Kairon draws forth the wand gifted to him by the ranger Ardan and speaks, Curare.
Not yet your time, feller. . . . . Goruck! Don't let that thing get any closer to him!
Launching into a sprint, Goruck readies his trusty blade. "It shall be done." The massive half orc attempts to score the side of the beast, and draw it's attention away from his downed ally. "Come, taste the mettle of a warrior's dedication."
Chillel moves over to look at Dolok, obviously worried. Seeing him alive and partly healed by Kairon, Chillel seems relieved, saying:-
Thank the gods for your healing skills Kairon. I can do nothing to this plant it seems.
Goruck's trusty nodachi slices lengthwise through what could only be described as the killer plant's torso vine. The gash draws a gush and ooze of some viscous green-white liquid. Repulsively the plant shivers from end to end, and all the vines it's called up to help it do likewise, making a rippling effect all through the nearby foliage. Unfathomably, the plant once again moves toward Dolok, away from Goruck, giving the stone warrior an opening to strike.
Seeing an opportunity, Goruck leaps upwards with a boost from a chunk of earth. Staying eerily quiet, the massive half orc drives his blade in with all his weight.
As the plant slides away from Goruck the warrior unleashes all his frustration at this plant having caught them off guard and leaving his friend bleeding and all but dying. His blade slashes through several layers of vines including the torso vine. Several of the vines twitch and spasm on the ground, but no other movement or action is apparent. Immediately all the plants that had been serving the assassin vine become inert, waving only in the slight breeze that floats through the warm muggy forest.
Dolok will walk over to the remains of the plant and using his cantrip ray of frost, he will convert the energy to fire and try it out on the remains of the vine. Partially because he is curious to learn why the ray didn't seem to work on it, but mainly out of a combination of anger and fear at this creature. If his cantrip seems to do any damage to it, he will continue using it over and over and over again until the body of the plant is burned to ashes.
Watching barely-able-to-stand Dolok launch a sustained volley of flame at the dying vine, Kairon stays within arm's reach of him, expecting him to topple at any moment. He keeps silent, but ever ready.
Would that old spear have helped him at all? . . . . Not the time to talk about it out loud, I suppose . . . .
The cold and flame we threw at it did nothing! Good thing Goruck was there . . . .
Dolok's rage flame burns everything around the assassin vine, but, against the assassin vine itself, the fire does nothing at all. The flames reflect off of the plant-like flesh like water off of waterfowl.
Satisfied with his work, the half orc sheaths his blade and watches with stoney silence as Dolok attempts to immolate their fallen foe. "Such a creature does not bode well for us. It seemed tailored specifically to rendering some of our most versatile tools dull and worthless."
Pausing at the sight of flame rolling of the plant, Goruck makes to cut the plant in half vertically. Ripping free a sizable vine, he adds, All worthy foes, whether dangerous or honourable, deserve a moment."
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"Such a creature does not bode well for us. It seemed tailored specifically to rendering some of our most versatile tools dull and worthless."
You make it sound as if someone planned it. No, Illiam says, kicking a piece of the dead vine, It's just damn rotten luck. Sometimes you just draw a terrible hand of cards.
Illiam then looks around for signs that the group they were following passed through here, and tries to re-acquire their trail to continue the pursuit.
I think it likely you are right Illaim. In any event, me must be on our way with all possible speed. Can you find the trail?
Illiam easily picks up the trail of the kobolds and their captives, and leads the group on, moving in a slightly northwesterly direction.
Dolok is not at all happy with the idea of this 'plant creature' being immune to his fire. He wishes to study it more to see if he can understand why, so when Goruck cuts it open he will take a moment to look at the 'insides' of the thing and try to identify whatever looks like an important part of the creature and then he will remove it to take with him for further study.
Dolok, after being healed suitably enough to continue, follows the group on their trek, but expends much more of his attention on examining the piece of the killer vine that tried to make him into compost material. Using various of his cantrips and magical knowledge Dolok is able to determine that the plant's ability to move and act comes from some kind of connection to the unseen vein and veil of magic that surrounds everything on the material plane. What that connection is, or how it was engendered he does not fully understand. Having passed the time in his examinations, Dolok is surprised to look up and see that Illiam and the rest of the group have stopped on the edge of the forest as it gives way to the grounds of the broken down Monastery of the dwarves. A familiar place, though the group didn't thoroughly scour the entire building, they know quite a bit about some of the ruin's hidden dangers.
It's deja vu all over again as the group stares at the tall grasses and chunks of stone debris that have all but overtaken this small yard. Off to one side, a wooden stable has collapsed into a mound of rotting timbers and moldy straw. The outer wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving a ragged hole. Bits of foundation-work only suggest the monastery’s original layout, fading memories of a world long ago crushed under the unforgiving heel of time.
"Indeed, 'tis rotten luck indeed. However, it is necessary for me to assume the worst. A bodyguard must be reactive in stopping threats, but can be proactive in preventing threats." The massive swordsman gives the fallen plant a small bow before lifting his discarded shield then catching up with the group. "Tas bija jums vai mums, bet tas nenozīmē, ka jums nav pelnījuši cieņu."
As the group returns to the monastery, Goruck smiles beneath his mask. "Lead the way Illiam, it seems seeking Kobolds is another of your varied talents."
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We only saw evidence of one kobold before. Perhaps if he's still there, we can capture him and extract some information.
Watching carefully for threats while moving silently and sticking to the shadows, Illiam begins to search, going through the library where they previously entered and investigating the door where he suspected a kobold could be found, and the surrounding hallway.
As he goes, Illiam is also readying an action to shift away from anything that attacks him.
Wealday, 17th Erastus, 4712 A.R. 6:30 PM
Illiam's memory to avoid the bookshelves because of the poisonous fungus serves him well as he carefully sneaks his way back toward the room where Lunarinus Scipio destroyed the door just a few days previous. The first thing that catches Illiam's eye is that all the debris has been cleaned up. The door is not repaired, but the mess is all gone. The next thing that catches his eye as he's maneuvering to the door is the completely oblivous kobold, dressed in leather armor with a very fine looking shortsword, judging by the hilt at least, sheathed at his side. The kobold sits at a small table in the room eating a meal of freshly murdered crow. He mumbles to himself in draconic as he eats. "Gurtlekrep gwylio, gwylio. Gurtlekrep bwyta ac yn gwylio."
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Illiam returns to the edge of the building, where he can take cover, then points at the kobold and says CYSGU!. His ring glows a bit as he attempts to force the kobold into a magical slumber (DC 15 Will save). He knows that if it fails, he will have given up his position, but Illiam appears to be alone, and he hopes that the kobold will attempt to chase him, giving Illiam the opportunity to lead the unsuspecting kobold into an ambush.
Gurtlkreps meal is interrupted very briefly by a moment of sudden drowsiness, but he shakes his head vigorously back and forth and says, "dim Gurtlekrep yn mynd yn ôl i gysgu, Gurtlekrep jyst deffro!"
Kairon uses the wand to reinvigorate the distracted pyromancer just before the group resumes their northerly path.
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Once they return to the monastery, Kairon offers a slightly frustrated huff. Told y'all we shoulda finished explorin' this place . . . . .
He quickly subsides, focusing on searching for signs of the children, and being wary against danger.
After listening to Illiam's quick report and his idea of setting an ambush, Kairon gives an abrupt nod and then gestures to the west and the courtyard north, a questioning expression on his face -- as though to ask, Which way?
If we use the courtyard, we'll have more choke points to take advantage of, in case he's got friends with 'im.
Chillel listens thoughtfully to her comrades, then replies softly:-
I am not sure about trying to lure the Kobold into an ambush. If it has half a brain it will raise the alarm when he spots me, as well as or instead of giving chase. And he is too far from the doorway for me to hex him from there. if we go through the courtyard as Kairon suggests and we are not detected we could enter through the double doors in front of the chapel. Then I could try and sneak down and put their lookout to sleep. If it does not work, remember I never claimed to be a ninja.
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One of you could go through the main entrance and block that way, or I could probably block the way with an illusion, if neither of you think you can get into position without being heard. Illiam says to Goruck and Kairon. The rest of us could go through the library, and Chillel can still try to disable him. If we do end up in a fight, we should try to take him alive. Non-lethal blows, if possible.
"It sounds like Illiam has a potentially effective plan - as usual."
I reckon I can go through the courtyard, then -- spear's better for covering that much space . . . . Y'all come around the library side. Good enough for y'all, good enough for me. Kairon shoots a grin and a respectful nod Illiam's way, and then reaches down to pet the firefoot's head. Speed us to those in need, Everlight.
Chillel thinks briefly then gives a "thumbs up" sign, smiling.
Nodding once more, Kairon moves to stand with his back next to the stones of the gate, and then waits for the rest of the group to move toward the west before advancing.
Moving as carefully as possible, Kairon makes his way through the entrance to the courtyard, and scans the area quickly for anything noteworthy.
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Once the path forward appears clear, Kairon again keeps his creeping pace and moves directly toward the double doors to the west of the courtyard area.
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With a few final steps, Kairon comes to a stop next to the north door in the hallway, and scans all three passageways, looking for Chillel to make her appearance.
Gripping his sheathe blade, the half orc quietly adds, "I shall endevor for nonlethal strikes, but I was unfortunately trained in the art of bloodshed."
"Fire rays and magic missiles won't do any good trying to keep it alive either. I guess I can try to knock it out with my quarterstaff, though I shall always have a fire ray 'handy' as well."
Kairon makes it all the way to the foyer of the once proud monastery without interruption. The long shadows in the monastery courtyard provide him and his lucky fox plenty of hiding places. Once inside he hears Gurtlekreps mumbling and eating, but nothing else of note. The most interesting thing the cleric notices is that the monastery appears to be exactly as they left it, doors open, and dusty footprints intact. Of course, he also does not notice, glaringly so, the footprints of the kobolds and their captives that the group has been following since leaving Elara's orphanage. Assuming Illiam's tracking skills are not suspect, and the group definitely came here, they did not come in this entrance, or walk down the main hallway.
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Before re-entering, Illiam picks up a handful of dry dirt, which he can throw in the face of the kobold to attempt to blind him if Chillel fails to subdue him. Then he stealthily re-enters through the library and takes up a position beside the doorway, finding a spot free of fungus where he can stay out of sight.
Chillel moves as quietly as possible into the library following Illaim.
If the opportunity arises, Chillel will put the goblin to sleep with the Slumber Hex.
Dolok notices Chillel and Illiam basically disappear around the corner and no further sound ensue. He knows that was the plan agreed upon, but he knows that he is not as quiet as Illiam usually is and does not want to ruin it for the rest of the group by being too noisy. He's also not wild about Kairon going off by himself, so he motions to Goruck for Goruck to go towards the corner with the two quiet ones and he will attempt to carefully follow after Kairon and watch Kairon's back.
Dolok plants himself firmly against the wall of the stall knowing that surely something somewhere heard the loud clatter of his boots on the rocks . At least he does not notice anything else approaching!
With Illiam's assistance in where, and where not, to step, Chillel is capable of getting close enough to throw her mental magic at the dining kobold who calls himself Gurtlekrep. Her magic slams into him, and his head immediately falls onto his plate in heavy slumber. His scaly lips curl and ripple with every heavy breath as loud snores escape in a long rhythm.
Chillel moves over to the goblin, removes his weapons and holds a dagger to his throat. As she passes Illaim she asks softly:-
Do you have rope?