Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

"That was wonderful!" Yoë shouts out as you wrap up the little tune. She had been skipping and dancing around to the music.  "That was about me? And... oh, you are the knight! But I didn't travel over any mountain..."   She hums the tune as she continues along through the forest. 

You continue on at a fairly casual pace for most of the day. There are a couple of detours as Yoë charges off to look at flower.  She explains in detail precisely what it is about each type of flower that caught her eye. First it was a particularly unusual color.  Then it was a pattern.  Then the combination of colors.  In one case, she just liked the unique bell shape of the plant.  But eventually you get back on track. 

At the end of the day Yoë is starting to slow down. "I really need to get off my feet. All this walking! There's no way we're going to make it today."

Aurelius periodically scans the skies for any sign of Aelric.  While enjoying the company of the faun, he does try and remain alert for any enemies that might be following or approaching them. (Passive Perception 10, active 18)

When they pause for the evening, he helps set up camp and suggests they do without a fire so as not to attract too much attention, remembering that Flynt's magical crossbow can wake them if any danger is nigh.

Flynt utters a command word and transforms into his owl alter ego. Even though he trusts Betsy to alert him to any surprises he'd prefer to not have to have it get that far. He spends the next few minutes soaring around scouting the area.

Perception. 12 

Aurelius and Flynt do not spot anything out of the ordinary as they set up the camp and scout out around the area.  The forest here is not all that dense with the trees having plenty of space between them.  You make a small encampment, without a fire, and prepare to settle in to rest.  Yoë mostly keeps to herself as she lays out a mat to sleep on.  She pulls out a songhorn (essentially a recorder) and starts to play a cheerful song.  You see her bouncing her head along to the music - you can almost imagine her dancing around to the song were she not tired from the day of travel.  

Once you settle in everyone starts to get some rest.  About half-way through the night, you are all suddenly alert to some danger nearby.  

(Roll both Initiative and Perception) 

(17, 17, 4)

Aurelius passive Perception 10, active Perception 20, and Initiative 3

Perception 21

Initiative: 12

(5)

Initiative Order:
Tree Assailant
Aurelius
Flynt
Yoë 

ROUND 1

Aurelius realizes that something is trying to grasp his leg.  (Grapple Attack: 17, if attack succeeds you are Restrained and have Disadvantage on CON Checks and Saving throws. As an Action you can use a Strength Save DC 18 to break free.)  It looks to be a thick tree root. 

(Aurelius is now up.) 

After being awakened and warned of danger, Aurelius is not totally unprepared when a thick rough root starts to wrap around his body.  He wrestles with the tree-tentacle, trying to avoid capture.

Athletics check 24

Round 1

Finding himself restrained, Aurelius will continue to struggle, while alerting Flynt and Yoë  to his situation.  "It's the trees!"

STR save (bonus higher than Athletics due to paladin stuff) 22

ROUND 1

(Just a general note - the "grapple attack" here is a unique thing.  It is an attack roll vs AC then a STR Save, not ability contest like normal grappling.)

Aurelius successfully breaks free of the root that seemed to have grabbed him.

Yoë calls out, pointing to one particular old and knurled tree. "It's that one!" The tree's branches do seem to be moving oddly.

Quote from Culuril >>

ROUND 1

(Just a general note - the "grapple attack" here is a unique thing.  It is an attack roll vs AC then a STR Save, not ability contest like normal grappling.)

 

 (Ah, I misunderstood.  If it is a normal attack vs. AC then it misses, and Aurelius would attack on his turn, not being restrained, nor needing a STR save)

Round 1 re-do

Aurelius draws his longsword, speaks the command word to ignite it, and hacks away at the root that is attacking him.

First Longsword Attack: 27 Damage: 13 magical slashing + 7 fire damage

Second Longsword Attack: 10 Damage: 5 magical slashing + 7 fire damage

ROUND 1

Aurelius manages to chop into the root with one blow. A small piece remains while the rest retracts into the ground.  The tree that Yoë pointed out does not show any effect from the attack.

(Flynt is up)

Flynt fires Betsy at the tree.

Attack: 20 Damage: 20

Attack: 16 Damage: 19

Attack: 9 Damage: 19

Round 1

Two of Flynt's three shots hit the tree. The branches seem to flail in anger. 

Yoë looks wide-eyed at the tree.  She draws her wooden dagger but holds it awkwardly in front of her as she backs away from the tree. 

Round 2

Another root appears, this time near Yoë. (Attack: 20)

Round 2

The root grabs hold of Yoë and she is restrained.  You also notice that the tree seems to repair some of the damage from Flynt's attack. 

(Aurelius is up.) 

The paladin unleashes a hex on the arboreal abomination. Aurelius will then charge at the main trunk of the tree, cleaving branch and leaf with his flame tongue.

First Longsword Attack: 13 Damage: 11 magical slashing + 5 fire damage + 1 necrotic damage

Second Longsword Attack: 14 Damage: 9 magical slashing + 7 fire damage + 1 necrotic damage

(As part of the hex, he causes the creature to have disadvantage on STR ability checks).

"It regenerates!" cries out Flynt as Betsy strikes three more times.

Attack: 11 Damage: 16

Attack: 20 Damage: 17

Attack: 15 Damage: 20

Round 2

Aurelius' sword makes two fabulous glowing arcs as he assails the tree.  Remarkably though, none of the blows seem to land solidly. 

Flynt again managed to hit with two of his shots.  Though the tree seems to again partly recover from the shots. 

Yoë now tries to pull free from the root. (6)