Giant City Ruins

After Avegnum, Vel, Halvdan, Lev, and the skeletal horse adjust themselves and get ready to adventure they wait and wait for Kaellanna to return. Ten munites pass and nothing, no Druid, no cat. Nothing but the odd sounds, eerie lighting, and uncomfortable feelings of dread that most experience. What do they do next?

After Second Scorrow Battle

In the twilight of the fading last battle of Avegnum's martial career - at least for the present time if Kaellanna has her way with him - the final visible drow absconds with his soul internalized in to the row of animated trees trying to finish the remaining party members. Unsuccessful in the attempt the trees continue to thrash about at the invisible bubble surrounding the mercury man, surrounding the remaining members. Leaving the armored and slimed corpse of the giant Vik'Gotror at the foot of the animated tree-line, to be pulled into the trees and the ground beneath them, the party moves north into the cleared area where they fought the scorrow for a second time, beyond the grasp of the animated undergrowth and the lashings of the animated trees. Pausing in the north end of the clearing, crowding around the newly arrived skeletally clad man on a skeleton horse, the party takes a pause to heal a bit.

"I need to heal Tara," Kaellanna says to the group, "at least enough so she can make the journey back to Vik's camp site. Anyone else on the verge of death?" She looks around at the group taking each into account before ignoring them and healing her feline companion a couple times with her wand. "Who invited the undead cavalry?" Kaellanna asks bitterly to no one in particular. "Vel seems happy to see it here. Figures, the unnatural is drawn to the unnatural."

Second Scorrow Battle (09)

	Initiative	XY	Name	Health	AC	Saves	Notes
<*>	20.5		Vel	12	18 (FF16, T12)	F+4/R+5/W+7	Fatigued, entangled
	20		Halvdan	114	24 (FF22, T12)	F+14/R+4/W+7
	19	-E-21	Tree 1	100%
	16		Avegnum	-9	21 (FF18, T15)	F+11/R+8/W+5	Fatigued, entangled, dying
	15		Mercury Man	100%
	15	-E-3	Tree 8	92%
	15	-E0	Tree 9	92%
	14		Kaellanna	35	20 (FF18, T12)	F+8/R+6/W+12	Fatigued
	13		Tara	1	18 (FF11, T13)	F+4/R+8/W+3	Poisoned: 6 DEX & 5 CON DMG
	9	-T2	Drow 7	13%	17(FF15, T12)	F+4/R+6/W+2*	SR15
	7	-E-18	Tree 2	100%
	6	-E-15	Tree 3	100%
	1	-E-9	Tree 5	100%
	1	-E-6	Tree 6	100%
	0	-E-12	Tree 4	100%
	0	-E-24	Tree 7	100%

• All Ranged attacks take a -4 penalty due to undergrowth, except if entirely in a cleared area.
• Fatigued: -2 Dex & Str, and can not run or charge.
• Trees provide cover. Characters can squeeze or crawl through the square they occupy.
• Darker green area are rough terrain (double movement).
• Lighter green area are mostly cleared and count as normal terrain.
• Characters are invisible (dark outline) and can not see each other.
• SR# = Spell Resistance
• Shakened = -2 attack, saves, skill & ability checks
• Entangled = 1/2 speed, no run/charge, -2 to attack, -4 DEX
• Can break free and move half speed with full round DC20 STR/escape artist check.
• Red outlines indicate hostile trees.

The party prepares for an invisible battle with hidden foes. A battle they may not survive. A battle they intend to keep their enemies from surviving.

After The Scorrow Gets Away

In the aftermath of the battle the writhing plants continue to reach out and try to grapple with anything they can find. This continues for a few minutes causing intermittent slowing of any movement the party makes. When the plants stop moving Kaellanna's polar bear form is dropped to the ground. Now that the plants no longer make noise the party can hear that the jungle is very quiet. More quiet than before. Tara claws her way over to her companion having seen her move and expecting her to get up now. The cat paws the bear then sighs and lays down next to Kaellanna getting as close as she physically can.


All around are the bodies of the dead and dying.


Not long after the drow leave Vik's strength returns. Once he is strong again he douses his inferno. "That went sort of well," He comments quietly while exhaling smoke, "We should heal up and get ready for round two quickly. That scorrow will get reinforcments and be back soon. I think we must be close to their camp. I've never seen so many drow before. Never have I seen anythig like this, either." Vik'Gotror kicks the carcase of the mechanical scorpion, "I've no idea what t is."


Avegnum finds Vel covered by and in the middle of a puddle of some thick, sticky, clear to off-white colored liquid. The plants around him are burnt and bubbling where they touch the slimy substance. All of Vel's non-magical items are missing. Vel has a certain obscured look to him, like someone crossed Vel with a changeling, like his features are softened. As Avegnum looks on Vel's features return to look exactly like Vel, except for being covered in the viscous liquid.


Vel Suddenly opens his eyes, and gasps as if he had been swimming underwater well past his ability to hold his breath. Looking around with wild eyes he lets out a short scream that sprays a little of the thick liquid out of his mouth. Scrambling to get up, he stands in a hurry looking around with wide eyes and a panicked expression on his face. Within a couple seconds he seems to have recovered his senses and have some memory of where he is. He mouths words but makes no sounds at first, then stops mouthing words as he recognizes his surroundings.


While dead Vel experienced the most vivid dreams he has ever had in his short life. They were full of great and awesome creatures made of slime and scales, wings and horns, teeth and eyes, and fur, claws and blackness. These dreams initially filled him with dread and horror, but as he found himself in a vast stinking swamp full of rotted plants and half-dissolved corpses the horror and dread are replaced by awe, respect, and even love. Then, being ripped from this slimy heaven, his mind races as he tries to recall where he is, why he is there, and who he is. As he opens his eyes flashes of his past come back to him, and memories of the lost life of a different person who strikingly resembles him fill his mind. Standing and looking around he remembers everything he has been through including the latest ambush and the attacks that drove him to unconsciousness.


The wetness covering Vel drips to the ground where it hisses and burns anything it touches. After a couple seconds Vel seems to hear the dripping and hissing and looking down he stop producing the acid which seems to be reabsorbed into his skin leaving him dry with a blank expression on his face.

Drow-Scorpion Battle (12)

	Initiative	Location	Name	Health	AC	Saves	Notes
	20	L36	Drow 9	84%	17(FF15, T12)
	13	J16	Vel	DEAD	18 (FF16, T12)	F+4/R+5/W+7	DR2/Cold Iron, Entangled
<*>	13	K15	Avegnum	2	21 (FF18, T15)	F+11/R+8/W+5	SS, Fatigued
	12	M36	Drow 7	100%	17(FF15, T12)
	9	?	Scorrow	?
	9	K25	Vik'Gotror	40%	27 (FF26, T9)	F+14/R+3/W+12	Fatigued, Entangled
	8	J14	Tara	6	20 (FF11, T15)	F+6/R+11/W+3	2 DEX DMG, 5 CON DMG
	4	K16	Kaellanna (Polar Bear)	-7	20 (FF20, T9)	F+10/R+4/W+10	Fatigued, Glowing, Entangled, Dying

• All Ranged attacks take a -4 penalty due to massive undergrowth and trees. Unless completely in a cleared area.
• Fatigued: -2 STR & DEX, can not run or charge.
• Trees block line of sight & effects. Characters can squeeze or crawl past them.
• All terrain is rough except for the path burned by Vik'Gotror and the clearing around the large drow-scorpion creature.
• SR: Spell Resistance: Make caster level checks if casting spells or spell-like abilities at this target if the spell is susceptible to SR.
• Glowing negates concealment.
• SS = Stone stance: +2 AC until moved 5+ feet.
• Shaken: -2 attacks, saves, skill & ability checks
• Entangled: move at half speed, cannot run/charge, -2 on all attack, -4 to Dexterity. Casting a spell requires Concentration check (DC 15 + the spell’s level).
• Hailstones fall in the blue area. Movement within the blue area is at half speed.

Vik'Gotror yells out and back to the group in his gruff and smokey voice (in common), "Gods damned, I thought there was a scorrow here. Looks like I was right. Not sure about this ..." Then to the scorrow he yells (in elven), "It's time you let this garden be, damnation! Your unnatural kind has no place here!"

The scorrow (drow-scorpion hybrid) yells in reply in it's thickly accented elven, "Not even with the elf slave and her human concubine, and that short creature and the small cat, will you have your way with our fortress. Go back from here and we will let you and your slaves live, dragon fire demon!"

Kaellanna and Tara both make note of a single grow on either side of the trail, hidden by the trees. They also see a disturbing creature behind them. Hidden my the trees is a scorpion-like creature lurking behind an unusually large tree. The creature looks like someone made a scorpion sculpture out of spare warforged parts laying around. The scorpion stands about four feet tall with a wicked looking tail that drips a thick green liquid from it's barbed stinger tip. The tail hovers another 2-3 feet about the top of the mechanical scorpion. By Kaellanna's estimation the creature must weigh well over a ton.

To Dinner!

Putting away his bow and slinging his sword across his back, Avegnum walks over towards the serpent's body with Vel. Looking down at it he feels somewhat chagrined at the fact that it was the least experienced member of the group that managed to secure dinner and save face in front of the giant, Vik'Gotror. "Nice job, Vel, that was a sweet shot there at the end, and I'm glad you didn't lose your head when things started going against us. With everything we're sure to face out here, reliability like that will definitely keep us kicking long enough to see off anything we come up against. You would've been good to have in the war..."
Blushing at the compliments, Vel puts his wand away as his mouth waters from the slight scent of seared serpent flesh. Looking at Alton askance, "Huh, that's weird, I didn't know you fought and if I recall you aren't a member of any House... and you definitely don't look like you're one of the Talenta halflings... Where are you from anyway?"
Avegnum jerks his head back as if slapped at the queries and belatedly realizes that he's blown the facade he's maintained with his human companion for the past six months. Taking another look at the dead serpent, and considering everything they've been through, "Ah, to hezmana with it! Well my friend, it's a long story, and I will definitely tell you, just one moment. Hey Vik, can you carry the serpent back to your camp, or should we cut it up for transport?"

Serpent Battle (04)

	INI(Mod)	Location	Name	Hit Points	AC	Saves	Notes/Effects
	20 (+1)	A3	Vik'Gotror	188/188	28 (FF26, T10)	F+14/R+4/W+12
<*>	17 (+4)	F9	Avegnum	92/108	22 (FF18, T16)	F+11/R+9/W+5	EE, 3 STR DMG, Fatigued, Prone
<*>	17 (+3)	E10	Vel	31/45	19 (FF16, T13)	F+4/R+6/W+7	DR2/Cold Iron, EE, Fatigued, 6 STR DMG
	13 (+5)	B5(45')	Half-Fiend Dream Serpent	18/72	19 (FF14, T14)	F+8/R+11/W+3	45' up, Darkness=20% miss, Cover
	7 (+6)	G8	Tara	32/45	21 (FF11, T16)	F+7/R+11/W+3	EE, Fatigued, 3 STR DMG, Asleep
	7 (+3)	G9	Kaellanna	40/51	21 (FF18, T13)	F+8/R+7/W+12	EE, 3 STR DMG

The party now sees that beside being a bright green 11' serpent with silver scales, and mithral-colored eyes, it also has large bat wings, that have unfurled from around it's snake body, uncovering two long arm-like appendages ending in large clawed hands. It's platinum colored fangs are much large than a normal large snake of it's approximate size.

Vik'Gotror causes his fiery self to become as fiery as he can. Any creature within 10' of him will take fire damage.

"This one looks angry," Vik'Gotror bellows as he happily smiles while flat on his back. "Dinner's served!"

Giant Discussion 01

Alton steps into the ashy tunnel burnt through the jungle. Measuring 20' wide and tall, and of an indeterminant length Alton find himself in a structure, of sorts, large enough to house several dozen of his kind. Even from this distance of 40' he can feel the heat radiating off the giant as it burns it's way through the wilderness. As he speaks, the giant creature stops it forward motion, straightens up and turns around as it growls in a gravelly voice that spits sparks and spews smoke, "What? What is this? Someone speaking to me in the human tongue, no? How strange, with no humans anywhere around, right?" As the creature turns around it's sight is set to view someone fully twice Avegnum's height. The giant pauses, blinks and looks down to view Alton and his 'great' sword. "What is this? An exceptionally short human, no? With a massive sword, and some sparkly armor, I see? How should I approach this, with a visitor to my grand garden, I see? Not an drow, no, not a spider, no, not a snake or scorpion, no, not even a fiend, I see. Just a pale little midget with shiny, shiny armor and greatly massive sword? How does this little one like my shiny, shiny armor, hum? What is this little one to do in my garden, I wonder?" After this the giant stops talking, stares at Alton, and waits. While waiting Alton can feel the extra heat radiating from the giant dissipate, and sees the fire on it's head reduce to a small smolder.

Trek through jungle

As the party pours itself into the bag of holding for a five minute trek away from the spiders and into the unknown, the venom from the spiders makes it's way through the party victims. Only Vel and Tara are further affected by the venom. Tara takes an additional 3 points of STR DMG, and Vel's STR is brought to 0.

The party begins making its way in the direction the spider being pointed to at one point. They, well really only Alton, since the only other conscious party member is a medium sized cat, realizes the direction pointed in is not that far from the direction taken by the spider being and the swarms that travel with it.

Hot High-Altitude Jungle-Marsh Battle (R09)

The group continues to hear the scurrying of creatures, and feel the intense effects of the heat and altitude. As they prepare them selves for ... something, they see a large swarm of small, though particularly nasty looking spiders crawling over and under the plant life, and approaching them at a rapid rate. The undergrowth and trees do not seem to impede the crawling carpet of advancing arachnids.

Map Notes:
All squares cost double movement except brown (clear) squares (unless you have a crawl speed).
All green squares block vision and inflict a -1 to hit for each square (including adjacent).
Trees block movement (except crawling) and sight and provide cover.
Blue squares are marsh and up to 1' deep water.
Grey lines are vertical web walls restricting movement but not eliminating vision.
Dashed grey lines in lower section of map indicate web walls that do not go all the way down - they would allow a medium humanoid to crawl below them.

Initiatives & Notes:
	Ini	Name	Location	Hit Points	AC	Saves	Notes/Effects
	26	Swarm 1	G5	15/19	20 (FF14, T20)	F+5/R+9/W+1	GONE
	24	Swarm 3	G-1	5/19	20 (FF14, T20)	F+5/R+9/W+1	GONE
	17	Swarm 4	C0	4/19	20 (FF14, T20)	F+5/R+9/W+1	GONE
	16	? enemy 1	A2	14/36	17 (FF15, T12)	F+5/R+6/W+6	GONE
	15	Monstrous Spider 1	G1	-9/30	17 (FF11, T16)	F+6/R+9/W+2	DEAD
	15	Monstrous Spider 2	F5	-1/30	17 (FF11, T16)	F+6/R+9/W+2	DEAD
	14	Avegnum	F3	85/108	22 (FF18, T16)	F+11/R+9/W+5	Poisoned: 2 STR DMG
	13	Kaellanna	(F3)	-4/51	21 (FF18, T13)	F+8/R+7/W+12	Poisoned (x2): 4 STR DMG, STABLE, Bagged
	11	Vel B.	F4	10/45	19 (FF16, T13)	F+4/R+6/W+7	Fatigued, 3 non-lethal DMG, Poisoned (x5):12 STR DMG, Entangled, Paralyzed.
	10	Tara	F2	12/45	20 (FF11, T15)	F+7/R+10/W+3	Fatigued, 3 non-lethal DMG, poisoned (x3): 6 STR DMG
	7	Swarm 2	B5	15/19	20 (FF14, T20)	F+5/R+9/W+1	GONE