distance battle begins, in which the 'Triple trouble' tries to take down the dangerous opponent before it is able to assault their minds again...
Diabolical's Attack: 9 Damage: 7 (piercing)
Rapha'ellya's Toll the Dead: Psychic Gray Ooze takes 7 necrotic damage unless it passes a DC 13 Wisdom Saving Throw
Psychic Gray Ooze's Wisdom Saving Throw: 15
Khessa's Attack: 14 Damage: 4 (fire)
Psychic Crush (Recharge 5–6): 4
Diabolical's Attack: 14 Damage: 8 (piercing)
Rapha'ellya's Toll the Dead: Psychic Gray Ooze takes 1 necrotic damage unless it passes a DC 13 Wisdom Saving Throw
Psychic Gray Ooze's Wisdom Saving Throw: 18
Khessa's Attack: 8 Damage: 3 (fire)
Psychic Crush (Recharge 5–6): 3
Ooze’s Lair (Encounter 4)
Although the tenacious amoeba seems more resistant than it should to Khessa's magical flames and regularly manages to ignore the mournful sounds of death with which Rapha'ellya attacks it, Diabolical's bolts strike mercilessly instead - and within moments the ferocious battle ends with the gelatinous opponent collapsing and dissolving.
Victory!
It takes then almost no effort to completely destroy the fragile brain-like fungus gowning in the water. Once it's destroyed, so is the the source of the stream's corruption!
The sounds of the forest seem to breathe a sigh of relief as you make your way back to Borogrove's clearing. The air is noticeably fresher, the sour tang that had previously hung heavy now completely absent. The stream you cross babbles merrily, its water sparkling clean and clear. As you enter the clearing, Borogrove stands waiting, a gentle smile etched into his bark-like face.
"Welcome back, travelers" Borogrove's voice rumbles, a deep, resonant sound that seems to vibrate through the very ground beneath your feet. "I see you have been successful. The forest sings a new song this day, a song of healing and renewal. The waters flow free once more, cleansed of the foulness that plagued them".
He gestures with a massive, branch-like hand towards the stream, where sunlight dances on the clear surface.
"The change is palpable," he continues, his amber eyes glowing with warmth. "The very air feels lighter, the trees themselves seem to stretch towards the sky with renewed vigor. I felt the darkness recede as you worked, a weight lifting from my ancient heart. The forest thanks you. And so do I".
Borogrove lowers his gaze, his expression filled with gratitude.
"You have shown great courage and resolve, venturing into the heart of the corruption and restoring balance to these woods. This was no small task, and your efforts will not be forgotten. The creatures of the forest will sing tales of your bravery, and the trees themselves will whisper your names on the wind".
He pauses, a low rumble emanating from deep within him, almost like a contented sigh, as he collects something from inside a nearby hollow tree trunk and reverently hands it to the 'Triple trouble': it is another acorn, like the one he had already provided previously (and which saved the life of a certain brave Aasimar)... and a staff whose magical nature is evident from the numerous flowers (all different) that sprout from it.
"I think it's only right that this should go back to you," Rapha'ellya tells Diabolical, passing her the acorn "considering the good use you made of the previous one..."
"Then this should be yours," the angelic cleric hands the staff to Khessa "since you are the one who makes our hope bloom!"
"But then there's nothing left for you..." Khessa protests timidly (though fascinated by the pretty, mysterious magical object).
"For me?" the black-braided Aasimar puts an arm around each of her other two friends. "I lost my people... and now I have you. I have received the greater reward."
THE END
The new 2024 Monster Manual just released digitally.
All the monsters have gotten harder.
Specifically, the Psychic Gray Ooze boss at the end of this adventure,
Just to name a few.
Zim Eaglecleft, Fighter 1 (Farmer Dwarf), Descent into Avernus (Hardcore)