At Eleric's probing at the doors for any dastardly surprises, his ministrations revealed they were firmly locked.
Ortensia concentrated to seek out anything with her mind as she considered whether delicately picking said lock were an available option.
Ortensia you get the impression that this is one of the main entrances to the vampire lair. You see a vampiric woman dressed in green, plant like fibres who has been set to guard the area, however she appears to be a psychopath and seems to attack and mainly try to kill anyone who comes through.
...[i]Ah. We have a rather viscous guardian who cannot be reasoned with beyond this door. She is a violent psychopath who will do everything in her power to murder us.
Rubbing at her temples with her free hand, she sighed in resignation. To proceed, we shall put her down like the rabid creature she is. Any objections or suggestions?
Tess casts Barkskin on Creeden, expecting the encounter to get ugly.
Feeling his skin toughen, Creeden prepares for the battle. "Excellent."
I can bestow Funeral Weapon,Gravity Bow,or Daybreak Arrow if any of you would like it. she offered.
A metallic gray outline suffused the occultist, thickening around the Ravenshead.
Tess volunteers to throw the door open, while the rest of her team piled through and dog piles the vampire.
Elric will have his familiar unlock the door. Tess you may open it if you like."
Then he will cast haste on the group.
If the door was unlocked, Tess opened it.
The door unlocks. The cloying humidity and heat of an active greenhouse fill this huge atrium. Exotic flowers, creeper vines, shrubbery, and even trees grow throughout the open space. A vaulted ceiling arches forty feet overhead, supported by four thick columns, while a stone-tiled path winds past each exhibit.
Creeden will cautiously lead the way inside.
As you head along the path you can hear an occasional chopping noise to the west and a regular swishing noise to the east.
Eleric will start to inspect the greenhouse for dangers and clues.
Know. Nature
Tess inspects the greenhouse as well.
To the west you can see a female figure in strange green armour chopping something on a small table.
To the east you can see what looks like a giant sized venus flytrap moving around the undergrowth.
Probing with her picnic abilities, Ortensia attempted to make sense of her surroundings. All she saw was plants and whatnot, being a city woman nor fond of horticulture.
Although raised by a farming community of dwarves, she did manual labor instead of tending to crops or harvest. Then sent to a boarding school in the cities.
Gripping Ravenshead with Lead Blades active, she considered their options. Perhaps a healthy application of Fire?
"It will be hostile. Everything we meet is. Shall we just attack it and clear the way?"
Hm. Should I open up with a ray of Fire and we beat what's left?
"Fire away."
Very well. I'll deal with the plant. You can...attempt to negotiate although I feel it's a lost cause.
Ortensia shrugged a shoulder at her companions reluctance to engage the greenclad woman in conversation rather than combat despite her findings proving otherwise.
With a thought, the halfork's shoes dragged across the floor as she was lifted weightlessly into the air. She drifted over to the animate plant, eyeing it thoughtfully as she got within range.
A bead of orange dilated before her before a sheet of blistering flame was directed at the plant.
Ortensia's ray strikes the plant burning it significantly.
The flytrap readies to attack anyone within range
The elf casts Prayer on the group, improving their offense and defense by a small measure.
Elric starts with Haste.
Creeden will get between the group and the plant and take total defense.
Ortensia fluttered above,leather dress fluttering like a battle standard. She saw Creeden make himself an obstacle for the flailing plant. She measured the positioning of her companions, angling the next Ray to exclude them.
Ortensia's ray burns into the creature.
The flytrap readies for anything to come near.
Ortensia saw the singed fly trap champ its spiked mouth before it coiled much like a Cobra readying a strike.
Frowning at how resilient the animate plant seemed to be, she directed another ray of flame onto it.
If that didn't kill or her companions didn't with their collective effort, she'd simply beat it to mulch herself.
"Well, I guess we'll come to you, then."
Creeden rushes across the floor and takes a swing at the giant plant. He pulls one of his waaveblades (just in case!) but sticks to punching for now.
for and
for
Flames leap from Eleric's fingers toward the plant.
[i]Ortensia's ray strikes the flytrap again.
As Creeden dashes across the flyrtrap tries to attack as he comes near, grabbing him.
Creeden deals the flytrap a might blow.
Tess casts Blessing of Fervor on the group.
Ortensia,seeing Creeden punching away at the flytrap while clutched in its maw,dropped like a stone to close in,leading with the Ravenshead.
#1
#Hasted
#2
Like a furious swooping bird of death, she pummeled the plant.
Ortensia bashes the plant info a fibrous pulpy mess.
Creeden slips out of the slack jaws of the giant plant.
"Thanks, Ortensia."
The halfling flings back his hair, slick with sap.
Ortensia flicked her head at him, cleaning him of the ichor and Pulp of the plant with presidigitation. Then herself with an air of dissatisfaction.
That was more difficult than I needed to be.
"Well this is not a normal green house."
Eleric will look for clues, chemicals, secret rooms etc.
Eleric you can still hear the strange chopping sound to the west. It appears that the flytrap was grown using a mixture of magic and alchemy and was fed on blood on a regular basis.
"Let's go to the chopping"