Red Dead Annihilation: Campaign Thread

Ran packs up as much of their gear as he can carry and sets off along the trail. For the most part he would let others guide the way along the trail. If you wanted help avoiding an ambush in the city, Ran was your guy, but out here it still all looked the same to him.

He would take up a spot just behind whoever was finding the trail for them.

He did scan the sides of the trail and up above into the treetops to look for anything that might come their way.

Perception: 8  

After hiding the canoes, Mica moves out in the front Rank with Hew,  one of his hand axes out to clear underbrush and vegetation as needed, although he is careful to leave as little of a trail as possible for others to potentially follow.  

“Hew, you spoke earlier about bringing skins for the hunting camp, though we found nothing before we arrived there.  Do we need to do the same for the villagers of M’bala?  Bring something to trade?” He helps Hew out with navigation, trying to learn some tricks from the old dwarf while keeping an eye out for any promising animal tracks or threats.

Survival: 15.

Perception: 19. (Passive:13).

“Imagined as much.” He said to hew while pulling the Focus from his pocket. “And would anything on our supplies make for a good offering?” The hexblood said looking from the dwarf to the genasi. “Would something the jug can produce be considered rare and appreciated by the villagers?”

He asked hopeful, commanding Ninlil to keep her eyes on the party and alert him should anything move on their direction. No need surprises, specially not after they were almost conscripted on the camp. Convinced that they would have been reached already if someone from there was still following, Velan takes his usual place at the back of the march. His mind was sharp and strong, but his body, as the wizard himself said to Danica, needed to get a lot stronger to even reach the point of being fragile. Staying at the rear, fighting from as far as possible, was his best option.

Whispering arcane words and resting his over chest, crystal nested on his palms, the chronurgist casted Magic Armor over his body. Better now than when something appears, he decided remembering the events from the last night. As their challenges became more dangerous every second grew more precious. He was more useful using his spells to attack or hinder an enemy than warding himself.    

Notes: Velan casts Mage Armor on himself, marches on the end of the line and tells Ninlil to keep an eye from the skies on anything approaching them.

Ninlil's Perception: 23

You've spent a lot of time together now... perhaps more than you've realized until these moments.  Whether it is Velan's little owl flitting about overhead, or Mica shadowing Hew to unlock more of the jungle's secrets, you have roles in the party that now feel like second nature, and that your allies depend upon.  Though this first, deep trek into the jungle could be daunting, the group approaches it calmly, almost professionally, and follow Hew into the darkness.

"Let's just get to M'bala in one piece and play the hand we're dealt when we get there," Hew answers.  "They are isolated... maybe one of the most isolated settlements on Toril.  I suspect just about anything we bring that wasn't made in the jungle will be a sight to these folk."  He draws a long knife and cuts a bit of root, passing pieces of it to any interested.  Chewing on it releases a light, citrussy flavor.  "Not much use as a foodstuff, but it tastes nice and makes the walking hours pass more joyfully."  He looks like he is about to say more, but stops himself, his mood instantly souring.  "Anyway, my concern is these wizards your sis was tracking," he says to Ran with a dark look.  "They've managed to piss off every Tom, Dick and Heward they've past by.  I worry they'll have set M'bala into a hornets nest... that we'll catch all the hell for if the people are riled up against strangers."

While it is hot - as always - somehow it feels less oppressive.  Perhaps it is simply seeing something different then riverbank that has taken your minds off of the temperature.  And the views here are spectacular.  There are trees that reach into the sky, several hundred feet tall, their canopies stretching out to one another until they form a shield against the sky, bathing the space below in a kind of green twilight, pierced by blinding rays of sunshine.  Below the canopy is another layer of green, with smaller trees, vines, and giant ferns competing for space wherever large gaps allow in more light.  The jungle floor is a maze of different biomes and environments.  Fallen trees, the trunks wider than any of you are tall, are covered with a kaleidoscope of different mushrooms and fungi.  Patches of rainforest floor that receive sunlight host long grasses and flowering ferns visited by blue and orange butterflies.  The fog that shrouded the Aldani Basin is quickly left behind, but there is still moisture everywhere.  Large leaves hold ponds of rainwater, collected for ages and teeming with tiny swimming insects and little frogs.  

The canopy is full of life. The calls of birds and monkeys are everywhere and yet distant, echoing down from above.  The space below is vast and more quiet.  There are no dinosaurs or other large beasts visible, but you're well aware by now that they are out there... somewhere.

"There should be a path here somewhere.  There's a trail that runs from the river out toward the plateau that holds M'bala.  It's not much but it would give us a straight path to follow if we can pick it up."  After an hour searching, Hew and Mica pick up the path.  Those of you expecting a road or even a small cartpath are disappointed.  To most of you it looks like... just more jungle.  But Mica is starting to get a feel for this place, and following Hew's advice and direction he is able to pick out the telltale signs... the beaten down grasses... the gaps in the trees and ferns.  Hew signals for the group to be quiet and keep eyes up and then turns westward on the trail.  It is much more a game trail than any human path; indeed if the local humans are using this at all, it is not frequently.   It is being used, however.  Deep prints show great numbers of dinosaurs moving in both directions.  

Hew pauses several times to point things out to Mica.  The wide, deep hind prints; the smaller, shallower fore prints.  Most of the herbivorous dinosaurs are heavier in the hind legs and use their forelegs for balance and browsing, with some of them being nearly bipedal.  He also stops so show long, three toes prints.  Predators.  These tracks never follow the trail, just cross it.  "They hit the trail, check the wind for sent, and then move back into the brush to stalk.  Some of them like to get in front of the herds and ambush... some prefer to creep up like a jungle cat.  These are all old though," he adds dismissively.

Meili finds the flora of the Chultan rainforest bewildering.  There is just... so much.  And so many things look similar.  Twice she thinks she spots the same root Hew had cut for you earlier, only to receive a laugh from the dwarf.  Not unkind, but not very helpful either, as he turned his eyes back toward the path.

Ran does his best not to get in the way of the more adept trackers in the group, especially Hew and Mica.

"I've only run across a few wizards, and Velan aside," Ran says in response to Hew's earlier statement, "They all seem to think the rest of us are dirt under their boots. But yeah, these ones seem right bastards."

He takes the offered stalk from Hew and savours the citrus-like taste.

"We can sell them on the joys of mayonnaise when we get to M'bala."

After the second failure, Meili gave up (for today). "Don't think I am getting it yet. So many things to watch for and some are so similar. Can I have that root?" She took one piece to chew on and one kept for future reference, first memorizing the smell and the feel of the root's texture.

"If those wizards already made people of M'bala mistrustful of magic, demonstrating the pot might be a bad idea. Worse, if they recognize the pot as a relic from the local temple." It was more of some out loud thoughts, rather than an argument. Meili was more curious about the story that tracks could tell. She followed Hew and Mica closely to learn all she could, even if her attentiveness today seemed to be lacking. 

It is late in the afternoon when Hew and Mica come to a dead stop.  They both see it at the same time; thin, almost translucent webbing strung across the trail ahead of you.  Meili spots more to either side of the trail, and Ninlil hoots a warning and flutters back the way you have come toward safety.  Hew gives a sigh that is almost a growl.  "Spiders.  Let's back up and...".

Before he finishes the thought, the webbing vibrates and an ominous, inhuman chittering sound erupts from both sides of the path, and above.  The party has wandered too close to these spiders hunting grounds.  The early warning from your skilled perception of the danger allows you to retreat to a distance of 60' before they spring their attack.

Initiative:

• Ran: 18
• Danica: 23
• Mica: 3
• Velan: 9
• Meili: 21
• Hew/Inete: 12
• Giant Spiders A, B, C: 11
• Giant Spiders D, E: 13

Three Giant Spiders erupt from the jungle foliage, two to the north and one to the south.  They race after your party on eight chitinous legs, scrabbling over furns and fallen logs.  As big as a horse, each of these beasts is equipped with piercing mandibles the length of shortswords.

Closing to within 30', each one fires a gob of webbing at the nearest heroes.

Spider A targets Meili, but it misses, landing with a 'plop' beside her.

[Inete uses her Portent ability as a reaction to the attack, remembering a vision from this morning where she saw this spider miss.  She replaces the Web attack roll with a 7.  Miss.]

Spider B targets Mica.  Web attack: 19   On a Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

Spider C targets Hew.  Web attack: 22   On a Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

Round One:

1. Giant Spiders A, B, C
2. Meili and Danica
3. Hew and Inete
4. Ran
5. Giant Spiders D, E
6. Velan
7. Mica

Volo did not write about giant spiders in the jungle, but the dreaded creatures were well-known across the realm. Meili, fortunately, never fought one before but actions seemed obvious - avoid the web but all means.

Meili tried to cut and rip off the web from those who got caught:

Action: Sword to cut web from Mika: Attack: 10 Damage: 9

BA: Flurry of Blows to rip off the web from Hew: Attack: 18 Damage: 6

                                                                                     Attack: 14 Damage: 6

Mica and Hew both find themselves bound and restrained in great gobs of gooey spider silk.  

No sooner do they realize they are trapped, however, than Meili springs into action.  Her sword cuts a seem in Mica's web - narrowly missing his flesh - and allows him to slip out.  Then she rips and tears at Hew's bindings with her free hand, and the dwarf is free as well.

1. Giant Spiders A, B, C
2. Meili and Danica
3. Hew and Inete
4. Ran
5. Giant Spiders D, E
6. Velan
7. Mica

[Botting Danica for this round.]

The elf draws upon the power of the stars and casts guiding bolt at Giant Spider C.  Pure starlight impales the furry spider, leaving it shimmering with a heavenly glow.

[Rolled in game log - Attack: 16  Radiant Damage: 12.  Hits.  The next attack roll made against this target before the end of your next turn has advantage.]

Then Danica retreats 10' further away from the Giant Spiders.  

Hew charges 20' closer to Giant Spider C, striking it twice with his rapier, killing it.  He then retreats 10' back toward the group.

[Rolled in the game log - 1st Attack w.adv: 23 19 Piercing Damage: 12.  2nd Attack: (Inete uses her vision of Hew finishing off the spider to substitute a 19)  Piercing Damage: 10.]

Inete traces a a sigil of warding in the air in front of her and then retreats behind Danica and Velan.

1. Giant Spiders A, B, C
2. Meili and Danica
3. Hew and Inete
4. Ran
5. Giant Spiders D, E
6. Velan
7. Mica

Ran's eyes grow a little wider at the sight of the giant spiders.

"Creepy buggers, ain't they?" he says. "But still, rather them than zombie spiders."

Seeing the spider directly ahead go down in the flurry of attack, Ran focuses on the one coming in from their flank and moves quickly to engage Spider A.

He rushes forward, drawing both longswords and slashing out at the torso with one and the head of the spider with the other.

Longsword 1: Attack: 6 Damage: 6  

Longsword 2: Attack: 21 Damage: 8  

Ran's first sword bounces off the hard, chitinous hide of Giant Spider A, but his second strike draws thick, black ichor and the spider squeals and chitters at him.

Overhead, two more Giant Spiders scramble around on their webs, hung between the trees.  One fires a gob of web at Ran, the other at Hew.

Web Attack on Ran from Giant Spider D:  10  On a Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

Web Attack on Hew from Giant Spider E:  19  On a Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

A bit of webbing clings to Ran, like gooey, tacky horse spit, but not enough to impair him.

Hew, on the other hand, is once again wrapped in disgusting, sticky spiders webbing.

Ninlil didn’t need to warn him telepathically. So close was the fey that with her owl hoot she could warn about the beasts in front of the group. Hew is fast to identify the danger and said to all what exactly they were dealing about. Velan started to look for webs, fearing they would be attacked from three directions. As he did so battle started. Fortunately the enemies came from a single way, unfortunately they immobilized the dwarf. Twice in a row.

“Mica, I will leave the one closest to Hew for you.” The wizard said pulling his arcane focus. Rising his right hand with the crystal on its palm he started to center his mind on the Weave, making its energy move, condense, heat and burst in flame. “Ignis!” He said as his eyes gleamed teal and he launched a mote of fire on the spider closest to Ran. Another two closed on the warrior so it was best to target the one already wounded. This way, with some semblance of luck, he would take it out, cut a third of any threat to the fighter. Mica should be able to dispatch the other easily with his bow. No need to use more complex spells. At least not yet.

The hexblood just hopped things didn’t change for the worse. There was still quite the way in front of them.

Notes: Velan casts Fire Bolt on the spider hurt by Ran (Spider A) and remains immobile.

Range Spell Attack: 11
Potential Damage: 8

Mica was feeling proud of himself for stopping short of the strands of web stretching across the path.  They were practically invisible.  But before he could congratulate himself he was covered in sticky webbing as the giant spiders made their presence known.  Thankfully, Meili had the presence of mind to cut the webs from him and Hew before scrambling away.  He called out a brief thanks as he looked for the closest threat. 

Drawing his second handaxe, Mica moves to stand next to Ran and attacks the same spider, trying to avoid its jaws and bringing down both handaxes, one after the other, on the creature’s head. (Both attacks against Spider A).

Attack: 13 Damage: 7.

Attack: 21 Damage: 4.

Plus Colossus Slayer damage of 7 on a hit. 

Velan's firebolt just misses the Giant Spider A, charring a few coarse leg hairs but otherwise causing no injury.  Mica is more successful, joining Ran in landing a single, painful wound to the monster.  Encountering far more resistance from these tasty morsels than it is used to, Giant Spider A retreats, but not before it spits another gob of web at Mica to cover its retreat. 

Web Attack on Mica from Giant Spider A: 18 On a Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

 [Fleeing Giant Spider A is subject to AoO from Ran or Mica (Mica's at disadvantage if he is restrained by web).]

Giant Spider B advances slowly on the delicious looking dwarf webbed up in front of it.  "Grrrr... back off, you beady eyed varmint!" Hew bellows, but the spider ignores his protest and tries to deliver a bite from its long, pointed mandibles.

Attack: 25 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.  On a hit the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 9 poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the poison damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed while poisoned in this way.

[Hew CON save in case of hit: 18.]

1. Giant Spiders A, B
2. Meili and Danica
3. Hew and Inete
4. Ran
5. Giant Spiders D, E
6. Velan
7. Mica

Now the enemy was in front of her and Meili ran toward it. The sword once again slid over the sticky ropes, while she turned around to lend a kick at the monster's disgusting body:

Action: Sword to cut web from Hew: Attack: 18 Damage: 5

BA: Flurry of Blows at Spider B: Attack: 8 Damage: 6

                                                         Attack: 11 Damage: 5