Ulrich hesitates. He isn't sure how much he wants to divulge.
Allie shares a long glance with her sister, and then proceeds to offer a fairly bare bones narrative, explaining that there is a powerful lich in possession of a mighty weapon. All the people present survived (to some degree) a blast from the weapon and their patron, who faced the lich in single combat, sent them here to 'seek the kumaru'. She is tolerably vague about almost everything, offering no names and little in the way of detail but the tale is accurate and factual - as far as it goes.
Miraina seems appalled by the actions of the "powerful lich," and promises to do her best to get you all home as soon as possible so that you can put an end to his horrors.
Once your meal is complete, the scientist goes into more detail about the Veins of Creation. They were originally created in the ancient past by the yans and yantis, the legendary hero-gods who ascended after touching a mystical stone deep in the Mildanesi Mountains. The Veins of Creation provided energy to forges, magical defenses, and even simple lighting within homes. The heart of the Veins of Creation was a magical kumaru tree, descended from the legendary Tree of the Thousand Eyes, growing within an ancient pyramid called Tumbaja Mountain. The city of Jolizpan had been founded near the pyramid to protect and shepherd this kumaru tree, and its citizens were primary arcanists, biologists, and engineers who studied and improved the Veins of Creation.
Thousands of years ago, a foreigner named Aroden made his way to Jolizpan, but the wary residents wouldn’t allow foreigners to enter the sacred Tumbaja Mountain. Nevertheless, Aroden spent several years in Jolizpan learning from the botanists and attempting to gain approval to enter the pyramid. He lived as a farmer and fisherman, earning his keep in the city and slowly building trust. During this time, he met a wizard from Xopatl’s capital of Gujaraldi named Arazni. Arazni had studied the ley lines near her home and had made great advancements in applying arcane botany to improve the cleanliness of water in local aquifers. She had come to Jolizpan to deepen her own understanding of the Veins of Creation and expand her research. Aroden saw Arazni’s research as an opportunity and offered her his assistance. With their joint research proposal, the two earned limited, supervised access to Tumbaja Mountain.
Aroden and Arazni were voracious in their research of the Veins of Creation, and they benefited from working closely with the botanists directly responsible for care of the kumaru tree. Arazni quickly completed the necessary studies for her project, and she invited Aroden to travel across Xopatl with her as she applied her research. Aroden agreed, and the two returned to Gujaraldi to improve the local cluster of the Veins of Creation. Following this endeavor, the pair traveled throughout Xopatl, applying Arazni’s improvements to increasingly distant communities. The two journeyed together for several years, earning a reputation as heroes.
Aroden and Arazni returned to Jolizpan to report on their nationwide improvements. Mere weeks later, the Razatlani warlord, Imictal, led his Army of Fire over the Mildanesi Mountains toward Jolizpan. Imictal hoped to claim Xopatl and its Veins of Creation to bolster the declining Razatlani empire. Aroden and Arazni challenged the warlord, using their extensive knowledge of the Veins of Creation to erect magical defenses while Jolizpan’s warriors defeated the Army of Fire. Aroden and Arazni faced Imictal personally, slaying him and ending his threat. As thanks for their aid in defending the city, the botanists of Jolizpan granted Aroden and Arazni unfettered access to Tumbaja Mountain and the kumaru tree at its heart.
Aroden and Arazni spent the next few years studying the kumaru tree as the source of the Veins of Creation. Arazni eventually grew content with her knowledge and left to bring new improvements to Xopatl, but this time, Aroden did not join her. Instead, he remained in Xopatl, performing his own experiments on the kumaru tree. Eventually, he gained greater mastery over the kumaru, and with tihs mastery, Aroden grew a branch of the kumaru tree that twisted upon itself several times. He cut this branch free and formed it into the mighty Shield of Aroden. Strengthened by his knowledge and his new artifact, Aroden left Arcadia to continue his travels.
Meanwhile, Arazni journeyed across Xopatl, defending its people and ushering the nation into a golden age. While taming the plains of western Xopatl, the warrior‑mage faced a terrible beast named Tlochach, the Serpent of the Seven Hills. She defeated the monster after a titanic struggle, but its venom proved too potent and Arazni perished.
The Veins of Creation continued to serve Xopatl well. The botanists of Jolizpan originally conducted their research on the Veins of Creation from disparate sites within the city, making pilgrimages to the sacred Tumbaja Mountain as needed. Just over a century ago, the botanists built a central research facility just west of Jolizpan, called the Blue Gardens of Tlil. From this location, Jolizpan’s arcane botanists made significant advances.
But then, only a few short years later, tragedy struck. Some sort of magical feedback caused the kumaru tree to instantly wither, shutting down the Veins of Creation entirely. Panic gripped Xopatl. Its people’s way of life was badly disrupted, and the nation struggled to survive the sudden loss. Jolizpan’s botanists scrambled to bring the kumaru tree back to life, but they could not. Even preserved seeds from the tree failed to take root. The botanists eventually achieved a breakthrough by replicating the Veins of Creation on a much smaller scale, creating limited, local networks of ley lines that Xopatl still uses today. But the true Veins of Creation were gone, and with them Xopatl’s golden age was gone as well. Only now, while reviewing ancient records, the botanists pieced together that Aroden had somehow altered the kumaru tree during his tenure long ago. Now, Aroden’s name is spoken with venom as the foreigner whose meddling brought ruin to Xopatl.
After recounting the long history of the kumaru tree, the discussion leads to the sacred pyramid that houses it. Tumbaja Mountain lies outside of Jolizpan, but within the Jolizpan Forest. The pyramid was created by the hero‑gods who long ago walked the earth and created the nation of Xopatl. Even at the best of times, access to the pyramid is restricted— only those with Jolizpan’s best interests at heart and a thorough knowledge of history and botany are permitted inside. That has been the case for millennia, but the last few weeks have seen another upheaval. A frightful undead dragon calling itself the Scion of Nightmares came to Tumbaja Mountain and killed or scattered the guards. The dragon has since taken over Tumbaja Mountain completely. Jolizpan’s greatest warriors entered the pyramid to reclaim it and have not returned; none have gone near the pyramid since.
"The dragon’s motivation puzzles me," Miraina says. "The pyramid held few treasures except the kumaru tree, and the kumaru tree has been dead for more than a century. I know that recovering Tumbaja Mountain is important, but as the city’s greatest defenders were already killed trying to reclaim it, I am not sure what else can be done. If you insist on facing the dragon, I would insist that you first learn the city that you would fight to defend--and I must study the shards within your hearts before you run off and do something dangerous. Please, take a day or two to learn more about Jolizpan and Xopatl. I will consult some books and try to research more about your unique conditions."
"We will certainly take some time to learn about Jolizpan." Allie replies, "And thank you again for your hospitality."
Once their host is satisfied Allie collects a portion of the vast collection of magic items they have, sends her sister a significant look and heads outside - hopefully joined by her sister.
"So... what do you think?" She asks as the two stroll the foreign streets, she has magic running to help her locate traders, but talking to her sister is just as important. "This dragon sounds like a minion of the Tyrant, but what's so important that both he and Arazni would send people to the other side of the world?"
Unique networks of large roots, vines, flowers, and other plants allow the delivery of water to Jolizpan’s citizens. These networks draw water from the nearby Jolizpan River and transport it beneath the city to specialized wells and artificial lakes, making access to water easy for all. These same networks continually filter waste and contaminants from Jolizpan’s water, negating the need for a sewer system—which would be impossible anyway, as digging beneath the city poses a risk to these networks and the Veins of Creation. This filtration network is highly sophisticated, drawing whatever nutrients and beneficial components it can from the waste and returning them to feed the network’s plants or serve as fertilizer for the city’s gardens. Any toxins and detrimental elements are rushed beyond the city into specific locations throughout the Jolizpan Forest where unique plants can break down such substances into usable components that are then cycled back into the forest.
A large canal surrounds the city, filled with water from the nearby Jolizpan River. This canal helps channel water in and out of the city and serves as a natural barrier against the terrors of Jolizpan Forest.
The majority of Jolizpan’s economy is based around their exclusive wares. Though the Veins of Creation no longer function, local botanists have found ways to replicate the network on far smaller scales. These small networks allow for the creation of plants capable of receiving arcane programming similar to that of a construct. These plants enable the Jolizpani locals to craft unique objects, like boats with self-paddling oars and shields that subtly move to protect the wielder’s heart in the heat of battle. These unique creations give Jolizpan a significant amount of economic influence, and outside traders frequently visit or send shipments to the city in hopes of earning an opportunity to commission one of these wares. The breakdown of the Veins of Creation has prevented Jolizpan from increasing production of these magical items, however, and they remain a rarity outside of the City of Flowers.
Jolizpan’s unique position as the main nexus for the Veins of Creation required careful planning and plenty of changes over the centuries. As botanists’ understanding of the arcane network improved, so did the arrangement of the city to accommodate the specific needs of the Veins of Creation. As the needs of the network grew, Jolizpan rearranged its layout and that of the outgoing Veins of Creation to maximize output and prevent any blockages or arcane mishaps. When the Veins of Creation failed after the death of Aroden, the arcane botanists found themselves unable to further move the city, and so Jolizpan remains in its current arrangement. These five distinct districts are all approximately equivalent in size, separated by large thoroughfares made from the manipulated roots of the kumaru tree.
The Bloom: The city’s westernmost portion is its main residential district, where most people live within small hub communities. These communities are centered around shared green spaces filled with gardens, which provide fruits and vegetables while also serving as perfect gathering spots for local festivities.
The Garden: The Garden district lies between the Grove and the Topiary. The Garden houses the primary markets of the city, including general stores and more specialized shops. These shops usually sell wares imported from greater Xopatl as well as certain wares from local artisans and crafters. Having an item for sale in the Gardenis a great honor, as the specialized shops must pay the crafter a fee to sell their products, and therefore shop owners tend to pick what they consider the best of the best to put up for sale.
The Grove: The central district serves as the home for much of Xopatl’s entertainment. Bars, dance halls, and gathering places of all types fill the Grove. While there are usually minor festivities taking place on any given day, the Grove comes to life on notable holidays, with businesses keeping their doors open for several days straight during weeks of celebration.
The Hive: Located between the Bloom and the Grove is the city’s main commercial district, the Hive. The Hive is home to vendors of all kinds, including artists, cooks, crafters, and smiths. Vendors’ wares spill out into the streets, allowing passersby to inspect a potential purchase or sample a bit of food that catches their attention.
The Topiary: The city’s easternmost district is the seat of its government. In addition to the city hall and other government structures, the Topiary is also where many of the city’s churches and shrines are located. Of particular note are the churches of Abadar, Cihua Couatl, Kazutal, Pharasma, Sarenrae, and the various shrines to Xopatl’s saints.
Strolling through the city of Jolizpan, it's clear that it is in the midst of a big festival. The Blossom Days celebrate the birth of Xopatl—and specifically Jolizpan—after Earthfall. Legends say that one of the countless meteorites that fell from the sky during Earthfall landed nearby and empowered the rapid growth of what is now the great Jolizpan Forest. The ancient Arcadians who sought this fallen meteorite found a beautiful forest circling an enormous tree. These Arcadians gained great power from the meteorite and the surrounding forest, and they went on to become known among the populace as saints.
Jolizpan’s celebration is full of brilliant colors, beautiful decorations made from flowers and seeds, decorative masks, and energetic music. The celebration lasts the entire week leading up to the spring equinox, and citizens plan and decorate for weeks in advance. The final day of the celebration culminates with a somewhat somber event on the solstice itself wherein Jolizpan’s citizens carry thousands of large, carefully dried flowers to the river to commemorate family members and friends who have been lost in past years. The ghostly glow of the flowers’ fading bioluminescence is said to carry tiny motes of light into the River of Souls to brighten the souls of departed loved ones and to encourage them to blossom into their final state in the afterlife.
A huge parade is scheduled to be held tomorrow, and great reenactments of the saints' great battles are being held the day after at Couatl Stadium, should you wish to attend or even participate in performance battles. And of course, hundreds of local merchants are displaying their wares at a large, open-air market known as Garden Circle.
Gabbi eyes the strangely dressed (to her) traders and merchants. "My first thought was that he sent the dragon to keep out anyone else. That tells me that there is information to be gained there that he wants to keep secret."
She stops to admire a bow that's composed of the curled limb of a tree. There's a tingle of magic when she touches it that almost burns her hands. "That is ... there's positive energy stored within it." She returns the weapon and continues the conversation with Allie.
"We should find out more about this creature that guards it now. I have little doubt that whatever the Tyrant doesn't want us to know will be immensely valuable."
Asking around the city reveals that most people are aware that a dragon called the Scion of Nightmares has come to Tumbaja Mountain. They tell of the bravery of the Golden Claws, Jolizpani soldiers who wear ceremonial jaguar skins, chosen for their skill. The Golden Claws went to Tumbaja Mountain, but they have not returned and are presumed dead. Although a dragon in Tumbaja Mountain is worrisome, it isn’t considered an immediate threat— the dragon hasn’t ever come as far as the city, and it seems content to remain within the pyramid. Since most people aren’t allowed into the sacred pyramid anyway, the direct impact on their lives isn’t large.
Ulrich wanders around absolutely gobsmacked. Never before has he seen so much magic in such a small place, and not primal magic either, like one would expect primitive druids to harness. No, this is arcane magic, manipulated by those who were to become Gods. Is all this magic Transmutation in origin? Is it positive energy Necromancy? Is it possibly even Conjuration? Ulrich has no idea. Everything he sees defies his understanding of magic, and he considered himself an expert nearly unparalleled among mortals.
Eventually he finds Gabriella and Alessandra shopping. He joins in, looking at the various wares in case he can gain an edge in the battles to come.
When Gabbi learns that there's a Pharasman temple in the city, she gives her sister a knowing look.
"You know I have to visit," she says, attempting to head off Allie's protestations. "We have to visit." She takes her twin's hand and rushes off through the trees.
The temple of Pharasma bears similar trappings to those found in Avistan, though the murals depict the goddess wearing an owl-feathered headdress and with a skull as a face, or perhaps a mask. The priests explain the Xopatli belief in three types of souls--the souls of people who die normal deaths (of old age, disease, or the like), heroic deaths (such as in battle, sacrifice or during childbirth), or non-heroic deaths. Pharasma presides over all three and sends them to the appropriate afterlife. She also works closely with the dual god Cihua Couatl to teach midwives how to bring children into the world and care for them.
Allie, unhappily, goes with her sister to the temple but sits in a corner scowling like mad the entire time. She eventually tries to engage some of the priests in conversation about the saints and how they gained their powers, rather than joining her sisters devotions.
Pharasma has no place in her heart.
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Over the next couple of days, you enjoy the Blossom Days festival in between Miraina's examinations and tests. The biggest event during the celebration is the Blossom Parade, a grand spectacle of floats, performers, and music that takes place the day before the solstice. The parade travels through every district of the city over the span of several hours and ends with a large dance in Umbarez Plaza. The parade follows the main thoroughfares of the city, and many vendors set up along these roads, enjoying their busiest sales day of the year. The participants in of the Blossom Parade vary and constantly change as the parade progresses, with members and floats joining and leaving the parade throughout its travel; as a result, the parade at the beginning of the day looks significantly different by the end.
Also of note are the reenactments known as the Clash of Saints. The ancient saints who founded Xopatl are important figures in Jolizpan, individuals (or amalgamations of individuals) who overcame oppression to rise as heroes. After the saints liberated Xopatl from the grasp of the Razatlani Empire—making it the first nation to break free—they began to work to improve themselves so they might better help their new nation. One way they did so was by developing innovative combat techniques. The saints sparred with each other and with other powerful figures around Golarion, including great warriors from Garund and the hero‑gods of Iblydos.
Xopatl’s people enjoy recounting these great battles. While many of these tales were written into collections of stories, Xopatl’s people also told these stories through reenactment. These battle reenactments quickly became very popular events, as the physical exhibitions are typically impressive. Initially, the reenactments re‑created known matches between the saints and other notable figures, but the people of Xopatl soon hungered for new stories. The warriors who took part crafted new tales wherein the saints fought against other figures, such as Razatlani generals or powerful fiends. The fact that the saints never actually clashed with such figures historically—or that these foes might not have existed at all—was irrelevant to the dramatic stories that could be told. Over the years, the stories of more recent heroes have been added to the mix, and some of these figures became as popular, if not more so, than some of the original saints. Today, these reenactments serve to retell ancient tales, to honor combat‑focused deities like Cihua Couatl and Kazutal, and simply to provide entertaining spectacles. Some of these contests have even made their way outside of Arcadia, with Tian and Garundi visitors taking the tradition of storytelling battles to their homelands and adapting it to local figures and customs.
The city of Jolizpan holds its largest reenactments during the celebration of the summer solstice, in an event called the Clash of Saints. The Clash of Saints is a daylong event that takes place in Couatl Stadium. A large sparring ring stands in the center of the stadium, surrounded by several smaller rings situated across the field. Each ring has a trio of wooden posts on one edge. These posts originally represented the different levels of ascension for the saints, with each post indicating to the audience the saint’s power before and after a match. In modern matches, the participants also use the posts to make great, death‑defying leaps, a feat that garners great responses from audiences.
You find the stadium packed with people. The audience fills the stadium seats and mingles on the field, watching the matches up close. Some matches are classical retellings of the saints’ exploits or liturgical performances of battles between gods. The main event of the Clash of Saints this year is the culmination of an ongoing tale, detailing the rise of the Midnight Serpent—a more recent Jolizpani hero—in his attempt to put a stop to the Captain of the Lost, a fictional Razatlani pirate. The Midnight Serpent’s eventual victory despite the Captain of the Lost gradually stealing his power over the multi‑battle event causes the stadium to erupt in cheers.
The Clash of Saints is also popular because it features new entrants in the smaller rings. Expressing interest, Allie is able to enter the event by speaking with one of the dozens of event managers. These individuals help coordinate matches and make sure each event runs smoothly.
Soon enough, Allie finds herself in a ring, facing off against a woman in a beaded mask with wind patterns. She drops into a fighting stance with her hands raised and pointed reminiscent of the heads of snakes. "Alessandra Filosovici versus Biting Wind! The battle will last until one is knocked out or yields. Begin!
Biting Wind darts forward and jabs at Allie's throat!
"You've not done this before have you?" Allie says clearly, despite having just taken a punch to the throat. "Do try not to embarrass yourself sweetie."
Biting Wind glances at the crowd and swallows nervously, rattled by Allie's nonchalant demeanor. She drops out of her fighting stance and swings wildly at the dhampir.
"Getting there." Allie says with a smile, "You need to feint before you strike."
Allie pummels Biting Wind with her fists, causing her to stagger backwards. Her eyes wide, the woman retaliates, managing to land a lucky blow.
"Better!" Allie replies with a grin. "I should be paying more attention!"
With another trio of blows, Allie knocks out Biting Wind! The crowd cheers as the masked woman hits the sand!
After a few minutes to get cleaned up, the promoters direct the oracle back into the ring for the second match-up. The second contest isn’t a fight at all. Instead, this match consists of a series of boasts against an elaborately costumed man named Michano the Lovely.
Allie, still riding high on her first victory, skips around the arena with excitement, waving to her companions and offering kisses and bows to many members of the audience.
"Honored guests, follow your hearts! Here we have a fine specimen, tall, upstanding. Beautifully dressed. Fair of face." She lets that hang for a moment, "Oh, and we also have that fellow over there!" She points dramatically to Michano and strikes a horrified pose as the audience laugh.
Playing to Michano's strength is not the best idea however, so during the second round she plays a different strategy.
"Have you ever been in a real fight Lovely One?" She asks, stalking around the man like a dangerous hunting cat. "I guess not, that might spoil your pretty face. All those dangerous animals out in the jungle might bite and ruin those fine cheeks."
She flashes her fangs for a moment, just long enough to let Michano see. "There are monsters in this ring too!"
The final round is a lot more back and forth, with Allie highlighting her opponents numerous 'flaws' up to and including how badly he dances and the fact that a foreigner speaks the language better than he does.
At the temple, Gabbi engages the resident priests actively, clarifying the differences between the Inner Sea view of the Lady of Graves and the Arcadian understanding. She notes her sister's annoyance at being here so her altar prayers are token. She thanks the clergy for their time and exits the temple behind Allie.
~~~~
Gabbi is Allie's number one fan while she's facing off against the opponents in mock combat - cheering her sister's successes and denouncing her opponents in Taldan.
Michano chuckles alongside Allie. "But of course, my friends, I need no introduction! For you all know me, the loveliest bloom in a city full of flowers! And I reflect the loveliness of all of you around me!" He blows kisses to the audience.
Michano is momentarily taken aback by Allie's fangs, but he quickly recovers. "Monsters I have faced, some you likely have never heard of. From the lowliest chupacabras to the mightiest saguarois! Encantados, lloronas, sayonas, xtabays. All have either fallen to my blades or my charms!"
Michano holds his own in the final round, and in the end, he is declared the winner!
Though she has lost the second contest, the promoters still reward Allie for her first victory, giving her 500 gp.
"I guess humor doesn't translate well!" Allie says as she exits, trying to be a good sport, but Gabbi can see how much she hates the result. Her sister despises losing, especially in front of an audience...
"Now don't pout," Gabbi says, giving her twin a quick kiss on the cheek. "You did very well. And there's something that you'll always have that he won't."
She slides her arm around her sister's and pulls her close as they walk through the crowd.
"So are we going to wait until after the celebration is over before we visit the dragon in the pyramid?"
As you are walking through the Garden Circle, Gabbi spots something unusual. A trio of small wooden constructs are moving through the stalls, using their draped cloths and colorful canopies as cover. They stop to rummage through the wares when they think nobody is looking, pocketing valuables.
Gabbi points out the creatures to her sister. "Wyrwoods. They're sentient constructs. And they're stealing. Should we do something about it?"
"Yes." Allie responds with a grin. "It might earn us goodwill!"
She gestures sharply as Rascal runs forwards to bite one of the constructs and glowing chains of light manifest around one wyrdwood.
Realizing they are under attack, the wyrwoods nonetheless react slowly.
Gabbi readies her new bow, but just can't bring herself to shoot at the wooden creatures. She reaches out to sense if they're actually evil.
Gabbi does not detect any evil auras coming from the wyrwoods.
The construct Allie targets easily dodges the chains of light. Rascal bites one of them but fails to trip it.
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Spells Prepared
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0th (at will) Detect Magic, Detect Poison, Prestidigitation, Read Magic
1st
2nd blood transcription, darkvision, knock (2), false life, 1 open
3rd dispel magic, gaseous form, hold person, tongues, vampiric touch, 2 open
4th cloak of shadows, deathless, dimension door (2slot),
5th life bubble, telekinesis, 2 open, 1 Nec open
6th disintegrate, ether step, true seeing (250gp), wall of silver, 1 open
7th control construct, control undead, finger of death, 1 open
At the beginning of each day when Ulrich does the majority of his research, he casts Alarm centered on his desk, omitting his allies and Miraina. When he leaves the house to mingle and shop, he casts False Life (Greater) on himself. He casts detect poison each time he takes a meal from someone. The alarm lasts a full day, and the false life lasts all but the last 4 hours of his sleep.
Amnayel takes up a defensive position beside Rascal, waiting to see how the wyrwoods respond. Two of them pile up on top of each other, attacking Rascal with their twin short swords in a bewildering display that leaves the wolf off-guard, allowing them to land deadly blows. As the wolf falls, the wyrwood aims one final attack at Amnayel, but the paladin blocks with her shield. The third wyrwood takes a few steps away before pulling a bead off its necklace and hurling it at the rest of you, where it explodes into a ball of fire that sets the nearby tents alight! Citizens scream and begin to scatter, fleeing the flames.
Allie easily dodges most of the flames and yells in anger as her companion is reduced to bleeding fur on the floor. She strides forward and with a firmly spoken word brings Rascal back to his feet and ready to fight!
The wolf bites forwards once again.
"Ok, maybe not evil, but certainly not very nice," Gabbi mutters to herself before putting an arrow to the string and calling down a judgement on the creatures. She then fires at one of the creatures attacking Rascal.
"They are neutral, Gabriella."
Ulrich casts Control Construct, launching a piece of his soul into the most intact wyrwood to take control.
"Wyrwood. Destroy your former allies by any means necessary."
"I got that," Gabbi snaps back as she continues to fire arrows.
Gabbi shoots the damaged wyrwood several time, then Rascal knocks it down and rips it apart. Ulrich takes control of a second wyrwood, which attacks its former ally. Unfortunately, the nimble construct twists and dodges with uncanny grace, preventing the controlled one from landing sneak attacks.
The remaining wyrwood pokes at Rascal, though without a flanking partner, its blades don't do much harm.
Rascal turns on his tail in a single swift motion and attempts to engulf the wyrdwood in his now considerable jaws.
Allie thrusts her spear at it, the weapon appearing in her hand with a simple thought.
Ulrich continues to concentrate.
"Wyrwood, consider the wolf your ally. Use him as a flanking partner."
Seeing that the creatures aren't going down as quick as she'd like, Gabbi pronounces a bane on them as well.
The second wyrwood quickly falls to teeth and arrows, leaving only the one under Ulrich’s control.
Ulrich waits for a moment, convinced someone will destroy the controlled Wyrwood.
Rascal, who appears to be rather vengeful, proceeds to rip the wyrdwood apart like a crunchy chew toy.
"Where on earth did they come from?" Allie asks, smearing a drop of blood over her wounds. "Is this normal?
She poses the same question to any locals who are still in the area.
The locals confirmed that the wyrwoods are definitely unusual. They have not been seen in the city before.
The constructs had already collected a periapt of wound closure, a shifter’s headband +4 (Wis), and a xorn robe from the various stands. When you attempt to return these items to their owners, the owners offer to sell them to youy at only a tenth of their price as thanks for stopping the thieves. The owners do so with particularly ostentatious displays, hoping that their praise and evidence of generosity earns them additional custom from among the onlookers.
Amnayel is beside Rascal, slamming her shield into it repeatedly until it collapses. She turns to Rascal and apologizes, "I'm sorry I was too slow, I should have taken those wounds instead of you."
She runs her hand behind his ears once before turning to the others and channeling once to help heal some of their wounds.
Ulrich will purchase the Xorn robe, having looked at it earlier during shopping and deciding it was not worth full price. He grins when demonstrating to the rest of the group that he can now speak fluent Razatlani.
"Do we have anything else on our agenda today?" Ulrich says as he puts on the dirty-looking brown and gray robe, decorated on the shoulders with large topaz eyes.
"Nothing today," Gabbi says with a eye towards Allie. "As soon as we're all ready, though, we need to visit the pyramid and have a 'talk' with this dragon."
"At the rate of which I am working, I estimate another ten or eleven days until all the scrolls are studied, and that does not include the conjurer's spellbook. I do not expect us to wait that long, so we should pick a specific day to fight the dragon, such that I may prepare accordingly."
"We should investigate these wyrdwoods in the meantime then." Allie suggests, "They seem strange, and I don't want to just sit here not doing anything."
---------------------------
Allie knocks on the door of Ulrich's study room and enters when invited.
"Hey, I wanted to follow up on something you mentioned before we left Gallowspire. You said that to become a god one had to find a way to conquer death. What do you mean? I know some gods were deathless beings already, but the mortal gods all gained a huge infusion of divine power didn't they? The Starstone and so forth - so death was never an issue."
She perches on a stool and looks intently at the necromancer. "So why did you say that? Is this something you've studied?"
On your way back to Miraina’s house, you see smoke rising above the buildings of the city’s western district. Panicked cries begin to fill the air, and a few citizens run up to you. ”Fire! Fire on the docks!”
"Probably more Wyrwoods. It does strike me as odd that fire is not all that useful against them. Here, this may be of use." Ulrich says. He casts Life Bubble on the whole group.
Then he strides towards the fire.