Jolis continues to watch both the front and back of the group as it hurries through the jungle.
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Jolis examines the landscape and deduces, "Everyone! I think we made it! I think we're at Carnivore Grove!"
With a sigh, the big warrior ponders the group's next step aloud.
"So, other than both Lera's", Jolis paused to give each an appreciative glance, "who else here can speak Sylvan? Both Leras taught some words, but not enough to be conversational."
Panting from the escape run, Vitranna shakes her head.
"I am unable to speak that language."
Jolis examines the landscape and deduces, "Everyone! I think we made it! I think we're at Carnivore Grove!"
"Did the giant carnivore that tried to devour us give it away?" Grelda asks flatly. Her grip tightens on her clubs as she looks about, alert for any more dangerous predators.
She shakes her head, indicating that she doesn't speak Sylvan. "Common, Giant, or Orc," she says.
"I can give you private lessons but there is a price..." Lera runs her finger along his chest and looks up at him hungrily.
Then her face instantly changes. "5 gold per session and a foot massage."
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Rubs him with her hand as well and in Valeriya's voice says.
"That is 5 gold each"
She smiles at him sweetly
Jolis tries to stiffle a smile, but fails. Shaking himself to the present, the big warrior states, Well..I guess you two are our diplomats in this meeting: translate for us what is being said, and communicate to the dryads our requests. I think for the time being, Lera", stopped Jolis, looking at the two witches' hands, "the one with the dryad ring, and I should take point until we find the dryads."
Vitranna nods.
"Agreed Jolis."
She then looks at the two duplicate witches and frowns again as she leans on her spear, obviously tired from the run.
"You guys are weird."
"What? Is it wrong that I'm sexy and I know it?"
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"You guys are weird."
"Perhaps", considered Jolis. "But, DAMN, are we happy!"
"All I'm gonna say is: you can be happy, too", the big warrior said with a wink.
Vitranna just looks away from Jolis quickly with disgust on her face, a rude gesture the only return he gets for his salacious 'come-on.'
Richard gives Vitranna a 'I'm with you' glance and points in the direction for them to go deeper in.
Shifts back into her monk form.
"Jolies is right, play time over"
As you explore the Carnivore Grove, your map does you little good. The islanders have steered clear of this place, so it is only marked by the vague outline of a border and multiple warnings of caution. The "Grove" actually covers a few square miles, so finding the dryads may take some time.
You detect little movement here, except from grass and leaves being blown by the wind. There are insects, and a few birds, but you don't see any other animals. The air is strong with the smell of honey and fruit grown ripe on the vine, and underneath it, the faint scent of blood.
Richard got more uncomfortable the deeper into the grove they went. To keep his mind off of it, the scientist starts to catalogue the plants.
"I'm gonna try the dryad ring again. See if it can find fey in the area."
Jolis stops and concentrates on the magic ring on his finger.
Spirits of the Forest, reveal yourself to us!
Just as before Jolis's ring blinks briefly, though brighter than last time. The closer you get to the dryads, the stronger the light becomes. By using the ring, you're able to avoida great deal of useless wandering. However, pinpointing the exact right direction still takes some time.
Richard and Vitranna both spot a great deal of carnivorous plants as you travel, any number of which could have been deadly to an adventurer marching in recklessly. It is clear these plants did not grow haphazardly, but rather, were cultivated as obstacles to keep out intruders.
After a little over an hour of travelling, you see the first sign of humanoid life ahead. A man with gaunt, green skin and moss for hair, wearing rusty armor and tattered clothes, walks toward you slowly. Several more seem to emerge from the jungle behind him.
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Jolis raises his dryad ring hand in a universal sign of greetings.
"Ladies. You're up", murmurs the big warrior to the witch and the monk.
Lera shows her ring as well and stands firm. "Hold, friends," she says in Sylvan. "We are not your enemies. We do not seek to harm you or those around you. We seek only the guidance of the mother of Dryads."
Richard nudges Lera. Eilena, tell them we're friends with Eilena. he says not hearing her name.
"We know Eilena"
"They don't look friendly," Grelda grunts. Her hands hover over her clubs, but she doesn't draw them--yet.
The moss people march ever closer, completely unresponsive to your voices. As they approach, you see a faint glint of red in their eyes. As soon as they get close, they start to charge.
Vitranna immediately steps up a bit and begins spinning her Totem Spear, the blade making its strange whistling-whine. A ball of distorted air beginning to appear in front of her. With a flick of her wrist, the distortion flies out toward the approaching 'men.'
Grelda draws one of her clubs as she moves closer to the moss men. She uses her free hand to grab a bit of butter from her spell component pouch and make mystic gestures as she casts a spell, coating the ground with slippery grease.
Richard says, Use your calm plants power the rings have. to Jolis and Lera
Moves in front of Richard, Throws a smoke Pellet on the ground and vanishes.
Lera shrugs as she doesn't have anything better to do.
Her ring glows in her hand as she activates its power. She holds out her hand in a gesture of authority.
"Obey"
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"Oh no, no, NO!"
Seeing the dryad meeting go to the latrines, Jolis hears Richard's advice and mirrors Valeriya's response. The big warrior hold up his dryad ring again, as he draws his longsword. In the few seconds Jolis has before combat is joined, the godling quickly draws inner strength from the core of his being and wills it through the ring.
Jolis screams.
The two moss men caught in Grelda's grease trap lose their footing, tumbling to the ground. They attempt to scramble forward mindlessly, but are caught in their tracks for now.
Jolis and Lera's rings flash with light again. Three, distinct lights appear on each ring before one light fades from each. Each command hits its mark, but only one of the targets stops. The other continues unimpeded, charging ahead.
Moving with unexpected speed, the creatures leap towards Grelda and Vitranna, attempting to grab hold of them.
Each blow connects with the force of a tree branch slamming against you as the plant creatures quickly close in.
Shocked by the vicious attack, Jolis has no option but to defend his friends.
Quickly donning his wooden shield , Jolis takes a 5 ft. step up to help defend Vitranna.
"Argh! Let go!" Grelda snarls. She begins a raging song, stomping her feet and roaring at one of the mossmen hold her.
Lera weaves an intricate pattern in the air with her hands leaving a trail of black magical aura emanating from her fingertips as she does. The weave ends with her hands forming a circle in her forehead revealing a third eye.
The witch intones with an otherworldly aspect to her voice as she weaves. "Let their minds be weakened, Let their bodies be sapped, Let their courage wither, Let their senses be trapped."
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Surprized by the creatures speed and force, Vitranna and Grelda are suddenly in a grappling contest they probably cannot win without help...
"Freedom!"
Vitranna then quickly attempts to get free on her own!
Takes hold of Richard and says
"Come"
They are both gone
Before Miya teleports Richard. He rushes up and spits an extract at one of her attackers.
Adhesive Spittle DC:16
Grelda is able to break free from the enemy's hold, but they aren't discouraged from attacking again. Jolis's sword slashes through the moss man easily, but he doesn't appear to feel any pain and continues his attack on Vitranna.
Frustrated by the Moss Man's resilient mind, she weaves another hex. This time she sews a bunch of invisible lines to the Moss Man and then makes a slashing motion cutting the lines.
"Your fate to sever; reclaim it never!"
Lera feels a great wellspring of energy swell inside her. It bubbles and churns inside of her feeling almost... ticklish? Yes, it tickles her awfully until she bursts out laughing. The laugh isn't her normal, girlish giggle. It is a wicked laugh; one made when shoving a baby into a boiling cauldron.
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The big warrior continues to hack away at the dryad accosting Vitranna, but it isn't going well.
Richard 35' up in a tree, turns and grabs the trunk. Look, set them on fire before they all get free. Richard takes aim with his pistol at one of the Grease trapped moss heads.
"Freedom!"
Desperate to get loose from the moss man, Vitranna tries using her magic on herself this time!
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"If you say so Richard"
From her bag she brings an alchemist fire bottle and from her clear view from above she takes aim then drops it on the the tangled mass of green tree men.
Alchemist's Fire: You can throw a flask of alchemist's fire as a splash weapon. Treat this attack as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet.
A direct hit deals 1d6 points of fire Damage. Every Creature within 5 feet of the point where the flask hits takes 1 point of fire Damage from the splash. On the round following a direct hit, the target takes an additional 1d6 points of Damage. If desired, the target can use a Full-Round Action to attempt to extinguish the flames before taking this additional Damage. Extinguishing the flames requires a DC 15 Reflex save. Rolling on the ground provides the target a +2 bonus on the save. Leaping into a lake or magically extinguishing the flames automatically smothers the fire.
Grelda snarls as she attacks the moss an she did not intimidate.
After a few attempts, Vitranna is able to free herself from the moss creature's grip before its teeth sink in. The monsters are persistent however, and continue their attacks, even as your attacks tear through them.
Only one of the monsters is able to escape from the grease trap before it is ignited by flames, nearly consuming the one that remains prone within it.