Archival opens a gaping hole to the plane of earth and 3 elementals emerge before the rift collapses. They charge at the beast, with two cracking through the vines and bark of its armor (22 damage).
Mykael's longsword cuts deep as he slashes it on the charge (11 damage), but not before it takes a solid swipe with it's long vines (Mykael 12 damage)!
It reacts by lashing out with thick spiked vines at Mykael (12 damage) and the harder hitting elemental (14 damage). Both are grabbed by vines that immediately tighten around their bodies worsening their injuries (10 more damage each).
Zork pulls an arrow back and releases it perfectly, hitting it's blob-of-a-head (24 damage). Vegetable matter explodes outwards and the vines go limp. The body disintegrates into nothing more than a large pile of stinking compost.
Out of Character: Earn 600 XP each!
Is anyone diving into the pile to search?
The smell does permeate you camp, but you could get used to it before falling asleep.
The foul mass of rotting vegetation falls away and releases Mykael who promptly falls to his hands and knees gasping; his sword clangs to the ground as his hand moves to clutch at his crushed ribs that he suspects are already showing a large bruise underneath his clothing. He wonders if he hasn't suffered several cracked ribs as he struggles to painfully catch his breath.
After taking several moments to collect himself, Mykael picks up his sword and clambers back to his feet. Approaching the rotting pile cautiously he uses the blade of his sword and kicks at the mass to 'search' through it all the while poking and prodding it to ensure that it is in fact dead.
Out of Character: I'm a little unclear if I was hit once or twice (Each time for 12 damage) I know that I was hit at least once for 12 damage and then received another 10 points of damage from being gripped by the vine. Am I at 14hp or 2hp?
Theaton will scout around the camp to make sure that was the only one. He will have White Fang assist. Once he is assured it is all safe he returns back to camp and will assist with searching the creature. "I suggest we move camp a bit up wind from this creature."
Out of Character: Mykael got hit with an opportunity attack because it had reach. So you ended up on 2 HP.
Everyone searching the pile, please include Constitution saves.
Mykael will search through the remains, curious as to whether something lies beneath the rotting vegetation; he tries not to retch from the foul stench emanating from the strange creature.
In Character: Zork, taking in the smell from atop of his horse wouldn't have jumped down to start searching smelly vegetation, he would consider that too low. He stays in the same place he fired the fatal arrow and observes the others. He comments, "I hope you all brought soap and water sufficient… "
Feverishly searching through the filth, you come across bones of small animals as well as one set of human remains. On the corpse among the rotten leathers and furs is also 315 gold, a highly tarnished silver goblet, small steel mirror not rusted due to glazing, a mostly intact climber's kit but no rope, a masterwork buckler painted black but rusted in spots, and two spearheads with the shafts rotten away. A waxed pouch contains 4 Tanglefoot bags and 2 potions.
You can move the camp over to the next hill, but thankfully the light rain is starting to wash away the smell, and you probably don't want to get the inside of your tents wet by setting up again.
What's the marching order for the next morning and where is Theaton going to try and meet his contact?
Out of Character: Sorry, I meant Fortitude, so Theaton does get his full +6, but it's still just short. Your character doesn't know it yet, but you are diseased with a 3 day onset.