Heinrick looks at them.
Go now, and don't let us see you again.
He looks at the others,
Let them go, they are not worth the time or effort right now, unless they show that they don't intend to reform. However, we have other worries than a couple of possible looters.
Hearing the exchange Allen will turn back and stand by Ash drawing his sword as he goes. He will nod in agreement but will keep an eye on them and Ash just in case.
The looters go their way, and Ash remains behind. There is still some residual light from a lantern or candles left behind. The interior of the shop, while badly damaged can be seen in the flickering light. Jars of dried powders line the shelving left intact, and other jars now broken lay on the floor, their contents mixing together in a pungent, but pleasant smell. Footprints in some of the spilled herbs note the passage of looters, and your steps create small clouds of mixed herbs.
I hope that is the last of them. Heinrick looks around,
Hello, what is this
He points out the sliding shelving.
Allen's natural curiosity gets the best of him and he goes to inspect the shelves then tries to move them aside.
Iolana was quite relieved that they let the looters go, her own clan had done such things when she was growing up and it didn't strike her as wrong. Still, she kept her silence on the subject and entered the shop with them to check for anything of use. She noticed the fake shelving unit at almost the same time as Heinrick and said, "Hey, we've got something over here, hidden doorway maybe." As Allen moved up to open it she pulled her whip free, ready in case she needed it.
The shelving slides to the side with a small tumble of dust, and a slight sticking of the door in its grooves. The fake alchemical apparatus rattles, but otherwise doesn't threaten to move from the glued down spots on the shelving. It opens to reveal a dark stairway that leads down into a basement. Following the stairs, the air becomes noticeably damp and musty-smelling. The walls and floor are packed earth, and dozens of gourds hang from the ceiling beams. A sludge of rotting plant matter covers the floor where untended herbs have been left to rot. Against one wall, a wooden table holds a strange apparatus that looks like a clockwork toy of a snake-bodied, six armed woman, holding a sword in each hand. A tightly corked bottle, filled with what looks like water, sits before the statue. A wooden chest covered with engraved runes stands under the table, and a sinister image of a star surrounding a goat's face is painted on the wall above the table.
Allen grimaces at the scene. Then attempts to Detect Evil.
"I think we stumbled into something very interesting" Ashnah remarks casually, before triggering her Detect Magic ability, scanning the room for any magical aura or traps.
I am not completely sure, but I think we may have found a traitors place of employment, and here is proof
Heinrick spits on the ground.
Baphomet, just what we need. whomever lived here was a follower.
Allen draws his sword and starts down the steps.
"Careful Paladin", Ashnah warns, keeping an eye on the room. "That symbol and chest there, both have an illusion aura present. It could be something innocent, but I'd just be wary if I were you".
Allen will pause then take a closer look at the chest and try to disbelieve.
Then the symbol
As Allen approaches within 10' of the chest, a voice seems to come from the goat's mouth, "Ahhhh...I hope you're among Iomedae's slaves...I would hate to think of mere peasants wasting such a personal greeting from Lord Baphomet!" As it finishes, a creature claws its way out of the southern most pile of vegetation. At the same time, the clockwork toy springs to action swinging down its swords to shatter the bottle. A foul stench arises from the broken bottle, although no vapor can be seen.
Finding the chest was interesting, the revelation that it bore the symbol of a demonlord was not. She was just getting a bad feeling about this whole thing when she was proven correct. The voice spoke, the bottle broke, and Iolana choaked.
When the smoke fills the room, Heinrick and Allen are able to hold their breath quickly, but Iolana and Ashnah both take in a lungful. The smoke creates a searing feeling in Iolana, and her breath starts to come in only wheezes, while Ashnah is effected as though by some sort of adrenaline rush. The fight or flight instinct takes over and she is more aware of her surroundings, but finds herself trembling.
The small creature digging out of the refuse emerges and looks much like a filthy, small, wide-mouthed, fat child made from leaves vines, tree bark, dirt and pallid tubers. It turns it's attention to the party with a shriek.
*****************Round 1****************
Init: Iolana, Ashnah, Plant kid, Heinrick, Allen
Ashnah curses loudly as she identifies the creature. "Its a Mandragora, a plant thats resistant to most elemental and mind affecting attacks. If anyone has access to supernatural darkness 0 that would probably drive it away"
Still frustrated, Ashnah burns a point from her reservoir increasing her caster level by two, sending three magic missiles soaring to the target.
Three arcane darts leap from Ashnah's hand striking the plant creature, punching holes in its leafy hide. The mandragora scuttles forward, biting at Allen and finding hold on his leg. It attempts to wrap it's leafy tendrils around Allen's calf, but the paladin is able to shake the child-like plant off his leg.
Init: Iolana, Ashnah, Plant kid, Heinrick, Allen
Round 1
Iolana found herself gasping and wheezing for breath, this was just wrong on so many levels. She was a dancer, she had excellent breath control, it had to be whatever came from that box and she wasn't happy. Glad she had her whip in hand she cracked it at the plant kid's feet in an effort to trip him up.
Round 2
Aggravated the thing didn't get the point Iolana snapped her whip at it's feet yet again in an effort to put it down and keep it there.
Iolana, seeing her target down on the ground still, moved closer as she shifted her whip to her off hand and drew her mace. In position opposite her comrade, she couldn't tell which one at the moment, she swung the mace down at the thing.
Heinrick takes his spear, and pokes it at the plant kid, in an attempt to distract it for allen to hit it.
Does it have any other things that affect it more
only to drive his spear tip into the dirt.
Iolana tangles the plant like child's feet and yanks back using leverage and drops it to the ground, after which she rushes over and bashes it on the shoulder, causing a bit of pulpy sap to trickle from the wound. Heinrick seems confused as to the creatures nature and makes a half hearted attempt to skewer it with his spear.
Init: Iolana, Ashnah, Plant kid, Heinrick, Allen
**************round 1 cont*************
Mandragora 13 damage
Iolana 21/21
Allen 30/37
Heinrick 19/19
Ashnah 17/17
Ashnah fires a blast of missiles again at the plant creature.
Allen swings at the prone plant kid.
Allen swings at the plant and connects with a solid blow, spilling ichor to the ground beneath the plant.
******************round 1 end*************
Mandragora 23 damage/?
Allen: 30/37
Ashnah 17/17
Heinrick 19/19
Iolana 21/21
*************Round 2************
Init: Iolana, Ashnah, Plant kid, Heinrick, Allen
Ashnah stills her heightened awareness long enough to cast her spell and fires off two arcane bolts at the plant, which is looking harried and ragged.
The plant lets out an ear splitting shriek, which seems to pierce through your very skulls.
Allen will pull back and throw up.
Feeling sick to the stomach, Heinrick, looks around for other trouble.
************round 2 Cont*************
Init: Iolana, Ashnah, Plant kid, Heinrick (N), Allen(N)
The unsettling sound causes the party to begin to retch, the violence of the actions causing any thought of attack to falter.
End round status
Heinrick: 19/19 Nauseated (dur remaining: 1 rd)
Iolana: 21/21 Nauseated (dur remaining: 2 rd)
Allen: 23/37 Nauseated (dur remaining: 1 rd)
Ashnah: 17/17 Nauseated (dur remaining: 2 rd)
Mandragora: 31 damage
*************Round 3**************
Init: Iolana(N), Ashnah(N), Plant kid, Heinrick(N), Allen(N)
The Mandragora takes advantage of the problem to get up and try to latch onto Allen. The odd creature sinks its teeth into Allen's thigh, and the tendrils that make up its arms wrap around the thigh tightly as it attaches itself to Allen's leg.
End round Status
Heinrick: 19/19
Iolana: 21/21 Nauseated
Allen: 23/37
Ashnah: 17/17 Nauseated
**************Round 4*************
Init: Iolana(N), Ashnah(N), Plant kid, Heinrick(N), Allen(N)
Ashnah and Iolana continue to recover from the unsettling noise, while Allen and Heinrick throw off the effects of the shriek, but not before the Mandragora begins to greedily suck blood from the wound in Allen's leg.
Oh you miserable misbegotten spawn of a tree!!
Heinrick shifts behind Allan and taps him on the shoulder.
Allen trys to rip the bloody plant off of himself.
Heinrick touches Allen and the Mandragora looks up in surprise as the wound it was drinking blood from closes. The momentary lapse in concentration proves enough for Allen to rip the plant from his leg, and toss it aside, a few drops of blood trailing in the air between it and Allen's leg.
End Round Status:
Mandragora 31 damage
Heinrick: 19/19
Iolana: 21/21
Allen: 35/37
Ashnah: 17/17
**************Round 5**************
Init: Iolana, Ashnah, Mandragora, Heinrick, Allen
Ashnah fires again with her third flurry of Magic Missiles
Ashnah makes an arcane gesture and three more darts of light fire from her fingertips, striking unerringly at the plant creature, and punching through its leafy body. The creature shudders, lets out a small squeal and falls to the ground motionless.
***********Victory!***************
Allen will try to clean himself off and steady quivering stomach. Then try to detect any other evil presence in the room.
Well, that was interesting Heinrick takes the moment to wobble over to the edge and vomit.
He then rinses his mouth out with a canteen.
I don't know what that thing did, that made us all sick, but we might have to figure out a protection from it.
Stepping back and waiting for the cloud of noxious smoke to dissipate, the group moves forward after Allen confirms that the only thing that has any residual evil is the Mark of Baphomet hanging on the wall. Opening the chest reveals five holy symbols of Iomedae lying underneath a note that reads, "We don't need these anymore, but figured if you survived our surprise, it would be just plain rude to leave behind an empty chest for your troubles!" The only other thing of interest is the clockwork Marilith that sits on the table.
May I have those, unless you all wish to have one yourself.
As he waives his hand in the direction of the symbols.
Allen will node his approval. Then will take his time searching through the room and chest.