Book the Second, Chapter the Eighth: A Brace of Conundrums

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

one task at a time: dex 15[dice]0[/dice]

I edited your post instead of quoting it, so the die roll is messed up. Anyway, you succeeded.

It requires all of the hedge wizard's sureness of foot to reach the flask safely, rendering an effective attack upon the plant impossible. Lepus is able to seize hold of the indicated liquid, and now faces the further challenge of carrying it out of the shed without incident.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

It seems William has also cast chivalry aside, as he ignores Miss Ravenscroft's plea for aid. He makes as if to lunge for the flask, but upon seeing that Lepus is already about it, changes tack and stands ready to assault any vine that looks to impede the Gypsy's effort.

Spoiler:

dex = 13 as before[dice]0[/dice]damage[dice]1[/dice]

At last, William's blade strikes home. Another vine is detached from the body of the plant, leaving a mere quartet.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Henry still retains his chivalry, and he and Ivan go to the aid of his fellow scientist.

Spoiler:

dex 11 and 9[dice]0[/dice]

Both manservant and master are able to avoid the treacherously slippery pools upon the floor, and reach Miss Ravenscroft without incident. As they lift the lady to her feet, and prepare to carry her to safety, the plant lashes out at the intruders.

Spoiler:

dex = 3[dice]1[/dice]a hit! random victim: 1 = Henry, 2 = Ivan, 3 = Lepus, 4 = Miss Ravenscroft, 5 = William, 6 = something else happens[dice]2[/dice]

The Fates decree that it should be Doctor North who suffers the aimless writhing of the strange plant. One of the exceptionally large and sharp thorns upon the vine that strikes the said nobleman enters his flesh. That unfortunate gentleman can feel a thick liquid enter his bloodstream, as if injected into his body by the tooth of an adder.

Spoiler:

treating it like a Viper, immediate damage:[dice]3[/dice]to avoid further damage from poison, saving roll based on CON = 15[dice]4[/dice]

Doctor North suffers an injury, but, fortunately, due to the quick thinking of Ivan, who sucks out the poison from the wound and spits it upon the ground before it can cause any harm, does not fall victim to the plant's venom.

[jp1885]

Cackling as he grabs the flask, Lepus tries to scramble back out of the shed.

[SunlessNick]

William continues to guard Lepus, striking at the next vine to come near him.

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you kindly," says Henry. "Come on, let's get her outside now that Lepus has the flask." He and Ivan withdraw from the shed, the latter carrying Miss Ravenscroft.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Cackling as he grabs the flask, Lepus tries to scramble back out of the shed.

Spoiler:

dex 15 again[dice]0[/dice]

Keeping a sharp eye upon the treacherous pools of slippery liquid, Lepus is able to successfully carry the flask outside the shed, where the body of the creature, its flesh rippling with the first stirrings of life, lies upon the ground.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

William continues to guard Lepus, striking at the next vine to come near him.

Spoiler:

dex 13 as before[dice]0[/dice]

Perhaps because there are fewer vines at which to aim, the soldier's deadly blade slashes through naught but the empty air as Lepus rushes by him with the precious flask.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Thank you kindly," says Henry. "Come on, let's get her outside now that Lepus has the flask." He and Ivan withdraw from the shed, the latter carrying Miss Ravenscroft.

Spoiler:

dex 11 and 9 again[dice]0[/dice][dice]1[/dice]

Perhaps because of the awkwardness of the burden he carries, Miss Ravenscroft currently in a state near catatonia, Ivan falls victim to the pools of liquid, falling to the floor as the plant lashes out once more.

Spoiler:

one more plant attack[dice]2[/dice] 1 hit; 1 = ivan, 2 = Miss R.[dice]3[/dice]damage:[dice]4[/dice]con = 11 to avoid the poison[dice]5[/dice]damage from poison[dice]6[/dice]Some unlucky die rolls there. Ivan suffers 7 points of damage, is currently incapacitated, and must make a con roll each "turn" (which I take to mean action by the players) to avoid more damage. The further damage stops after the first successful con roll. Ivan unable to perform any action until healed in some manner.

Alas! The loyal Russian suffers the final blow from the vile plant. The thorns strike deep into his throat, not only causing blood to flow, but injecting venom into his body before any can act to prevent it. He remains insensate, and must be dragged away to safety.

Miss Ravenscroft, her senses awakened by the shock of this incident, arises and rushes out of the shed.

"Pour the devitalization fluid into the creature's mouth!"

[jp1885]

Lepus quickly complies with Ravenscroft’s request and pours the fluid as directed.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry applies his Regenerator to Ivan's wound to heal him and returns the favor by sucking out the poison from him.

[SunlessNick]

William helps carry the Russian out of the shed. Once that's accomplished - and seeing that Lepus seems to have the situation with the Creature in hand - he reenters the shed to make another attempt to obtain the firework.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lepus quickly complies with Ravenscroft’s request and pours the fluid as directed.

As if the liquid were undiluted vitriol and the roiling flesh of the creature base metal, there is much bubbling and hissing as what signs of life remain within the loathsome corpus are extinguished at last, leaving only a noxious and evil-smelling puddle of putrescence.

"Now that this unpleasant task is at an end," Miss Ravenscroft remarks, "there remains the question of locating the female. I trust you have some strategy in mind?"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Henry applies his Regenerator to Ivan's wound to heal him and returns the favor by sucking out the poison from him.

Spoiler:

con = 11 to see if this ends the effects of the venom[dice]0[/dice]

Doctor North's quick action soon restores the Russian to full consciousness. Having experienced, at first hand, so to speak, the danger of the unnatural plant, Ivan insists that it must be completely destroyed, before it go to seed and spawn more of its kind.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

William helps carry the Russian out of the shed. Once that's accomplished - and seeing that Lepus seems to have the situation with the Creature in hand - he reenters the shed to make another attempt to obtain the firework.

Spoiler:

not really a soldier skill, so dex = 12[dice]0[/dice]

Spoiler:

plant attack[dice]1[/dice]damage[dice]2[/dice]con = 11 to avoid venom effects[dice]3[/dice]venom damage[dice]4[/dice]

It is a well-known fact that a man at arms must oft trust to Fortune, and take such risks as may seem necessary to victory. In the present circumstance, that fickle goddess proves her two-faced nature by first smiling upon the bold soldier, then turning against him with a sneer. Although William is able to obtain the firework safely, as he steps out of the shed one of the plant's limbs strike him a heavy blow upon his pate, causing much bleeding. He is also subject to the effects of the poisonous thorns; although this, in itself, adds only small hurt to the physical injury, it renders him insensate, and possibly subject to further effects.

Spoiler:

con rolls each "action" to avoid more damage from venom

[jp1885]

His grisly work done, Lepus rushes to the stricken soldier.

Setting the firework aside for someone else to deal with, he places his medallion around William’s neck, hoping that it will negate the poison.

Should this fail, he will follow the others’ lead and try to suck the poison out.

[Mr. Handy]

"I heard her voice earlier, so I know she hasn't gone far," says Henry, taking the firework and firing it at the plant. "Our soldier friend is a good tracker when he's on horseback, so we should be able to find her without too much trouble. When we do, I'm sure she will come with me willingly. She called me her father, which in a sense I am."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The medallion prevents any further effects of the toxic substance, it appears, although it has, of course, no effect on the sheer physical damage caused by the curious plant.

The firework being directed at the said plant, the night is riven by a tremendous burst of light, accompanied by a loud explosion, leaving one's ears ringing. After the thick black smoke thus produced drifts away in the breeze, it can be seen that nothing remains of the shed save randomly scattered bits of wood, metal, and glass. The sight renders Miss Ravenscroft in a state of melancholia, and she retreats to her former room within the manor house silently.

Spoiler:

The Patient Reader will please continue to Book the Second, Chapter the Ninth.