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Morrin winces as he's pricked, but follows quickly, with his two pebbles from earlier in his hand. His eyes dart around, taking in all that he can see for anything loose within reach.
"Little one, I don't mean to pry too much, but why are you giggling like that?" Morrin asks, slightly disturbed by the, "guide".
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My friend, I am only too happy to pay your price of admission. Khazan says while stepping forward and proffering his finger. I would ask to pay the price for this one as well; you see, she is here under direction from her family and thus might not be here if t'was not the case. As her temporary ward, I ask to accept the cost on her behalf.
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Pip seems confused that Het Arra has used so many words and he doesn't understand all of them. However you seem to make him think it is a good idea.
"Majordomo Pip one day be Master Gardener. When pip finishes training his troops." He replies to Morrin with all the seriousness a walking tree root can muster.
Pip leads you through a vine choked and cracked hallway to the west and into another room.
A collapsed sign near the door lists the exhibit that was on display in this gallery at the time of the earthquake: “Flowering Shrubs of Eastern Taldor”. Plants once grew in the large, ceramic planters that still hug the southern wall. Dozens of branches clinging to decaying leaves emerge from the wooden door to the north. To the east, a room with healthy trees and shrubs is visible through a glass door set in a wrought iron frame.
"The room not tend these plant anymore. So Pip tends them now. See how well he does?" Pip seems genuinely impressed with his dead plants. "The room that way still has magics so Pip leaves it be. Do you want to see the magic plants?"
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Ralin glances to Grishan and Junia, to see their mood on moving on or examining the magic plants. "You are taking quite good care of them indeed. I have not had an opportunity to examine such plants closely before. May I?" He opens a sketchbook, and gestures, asking Pip if he minds a closer examination. "And then I for one would be happy to examine the more magical plants, if the others do not mind."
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Dozens of healthy plants with vibrant and colourful leaves, fruit, and flowers emerge from the decay in this small greenhouse, spilling out of the pots and berths that once contained them.
Pip describes what each plant is and what each can do. He doesn't mind if you pick some as long as you don't damage the plants.
Among the plants in this room are pair of walnuts that each provides the effects of a potion of shield of faith, a tough length of ivy that functions as a potion of spider climb when chewed, two cherries that function as potions of reduce person, and two watermelons that each produce the efects of potions of enlarge person on the frst person to eat a bite of them. Eating any of these unusual potions takes a standard action. The garden also contains a snapleaf still on the vine.
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Pip plucks the various plants properly gives out the various pink ones. While doing so explaining how they grow back so fast he often throws them at anyone snooping around then pretending to be a root again. He leads further into the Arboretum quickly afterwards.
Unlike the dead and warped growth in most of the Arboretum, the plants growing in this greenhouse seem to be relatively young and healthy. Several raised beds of earth host strange looking plants with long, sinuous vines, and a small, gently flowing fountain with a red lion statue at its centre sits near the middle of the chamber. Against the wall stands a worktable and chair covered in gardening tools. Working in the green house is a green skinned humanoid creature with a taut green shell extending like a cowl from chin to brow, wreathing a face of brilliant flower petals.
Pip quickly peeks around the corner and shouts "Green woman! You have Guests!" he then hoots and howlers as he sprints back down the hallway.
She turns around surprised and has a look of horror at the sight of your group. "Get back. You won't take us again! We are not going back to Quantium!" Defensively brandishing her cudgel.
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Ralin nods and observes closely, taking notes, then setting away his notebook. He follows along with the others as Pip leads them into the greenhouse storing magical plants, peering around to examine the healthy plants around him with interest, taking in his surroundings quickly.
Seeing the woman, he nods respectfully to her, while quickly attempting to discern what she might be -- and aids Turzyk, showing that he is apparently unarmed. "There is no need for violence here. There must be a case of mistaken identity. We are not from whatever Quantium you are mentioning, and we have no desire to take you from this place. Have you been attacked before, then?"
Diplomacy auto-aid.
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Celfwyn your knowledge nature determines that between the strange viney pod like plants there appears to be a couple assassin vines growing throughout the plot.
"Attacked? Yes but, I can't remember when." The creature puts one hand to her head as if she is confused.
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J. seems unsure but, eager to retrieve the notes and learn what has Grishan bothered. Especially since the statue is now in sight.
The plant woman has calmed down with the groups attempts to calm her and she is all right with you checking the statue if you leave all harvesting equipment at the door (IE. Slashing weapons.)
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The Ghoran woman seems to be wary but, does not stop you from approaching the statue. Searching the Statue you do not find any dangers. However you do find a hollow area underneath the lion. Inside you find several notes that are written in what Grishan tells you is his own script.
The information in the notes is very lucrative. You figure you could sell it for at least 500 gold pieces to the proper broker.
The third note has a section labeled Case Maldris. You know that the current head of the Liberty's Edge faction is Colson Maldris.
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Grishan's face holds a look of sudden realisation and embarrassment. "Yes I do remember now. My brother Colson had asked me to gather information on my classmates and their families. Those are the notes I complied but, never delivered. The realisation that my own family had such a dark past upturned my beliefs and I was unable to decide what to do."
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"I don't think staying around here is going to help us anymore. I guess it's time to goto the Tri-yard courtyard." Junia seems a bit uneasy but, determined still. As she sets off towards the exit of the arboretum.
The grounds of the old Tri-Towers Yard have been cleaned up in the last several years, and several old ruined school buildings that stood too close to the cliff’s edge were demolished. All of the gnarled old trees were removed and new flowering bushes and trees have been planted in their place. Despite these efforts, the few ruined classrooms that remain look sad and forgotten. Just inside the gate sits a small, locked storage shed marked with the Pathfinder’s Glyph of the Open Road.
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"Well, he did say to check the supply closet if we were going to be heading into the schoolhouse where that haunt was. It might not be a bad idea to take a peek to see what all is there, before we venture in, in case we need any of it." Ralin nods, and moves up to the supply closet, to examine its contents.
"And J can decide, this being her expedition, where she would care to explore, first? Or we can decide as a group."
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Usually a haunt is a sobrenatural manifestation that occurs in the place where a lot of lives meet their end in some violent and/or desparate manner. The spirits of the dead stay locked in their desperation never realising they already died. They fail to move to Pharasma's boneyard staying behind in the place of their demisse and lash out on any living beings that approuch. Its a quite deadly form of ghost. Buri says, his face losing color as he remembers from past experiences.
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Deciding to approach the shed you see a large sign hanging on the back, it reads:“Entry to above ground structure in the ‘Yard is strongly discouraged. It contains an dangerous supernatural force. Items in the yellow box are for emergencies only. Signed, V-C Dreng”
The storage shed was once locked, but its lock is damaged and no longer functions. It contains various supplies used by the archaeological teams that work here including large rolls of twine, wooden stakes, brushes, sacks, shovels, trowels, and various measuring implements. However it is currently in a state of disarray looking like it was recently plundered.
The only thing remaining is a small box labelled "Use against of Haunts". Inside are 4 intricate vials filled with a liquid and metal shavings and a description of how to use them.
"Umm I think we should visit my class first." J. seems distracted as she looks towards an old building.
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"We should probably spread these vials around a little bit, if we're going to be heading into the schoolhouse. I'll take one myself.." Ralin holds up the box, offering the others to whomever wishes to take one.
"Off to the class, then." Ralin takes a spot beside J, and calls up Heightened Awareness again (assuming more than 30 minutes had passed since the garden encounters. Will use the spell for an additional +4 to init if combat starts). He speaks quieter to J, looking at her as she seemed distracted. "Disquieting thoughts? There's no need for too much worry. We'll see what we find, and whatever we find, we'll deal with it. All of us."