I think I can beat that -46 stealth!
"Where, you say? We've found the monster?" Absalom asks.
The gritch slowly begins to move towards you, and you see the gruesome image of a mutilated myconid spore laying beside it. It rears up, ready to strike ate you!
Mordal, Carson, Lanezra (In any order)
Myconid 1
Gritch
Myconid 2
Absalom
Carson speaks in a loud, clear voice, and flash of silver light bursts out from the open hand symbol on his shield. A shimmering shield of force settles around Lanzera's shoulders, and Carson grips the broken half of the banner pole.
Lanezra, in a self-conscious effort to use the correct form and stance recently taught to him by Carson, wields his Polearm in an arc around his core, lashing out at the monster as the halberd reaches its crescendo in a violent, curving thrust -- from as safe a distance as the reach weapon allows:
Ooh, looks like Carson WELL taught Lanezra how to fight!
As a shimmering force-field glimmers, casting Lanezra in a white glow, he swings his halberd at the gritch, causing a large gash to appear, and a line of green blood begins to drip down onto the ground.
Mordal grabs his rapier and stabs out at the creature!
The myconids cheer as they see the gritch wounded, and they both begin to concentrate very hard. You see a large group of spores suddenly head towards the monster.
The gritch seems to overcome whatever type of effects the spores have, and, though wounded by both Lanezras and Mordals attacks, it manages to strike out at Lanezra!
The gritch rears back and attacks Lanezra with its tentacles!
It then lunges and snaps at Lanezra with its beak!
Absalom saves his hand, muttering a magical incantation. 3 glowing darts appear and zoom towards the gritch.
Near death and dazed by the lash of the tentacle, Lanezra gasps to Carson for Divine healing, staggering in his dying state.
Seeing his comrade gravely injured, the soldier-priest steps forward, the angelic words rolling off his tongue, and touches Lanzera with the broken bannerpole. Surrounded in a flash of silver light, the fey's wounds begin to close. "We definitely need to get you some armor, my friend! he says as he interposes himself between the wounded warrior and the beast. "Stay behind me! Use your reach!"
As Carson divinely heals Lanezra, bolts of purple magic shoot towards the giant monstrosity! They strike the monster, grievously wounding it! In response, Mordal lashes out in rage, and stabs at the creature with its rapier!
The hit glances of the creatures thick outer shell, but the myconids rush in to try and finish the job, while the gritch lashes out in anger at them!
The first myconids spear misses and strikes a nearby mushroom!
The tentacles completely miss the myconid, and its companion lashes out in anger!
The spear misses wildly, and is broken into pieces as it hits the stone floor!
Absalom waves his hand as he steps back 5 feet. An icy, blue ray shoots forth, heading towards the gritch
The icy ray of frost strikes the gritch, leaving it to flop down on the floor, dead!
"Nice shot, Absalom! Was anyone other than Lanzera injured?". He turns th the fey, and examines his wounds.
Lanezra shrugs confidently, "Injured? It was just a flesh wound!"
.
.
.
The myconids turn around and begin heading towards he village, cheering in your mind as they do so. One of them claims that they must bring the carcass back to the hunters, but it seems that he is heading in a different direction from which you came
After examining Lanzera's wounds, and making sure there was no potential of infection, he speaks up. "Let's secure the area and make sure there are no more of these creatures. They tend to stay close to their lairs. Lets see if we can find it and make sure there are no eggs or anything. He pauses for a moment and turns to the one myconid who expresses interest in bringing the carcass back. "I agree we should bring this creature back, if for no other reason than to show your people that the threat is ended, but I believe you are going the wrong direction. If you stay with us, we will assist you in bringing the creature back." Carson observes the myconid in effort to try and discern why he is wandering off alone.
The carcass-carrying myconid turns back to you, and in an almost bored, monotone voice states There are no more monsters. We are heading in the correct direction and begins walking in the same direction. The other myconid looks quite confused, and begins to try and block his companions way.
You can not see any other lairs/caves, and you do not know why the myconid is acting strangely? Perhaps magic?
Carson gives an odd look to the carcass-carrying myconid, holding his hand up to the other myconids. "Let him go. Something is not right with this one. We are already on a side trek to our main journey. I suggest we follow this one and see where it goes. He makes a mental note to ask Stool what the proper pronoun is for referring to myconids. He then scratches that mental note off the list and replaces it with "Don't ask about myconid gender and procreation."
Mildly taken aback about Carson's abrupt 'something's-wrong-with-Mushroom-Boy' comment, Lanezra looks quizzically at the Cleric but makes no comment.
Uh, did I just miss something?
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance in diagnosing our friend," Absalom says. "Much of Myconoid biology is still a mystery, but we will at least be able to rule out any extra-natural effects, such as we witnessed in the city of the duergar."
You detect a sort of madness within the myconid, one that he appears to embrace with a sort of childlike innocence
The myconid continues to march on to what appears to be a overgrown, mushroom filled, pleasure garden.
Lanezra whispers, "Um, ...Absalom, Carson, why are we casting magic on the lead Myconid? What's going on?"
"It would appear that our guide is in the grip if some strange madness," Absalom responds. "And if our guide is aware of this madness, they are choosing not to fight it in the least bit. Rather, they seem to be embracing it as a child would a parent."
The priest says softly to Lanzera, "He seems confused and is going in the wrong direction; away from the other two hunters and away from the hunter's camp. I have no idea why, but Absalom seems to have diagnosed it as some form of insanity. If you would prefer, we can leave him to wander, but I am curious where he may go. It's not the first time we have encountered insanity since we found ourselves imprisoned."
Lanezra, with a courteous hand on Carson's shoulder to halt his progress, asks with empathy, "Why are you letting that one wonder off? You see something is wrong and his companion is worried, trying to stop him. Let us halt the befuddled Myconid."
Lanezra then moves ahead of the oddly-acting Myconid and tries a gambit:
"Demogorgon glooba-glooba ZAN -- Goah," and points authoritatively toward the direction that the still-sane Myconid was leading.
Well, if he's crazy and it's connected to that monstrous Avatar then he may just recognize The Prince of Bastards' name. And if he's not there's no harm done; I don't mind acting a fool.
'Damn' I wish I knew the language of the Abyss!
The myconid comes to a halt That is not the master I serve
Carson stops, confused for a moment, wondering if whatever madness is spreading in the Underdark has started to affect even them. But then hearing the myconid's response to Lanzera's use of the name of the Prince of Demons, his curiosity resumed. "What master do you serve?"
The myconid turns toward Carson You will meet her soon, and you will soon succumb to her unholy madness
"Do you go now to your mistress?" Absalom asks.
Carson turns and gives his companions a look. One he has their eye, he loosens the broken banner pole he uses as a mace in its loop on his belt. "If we are separated, try and meet back at the myconid hunting lodge."
"Oh, I'd just love to meet your Mistress! There's something about Insanity that appeals to me."
Cutting down Mad Priestesses is Very appealing.
....Oghma don't fail me now!
Lanezra gives Carson a slight nod at his wise suggestion -- and begins to follow the duped, crazed Myconid.
The mad myconid slowly begins to head towards a large plateau
This plateau rises higher than the other terraces.
screened by a natural fence of soaring zurkhwood stalks.
Muffled murmuring can be heard from atop the plateau.
My Mistress lies this way The myconid begins to drag the carcass through the zurkhwood
Carson grips his shield tighter as they go, the leather hand strap digging into the caloused skin of his palm. These men, Lanzera, Absalom, the tiefling and even the myconids, were his battle brethren. He needed to protect them.
The tough leather dig into his hand as if a reminder. He slowed for a moment, looking at the leather shield strap, and then stopped and looked at Lanzera. "Take this." He removed the shield from his arm and offered it to his companion. Turning to speak to Absalom and Mordal. "If it comes to combat, retreat. We're not fighting here, just getting information. Try and stay together, but if we can't, you know where to meet."
With that, he continues on after the oddly-acting myconid.
"Let me try a conversational gambit first, Carson. Let us only resort to combat if needed," Lanezra whispers, refusing the shield. "And look at my halberd; I can't wield it and carry a shield at once. I have to rely on my quick wit to talk my way out of fights -- and rely on my ability to stand back from my opponent with my reach, during a fight. But thanks for the offer."
.
Carson takes his shield back from Lanezra, feeling foolish. "Hoping conversation is all that happens. I could use some stimulating debates."
The low muttering grows louder as you reach the top,
turning into a symphony of roars, cries, and hisses.
The only light comes from a raw glowing mushrooms
along the edge, but even in the gloom, you can't miss the
source of the sounds. The heads of creatures of a dozen
humanoid Underdark races peek from the ground, mold
and fungi growing around them.
One voice calls out loudly in Undercommon—a
female drow fighting to speak. Please for your gods
of light,kill me! She manages to stir within her living
grave, raising a spider medallion half-embedded in the
bloated growth that was once her hand. Half her face Is
rotten and pustulate, a bed for the sprouting of scores of
tiny mushrooms. The Great Seeder....trap she's here
...the Lady of Decay....Zuggtmoy
For a moment, Absalom pauses, and takes a step towards the drow. "What has happened to you," he asks, "and who is this Great Seeder?"
The drow snarls at you, before breathing her last breath and letting her limp head fall to the ground. The myconid simply glances at the scene and moves on My master awaits. He shambles on, past dying creatures of all races, shapes and sizes.
You recognize one of these creatures, even if they are almost completely covered in mushrooms. It's one of the members of your scientific excursion! The one that managed to escape the clutches of the duregar! She glances up at you, her eyes bleary Professor....
Carson looks at the field of heads emerging from the fungus with horror. He kneels down, and examines a couple of them, attempting to discern if they are alive, and if so, if they can be saved.
"Zuggtmoy, huh? Well doesn't that just figure. First Demogorgon and then the Demon Lord of Fungus and Decay. I'm not liking this one bit."
"Welcome to the Underdark, Carson, where there's a Demo Lord-Cult around every corner. Look, the Myconid is taking us to one now. Shall we?" Lanezra smiles hungrily as he gestures the way to follow the sadly-corrupted Myconid further.
"Celia?" Absalom asks, approaching the fungal creature. "Carson, Lanezra, come quick!"
Absalom begins trying to move Celia into a more comfortable question, peppering her with questions about what happened to her and where the rest of the scientific expedition could have gone.
Running at the urgency of Absalom's call, Lanezra looks at what's left of his ally's friend, prepared to help in any way he may, but not at all hopeful.
"We'll save her, Absalom."
Alak Oghma, should I feel bad that I'm more intellectually curious than horrifically saddened at Absalom's loss?
As Celia is dragged out of the hole and is laid down on the stone, she breathes out a few words Duregar......took us......here.....gave us..to th-the myconids Her body spasms, and she appears to be in a sate of coma for several minutes, before coming back to life. Put.... in here....recent....recently.....leave me...end the madness...
Zuggtmoy is the Lady of Decay and Fungi, and she seems to be spreading her madness here. You recall that not only is she a powerful demon herself, she has connections to and often collaborates with Demogorgon.
You believe the Celia is the only person that can be saved, although the chance of doing to is very low
Carson looks over Absalom's friend with an increasingly grave face. "She could be saved, but chances are slim. I can try, but the conditions here are not good. Unfortunately, i don't think any of the rest can be saved. The humane thing would be to end their suffering." He sat back on his heels. "The drow mentioned Zuggtmoy, who is the demon lord of decay and fungus. She has connections with our favorite baboon-headed friend who showed up at Sloobludop."
"Do what you can," Absalom says. "If nothing can be done, we can at least make sure she rests in peace." Standing, Absalom begins looking about, checking the bodies of the dead and dying. Recognizing their pleading for a release, Absalom does his best to give it to them. Not wishing to disturb the dead and dying, but realizing the need for equipment that he and his friends have, Absalom also examines the bodies of those he assists to rest, searching for tools that the now-fungal beings will no longer need.