Taleslinger's D&D Game, Session 34

[slingergame] Bert says, "Log on."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Oh, and my sneak attack went up <3"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "I got an Action Surge!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I gained two spells, a new spell slot, and can prepare 10 spells at a time. Also, now have 40 HP."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So now I can take one extra action, in between rests."

[slingergame] DM says, "neat."

[slingergame] DM says, "And I guess you will need all of that in ..."

DM says, "The Evergreen Forest."

Vraklul says, "This seems like a nice place."

DM says, "The forest is different from the other forests you've seen in Bastafore in a subtle way. You can tell the elven influence here: The trees are greener, the fruit more merriful, it seems generally closer to the idea of a forest than an actual forest."

DM says, "Rush especially, seems kind of entranced by it and is barely responsive."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "(Heh.)"

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "I presume we'll drop in on Brunhilda first? Unless we already went further than that?"

DM says, "You follow a forest path for a few hours, but that grows smaller and smaller and more unkempt, until you're basically in the middle of pathless greenery."

[slingergame] DM says (to Quarion), "Her hut is in the forest, near the northern edge of the forest."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "excellent"

Vraklul wonders how Quarion knows which way to go.

Quarion leads the heroes onwards with confidence!

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Overconfidence, even"

DM says, "You travel for about half a day, and in the evening you arrive at Brunhilda's cabin."

DM says, "Alas, it is boarded up and looks abandonded."

Quarion investigates. This seems strange.

Shaborys hm.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Well, that was a short session."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "hmpf"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I assume that was just me"

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "I take it it's not usually like this?"

Quarion says, "Yes. It's worrying."

Shaborys says, "Maybe she moved? And didn't leave a forwarding address."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I want to search around the hut, look for traces."

Vraklul looks around the door (under the doormat, etc.) for any notes or other messages.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Investigate roll?"

Quarion knocks on the boarded windows. 'Hello?'

DM says (to Vraklul), "You find nothing."

DM says (to Quarion), "No answer."

Shaborys tries the door.

DM says (to Shaborys), "Quick, make a Dex save"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "!"

Shaborys rolls 1 20_7-sided die: 8 | 8

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "(DC20)"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Evasion gives me half damage on a failed dex save."

Quarion says (to Shaborys), "That's a weird-looking die"

Shaborys oh.

Shaborys rolls 1 20 -sided die: 4 | 4 + 7 = 11

DM says, "You take one piercing damage, and half of this as poison:"

DM rolls 2 10-sided dice: 8 8 | 16

DM says, "And a CON save"

Shaborys rolls 1 20 -sided die: 16 | 16 + 2 = 18

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I had assumed he was going to wait until closer to six."

DM says, "You're poisoned for an hour..."

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "hm?"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "To kill me"

DM says, "The door is equipped with a poison needle trap. (That wasn't there before)"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul | [slingergame] Taleslinger notes "must kill Stabby by 6pm".

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Tell me when an hour is up?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "In game"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Sure. It probably won't matter."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "He's pretty inept at killing players, so he's putting the odds on his side by starting now *evil grin*"

Vraklul asks (of Shaborys), "Are you alright?"

Shaborys ouch!

Shaborys says, "I don't feel so good."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "If you feel dusty..."

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Quarion), "Horst, Elmorn, Luthian..."

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "Is your friend the sort who would set traps to poison visitors?"

Quarion says, "Not unless she had a good reason. She's not a violent person."

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Did I figure out if the door was locked ater getting pricked?"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Or while, or whatever"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "It is indeed locked."

Vraklul says, "Well, you could always ask her."

Shaborys checks the door for futher traps after her massive lack of judgement.

Quarion was also surprised that Shaborys let down her guard.

Vraklul says, "You know, with Siri."

[slingergame] DM says (to Shaborys), "Investigation"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Also is it going to fire again, can I figure that out? And roll to disable it if necessary."

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 6 = 7

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Christ."

[slingergame] Shaborys throws the dice into a pit

DM says (to Shaborys), "No further traps, and no way that needle is going to fire again."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Can I also investigate? I'm worried she'll hurt herself again."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Quickly before I try to unlock the door :)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Sure"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "You said the front door was boarded?"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Or just locked?"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 6 = 12

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "I thought just the windows were boarded?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Just the windows."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Cool."

[slingergame] DM says (to Quarion), "You're not so sure that needle isn't gonna fire again."

Vraklul says, "If we're going to break in, and we're worried about the front door, maybe we should just open a window? We've still got that crowbar."

Quarion says, "Seems like a safer option."

Shaborys hands it over.

Vraklul pries the boards from one of the windows on the front of he house.

Shaborys says, "Should we check the.. oh."

DM says (to vrakul), "When you remove the central board, something inside the cabin goes *sproing*"

Shaborys throws up in the bushes.

Vraklul asks, "Huh, did anyone else hear that?"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 8 = 27

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 7 | 7 + 8 = 15

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 8 = 25

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 8 = 24

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 11 | 11 + 8 = 19

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha ha ha ha ha."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "!!!!"

[slingergame] DM says, "Oops, ignore that last one"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "S*it"

DM rolls 1 4-sided die: 2 | 2

DM rolls 1 4-sided die: 4 | 4

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "The last one was for Horst?"

Shaborys was busy throwing up in the bushes. Could not have taken any damage :D

Roger has arrived.

[slingergame] DM says (to Vraklul), "I assume that would be 3 hits"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "If those were all attack rolls, yes!"

[slingergame] DM says, "So that's 10 piercing damage! And roll 3 CON(15) saves"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Speak of the devil."

Vraklul rolls 1 10-sided die: 7 | 7 + 7 = 14

Vraklul rolls 1 10-sided die: 9 | 9 + 7 = 16

Vraklul rolls 1 10-sided die: 2 | 2 + 7 = 9

DM exclaims, "Vrakul is needled by some darts!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "No, wait."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I should use a d20."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 7 = 16

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Hee"

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 7 = 16

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 7 = 9

Shaborys whispers, "I told you so." Then she hurls again.

[slingergame] DM says, "Each of those succesful saves means 1d10 posion damage"

Vraklul says, "Ow!", with a dart sticking out of his arm.

DM rolls 1 10-sided die: 6 | 6

DM rolls 1 10-sided die: 4 | 4

DM says, "And the failed one:"

DM rolls 2 10-sided dice: 10 4 | 14

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "10 piercing, 24 poison?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "The DM means business."

[slingergame] DM says, "Plus a needle is sticking out of your noise in a comically painful looking way"

Vraklul plucks out the poison dart and looks at it kinda crosseyed, swaying a bit. "Oog."

Vraklul says, "I... I am going back to my first suggestion. Siri."

Quarion says, "Siri it is."

Vraklul sits down. Some distance away from where Shaborys just was.

Siri clambers out of Quarion's backpack.

Bloodfang smells around Shaborys.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "ooo smelly dog"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "itym 'sniffs'"

Quarion says, "Siri."

Siri says, "*DING*RECORD RECIPIENT"

Quarion says, "Brunhilda Bloodaxe"

Siri says, "*DING*Bronhillary Bluntaxe*"

Quarion says, "Dear Brunhilda, we arrived at your hut and encountered some booby traps, where are you? Best wishes, Quarion and the Knights"

Siri says, "*MESSAGE RECORDED AS* Dear Brondila, Whee! Arrowed at your hat and incumbered some bloody steps, wear harr! uh? Death wishes, Valerians, Annie, Night"

Siri scampers behind a tree.

Quarion says, "Death wishes? Yikes."

DM appears on the other side of the tree, and as much as an expressionless box can, looks indignant.

Shaborys oh no! The DM!

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul exclaims, "We've finally done it! We've summoned him!"

[Crows-Nest] DM exclaims, "ha!"

Siri walks the other way around the tree.

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "DM is like Thanos, always teased in post-credit scenes."

(From DM) And does not reappear.

Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "Is there something wrong with magic around here?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "So I'm just an expressionless boy to you, eh"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Nobody even mentioned that I got a haircut today *sniff*"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "aww"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "also: did you mean 'bot' instead of 'boy'?"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra here now!

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra catches up.

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says (to DM), "We were just trying to be polite. But don't worry, I'm sure it'll be fine when it grows back out."

Vraklul looks behind the tree to make sure Siri is really gone.

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I appreciate the gesture of suggesting I could ever have a full head of hair again."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I think heads are supposed to be filled with brains, not hair."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "(pun!)"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "(or rather, wordplay)"

[slingergame] DM says (to Vraklul), "She is"

Vraklul says, "Alright. This seems like a good time to take a rest. That ride really took it out of me."

Vraklul says, "Or maybe it was the needle darts."

Vraklul says, "Either way."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "OK, am I poisoned? Who needs cure poison?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Besides Shaborys."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(I have Lesser Restoration)"

[slingergame] DM says, "vrak is not poisoned, only took posion damage"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "I think Shaborys' poison is supposed to wear off in an hour?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I.e., a short rest."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Which I would like to take anyway, to spend some hit dice.)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Works for me"

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 9 | 9

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I also have cure wounds, of course ;-)"

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 7 | 7

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(but spells don't regenerate after a short rest)"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yeah, that was my thinking."

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 7 | 7

Shaborys rolls 1 8-sided die: 3 | 3 + 2 = 5

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 11 | 11

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Back up to full, on the dot."

Vraklul has been lying in the grass with his eyes shut, resting. And on occasion, snoring.

Shaborys gradually feels better, and her stomach settles.

DM says, "Just as you get up from your rest, a figure steps into the clearing on theb opposite end. It's a human, clad in practical, leather clothes, wielding a hand crossbow and a rapier. He does not seem to be overtly afraid or angry, but approaches catiously until he is a bout 20 feet away."

DM says, "A giant frog hops to his side and sits there."

Frog says, "*ribbit*"

Rashawndra waves. "Hello!"

Vraklul waves, as he gets back up off the ground.

Shaborys is taken aback by the frog's apperance.

Quarion says, "Well, I have no idea who this is."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I guess Stabby is suddenly hungry again."

[slingergame] (from Vraklul) Shaborys says, "A frog? Wearing white? *After Labor Day*?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Can someone remind me why we're at Brunhilde's cottage, and what we wanted with her?"

Vraklul asks (of Stranger), "Any idea where Brunhilda went?"

Stranger says, "Okay, show me your boots - *eyes narrowing* What do you want with her?""

Shaborys shows off her awesome boots. They are not red.

[slingergame] Quarion asks, "Aside from the fact that she's my mentor and that I haven't seen her since I was level 0, and that she probably knows a lot more about the Forest?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "We're on our way to the place where Quarion's father supposedly didn't murder anyone, to help clear his name, and Brunhilda is our best friendly local contact for the area."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Or whatever color they should not be."

Rashawndra leans back in the grass and waves her boots at the stranger, then rolls back to a sitting position.

Quarion presents boots. 'I'm no mercenary.'

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Thanks!"

Vraklul's boots are already pretty visible. He's not exactly hiding them.

Quarion says, "People keep assuming we're mercenaries, for some reason."

Stranger lowers his crossbows carefully, but keeps his distance.

Rashawndra asks, "And what color are *your* boots?"

Stranger shows off some mud-cacked, well worn boots.

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "show us your boooooooo.....ts"

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "Show us your ghost?"

Rashawndra peers at them. "OK, uh, what color did they *used* to be?

Stranger says, "Who are you? What do you want with her?"

Shaborys looks at Quarion.

Quarion says, "I'm Quarion, her student."

Rashawndra gestures at Q. "We're with him, and he knew her back in the day. What's your name, and how do you know Brunhilde?"

Rashawndra says, "Oh, and I'm Rashawndra."

Rashawndra exclaims, "And that's Vraklul!"

Vraklul says, "Heya."

Vraklul offers a hand to shake.

The Stranger comes closer, putting away his weapons. He is a male human, in his 40s, who was has the weatherworn face of someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. He shakes hands all around.

Shaborys allows her hand to be shaken, but continues to say nothing.

Quarion shakes hands.

Kougan says, "Apologies for the rough greeting. I'm Kougan Hist, a friend of Brunhilda's for the last 10 years or so. Not many of those around anymore.""

Vraklul says, "Do you know where she went? We tried to pay her a visit, but her house attacked us."

Kougan says, "Indeed I do. Let me *unloads dead rabbits* prepare these in the meantime."

(From DM) "Crooak!" The frog hops away. Bloodfang tries to look innocent.

Rashawndra asks, "Are you a druid or something? Is the frog your companion?"

Kougan says, "Brunhilda left the forest a few years ago, to travel south. I lived in the proximity, and we exchanged food and help from time to time. Got drunk, mostly. Good times. But it's rough living here, and I guess she remembered better times."

(From DM) Leggit hops across the clearing as soon as Bloodfang catiously approaches. it's not entirely clear if only he or both of them consider this a fun game.

Quarion says, "Oh, I begin to understand. We only got part of her reply to our message, and presumably that was the bit in which she explained her absence."

Quarion says, "The bit that was missing, I mean."

Kougan nods. "She allowed me use of her cabin. And over the last few years, there has been an influx of gnolls and redboots in the area, so I installed some deterrents.

Quarion also realizes he didn't explain the 25 word limit in his latest message, d'oh.

Quarion says (to Kougan), "Well, your deterrents were extremely effective."

Kougan says, "That's good to know, thank you."

Rashawndra says, "But they'll need to be reset."

Kougan nods.

Rashawndra asks, "So, did she mention Quarion?"

Vraklul holds out three needles to Kougan, in the palm of his hand. "Need these back?"

Rashawndra asks, "Do you know what's going on?"

Kougan takes the darts from Vraklul, nods at Rush and the says, "What do you mean?"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

Rashawndra asks, "Like, did Brunhilde tell you 'Hey, if Quarion shows up, let him know X and help him do Y and send him to Z."?"

Kougan says, "All I know is that the elves have been engaged in a civil war since before I was born."

Rashawndra says, "If not, I guess the question is simply, 'What's roughly happened over the last decade, and what changed in the last year or so?'"

Kougan says, "Nobody really travels deep within the forest, and the place is going a bit to hell, if you ask me. *glances at tieflings* Uh, no offense.""

[slingergame] Quarion sometimes forgets that he's just over a century old.

Shaborys just nods.

Kougan says, "And they deter anyone who is not an elf - or from the wrong elf city - to come near their cities."

Rashawndra's eyes go wide and she puts her hand over her heart and says "Gracious!" but grins.

Kougan says, "I've heard they used to patrol the forest, to keep its creatures in check, but now wild and strange beasts roam free, and the deeper in you go, the more dangerous it gets."

Vraklul nods, unperturbed.

Kougan says, "If you plan to travel south, you're honestly better off going around the forest.""

Rashawndra says, "Well, that's no good."

Rashawndra asks, "Wait, but Brunhilde moved south? Into the forest?"

Kougan says, "No, around"

Vraklul says, "Oh. So I guess we won't be meeting her on the way after all."

Quarion says (to Kougan), "You're probably going to warn us that it's a bad idea, but we will have to go deep into the forest if we are to accomplish what we set out to do."

Kougan nods. "I feared as much."

Quarion says, "It's a shame that we won't see Brunhilda beforehand, but as it is we have little choice."

Kougan says, "(to Quarion) I see you are one of the Horntown elves. I'm not sure if that will be a help or a hindrance going into their cities. They are very paranoid and quick with their bows."

Kougan says, "If you must go, I have two, no, three suggestions, if you will hear them."

Vraklul says, "Sure."

Rashawndra asks, "Uh, are you under a curse where people can't hear your advice, or something?"

Kougan laughs.

Vraklul says (to Rush), "We could walk away with our fingers in our ears."

Vraklul says, "Going 'la la la la la'."

Rashawndra asks (of Vrak), "And that might break the curse?"

Vraklul shrugs non-committally.

Rashawndra says, "Wait, oh. You were hoping we would listen. Um. Right."

Rashawndra crumples, embarassed.

Kougan says, "First, you should find MArce Eltak. He's an elven paladin, and lives further south, and seems one of the few normal elves left. We usually meet from time to time, but it has been a few months, so I fear something might have happened to him."

Shaborys pats Rush.

Kougan nudges Rush. "It's quite allright."

Vraklul asks, "How *do* we find him?"

Rashawndra squeezes Shaborys's hand on her shoulder in a 'thanks' gesture.

Rashawndra says, "And the forest didn't grow back? That's odd."

Kougan shrugs. He does not have a camp or anything. He roams the forest and protects it where he can. Weird fellow, very cheerful. You can't miss him. Tell him Kougan says his helmet looks stupid. He'll know I send you.

Vraklul says (to Rush), "I think most trees take a while to get full sized."

Kougan says, " If you see an elf in furs and leather, with a bear skull for a helmet, wielding an Obsidian claymore, that's him."

Rashawndra says (to Vrak), "Right, but he said it was 'dead'."

Vraklul says (to Rush), "Hmm. Good point."

Vraklul looks at Kougan.

Kougan says, "It is regrowing slowly, but I've heard that there are occasional new fires."

Rashawndra says, "Hey, 'bear skull helmet' would be a great target for Locate Object. Have to be fairly close to him, though, I guess."

Rashawndra asks, "But the fire seems to have been natural?"

Kougan shrugs. "I keep away from forest fires on principle."

Rashawndra says, "That seems like a good principle."

Rashawndra asks, "So, advice 3?"

Vraklul says, "One which, apparently, we won't be following."

Rashawndra says (to Vrak), "It's not still raging, just smouldering."

DM says, "Oh, advice 3 is wait till this rabbit stew is done, and leave tomorrow morning with full bellies."

Vraklul says, "That certainly seems like good advice."

Vraklul says, "Thank you."

Kougan nods. "Friends of friends, as the say. If you don't mind my asking, what do you expect to find in the elven villages?

Rashawndra exclaims, "Answers!"

Quarion says, "The source of the darkness that has fallen on the Forest and made the elves go mad."

Rashawndra asks (of Kougan), "I don't suppose you have a map? Or could sketch us a rough one?"

[slingergame] (from Quarion) DM explodes! 'NO! MAPS!'

Kougan nods. "It would be nice to have them back to normal. Brunhilda talked a lot about how nice they were, before the war. *looks at Quarion* And she spoke highly of you, as well. She was always adamant your parents had nothing to do with whatever happened."

Kougan says, "(to Rushwandra) Sorry, I'm terrible at drawing."

Quarion smiles at Kougan's words.

[Crows-Nest] (from Vraklul) Quarion, too, is terrible at drawing.

(From DM) So Kougan keeps on preparing the stew, adding some veggies and spices and so forth.

Rashawndra asks, "Quarion's dad is actually the motivating factor here. Did she say anything more specific on that front?"

Kougan says, "As far as she could figure, they were chosen because Quelenna was a healer, and would a reason to be called to the King's Hall. Or maybe there was an actual emergency that escalated."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys frowns. Veggies? In rabbit stew? No.

Rashawndra asks, "Chosen, like to be set up?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "https://www.thespruceeats.com/hearty-rabbit-stew-with-vegetables-3062089"

Kougan nods.

[slingergame] Rashawndra imagines Shaborys carefully picking out the vegetables.

Rashawndra asks, "So, what side of the fire break does MArce live on?"

Kougan says, "As I said, he moves around, but south is more likely."

Rashawndra nods.

Quarion says, "So we'll just have to go looking for him."

Kougan nods.

[slingergame] Quarion says, ">EAT STEW"

(From DM) So you eat and talk, and Kougan shares a few stories about Brunhilda, mostly embarassing ones, and he invites you to sleep in the house.

Vraklul offers to nail back the boards he pried off.

Kougan offers to disarm the trap first.

Vraklul says, "Oh. Good idea."

(From DM) The trap is a quite ingenious mechanism mounted in the middle of the house, connected to the windows by strings to the center boards.

Quarion says, "Ingenious."

Kougan says, "Thank you. Brunhilda got that off a wandering gnome mechanic from Myrehall some years ago."

Vraklul asks, "Wasn't named Norrin, was he?"

(From DM) And so, assuming there isn't anything else, you sleep ...

(From DM) But then, in the middle of the night ...

Quarion trances.

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul wonders how many beds Brunhilda has in her house.

[Crows-Nest] (from Rashawndra) (From DM) Siri returns!

[slingergame] (from Quarion) Shaborys says, 'stop trancing so loudly'

(From DM) *woof* *croak* *gulp* *regurgitate* A very wet and very slimy and dejected Bloodfang rolls up next to Quarion.

Quarion says (to Bloodfang), "That's what happens when you don't leave giant frogs alone."

Quarion says, "At least you're all right now."

Quarion finds a cloth or something to wipe Bloodfang into a more acceptable state.

(From DM) And so the night continues ...

Quarion then remembers. Magic! And uses prestidigitation to finish cleaning Bloodfang

(From DM) when suddenly ...

DM exclaims (at shaborys), "Something is moving near your head!"

[Crows-Nest] (from Quarion) DM says, 'It's a giant frog.'

Shaborys moves as little as possible to check it out.

Shaborys assumes it can't be dangerous, because her dagger isn't freaking out...

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "I thought about just slapping it, haha."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "without looking"

DM says (to Shaborys), "And then something, very loudly, near you face, goes"

(From DM) *DING*

Siri says, "THIS IS A MESSAGE FROM: Oh hey, it's this thing again MESSAGE READS: Dear Quarion and friends, be careful, the house is trapped! I have moved south, and am currently employed by pirates as their ship's bard on"

Shaborys swears quietly.

Quarion says, "I once again omitted to mention the word limit."

Rashawndra says, "Oh, hey, there's no word limit on who it's from! We can just put the whole message there."

Shaborys heh.

[Crows-Nest] DM glowers.

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Nice messaging robot, shame if anything happened to it"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Noooooo"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "We'll be good"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "ON THE OTHER HAND it already knows who we are and never asks us for our names."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I assume you can't cheat it that way;"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "because it has to be able to find a person with that name"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "and if that name is 'Dear Brunhilda we are fine'... Siri will never deliver the message."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "It's also weird how it finds the correct recipient despite mentioning a wrong name"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Best not to think too hard about it. Magic is tricky that way"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Yeah, I'm glad it can autocorrect for us even if we pronounce the name wrong."

(From DM) So the night continues ...

(From DM) When suddenly !

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "It's like calling collect in the 80's. "WILL YOU ACCEPT A COLLECT CALL FROM: heymomitsmeweredone PRESS ONE TO ACCEPT."

(From DM) The whole cabin is basked in light. Oh, it's morning.

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "haha, did people really do that?"

Quarion exclaims, "We have lived to see another dawn!"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "I did once when the person I was trying to call wasn't there and the automated system got their answering machine."

Quarion says, "I have a very good feeling about today."

(From DM) After a bit leftover stew, you make your farewells with Kougan, who wishes you best of luck.

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Yes"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Collect calls didn't really exist here"

Quarion exclaims, "Best of luck to you too, ranger. Thanks for the stew!"

DM exclaims, "Best of luck, Quarion the Green!"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I'd hate to see our phone bill at the end of this campaign."

DM says, "(and companions)"

Rashawndra says (to Vrak), "Looks like you're going to have to pick a color."

Vraklul waves.

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "*Somewhere in the abyss* Baal writes in notebook. "That's another soul they owe me.""

Vraklul asks (of Rush), "I guess if Quarion took green, that means I get white?"

Vraklul says, "Seems a bit backwards to me, but what do I know."

DM says, "And so you ride on. You follow Kougans instructions and ride for a few hours through the quite, oddly abandonded feeling forest."

Quarion says, "It's been a while. Things have change."

Quarion says, "+d"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra exclaims, "It's quite odd!"

Vraklul says, "I wonder if we're going to run into any of those creatures Kougan mentioned."

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "And oddly quiet."

DM says, "At some point, you ride past a stone circle, overgrown with moss, and it fills Quarion with some weird sadness, like half-forgotten memory."

Quarion stops there, pensive.

Quarion moves on.

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "If this was a videogame, I would totally check around for secret doors to under the stones."

DM says, "Then, about an hour later, you arrive at what is clearly a fire break, a gap of about 30 feet in the vegetation that is burned and black."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yeah, but you'd be disappointed, because we haven't reached the plot event that activates it yet."

DM says, "Behind hid stand half-burned treets, the skeletons of bushes, ashy and black fallen trees covering the ground."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "'hid'?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Yeah, let me try that again"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Mmmm, treets."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "nom nom nom"

DM says, "Behind it stand half-burned trees, the skeletal remains of bushes, ashy and black fallen tree strump covering the ground."

DM says, "Behind it stand half-burned trees, the skeletal remains of bushes, ashy and black fallen tree stumps covering the ground."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul exclaims, "Crap, undead bushes! It's the monsters from our very first encounter, back to fight us again!"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "ha ha"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "Mmmm, strumpets"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Shortest combat ever"

Rashawndra says, "Well, MArce is supposed to be to the south of this..."

[slingergame] DM says, "(afk real quick)"

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to rush), "Marce"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "Aww ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "I was hoping to turn your typo into his real name ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "M'arce."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I like M'arce"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Seconded."

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Rushwandra), "I was thinking you had just lazily copied it ;-)"

Vraklul exclaims, "Then we should be too!"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "(afk for a few minutes)"

Vraklul rides on through it.

Rashawndra says, "Am I saying that right? Maybe it was M'arce."

Vraklul asks, "M'arse?"

Rashawndra says, "No, more back of the throat."

Quarion says, "Don't be rude, Vrak."

[slingergame] DM says, "(back)"

[slingergame] DM says (to R&V), "snrk"

DM says, "You travel over the ashy, dead terrain for the good part of two hours, your horses treading carefully over the stumps, the blackened thorns and the occasionally twig that sticks up like a miniature spear. You hear it long before you see it, the unmistakable crackle of fire. As you ride south, you see that the forest to the south of you is on fire."

Rashawndra says, "This is... more than smouldering."

Vraklul says, "I see now why it hasn't grown back."

Quarion says, "I know I give the impression of being fireproof, but I'm not. This seems like it's going to be an obstacle."

Vraklul asks, "I don't suppose either of you has a spell to make it rain?"

DM exclaims, "Everyone roll perception!"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 - 1 = 18

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "wow"

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 0 = 17

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I have negative wisdom and I still aced it"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 3 = 19

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "You folks are eagle-eyed today"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 15 | 15 + 6 = 21

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "I can now be literally eagle-eyed."

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says (to Shaborys), "Hey, not too shabby."

DM says, "You are all pretty sure you see some shapes move inside the fire."

Shaborys asks, "There's something in the fire. Demons??"

Rashawndra readies Inflict Wounds.

[Crows-Nest] (from Shaborys) Shaborys says, "Mommy?"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Is the fire within 30ft?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Quarion), "if you move up to it, sure"

Vraklul asks (of Fire), "Hey, you! Who's there?"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I wanted to use my Detect Magic wand."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "(Which detects magic, as opposed to detecting magic wands)"

[slingergame] DM asks (of Quarion), "Do you move within 30 feet of the fire?"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "Yes!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Except here"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "I also cast Mage Armor"

Rashawndra moves up to within 60 feet.

Rashawndra casts Armor of Agathys, while she's at it.

Quarion moves to within 30ft, and casts Mage Armor. He glows briefly.

[slingergame] DM says, "One sec, checking something"

Shaborys readies her bow from a distance.

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul asks, "Is the instant death field supposed to be twenty feet in radius or thirty?"

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "hehe"

Vraklul follows about five feet behind Quarion, in case anything happens.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Actually I wanted to use the wand AND cast Mage Armor, but I guess I can only do one of those before everything goes to hell"

DM says, "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U6PWzxWHntJ6SKCiokunIr5DhcKiadodDAH2-uBx0h0/edit#gid=0"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "So think of it as 'Quarion moves within range to cast Detect MAgic, then realizes that maybe this is a dangerous place to be and as an afterthought decides to cast Mage Armor instead'"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Wand isn't a bonus action?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "It says 'an action'"

DM says, "I have an idea, let's use a map, not that there is combat coming or anything"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Got it."

DM says, "Black squares are dead trees"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says (to DM), "There are other uses for maps! It could be that the terrain is just riddled with traps and you need to know exactly where everyone is stepping so you know when to roll damage."

[slingergame] Quarion says (to DM), "Your glasses are groovy"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "ilac this was supposed to be on #crows"

[slingergame] DM says, "Thanks. Man, that's an old pic, I don't have a beard anymore since January."

[slingergame] (from Quarion) The beard sheds a single tear.

[slingergame] (from Quarion) The beard now lives alone and eats icecream out of a tub.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "okay this is the wrong channel and we have a fire to deal with"

[slingergame] Quarion sings 'We didn't start the fire'

Shaborys clears the initiative.

DM exclaims, "So Vrak shouts into the fire, and high-pitched, shrill, distorted voice answers "Who is there? It is your doom, mortals!"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 1 = 4

Shaborys rolls her eyes at this.

Vraklul says, "Oh. I guess we're fighting, then."

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Shaborys), "Okay, that's an action"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul asks, "What do you roll to roll?"

Quarion registers Quarion at init 4.

DM exclaims, "Let's roll intiative!"

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 11 | 11 + 4 = 15

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 4 = 7

Shaborys registers Shaborys at init 15.

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 5 | 5 + 2 = 7

Rashawndra registers Rashawndra at init 7.

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 11 | 11 + 2 = 13

Vraklul displays the initiative: Shaborys(15) Rashawndra(7) Quarion(4)

Vraklul registers Vraklul at init 13.

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 5 | 5 + 2 = 7

DM registers FS at init 7.

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 2 = 11

DM registers S at init 11.

DM displays the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

DM advances the initiative: SHABORYS(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "From the perception check before (I got a 21), can I see something clearly enough to aim at it?"

[slingergame] DM says, "It's still a raging fire, so I'd say disadvantage. You see a few smaller shapes and one bigger one"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Ok"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks (of Quarion), "Did you end up taking that spell that could give you fire resistance?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Nope."

Shaborys shoots at the bigger shape, which was presumably the one speaking.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Which is hilarious."

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 7 = 19

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 8 | 8 + 7 = 15

DM exclaims, "Hit!"

Shaborys rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1 + 4 = 5

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Also, on my turn I will be yelling at Rush for reasons which will become clear soon enough."

Shaborys advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) VRAKLUL(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

Vraklul rages, then runs up so he's face-to-flame with the edge of the fire and throws a javelin at the big shape.

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 7 = 23

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 7 = 21

DM says, "Disadvantage as well"

DM exclaims, "But still a hit!"

Vraklul rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2 + 4 = 6

Vraklul realizes that said javelin is probably now lost forever.

[slingergame] DM says, "Indeed :/"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Somebody might be convinced to buy you another one."

Vraklul brightens up when he realizes that maybe this will actually just turn it into a magical fire javelin.

Vraklul advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Hee."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Whoops, we have all-caps initiative people again."

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Rush), "It's our careless dM again."

DM says, "A hugge, fiery snake slithers up to the edge of the fire, where Vrak stands. Black eyes stare at him with fiery hatred."

DM exclaims, "It stabs Vrak with a spear!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Still inside the wall?"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul exclaims, "Hey, snakes can't hold spears! This is biologically implausible!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 8 | 8 + 7 = 15

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Miss!"

DM exclaims, "Then it tries to entangle him in its tail!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Biological implausbility made it miss"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 7 = 8

[Crows-Nest] DM exclaims, "This orc is slippery!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "If that is also an attack roll, I must inform you that it is also a miss."

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) RASHAWNDRA/FS(7) Quarion(4)

Vraklul says (to Snake), "Nice try, Doombo."

DM exclaims, "Rush!"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "https://media-waterdeep.cursecdn.com/avatars/thumbnails/0/173/237/315/636252761197608364.jpeg"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I see."

Rashawndra thinks about all the poor forest animals that have been burned to death in the forest fire, and then starts to get angry at this snake and the other FS's that have apparently caused it. "They should get a taste of their own medicine," she thinks, and then, without really thinking about it, gestures at the snake and and a figure in the fire, transforming both into squirrels!

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Well clearly that's incorrect. Snakes have neither arms *nor* flames. CITATION NEEDED."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(Wisdom save vs 15)"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "hahaha"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(this is 'creature I can see', if that counts for a FS)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Hmm, this is funny, so I'll allow it"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14 + 0 = 14

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 5 | 5 + 0 = 5

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Woo!"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Is that the smell of burning squirrel?"

Shaborys mmmm.

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Squirrels are, obviously, not immune to fire damage, so they then take damage, anything over 1 HP of which damages them when they then transform back into their normal forms."

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Nice!"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "So that was quite literally pointless :D"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "hahaha"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says (to Quarion), "No, because the damage carries over."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Right, that."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Does it now?"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra exclaims, "It does!"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "So if the squirrel takes 10 points of fire damage, the squirrel loses one hit point, then poofs back into a snake with nine points of damage agains tit."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "neat"

[slingergame] DM says, "According to this, a normal fire does 1d8 damage."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I was hoping this was *not* a normal fire."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "On their turns, too!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "But if it is, oh well!"

DM exclaims, "4 fiery snakes and one horribly screeching bunring squirrel make their way out of the fire!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Is it at the start or the end of their turn that they take fire damage?"

DM says, "These snakes looks different from the big one that attacked Vrak. More like biologocially plausible snakes, but with fiery maws."

[slingergame] DM says, "It's usally the start."

Rashawndra advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) QUARION(4)

Rashawndra backs up the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) RASHAWNDRA/FS(7) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Whoops, sorry, forgot they also go on 7."

DM exclaims, "Fire Snake I one snaps at Quarion!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 4 | 4 + 3 = 7

Quarion dodges!

DM exclaims, "And then it tail slaps him, too!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1 + 3 = 4

Quarion ducks!

[slingergame] DM throws die away.

Quarion exclaims, "HA!"

Quarion says, "I was *born* in this forest."

DM exclaims, "Another snake-like snake attacks Vrak!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 3 = 6

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 3 = 12

[slingergame] DM throws more die away.

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Miss and miss!"

DM rolls 1 8-sided die: 3 | 3

DM exclaims, "The burning squirrel dies!"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "And from the ashes of the dead squirel, a snake shall rise"

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) QUARION(4)

DM says, "Quarion! You are beset by a fire snake"

Quarion winks at the snake, coyly, and then vanishes through a rift in reality.

Quarion says, "CON save"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2

Quarion rolls 3 10-sided dice: 10 7 2 | 19

Quarion exclaims, "Thunder damage!"

DM says, "The snake doesn't look to happy aboout that"

Quarion meanwhile, reappears not far from Rush.

[slingergame] Rashawndra says (to Quarion), "Oh, hey."

Rashawndra says (to Quarion), "Oh, hey."

Rashawndra exclaims, "Did you see that? I actually turned them into squirrels!"

Rashawndra exclaims, "It was crazy!"

DM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

DM advances the initiative: SHABORYS(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

Quarion exclaims (at Rush), "That was spectacular. However, if you get the chance, could you read the leader of the fire snakes's mind or something? I need to figure out if we have an item he hates!"

Shaborys steps in front of the tree she's kind of hiding behind and shoots at FS III (next to Vrak)

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 7 = 19

DM exclaims, "Hit!"

Rashawndra asks, "Ice?"

Shaborys rolls 5 6-sided dice: 6 6 2 2 4 | 20 + 4 = 24

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "If he's a demon, Shaborys' celestial boots might work."

Rashawndra asks, "Anything green?"

[Crows-Nest] (from Vraklul) Vraklul says, "You rang?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "You can roll Arcana"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Who, me?"

Shaborys advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) VRAKLUL(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Can we Arcana as a bonus action?"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Or Rush?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Yes, Yes, and yes"

Shaborys then steps back behind the tree on the other side.

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 16 | 16 + 3 = 19

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "Arcana!"

Vraklul swings the mightyu orcsbane at the implausible armsnake!

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Recklessly.)"

DM exclaims (at Vraklul), "You mean the burning squirrel!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Oh, it was still an S."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "S for Squirrel"

Vraklul swings at the nearest thing that still looks like a snake.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha ha."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 8 = 11

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 20 | 20 + 8 = 28

DM exclaims, "Hit!"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "CRITICAL SNAKETASTER!"

Vraklul rolls 3 12-sided dice: 8 3 11 | 22 + 7 = 29

DM exclaims, "The snake gives a horrible screech and crumples into ash!"

Vraklul rules toward the next closest snake to do the same!

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Provoking an AoO from the squirrel if it wishes."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(With disadvantage, because Totem Spirit Eagle.)"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Does it wish?)"

[Crows-Nest] DM exclaims, "of course!"

[slingergame] DM says, "One sec"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "As the poor DM has to go look up the stats for a squirrel's melee attack."

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1

[slingergame] DM says, "The general suggestion is to use the rat statblock"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Hee."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "The ratblock."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "As a surprise, my monster misses!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So, you *should* roll a second time, for disadvantage, but.."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Hee"

Vraklul swings at Fire Snake V!

DM rolls 1 6-sided die: 1 | 1

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(What's that?)"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "You have dodged a punch from a flaming squirrel. You gain negatived xp."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18 + 8 = 26

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 11 | 11 + 8 = 19

DM says, "Fire damage from attacking FS3"

DM exclaims, "Hit!"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Oh, aha!"

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 5 | 5 + 7 = 12

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "fs3 died, right?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yup."

DM rolls 1 6-sided die: 2 | 2

[slingergame] DM sighs.

[slingergame] DM says, "That's fire damage from attacking FSV"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "The squeakuel."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "These enemies are to be pitied."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Because it was later in the same series as FV3, but also used to be a squirrel, which is like a chipmunk...)"

Vraklul advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) Quarion(4)

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Assuming it's not dead.)"

DM rolls 1 8-sided die: 6 | 6

DM exclaims, "The salamander returns to its true form!"

Rashawndra says, "Oh, drat."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Of course! Well now that's *much* more biologically plausible than a snake."

DM exclaims, "It attacks Vrak!"

DM says, "Spear:"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 3 = 12

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Miss!"

DM says, "Tail:"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 7 = 13

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Oh, but it has advantage."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Because I am reckless."

DM says, "Spear advantage :"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 3 = 20

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Hit!"

[slingergame] DM says, "Oh, spear is also +7"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "Now these enemies are finally proving their worth!"

DM rolls 2 6-sided dice: 3 2 | 5 + 4 = 9

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Piercing, fire, or otherwise?"

DM rolls 1 6-sided die: 3 | 3

[slingergame] DM says, "9 pierc, 3 fire"

DM says, "Tail advantage:"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 7 = 19

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Another hit!"

DM rolls 2 6-sided dice: 1 2 | 3 + 4 = 7

DM rolls 2 6-sided dice: 4 1 | 5

[slingergame] DM says, "7 pierc, 5 fire, and you are grappled"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "OK!"

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) RASHAWNDRA/FS(7) Quarion(4)

DM exclaims, "Rush!"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "We need to determine what the big bad is, and if he hates celestial boots."

Rashawndra retreats first, taking the AoO.

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul exclaims, "It's a salamander!"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "You know it is a Salamander, a fire elemental, so the boots won't do, but fire or ice will"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul asks, "It hates fire?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Er, water"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "A song of water and ice"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Dammit, I wish I had rolled Arcana before talking on my turn. Then I could have asked Rush to make me some ice."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(does it attack?)"

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Sorry, missed that in the wall of text"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "np"

DM says, "The snake chooses its tailslap for its AoO."

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 3 = 22

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "That'd be a hit!"

DM rolls 1 4-sided die: 1 | 1 + 1 = 2

DM rolls 1 6-sided die: 4 | 4

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "2 bludgeoning and 4 fire damage"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "OK. It then takes 5 damage from Armor of Agathys."

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "What kind of damage is that?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Cold."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ooh."

[slingergame] DM says, "Oh indeed"

DM says, "The snake is pierced by the icy armor and crumples into ash"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Wow, OK."

[slingergame] DM says, "(It had only 1 HP left from Quarion's thunderstep.)"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Hey"

Rashawndra blinks, surprised.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "That damage affected my snake, not Rush's"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "the damage applies to those near where I disappeared"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "so technically that snake is alive and Fire Snake I is the one who's almost dead"

[slingergame] DM says, "Hm"

[slingergame] DM checks notes. Then checks scrollback.

DM exclaims, "Snake II still dies!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yay."

[slingergame] DM asks (of Rush), "All done?"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "An act of divine intervention."

Rashawndra exclaims (at Quarion), "I wish I had some ice for you! All I have is Ray of Frost!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "No, that was just my move ;-)"

Quarion asks, "Somebody has a water bottle, right?"

Rashawndra fires a twinned ray of frost, by way of demonstration... but instead, twin knives of ice fly from her fingertips, to her great surprise!

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(vs. 1 and 4)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Attack vs. 1:"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 19 | 19 + 7 = 26

DM exclaims, "hit!"

Rashawndra rolls 1 10-sided die: 7 | 7

Rashawndra's knife explodes after hitting the snake!

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(Dex save vs. 15, I think)"

DM says, "Snake 1 is hit by the knife and explodes into a cloud of ash and ice"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "The target and each creature within 5 feet of the point where the ice exploded must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 2d6 cold damage."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "A song of ice and ash"

Rashawndra's other knife hurls towards snake IV!

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes, but the knife was enough to kill it"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 4 | 4 + 7 = 11

DM exclaims, "Miss!"

Rashawndra's knife embeds itself into the ground, and then explodes!

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(dex vs. 15)"

Rashawndra rolls 2 6-sided dice: 3 6 | 9

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(9 or nothing)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(then init advance!)"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 9 | 9 + 2 = 11

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(also, the 2d6 is cold damage)"

DM says, "FS IV is hit by shards of exploded ice and crumbles to nothingness"

Rashawndra bounces, super excited. "I got three of them! I got three of them!"

Shaborys woo!

Rashawndra exclaims, "Hang on, Vraklul! We're coming!"

Rashawndra exclaims, "And Quarion, there's your ice!"

Quarion exclaims, "The gods are smiling on us today!"

DM says, "Fire Snake V, undeterred, moves forward"

DM asks, "One could say, it ... dashes ?"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "AoO!"

DM advances the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) QUARION(4)

[slingergame] DM says, "You are restrained"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Even when grappled?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Wait, grappled, or restrained?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Just grappled."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "It only means I can't run away."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 14 | 14

[slingergame] DM says, "You are restrained by this grapple"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to DM), "Oh, wait, *am* I? Oh."

[slingergame] DM says, "But the desc doesn't mention AoOs"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I think 'restrained' is a technical term."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "IIRC."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Indeed. But it does give me disadvantantage."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(which I may well not)"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Er, but with fewer syllables."

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 18 | 18

DM exclaims, "It's still a hit!"

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 12 | 12 + 7 = 19

Vraklul says, "Bye bye, angry burning rope."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "he he"

DM exclaims, "Quarion!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Fire damage to me for melee attacking it?"

Quarion has a piece of ice now, thanks to Rush! But it's starting to melt! Time is running out, and he's only worked out the basic theory of this new spell, so it's a tense moment! But nevertheless he's within 60ft of the Salamander, so he calls upon the power of the Weave in order to banish the creature, the piece of ice in his hand glowing with magic! 'Begone, foul monster!' he shouts.

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "Charisma save!"

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "This is my one shot at this!"

DM rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 1 = 3

[slingergame] Quarion says, "YES"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "BEGONE"

(From DM) The salamander shrieks in anger, "NOOOO! I WILL RETURN! YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF *plop*

Shaborys aw. She wanted to shoot it.

Vraklul says, "Huh, thanks."

Quarion maintains his focus. Given enough time, the creature won't be coming back.

Quarion says, "(one minute, to be exact)"

Rashawndra asks (of Q), "Since it's a native of a different plane?"

Vraklul says, "While you're concentrating on that, should we take a break? We could make roasted apples."

Shaborys ew.

Quarion says (to Rashawndra), "Yes, according to this theory about planes I worked out."

DM rolls 1 6-sided die: 6 | 6

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Vraklul), "That's your melee damage from earlier"

[Crows-Nest] (from Vraklul) Quarion says, "It involves lift, thrust, weight, and drag..."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says (to DM), "Oh, thanks."

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Hey, Snake V is still active!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "Woah, really?"

[slingergame] Shaborys asks, "Really?"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "The bad guys can still win!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I've done like 31 damage to that thing."

Quarion exclaims, "That was the first time I actually got this working -- oh, no, there's still another snake!"

Quarion exclaims, "Don't let it get to me!"

Vraklul displays the initiative: Shaborys(15) Vraklul(13) S(11) Rashawndra/FS(7) QUARION(4)

[slingergame] DM asks, "Hm, did you attack it more than once?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Yeah."

[slingergame] DM says, "because I only noted the AoO"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Much earlier, yeah"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I attacked it on my turn, and then on its turn for an AoO."

[slingergame] DM asks, "oh?"

[slingergame] DM says, "oh"

[slingergame] DM says, "I am very good at this"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Let's say it was dying as we were talking."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Hee."

DM exclaims, "All the fire snakes are gone! You are victorious!"

Shaborys woo.

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I bet that was the one that damaged the thing that I hit instead."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Since I think mine was fresh."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(unless cold damage really does just take it out completely)"

[slingergame] DM says, "They took double damage from cold, and half damage from most everything else"

Vraklul says, "Maybe the fire will die down now that Doombo's gone."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ah, that makes sense."

Quarion says (to Rashawndra), "Remember that teleporting spell I've been using? I was working on how to use it to banish things to another plane of existence. It's lucky I managed to get it working."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I propose a short rest to A) regain HP without wasting spell slots and B) see how the fire reacts now."

Rashawndra exclaims (at Quarion), "Nice!"

Rashawndra asks, "I, uh, haven't been working on anything. I just... shoot ice knives, now? I guess?"

Vraklul says, "Huh, that magic stuff is pretty cool."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "*on another plane* A demon with lots of chains is playing cards with a flaming, screaming skull. Suddenly, a salamander arrives. "Knights?" asks the Blood-Forged Chains. Salamander sighs."

Quarion says, "I guess your goddess realized that we needed ice at this juncture and improvised."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Ha ha."

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "Yay"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Awesome."

Rashawndra exclaims, "Oh! You're right!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "(Anyone object to the short rest?)"

Rashawndra sits down in some ash. "I miss my mountain."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Nope"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra exclaims, "OK by me!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Cool. Starting with Second Wind:"

Vraklul rolls 1 10-sided die: 1 | 1 + 1 = 2

Quarion says, "I miss this forest. The way it was, once."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Then some hit dice."

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Might as well top myself off, b/c I didn't earlier"

Shaborys rolls 1 8-sided die: 4 | 4 + 2 = 6

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 9 | 9 + 3 = 12

Rashawndra says, "Yeah, I bet."

Vraklul rolls 1 12-sided die: 10 | 10 + 3 = 13

Quarion says, "So I guess I know how you feel."

Quarion sits on a mossy rock, pensive.

DM says, "You take a short rest, and indeed, the fire starts to go down surprisingly quickly. You wait another hour or so, and the terrain seems safe to travel, if somewhat unnaturally warm."

Rashawndra and Quarion exchange stories of the places they used to visit and play in as kids, as Vraklul and Shaborys rest up.

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra asks, "Out of curiosity, would they have taken half damage from radiant damage?"

Vraklul finishes dressing his wounds with bandages and herbs from his herbalism kit.

[Crows-Nest] DM asks, "Did somebody say prequel novels?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Rush), "No, but neither half damage"

Quarion listens as Rashawndra finishes her stories. 'Mind if I just take a look at my spellbook? One never knows.'

Quarion regains a level 4 slot through reading. Ah, the magic of reading.

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "Oh man, *there's* a useful ability."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "It's surprisingly nifty."

DM asks, "And then you move on?"

Vraklul says, "Let's move on."

Quarion exclaims, "Indeed we do. Destiny calls!"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra asks, "Is that a class ability?"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "No, anyone can move on."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Provided they're not grappled or restrained."

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "ba-dum tish"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says (to Rashawndra), "It's a feature wizards get: Arcane Recovery"

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to Rush), "I believe you can get it as a feat"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Ooh."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "oh, looks like I was mistaken. You can get ritual spells as a feat."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Yeah, sadly Arcane Recovery is wizard-specific. It requires a spellbook."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I mean, you have your sorcerer points."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Because magic spells are so powerful that when you put them in writing, they glow."

Vraklul says, "I wonder if the forest will start growing back now that we've taken out that fie elemental."

Rashawndra says, "I bet it will."

DM says, "You travel south, and for some time the forest is burned, then there is another firebreak, and behind it the forest seems to continue normally."

Vraklul says, "Ah, good."

Vraklul says, "Perhaps we'll run into M'arcy soon."

Quarion says, "I'm confident we will."

[Crows-Nest] (from Vraklul) Quarion says, "The plot is with us."

DM says, "You move further south. Here, Quarion's knowledge of the terrain isn't quite as keen. All you have is Kougons advice to go generally south."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "hehehe"

[slingergame] DM says, "So you may want to make a Nature roll"

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 2 | 2 + 3 = 5

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 - 1 = 5

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 2 = 5

[Crows-Nest] Quarion exclaims, "!!!"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "I also have 'Outlander' if that does anything."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "By 'make a Nature roll', did you mean just roll the die or actually succeed?"

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to rush), "Sing me a song of a lass that is lass, say could that lass be I"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra sings, obligingly.

Shaborys looks around, not that she knows much about nature.

Shaborys rolls 1 20-sided die: 1 | 1

DM says, "So you are pretty confident that you are travelling in the right direction. The woods are getting thicker, wilder. Soon you need to dismount and lead your horses."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "So that adds up to 16 total."

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to rush), "See, it's the theme song of the TV show Outlander..."

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "I guessed as much ;-)"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "Vrak, four failures do not make a success :D"

[slingergame] Rashawndra | You have  excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you.

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul asks, "Even though we all failed at knowing whatever Nature knowledge you were hoping we'd know, can any of use attempt Survival to at least not get too lost?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I may not know if we're going south, but I'll be able to retrace our steps if need be."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "Not yet"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says (to Rush), "Good, good."

DM says, "You come upon two old, crooked trees, on a mossy mound. Between them is some sort of strange totem. Hanging from a small branch is a dead fox. It has been dead for some time. Below it is a mound of small, dead animals. The ones on top look pretty fresh, while further down they get deader anmd smellier"

Quarion says, "What dark necromancy is this..."

Shaborys . o O ( What a waste of perfectly good flesh. )

Vraklul asks, "Is this some kind of religious site?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Arcana for the totem:"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 6 | 6 + 2 = 8

Quarion rolls 1 20-sided die: 3 | 3 + 3 = 6

Rashawndra peers at the totem, perplexed.

Quarion is also baffled and somewhat unsettled.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Trying Religion as well:"

Vraklul rolls 1 20-sided die: 12 | 12 + 2 = 14

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Survival for tracking:"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(for whatever left the things here)"

Rashawndra rolls 1 20-sided die: 17 | 17 + 6 = 23

[slingergame] DM says (to vraklul), "You vaguely recall seeing similar thing at home, signs of warnings (or taboo) for strangers not to cross a certain threshold or suffer the consequences."

Vraklul says, "Oh! Right, right."

Vraklul exclaims, "This is a Keep Out sign!"

Rashawndra exclaims, "Oh!"

Rashawndra says, "Hmm."

Rashawndra asks, "didn't the guy suggest that we follow the fire break to the city?"

Rashawndra says, "And also told us to find the paladin south of the fire break."

Rashawndra says, "Or we could follow these super obvious tracks."

Quarion says, "Aren't we south of the fire break? I thought we were."

Rashawndra says, "We are."

Quarion says, "Oh, good."

Rashawndra says, "I dunno why he told us to follow the fire break *and* find the guy south of it."

[slingergame] DM says (to rush), "To be fair, they are super well hidden tracks, and you are lucky to have found them"

Vraklul says, "He said something about a 'burn path', but I figured you guys would know what that is."

[slingergame] DM says, "Burn path was just a different way to say "follow the firebreak", before that leads to confusion"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Is the city east or west?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "And which direction do the tracks go?"

[slingergame] DM says, "You have no idea where the city is, and the tracks lead vaguely south"

Rashawndra says, "This... doesn't quite look like the sort of 'keep out' sign a paladin would set up."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "He didn't even tell us east or west?"

Shaborys says, "maybe he went crazy."

Vraklul says, "Depends what he worships, maybe. There are some weird gods out there."

[slingergame] DM says, "He said south"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "But... but the fire break doesn't *go* south?"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "I feel like things are about to go..."

[Crows-Nest] Quarion says, "...south."

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "Maybe M'arce can explain it!"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion rips off his mask! Oh no! It's Susan!

Vraklul says, "Since we don't know which way to go, let's follow the tracks."

Vraklul says, "They ought to lead to *someone*, and then we can ask them for directions."

Rashawndra shrugs. "Sounds OK to me. Keep an eye out."

Rashawndra leads the party, following the tracks, trusting the others to keep an eye out for ambushes, etc.

[slingergame] DM says, "You went southwards through the firebreak and the burning forest"

[slingergame] DM says, "And now are south of if, and *maybe* got a bit lost, and now found this totem."

Shaborys keeps up the rear, per usual.

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Right, we crossed the firebreak rather than following it."

Quarion is on high alert, readying a frostbite-y cantrip. (Since there might be more elementals.)

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Which may have been a mistake, but if so, we'll own that mistaken and double-down by going further south past the Keep Out sign."

Vraklul follows behind Rashawndra.

DM says, "Rush leads her horse further south, past the totem and (hopefully) towards the city."

DM says, "You have moved a few dozen feet on, and the forest grows eerily quiet around you."

DM says, "Then two things happen at once."

DM says, "An arrow comes whistling out of the forest, so close to Rush's ear that it gets nibbed a bit, and hits her horse square betweem the eyes (and it keels over, dead)."

Shaborys whoa!

DM says, "And a voice says something in elvish."

[Crows-Nest] (from Rashawndra) Shaborys exclaims, "That horse cost 15 gp!"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "Ha ha."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Someone is gonna pay."

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "On the other hand, horse steaks."

[Crows-Nest] Shaborys says, "Ooh"

[Crows-Nest] Quarion asks, "Seems like DM just pulled off a cliffhanger?"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "I think he's still typing it in."

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra says, "That GM. Always typing it in."

Quarion says, "Guys. That voice just told us to turn back... or die."

[Crows-Nest] DM says (to rash), "I tried to phone it in, but you wouldn't accept the charges"

DM says, "TO BE CONTINUED"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Eep."

[slingergame] DM says (to Shaborys), "On the clock! Have fun at the concert :-)"

[slingergame] Shaborys says, "Thanks!"

[Crows-Nest] Vraklul says, "IF YOU ACCEPT A COLLECT CALL FROM turnbackordie, PRESS ONE."

[Crows-Nest] DM says, "I didn't know you wrote creepypasta, too"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Whee!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Also, I wonder who that voice belonged to and whether or not they're friendly."

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "I mean, they're already giving us helpful advice!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "A cool introduction to the wonders and horrors of the Evergreen Forest"

[slingergame] DM says, "I think I'll just note down the two things I usually do : Get better about explaining of geography, figure out combat design"

[slingergame] (from DM) Vraklul says, "I never liked that horse anyway!"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Based on what I've seen from other DMs, the trick is to have more than one enemy per player."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "And to have enemies acting tactically."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "He did have five firesnakes and a salamander."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, I'm terrible at tactics, always were"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "One tactic is ganging up."

[slingergame] Quarion says (to Vraklul), "he needed eight firesnakes to back up that salamander"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Which I imagine even fairly dumb monsters might do."

[slingergame] DM says, "I'll just double the number of monsters next time"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Simple enough."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "But it works."

[slingergame] DM says, "But seriously, I hope it doesn't turn into too much of a problem"

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims (at DM), "Oh, also: thanks for the game!"

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "I don't think this combat was a problem?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Thanks for indulging me once again"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "I mean, it was easy, but that's partly because we're awesome."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "You're welcome"

[slingergame] DM says, "It was a bit too easy"

genericgeekgirl disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

[slingergame] Quarion says, "But still fun. Next time, maintain the same amount of fun and amp up the difficulty."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Although for this session the difficulty was perfect"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "since ggg wanted to leave on time"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, I guess that'S true"

[slingergame] DM says, "Maybe I'm just angry at myself for still not reading up on it :-)"

[slingergame] Quarion exclaims, "It's okay, don't beat yourself up. Think of next week as the rematch!"

[Crows-Nest] Rashawndra asks, "Reading up on which?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Encounter design"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Ah, OK."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "And enh, I think it's been fine."

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Remember: they players don't know what you had in mind."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Right."

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "I have a polymorph question!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "So if you were planning a hard encounter, and it turned out easier than you intended, all the players know is that it was an easy encounter. They don't know it was supposed to be hard, so they have no reason to think there's anything wrong with it."

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "If I polymorph myself, how precise can I make my own actions, given that I now have beast intelligence by my own 'personality'?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Hmmm"

[slingergame] DM says, "Hmmmmm"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Like, if I want to grapple something but not damage it (so it won't revert) is that reasonable?"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "It may depend on the beast."

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, depending on the INT, you might be very stupid with Rush's personality"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "AHEM"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(and the same goes if I polymorph a party member.)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "Or bloodfang!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Hmm. If you polymorph into a dog, I wonder if you get to choose what you look like as a dog, or if you end up looking like 'what Rush would have looked like if she were born a dog'."

[slingergame] DM says, "I think you can choose the breed"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "At any rate, if there were general guidelines I could try to follow, there might be less 'I do this!' 'Uh, I don't think you can do that.' 'But why?' 'Um, you just can't'"

[slingergame] DM asks, "You mean with Polymorph? Or generally?"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(or 'uh, OK' . o O (Why do I let her do that?)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Polymorph."

[slingergame] Roger says, "a really smart police dog might be a good starting point"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "But in general, too!"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "But I never said you can't do this with polymorph!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(but I don't think you tell me 'you just can't' very often if at all)"

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "You haven't said anything at all about Polymorph!"

[slingergame] DM says, "And I think "You now have bird-like intelligence with Rush's personality" could be fun in an RP-way"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "But it just seems like a 'gm vs. player' sort of spell."

[slingergame] DM says, "it totally is"

[slingergame] DM says, "it also has a lot of wiggle room"

[slingergame] Roger says, "It's mostly for turning your opponents into goldfish, has generally been my sense of it over the years"

[slingergame] DM says, "Or burning squirrels"

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Roger), "But you're missing out on the 'turning your allies into dinosaurs or giant apes' angle."

[slingergame] DM says, "This is not offical, but mirros my thinking closely : | I'd say yes. You're a frog. You have a frog's brain and think like a frog does. This includes not being able to comprehend that you've been polymorphed and that your froggy state is only temporary. However, you keep your personality, so if you were an excitable person you'll be an excitable frog. If you were a lazy person you'll be a lazy frog. If you were an aggressive person you'll be an aggressive frog. And so on."

[slingergame] Vraklul asks (of DM), "If you had a general plan in mind when you polymorphed, would you still have that plan in mind as a frog?"

[slingergame] DM says, "So a Vrakosaurus wouldn't attack friends, but also wouldn't be able to follow complicated instructions"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "At any rate, the 'bird-like intelligence with Rush's personality' does indeed sound fun in an RP-way, but I'd rather ask now if you think things like 'Rush!Hawk grabs the squirrel and flies away, not dealing any damage to it' are reasonable or not."

[slingergame] Roger | http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/mp/N-xHGztY_PUl.jpg

[slingergame] Vraklul asks, "E.g., if you turned into a frog with the plan to hop in the window, grab a key with your tongue, and get back out again, would the frog-you be able to remember and carry that out?"

[slingergame] DM says, "Those are both good questions."

[slingergame] DM says, "I would say I'll allow it, unless it turns into game-breaking stuff."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Alternatively, perhaps certain tactics could be trained."

[slingergame] DM says, "And maybe some INT checks for complicated stuff"

[slingergame] DM says, "Or how about "The animal form can do things you'd semi-reasonably could train an animal to do?""

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Oh, that seems good."

[slingergame] Roger says, "like, say, a smart police dog"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says (to Roger), "Ha"

[slingergame] DM says, "It's basically the balance between "making the spell not fun at all" and "solve adventure in minute 1, skipping dungeon and villians, and fights and fun""

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Exactly."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "If I ever veer into category 2, feel free to say, "I'd rather you not do that, as it's a category 2 error,' and we can figure out something else fun to do."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "(and actually, that goes for any crazy scheme I come up with)"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yeah, maybe for now let's do it on a case-by-case basis."

[slingergame] Roger says, "it's kind of weird insofar as the ape is a beast with Intelligence 6, which is well within the human range"

[slingergame] DM says, "Yes, I'd allow an ape to do a lot of stuff"

[slingergame] DM says, "IYKWIM"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "Yeah, I think Vrak has int 7."

[slingergame] Vraklul exclaims, "8!"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "8! Sorry."

[slingergame] DM says, "Rush will polymorph just to give Rush a fair chance at checkers"

[slingergame] Rashawndra makes an 8! face.

[slingergame] DM says, "Er, Vrak"

[slingergame] DM says, "My INT is also 8 today, apparently"

[slingergame] Roger says, "the many joys of taking a bunch of mentally-challenged and extremely-violent people into a dank hole in the ground"

[slingergame] DM says, "Re: crazy schemes, I sometimes fear you might have the impression I am a bit hard on you. If so, sorry, that's not intentional."

[slingergame] Rashawndra exclaims, "I do not!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Some PC's can be a handful."

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "I sometimes fear you have the impression I'm hard on *you* ;-)"

[slingergame] Roger says, "It's just in the nature of all players to try to weasel up more of an edge"

[slingergame] DM says (to roger), "In some players' nature more than others"

[slingergame] Roger says, "well ys"

[slingergame] Rashawndra says, "A weasel! That's what I can polymorph into."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "hehee"

[slingergame] DM exclaims, "Yay!"

[slingergame] Vraklul says, "Ha ha."

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Also, I hope my Banishment was suitably dramatic and served the plot."

[slingergame] DM says, "I soooo hoped you would use it"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "yay"

[slingergame] DM says, "And now I leave"

[slingergame] Rashawndra asks, "Here's a weird question: If you polymorph something that's been poisoned, is the new form poisoned?"

[slingergame] DM says, "See you next week! And remember ..."

DM says, "Burning Squirrels light an area of 30ft around them"

[slingergame] Roger says, "probably, but you might be immune to poisoning"

[slingergame] Quarion says, "Goofnight dear DM :-) We will be the light"

Vraklul says, "That will be useful if we ever meet anyone without darkvision."

[slingergame] Vraklul says (to Rush), "I don't think you polymorph into a copy of an extant individual creature, so much as into a creature of the same type."

[slingergame] DM | So when you polymorph, you gain the hp and statblock of whatever creature you turn into. Nothing in the spell suggests that it ends or suppresses any conditions that are already affecting you, so I'd rule that those conditions would transfer to your new form.