"My vote is to stand", says Moya.  "Or make way to the entrance to the next level if we know where it is.  From something I've heard from the plants, we need to avoid redcap mushrooms and any sources of fear, hatred or cruelty.  So as the Sassenach's say, 'Keep Calm and Carry on.'"

She checks her HUD to see whether it does indeed tell her the way to go.

Connor nodded his head in agreement.

"I also think it's a bit weird this guy came out of nowhere at us just as we entered the level. I'm fine with standing as well. If it's that bas, we should take it down, turn it to our own side or use if possible, or run if we have to but if the plants sat avoid fear then the frog man is more of a source of fear to me than anything...in that he's trying to inspire fear." Connor said.

- "Okay, so since 'stand' is currently in the lead... What ways do we have to get away if it comes down to it?"

Chalei'nh looked in the distance again, trying to detect movement or hear something that would give them a clue on what they were about to deal with.

- "Pretty confident i'm the fastest of our group, and i can try to trip up whatever it is at range, but if that fails the slowest of us is going to have a problem. So what's the backup plan here?"

Moya says, "It all depends whit's comin fae us, 'f anything.  We stand up an fecht or we run away or we try an' hide."

"We ain´t got nowhere to run," Mo says, "And that frog was clever enough to bring whatever it is this way, save himself."

He heads a few feet towards where the frog-man came from and plants his feet in the muck. "Our best chance is to stand here. Together."

He pulls the haft of his flail out and lets the spiked ball rest to his right on a tuft of grass. "I´m ready", he says, his eyes burning more fiercely than ever.

Connor considered.

"The treeline, near the river's edge. Let's all make a dash for the tree line and we can at least get some cover and possibly hiding spaces if we need them, or strategic cover to use if we attack what's coming instead." he said.

He looked around for the nearest edge of the river.

"Let's get moving guys. Any advantage is better than nothing at all." Connor said as he headed for the nearest cluster of trees on the edge of the river. He made sure to watch his footing to avoid snakes and such in the grass.

"Conner is right. Make for the treeline. At least there we have cover." She say as she pointed to the trees.

In reply to Tsuki (msg # 26):

"Hold" says Nathan as he continues scanning "We have some visitors incoming."

He lower his musket and put his left index finger to his nose "imagine a clock around me and imagine my nose as twelve o'clock" He then use clock facing to indicate to the location and number of the intruders without pointing to them and possibly alerting them. "they are either wearing pointy hats like pop-culture fantasy wizards or maybe just pointy head humanoids"

"I think we net to set up our tactical network and get ready for our pointy visitors."

- "Not necessarily. We got possible enemies coming in from one side, putting our backs against a literal wall limits our own movement if we need to get away from them."

Chalei'nh looked at Nathan when he gave more details of who was heading for them. For some reason she was reminded of David the Gnome listening to the description, though she was expecting something a little bit more monstrous with the half-spiders from the previous dungeon in mind. She would move if the others did as well though.

- "I'll be at your 'two' then, wouldn't want to get in your firing line."

Moya nodded to Nathan and Chalei'nh and moves over to her own position, saying to Chalei'nh "Ah'll be at yuir four, Chalei'nh, ye dinnae want tae be in mah firing line either but I need tae be able tae heal ye should it prove needed."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:14, Fri 19 Aug 2022.

He strides forward to a 10 o'clock position. "Conner should be at six. And if we have incoming now would be a good time to start building up respectable sized shield." He states as he brings a wing into a defensive position.

Sure enough, Nathan's prediction comes true.

From the treeline, figures could be seen to moving. A lot of them. The overgrowth provides the humanoid shapes cover, until they burst through and are fully visible. Then you see they are in fact, not wearing pointy hats.

The...people...if they could be called that, seem to be a random arrangement of what used to be normal 21st century beachgoers. They have bathing suits, shorts, flip-flops, and t-shirts with such pithy phrases 'Proud to be an American', and 'Fuck your feelings'. That is not what stands out.

They all seem to be very pale, much paler than is healthy. Worse, every bit of exposed skin shows various red mushrooms growing out of their bodies. The biggest mushroom looks like it has burst forth from the top of their skulls. Thus forming a large 'hat' of a red mushroom. Its redness seeming extra bright due to the fresh blood coating the plant.

Their eyes, milky white due to some form of cataract, grow wide upon seeing the group. Their faces twist with rage, and they all hiss at once. In perfect unison. They at once begin breaking through the treeline on ether side of the river, and start moving towards the group.

The AI's description appears on everyone's HUD.

"Florida man Redcap!

The Redcap mushroom from planet Conserve is a parasite that grows into the host's bloodstream and eventually takes over. It may be intelligent, it may not. It can be prevented by basic medical techniques that many planets have used to stop this spore which hitches a ride on asteroids to other worlds. However, a large selection of Florida population objected to even the most normal of such procedures. Thus resulting in the creatures you see before you.

Before you say anything, yes I know some of them where in fact, Florida women.

Good luck! Those Mushrooms love to spread the love, if you know what I mean..."

OOC-Roll Initiative!

Once combat begins,  anyone can spend an action to try and ask the AI through their HUD about the mushrooms. Your answers will depend on your roll and the skill being used. Remember you all have 1 hero point at the moment. Once Initiative is determined, we will do combat actions.

16:25, Today: Moya rolled 20 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 12.  Initiative.


"Well here goes my fan base" says Moya.  With that, she rubs her tree of life tattoo, bringing her hand there to make a pair of cupped hands which she blows through, pressing her cupped hands forward  and releasing a ray of glowing energy in the direction of the thickest part of the crowd of redcaps.

[Private to GM: Inner Radiance Torrent given plant form and passed through her tattoo to give +2 to Hit and +1 die damage to the 4d4 IRT already does to every creature standing in the 60' line that the beam follows.

20:03, Today: Secret Roll: Moya rolled 22 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 12.  To hit with plant based Inner Radiance Torrent  .
20:04, Today: Secret Roll: Moya rolled 17 using 5d4 with rolls of 3,4,4,4,2.  Damage to each creature hit.]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Fri 19 Aug 2022.

19:43, Today: Chalei'nh rolled 24 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 16.  Initiative.

[Private to GM: Not sure how i got to have a +8 to Initiative, according to Pathbuilder it should be +0. Did i miss something in the House Rules?]

[Private to Chalei'nh: Unless you are using a certain skill, your Initiative is always your perception. If you are using stealth, or sometimes a social skill, the default is perception.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Fri 19 Aug 2022.

10:35, Today: Nathan rolled 20 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 11.  Initiative .

OCC: If he had a minute to do select one of the mushroom guy he will 'pursue a lead' in order to get a free action with 'devise a strategy' on that target

10:46, Today: Nathan rolled 17 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 7.  Persue a lead.

Nathan raises his scope to his eye again he will sarcastically comment. "Next on real bad movie remakes: we have the classic Japanese movie 'Attack of the Mushroom People' redone by the creator of 'Girls Gone Wild'. Changing the setting from Japanese tourists menaced on a topical isle by ambulatory mutating mushrooms to retired Florida residents and idiot students on spring break partaking of really bad magic mushrooms."

Edit: Having gotten 'impressive performance' this level let's see if he will get a favorable response from the audience

11:30, Today: Nathan rolled 17 using
 1d20+6 ((11)). Impressive performance feat


This message was last edited by the player at 23:55, Wed 31 Aug 2022.

16:17, Today: Connor rolled 25 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 19.  Initiative.

Spending a hero action to allow me to roll nature to try and identify weaknesses these things may have, or other useful info.

16:17, Today: Connor rolled 14 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 8.  Nature. NOTE: If a 14 fails he has dubious knowledge and can learn stuff anyway. I'm hoping a 14 can work though lol.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:08, Tue 23 Aug 2022.

04:12, Today: Mo rolled 20 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 13.  Initiative (Perception).

"...Florida people? They did this to people from our world?" She growled low, electricity playing along her fur. "Let's put the spirits of our people to rest.

[OOC:21:21, Today: Tsuki rolled 20 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 14.  Initiative.
Initiative: 20

21:22, Today: Tsuki rolled 12 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 4.  Nature.
Recall Knowledge: 12

Good initiative, but recall what?]

"These are nae mushroom people, they're zombies. Jus like Whirl War Zed - the buik, no the shutty fillum version - an the zombie version feeds on hate, fear an cruelty.  Like Tsuki says, less kill the hosts frae a distance so they're out of their misery."

- "Yup. According to the description this mushroom is not native to Earth, and i'm pretty sure no one has ever seen it outside of Evenicle 2, so it's safe to assume these are corpses of contestants. Physical spores can't infect digitized people after all. I agree there's nothing of the original people left, no Floridans i know could pull of that level of coordination in their actions."

Chalei'nh took off her sash, wrapping it around her face instead. As long as she wore it she believed she would still be able to get the bonuses, so whether she wore it as a sash or a balaclava shouldn't matter as far as the system was concerned. Just in case though, she did keep an eye on her HUD to check if this was actually the case. She turned to the group.

- "That said, if it is spore based, it'll probably try and spread the infection. Try to wrap something around your face to keep you from breathing in spores, and i agree with Moya that taking them out from a distance is the way to go."

Moya checks her HUD[Private to GM: for information on FunguyFungi: the Mushroom Corporation].

He shakes his head and lets out a small disgusted laugh. "This is the worst 'Last of Us' Cosplay ever." He scoffs as he brings his wings up into a battle position.


OOC: 16:28, Today: Malcom rolled 22 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 17.  Init (Perception).He will start flinging feathers as soon as they are within range.

Despite the group's readiness, the creatures from the treeline burst forth in a sudden frenzied charge! Despite the slow, lurching gait...they seem to have an unexpected advantage. They shoot mushroom covered vines from their mouths, slamming into the group and trying to wrap them up!

Most of the party manages to avoid the incoming tendrils. However Tsuki, Moya, and Chalei'nh get struck. Tsuki manages to dodge the first attack, only to be hit by the second. Moya and
Chalei'nh get struck twice!

Initiative:

Party total divided by 7=21

07:24, Today: Secret Roll: System AI rolled 22 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 20.  FMR initiative .

FMR's manage to squeak out initiative.

They all spend 1 action moving, getting free from the treeline on ether side of the river. They are still not in melee range of any player, however, that does not matter.

Closing the distance to one of the creatures requires a single move action.

The vines easily have reach for anyone in the current range.

Given the distance involved, you are still considered unengaged if you where missed.

If you where struck however, you are grabbed in addition to the damage you took.

Grab
You're held in place by another creature, giving you the flat-footed and immobilized conditions. If you attempt a manipulate action while grabbed, you must succeed at a DC 5 flat check or it is lost; roll the check after spending the action, but before any effects are applied. Escape DC=17 by athletics or acrobatics.

Moya and Chalei'nh must make escapes at DC 18 because they where struck by two tendrils each.

However, its obvious the things are very slow. They only get 2 actions each round, and cannot make reactions.

Anyone using recall knowledge action has to spend one of their 3 actions using the ability. I will inform you of the creatures' info if you made the roll. Keep whatever roll you made early.

Using your impressive performance feat will also require an action. However, you keep whatever roll you made early, and will have results based on that roll.

Pursue a lead will also require an action.

Your actions!

Character|Visible Status|Conditions|AC|SAVES|
Current Statuses in effect:

FMR 1|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 2|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 3|Active|Unengaged, Grabbing Tsuki|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 4|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 5|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 6|Active|Unengaged, Grabbing Chalei'nh|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 7|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 8|Active|Unengaged, Grabbing Chalei'nh|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 9|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 10|Active|Unengaged, Grabbing Moya|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 11|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 12|Active|Unengaged, Grabbing Moya|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 13|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4
FMR 14|Active|Unengaged|16|F+8,R+2,W+4

Conner|32/32|UnEngaged|18(19)|F+6,R+10,W+8

Malcom|41/41|Unengaged|20(22)|F+8,R+8,W+7

Nathan|26/26|Unengaged|18|F+6,R+9,W+9

Tsuki|38/31|Grabbed|18|F+7,R+6,W+8

Kelya|24/24|UnEngaged|18|F+6,R+8,W+7

Moya|35/20|Grabbed|15|F+9,R+5,W+10

Mo|47/47|Unengaged|20|F+10,R+8,W+7

Chalei'nh|39/24|Grabbed|21(24)|F+8,R+10,W+10


This message was last edited by the player at 12:57, Tue 23 Aug 2022.

Chalei'nh held her arms in front of her face by reflex when she noticed the tendrils being shot at her, wincing as they attempted to wrap up her arms in the process. Great, this was going to be the spiders all over again, it seemed. She quickly ripped the vines off and begun her counterattack. If these things liked fighting at range, she would let them know what they had signed up for!

With her arms at her sides from having ripped the vines off, she spun around in what looked like something out of a Kung Fu movie, ending in a lopw crouch that seemed to offer good defense. It was a shame she did not have the time to attack, but she would be ready for their opponents' next move.

OOC:
Action 1: Escape from DC 18 grab - Acrobatics, rolled 19
Action 2: Stance: Wolf Stance
Action 3: Parry, AC 21 --> 24
This message was last edited by the player at 13:01, Tue 23 Aug 2022.

Action 1:  Moya struggles to escape from the tendrils, succeeding in yanking herself away.
15:17, Today: Moya rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Escape (DC=18).

Action 2:  Moya rubs her fingers against her Tree of Life tattoo.  She sends her energy through it sending a spiky green lance of her own toward the person who dared to strike her [divine lance v FMR10] with its tendril. "The nerve!" she said.

Ranged spell attack (Divine Lance) with +1 to hit for a total of +9 -5 for double attack = +4 against target's AC.  Damage if successful 2d4+8
15:46, Today: Moya rolled 21 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 17.  Ranged spell attack against.
15:46, Today: Moya rolled 12 using 2d4+8 with rolls of 1,3.  damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:32, Wed 24 Aug 2022.