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Targets: one creature/level, no two of which can be more than 30 ft. apartThe furthest person you can target can be 45 ft from yourself, but none of the targets can be further than 30ft from another target. Both the 'range' and 'targets' entries limit who you can target with the spell. Put it another way, the AoE is not a 45ft radius around you, but a 30ft diameter circle within a 45ft radius around you.
Reiko is unfortunately 35 ft from both you and Oswin, and even further from Peri.
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Exiel and Reiko press their attack, with Exiel aiming for the split in the trunk he had made earlier and Reiko taking the opportunity to score a deep cut on the other side. The tree creature bellows, staggers, and then falls to the ground with a loud crash.
There is an implosion from each creature as the magical energy animating them is sucked towards their individual centres. The tree shifts subtly back into the form of a normal tree, and the mound of vegetables and fruit loses its form and collapses into a random heap, though some parts of the tree and some of the vegetables and fruit seem to shimmer for just a moment longer after the implosions subside.
Zeeva runs forward as soon as she sees the danger has passed. She looks around, carefully assessing the damage to the market, and she mentions the strange Shoanti phrases the creatures shouted (the same ones that Peri identified earlier).
Her brow creases in worry as she considers the situation. "Nothing like this has ever happened before," she says worriedly.
"I am worried about a great many things about this, but my main concern right now is that it could happen again and threaten my clients. You've already chased off the Aspis agents, and it looks like they think this place is guarded in some way so I don't think they will be coming back. But if I could trouble the Pathfinder society a little further, I would like to ask that you seek out a Shoanti shaman who frequents the Green Market to shop for herbs and other supplies. Her name is Telmayne Fire-Eyes and she lives in the nearby Skaldwood, a copse of forest not far from Korvosa's walls in which Shoanti who have yet to assimilate into Korvosan culture make their home. Telmayne has, from time to time, mentioned that she senses a strong connection to her people within the market. Perhaps she could shed some light on what's happened here."
She notes how exhausted all of you are after your battle, however, and quickly adds "feel free to rest before going to see Telmayne. I think we should not be in any danger for now, and there are some spare pallets in the workers' quarters nearby that you can use if you like."
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Exiel thinks back on the number of spells his fellow pathfinders had expended, and nods. "Some time to recuperate and recover will be good, especially if we need to deal with something like that again."
Noting the residual shimmer on some of the fruits and vegetables, Exiel casts a detect magic spell and starts to focus on the remains of the creatures to see just how strong and/or persistent the residual magic is.
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Exiel, you find that there are several auras lingering, and when you focus for longer, you find out that some of the market produce has been enchanted by the surge in magical energy. Whether on your own or with Zeeva's help, all of you discover the following items among the remains of the creatures you just defeated.
a green apple that works as a potion of speak with plants
2 coconuts that work as potions of resist energy (fire) if you drink the liquid inside (Zeeva has one of the stall owners prepare the coconut so that it is easily portable and the liquid can be accessed by pushing through a thin layer of coconut flesh)
a small head of broccoli that functions as a potion of tree shape
a chilli that works as a potion of rage
3 shambler vines
A shambler vine is a single-use variant of the traditional rope of entanglement, and is occasionally found on the corpses of particularly magical shambling mounds.
SHAMBLER VINE
Aura strong transmutation; CL 12th
Slot-; Price 600 gp; Weight 1 lb.
DESCRIPTION
A shambler vine resembles a leafy green plant vine about 6 feet long, wrapped in a coil. If touched, it writhes as if alive.
Up to three vines can be stored in a small sack, though the price is for one. When thrown at an opponent, a vine grows in midair, and acts as a rope of entanglement. It can reach 20 feet forward or 10 feet upward to entangle the target.
The entangled target can break free with a DC 20 Strength check or DC 20 Escape Artist check. A shambler vine has AC 22, 12 hit points, hardness 10, and damage reduction 10/slashing. It does not repair itself, and if it is severed (all 12 hit points lost to damage), it is destroyed. The vine lasts for a single use before withering away, and if left on a target that is unable to get free, the vine withers after 1 hour.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements: Craft Wondrous Item, entangle, plant growth, vine must be from a shambling mound; Cost 300 gp
A branch from the tree can be cut and trimmed to serve as +1 ghost touch/mwk quarterstaff.
Twenty of the leaves leaves can be collected from the fallen tree that have transformed to platinum and are worth 100 gp each as exotic art objects.
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The Shoanti who call the Skaldwood home have worn numerous trails through the wood, connecting the many clearings where they have established semi-permanent campgrounds. You have no trouble at all finding one of these clearings, and though the local Shoanti living in Skaldwood appear very wary of outsiders, they do, after some effort at persuasion by Peri, direct you to the local sage named Telmayne Fire-Eyes.
Telmayne is young for a shaman, and her tall, athletic appearance is rather unusual for one of her station. She is shaved bald in the custom of many of her people, and wears a scarlet bandanna tied around her head to protect it from the sun. She listens to your tale of what happened at the market, but regards you with a look of indifference, until you mention the tree and fruit/vegetables monsters. At the mention of these, she does perk up a little.
"I suppose I could tell you some of the history and stories of my people," she says in Common. "Maybe it would help you. Maybe it would not. The telling is free if I choose to do it... but first, answer me this: After my people were driven from our lands, why should I tell you anything?"
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"I would love to hear of your peoples mighty past. Mother tells us to forgive. I am not sure exactly what happened in the past. I was not there. But, if you have the strength to to overcome anger, to see us all allies rather than enemies, you will grow stronger from it and that is truely something to be proud of. I am called Ignatious, son of the purifying flame."
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Peri seems genuinely confused by all the sulking, and answers the bald woman in Shoanti.
"Driven from your lands? The Chelish see freedom as a privilege not a right. We Shoanti were simply unprepared for such a vile and sinister bunch. The lands will be ours once again and the Quah's will once again take their rightful place. Such a defeated attitude is quite unbecoming darling."
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Telmayne considers the words of Igantious and Peri with a far-off look in her eyes. Though Peri's words are not as well-presented as Ignatious', her status as one of their own and her sensitivity to the culture seems to go quite a long way in swaying her. Between the two on them, Telmayne acquiesces to speak.
She beckons the group to a low-burning fire, and retrieves a few twigs from a nearby tent to cast upon the flames. They appeared to be normal twigs, but generate a thick aromatic smoke that fills the air as she closes her eyes and recites a story.
"There was once a great shaman who dedicated himself to unity and peace among the Shoanti quahs. The Chelish invaders executed him centuries ago, and buried his shrine to remove any memory of the peace he once preached."
"The shaman was known as Galdron Greenheart, a name he adopted when he set aside the warlike ways of our quah. History recounts that he was moved by an ancient legend that spoke of unity between the clans to lay down his weapons and provide a place of peace where all Shoanti were welcome. Without weapons, however, he could not defend himself against the Chelish invaders who saw him as a potential threat for his ability to inspire and unite his people."
At this point, she opens her eyes, and speaks in a less-rehearsed and more natural tone. She is no longer reciting history now.
"Galdron Greenheart's shrine was located near where the Green Market now stands-likely buried beneath the current marketplace. If my knowledge of the area is accurate, and I believe it is, it should be roughly between the second and third southern-most stalls. I have felt his spirit there even today, and his rage at the violence between yourselves and your rivals is likely what motivated the strange events you described. In fact, from the sounds of it, your violent encounter with your rivals might well have happened more or less directly over the shrine."
"Only by calming him can you restore balance in the Green Market. Locate his shrine and place upon it a Shoanti symbol of peace; seven broken klar blades in the shape of a star is traditional among my people. When you uncover his shrine, Galdron will likely lash out at you as he did before. If he manifests with fire, he has forgotten that he left the Sklar-Quah, the Sun People. He wanted to be of all quahs and none-the Green Heart. You see, he left this world a man of peace, not a man of war. Your best hope might be to make him remember that, though you may need to first subdue him before you can speak with him."
"I have here several old ceremonial klars that you can take. They do not do much these days apart from gather dust and take up space, and are hardly fit for use in a fight, but they will more than suffice for the appeasement."
Having said her piece, she sends you on your way with the fragile ceremonial klars in hand. You make your way back to the Green Market to find that all of the mess from the earlier battles have since been cleared up, and the Market is surprisingly bustling with trade again. Aside from a few comments about the strangeness of the fights, no one seems to think much of it.
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"It seems we have the opportunity to prepare ourselves for battle before we lay the klars in place. I will drink one of these potions of resist fire for would easily get burned. I will focus my attacks on Galdron himself if someone could help flanking him. Are there other beneficial spells anyone could cast?"
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"I can increase the strength of whichever warriors plan to be doing the fighting. Also, the spiritual ally that I can summon can strike incorporeal foes. It seems likely that we will be fighting a spirit of some sort. Reiko, that staff may be our greatest asset. Has everyone got a magical weapon? I can also cast a prayer that will aid us and hinder our foe.
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Exiel casts Mage armor, an extended shield and a guidance spell 'cos he can.
"I could use one of those strength-enhancing spell, Oswin. As for weapons, well, my lance is well made, but I don't have an enchanted weapon yet. However, I've yet to find a restless spirit I could not smite." =)
"My metamagic rod still has a couple of uses for the day, if anyone wants to make use of it. Oswin or Ignatious, perhaps? Or Peri for her haste spell?"
"As for where to start digging, she did say that our altercation with the Aspis Consortium was "more or less directly over the shrine", so...this seems like a suitable place to start looking."
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"Well said Ignatius. I agree that it would be better to avoid a fight. But it's best to be prepared in any event. My spell will last a few minutes, Exiel. If we do get into a fight, and find that smiting is not effective, then I can at least lend you my sword."
Oswin casts Protection from Evil on himself, then Bull's Strength on Exiel and himself, then Divine Favor on himself.
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Exiel thanks Oswin for the buffs and passes his lesser metamagic rod: extend to him.
"It will make two of your lesser spells last longer. Perhaps that prayer of your's will be a good candidate."
He also puts the rage-chilli in his pocket for easy access.
Satisfied with his preparations, he grips his hooked lance tightly and stands at the ready.
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Zeeva provides you with shovels but declines Ignatious' spell, saying that she intends to sit this one out. You start to dig around the area indicated by Telmayne, and after 3 more hours of labour, you uncover a low stone altar under which a bare human skeleton lies unceremoniously tucked. The remains of a rusted spear head penetrate the skeleton's chest and ribs, with a rotted wooden spear haft still attached.
You cast your respective spells and prepare to place the klars on the altar.
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As soon as the first blade is set upon the altar, several large green spider-like crystalline creatures burst out of the ground. They turn to face you as the klar blades are quickly set in place.
As you set the last blade and ready yourselves for combat, you experience a sensation of dizziness and that the world is melting away.
However, this does not stop the creatures from turning towards you to attack!
Initiative order:
Round 1
---------------------------------------------------------Actions Resolved
Exiel: 23
Oswin: 15
Peri: 14
{?}x 8: 14
Reiko:13
Ignatious: 5
Exiel, Oswin and Peri, actions please.
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Exiel looks around worriedly at the very sudden developments, and decides that Peri would need some covering, surrounded as the party is. He takes a 5ft step to the North and takes couple of quick jabs at the crystal creature to the North-East of his new position.
+1 from guidance factored in, prayer not factored in as Exiel isn't waiting for it.
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Exiel steps up to deliver his first strike, and handles the weapon well, but just before the strike lends, he feels a tug of magical energy as is astonished to see his lance pass right through the crystal creature! Recovering quickly, he attacks again, and is again surprised to find that this time, his lance strikes solid...crystal, and does not penetrate quite the way it usually would with flesh.
Oswin completes his spell, and the party feels a surge of power as he does so. However, Oswin notes with some annoyance that he had completed his spell just as the party experienced another strange tug of magical energy, and he suspects that the crystalline creatures might not have been affected as a result.
Initiative order:
Round 1
Exiel: 23
Oswin: 15
---------------------------------------------------------Actions Resolved
Peri: 14
{?}x 8: 14
Reiko:13
Ignatious: 5
Waiting on Peri
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Ignatious recognises the creatures as unusually large Crysmals, elementals from the plane of Earth. The crystalline elementals share many properties with earth elementals, but are also notable for having some limited magical abilities. However the strange effect affecting you and your allies is not as far as you know something the creatures are normally capable of. Then again, they're not normally that size either.