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Lucius nods at J's explanation. "I see no reason to not go via the Arboretum, milady. You are, effectively, our expedition's manager, so wherever you shall go, I shall follow."
He thinks for a moment on the situation that J and Grishan are in. "The way the two of you are... attached... is most interesting. It would appear that you now have a perpetual guardian, something that should not be taken lightly. Have the two of you experienced any other unusual abilities? I take that the kinetic manipulation was a result of your transformation and binding, Grishan?"
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Zavra is lost in thought, occasionally scribbling down notes and directions into a notebook with a sharpened piece of charcoal. As she hears the tension in Echo's voice, she quickly scrambles to put the writing implements back into her bag, dropping it again to the ground.
She instinctively starts grasping for her components, taking a step back from a possible altercation, "What's wrong with offering her a job, if she doesn't want to work with a merchant, she doesn't need to."
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You approach the Arboretum Arcanis, a massive structure covered with a crystal dome which now carries an enormous crack down the middle. The Arboretum lies in ruins; vines have grown through the cracks in the greenhouses leave the rooms open to the outside. Grishan speaks with a gasp, "I remember. I am sure that the packet is inside. I placed it in a red lion statue that was part of a fountain. I don't remember the exact location of the fountain though."
You enter through one of the large doors still open. The foyer of the Arboretum Arcanis is in shambles. Debris and dead or dying plant matter cover the mosaic-tiled floor. A gnarled black thorn tree still clings to life in a giant masonry planter. Two massive skylights in the ceiling afford a view of low-hanging, purple and black clouds above; the crystal dome is completely obscured. Piles of rubble obscure most of what once may have been doorways, bud a door in the west is free of debris.
As you attack, a little old tree man made of gnarled wood steps out and makes a low bow, greeting you all politely in common, "Welcome to the Arboretum, my home. I am Majordomo Pip. What may I do for you?"
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The tiny wooden man walks over a little more. "Hello man of hair and lady of another world. I am a being of the trees of course. What are you?"
He looks quizzically at your comments of escorting somebody, "Well, if you wish to go further into the Arboretum Arcanis there is of course the fee for the privilege of visiting the gardens beyond. Something oh so every small. You would be willing to pay of course?" Although you can tell little from his facial features, he seems to be quite cheerful in tone.
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Kirin nods to Lya and Lucius.
"Greetings Good Majordomo Pip. My friends tell it true. We seek entrance to your illustrious abode in search of a personal item believed to be left here some time ago."
"You speak of a fee, Good Majordomo Pip? A trade of favors, perhaps? A deed you could use assistance accomplishing? Or is it gold you seek? “ Kirin will study his reaction, then continue without pause.
”Are there any associated customs we should be aware of when traversing these prestigious gardens?“
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Pip gives a wooden smile to Kirin, "You seek entrance? Most excelent, I would be happy to assist. Touring the facility is not permitted without a guide of course, but if you're willing to pay the fee from the privilege of visiting the garden, we shouldn't have any trouble at all. I simply need a portion of your blood for ongoing research. Yes, yes, yes. If we can come to that agreement, I will answer all your questions."
He moves up to the closed door and looks eager as he awaits the response.
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"I think that price might be quite a bit too steep, Pip. One does not get this far in the study of the arcane arts without knowing that blood is one of the most powerful of reagents. No, I don't think that we can pay that price." Lucius looks a little annoyed at the plant creature.
"Name a more reasonable price."
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Pip responds respectfully, "It is a small price for fair entry into the gardens beyond. This is my home, and I am simply in need of some blood for my work. It won't be much, just a drop or two. If you wish to proceed, that's all I need. Otherwise, you're welcome to look around the foyer, but I'm afraid the rest of the facility is closed at this time."
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Pip sighs, "If you wish to know more, I'm afraid you will have to discuss that with my mistress. She is the druid of the grove, and she lives deeper inside. She is the one that controllsall that occurs within this place. I am simply the majordomo, bound to collect a small amount of blood though as a fee for entry. If you do so, I'll happily bring you inside, show you around, and let you talk to her."
He bows again very respectfully and holds his hand out to Echo.
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Pip reaches out to Echo. A thin, translucent, syringe-like tube with a needle tip extends beyond into Echo's fingertip. You see blood flow through a long translucent vein into one of the nodules on his back.
Pip smiles again, "Thank you. You're welcome to wait in the hall beyond until your friends all provide their entry fee. Then we can begin the tour!"
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Pip bows again, "As you request mistress. I will be here. I will wait to show your friend around."
You peruse the outside of the building and quickly realize that the problem isn't finding entrance, the problem is trying to figure out where you need to go once you have entrance. The building is overrun with plants and has clearly become a maze of dead ends. Grishan's only suggestion is that he recognizes that particular entrance to get you where you need to go.
Decaying vines carpet the walls and ceiling of this room. The floor is riddled with narrow cracks and fissures, extending several feet below.
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Grishan appears upon request, "No ma'am, when I was last here Beldrin's Bluff was still bustling and the Tri-Tower yards was still a schoolyard. We came here on occasional school outings, and I do not recall any creatures like this."
You find another few entrances that lead to collapsed rooms, but none house creatures (that you see).
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Kirin looks to the group.
"Ok. Pure speculation here. But my guess is some sort of evil druid (what sort of good druid would demand a blood sacrifice to enter her abode) took over the arboretum in the last.. few years, depending on when Grishan is referring to. If you're all good with contributing to her plans with our blood donations, whatever those plans may be, I'm game." You notice Kirin's demeanor is much more relaxed around colleagues.
"What does everyone else think?"
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Zavra stares in amazement at the little twig man, curious what type of creature he may be. She furrows her brow when the blood is requested. "What purpose would a collection of our blood have?", she contemplates.
"Grishan seems pretty certain of the path back that way, and these other ways in don't seem very easy to navigate without a map. I'm not too keen on giving away my blood, but it really seems like our options are either to accept this druid's request, or take what we need by force. I'm ok either way, there are great stories in the Pathfinder archives that use both tactics.". The girl seems far more interested in accomplishing their mission than in the moral aspects of the options available.