Valenor Moonshadow |
Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Valenor looks at the body. "I estimate she has been dead for approximately two months. Moreover, there are a number of bite marks - here and here - that indicate the cause of her death."
DM Kludde |
Nira looks at the corpse in the corner and says This... this is me. It is all so confusing. I was... searching. Why the plants? I would... Speak, to the plants.
The doll prods the corpse, and a magical scroll falls out of one of the pockets of the orange robes.
Maximilian Q. Viveiros |
"Oh, what's this?" Maximilian exclaims, picking up the scroll and examining it (casting read magic if necessary).
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
DM Kludde |
The plants hold the secret. No plants thrive in the wastes... yet here they do. They grow, they protect. No town without the plants. But the children... it grows on them. The secret, the secret is close, it is near.
Vague Henri |
"My mother always told me that if I didn't wash my ears potatoes would grow in them...I wonder if these town kids just need proper bathing?" He says seriously. Only the twitching in the corner of his mouth gives away his attempt at dry humor...
Shrugging, he collects some of the leaves from the plants, and looks for the roots of the plant.
DM Kludde |
Henri follows the vines. The temperature rises toward the back of the cave. A tangle of vines spins and twists out of the rocky ground to cradle an enormous seedling. Both the seedling and the vines glow with a vibrant green light.
Cyjke |
Cyjke looks at what Henri found, "Yea, I would say that is the part of the plant to speak to. If that scroll we found is speak with plant spell then whoever can cast the spell from the scroll should give it a try. I might be able cast the scroll, but there is a good chance of miss casting, I believe bards and rangers can cast the spell." He looks around at the other party members to see if anyone steps forward.
DM Kludde |
A dreamy voice, reverberates in an answer: Greetings. You have come to the source of of this warm embrace. I am the spark, that which holds the life in this withered place. I feed, I nurture, my children grow stronger in my glow.
DM Kludde |
The smiling shadow of flight took it upon himself to protect me. He saw this Amenira of yours as an intruder, and weeded her out. She sprang forth from a new stalk, though, a great gift. Soon this entire valley will be lush and fertile thanks to what I provide. I am the spark of green, my saplings feed on me.
DM Kludde |
What is the desert without green? A barren place. Who would deny the creatures in the forest the shelter that the leaves provide? I care for my saplings, I nurture them. They grow, basking in the sunlight, anchored root and sturdy stem.
The plant doesn't seem to see any harm in what it is doing.
Cyjke |
Cyjke tries to reason with it [b]"There are people creatures who would chose to remain as they are, is there not a way to allow them to decline the gift you offer them?"[b]
diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Vague Henri |
"Surely you are not like the choker vine, or a bindweed? Killing all other life around so that you, and you alone, survive? We want to cultivate a bountiful garden with many beautiful varieties, all able to thrive and complimenting each other."
diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
DM Kludde |
Decline life? I do not understand. I enable life, I do not destroy it. It is the magical energies of the wastes that undo life. With my shield, with my care, all that grows here can survive.
The seedling is vulnerable - you can decide to take it with you, potentially ending its sway over mercy, or leave it here. Either way, it is a good moment to roll day jobs if you haven't done so already.
Shisen |
Shisen ponders things for a moment, then speaks out.
"The people of Mercy live in peace, their life with this living, sentient being is a kind of osmosis. Who are we to disturb it? I say we leave it here and report to our Venture-Captain."
No day job here.
Maximilian Q. Viveiros |
"Agreed, they seem content, if a little guarded. Whatever the situation with the children, they didn't ask for our help with it. We know the story now, let's return to tell it.:"
Day Job (Perform (oratory)): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Welcome Rain |
"I shall catalogue what I can, and perhaps the Society can send wiser heads - Druids perhaps, to come and understand this further. This life creates a shield for the village, and the villagers seem happy and peaceful, who am I to take that from them?"
Rain - takes notes, not flowers.
Day job 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Cyjke |
day job prof(gardener): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 LoL, perhaps Cyjke was over or under zealous in pruning work.
Cyjke agrees with Moonshadow "Yes, we should inform the villagers of the truth, and they can decide their own fate. We should also take the body of Amenira to her temple, but what of the doll?."
squatting down to speak with the Amenira doll "What do you wish to do, stay with the village, the spark, or return to you temple?"
Vague Henri |
Henri adds to Nira, "Or you can travel with me! I think we would make a marvelous team..."
To the plant, Henri says, "Are responsible for changing the human children of the town into plants? Can you explain the growths on their skin - is that not your doing? Is there a way that you can continue to thrive but not send forth growth on the children?"
Craft (locks): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Guess he's better at opening them than making them...
DM Kludde |
I feed, and I nurture. Nature takes its course. Without my light, there would be only waste, only magical storm. I provide the shelter, and I provide the nutrients. What else do you need?
---
Assuming you leave the Verdant Spark where it is.
The villagers of Mercy are grateful now that the bats are gone, and less suspicious of the group now that the 'vampire' is dead. The return journey to Katapesh is largely uneventful. Nira attracts some strange looks and mutterings from people who see her. She herself is largely becoming slightly more coherent, and in moments of clarity she seems to realize who is she is, saying Nira.. Anira.
Although Venture-captain Roderus is somewhat disappointed that the adventurers did not bring the strange seedling, he accepts the reason: that is a most prudent thing you did, not removing the plant. Finally, he reaches under his desk and withdraws a fat pouch of coins. [b]I told you I would compensate you for the success of your investigation, and I am a man of my word. He distributes coins to the group. Well done, Pathfinders. It’s good to know I can rely on you for future missions.
----
There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;
And frogs in the pools singing at night,
And wild-plum trees in tremulous white;
Robins will wear their feathery fire,
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;
And not one will know of the war, not one
Will care at last when it is done.
Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree,
If mankind perished utterly;
And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn
Would scarcely know that we were gone.
--Sara Teasdale
----