As the creature flees from yet another sneak attack, only Diedre is able land a shot, puncturing its rear flank. The jungle is eerily silent for a moment before the hum and the buzz of the flora and fauna return to full force.
Miraj does a thorough inspection of both his and Lauren's wounds. He finds no indications of an active infection, but he knows that a potential affliction could take days before manifesting symptoms.
The Starfinders continue on their hike through the jungle.
Miraj will check the thorn wounds regularly for signs of disease or parasitic infection. "Such a big creature must need lots of food to keep so active. It must have another source zhan us, so I wonder what strange twists of evolution could lead it to make such attacks against prey zhat does not immediately become food."
"It's a plant, isn't it?" Diedre says with a bit of confusion. "Don't they get food from photosynthesis or ... or something like that?" She looks up at the sun beating down on them even through the shade of the trees above. "And if that's the case then we're not food for it. We're something else."
Pushing that grizzly thought aside, she indicates for the group to keep moving.
"Unless it's trying to stop us from getting where we're going." offered Johnny. "We need to find a place to get it to 'ambush' us' where we can control it's comings and goings, like a cave."
Lauren looks up the word 'photosynthesis' on her comm unit before replying, "Ah, နေရောင်ခြည်စွမ်းအင်. Is not some plants... carnivorous, like... butterfly, here?" At Johnny's suggestion, she comments, "In cave its may have powers over us. Sensing tentacles may be like mine." She swishes, flaring out her feeding and sensing tentacles. "Or betters." She bobs her bell before adding, "But fightings soon is good idea."
"Plants in zhis area seem more like animals, so I'm not sure we can extrapolate from plants in other biomes. Zee thorns may just be meant to weaken us or perhaps provide a host for offspring. I will keep close watch on our wounds," Miraj says, giving a glance at Lauren.
"I would be good if we could set an ambush for it or perhaps track it instead of just waiting for it to attack und run."
"Irhok'zath has fought many predators in Ukulam before. This is their territory, they know it like the back of their paws, there is no ambushing them. They either get too hungry or brave and attack, or they give up. Usually they attack sooner, because she is mostly alone, but with big numbers, the creature is more cautious. It is probably waiting for the thorns to work - poison, likely." Irhok'zath gives her opinion, tired of the cat and mouse game.
"The best trap would be to leave one person behind, to act as bait." She puts her claws on her chest, volunteering.
"We need to keep moving, so I'm not in favor of delays just to take out this nuisance. Even if we kill it or drive it away, another might take up the hunt. Best to keep moving. If there is poison, or parasite, I can probably treat it."
Diedre frowns for a moment, but then nods in agreement with Miraj. "You're right. We should keep moving."
With everyone on a hair trigger, the Starfinders proceed cautiously through the thick undergrowth as the sun climbs higher, expecting an ambush behind every tree. As the hours pass, however, no such attack comes, as if the creature had finally grown bored and left to find new prey.
Near the middle of the day, a new sound catches the ears of some of the explorers - a sapient voice, weak and hoarse. On alert, the Starfinders creep closer to the voice, gradually making out phrases in the common tongue:
"Deliver me unto the long-awaited oblivion... Please end me, Star-Eater!..."
"Consume them all... Please let me die..."
"Please... just please let me die..."
Gradually, the Starfinders find their way to a small clearing, where a female korasha lashunta lies prone. Her hair is shorn close to the scalp, highlighting an ugly brand on her forehead, and she seems to be tangled in thin branches or vines. Her clothes show evidence of being crawled or dragged a significant distance, though it's apparent she hasn't moved from this spot in some time.
As soon as she sees the Starfinders, the lashunta woman struggles to draw a shotgun strapped to her hip, but she is far too weak to remove the weapon from its holster. "I'll kill you! I'll kill them all!" Her yell is hardly more than a hoarse whisper.
"What the heck?" Diedre mutters to herself as she points her rifle at the bedraggled lashunta. "Put down the weapon and we'll render what aid we can," the half-elf calls out.
Johnny doesn't hesitate. He sprints towards her and snatches up her shotgun. He then stows it on his back, saying "Now, now, there's no need for all that dear. You can rest now."
Irhok’zath searches the lashunta for hidden weapons. “Irhok’zath is confused. Do you want to die or to kill? And did you eat anything weird?”
Lauren's feeler tentacles flare out as she enters the clearing. "Is this feels like trap?" She yells, at the back of her eager compatriots.
"Well, she certainly feels like bait, so ... yeah," Diedre responds to Laurenzia. As the others tend to the woman's wounds, the half-elf keeps her eyes peeled for other fanatics.
Miraj narrows his eyes, looking at her with suspicion but also pity. Before approaching her, he looks around in the trees and the underbrush for anything that might be laying in wait to ambush.
If nothing alerts him, he gets out his medkit and approaches her cautiously, studying her wounds, trying to determine what is causing her weak condition, although he has a nagging feeling he knows what it is, rubbing his free hand absently over the spot where the thorn pierced his skin earlier.
"If you want death, we can make it so. But I have medicine. Tell me what happened to you und I might be able to help you avoid both death und zee pain you seem to be suffering."
Seeing the brand on the woman's forehead, Entiren will look at it for a moment before a look of recognition crosses his face. Speaking in a low voice to the others, he will say "This woman is a worshiper of The Devourer. If we are able to help her, we should do so carefully, as she would quite likely be more than willing to kill us in exchange for saving her life."
"How do people live like that?" Diedre says in disbelief. She shakes her head and continues scanning the surrounding foliage. "Well, worshiper of The Devourer or not, we're going to help her. I'm not going to just leave someone like ... that."
"Put down the weapon and we'll render what aid we can," the half-elf calls out.
The woman gives up trying to draw the shotgun, allowing Johnny to seize it. As Irhok'zath approaches the lashunta to search her, the formian and the half-elf simultaneously realize that the woman is not tangled in plant matter as she appeared from a distance - she is run through with them. Thin, thorned branches pierce her skin and clothing, rooted in her flesh. An especially vicious branch has obliterated one side of her face, providing scant shade with vibrantly red-tinged leaves. Tears well up in her remaining eye as she sees the horror in the Starfinders' faces.
Searching through this, Irhok'zath finds a crude, rusted sword that is surprisingly difficult to remove from her belt. A red swirl has been gouged into the pommel, and the formian feels a vague, supernatural weight to the blade.
"If you want death, we can make it so. But I have medicine. Tell me what happened to you und I might be able to help you avoid both death und zee pain you seem to be suffering."
The structure and color of the plant matter looks unsettlingly familiar, but it's the fragments of a familiar-looking dart lodged in her thigh that confirms the ryphorian's worst suspicions - her herbalogical parasite is somehow related to the creature that's been stalking them for the past two days.
"I... I got hit by some walking plant. Never... even saw it. Got sick. When I couldn't keep up... they took my food and left me behind." She seems hesitant to talk, but afraid not to.
Several Starfinders keep their eyes on the jungle, but no predatory plants or crazed cultists leap out in ambush.
Irhok’zath closes her claws on top of the cultist’s head, turning it from side to side, examining her. “Irhok’zath has seen many creatures affected by poisons and diseases in Ukulam - this lashunta is dead already. She can end her suffering quickly, instead of letting the plant finish the job and causing more pain in the way.” she offers, looking at the captain.
Diedre frowns both at Miraj's prognosis and Irhok'zath's recommendation.
Letting the others continue to watch for threats, the half-elf kneels down next to the woman. She reaches out and brushes the back of her hand against the suffering woman's undamaged cheek while leaning in close.
"We can offer you a chance to overcome this or we can end your suffering. Which would you choose?" she asks in a soft voice filled with emotion.
"We can offer you a chance to overcome this or we can end your suffering. Which would you choose?" she asks in a soft voice filled with emotion.
The woman looks at Diedre with a mixture of distrust and fear filtered through a haze of pain. Finally, she closes her eye and whispers in a voice so low that only the half-elf can hear her:
Diedre puts a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder and then rises to her feet. "Miraj, do what you can to treat her. We'll spend some time here if it will help."
She takes a firm grasp on her rifle, stepping out of the way so the ryphorian can work.
At Miraj's revelation about the source of the damage, Lauren walks over to Entiren. She says, "Do you has a medkits? I was wanting to be rechecked for... that." She points at the lashunta on the ground. "I can assists and we can check the other peoples that got thorned while Miraj working."
Miraj sets his medkit on the ground and begins selecting the medicine and tools to being treatment. "I will do what I can. Spells would be useful, but I just have conventional medicine. If you survive zee night, there may be hope, but it will delay us if we wait for you to recover. You can repay us by informing on your heartless former companions."
Miraj cuts away all the vines he can to both weaken the emerging spawn and to reduce their growth. As he works, he asks her name. "I am Miraj. I'll try to weaken the growth und give you drugs to boost your immune response. I'll also inject some nourishment and fluids since you're suffering from exposure almost as much as this verkruxin plant." He also asks others to set up a tent so she can rest in shade.
After ten minutes, he kneels and rests on his heels. "I've done all I can. If anyone has clout with any deity, pray for aid."
Privately, Miraj tells Lauren and the others that he has just one dose of antibiotic which he is saving in case either he or Lauren starts to succomb to the disease. He could give it to the lashunta woman if she survives the night. Then he suggests the group set up a perimeter with weapons ready in case the thorn thrower returns.
The formian yawns, unable to do anything to help with the treatment, and still pretty sure it will be for nothing. “Irhok’zath will walk around, perhaps she can finally lure the monster out and kill it!” she stands up, calls her pike and starts walking in widening circles around the wounded lashunta, poking any suspicious plants on the way, usually targeting fruit.
Johnny decides to take the opposite approach; knowing the the creature likes to strike from ambush, Johnny turns to patrol, and sees Irhok'Zath has the same idea.
Nodding, he points at her and makes a circling motion with his finger to the left, then points at himself with a circling motion to the left. The intent is clear: you circle to the right and I'll go left.
Irhok'zath nods and goes to the right, and also yells across the "camp" they are staying in: "Do you think it can understand what is spoken? Maybe it can be provoked! MONSTER! The spawn you left in the lashunta is being killed! Try and stop it!"
Miraj gestures for Diedre to walk with him a little ways away from the lashunta and speaks softly so only Diedre can hear him clearly. "You're better than I at coaxing people to share information. I'd suggest you stay close to her and see if you can find out about her and her group. I suspect she is ... or was part of the group we pursue. In case she doesn't survive, we should find out what we can about who they are and what they are planning."
He keeps his gun drawn and ready to fire if ambushed again.
Diedre nods at Miraj's words. Her hand unconsciously fingers the small pendent she wears - a swirl of rainbow colors. "I'll see what I can find out." She frowns. "Did I do the right thing, Miraj?" she asks, her uncertainty clear. "I know that given the reverse, I have little doubt that she would have just left us to our fate, but ... No one deserves a suffering and painful death like that - No one."
Entiren will turn to Lauren. "Unfortunately, I left my medkit back on the ship, so as to cut down on the weight I would be carrying. Even without it, I can give you and Diedre a quick examination while Miraj is busy treating her. I could get to him once he is done there, although I think that he would probably be better at examining himself." So long as both are willing, he will then do a quick examination of the two of them, checking the wounds to see if either of them have changed noticeably since they were inflicted.
Once Miraj has finished up with his treatment of the woman, Entiren will move to sit by her on the side with her good eye. Looking at her heavily damaged body for a moment, he then speaks to her in a quiet voice. "I want you to know, despite what you may have heard me say earlier I have no wish to see you pass on. I imagine that it has been some time since your previous group left you here. I have a supply of rations with me, some of which I can give to you." He will reach into his bag and pull out a small square of field ration, ready to give it to her if she needs it.
Miraj cuts away all the vines he can to both weaken the emerging spawn and to reduce their growth. As he works, he asks her name. "I am Miraj. I'll try to weaken the growth und give you drugs to boost your immune response. I'll also inject some nourishment and fluids since you're suffering from exposure almost as much as this verkruxin plant." He also asks others to set up a tent so she can rest in shade.
The woman winces as Miraj works, clearly in pain but too stubborn to show it. At first, she seems completely unwilling to talk, but as Miraj is finishing up, she mutters, "Ralkawi. My name is Ralkawi."
The Starfinders do another inspection of Lauren and Miraj's wounds. Some slight inflammation has developed, but neither the scyphozoan nor the rhyphorian feel any ill effects at the moment.
Irhok'zath nods and goes to the right, and also yells across the "camp" they are staying in: "Do you think it can understand what is spoken? Maybe it can be provoked! MONSTER! The spawn you left in the lashunta is being killed! Try and stop it!"
Irhok'zath's taunt is met by the sound of crashing vegatation - the stalking creature is bearing down on the clearing at full speed!
Diedre , Entiren , Irhok'zath, Lauren
Creature
Johnny, Miraj
“It worked! Irhok’zath is a genius!” the formian double moves around to the side of the monster, her pike just within reach to AoO if it moves.
"Hey! You overgrown ficus!" Diedre shouts out, waving her rifle in the air.
Lauren yells, "မနေ့ကမြည်းပေါက်!" as she focuses her mind on the will needed to manifest. Three stinglets of force race out to strike the ksarik as soon as it appears.
Diedre nods at Miraj's words. Her hand unconsciously fingers the small pendent she wears - a swirl of rainbow colors. "I'll see what I can find out." She frowns. "Did I do the right thing, Miraj?" she asks, her uncertainty clear. "I know that given the reverse, I have little doubt that she would have just left us to our fate, but ... No one deserves a suffering and painful death like that - No one."
Miraj leans against a tree and considers for a few breaths.
"I've met sentients who, usually based on some religion, assert that all deserve forgiveness und a second chance. Others have compassion or sympathy for no one who does wrong. I take zee middle way, case by case consideration. I've done some things I could be condemned for. I did zhem to keep my family safe, but I did zhem. So I think we all are doing zee right thing for now. It's not like, ..."
The sound of the charging beastie stops Miraj mid-sentence. He is not in a position to see what is coming and is slow to respond.
Looking up as he hears the crashing noises, Entiren is just able to notice the charging creature through the surrounding trees. Focusing on his magical connection to the stars scattered throughout the galaxy, his horns begins faintly glowing as three small spheres of starlight collect just in front of and between the tips. After a moment, the spheres shoot off towards the oncoming creature
The creature's charge is slowed by the pelting of arcane bolts from the Starfinders' spellcasters; it doesn't seem to pay Diedre much attention at all. Instead, it lashes out at the formian with a pair of tentacles that extend to a terrifying length! One of the strikes lands hard, cracking Irhok'zath's carapace.
Johnny, Miraj
Diedre , Entiren , Irhok'zath , Lauren
Overgrown ficus
Johnny double moves to get into melee with the creature and set up a flank with Irhok'zath. As he moves, the darkness around him seems to grow, not robbing sight, but instead bleaching everything into a gray scale.
Miraj trots to where he has a clear shot, trying to anticipate its movement to improve his aim and hit a more vulnerable spot.
Range = 30
Conditions are not ideal, however, and he mostly makes noise.
The creature swipes at Johnny with a tentacle as the half-elf approaches, but the blow glances off his armor without harm.
Lauren moves forward and past Miraj, trying to get a better shot on the creature before firing her laser rifle.
She looks at her rifle in disbelief.
Irhok’zath winces at the tentacular attacks, but returns the favor full attacking the plant monster.
Entiren will stay on the ground, aiming his rifle at the plant creature and taking a pair of quick shots at it.
Frustrated that the thing didn't pay any attention to her, she takes advantage of that fact.
Lauren and Miraj both miss their target, but the rest of the group makes up for it with a solid strike from Irhok'zath, two hits from Diedre, and a well-placed shot from Entiren that sets the vegetative creature smoldering. It responds by lashing out once again at Irhok'zath with two tentacles, but the appendages never strike the formian - instead, they seize upon her pike! Irhok'zath has a moment to notice the tentacles now end in hands that look unusually similar to her own before she's embroiled in a brief tug-of-war over the weapon. Despite the unexpected turn of events, Irhok'zath comes out victorious, and the creature leaps away with an angry gurgle, leaving Irhok'zath still holding her spear.
Johnny, Miraj
Diedre , Entiren , Irhok'zath , Lauren
Overgrown ficus