Brier Brambles

This ritual will be featured in the 4th edition conversion of the upcoming adventure Anointing the Seer, which is due out this month. Once released we will include a free 4th edition conversion of the adventure for everyone who gets a copy at RPGnow.com. In the meantime keep your eyes here for more tidbits.

Ritual: Brier Brambles
Level: 10
Category: Warding
Time: 10 minutes
Duration: Permanent
Component Cost: 400 gold
Market Price: 1200 gold
Key Skill: Arcana or Nature

Sowing glowing seeds upon the earth before the doors and speaking the words of this ritual, a dense mass of thick, thorny vines springs up from the earth and blocks the way. "That should keep them from following us!"

This ritual summons a group of stationary magically animated vines that prevent passage. Upon completion of the ritual a Brier Bramble and a number of Offshoots grow up in the locations of your choosing within 10 squares of the caster. The number of Offshoots is dependent on your Arcana or Nature check.

Arcana or Nature Check	Number of Offshoots
19 or lower	2
20-24	3
25-29	4
30-34	5
35-39	6
40 or higher	7

The brambles obey simple commands from the ritual caster to the extent of their limited abilities ("crush him, don't crush her", "part and let me pass" "destroy any goblins that come this way" and so forth).

The Brambles persist for 24 hours or until destroyed. The ritual caster can extend the duration for another 24 hours by spending a healing surge. If the effect is sustained for a year and a day, it becomes permanent.

Brier Brambles: Level 5 soldier
large fey magical beast (plant) - XP 200
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +3

HP 68; Bloodied 34
AC 21, Fortitude 21, Reflex 19, Will 19
Vulnerable fire (takes ongoing 5 fire damage [save ends] when damaged by fire).
Speed 0

Powers
Thorny Lash - (standard melee; at will) -
+12 vs. AC; 1d10 + 4 damage.

Crushing Embrace - (standard melee; encounter, recharge 4-6) -
+10 vs. Reflex, 3d8 + 4 damage and target is grabbed. While grabbed target takes ongoing 5 poison damage until unconscious, at which point the briers hold them without doing further harm.

Firmly Rooted -
The brier brambles cannot be pushed, pulled or slid.

Alignment Unaligned - Languages none
Str 18 (+2) Dex 15 (+5) Wis 15 (+1)
Con 15 (+3) Int 1 (-1) Cha 1 (+0)



Brier Brambles Offshoots: Level 4 minion
large fey magical beast (plant) - XP 50
Initiative +4 Senses Perception +3

HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion.
AC 20, Fortitude 19, Reflex 18, Will 18
Speed 0

Powers
Thorny Lash - (standard melee; at will) -
+10 vs. AC; 1d10 + 4 damage.

Crushing Embrace - (standard melee; encounter, recharge 4-6) -
+8 vs. Reflex, 3d8 + 4 damage and target is grabbed. While grabbed target takes ongoing 5 poison damage until unconscious, at which point the briers hold them without further harm.

Firmly Rooted -
The brier brambles cannot be pushed, pulled or slid.

Alignment Unaligned - Languages none
Str 17 (+5) Dex 14 (+4) Wis 14 (+4)
Con 14 (+4) Int 1 (-2) Cha 1 (-2)

Tactics: Brier Brambles are simple combatants due to their immobility. They will simply attack whoever they are told to attack when they are approached.

Brier Brambles Lore
A character knows the following with a successful Arcana check:
DC 15: These magical brambles will attack anyone approaching, but cannot move from where they are rooted.