Daryl lifts a bandanna hanging around his neck and cinches it over his face to block the stench of burning bodies.
He studies the sky for a bit, gauging the wind and the smoke and his eyes turn to study the hills to the east and north.
"We just about handled four nymphs. We need to keep our ears open for any burrowing sounds as we move around. Even if the adult is not here, there is surely one not so far away."
He then turns back and studies the ground for a bit, gauging the quality of the crops, his eyes narrowing as he thinks.
"Mebbe - but if there's an adult, how come we ain't see it's tunnels? Those muckers make big burrows - tall enough that we could walk in them... I don't see nothing like that around..."
He glances at Aecarrin.
"Oye, professor - after an adult gives birth to its eggs how long does it take for them to hatch?" he asks.
His eyes turn to study the crops again.
"They been here six months... if they planted back in Lamashan then this stuff might be blooming now - but that'd just mean the earth's good for planting..."
He shakes his head.
"If they didn't get murdered cold and they didn't skip out on ships or boats then where else they'd go?" he says.
He looks at the sky again.
"Well, if they're nearby then maybe they'll see the smoke and come looking for us."
He moves so that he is upwind of the smoke and looks at the others, curious to know what they'd say next - if anything.
While Daryl investigates the fields, Taldo follows along behind him, checking the small shed nearby. Hearing Daryl speak about the adult creatures, Taldo asks him, ”Daryl, how did you learn about these creatures? Have you seen them before? “
’Blast, the smoke, good or bad, if anything is here they will see the smoke.’ Looking from Daryl, back to the smoke then to Morwenna, he shrugs his shoulder, ”I didn’t think about that.” Then responding to Daryl’s observation about the Missing people. ”Would the Grindylow’s have taken prisoners?”
While Daryl investigates the fields, Taldo follows along behind him, checking the small shed nearby. Hearing Daryl speak about the adult creatures, Taldo asks him, ”Daryl, how did you learn about these creatures? Have you seen them before? “
"Nah; I read about them, though," he says, holding up the tattered, though well-tended book he was taking notes in earlier, then he stuffs it back in his satchel.
’Blast, the smoke, good or bad, if anything is here they will see the smoke.’ Looking from Daryl, back to the smoke then to Morwenna, he shrugs his shoulder, ”I didn’t think about that.”
"Yeah..." he says slowly as he glances at Taldo "fire's got a habit of making smoke most of the time."
Then he shrugs.
"Who knows? Maybe the smoke will let anyone who ain't dead know we're here and bring 'em out to us?"
"That could be handy, I reckon... Well, at least so long as they don't think we're reavers looking to keep up the pillaging and burning of buildings, that is," he adds, then hefts his crossbow.
Then responding to Daryl’s observation about the Missing people. ”Would the Grindylow’s have taken prisoners?”
He turns a gaze back to the sea and seems to be considering this.
"Who knows? But those little whores live underwater - if they took human prisoners, I don't think the prisoners would last long... At least, living underwater..." he adds somewhat dryly.
Then he turns back and continues to study the terrain.
Uzziah, gazing at the smoke, gives a half-smile.
"At least this should speed matters to a conclusion more swiftly. We should still get moving soon though."
'Smoke or no smoke, Morwenna asked to burn them, so I did. I think she's prettier than Daryl anyway, so I'm not sure I care.' Smiling to himself, as Daryl explains about the smoke. Taldo gestures toward the fort, "I suppose your right about the smoke, but if they see it clear out here they shouldn't mistake it for the buildings. The big ones are over there."
'I wish we had started with the center and worked our way out. Out here we could get attacked from either side. Of course with the Grindylow in the water, there is the potential attack from either side anyway.' Nervously Looking from the fort to the water then to the jungle, he nods in agreement as Uzziah speaks. "Our cavalryman, is right, we need to keep moving. No more farming, no matter how hungry Aeracian gets."
"Our cavalryman, is right, we need to keep moving. No more farming, no matter how hungry Aeracian gets."
Darryl grunts.
"Well - if he's hungry, we got food already."
He then pauses and returns to study.
"Farming is a hazardous profession if those pests are the norm here!", Uzziah cuckles.
"Farming is a hazardous profession if those pests are the norm here!", Uzziah cuckles.
"We all got to die of something," he says with flat eyes.
"We all got to die of something," he says with flat eyes.
He prepares to advance but then pauses and turns his gaze to Morwenna.
"Begging your pardon, Miss Morwenna - dying of boredom ain't my style," he says, then he advances.
'We all have to die from something? Well that may be true but it doesn't have to be now.' Staying alert as they talk, Taldo chuckles at Daryl's response, then calls over. "That's true, but let's hope it's not from making mistakes, and doubly hope that it isn't now. I've got plans that don't include dying in the near future."
"...I've got plans that don't include dying in the near future."
He turns glance at Taldo.
"Sounds like a good plan," he responds.
"...I've got plans that don't include dying in the near future."He turns glance at Taldo.
"Sounds like a good plan," he responds.
Uzziah with good humour adds:
"Aye. While there is little joy without risk, it is hard to be joyful if slain!"
Aeracian looks at Daryl with a smile and gives his thanks when handed the food.
Perhaps we should speed up our investigation so that we may be concluded if an adult should return, allowing us to have done our task and move on should the need arise for us to take a tactical retreat.
Aeracian looks at Daryl with a smile and gives his thanks when handed the food.
Daryl merely grunts as Aerasian takes the foodstuff, his attention clearly focused on his surroundings.
Perhaps we should speed up our investigation so that we may be concluded if an adult should return, allowing us to have done our task and move on should the need arise for us to take a tactical retreat.
He looks at Aracian.
"Perhaps..." he responds somewhat dryly.
Ankhegs mate in autumn, when the fertilised female kills the male to lay 6–12 eggs inside him. Usually, a high number of eggs survive and hatch within two to ten days and start to feed.
An ankheg broodling does not hunt and remains hidden, while its mother brings it sustenance. After a year, the young are able to fend for themselves.
Around the second year, the young ankheg sheds its chitin before winter. It takes a little less than ten days to complete the process and grows a new shell. During this time, the youngling/nymphs are slower and more vulnerable. To defend themselves, they secrete a fluid (acid) that smells like rotten fruit. (When the juvenile ankheg has achieved adult form, but not its full growth, it’s called a nymph.)
-----------------
Morwenna listens to the males with a bemused expression on her face. The burning of the nymphs does not take long for their bodies are small and there are only four heaped atop each other. The fire begins to dwindle - only very small sections of the mandibles and exoskeleton remain among the ashes.
In her accented, melodic voice, Morwenna states simply, "It appears these Ankhegs burrow and spend their lives below ground. Setting fire to a field of viable crops may not be the best idea, but I leave that up to you." She smiles and her shining eyes change colour yet again - this time to a deep grey. Hearing words of thanks for the healing she performed on them, the druidess inclines her head politely and responds, "You are welcome. It would be foolish to permit you to move about gravely injured, especially when we know very little about Talmandor's Bounty. I do counsel you to be most careful now, as my healing magic can only go so far in a day."
Upon Taldo's suggestion to search the building/structure closest to the garden patch first before moving onto the next field, the group move there and the ranger opens the simple wooden door cautiously and peers inside.
It appears to be the farmer's cottage and there is the pungent stench of dung and damp earth coming from the interior. Scanning your eyes about, you note a simple cot with a thin mattress stuffed with straw. There are a number of filled burlap bags inside - the smell may be from the dung inside some. There are seedlings on the small wooden desk inside. The house belongs to a male from what you can tell - the dirty shirt draped over a chair and straight razor and comb by a rusty basin on the chair. There are two shovels propped up in the corner and a plough. It appears the building is both a home to the farmer and his work shed. There is nothing of great value inside - aside from the farming tools. There is no sign of violence inside the house and the owner's belongings are still within. You find this rather curious.
Uzziah and Ezekiel keep watch, however they do not see or hear anything as the others undertake their searches.
Daryl crosses the gravel road to the nearby garden (first A16 patch).
This vegetable patch does not seem to have suffered the ravages of any ankheg nymph. There are no holes/tunnels as were found in the previous vegetable patch. The vegetables found here are much the same as in the other garden patch (A15). Least your party will not grow hungry. Studying the ground, Daryl spies what appears to be small animal skeletons and a partially buried skull of what you surmise to be a monkey goblin (Monkey goblins are an offshoot of the goblin race adapted for life in high leafy canopies of tropical forests. Equipped with ratlike prehensile tails, monkey goblins are as at home in the trees as they are on the ground.)
You notice on the other side of this particular vegetable patch, two trees. One is a regular evergreen tree that can be found in such tropical climes and the other is a fruit-bearing tree with spiny branches and reddish-purple, apple-shaped plums. A few plums have fallen to the ground and have spoiled in the heat and birds have pecked at others. Nevertheless, there are still many fruits on the tree fit to pick and eat. The tree is completely ordinary from what you can tell.
You notice a spot on the ground by the plum tree, next to a fist-sized stone, where the earth has been disturbed.
Uzziah gives Ezekiel a comforting run on the neck. That acid burned.
In her accented, melodic voice, Morwenna states simply, "It appears these Ankhegs burrow and spend their lives below ground. Setting fire to a field of viable crops may not be the best idea, but I leave that up to you." She smiles and her shining eyes change colour yet again - this time to a deep grey.
"Don't worry - I ain't planning on burning anything, unless those damn bugs are rushing up on top of us; hopefully it won't come to that."
Hearing words of thanks for the healing she performed on them, the druidess inclines her head politely and responds, "You are welcome. It would be foolish to permit you to move about gravely injured, especially when we know very little about Talmandor's Bounty. I do counsel you to be most careful now, as my healing magic can only go so far in a day."
He looks at her and nods.
"You're right; we got to be careful."
He pauses and looks down at the land before him.
This vegetable patch does not seem to have suffered the ravages of any ankheg nymph. There are no holes/tunnels as were found in the previous vegetable patch. The vegetables found here are much the same as in the other garden patch (A15). Least your party will not grow hungry.
Daryl crouches and studies things.
"There's animal bones in there - and what looks like a skull to a monkey goblin," he says slowly, considering things.
He looks at the others.
"If a monkey goblin came in there I figure there may be more..."
"Uzziah - you think you can find any tracks or signs of monkey goblins leading back and forth between this place?" he says, trusting the tracking skills of Uzziah and his bird more than the rest.
"If those whores got a lair near to here they're likely trying for easy picking in the crops," he adds and peers to the hills in the middle of the island.
Taking Morwenna's advice about advancing into the next garden he'll pause and then Take 20 on a Perception Check (for at total of 26) to see if he sees any signs of tunnels worn into the garden.
Moving on to the next area, he studies the tree and the fruit on the ground.
Seeing a spot on the ground with a small stone by it and a depression his eyes narrow and he draws his knife.
"I think I found a buried bug egg," he says slowly.
He kneels gently by the depression and pokes in to the ground delicately, trying to find if there is indeed a buried bug egg there.
Just before the last body is placed in the fire, Aeracian looks a bit more closely at it, poking and prodding before saying "My apologies for being an alarmist, but it appears that we do not need to worry as much as I feared. There is still the possibility of an adult in the vicinity but these creatures are actually in their adult form but are just at the beginning of their molt cycles. Each cycle they will get bigger without end. That said, there doesn't necessarily need to be an adult as they are capable of fending for themselves. The tunnels could actually be a boon for us if they are there as they could provide quick access throughout the area once scouted. Still we should proceed with caution but we would hopefully do that anyway."
Aeracian stays close by the others as they move about, lending his help to anything they spy out.
Just before the last body is placed in the fire, Aeracian looks a bit more closely at it, poking and prodding before saying "My apologies for being an alarmist, but it appears that we do not need to worry as much as I feared. There is still the possibility of an adult in the vicinity but these creatures are actually in their adult form but are just at the beginning of their molt cycles. Each cycle they will get bigger without end. That said, there doesn't necessarily need to be an adult as they are capable of fending for themselves. The tunnels could actually be a boon for us if they are there as they could provide quick access throughout the area once scouted. Still we should proceed with caution but we would hopefully do that anyway."
Daryl looks at him for a moment.
"If there is an adult, where's a place that it'd make its home?"
"Does it like caves, jungles, ocean - what?"
He pauses and decides to be more specific.
"If there's a mom out there, would it make its home by this place, or somewhere further in the island? And if so - where do you reckon that'd be?"
Aeracian stays close by the others as they move about, lending his help to anything they spy out.
[dice=K. Nature if the tree is pointed out]1d20+9
Monkey goblins are an offshoot of the goblin race adapted for life in the high leafy canopies of tropical forests. Equipped with ratlike prehensile tails, monkey goblins are as at home in the trees as they are on the ground. They make their homes among the high canopies of trees.
===
The Ankheg dwell in partially collapsed burrows, usually around 40 feet underground. Hollow tunnel ends in particular are used for lair purposes - such as sleeping or hibernation. If there is a full grown, adult mother, she would be found in a deep burrow or hollow tunnel somewhere in the colony or near to it.
===
From the shape/pristine/unblemished form of the fruit and its clean smell, you are able to discern that the plump fruit is safe to eat. You can see no other plum trees in the vicinity of the colony, so this plum tree makes a worthwhile landmark.
===
Daryl cannot see any holes or tunnels in this vegetable patch - not akin to the size and number of those found in garden A15. Whatever ankheg disturbed the other garden has left this one untouched/undisturbed. As to the reason why, you have no idea at present.
Examining the monkey goblin remains, you do not note ravages by any acid discharge/burns or bites in what little of the skin remains on the bones. You do, however, perceive small, precise grooves in the small skin pieces as though the skin has been sliced open. What could do this? From what little remains of the dead creature, you cannot make an exact determination at this time (other than it is probably not an Ankheg).
===================
Morwenna moves closer to the plum tree thick with fruit and examines the plump plums and sniffs at them before stating, "The plums are safe to eat. We are lucky to find such a tree and it appears to be the only one in the colony. A worthwhile landmark."
Seeing a spot on the ground with a small stone by it and a depression his eyes narrow and he draws his knife.
"I think I found a buried bug egg," he says slowly. He kneels gently by the depression and pokes in to the ground delicately, trying to find if there is indeed a buried bug egg there.
Daryl uses his hand to dig carefully into the soft ground near the stone.
Digging a few inches beneath the soil, he discovers not an egg as he first thought but a small, flat, leather pouch (like a wallet).
From the appearance of the leather (it isn't significantly deteriorated), you can tell that the pouch has been buried beneath the soil for a few weeks.
Inside the pouch there is only a folded note on parchment. You open it and begin to read.
’Huh, a normal, if not cluttered shanty, looks like the guy just stepped out and never came back.’ Closing the door behind him, Taldo moves quickly across the field, towards where Daryl is investigating some bones. He asks, ”Did you say a Monkey Goblin skull? That’s more interesting than what I found in the shanty, Just farming stuff and a dirty shirt. Looks like the farmer went out for the day and just never came back.”
’Uzziah can track?’ When Daryl asks Uzziah to look for tracks, Taldo does a double take from the crossbowman to the cavalryman. Shrugging his shoulders, he also quickly looks around for any tracks that may have something to do with the skeleton.
After looking for any possible tracks for a moment, Taldo notices Morwenna move toward the plum trees. Approaching the tree also, he picks a plum, taking a bite. ”I hear they make a fine wine.”
Wiping the plumb juice off of his chin, he watches as Daryl draws the pouch from the ground. Looking over the crossbowman’s shoulder, he inspects the bag. He shifts the mouthful of plum into one cheek, speaking with his mouth full. "That leatherbag looks like it's been buried for a few weeks. What's in it?"
’Huh, a normal, if not cluttered shanty, looks like the guy just stepped out and never came back.’ Closing the door behind him, Taldo moves quickly across the field, towards where Daryl is investigating some bones. He asks, ”Did you say a Monkey Goblin skull? That’s more interesting than what I found in the shanty, Just farming stuff and a dirty shirt. Looks like the farmer went out for the day and just never came back.”
Daryl looks at Taldo and thinks about that - that someone would leave their basic goods and gear and head off into danger without even the "shirt on his back".
He looks as if he may find this decision to be highly unusual, but a glance at Aecerin's seems to belay whatever he may say and simply shrugs at this information.
Then he bends down and studies the terrain for a bit before moving on.
"Ain't no bugs here - and whatever did the job on this wretch weren't no bug, neither," he says with a frown as he studies the skull.
He twists the skull and examines the base.
"See the slits? Something sliced this whoreson up real nice - like a sawbones might... Bug'd not be that slick; something else did this but I don't know what," he adds, then tosses the skull to Aeracian and hopes the scholar can guess more about what did it.
After looking for any possible tracks for a moment, Taldo notices Morwenna move toward the plum trees. Approaching the tree also, he picks a plum, taking a bite. ”I hear they make a fine wine.”
He looks at the tree for a little while and thinks about what Taldo says, realizing that the tree is common to their land, but certainly unusual here.
"The plums are safe to eat. We are lucky to find such a tree and it appears to be the only one in the colony. A worthwhile landmark."
He glances at Morwenna.
"Thank you, ma'am," he says to her, then thinks a bit and moves to the buried item.
He thinks a bit and looks at the tree.
"Begging your pardon, Miss Morwenna; you're handy with nature and all... How old do you reckon that tree is?" he says, looking at it, wondering - as it's very unique - how long it has been growing here and trying to gauge if someone besides the colonist planted it; how long ago it was planted - and, if he had that information, try to guess if someone before the colonists had been there before, and if so - when...
Daryl uses his hand to dig carefully into the soft ground near the stone.
Digging a few inches beneath the soil, he discovers not an egg as he first thought but a small, flat, leather pouch (like a wallet).
Wiping the plumb juice off of his chin, he watches as Daryl draws the pouch from the ground. Looking over the crossbowman’s shoulder, he inspects the bag. He shifts the mouthful of plum into one cheek, speaking with his mouth full. "That leatherbag looks like it's been buried for a few weeks. What's in it?"
Without preamble he opens the bag.
Looking inside he pulls out a piece of parchment and opens it up and reads it.
He looks up at the others and frowns.
"Damn..." he mutters and says nothing and merely thinks a moment.
He tosses the paper gently to Taldo so he can read it, too.
He then reaches and picks a plum and hands it over to Morwenna and then takes another one and takes a juicy bite out of it as he thinks and waits for the others to read it over.
Catching the piece of paper with his free hand, he places the plum in his mouth, holding it between his teeth. Wiping off his hand on his trousers, he holds the note open and carefully reads it.
’Dulin… Rayland… Liza … taking canoe… taking boat… holding up until we come. what mess have these people gotten themselves into?' Passing the note on, Taldo takes the plum out of his mouth. Smiling, ”Looks like the fire may have been a good idea, let the people who are hiding till we arrive know that were here.”
Taking another bite of the plum, ”A lot of names on that list, think that Romona will know who they are?”
”Looks like the fire may have been a good idea, let the people who are hiding till we arrive know that were here.”
"Yeah... that's what I hear," Daryl responds with a dry voice.
Taking another bite of the plum, ”A lot of names on that list, think that Romona will know who they are?”
He grunts.
"Course she will," he says.
"Colony ship'll have a manifest of the crew and passengers, they should have a list from the last crew they brought so she should have the list of names of folk who came on the last journey."
"But hell - even if she don't got the full list o' names on board we all know that this ship's bringing goods and gear for the folk living here, so they'll have a list of who's getting what on the ship."
"You know; two new shirts for John Tailor or one set o' hammer and tongs for Jed Smith - that sort of thing... So they should got at least a list of who gets what."
He sighs as he considers the implications of the names on the paper.
"But that don't matter much now; we're a long way between this and that Romona lady..."
He shakes his head, still trying to figure things out, especially with the new information.
"Come on then; we're wasting daylight," he says to the others.
He lets Taldo keep the parchment and then swings his crossbow up and advances on to A:18.
'well, on we go then.' Finishing the plum, Taldo tosses the pit over to the other side of the southern road. As they follow it east, when Daryl begins to cross the northern road to head to the large field Taldo nods toward the field beside them and interjects. "I'll check this field real quick, if you want to go on." He turns to the others, then winking at Morwenna, "But I certainly won't turn down any help."
====
Morwenna happily accepts the offered plum from Taldo and wiping the fruit on her britches, takes a bite and tastes/savours the warm sweetness. "It is good," she says with a smile.
When Taldo then hands her the parchment which Daryl discovered in the unearthed pouch, she places the plum between her lips and begins to silently read the message. When she is done, she hands it to Uzziah and takes the plum from her lips and takes another bite.
"Ramona is expedition leader and would know the names of the first colonists, I am certain of this. Keep the note safe and we can show it to her when we meet up with them again."
There are no discernible monkey goblin tracks to be seen ... Perhaps the coastal wind and any rains brought by the Eye brushed/washed them away... You do note some very small holes in the softer soil of the garden - they appear like very small aeration holes and there are only a few. They are nothing like the holes/tunnels made by the Ankhegs and nothing that would cause you much concern.
"Begging your pardon, Miss Morwenna; you're handy with nature and all... How old do you reckon that tree is?" he says, looking at it, wondering - as it's very unique - how long it has been growing here and trying to gauge if someone besides the colonist planted it; how long ago it was planted - and, if he had that information, try to guess if someone before the colonists had been there before, and if so - when...
Hearing and heeding Daryl's request, Morwenna turns her gaze back to the plum tree and examines its branches, trunk and ground housing its roots. "This tree appears to be grafted. A clever gardener, indeed. Such trees can bear fruit within a year after planting. If you, too, consider the tropical clime, it may have helped the fruit drop and ripen sooner than the common plum trees you are used to in your own lands. Possibly within six months. I have no knowledge of the soil composition or nutrients of this new land, but it has been said the soil is very rich and I suppose that, too, helped in the maturing process. We may be able to locate the farmer and they can give you a more definitive answer, Daryl Bohannon."
Taldo nods toward the field beside them 'A16' and interjects. "I'll check this field real quick, if you want to go on." He turns to the others, then winking at Morwenna, "But I certainly won't turn down any help."
Morwenna's turquoise eyes look to Taldo and she smiles and nods, "Yes, of course, I will help you, Taldo," and makes to follow the ranger to the larger of the two patches.
He tosses the paper gently to Taldo so he can read it, too.
He then reaches and picks a plum and hands it over to Morwenna and then takes another one and takes a juicy bite out of it as he thinks and waits for the others to read it over.
As Daryl waits for Morwenna to take the plum, he glances at Uzziah and Aecarian.
Morwenna happily accepts the offered plum from Taldo and wiping the fruit on her britches, takes a bite and tastes/savours the warm sweetness. "It is good," she says with a smile.
Noticing Morwenna takes one from Taldo instead, his eyes flick between the two of them; but he says nothing and merely puts the other plum in his pack.
This tree appears to be grafted. A clever gardener, indeed.
Daryl seems relieved at this news. That colonists would bring a sapling with them on the last expedition seems unusual, but not unheard of; far better an explanation than the idea of some mysterious person or persons living on the island before the colonists - planting unusual trees and crops - and then, possibly, still hidden on the island somewhere to deal with the colonists.
He nods.
"Thank you kindly," he says.
To his eye it seems that the fields are likely the same with little to offer that is different and unique.
However, before they advance, Taldo interjects.
Taldo nods toward the field beside them 'A16' and interjects. "I'll check this field real quick, if you want to go on." He turns to the others, then winking at Morwenna, "But I certainly won't turn down any help."
He notes Taldo's blatant wink at Morwenna and wonders at that.
He looks at the field - to his eye it seems identical to the same field he had explored north of the plum tree - with no real difference at all.
Morwenna's turquoise eyes look to Taldo and she smiles and nods, "Yes, of course, I will help you, Taldo," and makes to follow the ranger to the larger of the two patches.
He then notices Morwenna's response to Taldo.
He then looks at Uzziah and Ace and shrugs.
Shaking his head, he then follows Taldo and Morwenna to the field.
Standing by it he peers at the field.
He scowls, clearly not sure of his observations and then looks again.
Meanwhile, he waits for Uzziah and Ace to advance.
Uzziah does look for tracks as requested, to the best of his ability.
When he reads the note, his face tightens slightly in consternation.
"Divisions in the colony. So where did they go on this canoe I wonder?"
"Divisions in the colony. So where did they go on this canoe I wonder?"
Daryl shrugs.
"Probably same place they sailed in whatever other boats they made," he says and jerks his head westward to the sea.
"Maybe they sailed to some other island - or maybe skirted the coast and berthed at the other place the colony was supposed to be made."
"But there weren't no boats in the bay anyhow, so I guess we won't know... unless we find out some clue when we do some more searching," he adds, then waves his hand at the buildings absently.
The three companions move to the adjoining vegetable patch (second plot in A16) and note that there are rows of corn planted in this patch beside the usual vegetable crops.
Daryl, on the ground, in the softer soil before him, notices the small aeration holes that Taldo noted in the other patch, however these are much smaller than the kind made by the Akheg Nymph.
A tiny field mouse lifts its head and peers at Morwenna; its whiskers twitching fast before it scurries away - across the patch as swiftly as it can. Ezekiel lifts his head then gives a deep *coo* and swings his bill at the creature as if pointing it out to Uzziah.
Amidst all the attention gained by the field mouse, suddenly Taldo feels something sharp striking at him. Fortunately his armour proves true and is not injured by the strike.
As your eyes turn on Taldo's attacker, you note a strange, tall plant creature, medium-sized, with razor-sharp leaves dripping in blood spanning the length of its cornstalk. Snakelike roots (long hook-like appendages) dig into the soft ground.
The plant creature is a Blood Maize. They look like common cornstalks, except their leaves are larger and more knife-like and their root systems are much more robust and mobile. In each specimen, the latter includes at least one long vine-like tendril that the plant can use to root itself deeply in the earth as it attacks its victim. Despite its fearsome nature, blood maize produces ears of sweet corn larger than those of traditional corn plants.
When a blood maize stalk strikes a victim, it roots into place while its leaves lash outward and slice into the victim’s flesh.
Blood maize plants absorb spilled blood through their root systems and can do so even while they are mobile. To aid their search for blood, they can uproot themselves to move without impediment, and they can use their roots to dig a firm purchase in the ground. Blood maize can both see and sense movement remarkably well; the plants migrate and search for food at night, and so they are finely attuned to the ground vibrations they use to locate prey. The blood maize's presence is difficult to discern (as it assumes the shape of the surrounding vegetables to await prey).
=============
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Round 1
She looks at the plant creature near Taldo and it dawns on her what it is. "It's a Blood Maize! Careful of its leaves - they are so sharp they can rend your flesh deep and wide! They absorb spilled blood and can uproot themselves to move without impediment!" Morwenna warns her companions.
Morwenna carefully moves around and comes to stand on the other side of the creature (C8); flanking with Taldo. Thrusting her shortspear, she strikes at the creature,
managing to bypass its defences and hits it for 3 damage.
----
----
He then reaches and picks a plum and hands it over to Morwenna and then takes another one and takes a juicy bite out of it as he thinks and waits for the others to read it over.As Daryl waits for Morwenna to take the plum, he glances at Uzziah and Aecarian.
Morwenna happily accepts the offered plum from Taldo and wiping the fruit on her britches, takes a bite and tastes/savours the warm sweetness. "It is good," she says with a smile.Noticing Morwenna takes one from Taldo instead, his eyes flick between the two of them; but he says nothing and merely puts the other plum in his pack.
"Ramona is expedition leader and would know the names of the first colonists, I am certain of this. Keep the note safe and we can show it to her when we meet up with them again."
Morwenna's turquoise eyes look to Taldo and she smiles and nods, "Yes, of course, I will help you, Taldo," and makes to follow the ranger to the larger of the two patches.
’I figured Ramona would have a list, so the note may be the best thing we’ve found so far.’ Smiling as Morwenna moves into the field with him, Taldo, calls back over his shoulder, ”Hear that Daryl, The note may actually be important. Good job finding it.”
’division in the colony?’ ‘Sailed to another island’ I never thought of that, I wonder…’ Obviously, paying more attention to his associates than to the field in front of him, Taldo flinches as he feels something slam into his shoulder. ’Is that my blood dripping from it’s cornstalk?” Seeing the odd-plantlike thing, it’s snake like root’s writhing into the soft ground. ”Beware!”
'A Blood maize, I've never seen this type of creature.' Seeing Morewenna step to the other side of the plant, Taldo Turns and faces the thing, dropping his bow. He draws his axe, and using both hands, swings it at the plant, similarly to a woodsman chopping a tree, but missing the thin stalk.
Uzziah and Ezekiel are both bemused by the mouse.
And then the sounds of Taldo being injured shake them both from that pleasant mood.
They move to circle and flank the creature, heeding Morwenna's warning.
Taldo attempts to hurt the Blood Mazie with his axe; however the swing goes wider than he'd calculated and he misses the stalk.
Uzziah and Ezekiel move to flank the plant creature and coordinate their attacks. With fortune on his side, Uzziah just manages to hit the Blood Maize and then Ezekiel's bill slams hard into the reedy creature.
----
Aeracian speaks quickly at the creatures appearance, conjuring a ball of viscous green acid and hurling it at the plant.
He apparently moved too fast as he shoots the glob into the sky.
”Hear that Daryl, The note may actually be important.”
He turns and looks at Taldo for a while.
"Yeah... if we survive," he says eventually.
”Beware!”
Daryl moves a bit closer and then drops the torch at A:9 and swings up his loaded crossbow and fires.
Daryl fires his crossbow at the Blood Maize and his aim is true and manages to hit the creature in the upper part of its stalk.
Round 1: Blood Maize
Suddenly, a 20 foot high cloud of fine pollen is released into the air in a 20-foot radius centred on the Blood Maize.
And the Blood Maize immediately disappears from sight.
Both Uzziah and Ezekiel close their eyelids in the nick of time and almost immediately afterwards resume striking at the hostile plant creature. Uzziah has difficultly seeing past the clouds of pollen, but Ezekiel hammers on the stalks.
He then steps back and reloads his crossbow.
'What the blazes?' Seeing the pollen cloud released, Taldo throws his arm in front of his face, covering his eyes. The pollen still gets in his nose, and he gives a violent sneeze. "Aaacccchhhhoooooo" Squinting his eyes he grasps his axe with both hands again, and swings it toward what the thinks is the base of the plant "Blast" cursing as he feels the axe bury in the soft dirt.
Uzziah, Ezekiel and Taldo are able to shield their eyes from the tiny pollen grains and are not blinded. Uzziah cannot pinpoint the cornstalk to strike with his trident and Ezekiel attempts to slam his bill into the cornstalk only to discover thin air and no solid stalk.
Taldo swings his axe at what he believes to be the base of the cornstalk, only to encounter nothing more than air and his axe buries in the dirt by his feet.
Daryl does what he can to shield his eyes but the pollen grains prove too considerable and his eyes are covered, making him blind for a round.
Round 2
Lowering her head and shielding her eyes/face with one arm, Morwenna does not succumb to the blindness created by the floating pollen grains in the cloud around them. She positions herself in a total defense stance (as a standard action) until she can orientate herself better and see the Blood Maize.
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Aeracian readies himself to hurl another globule of acid when the creature presents itself.