"Only other time that we know of," Sam points out. "The two tiny fey memorial treed could be stone too for all we know. But you're right, we do need to check this out. Someone make sure the survivors steer well clear?"
That said, Sam starts walking towards the troublesome tree. As he does so he pulls out the Sending Stone he uses to update Jimmy with and asks Jimmy what the hell the deal with these acorns is, in colorfully creative language. After the initial outburst he takes a breath, calms, summarizes what's happened with the trees so far, and asks Jimmy to explain. "You gave me these things. What exactly did you give me?" he signs off with.
Elthana pulls on Sam's arm to stop him from trampling on ahead. She sees him get ready to call Jimmy and she nods, "Go ahead and call who you need to, but let us check things out first."
And she stealthily moves ahead, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for what is going on and what creatures they may have brought forth.
Moving forward the more stealthy members breach the clearing and move toward the center where the stone tree resides, the symbol that was translated before is prominently shown in the petrified bark in the face of the tree 'mouth' though whatever passed through this mouth, the rift in the tree has now closed.
Looking to the two snaking pieces of land with melted snow it appears that each strip has a burrow point at one end and at the other large stone like spikes betray some sort of elemental carapace from a creature settled beneath the surface. The burrow points are fantastically large but the spikes rising from the earth are long but narrow. All around this area stone and broken boulders are strewn around either unearthed or brought with these beasts through the rift. Steam lingers in the air from the melted snow, forming a low thin fog.
Standing on the edge of the clearing Sam almost, but doesn't, call the stealthier ones back. Whatever this is, it isn't good. And whatever has burrowed itself into the ground looks rather large. Large is more his thing to handle and having the stealthier members advance while he doesn't is a bit unnerving.
Sam pats Boris and scratches his neck a little bit and then climbs atop the giant boar. "If trouble happens you're faster than I am," Sam tells the beast.
"Any ideas as to what's under the ground up there?" he asks the others.
Elthana heads back to the others and shrugs, "I'm not sure what they are. Definitely similar as in probably from the same plane as the geonids in the cave, so I don't know if they are hostile or not, but the picture painted in the clearing doesn't seem to bode well for me."
She looks back over her shoulder and then back to the others, "Anyone else have information on them or should we just head in and see what happens?"
While Vin and Elthana were gone. Sam creating a petting zoo seems to have had an odd effect. The kids seeming to grow fond of petting this animal or that seem to take more notice of the scary black hound. Nef always watching and seeming a bit surprised at Sam's sudden display of kindness seems to have her watching him with keen eyes. A pair of the kids seeming to summon up some courage to approach the large hound look like they are going to try and pet her. Neferox seems to pick up on this and growls at them warning the kids away. The pair run away and when they get back tot he other kids the rest of them seem to giggle and laugh at the failed attempt of bravery. This prevents any others from getting near her which she seems fine with. She clearly doesn't want any snotgobblers messing with her fur. With no others approaching her, she continues to walk and keep eyes out for danger but always seems to be looking back.
As Vin and Elthana find the clearing they both agree they need to return and warn the group. The signs that something big has moved in are unmistakable. When they get back Vin is taken by surprise by all the kids seeming to follow and play around Sam. The big man clearly good with them, although having a petting zoo in a bag certainly helps. The half-elf smiles and soon Nef is by his side as he scritches behind her ear. Vin seems a bit distracted by Nef at first so he doesn't immediate reply or add to the conversation and before he knows it Elthana went to scout again without him. She came back quickly too though. Vin in the meantime says, "I could Summon Maka to scout it out. See if anything aggressive is there or not. We are dealing with other worlds so anything could happen. We can stand by while Maka checks the area then we can respond to whatever reacts to their presence."
Muir steps closer to the group "These are the creatures that came through from Sam's artifact. We need to destroy them. I am sorry, but they are harming the natural world here. They may not mean to but it is their nature. We must do this and then move on to Hokum"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Knowing Muir is correct, Elthana nods. Turning to Vin, "Thank you for the offer of summoning Maka, and if you think she'll help in the fight, that's great, but I don't think any more scouting is necessary. C'mon, lets take care of these creatures." And she starts walking towards them.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Okay, sounds clear cut Muir. If you're sure it's dangerous then it must be. Let's make sure whatever it is it doesn't hurt anyone. As to Maka, I was thinking more bait. Maka felt they never helped anyone in life. So... I've been showing them they can help. Even now. Helps they don't actually get killed. I just summon a form for them to possess." He smiles and steps forward a little bit. He doesn't go into the clearing but he does begin to gather power.
As he gathers the power around him he begins to chant, "Вывядзіце таго, чыя душа была праклята, каб я звязаў іх сваёй воляй і паслужыў сваёй справе." and the spawned form of Maka the shadowspawn of despair appears before him. Those near the creature can feel the weight of sadness and hopelessness from it. Vin just smiles as if unaffected. "Hi Maka. I got a special job that you can do. There is a dangerous thing out there. I want you to get it's attention and when you do we will back you up and fight it. Fight back against it and try your best to not get hurt too much. I know this is just a temporary form for you but I don't want you to think I'm just using that. This is just one of those things that you can do to help us with how you are now. It's an opportunity to show you that you can be helpful no matter what form you are."
With that he sends Maka out into the clearing to approach the tree with its instructions and Vin readies a pair of eldrich blasts for when he sees the threat. Unless he is given a reason to think its not dangerous he's ready to fight.
Even while Vin is talking, Sam starts talking as well. Not meaning to outshoot the kid but unable to hold himself back.
“Woah, woah, woah.. Let’s not be calling anything ‘Sam’s Artifact’ now, eh? Ain’t nobody ever told me the trees were anything but trees! This one in particular was intended to help re-tree this area after your Old Thicket fellow sucked all the life out of the area!” Sam says all defensive and angry.
“I’m just using the tools I was given with the understanding I’ve been given of them,” he adds. “So don’t go blaming me for this unless you want a special golden acorn planted so far up your…,”
Ok, ok… deep breath, he tells himselff as Vin is summoning his freaky spirit thing and giving it instructions. No need to be making a thing out of it. Muir surely didn’t mean anything, he’s just all about nature and doesn’t want unnatural things roaming about…
“And yeah, what about your Old Thicket? Or Shionne?” Sam asks as Vin sends out his scout, more controlled but still with a sneer. “Couple mighty unnatural things there that you’re happily letting roam free despite causing harm, eh?”
“Bah, if you want to kill them all I’m fine with that,” Sam says as he takes up his maul. “Let’s just not be laying blame, eh?” Out of steam, at least verbally, Sam starts following after Vin’s scout, staying back a hood 20 feet or so.
Boris looks to Sam heading off, looks back to Muir, gives out a snort and then trundles off after Sam.
Gewyn mimics Muir's gesture to Sam, and then waves and gives a thumbs up. "Hey, you'll do great out there. You're gonna kill it. Literally. I'll do my part and start working on the song."
As Sam gets further away, Gewyn looks to Muir and says, "I mean, I guess we should actually go and help. I can play a wicked sonatina just in case things get bad." With that, he starts following 15 feet behind Sam.
Maka's head slumps a little in apathetic acceptance of her task, and they begin travelling toward the stone tree in the center, Crossing over the first strip of melted snow nothing seems to happen, and so pressing on past the tree, Maka goes to inspect the further strip of melted snow.
Sam and Elthana push forward and followed by Boris the boar they also make it all the way across to the stone tree before the ground begins moving under the first strip, the stonelike spiky protrusion pushes up ward with a jolt and bursting up out of the ground a Gargantuan insect breaches the surface cutting Sam, Elthana, Maka and Boris off from the rest of the party. The creature has a massive carapace of stone on its back with the spiky protrusions along where it spine would be, It has four sets of legs with razor sharp spines for digging, where the legs meet the body this creatures underside glows with molten rock, heat vents out of the side of this monstrosity, it steams up as it superheats the snow in the air kicked up by the disturbance. Suddenly a second one bursts through the ground next to Maka, Towering over the shadow spawn as it does, it turns its stone beak-like head toward Maka and its eyes glow with flame.
Elthana and Vin are up!
map Initiative order and Creature picture are all in the discord
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vin's eyes go wide as the pair of giant bugs made of spiky stone stand up. The massive creatures rising from the ground as it it was loose sand as they position themselves to flank their pray but luckily Maka is preventing that. Unfortunately Nef, Sam and Elthana were cut off from the rest of them due to two of the things showing up. Nef was following Sam with Maka taking the lead but it seems the bugs were slow to rouse or... maybe they just wanted more pray. Either way, Vin could see Muir was right. These would definitely be dangerous to keep around and with the people of Hokum heading this way they would of likely drawn their attention. They look hungry after all and who knows how far they wonder to hunt. Vin was prepared for the creatures though as they all expected some dangerous things here so Vin was going to help.
Vin is quick to the uptake and quickly gathers a pair of blasts to launch at the bug that is cutting off his friends. Trusting Maka to hold off the other one while they can focus down this one. "I think it's safe to say they are not friendly!" Two streaks of energy stream through the air towards it as Vin tries to aim for blasting into whatever weak spots he can find on the creature.
Eldrich Blast 1: 26 Damage: 8
Eldrich Blast 2:23 Damage: 12
He remembers that feeling when he wanted to protect Gewyn when fighting the Mimics. A brief memory of Vin feeding the tiny one he has earlier this morning with some of his jerky and gave it some water flits. Thinking on how he felt when he was trying to protect Gewyn he reaches for that feeling again. This time, something different happens though time though and AFTER Elthana takes her attacks on her turn Vin will cast Sanctuary on her shielding her from harm unless she tries to attack again
Nef meanwhile rushes in to attack moving around the giant bug as best she can so that Sam can easily flank. The black hound seeming to have a comfortable pattern of coordinated attacks with the half-orc. She focuses on trying to tear off one of the legs biting and ripping at it as best she can.
Attack Bite 1:14 Damage: 11
Attack Bite 2:17 Damage: 17
Maka seems to have no motivation what-so-ever and Vin's commands to it was to fight back so it waits for the creature to attack it frustrating Vin as they know they are just trying to be destroyed when they should be attacking an obvious threat. However, the dreadful sense of despair seems to intensify around them making the bug itself lethargic and sluggish as their motivation becomes sapped. They have their movement speed reduced by 20 when they start their turn next to Maka.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Taking a step back as the monstrosity emerges from the ground, Elthana looks around to her friends to get her bearings and she yells back towards Vin, "You got that right! They need to be exterminated immediately!"
Thrilled to be able to move again, she activates her claw-like tattoo and 15' away from the one separating them from the rest of the party, she attacks with it. The inky black tendrils moving through the air to magically hit the creature.
Attack: 25 Damage: 7 + 1
Attack: 26 Damage: 8 + 5
And unless she can see their reach is 15', she'll move to the right 20', otherwise she'll stay put.
As Vin charges and fires off his Eldritch Blasts, One hits the creature center mass and sends a shockwave rippling through the molten underside of this beast, The second shot catches the stony carapace of the creature and is deflected off upwards into the sky where it explodes without effect. Neferox chases around the outside of the Bug biting and sinking her teeth in to great effect, Though as this beast bleeds the heat and molten rock sprays over Neferox like blood, During her attacks Nef takes (10 + 8 fire damage)
Elthana is safer, attacking from a distance, As her first tendril whip fails to pierce through the Bug's tough exterior it does leave an opening to let the second tendril whip in, the Damage sends a torrent of the molten core of the beast tumbling out.
Observing such a target rich environment, The closest bug lurches down toward the one creature that hurt it the most and attempts to return a Bite at Neferox, Steam vents from the beast as it moves and from within its mouth drips a liquid lava, Though Neferox appears too fast for it as it buries it's beak like maw into the ground instead, (8 to hit)
The second bug Lurches at the only beast by it and Bites towards Maka, (25 to hit, 9 piercing, 5 fire damage) once it has taken a chunk from the shadow spawn It decides to burrow once more, disturbing the ground above but leaving it solid enough to walk on.
"The battle is joined!" Gewyn shouts as everyone springs to action. Running forward 20 feet, he plays a jaunty melody on his pipes. "But I think the big guy there needs to cool off." With that, he snaps his fingers.
Fae energy flows through him as flowers begin to push their way up through the snow, forming dense bouquets all around the fiery creature. Then, as one, they start squirting jets of water at the beast's face from all angles.
(nathair's mischief: Effect #2; Dex Save 16 or blinded until the beginning of Gewyn's next turn.)
Boris has never, and I mean ever, seen a thing like this before! To be quite honest, the Giant Boar would have peed themselves a bit if they had... Well, been wearing clothes. And why would they, am I right? As it is, Boris tells anyone and everyone (who speaks Giant Boarish) that they were merely marking their territory before revving up and attacking! Boris shifts around the creature until Sam give the command "Pureé!" and then the Giant Boar jerks it's head violently and tries to gore the giant insect. (Moves to flanking with Neferox and then attacks.)
Tusk Attack: (18, 5) + 5 for 23To Hit, for 11Slashing Damage
Boris shifts 15 feet more circling the insect westwardly so as to provide room for Sam and his weapon...
After barking out "Pureé!" Sam chokes up on his maul and readies himself for combat. As Boris attacks Sam embiggens... He never enjoys feeling like the smallest guy in a fight but this is ridiculous, smaller than his own pet boar?? Sam grows from medium to Large! (Bonus Action - Gian't Might activated!)
Seemingly moving in unison with Boris (if allowed*) the Large and in Charge Sam steps into the prime flanking spot once Boris evacuates it... (Evacuates it? That sounds wrong...) Sam would think of something witty to say but Sam isn't particularly witty and, let's face it, humor is likely to go right over the bug's head anyway. Sam swings!
Maul Attack #1: (17, 17) + 10 for 27To Hit, for 20Bludgeoning Damage (after 3d6's rerolled for being 1 or 2's and Sam having Great Weapon Fighting fighting style)
Maul Attack #2: (8, 4) + 10 for 18To Hit, for 26Bludgeoning Damage (only rerolled 2 that time.)
Assuming this bug isn't squashed yet, Sam is just getting started and uses his Action Surge to swing twice more!
Maul Attack #3: (13, 20) + 10 for 30 To Hit w/Nat 20, that does 37Bludgeoning Damage (rerolled 5 that time, got more 1s though...)
Maul Attack #4: (14, 15) + 10 for 25To Hit for 24Bludgeoning Damage...(1 reroll)
(phew, thats a lots of rolls...)
With his last maul attack Sam adds a little extra something something, a little flavor, a little flair... He adds a dash of the Crusher feat! Buuuuut... Despite being Large, the bug is just too Larger and is unmoved. ((Bug is gargantuan, yes? Not huge?))
Having done all that he can do, Sam will stay where he is and dare the thing to try him....
* ((I'm a little "meh" on the whole Boris moves into flanking spot across from Neferox, attacks w/ advantage and then moves on so Sam can move into that same spot and also attacks w/ advantage. While it seems technically RAW and I suppose I could justify it more in my head by there being three animals circling it at any given time being worse than just one in front and back... But anyway, if you don't want both to gain advantage then obviously Boris and their one attack would forego it...It's why I made sure to include all the rolls.))
** ((Of course if Gewyn's magic blinds the thing then it's all moot and all have advantage anyway!))
Bursting up from the ground, Gewyn's Flowers get immediately to work shooting water into this Gargantuan bug's face, everywhere the bug looks to try avoiding the geyser another flower is there ready to continue the blinding onslaught, (6 dex save)
Boris' tusks sink deep into one of the legs of the beast and unleashes a gout of molten spray from the creature, covering the boar, the smell of roasting pork fills the air as Sam's friend takes (10) fire damage.
Each of Sam's Mauls swings connects and the flurry of attacks beat the beast down, though similarly to Boris, each attack that Sam lays into the bug produces splatter upon splatter of lava like innards which burn into Sam (22 fire damage).
The gargantuan bug stumbles a little looking worse for wear, but remains standing, just.
"Only other time that we know of," Sam points out. "The two tiny fey memorial treed could be stone too for all we know. But you're right, we do need to check this out. Someone make sure the survivors steer well clear?"
That said, Sam starts walking towards the troublesome tree. As he does so he pulls out the Sending Stone he uses to update Jimmy with and asks Jimmy what the hell the deal with these acorns is, in colorfully creative language. After the initial outburst he takes a breath, calms, summarizes what's happened with the trees so far, and asks Jimmy to explain. "You gave me these things. What exactly did you give me?" he signs off with.
Elthana pulls on Sam's arm to stop him from trampling on ahead. She sees him get ready to call Jimmy and she nods, "Go ahead and call who you need to, but let us check things out first."
And she stealthily moves ahead, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for what is going on and what creatures they may have brought forth.
Moving forward the more stealthy members breach the clearing and move toward the center where the stone tree resides, the symbol that was translated before is prominently shown in the petrified bark in the face of the tree 'mouth' though whatever passed through this mouth, the rift in the tree has now closed.
Looking to the two snaking pieces of land with melted snow it appears that each strip has a burrow point at one end and at the other large stone like spikes betray some sort of elemental carapace from a creature settled beneath the surface. The burrow points are fantastically large but the spikes rising from the earth are long but narrow. All around this area stone and broken boulders are strewn around either unearthed or brought with these beasts through the rift. Steam lingers in the air from the melted snow, forming a low thin fog.
Standing on the edge of the clearing Sam almost, but doesn't, call the stealthier ones back. Whatever this is, it isn't good. And whatever has burrowed itself into the ground looks rather large. Large is more his thing to handle and having the stealthier members advance while he doesn't is a bit unnerving.
Sam pats Boris and scratches his neck a little bit and then climbs atop the giant boar. "If trouble happens you're faster than I am," Sam tells the beast.
"Any ideas as to what's under the ground up there?" he asks the others.
Elthana heads back to the others and shrugs, "I'm not sure what they are. Definitely similar as in probably from the same plane as the geonids in the cave, so I don't know if they are hostile or not, but the picture painted in the clearing doesn't seem to bode well for me."
She looks back over her shoulder and then back to the others, "Anyone else have information on them or should we just head in and see what happens?"
While Vin and Elthana were gone. Sam creating a petting zoo seems to have had an odd effect. The kids seeming to grow fond of petting this animal or that seem to take more notice of the scary black hound. Nef always watching and seeming a bit surprised at Sam's sudden display of kindness seems to have her watching him with keen eyes. A pair of the kids seeming to summon up some courage to approach the large hound look like they are going to try and pet her. Neferox seems to pick up on this and growls at them warning the kids away. The pair run away and when they get back tot he other kids the rest of them seem to giggle and laugh at the failed attempt of bravery. This prevents any others from getting near her which she seems fine with. She clearly doesn't want any snotgobblers messing with her fur. With no others approaching her, she continues to walk and keep eyes out for danger but always seems to be looking back.
As Vin and Elthana find the clearing they both agree they need to return and warn the group. The signs that something big has moved in are unmistakable. When they get back Vin is taken by surprise by all the kids seeming to follow and play around Sam. The big man clearly good with them, although having a petting zoo in a bag certainly helps. The half-elf smiles and soon Nef is by his side as he scritches behind her ear. Vin seems a bit distracted by Nef at first so he doesn't immediate reply or add to the conversation and before he knows it Elthana went to scout again without him. She came back quickly too though. Vin in the meantime says, "I could Summon Maka to scout it out. See if anything aggressive is there or not. We are dealing with other worlds so anything could happen. We can stand by while Maka checks the area then we can respond to whatever reacts to their presence."
Muir steps closer to the group "These are the creatures that came through from Sam's artifact. We need to destroy them. I am sorry, but they are harming the natural world here. They may not mean to but it is their nature. We must do this and then move on to Hokum"
Knowing Muir is correct, Elthana nods. Turning to Vin, "Thank you for the offer of summoning Maka, and if you think she'll help in the fight, that's great, but I don't think any more scouting is necessary. C'mon, lets take care of these creatures." And she starts walking towards them.
Initiative when needed: 8
"Okay, sounds clear cut Muir. If you're sure it's dangerous then it must be. Let's make sure whatever it is it doesn't hurt anyone. As to Maka, I was thinking more bait. Maka felt they never helped anyone in life. So... I've been showing them they can help. Even now. Helps they don't actually get killed. I just summon a form for them to possess." He smiles and steps forward a little bit. He doesn't go into the clearing but he does begin to gather power.
As he gathers the power around him he begins to chant, "Вывядзіце таго, чыя душа была праклята, каб я звязаў іх сваёй воляй і паслужыў сваёй справе." and the spawned form of Maka the shadowspawn of despair appears before him. Those near the creature can feel the weight of sadness and hopelessness from it. Vin just smiles as if unaffected. "Hi Maka. I got a special job that you can do. There is a dangerous thing out there. I want you to get it's attention and when you do we will back you up and fight it. Fight back against it and try your best to not get hurt too much. I know this is just a temporary form for you but I don't want you to think I'm just using that. This is just one of those things that you can do to help us with how you are now. It's an opportunity to show you that you can be helpful no matter what form you are."
With that he sends Maka out into the clearing to approach the tree with its instructions and Vin readies a pair of eldrich blasts for when he sees the threat. Unless he is given a reason to think its not dangerous he's ready to fight.
Initiative Check: 8
Even while Vin is talking, Sam starts talking as well. Not meaning to outshoot the kid but unable to hold himself back.
“Woah, woah, woah.. Let’s not be calling anything ‘Sam’s Artifact’ now, eh? Ain’t nobody ever told me the trees were anything but trees! This one in particular was intended to help re-tree this area after your Old Thicket fellow sucked all the life out of the area!” Sam says all defensive and angry.
“I’m just using the tools I was given with the understanding I’ve been given of them,” he adds. “So don’t go blaming me for this unless you want a special golden acorn planted so far up your…,”
Ok, ok… deep breath, he tells himselff as Vin is summoning his freaky spirit thing and giving it instructions. No need to be making a thing out of it. Muir surely didn’t mean anything, he’s just all about nature and doesn’t want unnatural things roaming about…
“And yeah, what about your Old Thicket? Or Shionne?” Sam asks as Vin sends out his scout, more controlled but still with a sneer. “Couple mighty unnatural things there that you’re happily letting roam free despite causing harm, eh?”
“Bah, if you want to kill them all I’m fine with that,” Sam says as he takes up his maul. “Let’s just not be laying blame, eh?” Out of steam, at least verbally, Sam starts following after Vin’s scout, staying back a hood 20 feet or so.
Boris looks to Sam heading off, looks back to Muir, gives out a snort and then trundles off after Sam.
(initiative if/when needed: 17)
Muir smiles and puts his hands up in a mea culpa manor and hangs back with Gewyn.
Init 4
Gewyn mimics Muir's gesture to Sam, and then waves and gives a thumbs up. "Hey, you'll do great out there. You're gonna kill it. Literally. I'll do my part and start working on the song."
As Sam gets further away, Gewyn looks to Muir and says, "I mean, I guess we should actually go and help. I can play a wicked sonatina just in case things get bad." With that, he starts following 15 feet behind Sam.
Initiative: 19
Maka's head slumps a little in apathetic acceptance of her task, and they begin travelling toward the stone tree in the center, Crossing over the first strip of melted snow nothing seems to happen, and so pressing on past the tree, Maka goes to inspect the further strip of melted snow.
Sam and Elthana push forward and followed by Boris the boar they also make it all the way across to the stone tree before the ground begins moving under the first strip, the stonelike spiky protrusion pushes up ward with a jolt and bursting up out of the ground a Gargantuan insect breaches the surface cutting Sam, Elthana, Maka and Boris off from the rest of the party. The creature has a massive carapace of stone on its back with the spiky protrusions along where it spine would be, It has four sets of legs with razor sharp spines for digging, where the legs meet the body this creatures underside glows with molten rock, heat vents out of the side of this monstrosity, it steams up as it superheats the snow in the air kicked up by the disturbance. Suddenly a second one bursts through the ground next to Maka, Towering over the shadow spawn as it does, it turns its stone beak-like head toward Maka and its eyes glow with flame.
Elthana and Vin are up!
map Initiative order and Creature picture are all in the discord
Muir nods "Indeed but not too close....Let Sam and his petting zoo take care of the creatures up close" Muir snorts at his own joke
Vin's eyes go wide as the pair of giant bugs made of spiky stone stand up. The massive creatures rising from the ground as it it was loose sand as they position themselves to flank their pray but luckily Maka is preventing that. Unfortunately Nef, Sam and Elthana were cut off from the rest of them due to two of the things showing up. Nef was following Sam with Maka taking the lead but it seems the bugs were slow to rouse or... maybe they just wanted more pray. Either way, Vin could see Muir was right. These would definitely be dangerous to keep around and with the people of Hokum heading this way they would of likely drawn their attention. They look hungry after all and who knows how far they wonder to hunt. Vin was prepared for the creatures though as they all expected some dangerous things here so Vin was going to help.
Vin is quick to the uptake and quickly gathers a pair of blasts to launch at the bug that is cutting off his friends. Trusting Maka to hold off the other one while they can focus down this one. "I think it's safe to say they are not friendly!" Two streaks of energy stream through the air towards it as Vin tries to aim for blasting into whatever weak spots he can find on the creature.
Eldrich Blast 1: 26 Damage: 8
Eldrich Blast 2: 23 Damage: 12
He remembers that feeling when he wanted to protect Gewyn when fighting the Mimics. A brief memory of Vin feeding the tiny one he has earlier this morning with some of his jerky and gave it some water flits. Thinking on how he felt when he was trying to protect Gewyn he reaches for that feeling again. This time, something different happens though time though and AFTER Elthana takes her attacks on her turn Vin will cast Sanctuary on her shielding her from harm unless she tries to attack again
Nef meanwhile rushes in to attack moving around the giant bug as best she can so that Sam can easily flank. The black hound seeming to have a comfortable pattern of coordinated attacks with the half-orc. She focuses on trying to tear off one of the legs biting and ripping at it as best she can.
Attack Bite 1: 14 Damage: 11
Attack Bite 2: 17 Damage: 17
Maka seems to have no motivation what-so-ever and Vin's commands to it was to fight back so it waits for the creature to attack it frustrating Vin as they know they are just trying to be destroyed when they should be attacking an obvious threat. However, the dreadful sense of despair seems to intensify around them making the bug itself lethargic and sluggish as their motivation becomes sapped. They have their movement speed reduced by 20 when they start their turn next to Maka.
Taking a step back as the monstrosity emerges from the ground, Elthana looks around to her friends to get her bearings and she yells back towards Vin, "You got that right! They need to be exterminated immediately!"
Thrilled to be able to move again, she activates her claw-like tattoo and 15' away from the one separating them from the rest of the party, she attacks with it. The inky black tendrils moving through the air to magically hit the creature.
Attack: 25 Damage: 7 + 1
Attack: 26 Damage: 8 + 5
And unless she can see their reach is 15', she'll move to the right 20', otherwise she'll stay put.
As Vin charges and fires off his Eldritch Blasts, One hits the creature center mass and sends a shockwave rippling through the molten underside of this beast, The second shot catches the stony carapace of the creature and is deflected off upwards into the sky where it explodes without effect.
Neferox chases around the outside of the Bug biting and sinking her teeth in to great effect, Though as this beast bleeds the heat and molten rock sprays over Neferox like blood, During her attacks Nef takes (10 + 8 fire damage)
Elthana is safer, attacking from a distance, As her first tendril whip fails to pierce through the Bug's tough exterior it does leave an opening to let the second tendril whip in, the Damage sends a torrent of the molten core of the beast tumbling out.
Observing such a target rich environment, The closest bug lurches down toward the one creature that hurt it the most and attempts to return a Bite at Neferox, Steam vents from the beast as it moves and from within its mouth drips a liquid lava, Though Neferox appears too fast for it as it buries it's beak like maw into the ground instead, (8 to hit)
The second bug Lurches at the only beast by it and Bites towards Maka, (25 to hit, 9 piercing, 5 fire damage) once it has taken a chunk from the shadow spawn It decides to burrow once more, disturbing the ground above but leaving it solid enough to walk on.
"The battle is joined!" Gewyn shouts as everyone springs to action. Running forward 20 feet, he plays a jaunty melody on his pipes. "But I think the big guy there needs to cool off." With that, he snaps his fingers.
Fae energy flows through him as flowers begin to push their way up through the snow, forming dense bouquets all around the fiery creature. Then, as one, they start squirting jets of water at the beast's face from all angles.
(nathair's mischief: Effect #2; Dex Save 16 or blinded until the beginning of Gewyn's next turn.)
Boris has never, and I mean ever, seen a thing like this before! To be quite honest, the Giant Boar would have peed themselves a bit if they had... Well, been wearing clothes. And why would they, am I right? As it is, Boris tells anyone and everyone (who speaks Giant Boarish) that they were merely marking their territory before revving up and attacking! Boris shifts around the creature until Sam give the command "Pureé!" and then the Giant Boar jerks it's head violently and tries to gore the giant insect. (Moves to flanking with Neferox and then attacks.)
Tusk Attack: (18, 5) + 5 for 23 To Hit, for 11 Slashing Damage
Boris shifts 15 feet more circling the insect westwardly so as to provide room for Sam and his weapon...
After barking out "Pureé!" Sam chokes up on his maul and readies himself for combat. As Boris attacks Sam embiggens... He never enjoys feeling like the smallest guy in a fight but this is ridiculous, smaller than his own pet boar?? Sam grows from medium to Large! (Bonus Action - Gian't Might activated!)
Seemingly moving in unison with Boris (if allowed*) the Large and in Charge Sam steps into the prime flanking spot once Boris evacuates it... (Evacuates it? That sounds wrong...) Sam would think of something witty to say but Sam isn't particularly witty and, let's face it, humor is likely to go right over the bug's head anyway. Sam swings!
Maul Attack #1: (17, 17) + 10 for 27 To Hit, for 20 Bludgeoning Damage (after 3d6's rerolled for being 1 or 2's and Sam having Great Weapon Fighting fighting style)
Maul Attack #2: (8, 4) + 10 for 18 To Hit, for 26 Bludgeoning Damage (only rerolled 2 that time.)
Assuming this bug isn't squashed yet, Sam is just getting started and uses his Action Surge to swing twice more!
Maul Attack #3: (13, 20) + 10 for 30 To Hit w/Nat 20, that does 37 Bludgeoning Damage (rerolled 5 that time, got more 1s though...)
Maul Attack #4: (14, 15) + 10 for 25 To Hit for 24 Bludgeoning Damage...(1 reroll)
(phew, thats a lots of rolls...)
With his last maul attack Sam adds a little extra something something, a little flavor, a little flair... He adds a dash of the Crusher feat! Buuuuut... Despite being Large, the bug is just too Larger and is unmoved. ((Bug is gargantuan, yes? Not huge?))
Having done all that he can do, Sam will stay where he is and dare the thing to try him....
* ((I'm a little "meh" on the whole Boris moves into flanking spot across from Neferox, attacks w/ advantage and then moves on so Sam can move into that same spot and also attacks w/ advantage. While it seems technically RAW and I suppose I could justify it more in my head by there being three animals circling it at any given time being worse than just one in front and back... But anyway, if you don't want both to gain advantage then obviously Boris and their one attack would forego it...It's why I made sure to include all the rolls.))
** ((Of course if Gewyn's magic blinds the thing then it's all moot and all have advantage anyway!))
Bursting up from the ground, Gewyn's Flowers get immediately to work shooting water into this Gargantuan bug's face, everywhere the bug looks to try avoiding the geyser another flower is there ready to continue the blinding onslaught, (6 dex save)
Boris' tusks sink deep into one of the legs of the beast and unleashes a gout of molten spray from the creature, covering the boar, the smell of roasting pork fills the air as Sam's friend takes (10) fire damage.
Each of Sam's Mauls swings connects and the flurry of attacks beat the beast down, though similarly to Boris, each attack that Sam lays into the bug produces splatter upon splatter of lava like innards which burn into Sam (22 fire damage).
The gargantuan bug stumbles a little looking worse for wear, but remains standing, just.