Upon seeing everyone's reluctance to return to the guesthouse to wait for him, Sheriff Molume sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Alright then, stay here and give me maybe ten minutes," he says again before setting about clearing out the square as quickly as he can, in some cases having to resort to more forceful language than you've seen thus far to get a few of the more stubborn ones to go home.
Once the square is finally clear of citizens, the Sheriff hurries back over to you. "Okay. I'll try to say what I've got to say and be quick about it. The world out there is full of evil and terrible things — undead horrors that live for thousands of years, dragons the size of cities, and forces from beyond our world that try to ruin everything they touch. I’m grateful for whatever it is that shields Mercy from storms, keeps us healthy, makes our crops grow, and protects us from monsters like whatever that thing was that swooped overhead today - vampire or what, I don't know. Does Robori or someone else watch over us after all?"
Molume shrugs. "Honestly, I don't know about that either but I’m not as willing as most people around here to leave matters in the hands of faith alone. We need your help. I’m asking you to deal with that monster. Vampire or not, if it can make bats attack like that, it’s a danger to our town, and I can’t risk going off into the Wastes and leaving folk here undefended. And after what you did out there in the square, you’re the best choice we’ve got on taking that thing down."
"I know it’s a lot to ask...you folks don’t owe Mercy a thing, but, well...would you do it? Would you help us out?" the sheriff asks, looking a bit desperate for the first time since you’ve met him. "And don't worry, I won't ask you to go in unprepared. If you agree, I'll return your weapons to you and pass along a few other things I've got stored away for situations like this."
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"Thank Robori or whoever’s listening," Molume breathes, relieved. "Come with me and I'll get you your weapons - and those other things I mentioned!"
After a quick jaunt over to the carriage house, Molume is true to his word and returns all of your confiscated weapons. In addition, he offers you a longspear, a scroll of Scorching Ray, a wand of Bless with 20 charges, as well as a +2 Cold Iron Fey Bane arrow. "This arrow has been handed down in my family for generations," he explains. "My great-grandmother used an arrow just like this one to strike through the heart of a wild creature that was trying to tempt people to a watery grave. It wouldn’t feel right not to give you everything I can to help you defend Mercy, so please - take it."
"I’m afraid that’s about all the help I can give you," Molume sighs. "Wish I could do more but I can’t leave the town undefended in case that thing shows up again. The bats were with it so if I were you, I’d try following the bats back to wherever they roost. They always come into town from somewhere to the south and it looked like that's where it was headed when it took off."
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Luckily for you, even after the battle in the market square bats continue to fly south out of Mercy, their flight path easy enough to trace. You follow it out of the town until, roughly five miles south of Mercy, a dark crevice splits open the landscape. An oppressive heat pours out of the fracture, and the area smells like rotting flesh. Shining a light into the crevice reveals that it descends for about 30 feet or so before opening into a narrow hallway.
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Captain Chlorophyll looks over the equipment that the sheriff offers, but doesn't express interest in any of it.
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At the crevice, they offer "I'm a pretty good climber and can go first if people want...or not." as they see Bad Seed start their climb down. "If anyone needs help, I would be happy to...Bad Seed, are you alright? Sounded like you fell." As they are saying this, they look down into the hole.
They extend their tendrils into the rock and climb down to check on Bad Seed.
Although Bad Seed manages to descend down the first 15 feet or so into the hole, the remaining 15 feet prove more tricky. As he attempts to lower himself down, his grip slips and he tumbles down to the floor below!
Captain Chlorophyll, created from a different type of vine stock, utilizes their natural climbing abilities to shimmy down to check on Bad Seed without any trouble.
At the bottom of the crevice, the pair can see that the narrow hallway runs a short distance before opening up into a large cavern. These caves and tunnels are thick with an underground forest, and trees grow out of the walls and ceiling at odd angles.
The two most prominent species of plant in this cavern are quaking aspen trees, each connected to a single root system, and parasitic plants known as corpse flowers. The corpse flowers feed off the nutrients of other plants — in this case, the vines surrounding the trees. However, the quaking aspen trees shouldn’t even be growing down here at all.
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With the aid of Boom Sticks' knotted rope and climbing kits, for those who have them, the rest of you are able to make your way down to the bottom of the crevice without further incident.
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"Doom....doOOoOOoOom...." wails the vine in response. "The stinky ones take our food! Greedy! Greedy greedy greedy!"
"Loud, flapping things live here too...and another, bigger flapping thing...but they aren't like us so we don't talk to them! They don't take our food though, not like the stinky flowers!"
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Motueka cocks his head as some of the others speak to the vines...it seems his drinking has dulled his ability to speak with plant-life. He waits to hear what the others discern but pushes Motueka to the front of the group.
"Dauswil, get up front. I believe you have something to settle with that creature from before." the leshy whispers to his companion.
"What are they vines saying? Should we cut down the Corpse Plants?" he asks the others.
"Yes, stay behind me little ones and let me suffer in your stead." he quietly growls while moving himself to the front of the group mugs at the ready.
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"They say the corpse plants steal their food! So, yes, I think. I'll ask. Also, there are bats here, and the Crazy Space Ghost lives here too, but the vines don't talk to them."
Boomy asks the vines:
"Yes! Yes yes yes! The Warmth always tell us to be nice but the stinky ones still eat more than their share! That'll teach them!"
Meanwhile, Tacca and Captain Cholorphyll slowly begin a methodical search of the small cavern you've entered into and then being making their way down the short tunnel that leads to the southeast. Nira, having tagged along by riding in Tacca's pack, slithers her way out and also follows a short distance behind. The tunnel widens and opens into an underground forest. A mass of leafless vines covers all of the cavern’s walls, and a colony of trees with white bark and pale yellow leaves emerges from the walls and ceiling. Thousands of bats hang from the tree branches, and a thick layer of guano carpets the ground of hard-packed dirt. In the southwest corner of the wall, the vines seem particularly sparse compared to the rest of the cavern and both of the lead leshies easily determine that the cavern actually continues past this wall of vines.
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"The vines say they'd like us to clear away the greedy corpse flowers for them. They also refer to 'the Warmth', which the vines in Mercy told me about too. The Warmth speaks to them. Very odd."
'I'm asking them about the Crazy Space Ghost."
Boom Sticks readies their hammer as they talk.
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"Oh, the Warmth is definitely friendly. All the vines really like it, and it seems to help them grow. In Mercy the vines also mentioned 'the Light', but we don't seem to have that here. Hey, I'll ask if they know 'the Light'!"
"The Warmth and the Light! Same thing, same thing! It takes care of us here!"
The vines pause again, thinking...or rather, thinking about as much as vines can think. "Flappy...yes! Came here not long ago, yes! Ahead, ahead!"
And as Tacca begins clearing away the corpse flowers, the vines begin cheering.
"Hooray! Now we can eat and grow and be happy again! The stinky ones can go grow somewhere else!"
Though Tacca and Captain C. take a cursory look into the cavern beyond, they fall back to wait for Boom Sticks to finish interrogating the local plant life. In the meantime, Tacca decides to go ahead and clear out some of the corpse flowers - though he can't hear them himself, Boom Sticks is able to reassure him that the vines are very happy about it. He also passes along that the flappy...er CSG is somewhere ahead, according to the vines. Nira stays close, though she does tap her foot slightly as she waits for everyone to finish playing with the plants.
"Close now...it'll be finished...one way or the other," she remarks cryptically.
Once the corpse flowers are gone, you've exhausted your questions for the vines, and you've prepared as much as you're able you begin to move forward once more, alert and on guard for the CSG now that you know it's lurking somewhere close. All seems to be quiet as everyone files into the cavern ahead; the bats squeak and fidget at their roosts but otherwise don't seem inclined to bother you. However, everything changes as Nira toddles into the cavern behind the rest of you. A sudden flapping is heard as the CSG detaches itself from the ceiling above and swoops down, its outline flickering oddly as it does!
"YOU! Murderer! I avenge myself!" Nira suddenly shrieks in a fury, racing towards the CSG on little wooden legs. As she draws close to Tacca, she suddenly emits a burst of brambles and splinters from her body that pelt the CSG and drive into its flesh!
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Round 1
Captain Chlorophyll
Nira
Poison Oakley
Bad Seed
Tacca
Boom Sticks
Motueka + Dauswil
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CSG
Active Conditions: None
Everyone is UP!
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Tacca's eyes widen at the animated doll's fury and her lethal burst of wood chips. "Whoa, there, Nira! We don't want you to get hurt."
He licks his knuckles, coating them with vine leshy toxin, then he steps up to the space ghost and delivers a roundhouse punch. *KAPOW!!!*
"Foolish creature...you should have learned when to stay hidden...I wish I had." Dauswil roars as he move to strike the affected CSG.
If the phantom hits a creature with a slam attack, that creature must succeed at a Will saving throw (DC = 10 + 1/2 the phantom’s Hit Dice + the phantom’s Charisma modifier) or take a –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting fear and emotion (UM) effect. Penalties from multiple hits don’t stack with themselves.
As Poison Oakley moves up to get into position, both Bad Seed and Captain Chlorophyll leap into action and fire off blasts and deliver flying kicks to the head...but even though the creature is caught somewhat off-guard by the sudden hostility, both attacks miss their mark.
On the other hand, Tacca's roundhouse punch catches the CSG squarely across the snoot and elicits a startled squeal of pain!
And not only does the punch hurt, but Tacca's poison leaves the wound looking red and irritated as the CSG begins looking a little green around the gills!
Next up, Motueka attempts to strike fear into the CSG's inky black heart...but it appears that CSGs are made of surprisingly stern stuff and the attempt fails. But even so, the creature seems to be rather shaken by the strong resistance the party is putting up so far!
And adding insult to injury, Dauswil delivers a slam upside the CSG's head for good measure, further throwing the creature into a confused tizzy! Last but not least, Boom Sticks enters the fray and takes a swing with his lucerne hammer but misses and strikes the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and debris!
Although the CSG seems intent on getting at Nira it has little choice but to start striking at those standing in its way...
...to no avail!
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Round 2
Captain Chlorophyll
Nira
Poison Oakley
Bad Seed
Tacca
Boom Sticks
Motueka + Dauswil
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CSG (-18; Blur; Miserable Strike, Shaken, Sickened - 1r)
Active Conditions: None
Everyone is UP!