It is dark – midnight, perhaps – and the way forward is slow. Insects swarm, even in the near-freezing temperatures. The muddy ground is pocked with nasty-smelling black pools and mounds of rotting vegetation. A thin fog floats over the swamp.
With a sudden shuffle, one mound of rotten debris suddenly lurches up, threatening to envelop you.
Mound stealth: 18 vs. party passive perception: Boko (18), Qivys (10), Oceanus (13), Gerrard (9), Kei (20)
Roll initiative! Mound: 18 Oceanus: 8
The rotting heap of animated vegetation looms up half again as tall as a human, tapering into a faceless “head” at its top.
His rapier already out but held low to let him see a few feet ahead in its silvery magical moonlight, Gerrard is surprised by the very swamp itself rising to attack them!
Initiative: 11
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"Fine, we can go a bit farther, but how long before we-- Oomph!"Peri's carping is cut off as he runs slap into Boko's backside, completely unaware that she had stopped or why.
Lamenting the dismissal of his outstanding plan, Kei shuffles along as the rear guard only occasionally looking up to ensure he hadn't wandered off course. It was one if these brief glances that allowed him the opportunity to see the ground move ever so slightly. "Somethings moving up.....". Too late he couldn't fire off his warning to the group. Before he can finish his sentence what seems like an entire hill begins to rise from the swamp. "Faceless fetid floral arrangement. Now I've seen it all".
Kei may act immediately. Boko should roll initiative and go ahead and act if it is 18 or higher. Qivys should roll initiative, but is surprised this round.
Quickly surveying the scene in front of him Kei realises the majority of the group have been caught off guard. His first reaction is to run - but the others...
He instead sees an image of the mass of roots and leaves burning back to the ground from which it came. He draws a card from his deck and flings it at the faceless head. The card strikes at what would be the temple of a humanoid head and begins to dissolve into the twisted mass. A second passes and then the image from Kei's mind fills that of the creature. (That of flames at its base, between it and whomever is closest to the thing). Once he sees the creature affected by his illusion he backs away 20ft in case it decides to charge....or explode.
@DM
The target can use its action to examine the phantasm with an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC (Int 15). If the check succeeds, the target realizes that the phantasm is an illusion, and the spell ends.
Boko knows exactly what this is: a "Shambling Mound".
Shambling mounds, sometimes called shamblers, are found trudging ponderously through bleak swamps such as this, consuming any organic matter in its path. They are resistant to cold and fire and immune - indeed they thrive upon - lightning. They can grapple, engulf, and suffocate their prey.
(Will resolve Kei's turn in the morning; Boko may act as well!)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Boko's eyes go blank, and she presses her palm to the ground before pulling it up in the air and in a swirl of blue mist, casts conjure animals as (she hopes) a giant constrictor snake swirls around the other side of the shambling mound.
She says through gritted teeth, "this plant should not be. Ice and fire barely register. Do not shock it. And do not let it swallow you."
Seems the snake (if we're good with it being a snake) goes before the mound, so I'll post its turn.
It will try to grapple the mound.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. The target is grappled (escape dc 16) Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the snake can't constrict another target
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kei infuses a vision in whatever serves as a mind of this monstrosity before backing away.
DC15 INT check: 3
Meanwhile, Boko calls a snake into existence that is at least 18 feet long and thick as a small tree trunk. It lunges and wraps around the animated heap of rotten vegetation, constricting it tightly. It is grappled.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Smoldering with flames (at least in its own primitive mind), but unable to move and wrapped with a massive snake, it tries to crush the snake by slamming it with its own rotten appendages.
Slam Attack #1 vs snake: 13. Hit: 15 bludgeoning damage. Slam Attack #2 vs snake: 15. Hit: 18 bludgeoning damage.
((Surprised for Round One, so just for fun)) Peri stands frozen with shock as the swamp itself seems to rise up and threaten them. Then, out of nowhere, a gigantic snake attacks the thing, and it begins howling and thrashing at the air. What kind of mad scene have we stumbled upon? He blinks to regain his senses. At least I'm not the only one just standin' here, he thinks as he sees all four of his companions seemingly as stunned as he was.
"Whoa! A boa!" Shocked at the appearance of the giant reptile Kei seizes the opportunity to fire a radiant flash at the restrained tree-like abomination.
It is dark – midnight, perhaps – and the way forward is slow. Insects swarm, even in the near-freezing temperatures. The muddy ground is pocked with nasty-smelling black pools and mounds of rotting vegetation. A thin fog floats over the swamp.
With a sudden shuffle, one mound of rotten debris suddenly lurches up, threatening to envelop you.
Mound stealth: 18
vs. party passive perception:
Boko (18), Qivys (10), Oceanus (13), Gerrard (9), Kei (20)
Roll initiative!
Mound: 18
Oceanus: 8
The rotting heap of animated vegetation looms up half again as tall as a human, tapering into a faceless “head” at its top.
Gerrard:
His rapier already out but held low to let him see a few feet ahead in its silvery magical moonlight, Gerrard is surprised by the very swamp itself rising to attack them!
Initiative: 11
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Peri:
"Fine, we can go a bit farther, but how long before we-- Oomph!" Peri's carping is cut off as he runs slap into Boko's backside, completely unaware that she had stopped or why.
Initiative: 12
Kei
Lamenting the dismissal of his outstanding plan, Kei shuffles along as the rear guard only occasionally looking up to ensure he hadn't wandered off course. It was one if these brief glances that allowed him the opportunity to see the ground move ever so slightly. "Somethings moving up.....". Too late he couldn't fire off his warning to the group. Before he can finish his sentence what seems like an entire hill begins to rise from the swamp. "Faceless fetid floral arrangement. Now I've seen it all".
Init roll in Game Log
Initiative:
Kei: 20
Mound: 18
Boko: __
Peri: 12 (surprised)
Gerrard: 11 (surprised)
Oceanus: 8 (surprised)
Qivys: __ (surprised)
Kei may act immediately.
Boko should roll initiative and go ahead and act if it is 18 or higher.
Qivys should roll initiative, but is surprised this round.
Kei
Quickly surveying the scene in front of him Kei realises the majority of the group have been caught off guard. His first reaction is to run - but the others...
He instead sees an image of the mass of roots and leaves burning back to the ground from which it came. He draws a card from his deck and flings it at the faceless head. The card strikes at what would be the temple of a humanoid head and begins to dissolve into the twisted mass. A second passes and then the image from Kei's mind fills that of the creature. (That of flames at its base, between it and whomever is closest to the thing). Once he sees the creature affected by his illusion he backs away 20ft in case it decides to charge....or explode.
@DM
The target can use its action to examine the phantasm with an Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC (Int 15). If the check succeeds, the target realizes that the phantasm is an illusion, and the spell ends.
Boko initiative: 21
Nature check to see if she knows what this is? 21
Boko knows exactly what this is: a "Shambling Mound".
Shambling mounds, sometimes called shamblers, are found trudging ponderously through bleak swamps such as this, consuming any organic matter in its path. They are resistant to cold and fire and immune - indeed they thrive upon - lightning. They can grapple, engulf, and suffocate their prey.
(Will resolve Kei's turn in the morning; Boko may act as well!)
Qivys jumps back but keeps his mouth clamped shut, being no stranger to sudden happenings on the battle field.
Boko's eyes go blank, and she presses her palm to the ground before pulling it up in the air and in a swirl of blue mist, casts conjure animals as (she hopes) a giant constrictor snake swirls around the other side of the shambling mound.
She says through gritted teeth, "this plant should not be. Ice and fire barely register. Do not shock it. And do not let it swallow you."
Animal initiative: 14
Seems the snake (if we're good with it being a snake) goes before the mound, so I'll post its turn.
It will try to grapple the mound.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: (2d8 + 4) bludgeoning damage. The target is grappled (escape dc 16) Until this grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the snake can't constrict another target
Attack: 20 Damage: 11
Kei infuses a vision in whatever serves as a mind of this monstrosity before backing away.
DC15 INT check: 3
Meanwhile, Boko calls a snake into existence that is at least 18 feet long and thick as a small tree trunk. It lunges and wraps around the animated heap of rotten vegetation, constricting it tightly. It is grappled.
Smoldering with flames (at least in its own primitive mind), but unable to move and wrapped with a massive snake, it tries to crush the snake by slamming it with its own rotten appendages.
Slam Attack #1 vs snake: 13. Hit: 15 bludgeoning damage.
Slam Attack #2 vs snake: 15. Hit: 18 bludgeoning damage.
The mound dances uncomfortably from the imaginary flames, taking 5 psychic damage.
The snake is pummelled mercilessly by the rotten pile, but still it holds on, squeezing even tighter. But the snake is now seriously wounded.
Boko and Kei may act again, next.
(Snake disadvantage rolls due to Restraint: 17 and 10.)
Peri:
((Surprised for Round One, so just for fun)) Peri stands frozen with shock as the swamp itself seems to rise up and threaten them. Then, out of nowhere, a gigantic snake attacks the thing, and it begins howling and thrashing at the air. What kind of mad scene have we stumbled upon? He blinks to regain his senses. At least I'm not the only one just standin' here, he thinks as he sees all four of his companions seemingly as stunned as he was.
Kei
"Whoa! A boa!" Shocked at the appearance of the giant reptile Kei seizes the opportunity to fire a radiant flash at the restrained tree-like abomination.
See Game Log
Kei unleashes a flash of arcane light – radiant missile is absorbed by the clumps of soil adhering to parts of its disjointed form.
Boko and her snake guest may act next.
Qivys' initiative: 7
Boko tries her best to attack the mound with her quarterstaff and then a flurry of blows, trying to get the mound's attention away from the snake.
Attack: 13 Damage: 11
Flurry of blows:
Unarmed attack: 25 Damage: 8
Unarmed attack: 22 Damage: 7
As she strikes, her tattoos on her arms pulse briefly with a faint glow.