The three vines slither down ground level and begin writhing their way toward you. The rasping sound of their leaves sounds almost like a serpentine hiss; you get a whiff of a sweet fruit mixed with the stench of a newly opened grave. If possible, they seem... hungry.
The crowd backs up forming a larger perimeter. The guards seem to dart in all directions, with no discernible purpose or organization.
Map
Thinking that the best course of action when dealing with moving, attack, vine, plant things is to keep his distance and let the people with cutting implements take a whack at them, he doesn't rush them with the rest. Instead he decides to get his thinking juices flowing... and speaking of juices, maybe have a drink while he's at it.
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The guards seem to dart in all directions, with no discernible purpose or organization.
As they flee, Janos will attempt to call them back "Do not flee, noble guards. Fight for these people, as this is your home as well."
Once he notices that the crowd has also vanished around him, and the vines are in motion, "Feareth not, a proud and goodly Knight of Solomnia fights for thee. Behind me and be safe!"
Durom looks at Janos, "Ah they don't know what honor is they're cowards hired by con-men, but at least you still gots a dwarf at your side." With that Durom lets loose two bolts at the same target.
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"Ah they don't know what honor is they're cowards hired by con-men, but at least you still gots a dwarf at your side."
"An honor I am most thankful for, my friend. For Solomnia!!!!", drawing his faithful blade and raising it above his head, asuming the Heavenly Pheonix of the Sea Decending martial stance. "Have at thee!"
Attack
Damage
Knowing this manuever will leave him vulnerable to reprisals, Janos believes his friends will cover his back.
Trap follows up Durom's initial attack with a missed shot. Rumal keeps his distance. Sir Janos rushes in and slashes at the solid trunk of the vine, leaving a gash dripping with green goo.
Two vines begin to stretch themselves to the ground, pulling and pushing themselves along as they spread toward their attackers.
The third, recoiling in the pain of Janos's blow, turns its attention to the charging human. As a heavy limb whips out attempting to strike, the roots and grasses of the town square seem to stretch up through the ground in an attempt to ensnare the knight.
Durom's second volley also misses its mark.
"Tha vines ken not do this alone ken they?"
commenting on what the roots and grasses are doing....
Perception (looking for a spellcaster)
"They can lad, but something brought them here so keep looking!"
Durom says as he gives his group covering firing at the same vine.
Both of Durom's arrows pierce the vine.
Trap peers into the dark open door of the temple, but can't see far. It appears the interior is full of similar folliage. There are several large holes near the roof that will one day hold windows; for now you can see vines reaching out of the interior, stretching to sunlight. There even seems to be a few sprouting plants on the roof expanses.
Durom will reload a new clip into his crossbow for this round and take a look is the vine hoping it will fall soon. "Trap do you see anything or anyone?"
Feeling prepared to do what he can against these things, he staggers forward just into range, and lobs one of his many varied vials at the limbs of the thing to the opposite side of the building than where Janos is at.
"Good throw!"
"The plants are still growing and even more of them, maybe they think we are food."
A flash of flame engulfs the vine after being struck by Rumal's bomb. The flames snuff out quickly, leaving the vine relatively intact[ooc]. The spatter damage on the rest of the vine seems not to penetrate it's thick, bark hide.
A tall, aged elf walks into the light from the shadows of the inner church. You recognize him as the elf from the stocks yesterday. In addition to the simple brown robe, a leather pouch hangs from his neck- from the pouch sprouts another twisting vine that wraps around him almost as a pet snake would rest on it's master. He raises his voice. Blasphemers. This building has been reclaimed by nature; and any who attempt to enter shall be returned to the earth. Chislev grants the rest of you piece, but should you upset the natural harmony again- you will be punished. He raises his spear and the vines crawl toward him.
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Barely able to weave and parry, Janos is hardly able to maintain his defensive stance without being ensnaired, then almost falls when he sees the flames just before him from nowhere. Luckily he was able to leap away just in time from the unknown danger is such a small package.
"Careful my friend. And where didst thou aquire such powerful magic?"
Do I need to make a Refl Save (or do I take splash damage from) the vial of fire?
Attack:
Damage:
"I bet them vines could help him do all kinds o sneaky things."
Do I need to make a Refl Save (or do I take splash damage from) the vial of fire?
Durom trains his crossbow on the elf, and shouts "SO WHOSE THIS CHEESELEAF YOU SPEAK OF? ONLY THE SEEKERS WERE THE FOOLISH ONES MESSING WITH THE FOREST, SO JUST DON'T HURT SOLACE OR ITS CITIZENS AND WILL LET YOU MOVE ON."
FOOLS! You think the God's left the world? Look around you. These Vallenwood trees are proof of Chislev's grace. None but Chislev can grow such beautiful things! He wipes the spittle from his mouth with his sleeve. His shoulders sag and his tone changes.
The true gods never left. It was mankind that left the gods. It was mankind who's hubris brought down the mountain of fire. We have found Chislev again; he speaks through me. Open your eyes! Those who defiled these trees are not Seekers of a new god; the goddess they call 'the lady' is none but the dark lady herself: Takhisis has returned. Should they be allowed to consecrate this temple, her foothold in the world would grow stronger. It is they who attempt to upset the balance.
"Any chance yer vines might release them, since yah are scarin the town-folk, also I am certain they would help move yer new house into tha woods, yah don't seem like a town feller."
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"Thou claimest to protect balance, and yet thou attacked us and displayed thine villianry before these innocent people, saying that a spectre from the history of honored Knights of Solomnia be thine enemy. Surely thou canst see thine own maddness?"
Knowledge: Religion or History
"And who is this who is this Cheslev you serve? Another minion of evil from the past?"
How short is the memory of men? Chislev grants us life. It is he who causes plants to reach for the sun's rays. It is he that wipes away the scars left by mankind. He maintains the balance. And that balance has been upset. You and your town worship at the feet of evil. The gods of good remain hidden. If we do nothing, evil will unbalance the world again, and the cataclysm will look like a harvest festival. These shells you see feeding my pets are guilty of a violation of the highest order. Any who threaten us will be included in the punishment. He points his spear at you- the threat of being fed to the vines is apparent.
Durom lowers his crossbow at the elf, "Come on Lad, I know these men wronged you ,but I don't think your god Chislev would want you to commit murders in his name. Let us just talk about this, I promise I will not let them put you back into the stocks but I am going to need you to settle down your plant pets for me." Durom puts down his crossbow and sets aside his axe and hammer. "I will come over disarmed as a showing of faith Lad, let's talk about this before anyone else gets hurt." He gives his friends a trust me nod and apporaches with his hands up.
"Tha people here might listen more if yah was a bit friendlier, you have yer freedom an tha ability to protect tha trees still standin an here yah are disturbing tha peace."
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Looking from this "priest" to Durom, unsure what to expect, Janos will continue to maintain his defensive fighting stance (and continue to resist the grass and dodge the massive vines). . .
"I swear on my honor, if you engage in negotiations, I will not attack until such a point they are concluded".
What you see here is the will of Chislev. The negotiations have already occurred; we will yield only when this temple has returned to balance and is no longer tainted by Takhisis. The temple is ours. You may only enter if you wish to supplicant yourself to worship Chislev, and I doubt any of you would pass the first test to join us. Only those who can bring life to the earth can be a disciple of Chislev. He pats his pouch, and the vine twists around his neck. Earth digger, hearth stealer, and tin man- Begone. You shouldn't be questioning me for my actions, you should be considering your own alliance with the dark side. With that, he points his spear at the cluster of dark robed seeker priests, turns on his heel, and strides back into the darkness of the temple. The vines, sporting crossbow bolts and injuries, slither in behind him, dragging their morbid dinners behind them.
One seeker, upon hearing the old elf's accusations, grabs the nearest militia and takes his crossbow. The bolt flies astray and hits the side of the temple. LIES! All likes. The Lady is our protector. This "Chislev" is a false god, a dead god, and these men are guilty of heresy and witchcraft. They shall be punished for their murders. Let us gather the militia and expunge them from our temple! In the Lady's name, we shall have our revenge. You recognize him as Seeker Hendrick, the cold and calculating High Seeker. He leads the church here in Solace, and reports only to the High Seeker Council in Haven. If anyone knows the truth about the Lady being Takhisis, it would be him. He begins organizing three teams, lead by 1 or two seeker priests and bolstered by 4 to 5 militia. One group scurries off, after some goal.
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Turning back towards Durom and Trap, "Such indignities! After giving mine solem word, not to mention aiding him previously, such as him would have the gall to say that I, a Knight of Solomnia, would be allied with a dark goddess from some ancient stories!" It looks like Janos wants to punch something, very hard. . . :) And then turns to look at Hendrick, coldly.
"I see thou hast come out as well, Theocrat, ", finishing the rest less loudly, for Durom and Trap to hear, "now that the danger has gone from here".
Taunt attempt to demoralize the priest
"I am begining to think you are not a nice person, I can not tell if you have been wronged or are tha wronger."
Bluff
"So either with you or against you, bah such demands can I not be neither, by your leave?"
The priest pulls back his hood revealing a bowl cut grey head of hair that's been shaved across the top. It appears we have quite the infestation of wild rats. I can assure you that man is not sane; he likely has spent too long in the forest talking to trees and drinking his own urine. Nevertheless, his vines seem quite dangerous. He turns to Janos.
You there. Knight. Champion of the people. If you want to show the peaceful folk of Solace that you are a good and just person, you'll help clear out the people's temple in time for tonight's dedication to the Lady. I believe the town has some coin to cover your expenses in return.
Seeing that his Diplomacy isn't working Durom moves back to pick up his stuff. He looks to the Wannabes yelling at the elf and the man talking Janos, "Aye your lot provoked by needing a fancy vault to lock away all your loot and locking up this elf for no good reason! So if this follower of Cheeseleaf won't attack the town and only this so-called church I'll let him stay there as long as we wants." He looks over to the elf, "HEY POINTY EARS! IF YOU WANNA STAY IN THERE THATS FINE WITH ME, BUT THE MOMENT YOU ATTACK ONE OF THE TOWNS FOLK OF SOLACE IT WILL BE YOUR END! GOT IT?"
As Durom waits for a reply he hears the grey haired man trying to guilt Janos into helping them, "Listen here wannabe, my lad here has more honor then all your church combined and he doesn't need to prove it cause you pissed off the wrong person finally and he's sitting on your steel pieces, so if you to lay off him your going to have talk with me! So it's your mess I might of had him talked down but you lot reprovoked him so have fun with your mess I'll be watching over the clean from there with my friend here. Just to make sure none of my friends get hurt." The dwarf moves a little back from the so-called church and waits to see what happens next.
Then he finally responds to Janos, "I don't lad ,but it all stinks like goblin hide. The elf he believes what he says though the daisy picker is more acting out of fear and anger then anything else right now so it's best to stop provoking him and let him settle down."
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Coming to the entranceway, sword sheathed and hands raised to show they are empty, though a look of aggitation is present on his face, Janos will shout loudly enough for anyone inside to hear as he approaches, "I am a Knight of Solomnia, and hath gien my word against violence until negotiations have concluded, honorably. I would have words with thee."
"We done had words....that is the problem he won't listen, he's an elf an as grumpy as a dwarf."
The interior of the temple is illuminated by dim light streaming through thick vines and leaves which seem to crowd each of the pane-less windows.
The wooden boards of the floor have been pitched up by new growths of roots, leaving the floor uneven, muddy, and twisted. It smells of moss.
The wooden roof beams seem to be covered by strange carvings mixed with moss, some of which glows with an unnatural green light. The right side wall is covered with vines, a few strangled and drained bodies of Seekers lay on the ground nearby.
The slightly raised dais has a toppled statue, presumably of the Lady. In it's place grows a tree- it's branches nearly reaching the ceiling. Three robed figures kneel in a thin layer of dirt around it, silently meditating.
"I thought there would be more fer seeing since they was actin so proud o tha place!"
Goes over to check the bodies......
"Damn Kender and oaths." Durom grumbles as he follows his friends into the structure. Keeping his hammer close at hand, he thinks to himself,Reorx if you be still around like this one say, then tell me why am I being so stupid right now.
Rumal follows the rest of the group in towards the building, now that they have finished all their blathering at each other about some such gods and what-not. Getting closer his eyes grow wide at some of the plants nearby, and when opportunities present themselves he takes samples of sap, root, petal, leaf, or bulb based on what is in easy reach and looks to be the most interesting. He will rely on Trap to test the amount of danger near the plants that kill. After all, what are kender good for if not testing out what is and isn't dangerous?
As the kender stealthfully skips his way over toward the wall of vines, the priest calls out, without turning from his mediations My pet won't eat you should you brook no violence, however his two companions will show you no such charity. I would leave them be, lest you join the dead heathens. Those of you loitering in the doorway may come in and bask in the beauty of nature. Hurt no plant and animal, and you are welcome to rest here. If you wish, I can teach you of Chislev.
Trap pokes around for a second and then heads towards the man skipping as he goes.....
"I have never harmed a animal or a plant either, uhh is it ok to eat potatoes?"
"Chislev? Come on guys story time!"
"See even a stuffed-shirt an a sober dwarf are certain tah likes a good story...."
"Are there any dragons in this story? Or ogres?....Or treasures?"
Trap claps his hands together a sure sign he is not at this moment stealing anything, though such signs have been known to be wrong....
Looks around for any interesting objects.
Perception
Notices a bit of toe-jam which he cleans from between his toes and flicks into the air every once in awhile........