Beyond the Sky - Session 25

-10th of Autumn's Third-
The sun rises on Kyaro, and the party prepare to head out, gathering supplies and preparing their spells.
The party travel north, to the large forest north of Kyaro.
The forest is lush and green, and large trees form a canopy that makes it rather dim, sunbeams shining through the gaps.
However, signs of unnatural doings are noticeable, with some trees being toppled, and some with strange scraps of fur caught on them, as well as footprints of larger beasts that roam the woods.
Arkune: "Do you think there's gonna be more boars?"
Valaire: "Are they always this... ecologically devastating?"
Arkune: "Not all... but some..."
Night Eyes: "Well, we found a flaming one in a forest before."
Mikolotov: "I hope there isn't. This place is rather beautiful."
Adrian: "If anything, this isn't as bad as I expected."
Valaire: "Well, that certainly isn't an ominous statement."
Adrian: "As Night Eyes said, the first one we saw nearly caused a forest fire. And the trouble they were causing here sounded quite serious."
Mikolotov: "Still, it looks like there's quite a disturbance over there..."
Mikolotov points to the west, through the trees.
[Night Eyes : Perception: 14
Adrian : Perception: 16
Valaire : Perception: 17
Arkune : Perception: 17]
The party can see through the trees to the west, a marsh that seems to have turned strangely. The trees seem singed or cracked, and numerous sparks are flying up from where several unnaturally large amphibians are lying around.
Arkune: "Electric... toads?"
"Do you think they're less aggressive at least?"
Night Eyes: "Well, now that we know..."
Mikolotov: "Seems like it's worth checking out, at least."
Adrian: "Now that looks more like what I thought we'd find."
Valaire moves up to one of the trees, tracing a finger across a damaged fragment. [Knowledge (Arcana): 27]
Night Eyes imbues herself with a spell to enhance morale, and draws her blade.
Arkune: "How easily do you think can they push over trees?"
"Could we use the them for cover?"
Adrian: "Most likely only by damaging them first, I would think."
Night Eyes: "I certainly do not consider myself strong enough to achieve that."
Valaire: "But it speaks volumes to what sort of thing might."
Arkune: "Should we try to engage the frogs from a distance, or give closing in a shot?"
Valaire: "I see no reason to hide. I say we give it our all."
Arkune: "If they can't easily get into the thicker vegetation, we could wear them down from a distance."
Adrian: "I say we get closer."
Night Eyes: "Agreed. Shall I get a vantage?"
Valaire: "Do be careful. These marks are those of trees being struck by lightning."
Adrian: "Good thinking. Any way we can use this place to our advantage."
Night Eyes scampers forward to survey the area, using the trees for cover. [Stealth: 16+3, Perception: 31]
Arkune: "By lightning?.. Do you think they spit it?"
Valaire: "That would not be something I could determine by staring at a tree, mouse."
Arkune: "Still, cover's cover..."
Adrian: "Perhaps they simply give off electricity, considering those sparks we saw flying about."
Arkune: "If things are dry enough, it could start a fire if it lands in the wrong spot."
Night Eyes tiptoes back to the group.
Mikolotov: "Did you discover anything, Night Eyes?"
Night Eyes: "Found the Eldritch beast. These ones look like they're probably just toads, but in the distances is a larger, purple one, sleeping."
"Or resting, at least. I cannot be certain."
Arkune: "So like the owlbear, potentially?"
Night Eyes: "Yes."
Adrian: "An electrified one in with normal toads... I'm surprised it hasn't killed them by mistake, really."
Valaire: "If the eldritch beasts are bossing around their similar brethren, do we just need to take out the leader, or do we need to wipe out the whole group?"
Adrian: "Any higher ground close enough to them?"
Night Eyes: "I'd like to say that, Valaire, but I think we will find them territorial, regardless."
Valaire: "Well, we'll see if they stand down after a little fire."
Night Eyes: "As for the terrain... it seems quite flat. The larger toad is snugly against a few trees, I'm not sure if we can make advantage from that."
Adrian: "Prioritize the leader, in any case. Simple enough."
Night Eyes: "Agreed."
Valaire: "I'm sure a few of the henchtoads will be losing their lives in any event, when Lord Adrian prevents them from distinguishing friend from foe."
Night Eyes: "Quite true, Valaire."
Night Eyes looks back at the marsh.
Mikolotov: "Is that everything we need to know?"
Night Eyes: "We should be able to cut a path through some solid ground, rather than the murky water, but it will be restrictive."
Arkune: "Could we circle around?"
Adrian smiles, drawing his sword.
Adrian: "If we can corner the large one, all the better."
Arkune: "That way we can avoid trudging through the water as well. Which with the leader as it is seems especially important."
Valaire: "A little forest water doesn't bother me."
Mikolotov: "Right then, let's go."

The party trudge down to the marsh, where the three giant frogs notice them, croaking loudly, flicking their tongues in and out.
In addition, the huge toad lifts its head and emits an aggressive, low pitched croak.

[Night Eyes : Initiative: 22.03
Arkune : Initiative: 22.02
Giant Frog, Dire : Initiative: 18.02
Giant Frog, Dire : Initiative: 16.02
Valaire : Initiative: 15.03
Mikolotov : Initiative: 14.01
Toxicvolt Toad : Initiative: 13.03
Adrian : Initiative: 13.01
Giant Frog, Dire : Initiative: 12.02]

Night Eyes dashes forward, surging energy through her blade and conjuring images in her wake. [Mirror Image: 2, Arcane Pool]

Arkune approaches the frog, dashing through the grass and muck.

Giant Frog approaches, shooting its tongue out at the intruder to its territory.
[Giant Frog : Attack: 19, Grab: 18]

Another frog approaches Arkune, trying to grab her with its tongue
[Giant Frog : Attack: 28, Grab: 16]
It licks her, but isn't able to grab onto her.
Arkune: "Th-they're so slimy!"

Valaire ignites her hands with a bright flame, the runic markings on her arm glowing through her clothes with a bright orange.
[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 9 Touch, Damage: 3 Fire
Attack: 8 Touch, Damage: 10 Fire
Attack: 19 Touch, Damage: 7 Fire]
One of the bolts hits the Toad, singing it a little.

Mikolotov presses forwards, quietly cursing as he can't get far into the marsh.

Toxicvolt Toad looks at the pathetic attempts at its minions, before attempting to take Arkune itself.
[Toxicvolt Toad : Attack: 29, Grab: 26]
Toxicvolt Toad 's tongue grabs firmly onto Arkune, pulling her close to it.
Arkune: "Wait! Let go, you fishing beast!"
Arkune struggles vainly it it pulls her through the muck.

Adrian fixes his gaze on the unnatural frog, eyes glowing with power as he gives it a mental command. [Hypnotic Stare, Murderous Command DC 17]
[Toxicvolt Toad : Will Save: 23]

The large Toad seems quite unafffected, and another frog hops up towards Adrian and Valaire.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 21, Damage: 6]
[Adrian : Sword Cane
Attack: 12, Damage: 4]
Giant Frog is struck by the lance, dealing mild damage, as it hops by, but its hide deflects the blow from Adrian.

Night Eyes invokes another spell, dashing towards the main cluster of toads. [Expeditious Retreat]

Arkune slashes at the toad attempting to swallow her.
[Arkune : Hunter's Blade
Attack: 27, Damage: 12, Bane + 6
Crit Confirm: 22, Crit Damage: 16]
The frog takes a bad cut to the face, croaking angrily.

Giant Frog hops over to Adrian, attempting to eat him, instead.
[Giant Frog: Attack: 13, Grab: 23]
Giant Frog's tongue latches onto Adrian, pulling him close.
Mikolotov: "Damn it, these things are trouble..."

Another frog moves over to Night Eyes, trying to use her tongue on her.
[Giant Frog : Attack: 12]
The fleshy tongue misses Night Eyes, but not before shattering an image before it retracts it into its mouth.

Valaire reignites her hands, changing targets to the nearest frog as she flings a volley of fire.
[Giant Frog: Attack: 24, Grab: 20]
The frog sees an opportunity to strike as it shoots its tongue out at Valaire, wrapping around her and pulling her closer.
[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 23 Touch, Damage: 9 Fire
Attack: 6 Touch, Damage: 12 Fire
Attack: 15 Touch, Damage: 9 Fire]
The frog is badly singed in the face by the bolt, still determined to get nourishment.
Valaire: "Tch. My, my, wait your turn. I hate it when a guest gets too touchy."

Mikolotov looks between Valaire and Adrian, deciding to thrust his spear into Adrian's attacker.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 10, Damage: 10]

[Toxicvolt Toad : Grapple: 25, Damage: 15+1 Electric]
Arkune: "Don't swallow me you-"
Toxicvolt Toad shoves Arkune into its mouth, biting down on her as she is swallowed, ending up in an electrified stomach.

Adrian glares at the frog restraining him, wincing as he does, and forces himself to calmness, focusing on the creature. [Center, Hypnotic Stare, Murderous Command, DC 17 - Concentration: 19]
Adrian: "Blasted creatures..."
Night Eyes: "I'll free you, Adrian!"

The giant frog swallows Valaire, biting down on her as she ends up in the stomach. [Giant Frog : Bite, Damage: 10]

Night Eyes focuses hard, attempting to cast a spell on Adrian. [Grease, Concentration: 18]

Arkune tries to cut her way free of the tight confines of the beast's stomach.
[Arkune : Dagger
Attack: 17, Damage: 9]

The frog swallows Adrian whole, too, biting down on him as he enters the stomach. [Giant Frog : CMB: 24, Bite: Damage: 9]

Another frog goes over to Night Eyes, aggressively biting at her.
[Giant Frog : Bite
Attack: 20, Damage: 13 - Mirror Image: miss]

[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 17 Touch, Damage: 7 Fire
Attack: 22 Touch, Damage: 8 Fire
Crit Confirm: 17, Crit Damage: +3
Attack: 17 Touch, Damage: 5 Fire]
Giant Frog is horribly burned from inside itself, croaking angrily at its difficult meal.

Mikolotov steps back, stabbing hard at the frog.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 15, Damage: 10]
Mikolotov impales the frog, dealing heavy damage.
Mikolotov: "Damn these things..."
Night Eyes: "Let's not lose hope."

Toxicvolt Toad attacks Night Eyes, trying to bite at her, as Arkune is tenderized inside its stomach. [5 Bludgeoning + 6 Elec]
[Toxicvolt Toad : Bite
Attack: 22, Damage: 10 + 1]
[Night Eyes : Parry! - Attack: 33]
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 27, Damage: 11 + 3 Frost]
Toxicvolt Toad is knocked to the side, and is stabbed in the arm, causing purple blood to spurt out at Night Eyes. [Night Eyes : Fortitude Save: 16+2]

Adrian tries to tune out his predicament, focusing on the frog's feeble mind. [Center, Sow Thought, DC 17, Concentration: 18 - "the thing is poison, spit it out"]
[Giant Frog : Will Save: 5]

Giant Frog moves to bite at Mikolotov, while Valaire is damaged in its stomach. [Damage: 4 Bludgeoning, 5 Acid]
[Giant Frog : Bite
Attack: 28, Damage: 10
Crit Confirm: 19, Crit Damage: +14]
Giant Frog, after hitting its mark, collapses, however, unconscious.
Mikolotov: "Phew... that's one down..."

Night Eyes fixates her attacks on the largest frog.
Night Eyes: "Hold on just a little longer, Adrian..."
Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 34, Damage: 14 + 2 Frost
Crit Confirm: 19+3, Crit Damage: +9]
The giant frog is stabbed in the chest, blood spurting out at Night Eyes again.
[Night Eyes : Fortitude Save: 22]

Arkune ceases her struggling for now, attempting to heal her wounds. [Cure Light Wounds: 13]

Giant Frog tenderises Adrian, before spitting him out. [7 Bludgeoning, 4 Acid]

The other frog goes behind Night Eyes, biting at her, too.
[Giant Frog : Bite
Attack: 23, Damage: 11]
[Night Eyes : Parry! - Attack: 26
Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 30, Damage: 6 + 6 Frost]
Night Eyes reaches out and skewers the frog's tongue as it approaches.
Adrian regains his balance after being spat out, shuddering.
Night Eyes: "You're alive!"
Adrian: "I don't intend to die here. And I know you won't let me."
Mikolotov: "Valaire, it's dead, are you okay?"
Night Eyes grins, full of adrenaline.

Valaire claws her way out of the frog's stomach, looking extremely unhappy and significantly worse for the wear.

Mikolotov places his hands on Valaire, channeling healing energy into her. [Lay On Hands: 8]
Mikolotov: "That help?"
Arkune lets out a muffled call for help.
Valaire: "I am still very much not happy. Traditionally, me being eaten was much more pleasurable."
Mikolotov: "Well, let's take out our aggression on these abominations!"
Mikolotov wades through the water to join with Adrian.

Toxicvolt Toad continues to deal damage to Arkune, as it lashes out at Night Eyes with a slavering maw. [Damage: 10 Bludgeoning, 4 Elec]
[Toxicvolt Toad : Bite
Attack: 11, Damage: 13 + 6]
[Night Eyes : Parry! - Attack: 30]

Adrian turns his attention to the largest frog, focusing on confounding it. [Center, Hypnotic Stare, Murderous Command DC 17, Concentration: 23]
[Toxicvolt Toad : Will Save: 17]

Night Eyes refocuses her efforts on the largest frog, still attacking it even while it is enchanted. [Inspiration to renew studied combat]
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 15, Damage: 8 + 1 Frost]
The attack bounces off the Toad's thick hide, it glaring at the party hungrily.

Arkune fights the pain and heals herself again, hoping her allies distract it soon. [Cure Light Wounds: 11]

Giant Frog turns its attention away from Adrian, looking at Mikolotov as its tongue shoots out.
[Giant Frog : Melee Attack: 19, Grapple: 21]
Mikolotov yells as he is pulled closer to the frog's slavering maw.

Giant Frog steps back, shooting its tongue out at Night Eyes. [Giant Frog : Attack: 23, Grapple: 21]
[Night Eyes : Parry! - Attack: 17+4]
Giant Frog's tongue wraps around Night Eyes tightly as she is pulled closer.
Night Eyes yelps as she is pulled away from her target.

Valaire ignites her runed hand again, the remnants of the frog's stomach acid burning away as she fires another barrage at the frogs' leader.
[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 21 Touch, Damage: 6 Fire
Attack: 21 Touch, Damage: 11 Fire
Attack: 13 Touch, Damage: 7 Fire]
The bolts singe the frog, the creature falling over, unconscious.

Mikolotov struggles against the slimy tongue, thrusting his spear into the frog.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 12, Damage: 9]

Arkune yelps as the frog slumps unconscious. [Damage: 9 Bludgeoning, 9 Elec]

Adrian turns his attention to the toad grabbing hold of Night Eyes, glaring fiercely at it.
Adrian: "Let. Her. Go. Do something useful."
[Center, Hypnotic Stare, Murderous Command DC 17, Concentration: 18]
[Giant Frog : Will Save: 19]

Night Eyes tries to contort out of the toad's grip. [Night Eyes : Acrobatics: 25+7 + Derring-Do: 1]

Arkune struggles free of the toad as last, looking battered and soaked, her hair a mess.
Mikolotov: "Arkune, thank gods you're alive!"
Arkune: "Barely... that vile thing's gut was filled with some kind of lightning."

No sooner has Mikolotov called out to Arkune, he is promptly swallowed by the frog, ending up in its stomach. [Giant Frog : Grapple: 26]

[Adrian : Sword Cane
Attack: 10, Damage: 5
Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 24, Damage: 7 + 5 Frost]
Arkune : Hunter's Blade
Attack: 23, Damage: 13+2]
[Giant Frog : Bite
Attack: 26, Damage: 10]
The frog is badly hit and limps towards its former ally, biting at it powerfully.

Valaire looks at the frogs with disdain, annoyed that one moved in the way of her shot.
[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 16 Touch, Damage: 10 Fire
Attack: 7 Touch, Damage: 9 Fire
Attack: 6 Touch, Damage: 7 Fire]

Mikolotov draws a shortsword, slashing at the frog's stomach.
[Mikolotov : Shortsword
Attack: 23, Damage: 7]
Mikolotov cuts a large gash in the creautres stomach, stepping out, grumbling and covered in slime.

[Giant Frog : Bite
Attack: 15, Damage: 7]

Adrian steps closer to the remaining frog to cut another gash into it.
[Adrian : Sword Cane
Attack: 13, Damage: 2]
Mikolotov: "This has not been an easy fight..."
The sword bounces off the hide of the frog, it looking angry as it misses.

Night Eyes dashes towards the last toad.
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 16, Damage: 7 + 6 Frost]
The sword pierces the Frog's skull as it collapses, dead.
Adrian sighs in relief as the last toad falls.

Night Eyes: "Is everyone intact?"
Valaire turns to the frog near her, touching its forehead. [Death Knell, DC 15 Will]
[Giant Frog : Will Save: 14]
Mikolotov: "I... should be fine. Milord, Arkune, are you okay?"
Adrian: "This is not going to be an easy task..."
Adrian: "I've been worse, but I wouldn't say okay."
Valaire draws a shimmering essence from the frog, quickly absorbing it into herself with a satisfactory grin.
Arkune: "Aside from the slime and the battering, I'm mostly unharmed."
Mikolotov focuses, sending out a pulse of energy that heals the group. [Channel Energy: 4, 12]
Arkune: "Blasted beast nicked me up a bit though... (why did it have to be so slimy...)"
Mikolotov: "Does that help, Arkune?"
Valaire: "Well, then. One down. Shall we be out of this quagmire and on to our next target?"
Adrian closes his eyes in concentration for a moment, slime falling off his tattered clothes. [Prestidigitation]
Night Eyes: "We might as well salvage a prize, but yes."
Mikolotov: "What can you get out of that thing? Poison?"
Valaire: "I'm disappointed. It didn't even shoot lightning."
Adrian: "Poison might be worth dissecting it for."
Arkune: "Do any of you know some magic to get this slime off?"
"It's... soaking into everything."
Mikolotov looks away.
Adrian turns to glance at Arkune, the frog ooze vanishing from her as well.
Arkune: "Ah! Thank you... I really wasn't looking forward to having to go through the rest of the day like that."
"(It's safe to look again, Mikolotov.)"
Valaire: "Well, dissection is not my forté, so I will leave finding the proper gland to you."
Adrian: "I only studied humanoid anatomy, not toads, but I can try..."
Night Eyes: "I'll help with the frog part of it, at least." [Night Eyes: Knowledge: Nature: 27, Heal: 22]
Mikolotov: "Right, after you've done that, I guess we can head out of this marsh..."
Mikolotov wades over to the shore, emptying the water out of his boots.
Arkune moves to dry land as well.
Adrian examines the toad for a moment and takes a small knife from his belt, cutting a few careful incisions. [Heal: 27]
The party make preparations towards their next battle.