[PFS] Your Enemy’s Enemy (Inactive)

Game Master Yours is mined

MMmm! That's good! Yum yum yummy! Do you have any more? Do ya? Ohhhh! those scratches feel sooo gooood! Ahhh.... Say, we haven't fought anything lately. That's good, right? But kinda boring. I want to taste something new sometime soon... Stinky's outward reactions are much like a happy dog's. His tail thumps vigorously as Kala scratches behind his ears.

“Course I saw ‘em! I’m an eyewitness, ain’t I?”

There’s a pause. “Well, I saw ‘em a bit.”

Mrs Soap sounds a little defensive. “It was pretty late when I heard a crashin’ come from the shop. At first I thought it was just the end of a late dinner ‘tween mates. Somebody had too much to drink and fell over like.”

“But the noise didn’t let up. Indeed if anything it got LOUDER. Eventually I looked outside and saw Mr Chert slumped on the cobblestones, and three or four people in hooded cloaks -- like what you and her are wearing -- runnin’ away!”

The witness points to the cloaks of resistance Andor and Kala sport.

“Anyway, one of ‘em dropped the Pathfinder compass as they scarpered, an’ you could see their britches ‘neath their cloaks. Cheap, flashy stuff – like what the foreign girl is wearing.”

“Perhaps as little as a week ago, if we had met as strangers, you would have afforded us the opportunity to prove our character.”

Mrs Soap gives the impression if she had met the paladin a week ago he would have been afforded more than just the chance to test his moral rectitude.

“Where’d you get that hat? It’s hand-knitted. Not married are you?”

She sidles up to Korum, sighs and takes his hand. “Well, Korum the Silver-Tongued Devil, do you want to come up?”

“To speak to Mr Chert I mean.”

She sounds flustered. “Oh an’ see if your mates want to come too. One of ‘em says he's a priest of the Dawnflower! Might be of some use, I s’pose.”

Sleeping Sword sways a little, and stands (almost) upright at the invitation.

It would not do to correct her now. The Way of the Sleeping Sword teaches that if what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.

The old man bows towards Mrs Soap, and smiles a snaggletoothed smile.

”Cheap, flashy stuff - like what the foreign girl is wearing.”

Lady Vulpina—whose clothing is quite on the expensive side— very quickly has to remind herself that she is currently working for the Pathfinder society, and that rude comments or sudden violence would be... unbecoming.

Still, her trigger finger twitches.

What i would not give to be suddenly assaulted by a mortal enemy right now!

"I would be honored to meet Mister Chert. If you are any indication, he has very worthwhile friends."

Offering an elbow to escort Mrs. Soap along, "As to my cap. Interesting story. It was made for me by a fine woman. You actually remind me of her quite a bit...."

The witness points to the cloaks of resistance Andor and Kala sport.

Kala's face is the picture of slow-witted puzzlement. But... Anyone with enough coin can get one of these cloaks. I bought it at a regular store, not some Pathfinder Society exclusive club. Why would she think...?

After opening the door she originally exited from in the south-east corner of the building, Mrs Soap with Korum in tow, leads you up a narrow flight of steps. The staircase leads onto the upper floor of an untidy bedsit.

Lying in a mussed single bed, a broad-shouldered, slender man in his thirties tosses and turns. To Sleeping Sword’s eye the only obvious injury seems to be bruising and a small cut on his arm, which appears to have been bandaged by a skilled amateur.

“I done that, Your Radiance.” Mrs Soap beams with pride.

Despite the minor nature of his wounds, the man seems gravely ill, sweating profusely and muttering to himself.

“Poor Mr Chert. He’s been like this since I found him.”

Mrs Soap hovers at the back of the party anxiously. “Doubt you’ll get much sensible out of ‘im. But you can try.”

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Vulpina follows behind, frowning as she looks over the man. She's no doctor herself, but she's no stranger to combat... and that seems pretty extreme for his minimal wounds.

"I do not suppose he has been poisoned?" she offers. "I am not familiar with the more unusual ways of wounding a person, but I have seen my share of combat. Unless there is a wound we have not seen, I do not think it likely this was done with a naked blade alone."

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Okay. Deep breath. I can do this. "Good point. I have some experience with poisons. Let me look at him." Propping Korum's weapon against the frame of the door, Kala approaches the man's bedside.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

After a brief examination, Kala nods and affirms: "Yeah, he was poisoned, but he's out of danger now. The worst of it is over, and he'll heal up just fine with bed rest. You did well, Mrs. Soap." Having finished putting herself forward, she rises and shuffles back to the rear of the group where she feels she belongs.

After Kala announces her diagnosis and prognosis, and rises to step away, her patient grabs her by the forearm, hauls himself into a sitting position and with staring eyes stammers fervently in her face.

“Antaios ... Antaios ... Noooo ... ANTAIOS!”

Before releasing her unharmed and collapsing back onto the bed unconscious.

“Yeah, he’s done that to me a coupla times. Prolly should have warned ya, eh?”

Mrs Soap shakes her head. “Got no idea what ‘e’s saying. Thought it mighta been foreign for Pathfinder. But, yeah. Maybe not, huh?”

“Anyhoo, he’ll sleep now for a time.”

She hauls a key from the front pocket of her apron. “If you want to check the shop itself, this'll get you in the front door.”

“Try not to make a mess, ‘cos the poor mug who’ll hafta clean it up is ME!”

Updated Shoppe Map!

Korum accepts the key. "We will be careful Mrs. Soap." He pats her hand before recovering his weapon and heading downstairs. He sidles up to Kala, "Nice work kid! We aughta get you a kit 'r somethin' so you can follow up with a treatment next time."

take 10 on the Heal check for 17

"Uh, it seems you have no need of Lady Sun, Mrs Soap. As the young Kala has it, Mr Chert will make a full recovery, thanks to your efforts." Sleeping Sword bows to Mrs Soap.

"Uh, we'll continue our investigation then... zzzz...zzzz" The old man snoozes against the banister.

Andor bows and takes the key to the front door.

"Thanks a lot Mrs. Soap. We'll be sure to leave everything as it was." he says and starts to move to the front door.

Perception at the door: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

If Andor does not see anything suspicious then he will open the door.

"Antaios. Hmm. Thank you Mrs. Soap." Kala takes one last appraising look at Mr. Chert and follows the Pathfinders down the stairs. "Antaios sounds like a name. But it sounds like Mrs. Soap doesn't know of anyone named that... Stinky, heel."

Handle Animal Companion DC10: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Yeah, I'm comin'. I'm comin'. That guy smelled weird, like he's not supposed to smell that way. Phew! Anyway, when are we going to eat? I'm starving! Stinky ambles along at Kala's heels amiably, occasionally reaching his snout up to sniff at the pocket that always smells of meat.

Loam follows along in preparation to enter the shop. She mostly continues to scan for magic on the off chance any lingers, and Gukom scurries out to help however possible.

Loam Yin doesn’t find any arcane signatures around the front door, so Korum turns the key in the lock, which Andor opens to admit the party.

Inside the front door is an overturned planter the size of a washtub. Soil mixed with bits of broken pottery is spilled across the hardwood floor.

To the north, an ornately decorated fifteen-foot-wide archway allows passage to the shop’s display floor.

A sales counter fills the eastern side of the room, and behind it stand several bookshelves filled with horticultural tomes. A stoppered flask lies in plain sight in the middle of the floor.

Please place yourselves where you wish on the Map! (You probably don’t want me doing that for you ;)

The above description covers the southern half of the shop. Feel free to move wherever you like and I’ll add descriptions of things as they come into view.

I encourage players to take the initiative with skill checks. If a specific skill check is triggered by something, I will be sure to let you know.

Korum takes a moment to detect the presence of any unholy abominations. (other than the sleepy monk that is). Have no doubt though, no matter what the rulebook may say, he IS an affront to all living things. I mean, if someone poured half-dead monk into your coffee, would YOU drink it? I think not.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

My archetype swaps Detect Evil with Detect Undead.

"Stinky, heel." Kala cautiously steps into the shop and begins to walk deeper into the room. That flask sitting in the middle of the floor, though... That looks out of place. She stops about five feet away from it and crouches down to inspect it and the area around and above it.

Handle Animal Companion DC10: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
It seems like an obvious trap to her, so that's what she's looking for.

Gotcha. I'm on your heels. Oooh, there's dirt on the floor. I like dirt! Stinky is glad that Kala stops beside the spilled soil. Now he can "heel" and roll in the dirt at the same time! Ohhhh yeahhh! That's the stuff!

"Oh! For the love! Stinky! Stop that! No! Ugghh. Whatever. You'll probably stink less once you shake that all off." Kala sets aside her irritation and continues searching for whatever the trick is with this stoppered flask all alone in the middle of the floor.

Vulpina gives the badger a wide berth as she enters the room, tapping her chin with a gloved hand. ”Charming.”

She gives the place a look-over, one hand moving over to draw her wide-barreled pistol. If one looks closely, they can see that there is a delicate engraving on it—it does not take nearly as good an eye to see that it is also glowing.

She used it like a lantern as she moves, raising it high to dispel the shadows that might hide clues or hazards.

Andor moves in.

"Please try to search for any evidence and if you can use detect spells." he says and starts to search the place.

Perception at the door: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Perception at the door: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Perception at the door: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Perception at the door: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Perception at the door: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Searching all areas.

Attached to the overturned planter, Andor discovers a brass plate embossed with the word ANTAIOS

Kala finds the feline-shaped stoppered flask tipped on its side, like Stinky looking for belly rubs. It appears to be a regular potion bottle (albeit in the shape of a cat), filled with a translucent fluid.

As Korum passes a display of Avistani rose creepers, the azure flowers appear to rearrange themselves momentarily to the paladin’s eyes.

Moving on from the planter box, Andor finds the north-western shoppe space contains dozens of colorful and exotic plants, positioned beneath several salt-clouded skylights.

The most remarkable specimen, an intricately twisting four-foot tree bedecked with lavender leaves, stands in an alcove on the room’s western side. A brass plate reveals it to be an amaranthine juniper. Within the exposed, twisted roots of the dwarf tree, the Investigator finds a nearly empty steel vial etched with a stylized spider symbol.

Craft (alchemy) or Survival are appropriate for learning more about the spider-marked vial’s contents.

In the north-east corner of the room is an open doorway with a twisting woody vine curled around the frame, fixed in place with loops of wire. Above this vine is a sign reading:

EMPLOYEES ONLY

On closer inspection, Andor senses the vine is some kind of trap, designed to prevent entry to the spaces beyond. Although it’s a living organism, he believes it could be disabled like a mechanical trap.

It's the map!

Andor looks at you.

”I found a nearly empty steel vial etched with a stylized spider symbol!“

craft alchemy : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

”Oh look here... a kind of nature trap!! I will try to disable it.“

disable device vs traps : 1d20 + 2 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 15 = 33

kn nature : 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 9 + (3) = 32

”Hmm ... the trap vine is a MUCH less deadly relative of the assassin vine!“ Andor says.

He then opens the door.

As asked, Loam continues her search for magic. Mostly she shadows Andor, but the ratfolk also turns her scan over the many plants lining the walls. She investigates the cat-vial that Kala found and the spider-vial when Andor is done with it.

Alchemy re: Cat?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Alchemy re: Spider: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Will also look for magic on both.

She looks up to try something on the vines, only to see Andor has likely made short work of them. "A fine job. Shall we return to ask her permission for entry? I couldn't tell how she might feel in either circumstance."

Sleeping Sword stumbles down the stairs and into ye olde plante shoppe behind everyone else.

"Huh, wuzzat? Detect what?"

"Uh, a mending spell or two would seem helpful here. If there is time then I shall oblige. It may go some way to restoring our reputation."

The monk offers a prayer to Lady Shizuru as he casts Detect Magic and scans the room.

Andor can’t make out what substance is in the spider-etched vial. However, Loam identifies it as residue of bloodroot poison.

The only eldritch signature Loam and Sleeping Sword find with their ✨detect magic sweep belongs to the contents of the cat potion bottle, which radiates the faintest enchantment aura either caster remember seeing.

Loam identifies the barely magical fluid as a heavily diluted potion of rage. However, Loam may caution that the potion is so watered down that it is likely to only generate a momentary flash of anger if consumed.

Meanwhile Andor tightens the steel loops securing the ‘trap-vine’ expertly, making it safe for him to approach the space beyond.

Andor, I have tried to place your token where your post indicated you ‘would’ be. If it’s not where you want to be, please relocate it :)

The Investigator deduces the now-visible rear entrance of the Dryad’s Trousseau allows pallets of fresh plants to be brought from the alleyway into the back of the shop, where they can be unpacked for display.

Just inside the delivery doors are two wooden crates of robust Avistani rose creepers. One crate has been smashed open, and rose petals and tangled, thorny clusters are strewn throughout the room.

Updated Map!

Thanks GM! :-)

Andor enters and begins to search the room.

perception : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

After Loam announces her assessment of the cat bottle, Kala shrugs. Red herring. Rising, she follows Andor, then moves into the back room to help him search it.

"Why would they dig through a crate of flowers? Was someone smuggling something in there?" Kala makes a point to check the damaged box for evidence that something besides normal flowers was in there (without making the mess worse).

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

As Kala moves into the receiving area to inspect the broken crate with Andor, she finds a false bottom in the wooden container.

Before the Pathfinders can investigate further, an hangry plant sculpted to look like a giant cabbage, shuffles around the corner from an obscured central alcove.

It’s open maw lined with sharp, thorny fangs leaves no doubt about its intent.

Note: squares with green ‘splotches’ are bio-alchemically modified rose cuttings, which are treated like caltrops

Loam Yin
Sleeping Sword
--
Antaios (red)
--
Korum
Andor
Lady Vulpina
Kala + Stinky

Loam Yin & Sleeping Sword, do something awesome!

The Battle Map is also in my header and at the top of the page.

Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

I'd like to know about Resistances. Will cast Snowball unless cold isn't so effective on it.

Loam is quick to draw her gun, shooting a ball of packed ice from it. "Let no cabbage interfere in our investigation!" She also quickly shares her recollections on this living topiary.

Snowball vs. Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) + 1 = 11

Loam Yin identifies the savage cabbage as a Living Topiary. She shares her knowledge that the plant is resistant to all physical weapon damage, except that inflicted by slashing weapons.

Afraid they’ve been misidentified as iceberg lettuce, Antaios shudders as the spellslinger's snowball ❄SMACKS❄ them square in the face, appearing to do full damage.

Round #1:

Note: squares with green ‘splotches’ are bio-alchemically modified rose cuttings, which are treated like caltrops

Loam Yin
Sleeping Sword
--
Antaios (red)
--
Korum
Andor
Lady Vulpina
Kala + Stinky

Sleeping Sword, be a nightmare ...

The Battle Map is also in my header and at the top of the page.

Sleeping Sword jolts upright at the commotion coming from the loading area. He totters forwards, approaching his comrades. Seeing a hostile carnivorous plant with a frosty coating, he is about to draw his sword...

"Uh, looks like that needs pruning!"

...but instead withdraws a wand and activates it.

"Shizuru's light guide us!" Casting Bless from wand.

"Draw the creature out! The Way of the Sleeping Sword teaches us that an enemy with nowhere to run is twice as deadly. And if it is not boxed in it can be flanked."

Brother Sleeping Sword wakens with a start and preaches the virtues of … the Way of the Sleeping Sword™. This includes bestowing the Empress of Heaven’s blessing on the party.

Unfamiliar with the Art of War, Antaios simply moves to power attack the nearest target –– the flat-footed Kala!

Slam + power attack (PA) on the flat-footed Kala: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 1 = 10
bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

Round #1/2:

Party Buffs: bless

Note: squares with green ‘splotches’ are bio-alchemically modified rose cuttings, which are treated like caltrops

Loam Yin
Sleeping Sword
--
Antaios (red with a frosty coating)
--
Korum
Andor
Lady Vulpina
Kala + Stinky

Pathfinders, go medieval on its ass!

The Battle Map is also in my header and at the top of the page.

Vulpina strides purposefully through the group as they get into position, drawing her blade as she moves. "Heavens, you would think it were actually dangerous," she chuckles, "the way you all cluster so."

Acrobatics to Move Through Opponent's Space: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Her bold words almost certainly are not backed by her actions, however; as her ankle pivots to dance around the foe's reach, her heel tilts and she lets out a bark of pain.

Her stumble is still surprisingly graceful... but, presumably, not enough to avoid taking an AoO.

First time that's failed, and the first time Vulpina's failed to charm an NPC. I wonder if Korum can fix this situation as well? ;P

Seeing the cramped quarters, Korum moves behind the counter, hoping there is a way through.

I have 15' of double move left. If there's is a way through, I will move into flank. If there is not a way through, I will double back.

Andor sees the plant and snarls.

”Bad choice to attack us. You’re done!“

He jumps through the enemy’s space and attacks!

acrobatics half speed : 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Swift action Studied Combat with quick study: 1/2 investigator level as an insight bonus on melee attack rolls and as a bonus on damage rolls against the creature for 5 rounds.

Rapier attack roll, studied combat, flank : 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 35

Damage roll, studied combat : 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14

*

Crit confirm Rapier attack roll, studied combat: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 20

Crit Damage roll, studied combat : 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12

-
-

Parry if attacked, 1 AoO + Panache

Opportune Parry, studied combat: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 26

Riposte

Rapier riposte attack roll, flank : 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 30
Damage roll : 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Loam tightens her cold to a thin, weak beam. She sees the bevy of fellow Pathfinders and thinks the plant isn't long for this world - and she doesn't want to hit an ally with a stronger spell.

Ray of Frost, PBS, Bless, Guidance, Cover, Into Melee: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Surprised by this turn of events, Kala instinctively takes a defensive position and shouts to her teammates: "Wait, guys! Wait! Can anyone talk to plants? It's labeled ANTAIOS! That's what the guy upstairs was saying! Can't we at LEAST try to TALK to it first--BEFORE we kill it? Like, is it one of his plants that turned on him, or did someone else put it here? C'MON?!!" I know I'm not the smartest person in the world, but I didn't think I'd be the smartest one in *this* group!

Taking total defense action for +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round

Boy, this room is getting crowded. Why? I mean, yeah, the salad is acting funny, but...it's salad. Big deal. You can't even eat that stuff. It's not food, even though it's kinda acting like food. <Sniff, sniff> Yup. Definitely not food. Bleh. Stinky plops down onto his rump to wait for Kala's instructions. Or the smell of fresh meat. That would get him to move, too.

"Uh, good Kala, our friend Mrs Soap did not recognise the name Antaios - I do not think this carnivorous cabbage is a friend of Mr Chert's. More like a 'gift' left by those who beat him."

Acrobatics (half speed): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

So saying, Sleeping Sword vaults onto the broken crates next to Kala and the cabbage. In the midst of his surprising somersault he draws his gleaming sky-metal katana and brings it down upon the fearsome foliage.

2-handed katana vs cabbage, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 = 26damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

It’s been a day of firsts for Lady Vulpina, who discovers the potential downside of the daring life she leads.

AoO slam + power attack (PA) on Lady Vulpina: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 1 = 7
bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10

Korum moves behind the counter to find the door leading into the back room locked.

Korum, it would be an additional move action to try the door, which ends your turn. Let me know if you disagree ;)

From a standing start, Andor performs a double back-flip past Antaios’ thick limbs, skewering the vengeful veggie through the left stamen!

Although it doesn’t do full damage, the empiricist notes the condensation that drips from Antaios’ light receptors.

Loam decides to keep her big guns’ powder dry. Her lesser ray misses the plant, instead snap-freezing a lock of Andor’s strawberry blond hair!

"Wait, guys! Wait! Can anyone talk to plants? It's labeled ANTAIOS! That's what the guy upstairs was saying!”

With melted snow dripping off their ‘face’, Antaios tilts their cabbage head like a curious green puppy at the huntress.

They twist their trunk and hoist what’s left of their foliage towards the ceiling after Sleeping Sword leaps atop the broken crate and conducts a heavy pruning with his katana.

Stinky plops down onto his rump to wait for Kala's instructions.

Antaios’ half-cabbage head does a double take at the wolverine’s behavior.

They plant their roots, rearrange their topiaried cabbage form into the rough profile of the head of a young human male and wait …

Round #2/3:

Party Buffs: bless

Note: squares with green ‘splotches’ are bio-alchemically modified rose cuttings, which are treated like caltrops

Loam Yin
Sleeping Sword
--
Antaios bloodied, sappy
--
Korum
Andor
Lady Vulpina
Kala + Stinky

What you gonna do, Pathfinders?

The Battle Map is also in my header and at the top of the page.

”I believe we can all talk to plants, darling,” says Vulpina, ”but so rarely do they respond.”

"Vulpina and I may have a tale for you," Loam calls to Kala as she casually fires again. "We attempted a similar tactic with several stubborn Ulfen. And yet, I have more faith it would work on this arboreal menace."

Ray of Frost: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Yup. Still bored. Are we done here yet? Kala, you're getting really worked up over that salad. Why? I mean, really. It's *salad* for crying out loud. After a huge yawn, Stinky lifts a leg to scratch an itch behind his ear.

"Uh, it has stopped fighting. The 'name' was a command word perhaps?"

Sleeping Sword's katana sleeps once more in his scabbard as the old monk raises a hand in a conciliatory gesture and appeals for peace.

"It looks like Kala is right. Remember, the Way of the Sleeping Sword teaches that to win without fighting is best."

move to sheathe sword, then total defence.

Well, I could kick in the door, but it sounds like the fight might be over.

Double move to double back.

Andor is still to act, but I’m going to take us tentatively out of combat rounds on the understanding that Andor has a full round of actions available and is free to do as he wishes.

With Korum choosing rational composure over frustrated violence, somewhere in Nirvana a Nightingale Avoral adds a tick to the left-hand column of a very long scroll.

As Loam’s second ray of frost zips over Antaios, their half-head of cabbage turns slowly in the spell-slinger’s direction and shakes from side-to-side reproachfully.

"Uh, it has stopped fighting. The 'name' was a command word perhaps?"

The topiary twists towards the monk and re-sculptures themself into a twiggy skeletal shape, with their remaining foliage spewing out of their ‘oral opening’ like a long green tongue.

They quickly returns to cabbage form, and lay a leafless branch gently across Kala’s shoulders.

“Antaios! Can you speak to us?”

The sculpted butchered cabbage shakes their half-head.

“Or tell us things, somehow?”

Antaios rearranges themself into a sleek catfolk shape and *shrugs*

“Do you know who hurt Mr. Chert?"

The topiary now flips form between human female and human male.