May Day

The vines caught at least half of the party by complete surprise. All they could do is brace themselves and hope for the best. Lath and Bryn though were quick witted. Two magical bolts shot forth and burned themselves into the vines which screeched as fire ate a part of them. In retalliation the middle one lashed out at the halfling and pulled her off her feet. She flailed wildly with her swords, but hit nothing but air.
The other vine tried to repeat that feat with Bo, but the calm monk watched his enemy's move and deftly dodged the smashing vine. Durin-Daine, the mighty barbarian, charged forward and cleaved his sword deep into the stem of the right vine. It swept back in anger, but was in no position to hit.

Rolls:

Lath: Eldritch Blast @ V3: 12+4 = 16 Hit! 8 damage
Bryn: Firebolt @ V1: 12+5 = 17 Hit! 4 damage
V2: Attack @ Halfling: 14 + 5 = 19 Hit! 7 damage + restrained
Halfling: Short sword @ V2: 5+5 = 10/11+5 = 16 Miss!
Bonus attack @ V2: 1+5 = 6/9+5 = 14 Miss!
Rorik: Dodge
Bo: Dodge
V1: Attack @ Bo: 4+5 = 9/2+5 = 7 Miss!
Aidan: Dodge
Durin-Daine: Greatsword @ V2: 10+5 = 15 Hit! 13 damage
V3: Attack @ Durin-Daine: 5 +5 = 10 Miss!

Map after round 1:

Map:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
A				L
B				BR		R	BO
C				A			HL	V1
D							DD	V2
E								V3
F
G
H

Bryn watched the smoking vine as he quickly whispered the words of his firebolt spell once again.

Firebolt @ V1: +5; 1d10 damage

These vines didn't hiit nearly half as hard as the one that took the wolf away so Bõ was determined to start getting his fingers green. His staff started swinging once again trying to hit the enormous plant next to him.

-----

Quarterstaff: +5 to hit, 1d8+3 dmg
Polearm Master: +5 to hit, 1d4+3 dmg

Lath went through the mental exercise he'd been so adept at lately, calling upon the darkness inside him to reach out and destroy the enemy.

Eldritch Blast +4, 1d10 @ V3

After taking some time to observe the battlefield, Aidan moved back into the fray with his crossbow in hand.


OOC: Move to F4, ranged attack on V3 +5, 1d6+3, bonus ranged attack +5, 1d6+3.

The elvish brothers in arms unleashed another wave of hell and fire unto their green-natured enemies. It was now abundantly clear that the creepers didn't like fire. This angered the middle vine so much it crushed the little halfling and tossed the broken remains in front of it.
"Help me," a weak voice whispered, only audible by Durin-Daine and Bo. Did her right hand merely twitch or was she still salvageable?
Bo had enough of defence and swiftly moved in with his vicious strikes while the bard peppered his right flank with bolts. The right vine was tenacious and forced Durin-Daine on the defensive. He was just able to intercept the blow with the broad side with his sword while his knees buckled under the force.

Rolls:

Lath: Eldritch Blast @ V3: 19 + 4 = 23 Hit! 7 damage
Bryn: Firebolt @ V1: 8 + 5 = 13 Hit! 6 damage
V2: Constrict @ Halfling: 19 + 5 = 24 Hit! 13 damage
Halfling: Dying (20 damage taken)
Rorik: Dodge
Bo: Quarterstaff @ V1: 14 + 5 = 14 Hit! 9 damage
Polearm Master @ V1: 11 + 5 = 16 Hit! 7 damage
V1: Attack @ Bo: 9 + 5 = 14 Miss!
Aidan: ranged attack @ V3: 15 + 5 = 20 Hit! 6 damage
Bonus ranged attack @ V3: 10 + 5 = 15! 7 damage
Durin-Daine: Dodge
V3: Attack @ Durin-Daine: 9 + 5 = 14/6 + 5 = 11 Miss!

Map after round 2:

Damage V1: 28
Damage V2: 13
Damage V3: 28

Map:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
A				L
B				BR		R	BO
C							HL	V1
D							DD	V2
E								V3
F				A
G
H

Durin-Daine cried out that the wee little druid needed help to Rorik, then attacked the vine that had just attempted to batter him with a downward strike.

Attack: +5

The monk hit the trunk with another thunk until it shrunk back and lashed out again. It was a half-hearted attempt and he soon planted the staff so that they could have the last laugh when killing these vile shruberries on behalf of the villagers.

-----

Quarterstaff: +5 to hit, 1d8+3 dmg
Polearm Master: +5 to hit, 1d4+3 dmg

Lath enjoyed seeing his dark magic tear into the vines, the mysterious power that was at his fingertips certainly was powerful and deadly!

Eldritch Blast +4, 1d10 @ V3

Aidan was visibly shocked by the halfling's fate and doubled his efforts.

OOC: Move to C6 and cast Cure Wounds on the halfling, unless Rorik does it first. Otherwise, stay in the same spot and ranged attacks on V3.

Bryn watched in wonder as the halfling flew through the air. A quick thought about sharing the potion she'd just giving him moments before passed through his mind, but was quickly swept aside by the sound of the vine slamming down on the mighty dwarven blade. He steeled his concentration once again and fire lept from his finger tips toward the vines.

Firebolt @ V1: +5; 1d10 damage

Oh, how the tables could turn in just a few seconds. The repeated use of their magic had exhausted the elves, Lath hitting the ground in front of the right monstrous vine and Bryn only being able to muster a little ember on the other. Aidan jumped forward, heroicly swinging vines as Rorik just stood there frozen in fear for the unnatural. He mumbled a few words and the halfling opened her eyes again. "Thank you," she whispered.
Left Bo smacked the vine in front of him real good, but his footing was unsure this time. The vine saw an opening and wrapped itself around him, slowly squeezing the life out of him. Durin-daine on the right begot the same fate. It was clear that what the plants lacked in finesse, they now made up in rage.

Rolls:

Lath: Eldritch Blast @ V3: 6 + 4 = 10 Miss!
Bryn: Firebolt @ V1: 16 + 5 = 21 Hit! 2 damage
V2: Attack @ Bo: 7 + 5 = 12 Miss!
Halfling: Dying
Rorik: Dodge
Bo: Quarterstaff @ V1: 4 + 5 = 9 Miss!
Polearm Master @ V1: 15 + 5 = 20 Hit! 7 damage
V1: Attack @ Bo: 13 + 5 = 18 Hit! 8 damage (condition = grappled)
Aidan: Cure wounds @ HL: 6 healing
Durin-Daine: 5 + 5 = 10 Miss!
V3: Attack @ Durin-Daine: 17 + 5 = 22 Hit! 5 damage

Map after round 2:

Damage V1: 37
Damage V2: 13
Damage V3: 28

Map:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
A				L
B				BR		R	BO
C						A	HL	V1
D							DD	V2
E								V3
F
G
H

Bryn looked at the vines, they'd been fighting them but none seemed any weaker than when they'd first come out of the bush.

"We need to focus on one of them at a time. Kill the left one, then the middle and right, they'll kill us all if we keep trying to fight them all at once."

And then, exhausted as he was, he tried once again to focus his magic on sending fire at the vines.

Firebolt @ V1: +5; 1d10 damage

Bõ was rather surprised when he swung with his staff and managed not to hit the plant. It retaliated by taking a hold of him. In this one instance he lost focus, things completely changed around for him. He tried to avoid any more harm coming to himself.

-----

I want to break free. I want to break free! God knows...
Acrobatics +5

Durin-Daine was indignant that he'd been trapped by the vine, and did his best to break free.

Athletics +5

Bryn's suggestion sounded plausible, so Aidan aimed his crossbow at the vine in front of him, motioning the halfling to get away. "Time to move, lady, let the professionals handle this."

OOC: ranged attack on V1 +5, 1d6+3, bonus ranged attack +5, 1d6+3.

The complete party focused its attention on the first vine, fronted by one angry halfling, with great success. The first vine was neatly trimmed into submission and it relinquished its grasp on Bo. Bo and Aidan joined up and unleashed a devastating attack on the second plant, taking only little damage in return. But this meant that Durin-Daine was alone in his struggle against the final foe. He managed to free himself in a burst of strength, but the vine wouldn't let him go so easily. While the dwarf got his footing again the vine came down and hammered him into the ground. "Not again," he cried and at that very moment Rorik decided to snap out of his inaction. He sprinted towards his fellow dwarf and lay his healing hands upon him. Immediately Durin's breath came back to him. Time to fight on!

Rolls:

Lath: Eldritch Blast @ V3: 4 + 4 = 8 Miss!
Bryn: Firebolt @ V1: 19 + 5 = 24 Hit! 10 damage
V2: Attack @ Aidan: 12 + 5 = 17 Hit! 5 damage
Halfling: Short sword x 2 @ V1: 11 + 5 = 16/14 + 5 = 19 Hit! 14 damage
Rorik: Delaying
Bo: Quarterstaff @ V2: 19 + 5 = 24 Hit! 4 damage
Polearm Master @ V2: 15 + 5 = 20 Hit! 5 damage
Aidan: Crossbow x 2 @ V2: 6 + 5 = 11/19 + 5 = 24 Hit! 18 damage
Durin-Daine: Escape 14 + 5 = 19 Success!
V3: Attack @ Durin-Daine: 15 + 5 = 22 Hit! 5 damage (Status = Dying)
Rorik: Move to E6, Cast Cure Wounds @ DD = 10 healing (Yay, alive again)

Map after round 2:

Status V1: Dead
Damage V2: 40
Damage V3: 28

Map:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
A				L
B				BR			BO
C						A	HL	V1
D								V2
E						R	DD	V3
F
G
H

He wasn't sure what thrilled him more, the fact that his idea worked or that his companions had gone along with it. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to ponder as there were still 2 more vines that needed burning. He focused on the magic once again, using arcane words to shape the fire into a bolt that he sent at the second vine.

Firebolt @ V2: +5; 1d10 damage

Lath was relieved to see one of the vines wither and die, the uncanny power they possessed was scary to say the least.

The novice called once more on his well of magic and unleashed fury upon the vine in the middle.

Eldritch Blast +4, 1d10 @ V2

Durin-Daine, tired of the abusrd punishment he had been taking, remained on the ground and began to roll away from the site of the combat.

Feeling the vine let go of him, Bõ quickly moved to the next vine and started attacking with regained focus and strength.

-----

Move to C8, hit V2
Quarterstaff: +5 to hit, 1d8+3 dmg
Polearm Master: +5 to hit, 1d4+3 dmg

"Woah there, melee combat is not my thing, no thank you!" Aidan muttered while stepping away from the vine that attacked him. Noticing the crawling dwarf, he just had to say it. "Come on, Duskhammer, show them what you're made of! I don't want to have to sing of your brave retreat when we return to town!"

He reloaded his crossbow and aimed at the vine that was harassing Durin-Daine. "Eat this!"


OOC: Move to G5, ranged attack on V3 +5, 1d6+3, bonus ranged attack +5, 1d6+3.

When the first monstrous vine fell the rest of them didn't know it yet, but their offensive was broken. Elven magic burnt the other to a crisp while his neighbour was diced like a piece of leek by the rest. A restless silence descended upon the party, only disturbed by a panting and grunting Durin-Daine who scrambled over the muddy ground to safety before actually noticing the danger was gone.
The halfling swept the sweat of her forehead, but did not yet sheathe her weapons.
"We might have a small reprieve, but the plant will regenerate until we uproot her core. An... what's that sound?"
A soft, canine yelping came from beyond the bushes.

Rolls:

Lath: Eldritch Blast @ V2: 14 + 4 = 18 Hit! 7 damage
Bryn: Firebolt @ V2: 17 + 5 = 22 Hit! 12 damage (V2 = Dead)
Halfling: Short sword x 2 @ V3: 6 + 5 = 11/12 + 5 = 17 Hit! 12 damage
Rorik: Dodge
Bo: Quarterstaff @ V3: 19 + 5 = 24 Hit! 5 damage
Polearm Master @ V3: 5 + 5 = 10 Miss!
Aidan: Crossbow x 2 @ V3: 9 + 5 = 14/18 + 5 = 23 Hit! 12 damage (V3 = Dead)
Durin-Daine: Crawling away in fear to D4

Map after round 5:

Status V1: Dead
Status V2: Dead
Status V3: Dead

Seeing that the leafy vines from the hell-beyond-hells had finally ceased to be a threat, Durin-Daine rose up and stood, leaning on his sword as a cane. "I've a strategy that might see us less fighting and more killing: burn this thrice-cursed forest to the ground and salt the earth after, for good measure." He grimaced as he spoke, teeth flecked with blood.

"And where would we live mister Dwarf?" the halfling mocked him. "Would you cordially invite our entire people to live in your halls? I don't think so. Way too cold and musty. Anyways, my name is Anette Longsteeple. What may I call you lot?"