J shakes her head. "He says he feels like this is the place, but not this place? Like maybe he hid them further in? Sorry, I guess dying is bad for your memory."
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A gruff, bald dwarf with a white (not gray) beard slowly walks through the ruins. He wears a gray cloak, has a warhammer on one hip, a battleaxe on the other, and a heavy crossbow on his back, yet he wears no armor. He seems to be taking in everything. He stops about 10 feet behind the party, and seems quite a bit more interested in the ruins than the people in the area.
After a momment he takes off his thin glasses, cleans them on his cloak and puts them back on. Almost to himself, "Hmm. Interesting place Dreng sent us to. He didn't tell me what we're looking for though." As if suddenly realizing there are others in the room, "Torrag Grimm. He gives a curt nod.
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Walking alongside the dwarf, and as equally engrossed in the ruins, stands a tall, slender Chelish woman. Her posture is as impeccable as her long black hair which is pulled back into a tight tail; not a single strand of hair is out of place. Her dark clothing appears flawlessly smoothed, and it's apparent why as she suddenly looks down to smooth out an imaginary wrinkle. She then clasps her hands together in front of her belt as introductions are made. "I am Cornelia d'Malheur. It is my great pleasure to join this expedition." She drops into a deep curtsy.
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A short, pudgy halfling with smiling eyes and a receding hairline turns to greet the newcomers, "Ah, yes, welcome, I had hoped we would have some more help. My name's Miltwyne Heatherstop, and this here is Manius Pindeloric and there is Inira."
He shakes anyone's hand that he can before continuing, "I won't assume that Dreng has fully briefed you. We are to escort the dashing young J here back into the ruins where she once was trapped and survived in a stasis for many years through a fortuitous discovery of a ring of sustenance. Anyway it turns out she had a secret all along - she carries with her a spirit, that of a young boy, Grishan, who was also trapped in these ruins and wants to help her and finish a quest from long ago. We're here to keep them safe and help if we can."
You begin to move into the room with the large tree when suddenly a small man made of what appears to be a root steps from among the roots of the tree. He executes an exceedingly formal bow, snapping to attention after.
"I am Majordomo Pip, greeter of the gardens and aide-de-camp to the Master Gardener! It is my duty to inform you that I must exact a toll from you should you wish to venture beyond this point!" He cries in a high pipping voice with perfect diction in Common.
The small plant-man inclines his head at Cornelia. "I will require a sample of each of your blood. A small pain, I assure you, but it will aid my work in breeding certain plants immeasurably."
It's hard to determine the motives of an animate plant, but you don't sense any ill intent with the blood collection, Manius.
"Carnivorous plants, my good man! Their seeds require a small amount of blood to entice them to root and grow." Hearing Inira, Pip holds up a single hand and one of his fingers seems to lengthen and grow translucent with a hollow, sharp point. "Here. Allow me?"
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Milt eyes the creature with deep skepticism, and expresses such to his allies, "I'm not sure that we should do this, guys. There are many dangerous plants out there."
He speaks up addressing the plant, "Majordomo, if we refuse, do you intend to fight us to prevent our passage? Surely there is another more civilized way worthy of a great being such as you."
The Majordomo makes a tsking noise. "I am afraid the tour, and access to the Garden, is only for those who wish to pay the entrance fee. It would grieve me greatly, but ... duties must be done. Last chance: will you pay the fee?"
Majordomo Pip nods his head. "Wonders! Why the next room contains plants of extreme medicinal value. The magical energies here have contributed to a very interesting selection of effects!" Torrag feels a slight pinch, then the blood is siphoned into the tub and fills a small pustule on the plant-man's back. Similarly Inira's blood is taken.
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Cornelia glances at the young woman they are to escort, then quietly rolls up her sleeve and offers her arm to the mandragora. "I will be checking up with your, Majordomo Pip to ensure you are not using my blood for nefarious purposes." She smiles at the plant man. "I am interested in your studies." She adds earnestly.
J steps up and donates, grimacing at the sudden pain, but otherwise unharmed.
The plant man takes his final sample, which fills another small pustule on his back. He bows deeply and in his piping voice says "This way please!"
He leads you through a vine-choked passage. Decaying vines carpet the walls and ceiling of this room. The floor is riddled with narrow cracks and fissures, extending several feet below.
"The vine chamber is currently dormant, but I anticipate bringing it back to full bloom soon!" Pip states as the corridor turns, and opens into a longer passage. 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.
"But this is my masterwork! Voila!" He takes you into a small room off the passageway. Dozens of healthy plants with vibrant and colorful leaves, fruit, and flowers emerge from the decay in this small greenhouse, spilling out of the pots and berths that once contained them.
He begins pointing to plants, enumerating their names and uses. 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 effects of potions of enlarge person on the first person to eat a bite of them. Eating any of these unusual potions takes a standard action. In Subtier 4–5, the garden also contains a snapleaf (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment 319) still on the vine.
"Please do! So few visitors these days and the Master Gardener so quiet in her time. It is quite nice to have visitors again."
"Khaya is the master Gardener. She waits beyond, but she is.. troubled recently. Not herself."
"She is... troubled. It is not proper for me to speak of her matters with others. It is impolite."
Majordomo Pip bows and makes a gesture toward the doors. "If you will follow me, sirs and madams?" He leads you deeper into the greenhouse, into a corridor leading to a vibrantly growing area.
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 center sits near the middle of the chamber. Against the wall stands a worktable and chair covered in gardening tools.
Standing amongst the plants is a woman. At least, a woman shaped plant... This humanoid creature's taut green shell extends like a cowl from chin to brow, wreathing a face of brilliant flower petals.
She turns to you and frowns. "What are you doing here? Why do you trespass?"
J stiffens, then mutters, "This is the place. Grishan says this is where he hid the papers."
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Milt addresses the wooden lady, in a clear voice, "Master Gardener Khaya, I presume. My name is Miltwyne Heatherstop, and we are Pathfinders. I don't believe we are trespassing, for we paid the toll with your Majordomo, and are here simply to explore the history of this place. Perhaps we could trade knowledge, Master Gardener, for I imagine you don't get much news from the outside world. Do you have a moment to answer some of our questions?"
Oddly enough, you don't see the Majordomo Pip anywhere.
"Majordomo, what majordomo? I have no assistants here. You barge in here, speaking nonsense, accusing me of being troubled?!? What right have you to accuse me of such! WHAT RIGHT?" She screams this last sentence, her eyes wild and wide.
The plant-woman's face drifts from confused to angered. "That pesky mandragora that's always hanging about? The one who declared himself Emperor of the Plants before I smacked him down? He's still lurking here? Troublesome spawn. And you associate with him, do you?" She suddenly looks very suspicious.
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Cornelia clears her throat at the last outburst, she removes her hood so that the plant-woman can see Cornelia's face and then performs a well-practiced curtsy. "We are terribly sorry, milady. We did not intend to disrupt your domain. As for the mandragora, we do not associate with him. He simply required a toll from us to allow passage through the area he claims as his garden. Perhaps you could excuse me and my companions for a moment? I would like to speak with them about making amends with you." She gestures with her head to the others to step back out of earshot.
The plant woman suddenly seems distracted. "Yes, speak. Talk, talk, talk."
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Once the group has gathered together, Cornelia whispers quietly. "I have the ability to obtain a scroll that could possibly remove this disease from her; however, my skill with magical devices is not quite good enough to ensure a flawless usage. In fact, I believe there stands a greater chance of my failure than success. Do any of you have the knowledge to utilize such a scroll? I would have to depart the area briefly to obtain the scroll, but I would see this poor creature healed of her malady as opposed to resorting to violence."
J looks slightly embarrassed. "I have been able to read some scrolls. Can I see the disease removal one?"