Sera stop him . Holds his arm " what?!" Giving him a look of slight annoyance " I sense them too. Let shining Merkas or one of my summon spells..." giving him a wink if anyone overhear the bluff as she pull out her deck of illusions " ..handle whatever lurking up there
Hmm, them mushrooms look strange, you think they move around in here? Like the crustal magic stuff got them moving? I heard one time about a type of people that looked like mushrooms, Myceliumers? Mycelid? My cousin told me about them, Oh right Myconids!” Merkas moves to 15’ from the nearest tall mushroom andgive a friendly wave and a smile. “Hi, we’re just here to look around, are you ok if we get past? This old den seems to be causing lots of trouble for the people living around the area, any ideas what might be causing it?” (Speak with animals lasts ten minutes so having just come through the door it should still be up but I am guessing in it’s last minute or so. Persuasion:24 the friendly demeanour to put at ease any myconids watching and hopefully giving us a little help getting through the traps in here)
When Merkas dismounts and approaches, you all hear nervous shuffling from the west... then, a crackling of energy near where the largest mushroom is.
Out from behind the mounds of rock to the north, and behind the nearest ruined statue, a mushroom pops up, with two large black eyes peering curiously from under its cap. Though the creature is large for a mushroom, it looks like a child. It remains mostly concealed from your sight, and looks like its leaning out to get a look at the strange little blue creature that has entered its circle. It wobbles a bit, and other mushroom caps pop up behind the rocks. If they understand what you're saying, they don't give any indication.
Seeing their size, Hastos sheathes his sword and holds his hands up, palms out and gets down on one knee. “Maybe if we don’t look threatening?” He says to the others in a quiet voice.
“Oh! Hey there! I’m Merkas. I bet you all haven’t seen many other people in a ling time, or maybe not ever, but I assure you we’re good ones. Bad guys might say that too but they wouldn’t put their weapons away like Haz just did. We’re just trying to find out what happened to the big dragon that used to live here” Merkas turns and remains friendly and non-threatening. “What’s your name?” (Perception 2/insight 14: a count of how many there are/potential threat level based on their body language.)
Yeah... something is wrong with the thread. I'll post here for now, and repost IC when the thread is fixed.
Sprout Black steps timidly forward, and the others start to follow. Their wobbly walk on rounded leg stalks make them immediately endearing. Sprout Black stops about 10' from Merkas and figits with their fibrous digits on their hands, looking upward at the odd blue creature before it. For reassurance, it looks back at its friends, who are slowly, and awkwadly making their climbs over the rocky outcropping. Most of them are wiggling their mushroom caps again.
Seeing their young behave so boldly forces a much larger Myconid to come out of hiding. Walking under the protection of the cap of the massive mushroom crackling with electric energy, it supervises the situation with protective hostility. It doesn't seem to be making a move to attack, but its glare indicates unease about this intrustion to the youngling's playtime.
Yeah I can’t post at all in the other thread either.)
(Rolled:15 for Alert Feat trained with Ororana DC10. For Merkas to notice the older one watching)
Merkas smiles genially, bemused at the small one’s curiosity before looking around calmly for an older Myconid that may be able to communicate with the party. Seeing the one off to the left he waves and moves ten feet closer to it without turning his back completely to the group of youngsters. “Hi, these younglings sure are sweet. Could you maybe help us to understand what happened in this cave? May e what happened to the old dragon that lived here? We think theres some magic poisoning happening from this old den and want to help fix it.”
Buckeran makes a palatal click to urge Barkly forward. Barkly replies with a judging side-eye before gingerly approaching. When they do, the Sprouts pick up the pace and start coming closer to Merkas, toddling along with bounding steps. Even moving as quickly as they can, their approach is still slow and awkward.
The adult lumbers toward the group as well, swinging its thick fibrous arms by its side like its marching towards you. As Barkly approaches, it halts its progress, and balls its fists. You can hear more sounds coming from the crackling mushroom. Tips of mushroom caps can be seen, but full view of them is obscurred by the massive shroom.
Buckeran perks up, forgetting about the knot on his head, when he has better sight of the little Sprouts, and seems delighted by their appearance. For once, he keeps his mouth shut though. Especially now that the adult is approaching. A Giant Strider might make for a threatening presence, and he doesn't want to get Barkly any closer to the Sprouts, but he also seems quite nervous being so close to the glowering adult.
Orr the Unseen is equally unsure about this encounter. He traces three symbols in the air and calls out a small phrase in Orcish. A symbol appears in the air, then changes shape. You recognize the glowing symbols as Orcish. It then changes to Draconic, and finally to the Common word: "Friend?" It keeps rotating languages in this order at a slow rhythm.
Orr the Unseen casts Prestidigitation: Magic Mark to create an illusiory symbol and recasts periodically to change the shape.
The adult tilts its head at the sight of the magic, then wobbles its mushroom head. More myconids come out from hiding, trotting out on heavy stalks to catch up to Myconid Black. Two more Sprouts come out of hiding. Their wobbling their heads at each other and doing what appears to be giggling at each other. But the motion is soundless.
Merkas moves over between Barkly and the adults. (4 squares left and one square down) “Sorry, I guess it’s best we don’t yell at each other. Barkly won’t hurt anyone, she prefers more sinew in her meals, and heat, haha. I hope you understand me, I don’t have any knowledge of your language but other than symbols like Orr’s how can I prove we don’t want to harm you?”
“If I remember correctly Bucky, as long as we are kind they will be too? Is that what you remember?” Merkas says to the mounted kender “Don’t want to just burn our way through everything, tend not to learn that way”
Hastos moves forward slowly, accompanies by Sera, who paces him. They stop just east of Barkly and Buckeran, and the final musical intonation dies out. Once they pass through the archway, the crystals reform and seal off the exit, encasing Blinky in the crystal, who looks around confused before disippating.
"Well, there goes our exit," Sera remarks as she looks back. By the time she turns back around to face the myconids, she can see that their expression has changed. The inquisitive sparkle is gone, and replaced with a threatening malice! As one, they begin their assault, lunging at the nearest of you with toddling strides!
Hrothbert_Neruca as per your Alert feat, you get a surprise round. Go for it, then it's my turn.
“Oh, Darn, I sure was hoping you guys would be nice, I don’t like hurting people I just met but ok then” Merkas points towards the adult Myconids “Barkly, let’s try not to harm the little ones if we can help it, they’re just following the example of their parents” Barkly opens her mouth and spews a fire burst behind the larger myconids enveloping them in a ball of fire. (Fire burst: DC12 Dexterity check Fail take 16 Fire Damage half on a success. Centered on Square the the left of Myconid Black 10’ radius)
He turns and moves over to where the young ones are approaching Orr and faves his fingers around “Blinky, make these guys blind!” Blinky appears a split second before erupting in a cascade of flashing and swirling lights in the direction of the little mushroom people. (30’ movement to the square one up and to the right of Orr, Casting Dancing Lights: Con Save DC16 or be blinded. 15’ cone aimed to get as many of the little ones as possible)
While Merkas gets a surprise round, Barkly doesn't. She'll ready the attack though, and make corrections as needed if the battlefield should change that would make the attack command non-viable.
Merkas dashes past Orr and Blinky reappears next to Sprout Blue in a rainbow explosion of light, with arms out wide and making a face as if to say "ta-da!" Sprout Blue, Red, Cyan, and Green all shield their eyes and stumble backwards, faces distorted in distress. Immediately afterwards, all the other myconids express the same distress, which quickly turn to rage. You hear more rustling from behind the mushrooms to the southwest.
The shock will wear off quickly, but Sprout Blue, Red, Cyan, and Green all have Sun Sickness for one round. Sun Sickness.While in sunlight, the myconid has disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. The myconid dies if it spends more than 1 hour in direct sunlight.
Myconid Blue stomps towards Merkas, but when he changes direction, it picks a new target and rushes Barkly, swinging its clublike arms! But Barkly is faster. She ducks her head and blocks the blow with her battle hardened skull, causing the fibrous weapon to glance off her scales harmlessly.
Myconid Blue Attacks (Fists): 10, Miss
Myconid Black is hot on Blue's heels, and jettisons a cloud of spores into the air when it gets close enough!
Myconid Black Attacks (Pacifying Spores): DC 11 CON or be Sunned 1 Round, CON result 3 (Fail)
Barkly's eyes glaze over and she becomes unresponsive. Buckeran digs his heels into her side, "Barkly?! Oh dear..." Buckeran looks frantically around. Hastos and Sera are still drawing weapons, but they're close by. He starts fiddling with his Haversack looking for something to aid the party with.
Sprout Gray charges in, alongside Sprout Yellow, their mouths curled in a savage snarl and their hands held up high to make them look big!
Sprout Gray and Yellow Dash 20' west.
Sprout Pink charges in on Merkas, swinging its little fibrous arms at him. It feels a bit like being slapped with carrots. But nonetheless, it socks you right in the jaw!
Not to be outdone, Sprout Cyan lunges through the ranks, slapping at Merkas with all its strength, but your arm reflexively swipes upward, deflecting the blow.
Sprout Cyan Attacks (Dis, Fists): 13, Miss.
Unpossessive of any real strategy, the Sprouts just seem to be swinging at whatever threat is nearest. Their outrage has them completely overtaken. As such, Sprout Green cuts between Merkas and Sprout Pink, and charges at Orr the Unseen, helicoptering their arms with as much speed as it can generate! Its arms slap against an unseen force that glows faintly on impact, a mere 1 inch away from Orr the Unseen's midsection. Orr the Unseen looks down at the raging youth with more than a little confusion. "What are we to do with the younglings? I do not wish to kill children."
Sprout Green Attacks (Dis, Fists): 14, Miss.
Sprout Red bounds towards Blinky, the source of its pain and discomfort, and lashes out at the illusion with savage fury! Blinky makes a surprised expression and dissipates again... shattering into twinkling light. Red raises its arms in triumph, feeling bolstered by its conquest of the enemy!
Interacting the illusion ends the spell.
Sprout Blue lunges at Merkas, its stubby legs kicking dust as it charges, and stumbles in its approach! It's clumsy swing goes wild and its face turns of one of rage to surprise as it works to steady itself.
Sprout Blue Attacks (Dis, Fists): Critical Miss.
Sprout Black begins its charge towards Barkly, but the adult Myconids wobble their heads, and Sprout Black changes course, veering towards Orr the Unseen, swinging a brutal right hook their way! But Orr the Unseen simply leans away from the savage strike while they await instructions from their superior Guild Members.
Sprout Black Attacks (Fists): Critical Miss.
Merkas can hear Barkly's thoughts... though they sound faint and groggy. She's trying to use Fire Burst, but her body won't respond, and her mind feels too sluggish. She's fighting to shrug it off.
Buckeran pulls out his trust Alchemy Jug and presses the button for "oil". Instantly, it fills up with a quart of cooking oil. He leans forward on Barkly's neck and pours it on the ground in front of him. It puddles up around Myconid Blue, spattering onto its trunk-like legs. "Now, Barkly, now! Pleeaase!"
Sera grimaces, irritated by the moral implications of this fight. They've clearly gone mad and need to be put down, but they are children. "Just knock the little sh*ts out for now! No killing!" With that, she pulls out her Sun Blade, an empty pommel and hilt, and does not call on its inherent power. Weilding it like a sap, she wades in towards Sprout Black, and thunks it down on Sprout Black's cap. With a wet thud, Sprout Black crumbles to the ground. Again all the other myconids contort their faces into an expression of pain.
Sera Attacks (Non-Lethal): 25, Hits. Damage: 11 Sprout Black is Unconscious.
Then Sera turns towards Barkly's struggles, and summons forth a Spiritual sword that glimmers with holy light. It appears just to the west of Myconid Black. "Don't kill it... yet." She commands the blade, as it arches high into the air. The Spiritual Weapon alters its angle to smack the Myconid with the flat of its blade instead.
Again, all the other myconids wobble their caps and hold their "heads" in pain. With instructions clearly given, Orr the Unseen goes to work. They're fairly uncertain how their Arcane Burst attack would damage the Sprouts, and unconfident about their ability to control it to deal nonlethal damage. So, instead, they follow Merkas's lead. They pull out a small jar containing a firefly and holds it high into the air, then utters a single word in orcish, that you assume to be the orcish word for "light". The firefly inside begins to glow with devastatingly bright light that dazzles all the Sprouts again.
All myconids within range of the Bright Light Radius have Sun Sickness for 1 Round. Those in the Dim Light radius are unaffected.
Two more sprouts stumble out from behind another mushroom, holding their eyes in pain. They're not within range of the light, but seem to empathically sense the pain of their comrades.
As the music subsides and the tempers flair, Hastos lets out an “Oh shit.”
He watch Barkley go down and the call from Orr and Sera. Hastos nods and pulls out his great axe. “FUEGO!” He cries as he rushes Myconid Black.
The great axe bursts into flames as he begins his attack on the lumbering mushroom. Bright light radiates within 40ft and dims another 40ft from there.
Hastos slips on the oil and his attack goes wide (To hit: Nat 1 +8). Undeterred, , Hastos swings again, but his aim is off yet again (To hit: 2 +8).
Merkas pauses briefly as the whole group of myconids react whenever one of them is struck. “So anyone else notice they all feel the same thing?” With Barkly unable to focus, Merkas is brought back to the moment and turns pointing at the oil Buckeran dumped on the ground, hoping to give the two of them a reprieve from the Myconid onslaught. “Heat Up!” (Cast Create Bonfire - 9 fire damage or 15 dex save)
“Hmm, I wonder?” As the flames start Merkas tosses Shard 30’ towards the giant mushroomThe larger myconids came from. As soon as it lands the kender is teleported to where the dagger lay. Shaking his head to clear his vision he realizes where he’s standing now, “That was a bad throw, but can’t deny it helped.” (Using Misty Step from the daggers. Throwing Shard to activate is just flavour text. 30’ from Misty step and movement to three squares directly above sprout yellow)
Standing back up After picking up his dagger, and running towards the giant mushroom, He bellows while pointing at it. ”Hey Barkly, as soon as your heads clear shoot this thing!”
As the music subsides and the tempers flair, Hastos lets out an “Oh shit.”
He watch Barkley go down and the call from Orr and Sera. Hastos nods and pulls out his great axe. “FUEGO!” He cries as he rushes Myconid Black.
The great axe bursts into flames as he begins his attack on the lumbering mushroom. Bright light radiates within 40ft and dims another 40ft from there.
Hastos slips on the oil and his attack goes wide (To hit: Nat 1 +8). Undeterred, , Hastos swings again, but his aim is off yet again (To hit: 2 +8).
He turns back to Bucky, “Is this oil flammable?”
Myconid Black reflexively winces from the bright light issued from Hastos's axe, and it leans away from Hastos's unsteady swipe. The air whooshes as the axe smites the air. It brings up a club-like arm to deflect the next blow and Hastos can feel the vibration from the handle shudder its way into his calloused grip!
Buckeran nods his head nervously after flinching when you slip on the oil. "Yes! It should light right up!"
The dazzling light from Hastos's weapon property sears the eyes of the nearby myconids, and all their heads wobble, communicating pain to each other!
All Myconids, except Sprout Black and White have Sun Sickness while in the light's range, and 1 round after.
Merkas pauses briefly as the whole group of myconids react whenever one of them is struck. “So anyone else notice they all feel the same thing?” With Barkly unable to focus, Merkas is brought back to the moment and turns pointing at the oil Buckeran dumped on the ground, hoping to give the two of them a reprieve from the Myconid onslaught. “Heat Up!” (Cast Create Bonfire - 9 fire damage or 15 dex save)
“Hmm, I wonder?” As the flames start Merkas tosses Shard 30’ towards the giant mushroomThe larger myconids came from. As soon as it lands the kender is teleported to where the dagger lay. Shaking his head to clear his vision he realizes where he’s standing now, “That was a bad throw, but can’t deny it helped.” (Using Misty Step from the daggers. Throwing Shard to activate is just flavour text. 30’ from Misty step and movement to three squares directly above sprout yellow)
Standing back up After picking up his dagger, and running towards the giant mushroom, He bellows while pointing at it. ”Hey Barkly, as soon as your heads clear shoot this thing!”
Merkas's bonfire erupts to life at Myconid Blue's feet, encasing the creature in blue and red flame! As the fire licks its way up the myconid's body, it stiffens up, and all the other myconids respond with silent screams!
Myconid Blue roles DEX (Dis): 14 (fails); Damage 9+(1d4 from oil) = 10 Damage (Fire)
Merkas blinks into existence near Sprout Yellow who is very clearly demonstrating mental distress. Barkly hears the instruction and snaps out of her daze. Shaking her head and steadying herself, she belches out a ball of fire at the giant mushroom that Merkas indicates. The flames, mixed with the electrical energy stored within the mushroom causes a violent explosion, launching chunks of mushroom in every direction! The myconids freeze, turning as one in absolute horror while, sequentially every other mushroom also begins to explode! The scene quickly becomes a raging inferno. Smoke, ash, and bits of mushroom fill the air.
As a stationary object, the Fire Burst automatically hits, causing a chain reaction in the mushroom grove.
Merkas is blown back by the blast a feet, but manages to keep his footing. Your body is covered in soot and bits of mushroom.
Orr the Unseen looks around at the devastation, when they realize that the myconids are no longer interested in fighting, so stunned are they by the devastation Barkly has wrought.
Orr the Unseen switches to Defense, gaining a +2 to AC.
"Gods f*cking d*mn it, Merkas! Do you have to blow everything up everywhere you go?!" Sera screams over the din of explosions. She covers her ears from the noise echoing throughout the chamber. Cursing under her breath, she dashes forward, towards the inferno, and drops to one knee. She pulls her waterskin from her pack and sprinkles some of it onto the dirt. Then traces the holy symbol of Paladine in the mud while calling to her god. "Paladine, quench this flame with your divine rains!"
Inside the cave, storm clouds form at the ceiling of the cavern, causing insects and bizarre batlike creatures to scurry and flutter away. Then rain pours down in a 30' radius of where the holy symbol is drawn.
Sera casts Create Water, Level 1, to make it rain in a 30' radius around her. The fire, mixed with the elemental electrical magic doesn't die down instantly, but it seems to be helping some, and it's keeping the fire from spreading.
Buckeran is covering his ears as well. The explosions are deafening.
The myconids break their moment of stunned shock, before scattering, desperately trying to save their mushroom grove. If they had any continued intent to attack, it's been put on hold until their precious grove is saved.
Myconid Blue and Black move out of Hastos's attack range. MrUncleTio, you get an Attack of Opportunity. Sera's Spiritual Weapon gets an Attack of Opportunity.
Distracted, Sera forgets to command the Spiritual Sword, so it continues following its last order, striking non-lethally against Myconid Black as it attempts to leave its attack range.
As Sprout Green bounds towards the nearest flaming mushroom, Orr the Unseen decides to let it be and lowers their hands. "I think these beings are neutralized for now. Should we help them extinguish the flames, or make our escape while they are distracted?"
The flames that are being douced will begin to subue in the next round. The mushroom attacked by the Fire Burst will take more rounds to quench.
(ToHit: 9) - Blue (assuming I get a swipe at both of them)
Hastos takes a swing as the larger mushrooms run. He manages to catches Mushroom black before it can move out of range, but Mushroom blue was too fast and Hastos misses entirely!
”Oh no you don’t!” Hastos shouts at Mushroom Blue. Flames erupt from his hand as he cast firebolt! (ToHit: 3 -JFC!?, Dam:17).
Merkas blinks into existence near Sprout Yellow who is very clearly demonstrating mental distress. Barkly hears the instruction and snaps out of her daze. Shaking her head and steadying herself, she belches out a ball of fire at the giant mushroom that Merkas indicates. The flames, mixed with the electrical energy stored within the mushroom causes a violent explosion, launching chunks of mushroom in every direction! The myconids freeze, turning as one in absolute horror while, sequentially every other mushroom also begins to explode! The scene quickly becomes a raging inferno. Smoke, ash, and bits of mushroom fill the air.
“Oops” The last word heard from Merkas before the blast wave hits him. Eyes getting impossibly wider as each stalk in turn bursts in a macabre fireworks show. A grin spreads across his face as he turns back to congratulate Barkly, just as Sera chastises him.
Gods f*cking d*mn it, Merkas! Do you have to blow everything up everywhere you go?!" Sera screams over the din of explosions. She covers her ears from the noise echoing throughout the chamber. Cursing under her breath, she dashes forward, towards the inferno, and drops to one knee. She pulls her waterskin from her pack and sprinkles some of it onto the dirt. Then traces the holy symbol of Paladine in the mud while calling to her god. "Paladine, quench this flame with your divine rains!"
“Aww, C’mon Sera, I didn’t cause the last explosion, that was Orr, and the one before that was faulty horn, how was I supposed to know it’d blow up in my face, and I’m the one rocking the scars, now I know not to blow horns in sewers, too risky in such a small space” He responds despite the high likelihood that every other word is drowned by yet another explosion. “How many of them are in here?”
As Sprout Green bounds towards the nearest flaming mushroom, Orr the Unseen decides to let it be and lowers their hands. "I think these beings are neutralized for now. Should we help them extinguish the flames, or make our escape while they are distracted?"
“I say we take off, but that means leaving an enemy behind us.” He looks after the sprouts as they rush to the nearest stalk. “I don’t know that helping them would do much good as I was the one that caused it. Whatcha think Bucky?”
(Rolled a 3 for Fire Burst recharge, so no extra boom yet, 17 insight: DM hint on suggested course of action “Should we stay or should we go?”)
" By Thakisis multiscaled rotten *******..Somehow you end up with disaster all around you Merkas!..." Sera are drenched in the middle of the shower she created and glare a bit at him before looking at the withdrawing fungusmen.
" so theese fungus do not understand much ...but force they understand..." she watch them withdraw. She move carefully and defensive seeing no need to risk more explosions and act calm.
" they protective of their little Grove...let us give that a wide berth...." her initial frustration replaced by consern
" Paladin...please give us water and same time drench that blue little disastermagnet...."
( cast another create water on the other burning funguschildren)
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Sera stop him . Holds his arm " what?!" Giving him a look of slight annoyance " I sense them too. Let shining Merkas or one of my summon spells..." giving him a wink if anyone overhear the bluff as she pull out her deck of illusions " ..handle whatever lurking up there
“Lots of em?” Merkas asks as he looks around “You think there’s another Kobold tribe in here? Like the Letni Inhelk?”
Loyalty Begets Honour
“Oh, yea. I like that plan better.” Hastos says with a smile.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Hmm, them mushrooms look strange, you think they move around in here? Like the crustal magic stuff got them moving? I heard one time about a type of people that looked like mushrooms, Myceliumers? Mycelid? My cousin told me about them, Oh right Myconids!” Merkas moves to 15’ from the nearest tall mushroom andgive a friendly wave and a smile. “Hi, we’re just here to look around, are you ok if we get past? This old den seems to be causing lots of trouble for the people living around the area, any ideas what might be causing it?” (Speak with animals lasts ten minutes so having just come through the door it should still be up but I am guessing in it’s last minute or so. Persuasion:24 the friendly demeanour to put at ease any myconids watching and hopefully giving us a little help getting through the traps in here)
Loyalty Begets Honour
When Merkas dismounts and approaches, you all hear nervous shuffling from the west... then, a crackling of energy near where the largest mushroom is.
Out from behind the mounds of rock to the north, and behind the nearest ruined statue, a mushroom pops up, with two large black eyes peering curiously from under its cap. Though the creature is large for a mushroom, it looks like a child. It remains mostly concealed from your sight, and looks like its leaning out to get a look at the strange little blue creature that has entered its circle. It wobbles a bit, and other mushroom caps pop up behind the rocks. If they understand what you're saying, they don't give any indication.
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Seeing their size, Hastos sheathes his sword and holds his hands up, palms out and gets down on one knee. “Maybe if we don’t look threatening?” He says to the others in a quiet voice.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
“Oh! Hey there! I’m Merkas. I bet you all haven’t seen many other people in a ling time, or maybe not ever, but I assure you we’re good ones. Bad guys might say that too but they wouldn’t put their weapons away like Haz just did. We’re just trying to find out what happened to the big dragon that used to live here” Merkas turns and remains friendly and non-threatening. “What’s your name?” (Perception 2/insight 14: a count of how many there are/potential threat level based on their body language.)
Loyalty Begets Honour
Loyalty Begets Honour
Buckeran makes a palatal click to urge Barkly forward. Barkly replies with a judging side-eye before gingerly approaching. When they do, the Sprouts pick up the pace and start coming closer to Merkas, toddling along with bounding steps. Even moving as quickly as they can, their approach is still slow and awkward.
The adult lumbers toward the group as well, swinging its thick fibrous arms by its side like its marching towards you. As Barkly approaches, it halts its progress, and balls its fists. You can hear more sounds coming from the crackling mushroom. Tips of mushroom caps can be seen, but full view of them is obscurred by the massive shroom.
Buckeran perks up, forgetting about the knot on his head, when he has better sight of the little Sprouts, and seems delighted by their appearance. For once, he keeps his mouth shut though. Especially now that the adult is approaching. A Giant Strider might make for a threatening presence, and he doesn't want to get Barkly any closer to the Sprouts, but he also seems quite nervous being so close to the glowering adult.
Orr the Unseen is equally unsure about this encounter. He traces three symbols in the air and calls out a small phrase in Orcish. A symbol appears in the air, then changes shape. You recognize the glowing symbols as Orcish. It then changes to Draconic, and finally to the Common word: "Friend?" It keeps rotating languages in this order at a slow rhythm.
Orr the Unseen casts Prestidigitation: Magic Mark to create an illusiory symbol and recasts periodically to change the shape.
The adult tilts its head at the sight of the magic, then wobbles its mushroom head. More myconids come out from hiding, trotting out on heavy stalks to catch up to Myconid Black. Two more Sprouts come out of hiding. Their wobbling their heads at each other and doing what appears to be giggling at each other. But the motion is soundless.
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Merkas moves over between Barkly and the adults. (4 squares left and one square down) “Sorry, I guess it’s best we don’t yell at each other. Barkly won’t hurt anyone, she prefers more sinew in her meals, and heat, haha. I hope you understand me, I don’t have any knowledge of your language but other than symbols like Orr’s how can I prove we don’t want to harm you?”
“If I remember correctly Bucky, as long as we are kind they will be too? Is that what you remember?” Merkas says to the mounted kender “Don’t want to just burn our way through everything, tend not to learn that way”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Hastos stands slowly and walks over slowly to join Merkas, hands in front, open palms.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Hastos moves forward slowly, accompanies by Sera, who paces him. They stop just east of Barkly and Buckeran, and the final musical intonation dies out. Once they pass through the archway, the crystals reform and seal off the exit, encasing Blinky in the crystal, who looks around confused before disippating.
"Well, there goes our exit," Sera remarks as she looks back. By the time she turns back around to face the myconids, she can see that their expression has changed. The inquisitive sparkle is gone, and replaced with a threatening malice! As one, they begin their assault, lunging at the nearest of you with toddling strides!
Hrothbert_Neruca as per your Alert feat, you get a surprise round. Go for it, then it's my turn.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
“Oh, Darn, I sure was hoping you guys would be nice, I don’t like hurting people I just met but ok then” Merkas points towards the adult Myconids “Barkly, let’s try not to harm the little ones if we can help it, they’re just following the example of their parents” Barkly opens her mouth and spews a fire burst behind the larger myconids enveloping them in a ball of fire.
(Fire burst: DC12 Dexterity check Fail take 16 Fire Damage half on a success. Centered on Square the the left of Myconid Black 10’ radius)
He turns and moves over to where the young ones are approaching Orr and faves his fingers around “Blinky, make these guys blind!” Blinky appears a split second before erupting in a cascade of flashing and swirling lights in the direction of the little mushroom people.
(30’ movement to the square one up and to the right of Orr, Casting Dancing Lights: Con Save DC16 or be blinded. 15’ cone aimed to get as many of the little ones as possible)
Loyalty Begets Honour
While Merkas gets a surprise round, Barkly doesn't. She'll ready the attack though, and make corrections as needed if the battlefield should change that would make the attack command non-viable.
Merkas dashes past Orr and Blinky reappears next to Sprout Blue in a rainbow explosion of light, with arms out wide and making a face as if to say "ta-da!" Sprout Blue, Red, Cyan, and Green all shield their eyes and stumble backwards, faces distorted in distress. Immediately afterwards, all the other myconids express the same distress, which quickly turn to rage. You hear more rustling from behind the mushrooms to the southwest.
The shock will wear off quickly, but Sprout Blue, Red, Cyan, and Green all have Sun Sickness for one round.
Sun Sickness. While in sunlight, the myconid has disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws. The myconid dies if it spends more than 1 hour in direct sunlight.
Myconid Blue stomps towards Merkas, but when he changes direction, it picks a new target and rushes Barkly, swinging its clublike arms! But Barkly is faster. She ducks her head and blocks the blow with her battle hardened skull, causing the fibrous weapon to glance off her scales harmlessly.
Myconid Blue Attacks (Fists): 10, Miss
Myconid Black is hot on Blue's heels, and jettisons a cloud of spores into the air when it gets close enough!
Myconid Black Attacks (Pacifying Spores): DC 11 CON or be Sunned 1 Round, CON result 3 (Fail)
Barkly's eyes glaze over and she becomes unresponsive. Buckeran digs his heels into her side, "Barkly?! Oh dear..." Buckeran looks frantically around. Hastos and Sera are still drawing weapons, but they're close by. He starts fiddling with his Haversack looking for something to aid the party with.
Sprout Gray charges in, alongside Sprout Yellow, their mouths curled in a savage snarl and their hands held up high to make them look big!
Sprout Gray and Yellow Dash 20' west.
Sprout Pink charges in on Merkas, swinging its little fibrous arms at him. It feels a bit like being slapped with carrots. But nonetheless, it socks you right in the jaw!
Sprout Pink Attacks (Fists): 20, Hit. Damage: 1 Bludgeoning.
Not to be outdone, Sprout Cyan lunges through the ranks, slapping at Merkas with all its strength, but your arm reflexively swipes upward, deflecting the blow.
Sprout Cyan Attacks (Dis, Fists): 13, Miss.
Unpossessive of any real strategy, the Sprouts just seem to be swinging at whatever threat is nearest. Their outrage has them completely overtaken. As such, Sprout Green cuts between Merkas and Sprout Pink, and charges at Orr the Unseen, helicoptering their arms with as much speed as it can generate! Its arms slap against an unseen force that glows faintly on impact, a mere 1 inch away from Orr the Unseen's midsection. Orr the Unseen looks down at the raging youth with more than a little confusion. "What are we to do with the younglings? I do not wish to kill children."
Sprout Green Attacks (Dis, Fists): 14, Miss.
Sprout Red bounds towards Blinky, the source of its pain and discomfort, and lashes out at the illusion with savage fury! Blinky makes a surprised expression and dissipates again... shattering into twinkling light. Red raises its arms in triumph, feeling bolstered by its conquest of the enemy!
Interacting the illusion ends the spell.
Sprout Blue lunges at Merkas, its stubby legs kicking dust as it charges, and stumbles in its approach! It's clumsy swing goes wild and its face turns of one of rage to surprise as it works to steady itself.
Sprout Blue Attacks (Dis, Fists): Critical Miss.
Sprout Black begins its charge towards Barkly, but the adult Myconids wobble their heads, and Sprout Black changes course, veering towards Orr the Unseen, swinging a brutal right hook their way! But Orr the Unseen simply leans away from the savage strike while they await instructions from their superior Guild Members.
Sprout Black Attacks (Fists): Critical Miss.
Merkas can hear Barkly's thoughts... though they sound faint and groggy. She's trying to use Fire Burst, but her body won't respond, and her mind feels too sluggish. She's fighting to shrug it off.
Buckeran pulls out his trust Alchemy Jug and presses the button for "oil". Instantly, it fills up with a quart of cooking oil. He leans forward on Barkly's neck and pours it on the ground in front of him. It puddles up around Myconid Blue, spattering onto its trunk-like legs. "Now, Barkly, now! Pleeaase!"
Sera grimaces, irritated by the moral implications of this fight. They've clearly gone mad and need to be put down, but they are children. "Just knock the little sh*ts out for now! No killing!" With that, she pulls out her Sun Blade, an empty pommel and hilt, and does not call on its inherent power. Weilding it like a sap, she wades in towards Sprout Black, and thunks it down on Sprout Black's cap. With a wet thud, Sprout Black crumbles to the ground. Again all the other myconids contort their faces into an expression of pain.
Sera Attacks (Non-Lethal): 25, Hits. Damage: 11
Sprout Black is Unconscious.
Then Sera turns towards Barkly's struggles, and summons forth a Spiritual sword that glimmers with holy light. It appears just to the west of Myconid Black. "Don't kill it... yet." She commands the blade, as it arches high into the air. The Spiritual Weapon alters its angle to smack the Myconid with the flat of its blade instead.
Sera's Bonus Action (Spiritual Weapn, Non-Lethal) Attack: 18, Hits. Damage: 6, Bludgeoning.
Again, all the other myconids wobble their caps and hold their "heads" in pain. With instructions clearly given, Orr the Unseen goes to work. They're fairly uncertain how their Arcane Burst attack would damage the Sprouts, and unconfident about their ability to control it to deal nonlethal damage. So, instead, they follow Merkas's lead. They pull out a small jar containing a firefly and holds it high into the air, then utters a single word in orcish, that you assume to be the orcish word for "light". The firefly inside begins to glow with devastatingly bright light that dazzles all the Sprouts again.
All myconids within range of the Bright Light Radius have Sun Sickness for 1 Round. Those in the Dim Light radius are unaffected.
Hrothbert_Neruca, and MrUncleTio, you're up.
Two more sprouts stumble out from behind another mushroom, holding their eyes in pain. They're not within range of the light, but seem to empathically sense the pain of their comrades.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
As the music subsides and the tempers flair, Hastos lets out an “Oh shit.”
He watch Barkley go down and the call from Orr and Sera. Hastos nods and pulls out his great axe. “FUEGO!” He cries as he rushes Myconid Black.
The great axe bursts into flames as he begins his attack on the lumbering mushroom. Bright light radiates within 40ft and dims another 40ft from there.
Hastos slips on the oil and his attack goes wide (To hit: Nat 1 +8). Undeterred, , Hastos swings again, but his aim is off yet again (To hit: 2 +8).
He turns back to Bucky, “Is this oil flammable?”
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Merkas pauses briefly as the whole group of myconids react whenever one of them is struck. “So anyone else notice they all feel the same thing?”
With Barkly unable to focus, Merkas is brought back to the moment and turns pointing at the oil Buckeran dumped on the ground, hoping to give the two of them a reprieve from the Myconid onslaught. “Heat Up!”
(Cast Create Bonfire - 9 fire damage or 15 dex save)
“Hmm, I wonder?” As the flames start Merkas tosses Shard 30’ towards the giant mushroomThe larger myconids came from. As soon as it lands the kender is teleported to where the dagger lay. Shaking his head to clear his vision he realizes where he’s standing now, “That was a bad throw, but can’t deny it helped.” (Using Misty Step from the daggers. Throwing Shard to activate is just flavour text. 30’ from Misty step and movement to three squares directly above sprout yellow)
Standing back up After picking up his dagger, and running towards the giant mushroom, He bellows while pointing at it. ”Hey Barkly, as soon as your heads clear shoot this thing!”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Myconid Black reflexively winces from the bright light issued from Hastos's axe, and it leans away from Hastos's unsteady swipe. The air whooshes as the axe smites the air. It brings up a club-like arm to deflect the next blow and Hastos can feel the vibration from the handle shudder its way into his calloused grip!
Buckeran nods his head nervously after flinching when you slip on the oil. "Yes! It should light right up!"
The dazzling light from Hastos's weapon property sears the eyes of the nearby myconids, and all their heads wobble, communicating pain to each other!
All Myconids, except Sprout Black and White have Sun Sickness while in the light's range, and 1 round after.
Merkas's bonfire erupts to life at Myconid Blue's feet, encasing the creature in blue and red flame! As the fire licks its way up the myconid's body, it stiffens up, and all the other myconids respond with silent screams!
Myconid Blue roles DEX (Dis): 14 (fails); Damage 9+(1d4 from oil) = 10 Damage (Fire)
Merkas blinks into existence near Sprout Yellow who is very clearly demonstrating mental distress. Barkly hears the instruction and snaps out of her daze. Shaking her head and steadying herself, she belches out a ball of fire at the giant mushroom that Merkas indicates. The flames, mixed with the electrical energy stored within the mushroom causes a violent explosion, launching chunks of mushroom in every direction! The myconids freeze, turning as one in absolute horror while, sequentially every other mushroom also begins to explode! The scene quickly becomes a raging inferno. Smoke, ash, and bits of mushroom fill the air.
As a stationary object, the Fire Burst automatically hits, causing a chain reaction in the mushroom grove.
Merkas is blown back by the blast a feet, but manages to keep his footing. Your body is covered in soot and bits of mushroom.
Orr the Unseen looks around at the devastation, when they realize that the myconids are no longer interested in fighting, so stunned are they by the devastation Barkly has wrought.
Orr the Unseen switches to Defense, gaining a +2 to AC.
"Gods f*cking d*mn it, Merkas! Do you have to blow everything up everywhere you go?!" Sera screams over the din of explosions. She covers her ears from the noise echoing throughout the chamber. Cursing under her breath, she dashes forward, towards the inferno, and drops to one knee. She pulls her waterskin from her pack and sprinkles some of it onto the dirt. Then traces the holy symbol of Paladine in the mud while calling to her god. "Paladine, quench this flame with your divine rains!"
Inside the cave, storm clouds form at the ceiling of the cavern, causing insects and bizarre batlike creatures to scurry and flutter away. Then rain pours down in a 30' radius of where the holy symbol is drawn.
Sera casts Create Water, Level 1, to make it rain in a 30' radius around her. The fire, mixed with the elemental electrical magic doesn't die down instantly, but it seems to be helping some, and it's keeping the fire from spreading.
Buckeran is covering his ears as well. The explosions are deafening.
The myconids break their moment of stunned shock, before scattering, desperately trying to save their mushroom grove. If they had any continued intent to attack, it's been put on hold until their precious grove is saved.
Myconid Blue and Black move out of Hastos's attack range. MrUncleTio, you get an Attack of Opportunity.
Sera's Spiritual Weapon gets an Attack of Opportunity.
Distracted, Sera forgets to command the Spiritual Sword, so it continues following its last order, striking non-lethally against Myconid Black as it attempts to leave its attack range.
Spiritual Weapon Attack: Critical Miss
Spiritual Weapon AoO: 22 (Hit, Non-Lethal), Damage: 5 (Bludgeoning)
As Sprout Green bounds towards the nearest flaming mushroom, Orr the Unseen decides to let it be and lowers their hands. "I think these beings are neutralized for now. Should we help them extinguish the flames, or make our escape while they are distracted?"
The flames that are being douced will begin to subue in the next round. The mushroom attacked by the Fire Burst will take more rounds to quench.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
(ToHit:22, Damage: 6, Fire Damage: 12) -Black
(ToHit: 9) - Blue (assuming I get a swipe at both of them)
Hastos takes a swing as the larger mushrooms run. He manages to catches Mushroom black before it can move out of range, but Mushroom blue was too fast and Hastos misses entirely!
”Oh no you don’t!” Hastos shouts at Mushroom Blue. Flames erupt from his hand as he cast firebolt! (ToHit: 3 -JFC!?, Dam:17).
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
“Oops” The last word heard from Merkas before the blast wave hits him. Eyes getting impossibly wider as each stalk in turn bursts in a macabre fireworks show. A grin spreads across his face as he turns back to congratulate Barkly, just as Sera chastises him.
“Aww, C’mon Sera, I didn’t cause the last explosion, that was Orr, and the one before that was faulty horn, how was I supposed to know it’d blow up in my face, and I’m the one rocking the scars, now I know not to blow horns in sewers, too risky in such a small space” He responds despite the high likelihood that every other word is drowned by yet another explosion. “How many of them are in here?”
“I say we take off, but that means leaving an enemy behind us.” He looks after the sprouts as they rush to the nearest stalk. “I don’t know that helping them would do much good as I was the one that caused it. Whatcha think Bucky?”
(Rolled a 3 for Fire Burst recharge, so no extra boom yet, 17 insight: DM hint on suggested course of action “Should we stay or should we go?”)
Loyalty Begets Honour
" By Thakisis multiscaled rotten *******..Somehow you end up with disaster all around you Merkas!..." Sera are drenched in the middle of the shower she created and glare a bit at him before looking at the withdrawing fungusmen.
" so theese fungus do not understand much ...but force they understand..." she watch them withdraw. She move carefully and defensive seeing no need to risk more explosions and act calm.
" they protective of their little Grove...let us give that a wide berth...." her initial frustration replaced by consern
" Paladin...please give us water and same time drench that blue little disastermagnet...."
( cast another create water on the other burning funguschildren)