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John agrees with his allies, especially about the weapons. "We will go find this thing and deal with it, but when we get back we need to figure out why the tree is starting to rot and there are a few... other questions that need answered too."
Assuming they are led to their weapons he adds, "would there possibly be any flasks of fire or acid in town we could have? They seem to work well against the groups of bats."
When out of earshot he shares what he knows about the cloaker, including this...
A cloaker's motives are hidden and confusing, and they distrust even their own kind. Their strange shape allows them to disguise themselves as a variety of cloaks, tapestries, and other mundane objects, and stories linger of cloakers that ally with other creatures, hitching a ride on their backs and aiding in their ally's protection for their own inscrutable reasons. A rare few are priests of ancient gods, leading cults of cloakers and skum to undertake all manner of hideous rites and working toward singularly sinister goals.
Specifically the last part and how the cloaker might be involved in some sort of cult activity in town.
Nodding silently, he glances back towards the Temple. Seeing the last of the citizens filing in, he turns back to you. "Follow me."
Leading you to his house he stops at the door. "Wait here a moment." The man heads inside, returning a few moments later with a crate in hand.
Glancing around to ensure you are alone, he speaks up. "I've seen a figure like the one we spotted in the square flying with the bats several times over the last few years. I didn't want to worry the townsfolk, and frankly it's never been aggressive towards us. It's certainly never done that before..."
Glancing upwards again, he points. Realizing for the first time since the square, a constant string of bats is flying out of Mercy. "I suggest you follow the bats to wherever the thing lives." Setting the crate he's holding down, the sheriff slowly opens it and begins pulling items out.
"This longspear, scroll and wand may be useful." he states rather matter-of-fact. Pausing as he pulls a pair of arrows out, he frowns. "These arrows have been handed down in my family for generations. My great-grandmother used an arrow just like these to strike through the heart of a wild creature that was trying to tempt people to a watery grave. It wouldn't feel right not to give you everything I can to help you defend my town."
Snapping the lid shut, he returns the crate inside and leads you to the locker holding your gear and promptly unlocks it. "Please be careful. We appreciate you risking yourselves for Mercy...If you wish to rest tonight and head out in the morning, I understand."
Thanking you again, the sheriff opens the gate and ushers you out. Shutting the gate behind you, he smiles weakly. "Godspeed and good luck. May Robori watch over you."
The numerous bats overhead are fairly easy to follow southward, away from Mercy. After walking for a good 5 miles, you come across a dark crevice that splits open the landscape. An oppressive heat pours out of the fracture, and the area smells like rotting flesh. The bats fly straight into the dark crevice.
Squeezing into the dark, warm, claustrophobic hole, you make down a good 15 feet before running into some rather thick tree roots covered in slime. Another, more treacherous 15feet later, you find the fissure widens and opens into an underground forest. A mass of leafless vines covers all of the cavern’s walls, and a colony of trees with white bark and pale yellow leaves emerges from the walls and ceiling. Thousands of bats hang from the tree branches, and a thick layer of guano carpets the ground of hard-packed dirt.
You recognize the two dominant plants in the area...
Quaking aspen trees should not be able to survive underground, and they do not appear anywhere else in the surrounding area. The trees are all part of clonal colony of quaking aspen trees, each connected to a single root system. These trees gain their name from the way their leaves shake at the slightest breeze.
The giant blossoms that reek of rotting flesh are parasitic plants called corpse flowers. They feed off the nutrients of other plants.
Nira's head wobbles back and forth as you reach the bottom, looking around the room.
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"If we're not back in two days, contact the Pathfinder Society in Alkenstar." Jiggo tells the sherif. "I know you like your privacy, but if that thing comes back the town of Mercy is in grave danger."
Jiggo reaches the cavern entrance. "A grotto? I wonder if there's a superheated spring down there or something." Jiggo climbs down.
"I have a Shield of Faith ready for anyone who is going first. Keep your eyes peeled for that cloaker thing."
If no one takes him up on the offer for the spell, Jiggo will cast it upon himself. Then he casts Detect Evil and slowly scans around him, staying in the center of the pack.
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As they travel John is quiet, steeling himself for the expected battle ahead. He carefully removes his hidden dagger and relocates it to his belt for easier access.
He looks into the nasty fissure and when it is his turn, he speaks a word and his vest starts glowing to help him see. He climbs carefully and follows the group.
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I was not expecting so much heat. Something's odd here.
Omar will cast Heroism upon himself as they prepare to enter.
He ponders the vegitation and formations of the cave.
These trees really do not belong, and the stench is from the plants - which you'll want to stay clear of for other, more fatal reasons.
He shares the spoiler above with the group.
Suddenly Nira's head jerks towards the corner of the room. Pointing a finger, the voice emanates from her expressionless face "MURDER!" and she surges forward.
=========================
Out of the dark depths, 7 cloakers move towards you. Their very images seem to shimmer in Azrael's light source. The strange sound before begins to echo through the cavern, turning your stomach.
The tiny construct shrieks "DIE! DIE! DIE!" as she releases a spray of splinters from her joints.
Cloaker
Nira
Azrael
John
Raijan
Omar
Jiggo
Thrugg
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John yells, "this is the same thing I told you about earlier!"
He moves quickly into the room, slipping just past Thrugg and pressing himself up against the wall, dagger appearing in his hand. He points it towards the cloaker and releases a gutteral howl, not quite as unnerving but likely at least concerning.
Special: You also gain a +4 bonus on Intimidate checks if you are larger than your target and a –4 penalty on Intimidate checks if you are smaller than your target.
Demoralizing an opponent is a standard action.
*Shaken: A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Shaken is a less severe state of fear than frightened or panicked.
Azrael moves out of the shaft to see better and chucks his shield at the creature. Nailing one of the figures before them, a soft 'Pop' is heard as it vanishes, leaving 6 cloakers before you.
John slips into the room and utters an eerie guttural sound. The beasts before you begins to visibly quiver.
As the tengu rushes into the room, forcing his way through the vines, the beast lashes out with it's long segmented tail. Spotting the incoming attack, Raijan easily ducks under the boney appendage as he moves through the cavern.
Omar slides down the shaft and swings his mighty weapon. Misjudging the distance in the twilight of the cave, he misses his target; slamming into the vine covered floor.
Collapsing to his knees, Jiggo nearly tosses his salad at the sound of the beast. Struggling to keep his food down, the man manages to climb to his feet.
Lumbering forward, Thrugg finds the tail slicing the air in his direction. The segmented flesh bounces harmlessly off the mans shield. With practiced skill, Thrugg bashes in the skull of the beast with a rather unsatisfying 'Pop' as his victim vanishes into thin air.
The beast looks from Raijan to Thrugg to Azrael, as starving man at a free buffet. Ultimately making a decision, it turns sharply and tries to rip a chunk of flesh out of Raijan with wicked, serrated teeth. Pulling back a small portion of the mans left arm, it giggles maniacally; Raijan just manages to twist away from the incoming tail attack.
The tiny construct stumbles disjointedly to the side, continuing her chant as the monstrous tail soars her way. "DIE! MURDER! DIE!" Suddenly another spray of wooden slivers erupt from her. Thankfully, she has no interest in hurting you it seems...at least for now...
Miraculously, the massive beast manages to dodge the majority of the incoming splinters.
Cloaker
Nira
Azrael
John
Raijan
Omar
Jiggo
Thrugg
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John slides away from the wall and slips past Nira. Focusing his inner turmoil he shares a bit of it with the cloaker, "you may not be natural, but this isn't either!"
Dazed: The creature is unable to act normally. A dazed creature can take no actions, but has no penalty to AC.
Azrael's foot catches on one of the vines strewn across the cave, causing him to stumble. The beast swats at him, as one would do to a fly. Thankfully, the man regains his foot to spin away just in time. Adrenaline still pumping, Azrael slashes at the massive target, hearing a soft 'Pop' as another winks out of existence.
Moving to get a better view of the creature, John makes sure to stay out of it's reach. Satisfied, he reaches deep into the astral reaches between worlds and sends a shimmering glob of tumultuous magic hurtling towards the beast. Suddenly, the cloaker gains 3 eyes, as it's wings seem to shrink...the segmented tail turning into a massive foot...
Taking full advantage of Johns antics, and his companion's flank, Raijan goes all out. Though his first attempt gains him a mouthful of air, he quickly recovers. A quick 'Pop. Pop.' resounds as two more cloakers wink out of existence. Only 2 remain.
Omar makes his way around the creature, slowly. Pleased it didn't swing at him, he carefully takes aim and gouges one of the beasts wings, nearly severing the appendage!
Jiggo's struggle continues, though he manages to retrieve a flask in case the bats return.
The stocky Thrugg bashes in the chest of the beast, hearing another 'Pop' as it disappears. Only one foe remains visible!
Blinking it's new eyes, staring at the long foot protruding from its back, the beast stands there...unmoving.
The doll's chant continues to echo through the cave as it steps in front of John. "MURDER! DIE! DIE! DIEEEEEEEEE"
Cloaker
Nira
Azrael
John
Raijan
Omar
Jiggo
Thrugg
Azrael manages to shove one of his blades deep into the creatures eye, as it shimmers and reshapes.
John tries to warp it's flesh again, but it's resolve holds as it sets its hate filled eyes on the caster.
Before the beast can reach it's new target, Raijain slices off the cloakers left wing and tail, blood spraying out of the new orifices. Jiggo, reacting appropriately turns away as the beast begins to crumple.
With triumph in his eyes, Thrugg brings down his hammer, smashing its skull. Gray, curdled matter sprays across the room, covering the nearby vines.
Nira -3
Raijan -7
Jiggo Nauseated
The immediate threat over, you begin to look around the open cavern. Omar notices an opening in the wall behind a curtain of thinner vines to the southwest.
Leaving the chamber through Omar's passage, you find yourselves in a narrow hall that curves towards the west. Trudging through the ever present vines, everyone other than Omar notice a small cavern to the side.
Inside you find a dead body, matching the description of Amenira. The face seems awkwardly similar to the one painted on your small construct.
Two bulbous seed pods hang from the ceiling with arcane symbols on them.
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"All of this wandering around the world and I'm still not prepared sometimes." Jiggo coughs and puts away his vial of acid before making his way to the party. "Sorry I wasn't of much use. I was going to use this wand to heal us, but..."
"Nira, I have no idea if this will work on you. But I'll try anyway!"
"What's that, Omar? What side cavern?" Jiggo's expression turns grim as he walks up to the cavern entrance and peers inside. "Oh no..."
He kneels and examines the body. "I think this... was... Amenira. Her face and Nira's design match pretty well."
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John follows along, slipping in behind Jiggo to check out the side cavern. His face saddens as he looks at the dead body, "I think... that we may be to late."
Thinking about the odd doll possession spells Amenira was using he adds, "but maybe there is something here that can help us bring her back." He casts detect magic, scanning the room and the body. When he sees the seed pods are emanating magic he attempts to identify them.
He calls out to the group, "hey Nira, come on in here and see if this can help jog your memory." Maybe if we bring her soul or whatever is in the doll near the body it'll know how to return.