Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

"The deranged, unnatural plants seemed to be congregating around this tree. I wonder if it is the source of them?" Olin muses, looking up at the sick and twisted tree. "Either way I think we should destroy it. Root and bow." Olin looks to Lionel, "And yes, my new friend. Burn it all."

"But first, I wonder how this poor soul met their untimely end. We might want to prepare before we start hacking away at the tree." Olin says a quick prayer to Silvanus for guidance and investigates the moldering corpse. (Medicine, 10+2) trying to determine how it died, mostly trying to figure out if it was from attacking the tree, or if it was blights, or... other.

Meepo begins digging under the body whose peices are shoved to one side.  Meanwhile Lionel reaches over and pulls out the axe.  A small stream of sticky blood trickles down from the open 'wound' in the tree.  The axe feels very light in Lionel's hands.  Olin investigates the corpse near Meepo and sees some needles embedded in the bones and some scratch marks in the cloth that match the twig creatures. A few old dried vines are wrapped around the leg bones.  He predicts that this person was probably slain by the woodland blights that the group just defeated. 

The tree doesn't move to defend itself, but just continues to lurk there, glaring down at all of you.

From within the roots of the tree, Meepo withdraws a heavy square object wrapped in thick cloth.  He unwraps it revealing a heavy tomb.  

(more to come)

With the book and axe recovered, and the death of this unfortunate soul determined, the group sets about the burning. It takes several hours to get a sufficient fire going around the main tree that seems to smoke and douse fire with its red flowing blood. Yet eventually, determined to do so, you watch as the tree before you burns, a thick cloud. Crows circle in the air above, crying victoriously to see the evil thing burn.  The castle beyond the fog remains distant and uncaring of your small victory.  At the bottom of the hill you spot the druids and barbarians come running out of the woods to witness their holy site being burned. Their matted beards, mud covered faces, and red rimmed crazed eyes lock with the group.  A shout goes up, and they charge forward up the hill, spreading out as they come running forward. 

They are 800 feet away as combat starts.  Running as they are, it will take about about 7 turns to get to you.  Everyone take 6 turns, and roll init. 

Lionel Initiative: 8

Pleasantly surprised he was not attacked or cursed on the spot (though, latter remained to be seen), Lionel talked the axe in the backpack for now, positioned himself between the running mob and the party and attacked the first one that came close enough with his javelin: Attack: 26 Damage: 9

When druids came closer - to melee distance - he finally tried to use more wise tactic: Shield of Faith on himself (AC21) and only then attack (now, 2 attacks!): Attack: 22 Damage: 11

Attack: 8 Damage: 7

Initiative: 14

Mordekai will simply hold his ground, waiting for them to come to us. He'll cast Guidance on Meepo (why not?) as they approach. When they're within 120ft he'll unleash an Eldritch Blast at a barbarian.

Attack: 15 Damage: 11

Presumably they're dashing, so covering 60ft per turn? If so, that means Mordekai would only get one turn of Eldritch Blast in before they're within 60ft,at which point he'll cast Shatter, trying to get as many as possible in a 10ft radius circle - unless somehow one of the party has managed to get into melee by that point. Anyone within that circle makes a DC16 CON save or takes 10 damage (half on a successful save).

EDIT: Rolled wrong damage dice for Shatter. Should be 4d8, I rolled 4d6, so 19 is the correct full damage. 

"What an inhospitable land." Olin says, seeing the druids and barbarians running headlong toward them. "Evil druids, corrupted plants. Child ghosts in houses that try and murder all who enter, but have been ash for centuries. Ancient vampire lords..." Olin peers up at the sky, "And where the hells is the sun?!" Rubbing his temples and breathing out a long, calming breath. "Silvanus, give me guidance."

Initiative: 5+4

As the oncoming group rushes into range Olin will target the Druids first, then move on to Barbarians if the druids all fall.

Turn 1 (600ft): Longbow: Attack: 20 Damage: 9
Turn 2 (540ft): Longbow: Attack: 15 Damage: 8
Turn 3 (480ft): Longbow: Attack: 12 Damage: 11
Turn 4 (420ft): Longbow: Attack: 10 Damage: 12
Turn 5 (360ft): Longbow: Attack: 11 Damage: 12

"Meepo, you can start shooting now!" (Long range of 320 for your crossbow, lose disadvantage at 80ft)

Turn 6 (300ft): Longbow: Attack: 15 Damage: 8

"They just won't quit, will they?"

Turn 7 (240ft): Cast plant growth 140 ft away from me. Far edge would be on top of the enemies, near edge would be 40ft from the group. If they continue rushing onward their movement is quartered. 60ft/4=15ft
Turn 8 (225ft): Longbow: Attack: 9 Damage: 8
Turn 9 (210ft): Longbow: Attack: 17 Damage: 10
Turn 10 (195ft): Longbow: Attack: 19 Damage: 12
Turn 11 (180ft): Longbow: Attack: 10 Damage: 5
Turn 12 (165ft): Longbow: Attack: 14 Damage: 10
Turn 13 (150ft): Longbow: Attack: 21 Damage: 10
Turn 14 (135ft): Longbow: Attack: 18 Damage: 11
Turn 15 (120ft): Longbow: Attack: 26 Damage: 6

"Mordekai, start blasting! Lionel, maybe save your javelins?"

Turn 16 (105ft): Longbow: Attack: 18 Damage: 8
Turn 17 (90ft): Longbow: Attack: 14 Damage: 12
Turn 18 (75ft): Longbow: Attack: 13 Damage: 10

"Hells. I'm out of arrows!"

Turn 19 (60ft): Drop bow. Cast spike growth 20 ft away from me. This makes it's outer edge even with the end of the edge of plant growth. Movement goes up from quartered to halved. 60ft/2=30ft. If the group doesn't stop they take a total of 8d4 (17) damage.
Turn 20 (30ft) Don Shield. Wield spear. Cast shillelagh.

EDIT: spike growth is 2d4, per 5ft, not 1d4. They take the 20 from above and an additional 8d4 (17).

Olin unleashes arrow after arrow at the druids and barbarians as they rush up the hill.  Arrows whisk past the druids where Olin aims, with several bouncing off the druids hard rough looking skin.  Finally one druid goes down as the eleven enemies struggle through the vines.  Mordekai blasta. barbarian with a blast of energy...and then he unleashes magic that creates a sudden loud ringing noise that seems to burst between two of the barbarians (CON DC 16: 7, 9) 

(Mordekai, you can get two more shots in with Eldritch blast as well due to their reduced speed.  Since they had spread out pretty early on, it's difficult to get more than one or two with your spells.  Meepo, shoot some arrows.  I think you get 13 shots before melee begins.) 

Two more Eldritch Blast coming up.

Attack: 25 Damage: 8

Attack: 11 Damage: 7

Ok, here are Meepo's 13 shots...  Rolling first 6 with disadvantage, then the next 7 as straight-up...

Attack: 20 Damage: 5

Attack: 15 Damage: 6

Attack: 9 Damage: 4

Attack: 23 Damage: 9

Attack: 11 Damage: 11

Attack: 11 Damage: 11

Attack: 7 Damage: 6

Attack: 10 Damage: 8

Attack: 20 Damage: 11

Attack: 17 Damage: 7

Attack: 6 Damage: 7

Attack: 18 Damage: 7

Attack: 20 Damage: 4

Meepo initiative:  12

He would position himself not to be in the front of the group, but behind the melee fighters.  I am guessing there is no close-by trees or such to get into, since we burned down the evil tree.

Meepo: Correct, with the evil tree grove burned down, you're out of safe perches.   Meepo's constant stream of arrows and Olin full quiver leave only two dead druids on the grassy hill.  Mordekai's blasts and shatter seems to injure the barbarians, but none of them drop as the group of them, breathing heavily, sweating from the run up the hill, come charging around the area full of spikes and smash into melee combat with the group, outnumbering the group 

Ismark also has a crossbow on him and unleashes several shots at the approaching group: 

Attack: 16 Damage: 4.   Attack: 4 Damage: 4.   Attack: 10 Damage: 7.  Attack: 7 Damage: 10.  Attack: 12 Damage: 8.  Attack: 10 Damage: 7.

Attack: 15 Damage: 7. Attack: 16 Damage: 10. Attack: 19 Damage: 5. Attack: 10 Damage: 5. Attack: 12 Damage: 9. Attack: 17 Damage: 7.

Ismark is aiming for one of the lead barbarians who Mordekai also eventually targets.  He's hit by one, then two, and another, and another, until he's riddled with arrows, eventually falling to the shatter spell just before reaching the group.  As they smash into melee the group is faced with 4 druids and 5 barbarians. 

Their init:  14. 

Ismark's Init:  8

Mordekai, you get one more action as the enemies close in to melee range.  (you're the only one to beat their init). 

(Can I retroactive do something?  I would like to hit the entire group with a fireball when they were still approaching, instead of doing one of the last crossbow shots. Is that an option?)

(We're at melee range now, right? If Mordekai were to move back, away from melee, how many enemies would get opportunity attacks against him?) 

Yes, you can fireball them. Mordekai, if you move back they won’t get into melee for another round. 

Then Mordekai will move backwards, hoping to avoid melee for as long as possible as the ranks of the enemy rush in. Perhaps even taking a step back here will mean they attack other party members, leaving Mordekai to Eldritch Blast away - although he would never give those thoughts away, of course.

Attack: 22 Damage: 13 

Lionel is very low on initiative order but he is standing in front of the group (with one javelin thrown, btw) and waiting to be attacked.

Meepo casts fireball then...

Dex save is DC 14.

Damage is 27 fire.