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Eranahu takes Grimaldi's hand in the beginnings of a handshake, and then looks perplexed for the briefest of seconds before his face takes on an adolescent male's version of a charming grin and instead moves to kiss the back of her hand.
Don't be stupid! A lady doesn't 'give you her hand' for you to pump like a lumber jack's.
"It seems we have the same taste in character then. To our victory!"
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"Interesting..." Vari considers her options, holding her chin with one hand while the other rests in the crook of that arm. She looks from one faction representative to the other. "You'll forgive me, Jamila, if I throw my money against you, but I think it likely that neither of you have it correct. If you'll allow it, I'd like to wager against you both." Vari reaches into a pouch at her side and comes up with 100 gp to support both wagers.
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Umbaraki's learning unfortunately doesn't extend to this part of the world very well at all. As a native of Irrisen the experience of different seasons is a relatively new feeling to him as well, so he completely understands the value of bringing back proof to Ashahar.
He manages to keep from scowling at the wagers, nor does he pointedly underline the "why debate" part of his note.
"I don't see why you couldn't, but I'd love to hear your theory, Vari." sneers the gnome.
With hands shaken and everyone confident in their wager, the mix-matched group continues through the forest. Within an hour, about three miles outside of Bellis, anyone who is actively looking for clues, wagers made or not, may see something.
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Tazra winces at Falbin's sneering tone. He's certainly not doing himself any favors with that attitude, but we have been insulting him by repeatedly dismissing his theory. Regardless, he serves the Society's interests in this area. Outright antagonizing him seems unwise.
Hoping to mollify him, she catches up to him as they march. "You're an herbalist, correct? That sounds really interesting. I've spent most of my life in cities, so I simply can't fathom the skill it must take to differentiate the useful herbs from the rest of the foliage. Would you mind walking me through your process?"
Probably laid it on a bit too thick, but if there's one thing I know about gnomes it's that they love talking about their obsessions. And I am genuinely interested as to how he does it!
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Tazra nods, confirming Eranahu's analysis. "I'm no expert on tracks, but these footprints are definitely larger than normal. Do the Briar Henge druids routinely enlarge themselves?"
Shading her eyes, she looks up at the sky. "On the other hand, the clouds to the south are swirling unnaturally. That often happens near planar disturbances, doesn't it?"
While waiting for the experts' opinions, she pulls out her journal and inkpen. She quickly divides a page into three columns labelled 'Falbin,' 'Jamila,' and 'Other.' I may think this wager is silly, but I did say I'd keep track of any evidence.
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"Wow. Giant Makers from sky portals! BOOM!"
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Umbaraki has a small headache developing from either the strain of imbuing his gear with elemental magic, or the argument. Probably not the magic though.
He's examining the giant footprints with a look of resignation when Tazra points out that he had neglected the sky in his searches.
He gives her a nod of thanks as she points out the twisting clouds, lips twisting wryly as he castigates himself internally for missing such an obvious sign.
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Falbin, once shown the footprint, refuses to back down. "This is Real, irrefutable evidence that there are giants here, and as everyone knows, those damned Briar Henge druids love shapeshifting into giants!" He continues to ramble, ignoring everyone's attempts to say otherwise. Jamila sighs, "While it may not be proof, I acknowledge this gives his theory credit. Tazra, I see you're helping us keep count. I'd say this is a point for Falbin." Falbin's jaw drops mid sentence and he's quiet for the first time since making the wager.
"Well Tazra! I had no idea you had such an interest in botany! You see, most any plant in Golarion has a use, we only have to figure it out, and..." Falbin begins rambling about what herbs are native here, even out of their usual season elsewhere, and how they are used in different alchemical remedies, potions, and the like, possibly much to Tazra's boredom, as she would have a decent bit of experience in alchemical studies.
With Falbin still rambling about herbs, Jamila acknowledges the clouds. "You're right Tazra, that often does accompany rifts. Falbin? What do you think?"
"Yeah yeah, sure sure, but about that pokeroot..." You take this as the closest to acknowledgement you will get from the gnome for some time.
When Boom first approaches the vines near the mud, they are all very distraught. They keep making comments about the 'great bloom' and an 'unavoidable change'. Once spoken to, many voices assault you about the coming bloom, until you mention the marks on the ground. Their voices finally calm to a distinguishable level.
"Huge gnome. . Pointy ears. Not unusual. But the bloom! The Bloom! With that, the vines are in an uproar again.
You get the feeling these vines weren't terribly intelligent, but weren't upset about whatever made the tracks.
Once the group reaches 5 miles South of Bellis--1 mile closer than Falbin anticipated-the landscape changes. Cool autumn winds become balmy zephyrs, trees bare of leaf yield to junglelike growth, and Falbin says, "These plants have business growing in this time of year... nor those in this summery environment. Everything is out of place, and twice as big as it should be!" Although the undergrowth covers the path in places, it is not enough to make the trek difficult.
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Studying the vines, Vari's shoulders begin so slump as she recognizes something. Sheepishly, she calls Falbin and Jamila over. "Well, this may support your Druid theory... these vines are definitely part of an augmented entangle spell, a favorite of druids everywhere." But she brightens and her voice grows stronger. "But just because we know druids are here doesn't mean that they are causing this. Their presence is predictable... they would be just as concerned about this unseasonal development as any of us would be. Probably more!"
"I haven't lost yet...." she mutters, her voice trailing off.
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Tazra nods along to the gnome's explanations, occasionally taking notes. At Stefan's shop they'd always purchased their herbs, so hearing about the collection side of things is fairly interesting. (Although her eyes do glaze over a bit when he starts talking about how herbs are used in various alchemical concoctions).
He does seem to be in a better mood now, even vaguely acknowledging that the clouds support Jamila's theory. Tazra mentally congratulates herself on a job well done.
And this should improve his mood even further. Tazra doesn't see anything to support Jamila's theory right now, but the entangle spell definitely supports Falbin's. She adds another tick mark to his column.
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"Hey, the forest vines are talking to me. They're pretty upset. They know about a giant gnome that comes this way, but they're not upset about that. They keep talking about a great and unavoidable Bloom! It sounds like a bad thing."
In the summery jungle, small flowers begin to appear on Boom Sticks. "Oh! That's odd. Sort of... nice though." He plucks one of his flowers and offers it to Jamilia. "Summer."
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"Flowers. That's a good idea Umbaraki. What's that Boom? Unavoidable Bloom? Anyone ever hear of such a thing? If it's unavoidable, then the druids must not have anything to do with it. Definitely sounds planar."
quieter, he says more to himself "Though I really don't know anything about that kinda thing."
"Bloom... Bloom!" Jamila exclaims while everyone's busy looking at the vines below. "Tazra, may I borrow the back side of that paper you're using?" Jamila looks at Tazra, then to Boom Sticks, "I am so sorry Boom Sticks. I should not have discounted the vines you spoke to, nor will I discount plant intelligence again."
Falbin speaks up, "Stop being a sore loser Jamila, accept that I have a point in my column and you don't!"
"Boom Sticks... Yes, we can tell you about the bloom..." These vines sound much older and more mature than those Boom previously spoke with. "We are but seedlings in age... This bloom has brought fast change, and we know not why... Only that magic has come from that way, and is spreading..." The vines wriggle and grow before your eyes, indicating South. "That is all we know..."
"Thank you Tazra!" Jamila starts scribbling calculations like mad on the back of the sheet of paper. "Aha! This verdant zone is expanding at the same rate as something known as a bloom. A bloom occurs around a rift between the material plane and the first world. Falbin, the plants themselves know this isn't merely the work of some rogue druids!"
Falbin grumbles and turns to see Boom Sticks conversing with some of the vines that appear to be subject to an entangle spell. "Well, please tell me that these vines have been affected by druidic magic, not planar magic?"
Falbin turns to Grimaldi "But you haven't seen these druids first-hand! They nearly burned my house to the ground! If it wasn't for your pathfinder agents... anyways, there are agents in the Society that will testify that giants and vines are at least indicative of the Briar Henge druids. That's not to say all druids are bad, but this lot's as bad as it gets."
He then turns to Eranahu, "Let's let the plants talk and see what they say, though I may as well already admit to the tie at two points of evidence each."
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"Did you see those vines move just now Falbin? They pointed to where the magic comes from. It's the Bloom, and it's south of here. Though these vines are very young, they have grown very fast. This is because of the Bloom. The vines say it is spreading."
'Do I look taller to you?"
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Tazra looks sympathetically at Falbin. So far the evidence is definitely supporting Jamila's theory. The unnatural clouds and this 'Bloom' both point directly to a planar rift. Meanwhile druids might have been here, but we've seen no evidence that they are responsible.
"No one is doubting the evil of these Briar Henge druids, Falbin." And if anyone is, hopefully they have the tact not to say so! "I'm sure they are terrible indeed, whether they are responsible for this phenomena or not."
"Do Blooms only ever occur around planar rifts, or are there other possible explanations?" She does go ahead and put a mark in the 'Jamila' column once she gets the paper back.
Falbin heaves a heavy sigh, but brightens a little at the nice gesture from Umbaraki. "While I'm no expert, I'd imagine something this big, there would have to be a lot of magic at play, be it druids or first-world magic."
Jamila nods, and the group continues deeper into the verdant zone.
Not long after travel resumes, the party comes across a clearing where shaggy mushrooms sprout up to 5 feet tall. The soil has changed from a normal brown coloration to gray, a stark difference. A few pools of water dot the landscape, some shimmering more than others.
Two enormous frog-like beasts hunt for prey among the mushrooms. Their tongues are bright orange, and their skin changes colors constantly. Blue square frog is slightly larger than than the red square.
You notice that the frogs seem to be talking intelligibly to each other
Jamila shouts "Look! These are interesting. I'd imagine newer Pathfinder agents like yourselves would relish the opportunity to practice your combat skills. I'll be up here if you need me." With that, she flies up to hover atop a mushroom, though she does draw her longbow. Falbin looks taken aback and immediately falls to the back of the party, saying "I don't know how to fight! Help!"
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"Are they... are they talking to each other?" Vari seems puzzled, and listens to the sounds of the frogs' croaks more intently. "They are... that's intelligent conversation if I've ever heard it!?"
"Maybe we could convince them to not eat us... if anybody can figure out how to speak their language."
She moves towards a patch of mushrooms to the south and begins the difficult work of moving through them.
Jamila gasps and casts a spell on herself, then calls out "They're father and son, and the father is trying to convince the son that he needs to eat a healthy meal--YOU!"
She then turns and says something in croaks and ribbets to the frogs, which makes the frogs hesitate and look at each of you with disgust, but does not seem to dissuade them from eating you.
Tazra moves between the mushrooms to stand between her allies and the beasts! Red frog was ill-prepared to try to bite at the half-orc moving past.
Vari tries a more subtle approach, traveling through the mushrooms to seek her approach.
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"People-eating-frogs? This ought to scare them off!"
Boom Sticks moves right up to the frogs and levels his blunderbuss at them, then pulls the trigger spraying them with cold iron pellets :
Eranahu shoots and sticks the frog in the side, and it croaks out in pain! The wound bleeds profusely a blue-green blood.
The frogs absently stare at Boom, looking thoroughly annoyed. All of the pellets bounce off the frogs' skin.
The frogs converse, and Jamila shouts "The dad told the son that the plant creature is different and might be tasty after all! And... they think they're immortal? Or at least that they'll be resurrected if they are slain here."