C2 E72

Being a hero is tough but the benefit of seeing the look of relief on the faces of those you save is better than a whole pot of gold. Well, no use in complaining since this is the life we live and it is pretty darn great.

## **Story**

### Long Story

It's a beautiful new day in Mineford (we assume. We can't actually see the sky, so who knows what kind of day, or even time of day, it is). T'Chuck, R'Oarc, Selene, and Screech are all chilling, vibing, enjoying breakfast, and talk begins to turn to the future. Specifically, what to do in that future. The party's been hard at work cleaning up Ratma Ritmo's various quests and tasks, so Mineford's becoming quite the bustling little hub of activity. In fact, the party posits, perhaps their presence is no longer... prescient. Or needed. I was just trying to stick with the P's. Sorry, everyone.

Anyway, if they're not needed here, where else could they go? They have been hearing rumors of fighting off to the east. Perhaps some rebel insurgents are trying to start some shit, and maybe our heroes could go help them? It's a good idea, though Selene is hesitant about showing her face near the OT.

But before any solid plans can be made, the door bursts open. In walks a Myconid, a kind of mushroom-like man, who's 7 ft tall, and has a mushroom shaped head. This is different than Kitten, who's more of a "Mushroom Guy". This Myconid is a "Mushroom Man". It's different.

The Myconid, who communicates via spores floating through the air, introduces himself as "Sporelin" (I'm terribly sorry for the spelling of all of these names. There's a bunch of mushroom puns coming up, and I'm not sure how to spell any of them, so... bear with me). "Sporelin" (or whatever) asks someone, anyone for help. Of course, our heroes step up and asks what's the sitch. Sporelin explains that his village of other Myconid is in extreme danger. He needs some mighty adventurers to help him keep it safe. The group agrees to help, and they do a classic walk-and-talk, as Sporelin tells them his tale of woe.

It all started a few months back. Another Myconid, named "Fungarum" was found missing! Or, rather, not found, as the case may be. Anyway, a few weeks later, Fungarum WAS found, and he was DEAD! There were a lot of cuts on his body, puncture wounds, that none could identify. Soon after that, "Puffstem" and "Tendrilla" went missing as well. They, however, didn't turn up dead, or any way at all. They're still missing. Next to vanish was "Shroomix", although he did come back. Just not quite... himself. According to Sporelin, Shroomix was different. His eyes and veins were glowing red, and he was angry. He began a Hulk-esque rampage, forcing Sporelin and the other Myconid to put him down. Over the next few weeks, more and more Myconid would go missing, and some of them returned like Shroomix, mean and violent. Cut to today: Sporelin's village is now under attack by the zombie-like Myconid, who surround the settlement from all sides. Sporelin was sent, much like a Flick, from *A Bug's Life*, to get help. And that brings us to today.

The village isn't too far away, though it is "many miles," according to Sporelin. He's excited to get back and tell the others that he found help, especially "Sporeoth". Some of the other Myconid who are still kicking: "Muldanar", "Trufflin", "Veilstock", and "Tooshroud". Cool. He also tells the party that the Myconid have no enemies, no one who could be doing something like this. So, who knows what's going on. Sporelin does tell them that they are being assisted by an alchemist, one who's been helping them for years. She believes this may be some kind of virus.

Suddenly, the party begins to recognize that they are being followed. From out of the shadows, three zombie-like Myconid emerge. Sporelin recognizes one of them as Veilstock, one of the names that was supposed to be alive back in the village (though it sounds like Michael just forgot, and reused tha name. This will happen multiple times for these mushroom-folk.) The other two are named "Capwise" and "Lychenore". The three Myconid attack!

Screech has learned his lesson about attacking enemies head on, without first checking if they will do reciprocal damage back to him. He attacks from range, hanging from the ceiling. Meanwhile, Selene creates a *Wall of Fire* the burns all three of them badly, thought not quite "too a crisp". She and T'Chuck are overtaken by the evil Myconid's spores, but they are able to fight off the Poisoned and Stunned effects, respectively. R'Oarc is able to end one of them with a *Vicious Mockery* (the cruelest way to die), and T'Chuck finishes off the other two; one with *Inflict Wounds*, and the other with his magical Mace of Regnier. And the battle is won!

### Short

The party has returned to Mineford, taken a long rest, and begins to formulate their next move. They are considering leaving Mineford, and heading for eastern-er pastures. Their musing are cut short, however, by the arrival of Sporelin. He's a Myconid (mushroom-folk), who hails from a nearby town of other Myconid. They need help. Recently, some of their people have started to go missing. Some of them have returned, but as evil, zombieified versions of themselves. The party agrees to go back the Myconid village with Sporelin, to investigate, and stop the zombies, if possible. Along the way, they are attacked by three such zombie Myconids, but they are able to put them down quickly.

## **Trivia**

* For maybe the fifth time in this campaign, everyone mentions what they are having for breakfast, which of course means I gotta write it down. So, here it is:
	+ Selene drinks tea.
	+ R'Oarc drinks "Beholder Energy Juice", which is the equivalent of Monster Energy Drink.
	+ T'Chuck drinks beer, with a raw potato in it.
	+ Screech drinks a bourbon, neat, out of a dog bowl, which he laps up sloppily. Which doesn't sound very neat to me.
* Ratma mentions the Veterans, though doesn't remember what they're called.
* R'Oarc wonders how many times she's died. Twice, she thinks. I will go back and verify that at some point.
* The Myconid people have a different view of time than the others. What is long for everyone else is short for the Myconid.

## **In This Episode...**

### **Cast and Player Characters**

* Michael DiMauro - *Dungeon Master*
* Tim Lanning - T'Chuck
* Jennifer Cheek - Selene von Esper
* Nika Howard - R'Oarc
* Mike Bachmann - Beholder-doodle (Screech Echo)

### **Non-Player Characters**

* Sporelin
* Zombie Veilstock
* Zombie Capwise
* Zombie Lychenore

### **Locations**

* The Underground
	+ Mineford
		- The Goblin Pit Too

### **Quest Board**

* [NEW][On-Hold] - Investigate the mysterious goings-on to the east
* [NEW][Active] - Save the Myconid people
	+ [NEW][Active] - Investigate the disappearances in the Unnamed Myconid Village
* [Active] - Restore Mineford to it's true potential
	+ [Active?] - Mushroom Gathering
	+ [Optional] - Reforge the Path to Morendarith
	+ [Optional] - Bring a load of ale to the newly opened Goblin city of Thornhaven
* [On-hold] - Investigate "Bill, the Necromancer", in the far off city by the coast
* [On-hold] - Take the disembodied lips to the oceanfront, for a burial at sea

### **Quotes**

* **"Everywhere we go, like, a fucked up dog bites us or something."** ~ *T'Chuck*
**"Hey!"** ~ *Beholder-doodle*

* **"I am God!"** ~ *R'Oarc*

* **"Hey, there. You're a rock star. Getcher game on. Go... play..."** ~ *R'Oarc's words of inspiration to Screech*

## **Rolls**

* **Tim Lanning** does an *Insight* check on Michael DiMuaro - 27
	+ Everything is fine and normal.

* **T'Chuck** rolls *Perception* for magnets - 23
	+ So many magnets, but you don't know how they work.

* They all roll *Perception* while walking through the tunnels
	+ **T'Chuck** - 19
	+ **Selene** - 14
	+ **Screech** - 23
	+ **R'Oarc** - 15
		- They all find themselves surrounded by evil Myconid

*Combat Begins vs 3 Myconid*

* *Initiative*
	+ **Beholder-doodle** - 23
	+ **Selene** - 20
	+ Myconid 1
	+ Myconid 2
	+ **R'Oarc** - 13
	+ **T'Chuck** - 9
	+ Myconid 3

*Round One*

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Ranged Attack (Shortbow) vs Myconid 3 - 20
		- Hit - 13 damage

* **Selene**
	+ Casts *Wall of Fire* in a circle around the party, requiring *Dexterity Saving Throws* from all three Myconid
		- Myconid 1 - 7
			* Fail - 19 Fire damage
		- Myconid 2 - 8
			* Fail - 19 Fire damage
		- Myconid 3 - 13
			* Fail - 19 Fire damage
	+ Uses a Bonus Action to *Telekinetic Shove* one of the Myconid, requiring a *Strength Saving Throw* - Nat 20
		- Success - Not shoved

* **Myconid 1**
	+ Melee Attack (Spore Blast) vs Selene, requiring a *Constitution Saving Throw* - 9
		- Fail - She is Poisoned, and hallucinating
			* This also ends the *Wall of Fire*

* **Myconid 2**
	+ Melee Attack (Spore Blast) vs T'Chuck, requiring a *Constitution Saving Throw* - 5
		- Fail - He is Stunned, and pacified

* **R'Oarc**
	+ Grants Selene *Bear's Endurance*
	+ Grants T'Chuck Bardic Inspiration

* **T'Chuck**
	+ Makes another *Constitution Saving Throw* to stop being stunned - 20
		- Success - He stops being stunned

* **Myconid 3**
	+ Melee Attack (Punch) vs Beholder-doodle {x2} - 7, <7
		- Miss, Miss

*Round Two*

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Ranged Attack (Shortbow) vs Myconid 3 - 15
		- Hit - 12 damage

* **Selene**
	+ Makes another *Constitution Saving Throw* to stop being poisoned (with Advantage) - 12
		- Success - She stops being poisoned

* **Myconid 1**
	+ Melee Attack (Spore Blast) vs Selene, requiring a *Constitution Saving Throw* (with Advantage) - 23
		- Success - She is not Poisoned
	+ Melee Attack (Punch) vs Selene - Nat 1
		- Miss

* **Myconid 2**
	+ Melee Attack (Spore Blast) vs R'Oarc, requiring a *Constitution Saving Throw* - 15
		- Success - She is not stunned
	+ Melee Attack (Punch) vs R'Oarc - 5
		- Miss

* **R'Oarc**
	+ Melee Attack vs Myconid 2 - 17
		- Hit - 8 damage
	+ Grants Bardic Inspiration to Screech

* **T'Chuck**
	+ Casts *Inflict Wounds* on Myconid 2 - 20
		- Hit - 16 Necrotic damage - *Kills it*

* **Myconid 3**
	+ Melee Attack (Punch) vs ~~Beholder-doodle~~ R'Oarc {x2} - Nat 20,
		- Hit - 12 damage
			* She must also make a *Constitution Saving Throw* to maintain Concentration, so Selene's *Bear's Endurance* will remain - 13
				+ Success - She does maintain Concentration

*Round Three*

* **Beholder-doodle**
	+ Melee Attack vs Myconid 3 {x3} - 17, 19, 25
		- Hit, Hit, Hit - 9 + 5 + 6 damage

* **Selene**
	+ Cast *Lightning Bolt* on the two remaining Myconid, requiring a DC 15 *Dexterity Saving Throws*
		- Myconid 1 - 5
			* Fail - 32 damage
		- Myconid 3 - 15
			* Success - ~~32~~ 16 damage

* **R'Oarc**
	+ Casts *Vicious Mockery* vs Myconid 1, requiring a *Wisdom Saving Throw* - 11
		- Fail - 7 Mocking damage - *Kills it*

* **T'Chuck**
	+ Melee Attack (Mace of Regnier) vs Myconid 3 - 18
		- Hit - 5 damage - *Kills it*

*Combat Ends*