Sword Coast Rambling

9, 8

Taking care as he approaches the derelict building, Beetle steps carefully through the tangle of weeds and thorns that cover much of the path. Creeping upwards around the doorway, the vines cling together to form two thick masses of dried wood reaching for the sunlight above. As he frees a foot from a grasping briar, Beetle notices something peculiar about these plants. Nestled into the vines, on either side of the doorway, are two motionless figures.

Seemingly dead, the two short creatures stand about 4 feet in height. Made of writhing, old, dry branches and twigs their feet sink into the ground, planting roots firmly into the soft soil. 

Through the open doorway itself, the crumbled cottage appears empty. Under the tree growing over its south western corner, the cool shaded air has a mouldy smell to it. 

Beetle sees the 2 creatures and tries to make sure they aren't going to move and swings his sword at one..."We have some interesting looking plant creatures here, they seem dead but I am going to make sure." Beetle tells the group before acting..

Attack: 10 Damage: 9

Not sure if I have advantage since it is just laying there so incase 23

If there is still no movement after Beetle's attack he will then start searching around through branches for anything useful.

Syna 12searches through his memory for any clues:  Nature

Initiative Rolls:

Beetle: 14
Brots: 4
Serak: 22
Syna: 16
Zyltris: 17

Jelenneth: 9

Plant Creatures: 9

OOC: Beetle I'll give you surprise here, as well as advantage for attacking while the creatures were dormant. However this ends after your attack as they would awaken and be aware of your presence. Round 1 will continue as a regular round, starting with Syna.

Hearing Beetles words, Syna instantly knows what the paladin is facing. As he quickly turns to face Jelenneth, the pair speak in unison, "Blights!" Beetle meanwhile cleaves his sword through the first of the creatures, easily slicing the dry wooden creature into pieces.

Attack: 23
Damage: 9

As his sword strikes, the second blight pulls its rooted feet from the ground, a deep throated scream emanating from the tangle of branches forming the creatures head. 

ROUND 1

OOC: The area 10ft around the cottage door are covered in vines meaning it will be difficult terrain. Blight 1 has been killed by Beetles surprise attack.

Syna moves 20 SW and casts Create Bonfire at B2 (Dmg: 8)

Blight 2 Dexterity Save: 9
Spell Save DC: 13
Damage: 8 (x2 for vulnerability: 16)

Springing swiftly into action, Syna charges forwards, sending a blast of flames into the writhing vines. A flash of orange light fills the darkening air as the dried wood of the blight catches fire. In an instant,the creature falls to the ground, into a pile of grey ash.

OOC: Quite a short one this one. Both blights are down. A meager 8xp for each of you this time I'm afraid. 

Syna frowns. "Blights and Zombies.  Someone is awakening cursed creatures," he says with a frown.

Preparing himself for either, he will cautiously approach the building south of him.

Perception: 15

Jelenneth whispers her response softly to her old pupil, “Perhaps Syna. But remember, nature too can present dangers given the chance. I sense a recent tragedy in this place. We must be careful.”

As the others carefully take a defensive position at the trail junction, Syna creeps forward beside Beetle. Turning his attention to the abandoned cottages to his east, he analyses the overgrowth within them. 

These cottages are just as ruined as the first. Several small trees grow between their low broken walls. Just inside the doorway of the first stands a similar, motionless blight. Another, just beyond the eastern wall of the nearest cottage, wrapped in the weeds that grow between the two cottages. The Druid spots a third and final of the creatures leaning awkwardly against a tree beyond the south wall. 

Three blights in all. Each of them as motionless as the others had been, almost as if asleep, rooted firmly in the ground. 

Syna points out each, then points to the first inside the doorway, "I'll take him first."   Syna then again casts Create Bonfire 4

Blight Dexterity Save: 12
Spell save DC: 13
Damage: 4 (x2 vulnerability: 8)

Syna watches as his second victim burns in an intense flame. The blights dry wooden body making excellent kindling for his spell as it collapses into a smouldering pile of ash. In a single motion, the other blights awaken. Joined by several others hidden in the undergrowth. Hauling their roots free from the ground, the screech wordlessly at the druid, angered by the disturbance.

Initiative Rolls:

Beetle: 20
Brots: 23
Serak: 17
Syna: 11
Zyltris: 5

Jelenneth: 10

Blights: 15

ROUND 1

Suddenly alerted to the danger posed by the awakened blights, Brots draws his longbow. Holding his position, the gnome looses an arrow towards the nearest plant like creature (B2).

Brots Attack Roll: 22
Damage: 8

Striking the blight directly in the head, Brots exhales as his target falls into a dead heap among the tangle of vines beneath it. 

OOC: B2 is dead, 

Synas first attack was another suprise round. Beetle and Serak, your turn to strike - no advantage this time. Starting positions are as negotiable as always. Be aware that the vines count as difficult terrain (double movement speed), The ruined walls can be vaulted if required for an additional 5ft of speed. Syna and Zyltris, feel free to make your attacks against targets if you wish.

Beetle will move east 25 ft, just past the building and just north of the vines he stops...then he casts eldritch blast at B6

Attack: 12 Damage: 6

(really crushed that one...lol...lets say he was off balance maybe from not being used to dual weidling...oh wait I can attack with the off hand..)

Offhand attack Attack: 16 Damage: 4

(I rolled the offhand with no attack modifier, but added damage bonus if I am wrong we can correct the numbers but I'm not sure how dual weilding works)

Nevermind that offhand attack forgot I was at ranged....lol...

OOC: Haha! Safe to say that the blight survived that one! 

Lifted this from the rules regarding dual wielding: 

When you take the Attack action and attack with a light melee weapon that you're holding in one hand, you can use a bonus action to attack with a different light melee weapon that you're holding in the other hand.

You don't add your ability modifier to the damage of the bonus attack, unless that modifier is negative.

So in your case, attacking with the staff on your bonus attack you would roll 1d20+4 as usual for your attack roll. But only 1d6 for your damage.

The second attack would however use up your bonus action for the turn

..... actually just looking at the two handed fighting trait. It refers to light weapons only. I don’t think you’re longsword and staff fall into the light weapons category... unless you have the dual wielding trait

OOC: ok no big deal so it will just be my usual 1 attack with sword each round at least until I get a 2nd attack at level 5 pally I think

Serak: Serak draws his shortbow and moves east until he has line of sight on an undead and then lets the arrow fly at his target.

Attack: 7 Damage: 4

Charging forwards towards the enraged plant-like creatures, Beetle draws his longsword. With a loud crackle, a beam of intense light flashes through the dusk air, striking the nearest blight (B6) squarely in its chest. 

Attack: 20
Damage: 1

Sparks of energy ripple over the blights wooden body as it swipes away the sparks with long twig like hands. As it wrenches itself free, branches and twigs across the blights body writhe in anger, as it prepares to attack.

Making his own charge down the road, Serak draws his shortbow, secretly pleased to have finally found some action again. Taking aim at the same blight as Beetle, the half elf looses an arrow.

Attack: 7 
Damage: 4

Whizzing over the paladins shoulder, the arrow narrowly misses Beetles ear, before planting itself harmlessly into the trunk of a nearby tree. Serak sighs in frustration and watches helplessly as the blights attack.

The eruption of flame inside the walls of the first cottage appears to have caused a great ammount of distress to the nearest blights. Beyond the south wall, two of the wooden creatures (B3 & B5) are eager to distance themselves from the intense heat. They dash westwards, circling the cottage in a wide arc before beginning their charge towards the gathering at the junction.

To the east of the cottage, the three other remaining blights also make to distance themselves from the fire, before charging northwards towards the party. The first, (B4) hurdles over the walls of the western cottage, taking position beside its ally along the north wall.

As it arrives, the second blight (B6) lunges forwards. It long, branch like arms reaching outwards for Beetle as it stumbles forwards towards him. 

Blight 6 Attack Roll: 23
Damage Roll: 6 (Crit)

The blights long wooden fingers, grasp at Beetles armour, puncturing holes into the steel. With the creature so close now, the paladin struggles to make out the blights face. Its head and body merely a mesh of twigs and branches, wound tightly together.

Hurdling the north wall of the eastern cottage, a third and final blight (B7) emerges, charging at Beetle at full speed but unprepared to make  an attack of its own.

OOC: Syna and Zyltris, you're up this time - updated map:

Beetle, we're back into the same situation of reactions - I didn't take your shield etc into account this time around, but can add it retrospectively if you want.

Just bear the reactions and bonus actions in mind when you're making attacks. We had it going well last time round so would be good to have that going again to keep things flowing nicely.

When it comes to Jelenneths turn, by all means feel free to give her commands the same as Brots. If you need a spell list from her I can provide it for you...

Syna, noting the reaction the creatures have to fire and their slow movement, moves 10ft NE, before casting Create Bonfire on B6.  (Dmg 3)

"Fall back and attack at range," Syna shouts to the others.

Blight (B6) Dexterity Save: 16
Spell Save DC: 13

Taking a few steps back towards the road, Synas fingers tingled with warmth as he prepares his spell. Waving his hand across to the blight attacking Beetle, the Druid watches as it is suddenly engulfed in an intense orange flame. An instant later, the three gathering blights turn to escape the sudden eruption of deadly flame. 

With the sudden change to the battlefield, Jelenneth steps forward to halt the blights charging forwards on the parties western flank.

Stepping into range, she yells out in elvish, her hand engulfed in a bright burning flame of her own, “NAUR!”

Jelenneth Attack Roll: 23
Damage to B5: 5 (x2 for vulnerability: 8)

With a swing of her arm, Jelenneth throws a ball of flame hurtling through the air. The air roars as a ripple of fire explodes across the blights chest. It spreads quickly, the blights dry wooden body making excellent kindling for the raging fire. A moment later, the blight collapses to the floor, no more than a pile of blackened twigs.