Wood fires his crossbow at the creature, 21 to hit for 7 pts of damage. Drops the crossbow, pulling his sword and moving to engage it next turn, adjusting his shield as he moves. The bigger they are the easier to hit. Spells and arrows fly!
(( eek, ok, rewind, and thanks ))
Wood keeping his crossbow at the ready will run to Koran, are you ok? what can I do?
Ardana was startled by the appearance of the creature, and barely brings her greatsword out before the battle is over. She moves forward as the creature falls, and looks around to see if the creature had any companions, then she adds to Koran as she scans the perimeter. (Perception 19)
So the Teeth attack would have been at Advantage. And an hit would result in a crit.
Since the original straight roll missed, I'm rolling a second straight roll. If it hits, it crits.
Then all went as narrate, with the worm failing to msgic missile and sleep.
But Koran would still be Paralyzed! If nobody knows how to help him he can repeat the roll at the end of each one of his turns. As soon as he saves, he is not paralyzed anymore.
Elias kneels beside Koran, his heart pounding. The monk lay unmoving, his breathing shallow. The wound from the creature’s tentacle was angry and swollen, dark veins spreading outward like creeping tendrils of rot.
Elias’ hands trembled slightly as he pressed his fingers to Koran’s throat, searching for a pulse. It was there—but weak. His mind raced through the countless medical texts he had studied, yet this was no academic exercise. No controlled environment. This was real.
"Come now, lad," Elias muttered, more to himself than Koran. "Let’s see if knowledge alone can keep you among the living."
He examined the wound, his mind sorting through possibilities. Poison? Necrosis? He reached for his component pouch, searching for anything that might cleanse the affliction—or at the very least, keep Koran stable until someone with more experience could tend to him.
Elias could feel the others watching, waiting. This was his moment to prove whether a lifetime of study could stand against the raw, unforgiving reality of the adventuring life.
((Medicine check 22 - would Elias know what the problem was and would he know of something herbal that could help?))
Elias soon realizes that it is the venom of the tentacles that is causing Koran's paralysis...
The expert scholar comes up with several possible antidotes - but he cannot locate all the necessary ingredients in the immediate vicinity! In an apothecary or, at least, a proper garden it would be easier...
[[ OOC: In the meantime, enough time has certainly passed for Koran to repeat the Constitution Saving Throw on his own. ]]
Elias furrowed his brow as he studied Koran’s condition. The dark veins, the rigidity of his limbs—classic signs of paralysis from venom. His mind cycled through antidotes he had read about, herbs and alchemical compounds that could counteract such a toxin—but he had none of them at hand.
He exhaled sharply. No way to prepare one in time. That left only one real option.
His fingers hovered over the divine energy of Lesser Restoration, but he hesitated. Spells were finite. If Koran could shake this off on his own, he might need that magic later for something more dire.
Elias watched Koran’s breathing, looking for any signs of improvement. Would the monk’s own resilience be enough? He gently tapped Koran’s cheek. "Come now, lad. I’ve read that monks possess mastery over their own bodies—prove to me that discipline and will can triumph over poison."
Still, his other hand hovered near his spell focus, prepared to act if needed—but unwilling to waste magic if time alone would do the trick.
((Oops, I was a bit slow on that last one...just imagine it occurred before Koran recovered on his own.))
As Koran’s fingers twitched and the tension in his body eased, Elias let out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief softened his features, and a small, approving smile touched his lips.
"Ah, there it is," he said warmly. "Mind over matter, just as the teachings say. You gave us a bit of a scare, my friend."
He patted Koran’s shoulder lightly before pushing himself back to his feet, glancing at the rest of the group. "Well, that was a lesson in caution. Let’s hope we don’t need another so soon."
With the heroic elf monk able to move and act again, our heroes could be ready for the next moves, while the worm, not far away, continues to sleep, perhaps dreaming... of paralyzed adventurers to eat?
What will our heroes do, now? Will they look for a way to get rid of the worm in a 'permanent' way? Or will they simply resume their exploration? Or will they have some other ideas?
Tarysaa speaks up, "I can conjure a blade, however, I doubt I can provide a strike resounding enought to take this creature down with one blow. We risk the chance of awakening a huge creature with not much beyond sticks and stones to defend oursevles with."
((I posted this yesterday but I think it got lost in the shuffle))
"This is no common animal," he said, his voice solemn. "It’s a predator, lying in wait. If we leave it, it will wake... and the next soul to pass this way may not be so fortunate."
His blue eyes flicked toward the others, gauging their reactions. This was no act of heroism, no grand adventure—just a grim necessity.
"It is distasteful, but we must end it now," he continued. "Quickly. Cleanly. Before it wakes."
He did not relish the thought. But he had lived long enough to know that hesitation could be just as deadly as the beast itself.
Tarysaa nods slowly. "Normally, I would say "leave sleeping monsters to their rest"... for they are only following their nature. However, this particular creature is a bit 'much' to be burrowing in so close to Rassalantar. With spring coming on, you do not want a nest of these in the local woods."
Looking to the sleeping hulk of a crawler, "Any suggestions on how to dispatch it in the swiftest fashion?"
[[ OOC: OK, so Ardana is for attacking the monster. Refreshing the 5e rules about this situation, since this would not be an automatic kill:
The advantages of attacking an unconscious creature are: - Attack rolls against the creature have Advantage. - Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.
The worm will wake up if it takes damage though, so in your case I would let each party member make an attack... after which, if the worm has taken damage but has not been killed, it can fight back.
If that's what you wish to do... go on and each one roll their attack and damage! ]]
Elias steps back, his expression grim but resolute. "We have one chance at this," he says in a hushed but firm tone. "The moment it feels pain, the spell will break, and it will fight back. We must strike together and end it before it can react."
He looks to the strongest among them, nodding toward the sleeping beast. "Aim for the vital points. Make it swift." His grip tightens on his dagger, but he knows that his own blade will not be the decisive blow—this would require the full strength of those best suited for the task.
"On my mark—strike true."
((Dagger melee attack with advantage: dirty 20 to hit, with the crit total damage is 4...melee is not Elias' strong suit...))
Holy <blank>. I was hoping that comment would break the pattern of ill luck!
(( eek, ok, rewind, and thanks ))
Wood keeping his crossbow at the ready will run to Koran, are you ok? what can I do?
Ardana was startled by the appearance of the creature, and barely brings her greatsword out before the battle is over. She moves forward as the creature falls, and looks around to see if the creature had any companions, then she adds to Koran as she scans the perimeter. (Perception 19)
Are you hurt badly? Do you need healing?
Having failed the save, Koran was Paralized!
So the Teeth attack would have been at Advantage. And an hit would result in a crit.
Since the original straight roll missed, I'm rolling a second straight roll. If it hits, it crits.
Then all went as narrate, with the worm failing to msgic missile and sleep.
But Koran would still be Paralyzed! If nobody knows how to help him he can repeat the roll at the end of each one of his turns. As soon as he saves, he is not paralyzed anymore.
Teeth Attack: 5 Damage: 12 (piercing)
Ok, the worm was too hasty and had missed with its Teeth in spite of its prey being paralyzed.
You all can go on!
Elias kneels beside Koran, his heart pounding. The monk lay unmoving, his breathing shallow. The wound from the creature’s tentacle was angry and swollen, dark veins spreading outward like creeping tendrils of rot.
Elias’ hands trembled slightly as he pressed his fingers to Koran’s throat, searching for a pulse. It was there—but weak. His mind raced through the countless medical texts he had studied, yet this was no academic exercise. No controlled environment. This was real.
"Come now, lad," Elias muttered, more to himself than Koran. "Let’s see if knowledge alone can keep you among the living."
He examined the wound, his mind sorting through possibilities. Poison? Necrosis? He reached for his component pouch, searching for anything that might cleanse the affliction—or at the very least, keep Koran stable until someone with more experience could tend to him.
Elias could feel the others watching, waiting. This was his moment to prove whether a lifetime of study could stand against the raw, unforgiving reality of the adventuring life.
((Medicine check 22 - would Elias know what the problem was and would he know of something herbal that could help?))
Elias soon realizes that it is the venom of the tentacles that is causing Koran's paralysis...
The expert scholar comes up with several possible antidotes - but he cannot locate all the necessary ingredients in the immediate vicinity! In an apothecary or, at least, a proper garden it would be easier...
[[ OOC: In the meantime, enough time has certainly passed for Koran to repeat the Constitution Saving Throw on his own. ]]
17
The Monk turns his head towards Elias, slowly. His jaw and tongue move, but no sound is produced immediately.
Over the next few minutes, he manages to sit up, and then to stand (unsteadily), and recovers both his balance and grace.
"That was a new experience I would rather not repeat. I do not recommend it."
Elias furrowed his brow as he studied Koran’s condition. The dark veins, the rigidity of his limbs—classic signs of paralysis from venom. His mind cycled through antidotes he had read about, herbs and alchemical compounds that could counteract such a toxin—but he had none of them at hand.
He exhaled sharply. No way to prepare one in time. That left only one real option.
His fingers hovered over the divine energy of Lesser Restoration, but he hesitated. Spells were finite. If Koran could shake this off on his own, he might need that magic later for something more dire.
Elias watched Koran’s breathing, looking for any signs of improvement. Would the monk’s own resilience be enough? He gently tapped Koran’s cheek. "Come now, lad. I’ve read that monks possess mastery over their own bodies—prove to me that discipline and will can triumph over poison."
Still, his other hand hovered near his spell focus, prepared to act if needed—but unwilling to waste magic if time alone would do the trick.
((Oops, I was a bit slow on that last one...just imagine it occurred before Koran recovered on his own.))
As Koran’s fingers twitched and the tension in his body eased, Elias let out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Relief softened his features, and a small, approving smile touched his lips.
"Ah, there it is," he said warmly. "Mind over matter, just as the teachings say. You gave us a bit of a scare, my friend."
He patted Koran’s shoulder lightly before pushing himself back to his feet, glancing at the rest of the group. "Well, that was a lesson in caution. Let’s hope we don’t need another so soon."
With the heroic elf monk able to move and act again, our heroes could be ready for the next moves, while the worm, not far away, continues to sleep, perhaps dreaming... of paralyzed adventurers to eat?
What will our heroes do, now? Will they look for a way to get rid of the worm in a 'permanent' way? Or will they simply resume their exploration? Or will they have some other ideas?
"Did you kill it? Is it still breathing? Anyone have a big sword or axe to split the head, or maybe just remove it?"
Tarysaa speaks up, "I can conjure a blade, however, I doubt I can provide a strike resounding enought to take this creature down with one blow. We risk the chance of awakening a huge creature with not much beyond sticks and stones to defend oursevles with."
((I posted this yesterday but I think it got lost in the shuffle))
"This is no common animal," he said, his voice solemn. "It’s a predator, lying in wait. If we leave it, it will wake... and the next soul to pass this way may not be so fortunate."
His blue eyes flicked toward the others, gauging their reactions. This was no act of heroism, no grand adventure—just a grim necessity.
"It is distasteful, but we must end it now," he continued. "Quickly. Cleanly. Before it wakes."
He did not relish the thought. But he had lived long enough to know that hesitation could be just as deadly as the beast itself.
Tarysaa nods slowly. "Normally, I would say "leave sleeping monsters to their rest"... for they are only following their nature. However, this particular creature is a bit 'much' to be burrowing in so close to Rassalantar. With spring coming on, you do not want a nest of these in the local woods."
Looking to the sleeping hulk of a crawler, "Any suggestions on how to dispatch it in the swiftest fashion?"
Ardana hefts her Greatsword.
I think this would suffice.
She climbs over the rubble to the worm and decapitates it.
[[ OOC: OK, so Ardana is for attacking the monster. Refreshing the 5e rules about this situation, since this would not be an automatic kill:
The advantages of attacking an unconscious creature are:
- Attack rolls against the creature have Advantage.
- Any attack that hits the creature is a critical hit if the attacker is within 5 feet of the creature.
The worm will wake up if it takes damage though, so in your case I would let each party member make an attack... after which, if the worm has taken damage but has not been killed, it can fight back.
If that's what you wish to do... go on and each one roll their attack and damage! ]]
Elias steps back, his expression grim but resolute. "We have one chance at this," he says in a hushed but firm tone. "The moment it feels pain, the spell will break, and it will fight back. We must strike together and end it before it can react."
He looks to the strongest among them, nodding toward the sleeping beast. "Aim for the vital points. Make it swift." His grip tightens on his dagger, but he knows that his own blade will not be the decisive blow—this would require the full strength of those best suited for the task.
"On my mark—strike true."
((Dagger melee attack with advantage: dirty 20 to hit, with the crit total damage is 4...melee is not Elias' strong suit...))