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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 9, 2017 10:43:54 GMT -5
The issue with Swamps and the like is finding a place that isn't waterlogged and that has stable ground. The other issue being, not building a base within the borders of a Lizardfolk tribe as the builders will be harassed and possibly killed. As you think over this, you come to realize your one expedition into the swamp found you a number of places that might be suitable but saying; "lets build here!" Without knowing if there are poisonous plants, dangerous animals or if the locals would disapprove would be dangerous. Your a dwarf, this ain't new to you. You've worked with a number of expedition crew at your home mountain and there was always something. Dangerous gases, stone giants, ettercaps and even accidentally digging into a Drow encampment or two. The importance of location is key. It'd be a good idea to set about checking possible locations.
You have 3 locations in mind. The first of which is perfect in most of every conceivable way. Its big enough for a grand temple and a wall, some ballistas can go here and there, there are even these nice looking shrubs all over the place! But, it'd probably be a good idea to check the others. You search the second location you stumble across some crocodile eggs, luckily while mother was away. Definitely not ideal. The third location doesn't fair much better. Finding Lizardfolk tracks all over the place. Popular hunting around, perhaps? Hard to say... But planting a building here would only mean trouble so you return to your original location and look over it once more. Hands on your hips you proclaim it to be perfect. "Um..." Fillin chimes in as your figuring out the best place to put the weapons storage. "I think that bush has moved since we were here last" He says cautiously looking at it. You check around the bush and find no tracks to suggest it moved or was moved by something. The boy is probably just paranoid.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 9, 2017 19:24:28 GMT -5
Xanadu looks doubtfully at the Halfling, "You sure boy? I'm no seeing any tracks round here." Xanadu points to a cleft, "That's where we start the sandbag wall. You know, to keep the place from flooding when it rains." Xanadu looks at Fillin, still staring at the bush, "Seriously me boy, a bush is sometimes just a bush. Look." He pulls out his war pick and casually pokes at it, "See?"
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 10, 2017 5:08:11 GMT -5
As you move your warpick toward the bush to prove your point the bush smacks away your weapon. "I don't like being right" Fillin says shakily as you both look around you to see five other creeping bushes moving in toward you. You attempt to step back and get them all out in front of you so you have none at your back but Fillin bumps into your back and the bush that smacked away your pick now pounces on you.
(Surprise attack! Don't worry I'll only take the one. No worries Fillin bumping you and such didn't effect your action or moment, its just flavor text) Enemies; 6 bushes (That you see, muahah) Surprise round; Nat 20+1=21. CRIT! (Yay! Surprise round XD) 2+3-1=4 damage Init: Bushes 2
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 10, 2017 5:36:16 GMT -5
Taking the hit from the leaping bush, Xanadu holds his weapon by the hilt and near the blade. He shoves the creature back by thrusting both arms out at once. Pivoting around like the hammer toss at the games, Xanadu slides his hands together for maximum momentum at the point and drives the point home, HARD. Then Xanadu moves around Fillin to give him an out, smashing whichever creature gets in Fillin's path.
Rolls: Init: 16+2=18 Attack: 20+6=26 (Nat 20) Damage: 2d8+4=6,7=17
Attack: 1d20+6=23 Damage: 1d8+4=7
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 10, 2017 6:16:46 GMT -5
You knock the shrub down with no problem, smashing it completely to splinters. Fillin scrambles, tripping over his own feet and diving in between your legs and coming up the other side, so that the only bushes that can attack him is the bushes that can get by you. For your trouble your swiftly surrounded by the other 5 and take a flurry of attacks. None of which do more than scrape harmlessly against your shield and one even unlucky bush winds up impaling itself as draw your pick back from the ground.
You pull back your pick and send the impaled bush flying out into a nearby tree, you see it fall harmlessly to the ground in several hundred pieces and turn back to meet the others. You keep your shield up as the bushes swing their branches at you blocking all their attacks, but are surprised when a sharp pain sticks into your foot. You look down and see one of the bushes got a lucky shot that went right through your right boot. Init: Xanadu & Fillin Bushes
Round 1: Xanadu and Fillin (No Damage) Bushes 4 and 1 wounded Attacks: Miss, Miss, Miss, Miss, EPIC MISS (Takes 8 damage).
Round 2: Xanadu (5 of 14hp remains). Fillin (No Damage sustained) Bushes 4 Attacks: Miss, Miss, Miss, Crit! Dmg: 2&4-1=5.
(Total damage during combat 9! Only 5 more, sir! But you and Fillin go first so he'll just heal you next round XD)
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 10, 2017 12:04:42 GMT -5
Xanadu ignores his wounds, relying on Fillin to keep him in fighting shape. Xanadu kicks over a bush, and slams his pick into the things trunk. Ripping the weapon out, he slashes sideways at the next bush in line.
Attack Roll: 13+6=19 Damage: 2+4=6
Attack Roll: 1d20+6=13 Damage: 1d8+4=7
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 10, 2017 14:30:03 GMT -5
You feel Fillin's hand on your back as his healing courses through you once more. Closing up your wounds for the most part but still leaving a little bit of the sting. Your boots connects and topples the bush and you drive your pick in, but are somewhat offset from dealing the finishing blow, by the other bushes swarming around you one them managing to slash its branches across your arm. When you pull your pick out you see the bush still lives and give it one more clean hit, breaking through its trunk as your once again besieged by bushes and once again have one of them get by your shield and cut you, though only barely grazing this time. You start to notice that one of the bushes is bloodier than the others and come to realize its covered in your blood and its been the same one thats been hurting you this whole time.
Round Three Fillin Heals: 7hp 3 bushes & 1 wounded Attack: Miss, Hit, Miss, Miss Damage: 3
Round Four 3 bushes Attack: Miss, Hit, Miss Damage: 1
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 11, 2017 8:57:36 GMT -5
Xanadu wades about himself like the worlds worst gardener, hacking and slashing any vegetation that moves against him. Always attacking whichever plant is closest to Fillin, ’Keep your healer safe, and the day is yours.’ he recites in his head.
Rolls: Attack: 13, 15, 17, 11 Damage: 9, 7, 12, 5
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 12, 2017 7:18:55 GMT -5
Being so used to fighting trained warriors and intelligent beasts you were caught off guard by these bushes and their random flurry of attacks but no more, you handily dodge their sloppy swipes while laying waste to them with your pick till only one remains.
(Come at me, Bro! I got 9 AC, I dare ya ta hit me! You can't do it! I'm too much bush for your bearded face to handle! Bring it, you pansy!)
Round Five: F&X: Dodge and heavily wounds Attack: Miss, Miss, Miss 2 bushes & 1 Wounded
Round Six: F&X: Dodges, Finishes wounded one Attack: Miss, Miss 2 bushes
Round 7: F&X: Dodge, OHKO Bush Attack: Miss 1 Bush
Round 8: F&X: Dodge, Wounded Bush Attack: Miss 1 Wounded Bush
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 12, 2017 10:26:54 GMT -5
Xanadu buries his pick in the final bush with a sigh, "Good eye my boy." Xanadu spends the rest of the day making a base camp here. Tracing out the wall locations and overall building plan in his mind on the ground with his pick. The plan is simple, the layout is aimed almost entirely on defense. Each room is designed to hold by itself. The whole structure can be defended by only a few, and held for ages by a full force. After the layout is established, the sandbagging can begin, trench defenses help form sandbag walls to keep the swamp at bay.
Attack: 1d20+6=10 Damage: 4+4=8
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 13, 2017 13:53:17 GMT -5
With the last bush defeated and the blueprint more or less figured out you decide on your next course of action. Fillin walks with you and informs you that he can probably heal you once more today before he'll need to rest himself. Apparently being a conduit for a god's magic is exhausting. With this information in mind you make moves to your next step. Which is...
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 13, 2017 19:47:05 GMT -5
We make camp for the evening, and set to work finishing the groundwork throughout the next day. I want enough of a mark left here that it will stand until we return. "Lad, we have to get the other territories marked for the Wyrm Speaker. I think we have enough started here that it will keep until we get back." After things are settled, Xanadu packs up his gear and circled the Black Fang territory looking for Lizard Folk of the other tribes.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 13, 2017 21:37:37 GMT -5
Setting camp goes well. Your roll out your sleeping bag, gather some dry wood, get a fire started and almost finish cooking it by the time that Fillin gets his tent set up. He offers for you to sleep in it as well as its shelter from the elements. Regardless of your choice you both have a good nights sleep. The next morning doesn't quite go as planned as when you wake you find there is a green girl sitting on the root of a willow tree that wasn't there yesterday. "Good morning, Friend" She greets you, her voice as smooth as spider silk. As you look at her entranced you see the growth of the flowers and beautiful vine sprout out and frame her figure sitting daintily on that root. You feel the pull of familiarity on your mind. Swearing you had seen her before but... You close your eyes to remember and shake your head, and when you open them again it becomes clear that you haven't seen her before. You look around for the flowers and such and find nothing, maybe some kind of illusion to lure you into a false sense of security? Doesn't matter. You don't know her and that's that. (Make a Wisdom save, Sir, your being charmed) Xanadu Wisdom Save: 16+0=16
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 14, 2017 17:41:29 GMT -5
Xanadu draws his war pick, but keeps it blade down at his side, "Hello friend. I'm not a big fan of illusions, so let's not do that again, okay?" Xanadu touches his chest with his free hand, "My name is Xanadu." Thumbing over his shoulder, "That there is Fillin. How can I be of assistance to a Dryad?" Xanadu keeps his body language passive, trying to show that he is only being cautious with the war pick and not at all hostile.
Rolls: Cha based skill: 1d20+0=17
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 15, 2017 4:55:57 GMT -5
The Dryad giggles. "Well you can be of much assistance by not disturbing this particular patch of green" She informs you sweetly. "It holds very fond memories for me and my love" She says with a longing sigh before continuing. "I would very much like for it to remain unspoiled" She finishes with a smile.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 15, 2017 7:12:12 GMT -5
Xanadu gestures behind himself at the marked layout, “I only wish to disturb as much as you see laid out behind me.” His brow furrows, lost in thought for a moment, “I’ve had an idea that might be better for both the Fey and the followers of Bahamut.” He pauses momentarily to see if she’s willing to listen, if she is he continues after a pause, “My people agree to keep this territory unspoiled, and to defend it against those that would do you or your lands harm. In exchange, your people help us keep this area looking natural. Maybe warn us of lurking enemies. What say you Dryad?”
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 15, 2017 15:51:03 GMT -5
She looks at the lot you point at. "Well, I regret to inform you that, disturbing that much is disturbing all of it" She informs you with seemingly little regret. She pauses when you mention working together. "I see no need to work together, I have protected this land well before your father was conceived. The only one benefiting a partnership here is you" She says. "And even if I did agree what proof have I that your Bahamut followers will not turn and ravage the land to fit their needs once the opportunity strikes?"
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 15, 2017 22:12:24 GMT -5
Xanadu looks sad, and pensive, "Lass, there is a storm coming. No, not a real storm. A metaphorm... a simile... A fake storm." Xanadu looks abashed that he couldn't remember the word metaphorical. "Things in the city are beginning to boil, and if not set to simmer they could boil over." Feeling more comfortable with his cooking metaphor than his weather based one he continues, "If things get bad in there, people will flee to wherever they can, swamps that could mean death are better than being trapped inside walls that mean certain death." Xanadu sighs, reluctant to share the next fact, "Besides, the guilds have found a source of wealth in the swamps, and won't easily let that go. Scores of the races of men will be tromping through the swamps. I don't doubt that you are capable of defending the area, but for how long? and against how many? The followers of Bahamut are honourable, we will abide by the terms set out here today."
Not being diplomatic, this entire conversation is stressful for Xanadu. So he takes a breath, and lets it out slowly, "Let me put it another way. My neighbor loved his lawn, but he was on the corner of two streets, and people kept walking across his lawn to save time. A path began to wear in his prized grass. He put up a small fence to defend his land. He argued with anyone that he saw crossing his property, but the path widened. Eventually he placed small, flat, circular decorative stones along the path and the people that cut across used the stones instead of walking on his lawn. The grass grew back in around the stones, and the lawn was saved. We, the followers of Bahamut, can be your stones. You can help us be decorative so as not to stand out or defile the space, and we can help guide men away."
It's pretty clear by his tone and choice of words that Xanadu considers himself, and by extension the followers of Bahamut as separate from the storm that is brewing within the walls.
Persuasion: 1d20+0=15
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 16, 2017 1:00:38 GMT -5
The green girl giggles as you fumble through your words but she seems to take your words to heart. After a moment to gather her thoughts she smiles. "I will speak with my husband about it. He's on a trip at the moment but he should be back soon. I will seek you out when we have an answer till such time; You two shall be safe on this soil to rest and are welcome to the berries that grow here. I only ask that you make no significant changes to the landscape before the decision has been made" She says and then stands and walks into the tree she was sitting on. And I do mean walks. Like through it. And not like your pick goes through things. She walks into the tree and the bark seems to change to liquid as she steps into it, Fillin checks the other side of the willow and looks a gasped. "Shes gone" he says amazed. He looks to you, star struck. "That was amazing! You just almost convinced a Dryad to help us" He fanboys
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 16, 2017 4:17:13 GMT -5
Xanadu hooks his pick into it’s loop, “Boy, she did agree to help us, else we might not have been leaving this clearing. Now we’ve work to do.” Taking one last look around to make sure they didn’t leave anything laying about, Xanadu heads off to circle the Black Fang territory, and break out into one of the other tribes land.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 16, 2017 4:49:02 GMT -5
Fillin seems to take your words to heart as he looks about the clearing. Looking at every bush and tree nearby after coming to the realization that they all could've attacked and you two would've been completely overwhelmed. He scoots a a little closer to you as the two of you take to the swamps, moving outside the border of the Black Fang's territory. You swiftly find the tracks you sought, a pair of lone Lem tracks making their way deeper into the bog, you follow them easily enough. Man, if it keeps going like this you'll have the map filled out in no time flat. Then the tracks disappear into the murky depths of the swamps water and the following scene is laid out before you; You know it'll be impossible to follow the tracks in the water but you have a good idea where they were headed, do you still wish to continue? Xanadu Survival: 1d20+2=5
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 16, 2017 15:48:44 GMT -5
Xanadu shakes his head as if someone had asked him if he wanted to follow the tracks into the water, "We're not going into that mess. Let's just continue forward, eventually we will find more tracks." Xanadu shrugs, and sets to work marching along, making sure to stay at least 20ft from that bog.
Survival: 14+2=16
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 16, 2017 16:07:40 GMT -5
Before long the bog traverses far to the right and you needn't be weary of it anymore. You do manage find more tracks and are quick to follow them. These ones are older than the last and you soon find out why as you come across a dip in the swamp and see a swarm of rats at the bottom of it with the corpse of a lizardfolk in it. The stench of death is strong here, Fillin comes up behind you, about to ask why you stopped but immediately loses what little lunch he had after seeing one of the rats rip out the Lizardfolk's eye and eats it. You give the boy a moment to recover as you plan out your next move.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 16, 2017 17:10:41 GMT -5
"No sentient being should face an end like that." Xanadu says to Fillin before rushing down into the dip and smashing aside as many rats as he can. <Draconic> "Rest easy my Draconic friend, they'll not be desecrating your remains any longer!" Xanadu uses broad sweeping strikes to clear as many rats as possible, kicking individuals and knocking them away from sensitive areas with his gauntlet covered hands.
Rolls: Attack: 1d20+6=22 Damage: 1d8+4=9/2=4
Attack: 1d20+6=19 Damage: 1d8+4=12/2=6
Attack: 1d20+6=15 Damage: 1d8+4=8/2=4
Attack: 1d20+6=9 (Miss)
Attack: 1d20+6=23 Damage: 1d8+4=12/2=6
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 17, 2017 14:50:15 GMT -5
The rats don't pay much attention to you until you've landed on the corpse, then, with a shriek, they defend their meal with vigor. They crawl up your body and envelop you in mere moments before, biting on your armor and shield, but only a select few manage to get in under your heavy clothing and hurt you and after the longest 30 seconds of your Dwarven life, the swarm disperses. Running underground or crawling up out of the hole, Fillin jumps a bit as they zip past him but is otherwise unscathed.
Attack: Miss
Attack: Hit, 2 dmg
Attack: Miss
Attack: Miss
Attack: Swarm retreats.
Awarded: 50xp
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 19, 2017 6:49:56 GMT -5
Xanadu lets Fillin clean his wound, and check it for any infection before setting to work burying the creature. With that done, he says a few solemn words, "Bahamut, guide this fellow to a peaceful place. May he enjoy a better afterlife than he did his life here on the material. Amen." With a nod, Xanadu continues his quest to identify territorial boundaries.
Rolls: K. Religion: 1d20+2=12 Survival: 1d20+2=10
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 20, 2017 4:23:40 GMT -5
Fillin fixes your wounds easy enough and comments on the fact that it might be considered blasphemy to the Lizardfolk to bury their kind as they believe their bodies should be tossed into the pit. A look from you quickly has the boy backtracking saying that it was a fine funeral for a worshiper of Bahamut and it was probably better for his soul. You continue on your quest, following along the border but find no tracks. Trudging around for an hour straight you've yet to find hide nor tail of a single Lem.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 20, 2017 5:37:42 GMT -5
Xanadu shrugs, "Aye lad, but we don't have the time to be bringing every scaled corpse we find to the Sinkhole. We do the best we can, and leave it to the Gods to sort it out." Xanadu smiles, "You're a good lad, with a strong head on your shoulders." Xanadu sighs, "Let's double back and see if the tracks we found before have come back."
Rolls: Survival: 14+2=16
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Oct 20, 2017 16:04:06 GMT -5
A smile crosses the boys lips as you praise him, but he gets it under wraps before it splits his face. After back tracking for an hour you find yourself back at the edge of the swampy water. Looking out over it, you find the tracks that were there before and no other lizardfolk-like tracks. Maybe the word of your hunting them has circulated? Hard to say. You look around a little more and find some tracks, one pair coming out from outside the black fang's territory and headed nearby and another set that seems to meet with them. You attempt to follow the two sets but find them disappear and reappear in various pools. Splitting off and meeting back to, many tracks leading to dead ends.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Oct 20, 2017 21:24:42 GMT -5
Xanadu sighs, "This is getting us nowhere. Find a place to hide Fillin." Once the boy is as safely hidden as is possible, xanadu raises his voice, shouting in Draconic "I have come to speak with the tribes." He keeps his eyes on the larger pool, wary of what might be lurking in deeper water. He repeats his call once a minute for five minutes. If that doesn't work he will make his way back to base camp for the night.
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