Alwan sighs in relief. "Many, many thanks!"

"It was more for my sake than yours, but you're welcome anyway," Aldridge says, making sure that none landed on himself as well.

"Flutterwing! We're covered in scorpions here, and I think Westra is poisoned!"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:25, Mon 08 June 2015.

Airdsgainne gestures again and the frost covering the scorpions thickens. (Frostbite)

“That does sound uncomfortable! I'm absolutely certain you guys can get rid of them. This plan is going great!” The cheerful optimism in Flutterwing's voice would be a bit more convincing if she weren't channelling the Spirit of the Mammoth. “I'd better hurry!”

Flutterwing continues her sprint.

Airdsgainne's magic flows through the scorpions, freezing many of them. (3 damage, disadvantage)

Westra chews up and spits out a mouthful of scorpions and frantically bashes at her own head with her staff. It's somewhat effective, and smashes a good number of scorpions into her face. (3 damage) The scorpions continue their stinging frenzy, many now working their way into Westra's armour. (3 reduced health, still poisoned. Scorpions in Westra's armour can be squished more easily as they can outside of her armour, but it's not possible to target those with spells that don't target Westra as well. Westra has plenty of scorpions in her hair and on Flutterwing's back, as well.) The swarm starts to crawl up Alwanzatar's arms and neck as well. The swarm looks to be about half the size it was when it first crawled up.

Alwanzatar keeps his grip amidst the chaos and mess, making it look much easier than it actually was.

The ground flies by beneath Flutterwing's feet.

(Party's turn. Everybody can go.)

Aldridge takes out his rapier again, flicking off scorpions (14 vs AC, D 10).

Westra lunges into Flutterwing's side, trying to smush the scorpions inside her armor. "I" - WHUMP - "don't" - SMASH - "like" - WHAM - "bugs!" she says, her voice beginning to develop into an embarrassing shriek.

"Actually," says Aldridge, conversationally, "scorpions are related to spiders, which aren't bugs."

"Whatever!" Westra screeches, clawing at her hair with her staff.

Aldridge looks ahead. He decides that Flutterwing isn't really in a position to help fight off the arthropods, and focuses her orders on evading the giant bear of a problem behind them. "Do you see where the forest grows thicker? We need to lose the bear, and that's where we're going to do it. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!"

"Because recent history has demonstrated that has worked out SO WELL!" Westra shrieks as she crushes another scorpion.

The melee atop the giantess continues. Airdsgain thrusts his hand toward the swarm and dozens of scorpions freeze and fall off, frozen little ice statues littering Flutterwing's wake. (3 damage, disadvantage) Adridge swings his rapier at the bugs, dislodging them a few at a time. By accident, he elbows Westra in the breastplate, crushing most of the creatures stinging her from within her armour. (5 damage) Westra attempts to clear the scorpions from her hair, but is distracted by Aldridge's impromptu, but effective, elbow-squishing.

The scorpions climbing Alwanzatar's face are ignored by everyone except Alwanzatar. The sorcerer attempts to blast them with magic, but somehow misses the creatures that are right before his eyes. Seizing on the advantage afforded by being positioned right before a pair of eyes, the swarm promptly stings them, repeatedly. (maximum health reduced by 1, poisoned)

The vast majority of the swarm has been frozen or otherwise removed. Only a small patch of scorpions in Westra's hair and on Alwanzatar's face remain.

(Party's turn. Everybody can go.)

Westra shakes her head vigorously and bats at her hair with her staff to try dislodging the few squirming masses she feels against her scalp. "Never again," she says. "I swear, if we come across scorpions again, you will suddenly find me far, far away."

Turning to Aldridge, she asks, "What's the plan, trader? I'm feeling a bit unlike myself right now. I'd like to be able to stop and heal soon. I don't know how easily I can get to my herbs without dropping them while riding on the back of a crazed Bear."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:19, Fri 12 June 2015.

"Airdgainne, help Alwan! I don't think he'll appreciate me sticking my sword in his eyes," Aldridge says. "Apologies in advance for the haircut, Westra," Aldridge says as he swings at the scorpions in her hair (AC 10, D 6).

"We continue until we're obscured by the forest. Cast Pass Without Trace when we're rid of these things, and I think we'll finally put that bear at a disadvantage."

Airdsgainne points his wand very carefully, and precise white beams fire at the scorpions on Alwanzatar's face, materialising into ice crystals which engulf them. (Frostbite)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Fri 12 June 2015.

"You do not belong here," Alwan mutters at the creatures on his face as he attempts to burn them off. (7 vs. AC, 5 fire damage)

Westra shakes her head wildly. Her shoulder-length black hair whips around, the ties that bind it breaking loose. As her braids come loose, the vermin lose their grip and fly into the forest behind them. Fire and frost eliminate the eye-stabbing scorpions on Alwanzatar's face.

(The party has eliminated the scorpions and is now out of combat. Flutterwing continues to fly through the forest, a bit more steadily now that her passengers are a bit less active.

The party should indicate what, if any, strategy changes they'd like to make as they continue and communicate that to Flutterwing. Also, any post-combat spells party members might like to cast.)

"Flutterwing, keeps running until we reach the trees. Cut the pace to half when we reach them so Ryudo can catch up. I'll direct you near where we're going. We'll want to go a stealthy pace once we're confident the bear is unsure of our location."

"Westra, as soon as we reach the forest, we need to Pass Without Trace."

"Everyone else, focus on us not getting ambushed by more scorpions, predators, or anything humanoid. The bear isn't the only thing I don't want to see us. If anyone has any invisibility spells, now is the time to speak up. Else we may be reliant on another short-term illusion."

Westra readies herself to cast Pass Without Trace as soon as they hit the trees.

The team races through the forest for a minute. Flutterwing shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Ryudo, on the other hand, is starting to get tired. (7 endurance check fails; Ryudo gains one level of exhaustion: Disadvantage on ability checks.)

The scorpion venom continues to course through the veins of Alwanzatar and Westra. Alwanzatar seems to be reacting worse than Westra. (Westra saves, Alwanzatar fails. Both are still poisoned. Alwanzatar's max health is reduced by 1.)

(The party may continue the existing strategy, alter course, or take other actions. The venom appears to be moderately quickly acting, producing a possible effect each minute. If the effects are resisted several times consecutively, the body might be able to rid itself of the venom on its own. A careful analysis by a someone trained in medicine might yield additional insight.)

"Flutterwing, stop for a minute. I want Ryudo to catch up with us." Aldridge looks at his poisoned companions. Always poison, dammit. "How learned are you in venoms?" he asks the Bearclanswoman. "Have you prepared any restoration spells today? Alwan and Westra seem to be struggling with our venomous encounter with the scorpions. Can you help them?"

Aldridge looks back at the struggling Ryudo, and squints to see what has become of their pursuer and the drakes. He instructs the rest of the present party to check their surroundings, as well.

Flutterwing slows to a quick walk, but doesn't completely halt immediately. “I know a Water Lily Spirit that can drive poison from the body, but I have only the strength to summon it once,” she says.

The drakes appear to have gone off in a different direction. Aldridge can no longer see them, but they do not appear to be between the bear and the party. Ryudo is about half a mile back; the bear is about the same behind Ryudo. Ryudo is moving quite a bit faster than the bear, but he is starting to get tired. Aldridge isn't sure he can go more than a few more minutes at that pace.

"I am fairly knowledgeable in medicinal matters. Let me see what I can find out." Westra quickly examines herself and Alwan (14 Medicine).

"[Language unknown: Ilth enest whssis]," Aldridge sighs with resignation. "Flutterwing, drop us off here, run back to Ryudo, and carry him back to us. We'll continue at a walking pace until we are all back together. I think we're deep enough into this plan that everyone needs to know what we need to do."

As Flutterwing runs back to the monk, Aldridge turns to his ill companions.

"Westra and Alwan, how much longer do you think you can hold out before being healed? I don't exactly want to save the spell for when another one of us are on death's entrance like yesterday, but I don't want to use Flutterwing's only means of curing poison if it turns out we really need it later. If we do use it, who needs it more?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:08, Mon 22 June 2015.

Westra quickly takes stock of the symptoms. “The good news is that we're both healthy and in reasonable shape to shake off the scorpion venom. The bad news is that if we don't, neither of us will see our next meal, much less our next sunrise. Even if we survive, this venom can weaken its victims for days. A single sting is dangerous, and we've been stuck hundreds of times. What we need is a spell, antitoxin, or good fortune. Or, possibly, all three.”

(Mechanically, the poison takes effect once a minute. If the victim saves, they don't suffer new effects. If they save enough times in a row, they rid themselves of the poison. Westra believes the poison has an aftereffect, but isn't certain what it is, just that it should be treated with lots of rest.)

"I'm feeling all right for now," says Westra (she's at 11/19 hit points), "but one blow is liable to knock me unconscious. I do hope we do not have to face that bear right now. I can turn into a bear myself once more, however, should worse come to worse."

"We'll have to see how much luck we have over the next few minutes," Aldridge says as the quicker members approach. "Hopefully we'll only be unlucky enough to require one use of the spell. Are the effects still present even after the poison is removed, or will removing it only prevent a worsened condition? Alwan, how are you feeling?"