Underground forest

Candelos moves into the room and doesn't see anything.
Sonya moves up.

Candelos then sees the following...

A small, silver-gray blur emerges from the thick curtain of vines to your south. It laughs and seems to taunt you in its singsong language (elven dialect) as it slices at you with a wickedly sharp short sword. Then, before you can react it darts back into the canopy of vines (it went east then south).

During a surprise round
Runner 18 vs AC (on Candelos) miss

Although Sonya had a crossbow in hand, she didn't see the blur in time to get a shot off.

Next up Kaddim, then Quinn.

Free Action - Sonya says "Anyone speak Fey? I don't think they're friendly."

Yes I speak fey. Its called once their dead everyone can understand them.

Ready action. If any hostile runs within 6 squares of me I'll charge it.

Quinn's turn

Lets do something different...Pull out a sunrod and move over to the vines and ignite the vines in flames trying to burn them all down. Lets see if this will start a bonfire or not.

David wrote:Lets do something different...Pull out a sunrod and move over to the vines and ignite the vines in flames trying to burn them all down. Lets see if this will start a bonfire or not.

I believe a sunrod is a minor magic item and can't be used to start a fire. You'd probably have fire starting equipment on you and you'd have to use a move action to get them, then a standard action to get to the vines.

You can try to set the vines on fire next turn, but it'll be difficult to do it while holding your greatsword (or during battle...).


After Quinns turn the party sees what looks like a humanoid tree wielding a scythe approach from the SW.

Kaddim, do you charge (he's within 6 squares, but not running...)?


The orangish squares are where the ground is uneven where roots have come up through the ground. It looks like it would be difficult to go through these areas at full speed.

I think someone has a toarch handy, if not I will pull one out and use a toarch instead. Great sword...put it away all I care, minor to draw again.

Waiting on Ross to see if Kaddim is going to charge or not... The creature approaching from the SW is definitly different than the one that attacked Quinn and ran.

Quinn, Thia tells you that the vines are really green and probably won't burn. You may get some smoke though.

Yes, Charge. I meant any hostile within 6 squares of me. Sorry for the incorrect wording.

Kaddim charges the tree creature 15 vs AC miss
The tree creature holds up a hand and dozens of needles shoot forth. Kaddim, Candelos, and Quinn are in the area of effect.
Kaddim 22 vs Fort hit
Candelos 30 vs Fort hit
Quinn 25 vs Fort hit
Each took 8hp of poison damage and are slowed save ends.
Another tree creature emerges from the SE.
Tree creature in elven: The humans bring fire kill them. He attacks Quinn.
Scythe 23 vs AC hit for 15hp

The "running creature" (he's not actually running, but moving very fast) is back...
He emerges from the vines south of Kaddim and moves past Kaddim (you get an AoO).

Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me...

He then moves into flanking position and attacks Quinn 26 vs AC hits for 9hp
He then moves in between Candelos and Quinn (both get an AoO)
He attacks Candelos 15 vs AC miss
Then he moves east, then south out of sight.

A second later another "running" creature appears east of Quinn.
He moves north of Quinn and attack Candelos 32 vs AC hits for 13hp
He moves in between Candelos and Quinn and attacks Quinn 14 vs AC miss
He moves south past Kaddim (provoking an AoO)
Then he moves south into the vines

Miri's turn, then Thia after I resolve the AoO from Kaddim, Candelos, and Quinn

Note: the orange/red markings on the map are where roots have broken through the ground. These areas look like it'll be difficult to move through at full speed.

Candelos:
Free action: In elven
Oh great tree creatures, it was not our intent to bring harm to you and your kind.
We are being attacked by these very quick creatures.
Please stop your attackes.

Tree creature (the one fighting Kaddim):
We are the Arboreans and this is our territory. Leave now or be slain.

Resolving the AoOs...
First "runner"
Kaddim 27 vs Ac miss
Candelos 31 vs AC hits for 12hp (the creature looks surprised that you hit him)
Quinn 17 vs AC miss (including +3 from Wis)

Second "runner"
Quinn 27 vs AC miss (including +3 from Wis)
Candelos 17 vs AC miss
Kaddim 29 vs Ac hits for 13hp (the creature taunts you in elvish. Those who speak elvish hear: "bet you can't do that again".)

Miri's turn...

Kaddim will lower his sword hand in a non-threatening way and raise my other hand as if in a stop motion, while saying to the Arborean who spoke, "We mean no harm. We only attack because we were attacked. We were unaware this was your territory." Then, yelling over my shoulder, "Quinn, stop with the torch."

The arboreans motion with their scythes for the party to move back into the hallway.

What will the party do?
Miri, currently your turn, then Thia, Candelos, and Sonya.
Quinn will you move back into the hallway on your turn? What will you do with the tourch?

I will tell the party, "Move back everyone."

Candelos:
Free Action: Tell the party to fall back to the hall and extingush the torch Quinn.

Last time I checked I am slow so can only do one action which will be move.

Also try to remember if I've heard about any talking trees (Nature check?) or anything about fast moving magical creatures that have big mouths.

Sonya - Free Action: say in eleven "Yes, we mean you no harm, call off the small fey creatures and we'll back off." Repeat in Westron.

Kaddim, you've heard the name, but not much else. You do know what the small creatures are. They're called quicklings. They're cruel little creatures that use they're inate speed to taunt and out manuever their opponants.

Thia, you've heard of arboreans. They're a savage plant humanoid race that lives in the deepest parts of primeval forests. You've heard that they are very territorial and have been known to have sacrificial rituals where they feed the plants they worship blood. They also hate fire and are vulnerable to it.

David wrote:Last time I checked I am slow so can only do one action which will be move.

That's dazed...

When you're slowed you can take all of your normal actions, but have a movement speed of 2.


Once the party has retreated to the hallway, one of the arboreans speaks in elven to a quickling. "Go get the speaker, he will know what to do."

Miri was planning on casting a 'Ray of Frost' on the closest Quickling in range, but will hold until they (or we) brake the temporary truce.
Instead... Standard action: cast 'Ghost Sound' to whisper to only Kadddim "Aren't these things dangerous and evil? We should take them out if we can..."
Free action: Yell to the Aborean speaking, "An Ettin came this way a couple days ago. Did you attack him too? Do you know his whereabouts? He is the reason we came this way."
done

After a couple of minutes a slightly larger arborean approches from the SW and speaks to the party in common.

My name is Camnon and I am Speaker for the arborean tribe. Why do you invade our territory?
Miri mentions the Ettin.
The ettin now feeds our diety with his life giving blood. Your search for him has ended.

One of the other arboreans speaks to Camnon in a low voice (elvish). "Perhaps they can be of use... maybe they can help..."
Camnon silences him.

Camnon: If you are worthy, perhaps we can help one another.

There are creatures to the west that constantly invade our territory and poisons our soil. Kill them and we will share knowledge with you. Our quick little friends are very good at finding things out.
Do we have a deal?

Sonya says in elvish "I am Sonya Moorcut, daughter of Donsolot, before our group decides to accept your offer, can you give us a better description of the creatures to the west, their capabilities and numbers so that we can determine both our tactics and our chances against them. Also, what is the general nature of the knowledge that you offer us in exchange?" repeat in Weston...

Camnon:
The creature we want you to kill calls itself the Charnal Lord. It is a very smart carrion scavenger. It is very big and has serveral tentacles. To get to him you would need to go west of the ettin room which contains several "fish" people and and two flying bird creatures. From that room, the Charnal Lord is to the south.

As far as the knowledge we can provide, my quick friends have been able to move throughout this level and we can tell you where rooms are located and what creatures were there when we last checked.

Sonya says in elvish:
"Thank you Camnon, if you would, I will present your offer to the group so that we might discuss it and come to a decision. If we have further questions, we will relay them to you presently. Your leave good sir..."

Turns to the group and backs up some into the hall and says, "Well?... I don't suppose we have anything else to do but if these guys can't kill the huge scavenger creature why do we have a better chance? It wasn't said, but I would assume that anything we find we get to keep. We don't have any reason to think that the scavenger creature is good, do we?"

It sounds like it's a fire creature. Wood vs fire, I'm going to bet on the fire.

Sorry wrong thing. Yes I move back and while smiling extinguish my toarch. Quinn thinks to himself "I didn't expect it to be THAT effective and deadly bringing everyone to atack me. Good to know they are afraid of fire."

Quinn says "Sure I am up for the challenge. I rather fight whoever this is then those fast little buggers. My sword swing is good but I think they are quicker. Besides having advance scouting possibilities with them as allies sounds good to me."

"Sonya, ask them if it's a fire using creature."

Camnon will tell Sonya that several of the Charnal Lords "helpers" use fire, but they haven't actually fought him themselves.

Since Sonya has been the one communicating with Camnon, he'll await her responce to his proposed deal.

... I'm getting ready to go to Martial Arts class with the kid. If by the time I get back (around 6:45 PM), no one has responded negatively Sonya will accept for the group. Anything else I should add?

...Sonya says "Good Camnon, our group accepts your offer. If we defeat the fire scavenger to the west, your group will provide us with intellegence. In any case there will be a truce regarding hostilities between our groups. Any treasure or valuables we find during our battles to, from, and at the lair of the Charnal Lord, belong to the six of us (Miri, Candelos, Kaddim, Sonya, Quinn, and Thia). We ask your leave good Camnon and with good fortune, we will see you again shortly."

...and we head off in that direction. Sonya rehooks the crossbow to her belt, tucks away her hand axe and reverts back to Shield and Waraxe.

Whoa, wait a minute there Sonya. Ask them if any of the quicklings can accompany us to provide us scouting information.

"Oh, good Camnon, might several of the quicklings support our team to provide scouting? Doing so would raise our chances of success against the Charnal Lord."

Camnon:
Yes, anything you find along the way is of no concern of ours.
No, the quicklings already reported on the creatures that live in the areas. What more scouting can they provide?

...open a new thread for the Charnal Lord?
Here's Stu with the metagame thinking again...yeah, no Quicklings as that would throw off the DC's of the encounters... it's okay, more exp for us.

Teramotos wrote:...Sonya says "Good Camnon, our group accepts your offer. If we defeat the fire scavenger to the west, your group will provide us with intellegence. In any case there will be a truce regarding hostilities between our groups. Any treasure or valuables we find during our battles to, from, and at the lair of the Charnal Lord, belong to the six of us (Miri, Candelos, Kaddim, Sonya, Quinn, and Thia). We ask your leave good Camnon and with good fortune, we will see you again shortly."

...and we head off in that direction. Sonya rehooks the crossbow to her belt, tucks away her hand axe and reverts back to Shield and Waraxe.

It is agreed then.

To bind our fates we must shake. He then uses his scythe to make a small cut on his hand, then extends his hand as if to shake yours. (Sonya).

What does Sonya do?

....well, using an axe to cut my hand might not be best for tree people.

I'll draw my dagger and make a small cut on my hand, resheath it and then shake hands and bow and in elvish say "Agreed, Live Long and Prosper" repeat in Westron.