((Updated Battlemap to reflect where I believe everyone's positions to roughly be... Please note, amended error where Ireena, rather than Valerie, was moved))
Updated Initiative Order:
Ioben (28)
Dormark (21)
Ireena (18)
Vine Blight #1 (17)
Ismark (15)
Baern (13)
Sandu (12)
Druid (12)
Galqarin (11)
Twig Blight #2 (9)
Vine Blight #2 (8)
Valerie (5)
Baern - Your party seems to be making short work of the Druid and his minions so far; a solitary Twig Blight remains standing. Curiously the only member of the party you do not see is Galqarin, who has disappeared into the treeline to the North of the road. It is your turn to act, will you purge this Druid from Barovia?
Targeting the remaining Twig Blight, Baern casts his spell, a dreadful clanging fills the air. Clutching desperately at its makeshift head the little blight shakes violently before collapsing to the ground... it does not rise as what little life it had is extinguished.
Sandu - All of the Twig Blights have been dispatched, but the two larger Vine Blights and the Druid still remain. It is your turn.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Seeing the swarm fall to the purplish energy he fired off, as well as the creepy crawlies made of twigs and vine breaking down on the ground filled Sandu with determination. The numbers advantage having swung in their favour only served to embolden him further. Not enough for him to stride out into the open, he much preferred to hang back where it was safe, but still, a faint sparkle of hope welled up that they might get out if this without any blood shed.
Sandu surveyed what remained on the impromptu battlefield. The feral man was still approaching as were the two bigger tree men. Beasts? Things. The man was clearly leading the charge so Sandu targeted him. Best to take out the leader first and let the men under him scatter was another lesson he had picked up over his drifting career.
He lined up his hand with the man and once more the word 'Pleacã!' fell from his lips. Another bold of purple energy emerged from between his fingertips and streaked through the air towards the man. There was something different though this time around. Instead of a constantly shifting mass, the bolt now seems a bit more solid. And Sandu would swear he could almost see some kind of shape in it. Perhaps he was just getting a bit too much in the moment.
OOC Targeting the Druid with Eldritch Blast Attack: 9 Damage: 8
Sandu's attack flies towards the Druid the crackling beam striking his buckler. Unfortunately it does not look like it has dealt any damage directly to the Druid.
Druid's Turn
Raising his staff above his head mutters a few words in a guttural tongue; the words convey ill-content, even though no one in the party can understand the language. Grasping weeds, vines and thorns start growing under the feet of Ireena, Valerie, Dormark and Ioben.
Valerie, Dormark & Ioben - Please make Strength Saving Throws (DC 12) or become restrained and take 3 piercing damage (success negates).
((Area of the Thorns))
The Druid then proceeds to shamble towards it's prey - moving 30ft forwards.
((Anyone restrained by the thorns may attempt to take an action to free themselves on their turn - rolling a Strength Saving Throw (DC 12). Should a player enter the area they must make a Strength Saving Throw (DC12) to see if they too are restrained. Anyone ending their turn in the thorns takes 2d6 piercing damage.))
The embattled combatants witness a blur of flapping robes hurtling along the rocky cliff. Lanky, lethal limbs flailing, Galqarin leaps down from the rocks upon the startled druid.
Bonus Action: Step of the Wind - You can spend 1 ki point to take the Disengage or Dash action as a bonus action on your turn, and your jump distance is doubled for the turn.
A long, hairy arm reaches out to punch the druid's skull (Unarmed strike: 11)
In the unlikely event such a woeful roll scores a hit, unarmed damage 5, plus racial surprise attack 7, plus hand of harm for 5.
Total damage would be a respectable 17, had he not fluffed the one roll that mattered!
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
((Sorry Baern, should have clarified - only those within the thorns (green square) need make a saving throw (have amended the post to clarify this)! You're fine.))
Ioben & Dormark - You both manage to pull yourselves free from the tangling grasp of the thorns without sustaining any damage - you are both free to move on your next turns.
Galqarin - You dive down on the druid unleashing your attack. Unfortunately as you strike at your target what should have been a squishy skin texture feels more like hardened wood. From up close you see the gruesome sight of the druid's skin - it resembles bark from that of a diseased tree and oozes a thick black sap ((barkskin was activated in a previous turn)).
Ireena's Strength Saving Throw: 2
Ireena lets out an anguished cry of pain as thorns begin to wrap around and take hold of her ankles, biting into her flesh. "Heeeeelp!"she cries.
Valerie - A wild Galqarin appears. However, your immediate attention is drawn to the thorns rapid growing around your feet. Looking to your left you see them begin to wrap around Ireena. It is your turn to act.
((You have an initial Strength Saving Throw to check to see whether you can resist the roots, subsequently (if failed) you will need to spend an action on your turn to attempt another Strength Saving Throw in order to break out and prevent any damage from occurring)).
Valerie - You successfully manage to resist the thorns growing at your feet. You may take your turn as usual - bearing in mind that should you finish your turn within the area of thorns you will need to make an additional Strength Saving Throw.
Valerie cuts off the vines that are wrapping her. She quickly steps out of the area and raises her shield ready to defense herself.
(I think I’m still more than 30ft away from the closest to me. So I’ll move forward just enough to leave the thorn area and dodge and using Fighting style: Intercept)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the vines spring up, Ioben jumps back, kicking off the plants that were just starting to wrap around his feet. Fortunately, he was on the edge of the affected area and able to quickly extract himself, still, a little extra distance would be welcome. Ioben moves back a little further taking up residence under the tree behind him, hoping to use its trunk as cover. Hide (Stealth) 10
Once he has his new location under the tree, Ioben quickly takes a shot at the druid, hoping to disrupt his concentration and force him to change his plans. Attack: 16 Damage: 7 Sneak Attack (if hide works): 6
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Dormark fights against the vines feeling them beginning to wrap around his limbs. As he struggles he can't help recalling the last time he was restrained, the wizard slowly tearing him apart. The anger swells inside him. "You Will Not Restrain Me,"yells Dormark moving forward snapping the weeds in half or pulling them out of the ground with his strength moving as far as he can towards the druid. Those who have interacted with the warforge have seen that most of his expressional patterns comes from his eyes. Dimming or glowing brighter depending on the level of his emotion. Right now his eyes sockets have turn a bright red leaving none of the usual dark space that constitutes what normally people would consider his eyes. Dormark's mark of Moradin begins to glow orange as he yells in Dwarvish, "Moradin Lend Me Your Hammer!"
As the weapon appears, those who have seen Dormark use his powers would know this is his hammer, or more a more accurate guess would be this is what Dormark think's Moradin's hammer is like. The black smith's hammer is huge, looking to be something that would be wielded by a being that was 20 feet tall, making the hammer around the size of a maul. The handle of the weapon looks to be made of a golden metal, adamantine, to those who know the properties of such metal. The head of the hammer looks to be made of the purest mithiral having a perfect sliver sheen. On both sides of the head of the hammer, the emblem of Moradin is seen showing whose power is being wielded with this spell.
The hammer strikes at the druid, seeking to pulverize the offending magic user.
Attack: 18 Damage: 7 Bless: 4
Whether the hammer strike's the druid or not, the hammer will strike a surface making a metallic clanging noise. Which will effect the vine plant next to the druid.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Valerie - You wade through the thorns stopping just short of the Druid and take up a defensive stance.
Ioben - Upon reaching the tree you take up a position you hope might hide you, unfortunately there does not appear to be much foliage there and you do not believe yourself to be well-hidden. You loose your shot towards the druid but it unfortunately flies well wide, striking the rockface near Galqarin.
Dormark - Your newly cast giant spectral hammer hammers down on the druid, delivering Moradin's vengeance upon the feral man. He lets out a snarl of pain as the hammer makes contact - chunks of bark chipping off and more black sap seeping through.
Wisdom Saving Throw: 9
Concentration Check #1: 21
Concentration Check #2: 14
The Druid shakes his head violently as the clanging sound fills the air,"Argggh, cut out that bloody noise!"he howls.
The thorns start to dissipate around Ireena as the Druid's concentration fails him. Charging from the dying thorns she reaches the Druid and strikes out with her rapier.
Action - Rapier Attack: 4 Damage: 7
Unfortunately her attack fails to penetrate the Druid's defences. Spotting Galqarin also fighting alongside her she will attempt to distract the Druid next time the bugbear tries to land a hit (Bonus Action: Helpful - Galqarin gains advantage on next attack)
Vine Blight's (#1) Turn
The Vine Blight shambles forwards towards it's master.
Ismark's Turn
Ismark, watching his sister engage the enemy, will move alongside the road before taking a shot at the druid with his heavy crossbow.
Action - Heavy Crossbow Attack: 14 Damage: 4
The bolt whizzes through the air, but unfortunately misses it's intended target and, similarly to Ioben's shot, clatters into the rockface near Galqarin.
((Updated Battlemap (hopefully with Baern in the correct position!) - please use this version above the previous ones))
Baern - The thorns that were once pinning you in place now die away and shrivel up around you - enabling you to move as normal. Ireena, now free herself, charges into close combat with the Druid attempting to strike at him with her rapier. Ismark also moves up and attempts to get a shot off. Unfortunately both attacks do not appear to have registered. You feel like it falls upon you to make something happen - it is your turn.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
An out of breath Baern weakly calls out "wait, wait, let your foe come to you once you've established your shield wall...or at least wait for the dwarf!" He moves as far as he can up to the front lines of the battle, but doesn't quite make it all the way.
Still not able to get into the melee, Baern once again casts Toll the Dead, this time at the druid himself. DC12 WIS , 2 necrotic if he's not damaged, 1 if he is.
Feral Druid Battle - Round #2 - Baern's Turn
Updated Initiative Order:
Baern - Your party seems to be making short work of the Druid and his minions so far; a solitary Twig Blight remains standing. Curiously the only member of the party you do not see is Galqarin, who has disappeared into the treeline to the North of the road. It is your turn to act, will you purge this Druid from Barovia?
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Hustling to keep up with those with longer legs, Baern moves up and takes a position next to Ireena, suggesting "let's hold the line here!"
Seeing the enemies still a good deal away, Baern targets one of the smaller foes such as a blight with another Toll the Dead.
DC12 WIS vs. 8 necrotic, or 1 if already damaged
(*AC still potentially 18 from Shield of Faith. Bless still up on three allies as well.)
Targeting the remaining Twig Blight, Baern casts his spell, a dreadful clanging fills the air. Clutching desperately at its makeshift head the little blight shakes violently before collapsing to the ground... it does not rise as what little life it had is extinguished.
Sandu - All of the Twig Blights have been dispatched, but the two larger Vine Blights and the Druid still remain. It is your turn.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Seeing the swarm fall to the purplish energy he fired off, as well as the creepy crawlies made of twigs and vine breaking down on the ground filled Sandu with determination. The numbers advantage having swung in their favour only served to embolden him further. Not enough for him to stride out into the open, he much preferred to hang back where it was safe, but still, a faint sparkle of hope welled up that they might get out if this without any blood shed.
Sandu surveyed what remained on the impromptu battlefield. The feral man was still approaching as were the two bigger tree men. Beasts? Things. The man was clearly leading the charge so Sandu targeted him. Best to take out the leader first and let the men under him scatter was another lesson he had picked up over his drifting career.
He lined up his hand with the man and once more the word 'Pleacã!' fell from his lips. Another bold of purple energy emerged from between his fingertips and streaked through the air towards the man. There was something different though this time around. Instead of a constantly shifting mass, the bolt now seems a bit more solid. And Sandu would swear he could almost see some kind of shape in it. Perhaps he was just getting a bit too much in the moment.
OOC
Targeting the Druid with Eldritch Blast
Attack: 9 Damage: 8
William Brackwater: Human Fighter - The Windward Isles
Tyrgram, the Butterfly Knight: Dwarf Warlock - Secret of Greenwold
Iòlinder Corrach: Half Elf War Cleric - Allansia Adventure
Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
Sandu's attack flies towards the Druid the crackling beam striking his buckler. Unfortunately it does not look like it has dealt any damage directly to the Druid.
Druid's Turn
Raising his staff above his head mutters a few words in a guttural tongue; the words convey ill-content, even though no one in the party can understand the language. Grasping weeds, vines and thorns start growing under the feet of Ireena, Valerie, Dormark and Ioben.
Valerie, Dormark & Ioben - Please make Strength Saving Throws (DC 12) or become restrained and take 3 piercing damage (success negates).
The Druid then proceeds to shamble towards it's prey - moving 30ft forwards.
((Anyone restrained by the thorns may attempt to take an action to free themselves on their turn - rolling a Strength Saving Throw (DC 12). Should a player enter the area they must make a Strength Saving Throw (DC12) to see if they too are restrained. Anyone ending their turn in the thorns takes 2d6 piercing damage.))
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Feral Druid Battle - Round #2 - Galqarin's Turn
Galqarin - You remain hidden in the shadows, from your vantage point you can hear the sounds of battle raging. It is your turn to act.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Strength saving: 15
Strength saving throw: 12
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
The embattled combatants witness a blur of flapping robes hurtling along the rocky cliff. Lanky, lethal limbs flailing, Galqarin leaps down from the rocks upon the startled druid.
Bonus Action: Step of the Wind - You can spend 1 ki point to take the Disengage or Dash action as a bonus action on your turn, and your jump distance is doubled for the turn.
A long, hairy arm reaches out to punch the druid's skull (Unarmed strike: 11)
In the unlikely event such a woeful roll scores a hit, unarmed damage 5, plus racial surprise attack 7, plus hand of harm for 5.
Total damage would be a respectable 17, had he not fluffed the one roll that mattered!
Strength Save: 8
taking 3 damage, thus...
Concentration save: 14
(Thus Bless holds...)
((Sorry Baern, should have clarified - only those within the thorns (green square) need make a saving throw (have amended the post to clarify this)! You're fine.))
Ioben & Dormark - You both manage to pull yourselves free from the tangling grasp of the thorns without sustaining any damage - you are both free to move on your next turns.
Galqarin - You dive down on the druid unleashing your attack. Unfortunately as you strike at your target what should have been a squishy skin texture feels more like hardened wood. From up close you see the gruesome sight of the druid's skin - it resembles bark from that of a diseased tree and oozes a thick black sap ((barkskin was activated in a previous turn)).
Ireena's Strength Saving Throw: 2
Ireena lets out an anguished cry of pain as thorns begin to wrap around and take hold of her ankles, biting into her flesh. "Heeeeelp!" she cries.
Valerie - A wild Galqarin appears. However, your immediate attention is drawn to the thorns rapid growing around your feet. Looking to your left you see them begin to wrap around Ireena. It is your turn to act.
((You have an initial Strength Saving Throw to check to see whether you can resist the roots, subsequently (if failed) you will need to spend an action on your turn to attempt another Strength Saving Throw in order to break out and prevent any damage from occurring)).
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Str save: 12
Valerie - You successfully manage to resist the thorns growing at your feet. You may take your turn as usual - bearing in mind that should you finish your turn within the area of thorns you will need to make an additional Strength Saving Throw.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Valerie cuts off the vines that are wrapping her. She quickly steps out of the area and raises her shield ready to defense herself.
(I think I’m still more than 30ft away from the closest to me. So I’ll move forward just enough to leave the thorn area and dodge and using Fighting style: Intercept)
As the vines spring up, Ioben jumps back, kicking off the plants that were just starting to wrap around his feet. Fortunately, he was on the edge of the affected area and able to quickly extract himself, still, a little extra distance would be welcome. Ioben moves back a little further taking up residence under the tree behind him, hoping to use its trunk as cover. Hide (Stealth) 10
Once he has his new location under the tree, Ioben quickly takes a shot at the druid, hoping to disrupt his concentration and force him to change his plans.
Attack: 16 Damage: 7
Sneak Attack (if hide works): 6
Dormark fights against the vines feeling them beginning to wrap around his limbs. As he struggles he can't help recalling the last time he was restrained, the wizard slowly tearing him apart. The anger swells inside him. "You Will Not Restrain Me," yells Dormark moving forward snapping the weeds in half or pulling them out of the ground with his strength moving as far as he can towards the druid. Those who have interacted with the warforge have seen that most of his expressional patterns comes from his eyes. Dimming or glowing brighter depending on the level of his emotion. Right now his eyes sockets have turn a bright red leaving none of the usual dark space that constitutes what normally people would consider his eyes. Dormark's mark of Moradin begins to glow orange as he yells in Dwarvish, "Moradin Lend Me Your Hammer!"
Dormark casts spiritual weapon.
As the weapon appears, those who have seen Dormark use his powers would know this is his hammer, or more a more accurate guess would be this is what Dormark think's Moradin's hammer is like. The black smith's hammer is huge, looking to be something that would be wielded by a being that was 20 feet tall, making the hammer around the size of a maul. The handle of the weapon looks to be made of a golden metal, adamantine, to those who know the properties of such metal. The head of the hammer looks to be made of the purest mithiral having a perfect sliver sheen. On both sides of the head of the hammer, the emblem of Moradin is seen showing whose power is being wielded with this spell.
The hammer strikes at the druid, seeking to pulverize the offending magic user.
Attack: 18 Damage: 7 Bless: 4
Whether the hammer strike's the druid or not, the hammer will strike a surface making a metallic clanging noise. Which will effect the vine plant next to the druid.
Toll the dead: 1 DC13
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Valerie - You wade through the thorns stopping just short of the Druid and take up a defensive stance.
Ioben - Upon reaching the tree you take up a position you hope might hide you, unfortunately there does not appear to be much foliage there and you do not believe yourself to be well-hidden. You loose your shot towards the druid but it unfortunately flies well wide, striking the rockface near Galqarin.
Dormark - Your newly cast giant spectral hammer hammers down on the druid, delivering Moradin's vengeance upon the feral man. He lets out a snarl of pain as the hammer makes contact - chunks of bark chipping off and more black sap seeping through.
Wisdom Saving Throw: 9
Concentration Check #1: 21
Concentration Check #2: 14
The Druid shakes his head violently as the clanging sound fills the air, "Argggh, cut out that bloody noise!" he howls.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Feral Druid Battle - Round #3
Updated Initiative Order:
Ireena's Turn
The thorns start to dissipate around Ireena as the Druid's concentration fails him. Charging from the dying thorns she reaches the Druid and strikes out with her rapier.
Action - Rapier Attack: 4 Damage: 7
Unfortunately her attack fails to penetrate the Druid's defences. Spotting Galqarin also fighting alongside her she will attempt to distract the Druid next time the bugbear tries to land a hit (Bonus Action: Helpful - Galqarin gains advantage on next attack)
Vine Blight's (#1) Turn
The Vine Blight shambles forwards towards it's master.
Ismark's Turn
Ismark, watching his sister engage the enemy, will move alongside the road before taking a shot at the druid with his heavy crossbow.
Action - Heavy Crossbow Attack: 14 Damage: 4
The bolt whizzes through the air, but unfortunately misses it's intended target and, similarly to Ioben's shot, clatters into the rockface near Galqarin.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Feral Druid Battle - Round #3 - Baern's Turn
Baern - The thorns that were once pinning you in place now die away and shrivel up around you - enabling you to move as normal. Ireena, now free herself, charges into close combat with the Druid attempting to strike at him with her rapier. Ismark also moves up and attempts to get a shot off. Unfortunately both attacks do not appear to have registered. You feel like it falls upon you to make something happen - it is your turn.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
An out of breath Baern weakly calls out "wait, wait, let your foe come to you once you've established your shield wall...or at least wait for the dwarf!" He moves as far as he can up to the front lines of the battle, but doesn't quite make it all the way.
Still not able to get into the melee, Baern once again casts Toll the Dead, this time at the druid himself. DC12 WIS , 2 necrotic if he's not damaged, 1 if he is.