This site is an online accumulation of the Post Reports for my current ongoing D&D Campaign - for anyone who might be interested in reading them.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

PBEM - Episode 560. Tubs and Tactics.

FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY

(I/C)

“We leaving or staying guys?” Lyra asked noting the room was getting crowded. “Someone flip a coin in or dunk your head or whatever the fuck you want to do and let’s get out of here.” Giving a quick swing she added, “Maybe don’t pee in it.”

Dodging a fast swing at his ankles, Brendon quipped, “Funny you should say don’t pee in it as that is exactly what I was thinking.” He took out a gold coin and flipped it in the fountain, “Goddesses grant me my wish and rid this garden of yours from these foul abominations!” Giving a quick look in the bowl of the fountain, he was surprised to see how high the coin level was in relation to the bottom of the fountain’s bowl when seen from the outside. “Disn’t anyone ever empty this thing?”

Ducking back to a portion of the marble path, Wyn snapped his fingers and shook his head. “H'okay. Wyn gettin' tired of dis. It looks like deze tings get made only when we kill dem with weapons. So we should stop dat.” Brendon nodded, changing from stabbing with his sword to sweeping the weapon side to side. “Merci. We don't 'ave enough fire for dem all... so we try acid or poison, oui? Can we fill dis mug,” he took out a battered mug he had picked up some 11 days agao, “with whatever is outside dat west door,” he pointed at the end of the path to the west, “and pour it on one of dem to see if dat works?”

Lyra who was contemplating using the tainted invisibility potion, put it back in her satchel and said, “Again, sounds like a better plan than mine. Go get that acid.” She smiled, herding west as well, taking out her rawhide gloves, ready to hand them over.

Wyn turned to Kovid who was shoving his torch at a determined archer bush and asked, “Dwarfriend, I only ask you to do dis because you so good at dealin' wit de sulfur cave. You cen trow de gloves on, put a wet cloth on yer face, en try to go grab whatever is in dat bin in dat hallway ova dere.”

"It’s a wonderful thought Wyn,” Lannis said with a smile, holding his candle out and joining the rest of the group on the west side of the fountain, his 1 image trailing with him. “I worry that an inhaled poison might not work on these plants but it's worth a shot.”

The elf shook his head, pressing on, “If you don't want to do it, which I don't blame you, Wyn will do it. It be more likely for me to get affected by it, but all Wyn needs to do now is shoot de dragon once or twice... I can still do dat if slowed down, oui?”

“While I appreciate the quick and detailed thinking Elf-friend, I agree with Big Brain.” Kovid pointed to the Scout, “That tub almost knocked Brendon out cold, if I remember correctly. And he wasn’t that close to it. I don’t think these bushes have lungs. I’m not sure it’s worth the risk for an unknown result.”

Wyn pressed on, “If dis not work, we head downstairs to pick up a bunch of acid water and drop it on deze shrubby modder fuckas. Oui?”

The dwarf shook his torch, and pointed to the door to the south where we could hear the Dragon laughing, “I say we use our torches to clear out the ones close to us and back up towards the Dragon door. I don’t think the shrubs can pursue us through closed doors.”

The group seemed split until Abraxas took out his rope and tied it around Wyn’s midsection. "Amigos, cuando no creo paralyzing fumes trabaja en los bushes, es .... como dices.... "worth a try," si?” After tying a knot, he called the Scout over, “Señor Brenison, por favor are ese rope knots bueno?"

Brendon gave them a fast twist and yank (no roll needed), “All good, Doc!”

“Bueno! Abraxas held the rope with Brendon as he stood by the door and pulled it open, head tilted back and holding his breath. There was a “T” intersection here, north and south, and the smell of syrup was faint in the air. “Go! Make it rapido!”

“Be careful everyone! “ Lannis took out a flask of oil along with his candle. “Oh, I think I have some oil if someone wants to try throwing it!"

Dousing his cloak with a day’s use of water, Wyn wrapped it around his face, held the cup out, turned south, and using his infravision, headed for the tub there with the purple juice within. He got closer and closer, but unlike Brendon who had been caught unawares, the elf was holding his breath and using a wet cloth to muffle the effects. He arrived there, eyes streaming, dunked the mug and turned (>Save vs Poison, +2 prep bonus, Orange 20 – fuck yeah – aced it!), staggering a bit, but moving back, mug 3/4s filled. “Comin’!”

Kovid was shoving his torch at the closer Archer bush that refused to give the dwarf any room, finally jamming the burning brand deep into a dry section of the monster (>+5 to hit, Yellow 20 – Lol – Crit with torch! – Max Damage 6) and setting it on fire! It squirmed and hissed like steam escaping, writing back and forth. “Don’t kill it!” Brendon admonished the dwarf.

“It fucking JUMPED onto my torch! I didn’t plan this!”

The one to the north was getting too close to Lannis whose candle was not nearly as effective as the torch was. “This is on you, not me,” he said as he casually poured the flask of oil onto the archer bush, and then set the candle’s flame against it (+1 touch attack, Pink 16). It too went up in flames (1d6 Damage, Pink 4) making Brendon stomp his feet and repeat himself, “Stop trying to kill them! Sheesh! Not everything gets solved with fire!”

“It doesn’t?” Lannis asked, truly perplexed. “Odd, I never suspected that.”

The archer bushes did their best to get closer, crowding at the party and still trying to avoid the marble paths. Kovid had 2 to contend with, the fist one did raise some scrapes and scratches (>+3 to hit, White 18) as the dwarf tried to avoid any more serious wounds (1d4 Damage, Blue 3 – take 3 Damage!). The second one made its own run at the dwarf (<+3 to hit, White 9) but Kovid was already aware of its presence and it failed to connect.

A trailing archer bush hit Lyra (<+3 to hit, White 8), but an easy block with her shield prevented it from connecting. And the one on fire made an attempt to hit the magic user with its burning branches (<+3 to hit, White 3), but both Lannis and his mirror image were able to avoid the easily telegraphed blow.

(Initiative Party Steel 2 vs Enemy Red/Black 1)

With 4 around them now and at least 4 more coming closer, it was getting dire on what to do when Wyn who was right outside the door, was moving at a run with exaggerated slowness, and turned the corner, looked around, and sighting the one closest to the door fighting Kovid, poured his mug of paralytic juice right on the bush.

And it froze instantly, ceased to move, and stayed there in mid swing and reach, even though its trailing branches were still smoldering.

“Well,” Lannis nodded his head and shrugged. “I stand corrected. Apparently even without the traditional owning of a set of lungs, these arboreal menaces DO seem to be affected by this dangerous concoction. I stand corrected, Wyn!”

Giving a slower than normal thumbs up, the elf smiled and said, “Mer…ci, Mon…sie…ur…O…Ffop!” (2d6 turns: 3+1: 4 turns slowed half speed).

“Yeah, that aspect we have to work on.”

Time now is Day 13, 7:48 AM

(OOC)

Mirror Images (1 for Lannis): 52 Minutes

Bless: 44 Minutes

Slowed (Lannis): 40 Minutes

Fire Resistance (Lannis): 6 Minutes

Shield: 3 minutes

Paralytic juice works, freezes them right up. However, right now Wyn is moving half speed and that was from a successful save. But it works. What’s the plan? You still have 4 Archer bushes around you and 4 more coming (1 is frozen right now).

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