The Grapes of Rath
The contract itself is simple enough, a (hopefully) relatively quiet investigation for a missing person, one Golan Brooksmuth. You were hired by Rath Cooperston, a dwarven brewer and distiller that has decided to expand into wines and brandies by purchasing an old vinyard near the border of Sendor, abandoned and eventually sold by distant relatives. Brooksmuth was hired to survey the house and land and see what would be needed to bring it back into operation, but he never reported back. In this day and age of random encounters, that usually does not bode well, so the lot of you were hired. After several days on horseback, walking, or atop a rented cart, you haven't ran across the surveyor but the vinyard draws near.
The goblin artificer rides on the cart, his armor is getting large and bulky lately with additions, so best not to cripple his dog. As they travel, he tinkers with various things he brought, but when the arrive he is ready to go, frowning as he starts to look for any signs of trouble.
Corra is a tracker and so she is along to help should they need to do such. She rode her horse and her hawk flies overhead. She keeps her eyes open for the area around them, always wary.
Autumn rides on the cart as well, reading a book. She speaks up "Did you know that this vinyard has produced at least eleven vintages that are considered some of the best wines? Over the last one hundred of fifty years though. It has also produced vintages that are considered to be inferior to dog water as well. Very hit and miss this place."
Nicolai does indeed walk, his breastplate held over one shoulder and a long glaive held lime a walking stick. He whistles a tune as they travel, assuring the others that he 'knows a dozen of them .' To pass the time, he explains.
It's not long before the main house comes into sight. It has definitely seen better days. The roof has caved in and exposed two floors to the elements, and judging from the broken windows and doors, vandals and looters have picked it clean of valueables. The main processing building has fared not that much better, but being made of stone, it is somewhat more intact. The vinyards themselves are overgrown with weeds and wild grapes and blackberries coiled around the rotting trellis's that run the length of the vineyard. Still, a check of the interior is in order and there must be a cellar to store the wine somewhere.
Corra nods and ties off her horse and then looks around the others, "We should check the place out yes?" she asks and then takes a closer look at the outside first, if there might be something out here.
The goblin artificer climbs off the wagon, looking around. Klythos absently touches a dial, adjusting it absently. He doesn't say anything, figuring someone else will take charge and he can just follow and zap things.
Nicolai begins putting on his armor, tugging and tightening straps until the metal is securely fashioned around his torso. Once he's ready he follows Corra and also looks around, occasionally pushing weeds aside with his glaive.
Autumn takes a deep breath, checks her crossbow and hops down from the cart. She looks around and says "Corra, do you want to do a sweep around the house looking for tracks so we might know what we're up against?"
GAME: Klythos rolls perception: (6)+12: 18
GAME: Autumn rolls Perception: (15)+3: 18
GAME: Corra rolls survival: (18)+10: 28
GAME: Nicolai rolls perception: (11)+7: 18
You paged Corra with 'You see some pretty old horse tracks in some dried out mud that lead up to the hitching post, which has a chewed off set of reins wrapped around it, something consistent with what you'd expect a horse to do if it was tied up too long. And some boot prints that are really faint, so at least a week or more old, going towards the main house and a distinct heel impression coming off the porch of the house facing toward the vinyards and the winery itself. Time would line up to when Golan would have been here.'
Corra cocks her head to the side as she is checking some tracks, "Well I think he was here, and then his horse got loose cause he didn't come back. Went into the house and then towards the vineyard and winery." she thinks, "We can check inside, what do you think?" she looks at the others.
Klythos shrugs "Lead." He is a goblin of few words.
Nicolai nods in agreement. "We'll be right behind you," he assures.
Autumn pauses long enough to mutter a quick spell, the comes with everyone else.
GAME: Autumn casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 16
GAME: Klythos casts Magic Vestment. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
Klythos adjusts another dial on his armor, this time there is a faint humm from the armor. He continues to look around as the move. He will bring up the rear, guarding it, and so he can shoot over and through anyone up front.
Autumn walks along, checking her crossbow and peering around carefully while sticking close to Klythos and Nicolai.
GAME: Klythos rolls perception: (4)+12: 16
GAME: Corra rolls perception: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Autumn rolls Perception: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Nicolai rolls perception: (1)+7: 8
The tracks lead first to the winery, which looks long abandoned and shows no signs of Golan once the soft ground is replaced by the wooden floors. But another trail leads towards the vinyards and more signs that Golan met with a grisly fate pop up rapidly. First signs of a struggle in the dirt. Thick heel marks kicked into the ground, a broken trellis lies in a heap with a mess of wild grapes and weeds wrapped around it, and then drag marks. Not more than a few paces away, the thick smell of a rotting corpse hangs in the air, but it is Corra alone that spots the twitching vines that snake out amongst the trellis sides, ready to attack!
GAME: Nicolai rolls initiative: Roll: 16 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 18
GAME: Autumn rolls initiative: Roll: 13 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 15
GAME: You roll initiative for Assassin Vine: Roll: 18 + Bonus: +1 = Total: 19
GAME: Klythos rolls initiative: Roll: 8 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 11
GAME: Corra rolls initiative: Roll: 10 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 14
=============== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 ===============
---Init--Name----------------Notes--------------------------------------------
19 Assassin Vine
18 Nicolai Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
15 Autumn Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
14 Corra Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
11 Klythos Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
=====================================================
GAME: Corra rolls reflex: (14)+10: 24
GAME: Pavel rolls 1d20+10: (3)+10: 13
The main vine raises up, revealing a main body as thick as a man's leg and easily thirty feet in length, sending out thick offshoots to attack Corra, while every vine and plant within ten yards of it begins to animate and wildly whip around, looking for something to wrap around and constrict. Fortunately, the archer is quick on her feet and even with the element of surprise, it does nothing but reveal the rotting corpse of one Golan Brooksmuth, the latest victim and source of food for the creature.
GAME: Corra casts Hunter's Howl. Caster Level: 4 DC: 13
Corra moves back after realizing what it is and casts a spell. Her voice echoes out in a fierce howl, but it doesn't seem to do anything. The vine wildly thrashes, looking for a victim, but once it becomes obvious that none are around, it pauses, though the vines around it continue to writhe.
GAME: Nicolai casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
GAME: Nicolai rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16
Nicolai moves closer to the vines. He begins one if his favorite and most effective spells - but blinks as the glowing spear of divine force has no effect. "What is this?" he bellows Only it's not the trees that surprise him. It's the way things seem to fall away from him as he suddenly grows is what surprises him.
GAME: Autumn casts Enlarge Person. Caster Level: 2 DC: 16
Autumn starts up a steady chant as she concentrates on her spell, focusing on Nicolai...
GAME: Corra rolls ranged+2-2-2: (17)+8+2+-2+-2: 23
GAME: Corra rolls ranged+2-2-2: (18)+8+2+-2+-2: 24
GAME: Corra rolls 1d8+8: (1)+7: 8
GAME: Corra rolls 1d8+8: (5)+7: 12
Corra takes a deep breath from where she is standing and looses two arrows at the vines looking for a vulnerable place. Both arrows hit the center and strike pretty deeply pissing it off.
GAME: Klythos rolls ranged-2: (12)+7+-2: 17
GAME: Klythos rolls 3d6+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Pavel rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11
The goblin grins, a bit happy to be able to do something useful. He adjusts some dials on his weapon, then raises his death ray, firing off a blast of green electric goo. The goo manages to harden and slow the thing, but the electricty has little effect.
GAME: Pavel rolls 1d20+18: (15)+18: 33
The vine creature doesn't seem to be intelligent, but it has a general direction from which it is being attacked. Planting several of it's larger vines on the ground, there is a horrible tearing noise as it pulls up roots, snapping the bands of electrically charged glue that keep it stuck to one of its trellises and slumps forward....Apparently this thing is mobile. As it lurches forward, the circle of animate vines and plants around it seem to follow it, coming perliously close to the priest and the goblin.
GAME: Nicolai rolls reflex-1: (6)+3+-1: 8
GAME: Nicolai rolls strength+4: (13)+4+4: 21
GAME: Nicolai rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
GAME: Nicolai rolls 1d8+1: (8)+1: 9
Nicolai's glowing sword of force (and not a lance at all) has been poking ineffectually at a mass of vines for the last few seconds, but now plunges into a particularly thick stem.
GAME: Autumn casts Grease. Caster Level: 2 DC: 16
Autumn spots that Nicolai seems to get grabbed by things, so decides to help out. Concentrating, she casts Grease on the GiantBorn's armor, making him too slick to be held...
GAME: Corra rolls ranged+2-2-2: (19)+8+2+-2+-2: 25
GAME: Corra rolls ranged+2-2-2: (6)+8+2+-2+-2: 12
GAME: Corra rolls 1d8+7: (7)+7: 14
Corra looses two more arrows, taking time to find a tender spot and one of the arrows misses but the first sinks deeply once more into the mass of the vines and causing it to leak its sap.
GAME: Klythos rolls ranged: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Klythos rolls 4d6: (6): 6
The goblin frowns, moving up a bit closer as he adjust dials on his armor. The power back on his back starts to glow red and he fires off a blast of red energy from his death ray. The ray barely hits, scorcing a few leaves but little more than that.
GAME: Klythos rolls reflex: (17)+8: 25
GAME: Pavel rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25
GAME: Pavel rolls 2d6+11: (7)+11: 18
GAME: You damaged Nicolai for 18 points. 10 remaining.
GAME: Pavel rolls 1d20+18: (15)+18: 33
Leaking profusely, the murderous plant lurches forward until it finally slams one of it's main vines across Nicolai's chest, putting a sizeable dent in his breastplate and several cracks in his ribs. Not likely to leave well enough alone, it wraps it's tendrils around the greasy giantborn, looking to choke the life from his body.
GAME: Nicolai rolls cmb+11: (10)+7+11: 28
GAME: Nicolai rolls reflex-1: (6)+3+-1: 8
GAME: Nicolai rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18
Nicolai grits his teeth as he's covered in vines. They have a hard time holding him though, thanks to the spell making his armor slippery as if it was oiled. Nicolai pops out, only to stumble immediately into another patch of vines. His spiritual shortsword takes one more poke before fading from sight, leaving Nicolai to fight his own battles.
Autumn quietly steps back, watching for another opportunity to lend a hand.
GAME: Corra rolls 1d8+7: (2)+7: 9
Corra again looses two arrows but the first misses, probably cause it moved and she was out of position. The second one sinks into it and the main part seems to stop moving, though there are thrashes, uncontrolable and it struggles to maintain its grasp on life...and fails.
GAME: Pavel has cleared initiatives.
Nicolai uses his glaive like a staff once more, this time to help him stand. He's clutching his midsection with his other hand, breathing heavily. "What in Tarien's name was that...?:
Corra cocks her head to the side, "PLant monster." she says and shakes her head a bit.
Nicolai pokes at the corpse in the vines with the butt of his glaive. "Mystery solved..." he murmurs
Autumn says carefully "That was very... bizzare. I've heard of plants that move on their own, read about them too, but seeing one." She shivers and shakes her head.
With the assassin vine defeated and well uprooted, Golan's corpse isn't the only one you find. The skeletons of a few looters and unfortunate grape poachers are littered in the loose dirt around the previous planting site of the vine, carrying a nice bit of coin and valueables to supplement the payment the dwarven brewer paid you. A further inspection of the grounds and cellar turns up little, and with the remains of the surveyor loaded on the cart for a proper burial, you make your way home to Alexandria.
FIN.