"I suppose we've no choice but the boats," said Tara.  "Although... are any of you skilled enough to avoid the obvious path?  She's crafty.  I wouldn't trust her to not set traps there."

OOC:

I need Perception Rolls from Azatch, Cela, Grog, & Tara.

Cela roll on Advantage.

15:27, Today: Cela rolled 20 using 2d20+3, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 11,17.  perception (cat stats).

15:33, Today: Tara Inkfingers rolled 8 using 1d20+3 ((5)).

Grog rolled 21 using 1d20+3 for Perception check.

Although he primarily focused on melee combat, Grog still knew about Magic. Particularly infusing objects with magical power. The skills that enabled him to empower his Runes sensed the power coursing through the Tree. His senses were therefore alert when he sensed an immediate threat that Cela also detected.

Cela sensed it through mundane means, rather than mystic intuition. Her cat ears pricked up at the subtle crackling nearby. A soft growl rumbled in her throat when she felt an unnatural chill approach!

Unfortunately, Azatch and Tara remained unaware of that danger. Suddenly, an eerie glow manifested in front of the Barbarian & Wizard! Two orbs of blue-green light hovered near them, releasing a spark that shocked Tara! The sudden appearance of two Will O’ The Wisps startled Azatch, but he reflexively dodged the electrical attack!

OOC:

15:20, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Attack Azatch.
15:20, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Attack Tara.
15:13, Thu 14 Oct: Secret Roll: The Dungeonmaster rolled 22 using 1d20+9.  Stealth.

Tara cried out in pain!

Init is 19

Grog notices the Will o' the wisps, but is taken aback by their alien nature that he hesitates before taking action.

Seeing Tara shocked by the strange creature, Grog bellows a battle cry and visibly grows in size as he charges into the fray, taking a swipe at the closest foe with his glaive.

---

Grog rolled 5 using 1d20+2 for Initiative. That's right...rolled a 3!

Activate Giant's Might: bonus action; grow to large size; ADV on STR checks and saving throws; add 1d6 once per turn.

Grog rolled 14 for 11 damage plus 3 damage for glaive attack, damage, and giant's might damage (if attack was successful).

15:52, Today: Cela rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  init.

Cela almost knows better, but the moving glowing ball is mesmerizing and in the new cat form she needs to pounce on it.

She jumps onto the glowing ball (yes this will probably hurt) and swipes at it with her much more diminutive claws.

15:52, Today: Cela rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  init.
15:57, Today: Cela rolled 18 using 1d20+2.  attack.
Burning a ki point to hit it as much as possible
15:58, Today: Cela rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  flurry of blows 1.
15:58, Today: Cela rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  flurry of blows 2.

The time for subtlety was done-- Tara spoke words in a strange language, and unleashed a clap of thunder that engulfed the strange creatures!  That might well soften them up...

Casting Shatter. 23:50, Today: Tara Inkfingers rolled 18 using 3d8 ((5,8,5)).
So 18 Thunder damage, DC 13 Con save for half.

Azatch reflexively stabbed out at the orb that had hurt Tara while he let his rage take over his body. A massive tail grew out of his backside which he still didn't really understand, but instinctively knew how to use.

"Watch out!" he cried out to her, but something about this place seemed to make him move in slow motion as others reacted to the threat far more quickly than he did.

Init: 8
BA: rage
Action: reckless attack one that attacked Tara
 - hit AC 27, Crit
 - Damage: 15 magical piercing
Reaction: if necessary tail deflection
 - minus 8 to an attack roll

13:42, Yesterday: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Azatch, rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Initiative .
13:44, Yesterday: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Azatch, rolled 27 using 1d20+7.  Advantage for Javelin attack.
13:44, Yesterday: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Azatch, rolled 11 using 1d20+7.  Javelin vs. Orb that hurt Tara.
13:45, Yesterday: The Dungeonmaster, on behalf of Azatch, rolled 13 using 2d6+5.  Javelin damage. +2 FROM RAGE = 15

Fascinated by the glowing orb, Cela pounced on the one that attacked Tara! Although her fur bristled from the static, she nimbly dodged full body contact. However, the Monk’s mind still ruled the domestic cat’s body. Cela knew the secret of accessing her Ki, regardless of her physical form. Summoning her spiritual power, Cela swatted at the Will O’ The Wisp near Tara in a rapid flurry of paws! The cat’s claws perforated the orb, which shimmered from the attack!

Tara spoke the language of Magic, casting a Shatter spell! A clap of thunder nearly deafened everyone present. The magical release shook and battered the pair of Will O’ The Wisps. The Orb attacked by Cela snuffed out of existence, but her spell was not powerful enough to finish off both undead nuisances.

The remaining Will O’ The Wisp glowed even more brightly, momentarily blinding everyone present in a 20’ radius. The spots in their eyes would wear off soon, but the evil spirit created enough of a distraction for one final act of petty malice. The Orb floated near Tara and zapped her with electrical energy!

Luckily, Azatch didn’t need his eyes. The power of the Javelin seemed to guide the Barbarian toward his target! Azatch jabbed the point of his enchanted weapon into the Will O’ The Wisp and obliterate the evil thing. The last of the witchlights faded, leaving a confused Grog fumbling on a missed attack.

OOC:

14:51, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 20 using 1d20.  CON save.
14:42, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 4 using 2d8.  Lightning damage.
14:40, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 7 using 1d20+4.  Will O’ The Wisp attack.
14:34, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Will O’ The Wisp attack.
14:33, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 11 using 1d20+9.  Will O’ The Wisp Initiative.

Tara, take 4 more damage.
Grog, you’ll still be Enlarged.


This message was last edited by the GM at 19:01, Fri 22 Oct 2021.

Before the party could recover from the encounter with the Will O’ The Wisps, they heard a booming voice: "FRIENDS! OGRE and a GOLEM of FLESH COME FOR YOU! Ware!"

Azatch looked at Grog as the shouting voice of Sundos echoed through the swamp, "try to push it off the walk into the water?"

"Tara, can you focus on the ogres?"

"I'll try," said Tara, but she frowned.  Ogres were bad business... Still, she ought to be able to disable an ogre or two without too much trouble.

"Sounds like a good plan," Grog says as he looks about to locate the foes that Sundos warned were coming.

---

Grog and Azatch are on the islet, are we not? What about Tara?

OOC:
Yes, you’re all on the Islet bridge. You’re within 30 feet of the weird Witch House.


Immediately following Sundos’ desperate warning, a hidden burst open between Grog and the strange Witch House! The party heard the boards groan under the weight of two hulking Ogres with mottled grayish-brown skin. They both held fearsome Greatclubs the size of sapling trees pierced with long spikes. As intimidating as that looked, though, what the second Ogre led by a chain chilled their blood.

An enormous brute resisted the Ogre, batting at the air with massive scaled arms! The heroes stared at a moving jigsaw puzzle of flesh and scale containing raw physical power and mindless destructive rage. Tara’s mouth fell open when she recognized the creature—a Flesh Golem, constructed of muscular Orcish arms, Lizardman torso, legs, and tail. Adorning this nightmarish construct was a familiar face…the mewling head of Georg, the late watchman of Deadwater!

“The Witches hate trespasses. Said to make you dead,” the lead Ogre said with a bored grunt. He raised his club as he moved between the House and the party…

How closely gathered are the various foes?

"...be wary," said Tara.  "They all hit hard, but that... that monstrosity will take a great deal indeed to bring it down."

A shame that her wand would be little use-- they'd doubtlessly tear through the webs as though they were nothing.

"...if we all combine our strength against one foe at a time, they'll fall all the faster," she added.

OOC: sorry, my theater of mind-fu is weak right now.

Are we on the map that is main game map or are we on our way to that map? Are the ogres/flesh golem coming single file or how wide is the map relative to character space/size?

OOC:

We have 2 maps. The first map shows your current location with the thatched roofs and bridge.

The Ogres & Flesh Golem can be reached on your action. They’ll definitely be moving toward you to make that even easier.

Making the assumption that means they are within 30 feet.

---

"That will prove very difficult!" Grog growls back, as he touches the rune on his armour.

The minotaur steps closer and swings his glaive at the lead ogre.

---

Reaction: invoke Stone Rune against ogre holding leash.
When creature you can see ends its turn within 30 feet, force the creature to make a WIS saving throw vs DC 13.

Unless the save succeeds, the creature is charmed for 1 minute; the creature has a speed of 0 and is incapacitated, descending into a dreamy stupor.

Creature repeats the saving throw at the end of each of its turns.

Move forward 20 feet until 10 feet from lead ogre.

Grog rolled 6 using 1d20+2 for initiative.

Grog rolled 18 using 1d20+6 for his glaive attack.
Grog rolled 14+6 = 20 using d10+4,d6 for glaive and giant's might damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:54, Wed 27 Oct 2021.

Init: 22:19, Today: Tara Inkfingers rolled 3 using 1d20+2 ((1)).

...I guess I'll post eventually...

The leading Ogre grunted and advanced toward Azatch! He raised his hefty Greatclub and swung wide at the Barbarian. His companion Ogre grinned with a mean gleam in his eye. He raised his javelin—and hurled it at Tara!

Behind them, George’s lifeless eyes lolled, his tongue hanging out as he mewled in a childlike whine. Guided by whatever malevolent force animated it, the Flesh Golem honed in on Azatch. The Golem growled as thickly muscled Orcish arms flailed! The first mighty fist struck Azatch, while the second missed.

Although the second Orc appeared pleased at skewering the petite Witch, his smile drooped when the Minotaur reacted with a powerful Stone Rune. His displeasure froze in place when Grog slashed his brother Ogre’s torso with his glaive!

OOC:

14:13, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 11 using 2d6+4.  Javelin Damage.
14:10, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  Ogre # Attack .
14:08, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 12 using 2d8+4.  Slam attack damage .
14:07, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Flesh Golem Attack #2.
14:07, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Flesh Golem Attack #1.
14:06, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Ogre #1 Greatclub Attack .
03:05, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 5 using 1d20-2.  WIS Save for Ogre #2.
03:04, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Initiative for Flesh Golem.
03:02, Today: The Dungeonmaster rolled 7 using 1d20-1.  Initiative for Ogre #2.

Ogre #1 missed.
Ogre #2 hit, but will be immobilized after Grog’s turn.
Georg The Flesh Golem hit Azatch with one Slam attack.

Initiative Order

Flesh Golem
Azatch
Ogre #2
Grog
Ogre #1
Tara

(Cela sneaked into the House—I’m adding you to the other Group next)



This message was last edited by the GM at 07:49, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

Cela decides to leave the battle with the Ogre/Golem to those that are much larger.  She attempts to slip past them to the house.


14:43, Today: Cela rolled 15 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 9.  stealth (advantage)
14:42, Today: Cela rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  init.

Azatch reeled from that massive blow, but he let his rage take him.

He shoved the Flesh golem, trying to leverage it off balance and off the walk way into the waters below, so he moved around to put himself between the golem and the building and shoved outward.


OOC: I'm noot sure if I can position myself to do that or not. If not, can any of the three be targeted by an Azatch shove?
Bonus Action: rage; grow tail
action: Shove, DC 14 too resist
Reaction: if necessary, +5 added to AC if hit before next round

03:25, Today: Azatch rolled 14 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only.  Shove Flesh golem - adv from rage.
03:24, Today: Azatch rolled 5 using 1d8.  Tail Reaction.
For completeness: 20:17, Tue 26 Oct: Azatch rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Init.