Whole Lotta Weirdness - 4AD Actual Play 6

Fungus eaters and multiple personalities...

For the previous write-up, click here.

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Nobody wanted to open the door.

After Lord Chao$, they had no idea what they might find. Garron quickly turned the knob and stepped back, pushing the moldy wood with the tip of his sword.

The smell was awful – like the swamplands. Spores filled the air and swirled in the lantern light. Faelith held her breath as the four pushed their way onto the spongy floor.

Encounter – Roll 4 Minions - Roll 6 – 2d6 Fungi Folk (6 Fungi Folk) – Level 3

Six odd-looking green people crawled along the floor, grazing on mushrooms.

They’d pick one, smile, and gobble it quickly. Grotesque bumps and furry patches covered their bodies. Occasionally, one would shimmy and let out a childlike giggle.

“What the…”, Thessa blurted involuntarily.

But even that didn’t disturb them from their feast. So Garron cleared his throat.

“Ahem! What the hell are you supposed to be?”

The things looked up, startled. Fixing their wild, saucer-like eyes on Garron, they growled and charged.

Garron attacks, roll 3+1 = 4 , 1 dead
Ithar attacks, roll 3, 1 dead
Thessa attacks, roll 4+1 = 4, 1 dead
Faelith attacks with fireball, roll 6 = 2 dead

Fungi Folk attacks Garron, roll defense 5+2 = 7, miss
Fungi Folk attacks Ithar, roll defense 3+1 = 4, miss

Garron attacks, roll 6 +1 = 7, 2 dead

Garron slew the first of the things with a mighty stab to the chest. It toppled, oozing a dark green ichor rather than blood. Ithar’s mace landed full force on another’s head. Half-chewed mushrooms fell from its mouth.

As usual, Thessa quietly slipped behind the creatures. Her gloved hand grabbed one’s neck as her dagger repeatedly punched into its back like a prison hit.

Thessa’s victim fell just as a monstrous flame erupted from Faelith’s hands. Consuming two that had yet to close the distance.

The remaining fungus creature was scared but enraged. It took a clumsy swipe at Garron, then collapsed under the weight of his blade.

Treasure – Magical Dagger (Light Slashing Weapon) +1

Everyone was smiling. This was a real team.

Garron, Thessa, Ithar, and Faelith all felt it at the same time. This dungeon couldn’t throw anything at them that they couldn’t handle.

Thessa noticed a gleaming dagger on the overgrown, mushroom-covered floor.

“I’m keeping this!"

No one argued. She’d earned it, and they’d seen what she could do when she got the drop on someone. Best to stay on her good side.

Door – Roll 2 – Locked – Level 5 Lock – Level 3 Door

The north door was much more ornate than any they’d yet seen in the dungeon. Garron tried the knob, but it was locked tight.

Riding high on her success, Thessa removed her picks and went to work. Everyone watched her face change from confidence to dismay. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t get it open.

Lockpick Attempt – roll 4 - fail

Ithar and Faelith, still fascinated by the strange floor of the room, didn’t seem to notice. She looked at Garron and just stepped aside. Thessa figured the big brute was excited; she might as well let him have some fun.

With a massive charge, he threw his shoulder into the door. It went crashing off its hinges.

Ithar and Faelith heard the noise and whirled to attention. “Let’s hope the gods favor us if anything’s in there. It knows we’re coming,” Ithar sighed.

It was well lit inside. Torches burned in ornate sconces. Much different than the fetid fungus room they just left.

Encounter Roll 10 – Weird Monster – Roll 3 – Chimera – Level 5 (6 Life, 3 Attacks, Firebreath)

A large creature glared menacingly at the student adventurers. From the body of a lion sprouted three heads. A lion, a goat, and a dragon. Giant reptilian wings extended from its sides. Its tail moved and coiled like a snake.

The lion head spoke with a measured, sonorous voice.

“I am Gorrek, and you are trespassing in my lair. My door alone is worth more than your lives.”

Garron, Ithar, Thessa, and Faelith stood in awe. They’d heard about these beasts – some called them chimera. They never thought to see one in person.

“Yeah, and I’m Kribbit. You’re in serious trouble here”, bleated the goat head.

The dragon immediately chimed in, moving its head in front of Gorrek’s. “I am the mighty Embern, you shall feel the wrath of my fire!”

“You two shut up, I’ve got this”, snapped Gorrek, nudging Embern out of his way.

“Who made you the boss there, kitty cat?” snapped Kribbit.

“I rule us. It’s my body you sprout from.”

Embern’s long neck kept intruding on Gorrek’s space. The lion nipped at him and growled.

“You two are making us look bad! We have guests to destroy.”

The students’ awe turned to confusion and entertainment. “They’re like weird siblings,” Faelith laughed.

“Let’s slay this thing while it argues with itself”, suggested Ithar. “The gods have smiled on us.”

“I don’t know what the gods have to do with this neurotic thing, but that sounds good to me,” Thessa agreed.

Garron nodded.

As the heads continued to bicker, Garron and Ithar charged forward, Thessa slipped into the shadows, and Faelith began charging her staff.

Garron attacks – Roll 3+2 – Hit – 1 DMG (5/6 Life)
Thessa attacks – Roll 5+2 – Hit – 1 DMG (4/6 Life)
Ithar attacks – Roll 2 – Miss
Faelith attacks – Fireball staff – Roll 4 – Miss

Chimera attacks – Roll 2 Firebreath – All must save or take 1 DMG

Garron saves – Roll 1 – Fail – 1 DMG
Thessa saves – Roll 2 – Fail – 1 DMG
Ithar saves – Roll 6 – Succeed – No DMG
Faelith saves – Roll 1 – Fail – 1 DMG

Garron attacks – Roll 1+2 – Miss
Thessa attacks – Roll 4+2 – Hit – 1 DMG (3/6 Life)
Ithar attacks – Roll 6 – Hit – 1 DMG (2/6 Life)
Faelith attacks – Lighting Bolt – Roll 5+2 – Hit – 2 DMG (0/6 Life)

The beast never saw it coming.

Garron’s first swing was wild, Embern’s head twisted out of the way just in time. Thessa didn’t miss. Her knife drove deep as the monster howled in pain.

Ithar’s mace was easily batted away by its giant paw, and Faelith was off-target with her fireball. It burned the fine tapestry on the back wall into ash.

Enraged, Embern loosed a massive cone of fire. The heat wave blasted everyone except Ithar, who managed to step to the side just in time.

Garron took another swing and missed terribly. The hilt of his sword burned his hands. Again, Thessa’s knife plunged deep into the monster’s side. She loved her new magical dagger.

Ithar’s next swing cracked Kribbit right between his horns. He bleated loudly. Faelith concentrated harder. Lightning flew from her fingers, and the beast shook uncontrollably before collapsing to the floor.

All four adventurers breathed a sigh of relief.

Thessa searched the room and found nothing. No gold or jewels, just this crispy critter smoking on the floor.

Garron was exhausted. The druid dust had long since worn off, and he was feeling the effects of the party again.

“Why don’t we call it a day?”

Everyone agreed, and they headed back out of the dungeon toward the Tipsy Owl.

Garron Levels Up (Level 2)
+1 HP (8 now), +1 to attack (+2 now)

They made it as far as the cursed statue before anything bothered them. Then they heard the horrible ribbit of the vampire frogs.

Wandering Monster - Vermin - 1d6 Vampire Frogs (2) - Level 4

Garron attacks, roll 6+2, kill both

Treasure - Jewelry (100 gp)

Garron wanted a drink, not another fight. He charged ahead and, with a single swing, killed both. Thessa noticed one of the little bloodsuckers was wearing a golden necklace.

“Really?” She shook her head as she picked it up.

Using Faelith’s map, they moved quickly and found nothing else. After all that strangeness, they just wanted to go home.

“I wish the guys on our Loot & Pillage Team worked this well together,” Garron said. Everyone smiled.

All of them liked their odds of making it through the course alive…and getting an A, of course. Now, though, Garron and Thessa needed sleep.

Ithar was headed to an evening service at the temple.

And, of course, Faelith had homework to do.

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