Frooooooogs, Level 2!
'Huh, what a sense of Deja Vu'
I note, having gone to the exact same hill me and Aqua went to last time. Didn't see why we had to choose a different area anyhow, since it's a good angle. Also, these frogs are like bloody rats! Based on all the fried frog legs sold in the guild and the two lumbering giants down the hill replacing their fallen comrades from yesterday, they must be reproducing like crazy.
'Alright Megumin, you're up. What spells can you cast?'
(Charisma: -2)
And with more vigor than I intended, I pushed Megumin in-front of me towards the frogs in the distance. Megumin trips up slightly, before turning her head back to me with an insulted expression.
'NEGATIVE 2?!?! C'MON!!! I'll come off as a certified @sshole at this rate..."
"Hey! You dare roughhouse me! At least have some common courtesy!" And with a scoff, Megumin turns back to face the frogs at what I'd estimate is a good two hundred feet away. Having understood my original intention with the shove, she get's into position to cast whatever magic she may have.
"Once you see my true power, you'd be best to wisen up and treat me a little nicer, you hear! For I am the wielder of the strongest magic of all! EXPLOSION MAGIC!"
(Charisma: 4)
'Sorry! I promise it wasn't my intention to offend you.... Just do your best, okay?'
"...................." I continued to stare at her, holding an expression that seemingly screams unimpressed.
With a huff, Megumin begins casting her spell. Immediately, a thick purple aura emerges from her wand. Streams of dark blue light spreads out into the air.
"Darkness blacker than black, darker than dark...."
My hair stands up on end, I stare at the lights show in aww.
"...I beseech thee, combine with me deep crimson, the time of awakening cometh..."
The lights swirl up above the giant toads, they stay none the wiser to their fates.
"...Justice, fallen upon the infallible boundary, appear now as an intangible distortion! Dance! Dance! Dance!...."
Star-shaped lights appear in the magical energy, it was as if I was starting into the night sky. A night sky that was all moving, pulsating with energy.
"...I desire for me torrent of power a destructive force!...
The spell continue to build up, the change of air pressure painfully noticeable as I stand nearby.
'This is really cool and all, but isn't the casting time painfully long?'
"...A destructive force without equal! Return all creation to cinders and come from the abyss!"
'Theirs more?'
"This is the mightiest means of attack known to man, the ultimate attack magic! Explosion!"
And with a thrust of her wand, the magic shoots down on the toads, the stars like lights expanding like stars going supernova. It all culminates to a tower of flames that shoots up past he clouds. The wind pressure throws me off balance for a moment.
Once is is said and done, nothing remained but a crater.
'That was amazing! The destructive power in that spell is devastating! I would love to have her on the team, hopefully she doesn't want to leave after my rude introduction. The only real issue I see is the casting time of the spell.'
Casting [Explosion] went well over six seconds, going a bit over half a minute at around 30 seconds if my sense of time was correct. If I were to fight with her in the team, that would be 5 whole turns used to cast the spell. A turn in D&D is six second, which makes this an odd predicament.
'I doubt we could have her cast it stealthily with all that magic flare and flashing lights. I'm sure we could work something out, though! Such power is simply not something to pass up.'
I turn to Megumin to (attempt to) welcome her to the party, when I notice she has face planted onto the ground, sliding a foot or so down the hill.
Aqua, who has been quiet all this time, speaks up.
"Megumin! Are you okay? What happened?"
"Hehehe.... Yes, with wielding such a spell comes a curse of no other! A spell with so much destructive comes with the cost equally destructive! An amount of mana needed that exceeds even my own seemingly unlimited supply! ...Rendering me paralyzed henceforth."
'A one shot king, huh? Honestly, that doesn't seem to bad. I highly doubt well meet anything this early that could survive a hit from that. What do you call this, guerrilla tactics?'
My musings were distracted when I felt in the back of my mind numerous dice being rolled for seemingly no reason.
17, 16, 16 Dexterity (Stealth) vs 13 Passive Wisdom (Perception)
9 Initiative (Frog) vs 3 Initiative (Carol)
[Turn Order: (Aqua-Surprised) (Megumin -Surprised) Frog, Carol-Surprised]
'Initiative turn order? That's new. Wait, WERE ROLLING INITIATIVE?!?!'
I was caught off guard when two giant frogs emerge from the ground. I was so shocked I failed to act immediately.
Being surprised is terrible in D&D, as it effectively removes you from any actions from the first turn rotation, leaving you as a sitting duck. Worse yet, all attacks made against you have advantage, meaning they get to roll 2 dice to hit and take the higher number, making it easier to lands hits.
"Ahh, it appears my explosion has woken up other hibernating toads, can you guys carry me out of here? I've heard being inside one is very unpl..." Megumin's sentence was left incomplete as a large pinked skinned frog did that very thing.
It seems Aqua was also surprised (or frozen from frog slime PTSD), as she stood there screaming in fear as she too was gobbled up by another giant frog.
"Noooo! Not again! It stinks and it's all slimy! Carol, you have to do something! Help m-PhpPPPppp"
'What the heck! Ahhh, hold on guys! Am coming!'
That would have been the case, if it wasn't for the fact there was a 3rd frog that emerged from the ground behind me, and due to being surprised, failed to act first.
Bite: 22 | 17 (Advantage) 1+1 Piercing
I try to pull my body back but trip over, having my legs swallowed up by the giant frog. The walls of the frog's body along with its mouth is pushing up against me, trying to pull me further in, I barely had enough time to brace myself with my hands to stop myself from slipping in immediately.
'Shit! I'v been grappled, If I don't escape now I'm gonna be swallowed! I gotta get out of here! THIS ALSO BLOODY HURTS!'
16 Intelligence (History)
'If I remember right, my player sheet said I had 10 max hit points, let's try not to die in my 2nd ever fight!'
The frog having already beating me in initiative, keeps me in its mouth as it attempts to finish me off pulling me deeper inside with it's tongue.
Swallow: 18 3+1 Piercing
Carol: 4/10 Hit Points
And with one final push, I start sliding further into the giant toads mouth towards its stomach.
'Oh hell Nahhhh! Oh please let this work!'
My class is a Tempest Domain Cleric, which comes with a nice feature at lv.1 I haven't had a chance to use yet.
[Wrath Of The Storm: 3 Uses
You can thunderously rebuke attackers. When a creature within 5 feet of you that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to cause the creature to make a Dexterity saving throw. The creature takes 2d8 lightning or thunder damage (your choice) on a failed saving throw, and half as much damage on a successful one. ]
Starting down at the giant frog with a piercing glare, I channel and focus my energy at the threat. Using my reaction from his attack, I feel power rushing through me as lightning manifests off of me directly onto the frog.
Despite the life or death situation, my inner geek compels me to say something epic.
"You wish to bring down Aqua's ire!?! May the goddess of water and storms turn you to nothing but a crisp! Lightning shock!"
DC 13 Dexterity Saving Throw
Frog: 11 (7 + 4 Lightning)
The frog's body twitches in agony at the shock, myself being able to feel it's pain as it's lips and muscles physically quivers around me.
'Ehhhh, this is so gross!'
It appears it wasn't enough to finish off the frog however, as it finishes pulling me inside. At once, my eyesight becomes useless as am shrouded in darkness as its body (stomach?) holds me in place, restraining me.
My turn start's again, and yet I can't do anything with my body. Inside its stomach, I can't even attempt to make an escape, not having the strength to move my body at all.
'Okay, weapons are out of the question, doubt I can reason with it, I can't use [Wrath of The Storm] until it attacks me again. I'm not even sure if it'll activate again due to all this darkness as it requires line of sight. C'MON CAROL, THINK!'
'All my bloody spells require somatic components too! And there no way I can move my hands in this state..... Wait a minute, cantrips!'
The cleric at lv. 1 knows 3 different cantrips. These are spells that they know by heart as if it's another language, unlike spells with levels that have limited number of uses, these can be used an unlimited number of times.
When I chose my class, it automatically gave me pre-chosen cantrips which I was pretty miffed about. But now that I'm in this situation It's a miracle since there was no way in hell I would have chosen this spell normally since it's rather bad.
Filling my lungs with a large breath, I shout out as if my life's on the line.
It very well was...
"REPENT!"
[Word of Radiance:
You utter a divine word, and burning radiance erupts from you. Each creature of your choice that you can see within range must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or take 1d6 radiant damage.]
DC 13 Constitution Saving Throw
Frog: 20 | 8 (Disadvantage) (6 Radiant)
At my shout, my eyes's flare up with vision having seemingly lit up akin to torchlights, both eyes becoming two deep white lights of blinding golden light. I can see the frog's innards for just a moment as a wave of golden light washes out from them along with the rest of my body. Because I was literally inside of the frog, it was harder for it to resist the the attack. My fleshy cage wobbles around as it shakes from what am assuming is a burning sensation from inside itself.
The frog's turn starts up again luckily unable to bite me again since I'm inside of it now. But as a consequence, I notice liquid covering my body. Unlike the saliva from yesterday, this one burned considerably greater.
( 1 + 2 Acid)
Carol: 1/10 Hit Points
I can feel myself lose counsiousness from the pain and energy being sapped away from me. If I could still see, I would have noticed my vision staring to black out. A sense of dread sinks into me.
'I- I could actually die here.'
Keeping whatever wits I still have from staying awake, I react to the attack with one of my own.
'Please don't fail me now, [Wrath of The Storm], my life depends on you...'
'God of storms. No, Aqua, if you can hear me, please lend me your strength! I'm sorry for almost squandering this next chance at life, but please give me strength.'
With the last crumbling bit's of force I can muster, I belch out a word, forgoing long dramatic phrases. Feeling the dice roll in my head, I focus all my attention on what the frog may have rolled.
"SHRIVEL!!!!!!!!"
Feeling the dice roll in my head, my prayers are seemingly answered as I feel buzzing sensations across my body, before it releases out. I focus all my attention on what the frog may have rolled.
It was a miracle it even activated since inside the frog has been nothing but darkness. Luckily, maybe because I'm physically surrounded by it or that the darkness itself is the toad's flesh walls, it counted enough to activate.
DC 13 Dexterity Saving Throw
Frog: 14 (6 + 4 Lightning, 5 dmg taken)
'NOOO! Why must you roll high now!'
Despite my despairing reaction to it resisting the attack, it is over shrouded by the death screams of the frog. The entire flesh cage shaking as it shouts it's last before I feel my body fall sideways lying flat on the ground inside the frog. The walls around me goes still, relaxing off of me as the life fades away from it.
It is my turn once more, and not chancing the frog possibly waking once more, immediately crawl my way out of it.
'THAT WAS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT!'
Crawling out of the mouth of the frog, I take one look at it and scrunch my face in disgust. Its corpse was smoking, skin covered in lines in the shape of lightning marks with it's face frozen in horror.
'Good Riddance'
Turning back around, I notice that Aqua and Megumin are still trapped in their own respective frogs. Another miracle was that unlike me, they both somehow didn't fall further into the frog's and thus their stomachs.
Using the rest of my movement I backpedal away not risking anything at the state am in, I go to raise my hand to caste the same spell I did yesterday. With the immediate danger gone, I try to calm my fear and anxiety by focusing on something cool to say to cast the spell.
[Guiding Bolt:
A flash of light streaks toward a creature of your choice within range. Make a ranged spell attack against the target. On a hit, the target takes 4d6 radiant damage, and the next attack roll made against this target before the end of your next turn has advantage, thanks to the mystical dim light glittering on the target until then.]
"You insolence knows no bounds, foul creatures! May Aqua hold no mercy to your fates! May her waters no longer calm your aches, but burn like the salt on your wounds! GUIDING BOLT"
22 (2+5+4+5 Radiant)
Striking the frog dead center, preoccupied eating Aqua and Megumin, both frogs are unable to move until they either spit out their prey or finish eating. It seems like they lack enough intelligence to have self preservation, as they continue to sit still.
'Tsk'
'That didn't finish you off? Fine then, take this!'
"May your sounds of thunder be your warning. A death unavoidable from the chimes of your end. Toll of the Dead!"
[Toll of The Dead: Cantrip
You point at one creature you can see within range, and the sound of a dolorous bell fills the air around it for a moment. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d8 necrotic damage. If the target is missing any of its hit points, it instead takes 1d12 necrotic damage.]
DC 13 Wisdom Saving Throw
Frog: 6 (3 Necrotic)
The sound of thunder reverbs around the area, the frog noticing the sound as if it was aimed at it in particular. Its last thoughts were the instinct to seek for cover from an upcoming rainstorm when its heart ceases beating.
Looking at the other frog holding Megumin, I shot off another [Guiding Bolt] followed up by numerous [Toll of The Dead]'s until it was murdered, lacking any real means of fighting back at this point. I release all of my nerves in the process, calming down after the 8th [Toll of The Dead], the frog having been dead well before then.
Sitting down on the ground to get my bearings having gone light headed, I barely notice Aqua pull herself out of the frog. Upon seeing me, she immediately runs over and pulls me into a hug.
"WAHHHH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CAROL! I thought I was gonna die and it was so stinky in there!"
'TOO TIGHT'
Feeling myself back out, I use my last bit of strength digging through my pockets to touch the sending stone, I mentally send my voice over to her.
'That's..... Great Aqua..... But could you........'
I can't muster another word.
Aqua quickly let go, taking one good look at me and my battered state. quickly casts a healing spell to put me back to full. Her eyes and expression screamed worry, later into aww and amazement
'How do I look?'
"You look alive after killing three giant toads!" Aqua shares eagerly, before casting one last healing spell for good measure.
"Do you understand what you just did? You managed to fight off threats yourself using prayers from the gods! From prayers to me!"
'Isn't that normal? I'm sure priests who pray to gods like you are granted some offensive power, right?'
"No! Don't you see? There are crusaders or wizards who prey devotion to us, but anything meaningful can't usually be offered by gods for such prayer other than a passive stat buffs. And the ones who do only gain support magic if they are priests. If a priest is found alone separated from their party, even an arch-priest, the only fate that await's them is death!
'Well, guess it's time to fix that, won't we? Your memory isn't so bad to forget the promise we made yesterday, right?'
"Wah, of course not! I was just hesitant if your devotion was true and if that dumb table-game system could even merge at all!” ‘Your prayers pleading for help were clear, I've never had a call for aid so loud and clear before, only true worshippers could do that.'
7 Wisdom (Perception)
'Sorry, what was that last part? Ah nevermind. Also D&D is not dumb! Also it's table top games, not 'table-game' you numbskull! Now let's get out of here, I'm sick of this slime already.'
"Let's just head back and wash up, alright?"
We walked for 10 minutes before we remembered to get Megumin, who was luckily asleep from exhaustion.
Mission: "Kill 6 Giant Toads"
-Giant Frogs Killed: 6+2
-Mission Complete!