As Moq goes to explore the eastern area, the worm slithers a bit closer,
"Where is your friend going? There's a rather unpleasant Id Pig locked up over there, and it would be most distressing if he were set free."
Thratch had little time, and Vehemence who was bound to him in heart had less patience.
As the worm-thing begins to come closer to the group and dismisses Vehemence's previous charge, he becomes irked and wary.
He raises his sword in a defensive stance, tip forward, keeping the worm at a distance from himself and the rest.
"KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, CAD. He's looking for what I described to you prior- the serpent waifs! What do you know of their movements?"
"No need to be rude! That Id Pig getting free would be all our concern."
The worm pauses,
"And despite your rude demeanor, yes, I did see some of those reptile women come through a while ago. They seemed to have apprehended a small mammal."
"They happened to go out one of those doors," he adds, gesturing creepily at the doors along the angled wall.
"So I'd like an apology from you now, if you don't mind."
Riven steps forward inclining his head to the worm. "I offer you an apology on the behalf of the offense you have received. Your aid in helping locate the small one is noted and appreciated."
He calls toward Moq. "That is not the way we need to go, the chameleon women went to the west."
Beta shifted and walked carefully down Riven's right forearm to flutter its wings and study the worm with owl eyes.
Riven begins to circle the worm assuming it has no objections to head to the doors leading to area 37 and look for more left behind arrows or clues.
Tenchi will simply nod and follow the others, which shifting the wrapped body to his other shoulder wordlessly.
When Riven returns from the west, she approaches him leaning in to whisper softly into his ear.
She pulls away adding, "Even if you're just curious, I don't mind. I can be a very motivating teacher."
Once they have the path set for them, she will follow along, pressing the group to hurry.
Riven goes stiff() as Ashlyn leans in and whispers in his ear. He pauses and examines her his eyes scanning her with those glowing lens. Awkwardly he inclined his head toward her and spoke softly.
After approaching one of the two visible doors to the next area he would open it and scan the area for Thratch or chameleon women.
Moq a little distance away shines a light over the area while speaking with the creature, Pass. I'm not interested in your politics so you need a better bargin.
Ashlyn smiles seductively, "I look forward to it."
Ashlyn will approach the other door and open it as well, hoping Thratch left them another clue on where to go.
Riven and Ashlyn open their respective doors and find both open to the same large octagonal room.
The ceiling is roughly 20' high and the room is filled with a massive heart mottled with a pulsing green.
You barely make out two more doors on the north and east walls, and briefly notice another arrow on the ground amidst the vines.
Three shrill creatures perched on top slither down to meet you.
The first one descends on Riven, screaming at him, and entangling around him.
“Left them! You ran away and left them! Greedy coward! Liar! Backstabber!” it shrieks.
The vine creature is covered in tight curls of blue-black spiked holly, which cut at Riven.
The third of the three descends on Ashlyn, dousing her in pollen.
“I am only trying to help you understand how wrong you are. And you hate me for it.”
As this is happening, a hideous, mutated being grows out of the eastern wall of the garden. The worm burrows into one of the flower beds in fright.
The second Vinebeast also descends on Ashlyn, entangling her.
“They never found out what you are really like did they? You must be so relieved.” it taunts at the sorceress.
The other creature that's emerged from the walls gestures at Vehemence, then causes weeds to grow out of the ground entangling Tenchi and Aterro.
"Come closer, darlings!" it taunts in a raspy female voice.
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Pain registers as flashing red warnings across Riven's eyes and the vines digs deep around his battered mithril body. Creaking sounds are heard and then the snapping of vines follow as he throws his arms outward in an explosive burst of vines and ichor. Beta flaps and flys back away from the combat seeking to get to safety similar to the worm.
"RELEASE...HER!"
Glowing runes of arcane energy shot through his body as his sword materialized in his hand and he stepped around the blue black holly creature attempting to get closer to Ashlyn as he struck out at her with his ancient blade.
I hope our stout renegade has thick skin. What a sea of delays...
"My pleasure, wench."
Vehemence moves to strike down the witching woman-in-the-wall.
The creatures are all made of moving vines and each is adorned with different plants:
1: Tight curls of blue-black spiked holly.
2: Twisted light-green axles of dry grass.
3: Fist-clumps of crushed flower stems and dried buds.
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As the creatures alternatively emerge, shout, cast, and restrain, Aterro mumbles under his breath and stands motionless, as if he is allowing himself to succumb to the foul lure of the vines.
But if one were to listen to his voice, they would a humble prayer: "Oh a thousand blessings be upon Torm for sending unto us an enemy that will at last stand and fight. We are joyous for being allowed to enter GLORIOUS COMBAT!"
As the prayer subsides, the WarCleric bursts into action. Immobile in one second, in the next he is...
...whirling and churning, pulping the bewitched greenery with his iron-shod boots as he cleaves into the nearest plant-witch!
"Be careful what you wish for, hell-spawn! MY closeness shall prove to be no favor!"
The greatsword rises and falls.
Riven frees himself from the entanglement of the first Vinebeast. He strikes with his sword at one of the other Vinebeasts that attacked Ashlyn, missing as he's still off-balance.
Meanwhile, Vehemence is able to resist the wall-creature's attack on his magical abilities, and returns the attack in-kind with his sword, which she narrowly dodges by hugging against the wall.
Aterro is able to break free of the weed entanglement she cast upon him and strikes back with his sword, cutting into her shoulder. A vile acidic juice sprays from her wound at the cleric.
The creature cackles as the bilious liquid spews from her open wound.
The battle rages on!
Tenchi attempts to get free but fails. He calmly sets down the body he is carrying and draws his sword.
The first creature appears and sprays pollen in Ashlyn's face. She is forced to ignore it's comment for fear of breathing the spores in. Then the second appeared taunting her and wrapping around her. It's comment she could not ignore, "And what would you know of what I am? We've never met. If we had, you would know better than to touch me without my permission." She moves her arms a bit, letting the creature think she is trying to break free, but Ashlyn knows there are few creatures she could overpower. By the time the creature realizes she is not struggling, but instead casting, it is too late, as her eyes flash with power and thunder echoes from her every pore.
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Attero's eyes go wide as his heavy armor weighs him down and the deadly acid arcs right at his eyes!
But just then bat randomly flies in front of the acid spray, it's small, fur-covered body absorbing the bulk of it. It falls to the ground, squeaks once, and dies.
The WarCleric looks down at the dead bat in surprise. "Huh. I admit. I'm surprised by that."
Then he looks over to see Tenchi struggle with the entangling vines. "Oh ho! Come on then, is the big, mean shrubbery too gruesome a foe for you to overcome? Fear not! I shall protect you from this and all other vegetable-related foes! Look out, all! When next the broccoli comes marching in and Tenchi quivers in fear, Torm's finest shall toe the line and save him from the vitamin-filled horrors!"
Moq runs back to the rest of the group from room 30 (that is around 60 feet I think).
Ashlyn resists the effects of the pollen and then casts the Thunderwave spell, as energy ripples forth from her.
The Vinebeasts take damage as they shudder and shriek, but they manage to twist around and avoid the brunt of it, continuing to entangle Ashlyn.
The giant heart in the room shudders and pulses.
Meanwhile, Aterro manages to avoid being doused in bile when as luck would have it, a random bat flies through and unfortunately gets hit with the spray.
The smell of the liquid is strong and Aterro has to resist a couple intense dry heaves. Fortunately nobody sees him do this with his helmet on.
Moq runs up and joins the fray.
The creature on the walls hisses at the group and merges into the wall, disappearing.
She then emerges near Riven through the octagonal wall.
"You, give me your magic!" she scowls at the Warforged.
The Vinebeasts continue to entangle Ashlyn as the wall creature appears by Riven. The heart pulses faster and steadier.
Moq charges in and attacks the heart in the middle of the room.
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Riven locks eyes with her and his runes glow brighter all over his body as magical energy burn through him. Focus...don't let her in...my soul is my own... Suddenly he is all too keenly aware of the weight inside his chest of a mummified goblin hand and his mind crystallizes all his awareness into that one instant. Artifice wins out and his power swirls in protective arcs around his ancient body.
"...NO."
"KILL THE HEART!" shouts Tenchi.
Riven resists the creature's attempt at spell-theft.
Moq attacks the giant heart, but his attacks don't seem to do anything. The heart beats on.
You see a slender, reptilian figure slithering up near the top of the room, hanging onto dangling vines. It's holding some kind of round glass bottle.
Riven channels the very magic that the wall creature drew to his surface into a mighty blast hitting around him in an explosive eruption of energy. It radiates out to hit the wall woman and the vinebeast.
Regardless if they are blown back or not he moves to aid Ashlyn, drawing the attention of the vinebeasts off her. (Provoking from his foes if he must.)
Beta flys back in suddenly slashing at the Holly Vinebeast with tiny talons. for 1 damage.
Ashlyn is shocked when the creatures remain holding her even in the face of her magic. But she doesn't let up, the rumbling of thunder continuing to roar from her body as she focuses another burst of magic out from her body. Strengthening her resolve.
"You...will...release...me!!!" she yells, her voice echoing over the peal of thunder radiating from her.
One of those chameleon women is clinging above us with some kind of weapon!
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"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAHHHH!" roars the WarCleric as he takes it as a personal insult when the creature wall-teleports away from honorable combat. "Cowards die in shame!" he yells at the uncaring wall.
He turns and stalks toward the nearest sound of combat, his iron boots eating up the distance in few a strides. At the sight of the beautiful sorceress beset by a brace of monsters, Attero flies into combat! His massive sword strikes down on the nearest one.
"Death be thy compass!" he yells as he attacks.
"Zeal is it's own excuse!" he bellows as his sword strikes again, the massive blade weaving a web of STEEL faster than the eye can follow.
He pauses to sling green ichor from his blade, and in the silence following his battlecry he stares daggers at the flowered monsters. Only those nearest the armored figure can hear him breath words that sound like, "You will not hurt her."
Riven tries really hard to help out, but experiences a temporary malfunction.
Ashlyn casts another Thunderwave, and energy ripples forth from her.
The Vinebeasts shriek and shudder again and release her, leaves and plant matter flying all around.
Meanwhile, Aterro, angry that he nearly vomited (and also that Ashlyn is under attack), flies into the heart chamber and brings down RIGHTEOUS METAL and STEEL upon the Vinebeasts, slashing and causing all sorts of mess of plant matter and goo.
The Vinebeasts shriek and howl and move up toward the ceiling.
Then, a Chameleon Woman reveals herself along the ceiling, dropping a glass decanter full of a yellow-brown liquid onto the giant pulsing heart. She makes haste out of the room.
The liquid fizzes and bubbles as the glass drops, exploding on contact with the giant heart. The north door blows open, causing a louder exploding sound as the walls shudder.
Tenchi struggles, but it is to no avail. He can't even reach his sword to cut himself free.
Riven dodges the explosion for the most part as he take a swing at the retreating vine beast south of Ashlyn.
The creatures both fly off her, Ashlyn lingering in the air for just a moment, by the force of her spell. Then she gently lands on one foot, spinning with a dancer's grace, and proceeds back out of the room.
The Vinebeasts shake and shed more foliage in the thrall of Riven's spell.
Then things explode.
Riven dodges the flames and takes a mean swipe at the third Vinebeast.
Moq is not as lucky and takes a blast of flames from the explosion.
Fortunately, his tough hide only gets lightly singed.
Ashlyn takes a heavier hit of fire yet manages to gracefully dive out of the room, disengaged from the grasp of the two Vinebeasts.
Poor Tenchi is still tied up outside the chamber.
Aterro almost takes a full blast of flames but as luck would have it, he dodges the blast at the last possible moment, as another unfortunate bat gets in the way.
The giant heart pulses faster and quakes on its foundation. The green glow fades as flesh blisters and splits open, causing jets of hot red blood shoot out in geysers in all directions!
The heart ruptures wide open. A torrent of blood erupts and gushes everywhere, filling the floor of the chamber and rising quickly.
The Vinebeasts, still living, are showered in warm plasma, which seems to enrich them.
The other creature disappears into the wall.
It's raining blood everywhere, dousing the group and spewing forth into the garden, drenching the grass and flower beds as it pools into the earth.
A last wave of blood bursts out of the collapsing heart with great force that shoves everyone in the chamber backward!
Moq puts his shoulder into his shield and breaks the wave or gore around him, We should ignore these things and press onward!
From the corner of your eye as blood erupted everywhere, you saw the Chameleon Woman duck through the north door that was opened by the blast.
Riven likewise braces himself against the wave of block and leaps onto the nearest wall pursuing the vinebeast most wounded not willing to let them return to plague his allies again as his spider climb like ability allows him to attack them on their own turf. Green flames light up his blade as he swings it in a vertical battle with the vine beasts.
"Blindly pursuing into enemy territory is foolish! Regroup and let us handle immediate threats before risking endangering the group further!"
and 2 fire to adjacent vinebeast if hits.
Ashlyn gags at the overwhelming stench of blood. She tries to reign her stomach in as it lurches into her chest. She quickly covers her nose with her dress's sleeve.
She finally has a chance to take in the situation, and notices for the first time that Tenchi has not entered the battle because he is tied up. She rushes over to him (and thankfully away from the smell), seeing him struggling to reach his sword.
She pauses before him, her body and tone shifting to a quiet submissive woman. She bows before him with respect before speaking, "Sir, I have but a dagger. Would you allow me to use your blade to free you? I wish that you may have vengeance against those that would bind you, in honorable combat."
The Vinebeasts hold their position from up high, almost as if they're simply waiting. They scowl at Riven as he attempts to strike at them.
Frustrated Moq hurls his shield at a vine creature.
Then he runs to where it lands and grabs it.
The Vinebeast that falls is the one with tight curls of blue-black spiked holly.
It taunts Moq as he grabs it,
“Left them! You ran away and left them! Greedy coward! Liar! Backstabber!” it yells as it wraps itself around the barbarian, cutting at him with the spikes.
The other Vinebeasts maintain their position.
Nodding to Ashlyn, Tenchi will unleash a "KYAIIII!" as he struggles to free himself and turn the tide.
Excellent, finally within my reach!
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The crimson wave descends upon the WarCleric like the hammer of an angry sea-god, pushing and churning him back in an infernal torrent.
"Life is Torm's currency, spend it well," he says to bolster his resolve.
The armored figure leans into the red wave, and sweat runs down his brow in rivulets as he grunts and strains, calling upon the deepest wells of his vitality and immortal faith to resist the will of the thick liquid.
At last the bulk of the sanguine tide passes and Aterro looks up, murder churning in his eyes and made all the more burning as Riven is denied combat by the foe's elevated retreat.
"Hatred is Torm's greatest gift to humanity," he states in a monotone as his feet leave the ground and he hovers up to where the plants thought themselves safe.
"Cleanse, Purge, KILL!" he shouts as his sword lashes out at the vinebeast!
"Prayer cleanses the soul, Pain cleanses the body!" comes the cry as he follows with another slash, determined that the vinebeasts have lived too long!
Moq grabs the Vinebeast strongly enough to dislodge it, so that it's no longer trying to entangle him.
Aterro resists the blood flow just barely, and strikes with his sword, shredding one of the Vinebeasts and severing it from the flora along the walls. The creature hisses and wails as it then falls lifelessly into the pool of blood, leaving behind a mess of flower stems and dried buds.
A large cloud of pollen is released as the creature is torn away, wafting through the chamber.
Moq sneezes and returns his focus quickly to the matters at hand.
You are both convinced that there's a person trapped within the heart. It might even be Thratch.
Meanwhile, outside the chamber in the blood-drenched grass, Ashlyn tries to help Tenchi free himself to no avail.
Vehemence looks on in shock. Or delight at all the blood. Hard to say.
You all hear a screaming laughter echoing. It sounds as though it's coming from beyond the northern door of the chamber.