Helena just shakes her head as the group talk so blithely about these creatures before following Urle over and absently patting Demetria on the nose (not really thinking about how dangerous even that could be!)   "You're right.  No sense waiting around."  She'll wait for everyone to gather there things before joining them.

Jerec mutters to himself about different regional varieties of shriekers as the group creeps down the passage to where it opens into the large chamber of the towering mushroom forest.  The glow from the patches of fungus above illuminate the scene in blue twilight.  The fallen stalks of the mushrooms the party killed some weeks before lie in the middle of the chamber, choking the obvious path, and are thickly dotted with violet fungus and shriekers.  One could, with some effort, try to work their way through the untouched parts of the forest, but that could entail cutting a path, particularly to get Urle's mount through.

There are some soft sounds, some from the violet fungus just restlessly twitching their tentacles.  A cave cricket the size of a loaf of bread leaps up onto the fallen mushroom stalk and is promptly caught and poisoned by two violet fungus, then tugged in two so they can eat it.  The shriekers are quiet at this, so it seems that things below a certain size do not trigger their response.

There are some slight swaying of the stalks, just a tiny bit, and the group does recall the monsters they fought before.  There might be more up there, but if there are they either haven't spotted the group or have declined to immediately attack.

Davor eyes the clearing and then proposes a plan in a low voice. "It won't make a difference to the fungus, but if those mushroom creatures are still about, then they likely won't fall for this trick twice. I'll summon a creature and send it into the clearing. Be ready, it will only last about a minute." The shaman chants for several seconds and waves his hands over a piece of bones.

Moments later, a large reptilian creature appears on the path ahead of the group. At a word from Davor, the crocodile begins to wind its way towards the shriekers and the violet fungus. Once the crocodile moves off, Davor casts two additional spells.

Casting Summon Monster III to summon a crocodile (lasts 7 rounds).
Casting Magic Vestment on myself.
Casting Protection from Evil (Communal). Everyone has 1 minute duration except Jerec and Helena who have 2 minutes.

The crocodile appears and moves off, there are a few moments of silence, and then an ungodly cacophony as the shriekers cry their warning all at once.  If there were any mushroom-monsters lurking above, they seem to be disinclined to go after the crocodile, particularly after the violet fungus leaps into the fray and begins to flail at the reptilian beast. Several tentacles strike it, and it begins to slow even as it snaps at them, wrenching one off the stem entirely.

The shriekers continue to shriek, their wails echoing off the large chamber, making the echos bounce around the chamber with verve and vigor.  If there is anything else coming, it is far to loud to hear its approach.

Davor looks at Jerec. "I think it might be time for some fire. Gotta clear the path."

Entirely unplanned... Davor had taken action and left Helena with her hands clasped over her eats to ward off the screams!  She watched as the others took it as a call to action.

Jerec nodded and intoned a few harsh words as he manipulated something with palm, spreading his hands as a bead of glowing light sped from his fingertips to explode into a ball of incandescent flame.  Crocodile, shriekers, and violet fungus were crisped in an instant, cleaning behind just three lone violet fungi and a half-scorched shrieker that had been on the fringes of the explosion.

With the vast majority of the shriekers dead, the group can now hear a faint, fluting cry from deeper in the caverns, joined by a few more, and then a bass growl...

Davor flexes his fingers, but the spectral sword does not yet appear in his hand. "Do we stand and face 'em here? Or push on?"

"Here. We have an unobstructed field of view and Zenna, Jerec and I can get off long-range shots," said Teana in her "tactics" voice. "Everyone find a stalagmite or something to hide behind in case whatever-it-is can throw back."

As she spoke, she began mercilessly gathering power and blasting the remaining violet fungi with her lightning and gusts of smashing wind. No sense leaving more of this wave around when the big guys arrived.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:58, Fri 03 July 2020.

Having been given 'advice' on the combat situation and having seen the destruction the pair were raining down on the fungi, Helena did as bid and looked to hide behind a stalagmite.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Sun 05 July 2020.

Urle looks at destruction Jerec made.
Not really what I had in mind.  Staying here and see what comes was plan.
He then places himself close to Helena behind a stalagmite.

Davor stands out in the open, presenting himself as a target for whatever may arrive. He still refrains from summoning his sword.

The group waits, hidden skillfully or not, some waiting more openly, for whatever beasties have been attracted by the shriekers' cries.  There are several long moments of terrible tension, and then from the darkness emerge the hunched chitinous backs and pincers of three pale chuuls!  Normally creatures of the sea, these dry, pale versions of them looked completely at home as they galloped across the cave floor, occasionally taking to the walls for a few bounds.  Tentacles writhed below their pincered mouths, dripping ichor, as they clambered towards what experience had told them was an easy meal.

Fifty feet away and closing fast, the chuuls's strange cries echo weirdly on the stone walls!

OOC: What's everyone going to do? Jerec will fire off a lightning bolt once he can get a good angle on these guys, and Zenna will fire her bow.

As soon as she judged that the chuul was in range, Teana faced down the lead chuul. One could have probably predicted her exact tactic: She lifted her right hand in the air as wind whirled around her and her left hand extended to shoot out a deadly bolt of her elemental lightning.

As expected: Activate Enveloping Winds for all the good it'll do, Gather Power, fire an empowered shot at extended range on a chuul designated as Chuul #1.

I am opening fire as soon as they come within 120 feet, to maybe get an extra ranged shot before they reach us.

23:11, Today: Teana Florin rolled EDIT: 35 using 6d6+9.  Lightning damage.
23:10, Today: Teana Florin rolled 19 using 1d20+9.  Attack: Lightning, Chuul #1, 120 ft.

Helena watches from her hiding spot trying to work out if there is literally anything she can do to help.   While nothing springs to mind she does make a mental note to ask Zena to teach her how to sue a bow.  At the very least, another arrow in the chaos might help.

When he spots the Chuul, Davor produces a small piece of hide covered in orcish characters which bursts into flame as he utters a word of power. The flame turns green and spreads over the shaman's body before fading. As the fire spreads, Davor's massive ghostly blade appears in his hands and another orcish command causes the flame to run up the blade and continue to burn.

As the Chuul charge in, Davor bangs his fist on his on his breastplate and lets out a bellowing challenge to the beasts. Both the banging and the war cry are magically amplified to the level of a small orcish war party. Davor then lowers his stance and waits for the Chuul to come to him.

Davor casts Shield of Faith on himself which improves his AC to 22/12/21 for 7 minutes. He also summons his Ancestral Weapon and casts Extended Sun Metal on it (lasts for 14 rounds). Finally, he casts ghost sound to amplify his challenge and bring the Chuul to him.

Urle, to your surprise Helena seems to be entirely adept at hiding, as she had vanished entirely!

Zenna fires off a pair arrows at the lead chuul, hitting once hard and the second bouncing off its formidable carapace.  Davor rings himself with magic, making himself an obvious target amongst the smoldering fungus carcasses.  Teana's bolt of electricity lashes into the lead chuul, making it do a most peculiar dance before it settles into an angry sprint towards the cause of its ire.  Jerec waits coolly as the monsters advance, and then flashes a lightning bolt across two of them at once, catching the back two chuuls.  The first dodges the worst of it, the second is hit squarely, and both are left smoking with the force of it.

The charging chuuls, undeterred power in to the zone of fire, though the lead one peels off towards Teana and runs up one of the towering mushroom stalks near her.  Two reach for Davor with shrieks of rage, one missing entirely with its claw, but the second not only hits Davor, but grasps him with his claw and picks him up!

OOC: Chuuls charge in, one starts climbing to higher ground, one misses Davor, one hits and grapples Davor to the tune of 13 points of damage.  All three have taken damage.

Davor twists in the great beasts claw in an attempt to break free and return to his own two feet.

Davor Spiritwalker rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Break grapple.

Teana looked up at the climbing chuul and launched another enhanced wave of lightning at the beast.


20:07, Today: Teana Florin rolled 32 using 6d6+9.  If I hit, damage.
20:06, Today: Teana Florin rolled 12 using 1d20+9.  That climber is a target.

I think that barely hit...well, I hope. :)

Davor twists with great agility and gets free of the chuul's chitinous grasp before it can stuff him into his maw.  Urle, seeing his charge (or rather not seeing her and realizing she is well-hidden), takes a charge at one of the ones threatening Davor, missing but giving them another target to vent their hunger upon.

Zenna fires off another pair of arrows, one striking true in the one threatening Davor.  Teanna's wave of lightning leaves the climbing chuul dancing with electricity and barely clinging on to the stalk.  Jerec utters a few harsh words and spreads his hands in an arc, the chuul near Davor burning, then the brand leaping to the one next it, then again to the one one the stalk, burning less each time, but burning the chuuls nevertheless!

The chuul closest to Davor and the one on the stalk look very, very badly hurt, while the one in the middle doesn't look good, but not nearly as bad as the others.  This healthier chuul turns to the large possible meal of Demetria and attacks the horse.  Urle shouts and does a quick turn, trying to place himself in danger instead of his mare.  Unfortunately the chuul's vicious attack sinks its pincer deep into Demetria's flesh and hauls her close!

The chuul who had Davor slip out of its grasp hisses and tries to grab him again, but is thwarted by the protective magics he has arrayed about him.

The chuul on the stalk zeros in on one of his tormentors, Teana, and suddenly spits something across the intervening space.  A glob of something cool and sticky hits her and soaks through her clothes, bringing a numbing wave of paralysis that roots her to the spot!

Hoping to finish off his immediate opponent, Davor swings his ethereal sword at the monster. The blade arcs through the air, trailing fire from the enchantment, and cleaves into the monster's carapace.

Standard Action: Attack hits AC 23 for 16 slashing damage (magical) and 4 fire damage.

Davor Spiritwalker rolled 23,16,4 using 1d20+11,2d6+5,1d4.  Attack w/ damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:16, Sat 11 July 2020.

Jerec twists his staff around in a series of arcane patterns igniting runes which hang in the air with the light of faded stars before they rocket off to slam into the chuul on the stalk.


OOC:
Magic Missile (Toppling)
Jerec rolled 19 using 4d4+4.  Magic Missile Damage(Toppling) at Chuul on the stalk.
Jerec rolled 20 using 1d20+12.  Trip Attempt for Toppling Spell.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Level 1 Feat : Toppling Spell
Your spells with the force descriptor knock the affected creatures prone.
Benefit: The impact of your force spell is strong enough to knock the target
prone. If the target takes damage, fails its saving throw, or is moved by
your force spell, make a trip check against the target, using your caster
level plus your casting ability score bonus (Wisdom for clerics, Intelligence
 for wizards, and so on). This does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
If the check fails, the target cannot attempt to trip you or the force effect
in response.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Thu 16 July 2020.

With Jerec taking care of the chuul attacking Teana, Zenna turns her attention to the one that grabbed Demetria. A growl bubbling up out of her throat, she called out to her companion, “Vash!” The dire wolf turned his head to her at her call. Holding up a fist and then pointing to the chuul on the ground, Zenna yelled, “Attack!” As the large wolf darted out of cover, she dropped her bow and drew her greatsword off her back as she followed the large wolf into the fray.

Vash sprinted by the chuul, white fangs flashing as he bit at the creature, and then he was past, circling around to make another run. Then, snarling with rage, Zenna moved in slashing hard at the carapace with her blade.

OOC:
Vash used his spring attack to attack on the run. Hit AC 25 for 7 slashing damage. Free trip attack vs CMD of 30.
Zenna dropped her bow (free action) and drew her greatsword (free action) and triggered her Rage ability as she moved to attack. Hit AC 25 for 15 slashing damage.

Zenna’s AC drops to 20 due to Rage.

18:46, Today: Zenna Kern rolled 15 using 2d6+10.  Zenna slashing damage.
18:45, Today: Zenna Kern rolled 25 using 1d20+14.  Zenna melee attack.
18:43, Today: Zenna Kern rolled 7 using 1d8+6.  Vash damage.
18:42, Today: Zenna Kern rolled 30 using 1d20+10.  Vash free trip attack.
18:42, Today: Zenna Kern rolled 25 using 1d20+10.  Vash attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:07, Fri 17 July 2020.

Davor's attack splits the chuul's skull for him, dropping the ichor-dripping horror onto the cave floor with a thud and creak of splitting chitin.  The crawling chuul on the stalk finds its life ended not just by the fierceness of Jerec's magical attack but by the fall to the unforgiving stone floor below.  Zenna and Vash leap into the fray with speed and power, Vash bringing the last chuul to the floor, making it release Demetria, as Zenna slashes down at it and carving through its thick armor.  Urle wheels Demetria and stabs down with his lance and Demetria's hoof, finishing what Zenna started.

The cavern echoes with the breathes of the victors, and Urle dismounts to look over Demetria's severe wounds.  Frantically he reaches into his pack for healing supplies, calling out, "Please, someone help her!"

Jerec goes to Urle's side to look over Demetria's wounds and to reason out a course for treatment/triage.


OOC:
Jerec rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Heal check (Evaluation Only)