"AWAY FROM THE POND!" a scream comes from the tree line as Buck leaps to his feet, suddenly appearing in the small clearing and racing straight for Gorrid to prevent him from getting nearer the water's edge as liquid begins to form into the shape of an all-too-familiar creature.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:27, Thu 07 July 2022.

Spriggy didn't waste a second in heeding Buckthorn's advice and immediately began backing away. Even so, the bard's innate curiosity couldn't help but ask, "Could you elaborate? What is happening?"

OOC: Gorrid was about to grab some water when he heard the shout.

The paladin backpedaled in response to Buckthorn's warning.  As the watery thing arose from the pond, he started praying, though he knew from experience that his weapons were often not terribly effective against water-based creatures.

quote:

08:20, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 13 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 6,5.  Cast bless.
08:20, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,4.  Cast magic weapon.

Don't know if I have time for both

"The Pond Spirit is LIVID!" Buck exclaims as he reaches Sir Gorrid in a tangle of robes, leaves and twigs. He tugs at the knight to get him farther from the pond water, "It may not be confined to the pond!" he adds trying to impart what little he knows to the rest of the party.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Sat 09 July 2022.

Gorrid completes his spells, barely, before the liquid owlbear rushes out of the pond toward your group.

Spriggy pulled out his songspell book and prepared for the ensuing battle. But instead of casting a spell, he wove a magical song to improve Gorrid's abilities even further.

"The living tide is on the rise.
Prepare now for its watery guise.
Enchanted sword and clear blue skies.
Face down this foe so no one dies!

---

Using Arcane Art on Gorrid. +1d4 to damage and +2 instead of +1 if someone Aids him.

11:51, Today: Spriggy Glompgut rolled 10 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 4,4.  Arcane Art on Gorrid, damage and aid effects.

With their latest foe breaking from the water, Buck abandons any hope of directing the knight to safety and springs away from him in a roll meant to disburse the angry spirit's targets and divide it's attention.

He grabs for the spirit bolas at the side of his belt under his hide cape as he gets to his feet.

Russel stays with the pony to keep it calm in the presence of another Owlbear.

"Get back monster, or face the Hunter's wrath!" Idi cries out, and steps forward with his shield held before him. It worked once--sort of--so perhaps it could work again. Make this owlbear feel fear as well and maybe, just maybe, it'd turn back.


Casting Cause Fear, against the water-owlbear with my shield as the feared object, and I guess Defend after that to stand firm behind the shield.
Idi rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 6,3.  Cast a Spell (Cause Fear)
Idi rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,6.  Defend (myself)

Sir Gorrid wasn't completely sure if his weapon was going to do too much against water.  It hadn't the last time.  However, the contagion that had affected this particular water definitely didn't like anything holy, and his sword was now consecrated, so time to give it his best effort.  "Time to return to your rest!" as his sword swung cleanly through the watery thing's body.

quote:

16:51, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 7 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 2,1.  Hack & slash.
16:52, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 18 using d10+4d4+1 with rolls of 9,1,1,2,4.

Gorrid's sword cuts into the water like it's not even there... except for hiss of boiling water, as if you had quenched metal after forging. It seems like it's causing damage, but the creature doesn't have the mind needed to notice the pain. Or the fear from Idi's spell. Instead, it sweeps it's oversized limb, swiping both Gorrid and Idi with liquid claws.

OOC: The elemental does 8 damage to both Gorrid and Idi, as well as pushing both of them back.

Does armor count?

Seeing as his weapon seemed to be doing something, the paladin did some more of the same, cleaving again, this time with the flat of the blade, hoping that more surface area made more difference.  In any case, dealing with liquid claws was easier to handle than being engulfed...

quote:

11:04, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 12 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 4,4.  Hack & slash.
11:04, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 20 using d10+4d4+1 with rolls of 7,3,4,3,2.  Damage.

Oh, that didn't work— is about all Idi has time to think before he's smashed by a torrent of unnaturally cutting water. The wave of the owlbear's gigantic paw crashes against Idi's shield, and though he'd been braced against it, the skinny cleric doesn't have the strength or weight to hold up against such an onslaught. The water gouges Idi's shield even as it overwhelms his defense, soaking him even as it launches him backwards. He lands hard, but immediately tries to struggle to his feet again, coughing and gasping.

"It's a mindless construct of some kind," he gets out, still catching his breath. "Can it go far from the water?" Staggering, he brings his shield up in front of him again and advances, but cautiously this time. He made ready to leap back should it swing again, thinking to draw it back or at least distract it while someone did... something.


I'll spend my 1 hold from Defend to halve the damage, then my 1 armour will take it to 3.
I'm going to wrack my brain for anything I might have learned about water creatures, particularly their vulnerabilities or weaknesses.
Idi rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 4,6.  Spout Lore (water creature).

Idi and Sir Gorrid being knocked back from their initial engagement gives Buck the opening he seeks to whip the spirt shackle bolas toward their assailant. Worried an errant throw will send the tethered runic stones into the pond, Buck over-adjusts, missing high and wide of the target. The bolas land silently beyond the water-borne creature, opposite himself, nestled in a growth of reeds.

Buckthorn rolled 4 using 2d6+1 Volley (Bolas)

Spriggy continued his song for the time being, but was ready to switch up his tactics if the situation changed.

"This water beast shall not feast
upon my friends, to say the least.
Attack it from the west and east
so that its bodice can be pieced."

As Idi considers the creature, he remembers how the dark fluid in the was neutralized by holy water. Perhaps this creature would be affected in the same manner?

Before you can act on the that thought, the creature roars from another blow from  Gorrid, before falling on the ground, seeping into the muddy grass... only for the mud to turn even more liquid, creating a quicksand around Gorrid, Idi, and Spriggy!

OOC: Armor does help against the elemental's blows. Russel, you did see where the bola landed, and you could run to grab it and attack if you want.

Quicksand was a bad thing.  Especially for someone wearing full plate.  However, the magic of his sword seemed to be negatively affecting the creature and, absent anything to grab onto, attacking still seemed to be the best strategy.  He thrust his sword down into the mud, swirling it around, trying to get the holy magic to contact as much of the creature as he could.

quote:

11:01, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 7 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 2,1.  Hack & slash.
11:01, Today: Sir Gorrid of Torr rolled 17 using d10+4d4+1 with rolls of 8,3,1,3,1.  Damage.

Idi takes a step back in surprise, looking down at the dissolving ground beneath him. "It's essentially the same problem as the pit, just animated. Remove the evil, remove the danger." But Gorrid doesn't need to be told, he's already trying to use the holy magic of his sword against the ground itself. Idi tries to back out of the worst of the muck, then plunges one hand into it, trying to cup as much liquid in his hand as possible. He didn't know if this would work, but he could only try.


Ok, this might be a stretch but Sanctify consecrates water (or food) held while casting, so I'll try to cast it right onto a handful of water swirling around in the ground.
Idi rolled 12 using 2d6+3 with rolls of 5,4.  Cast a Spell (Sanctify).
If that's actually a thing I can do, I'll also use Empower on it to double the effect, and choose to "put myself in a spot" from the 7-9 list.

Buck can't do much more than relay what knowledge he can recall about safely traversing the 'sinks' of the Stinking Mire to his friends, shouting over the commotion;

Today: Buckthorn rolled 10 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,5.  Spout Lore (quicksand)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:46, Thu 14 July 2022.

Buckthorn knows the best way to get out of quicksand is to just lay back and 'swim' out, since a normal body floats well enough not to be sucked under. But with a magically created quicksand, and for someone strapped into heavy armor, that may not be an option. Luckily, Russel and Buckthorn are far enough not to be caught, and they have a pony to help pull out the others!

But for those in the quicksand, things aren't going well. The dirt makes it impossible for Gorrid's sword to attack the elemental, and the water is too tainted for Idi to purify it directly.

Finding that the new form seemed to protect the elemental from his weapon, the paladin sheathed it - while his sheath was still visible.  He then took the 3 vials of holy water he'd previously refilled and dumped them out onto the mud around him.  It wasn't a lot, but it would help.

"Don't suppose anyone has some rope?"  His voice was calm, but it was obvious the fighter's position was precarious.  His heavy armor was causing him to sink faster than everyone else.

"Also, this thing might be able to move the mud, so be careful how close you get"

"There should be some rope in the cart, I think," said Spriggy. He had stopped his magical song now that he was singing and Gorrid was no longer attacking. He mimicked Gorrid's idea and emptied his own three holy waters into the mud around them. "Some assistance would certainly be appreciated." The bard doubted even his fish form would keep the mud from smothering and suffocating him eventually.

---

Using all three of my holy waters. Anyone can also feel free to use my Adventuring Gear in my wagon to produce some rope.

Edit: I'm noting here that I marked off an Adventuring Gear for Russel's rope in the next post.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:05, Thu 14 July 2022.

When Spriggy mentioned there may be rope in the cart, Russel jumped into action and started rummaging for it.
Once he had the rope, he tied a loop and tossed that end to Sir Gorrid.

"I don't suppose anyone can solidify mud once we..." Buck mused aloud as he hurried over to help Russel and Spriggy get set to pull the others from their sinking plight. He hadn't really given much thought to his traveling companion's magical abilities at all really, other than the singing elf's obvious talents.

Buck offered an extra pair of hands to expedite getting Idi and Gorrid to safer ground.