Ep 34 - The Hut, a Hag, and an exchange of information.

We pick up this week's game with the Party standing around after defeating a group of Dark Slashers. With information handed on by Naivara, they check the room once more to find a grappling hook, a backpack, and a map on the table therein. Jett looked in the backpack to find a Bag of Ball Bearings, two minor healing potions, one potion of poison resistance, and a poition of invulnerablilty. Rolling a Crit Roll in an Intelligence, Catsi decided she could make use of the ball bearings and asked for them. After they had their loot, the Party made their way further into the cavern where they come across the remains of an underground well. With space being tight - width of 6-8 feet - Cal does the courteous thing and moves around the back of the well so that the others can stay near to each other. However, in doing so, he steps on some mushrooms that immediately react to his presence. Popping up from the ground, four Mushroom Men, no more than 30cm tall and 15cm wide, begin to chatter in rage at him, swinging their short arms in wild punches. Initiative Commenced: Cal, Naivara, Gomer, Jett, Bardryn, Mushroom Men x 4, Catsi, Tados, Lyllianes. Round 1: Seeing the little Mushroom Men (MM), Cal took pity on them and decided to playfully push them aside with the flat of his sword so he could move through. However, with a low roll of 8 on the attack, the MM easily avoided the sword. Naivara thought she would have success with a Fire Bolt but also missed with  a 13, while Gomer decided he would try and kick one of the MM out of his way, although his attack went wildly astray with a roll of 1 (8 total). Jett did not have any better luck with his attack roll of 4 easily avoided by the MM, and decided the combat was not worth the effort so left the scene and began to continue to the next area. It took the skill and strength of the Dwarf, Bardryn, to show the team how things were done, as she strolled up to one of the MM and with a well-timed boot (Crit Roll to total 23) sent one of the MM sailing through the air and down the well. Seeing their kindred sent to his doom, the MM retaliated, swinging both hands in swift punches. After dodging Cal's sword, MM1 swung a well-timed punch (Crit Roll for 26 total) striking the Drow in the nose, while the second missed. MM2 struck Gomer with one of its punches, and MM3 managed one strike on Catsi. Catsi then retaliated, swinging her ball and chain at MM3 who dodged the first attack but was hit with the second being sent rearward five feet. Tados, taking delight in the comedic nature of the combat, decided to use his turn to sing to the MM and distract them. With a performance of 23, he was able to do just that, causing confusion among the MM by his singing during combat. Seeing MM3 being flown rearward by Catsi's attack, Lyllianes ended the round by following the attack on it with a Produce Flame that found its mark, igniting MM3 in flames that liked the mushroom a little too much.  Round 2: Having taken quite a large hit from MM1 Cal used his bonus turn to heal himself up a little before casting Word of Radiance at MM1. As the burning fire of radiance lit up around MM1, it was too slow to react and the fire took it toll. Seeing the greater effect that the fire had on MM1, Naivara followed up with another Fire Bolt which found its mark this round, igniting MM1 once again sending it to a fiery death. Gomer took another swing at MM2 with his boot finding purchase against the MM and for a total 20 against 9, he watched MM2 also fall down the well, its little death cry echoing back up the well's walls. Seeing that the MM had retaliated so well against his friends, Jett ran back to the foray lashing out at the charred MM3, digging his dagger deeply into the creature, ending its life. Bardryn, afire with battle from her last success, ran around the well to reach MM1, intending to kick it into the well also; however, the MM was too quick and avoided her attack. With all its kindred dead, and being so burned and hurt as it was, MM1 attempted to flee to save itself, turning to bury itself into the soil. However, Catsi - in a rage of her own - made a last ditch effort to stop it and with a STR20 check against 18AC, grabbed MM1 by the legs and pulled it up where she used her claws to rip it into parts. With the MM dead and seeing the last one in two pieces, Cal decided to have some fun and asked Catsi to lob one part over to them, so they could bat it away with their sword. Catsi obliged; however, Cal swung a moment too soon and the dead flesh of the MM hit them in the face. With shenanigans ended, the Party decided to head deeper into the caves, making their way down to a lower section via an old rickety ladder. Here, they saw the cavern split into two directions, and looking to their right they spied softly glowing gems embedded in the walls. Using her knowledge of rock, minerals and gems, Bardryn strode forward and with a roll of 13 for 12DC just managed to remember that these gems were the famed, and long thought lost, Star Gems. So rare were these gems that they were priceless and highly sought after. Of course, the Party could not pass the opportunity and immediately set about to dislodge the four they could see immediately around them. Using her Amulet of Silence, Catsi created a silent dome around her and Gomer as they used crowbar and hammer to dislodge three of the four Star Gems. In doing so, Catsi also spied dark silhouettes further along the cavern also at work on removing the gems, though with a poor perception roll could not make out what they were. Naivara stepped forth to see for herself, using a Stealth 13 against PERC10 to sneak a little closer. As she got as near as she dared, and a Perception Crit Roll (total 24) allowed her to see two more figures and that they were Duergars - Dark Dwarves. Sneaking back to alert the others, the Party decided to form a plan for once and realising that they could Charm people, Jett and Naivara stepped forward with the intent to charm the Duergars so there would be no hostility. Sending forth their spells, they successfully charmed the closest Duergar who Jett made believe they were old friends long not seen. He enquired with the Duergar to the whereabouts of the Hag, being told she had gone back to the Hut not too long ago. However, Catsi almost ruined the charade as she stepped forward and asked specifically about the Green Cloak. The two Duergar who had not been charmed, confused by their comrade speaking with a Drow and an Elf, suddenly became suspicious to the enquiry of the Green Cloak but with quick thinking and smooth talking from Jett, they were placated and told them to be careful who they spoke to about 'the Cloak'. High-tailing it out of there before the ruse was broken, the Party retraced their steps through the cavern to the stair leading up to the hut. When they reached the stairs they saw that they were guarded by two Hulks standing watch on the stairs. Quickly formulating a plan, Jett and Cal worked together. Sending a Guiding Bolt at one of the Hulks, Jett used one of his vials of psychedelic mushroom potion and threw it at a small group of mushrooms he could see in the ground to the side of the Hulks, believing they were more of the MM. As the Guiding Bolt hit one of the Hulks, the MM jumped from the earth, angrily chittering at their sudden awakening. Believing the Hulks to blame, the MM immediately attacked the Hulks making short work of one. While the second Hulk was able to get a few hits on the MM, it was not long before the group of MM defeated it as well. Seeing that there was no-one else around to take their anger out on, the MM returned to their slumber in the earth, leaving the Party to safely stroll past the dead Hulks and enter the portal to go back into the Hut. Once back in the Hut, the Party heard the scratchy voice of the Hag welcome them and ask them to introduce themselves to her in the living room as they were trespassing in her home after all. They made their way to the living room and introduced themselves - except for Catsi who decided to hide and wait. The Hag asked why they were in her house and Jett replied they were looking for Dael. With the Hag saying she did not know a 'Dael' they assumed he had another name he went by, so Jett changed it to looking for a man in a Green Cloak. The Hag told them she had information she would share if they would share information with her, a bargain of sorts. An agreement was made and information shared through the passing of messages on paper enclosed in cork topped bottles. For his part, Jett used Illusory Script to write that they were collecting the Heart Sphere to return it to the Ambar Tower, but the true script read that the Tower was already empowered.  For her part, the Hag wrote that the man they sought was already heading North-East. Jett asked if he had left recently to which the Hag smiled. During this exchange, Tados turned Catsi invisible who went around the house searching for any sign of Dael but came up empty-handed. At the end of the exchange, and with nothing left to do, the Party decided to leave. Still invisible, Catsi quickly retrieved her makeshift bombs, and they all left the hut with the Hag's voice saying: "Remember: I see everything!" _____________________________________________________________________ Below is a picture of the well scene by one of our players. I thought it was a hilarious addition to the story and asked if I could share it here. She thankfully agreed, so here it is!