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Andrelis stands quickly to his feet when Elise crashes through the door, drawing his rapier in hand. He will move to the door and attempt to look out, seeing what there is to see out there.
One moment Master Bertinard, I think we may have unexpected guests... But yes, we do have a map we can show you once it is safe to converse again.
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"Is this common?" Nereus asks, as the gourds suddenly start to gain faces and attack.
"Plants are rarely so animated beneath the waves without currents to move them."
His trident is suddenly in hand, as he races outside to confront the larger pumpkin-headed creature!
Calling upon Gozrah, he surrounds himself in a faint blue aura, before leaping in to the fray. The multi-pronged trident dances around, before he thrusts it at the animated gourd!
, for damage.
The Jack-o-Lantern is frightful in appearance. Anyone approaching within 20 feet of it needs to make a DC 13 Will save or become shaken for a few rounds. It is a vision-based mind-affecting fear effect.
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Round 1
[b]Andrelis (Standard Action)
Licia
Nereus
Jack-o-Lantern
Gourd 1
Gourd 2
Elise (-10 HP)
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Andrelis steps outside the door, intending to cross to the pumpkin, but is momentarily taken aback by its terrifying visage.
Shaking off the moment of terror, the elf moves to engage the pumpkin to the right of Nereus.
Nereus, coming up on your right the rogue calls out, sliding calmly forward to fight the larger foe.
Licia runs forward and swings her scimitar at one of the gourds. She has a quick glance of the jack-o'-lantern as she runs.
And she slices one in half.
The remaining gourd attempts to slam down on Licia but she easily dodges. The jack-o-lantern bites down on Nereus but can't seem to chew threw his armor. He flails his arms attempting to strangle him, but again, can't get a good grip.
Elise is shaken but runs towards the jack-o'-lantern. She swings her guisarme
And she kills the pumpkin man.
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Round 2
Andrelis
Licia
Nereus
Jack-o-Lantern
Gourd 1
Gourd 2
Elise (-10 HP)
And Andrelis slashes the last gourd quite easily. It squeals in pain as it dies.
As he does, the jack-o'-lantern explodes in a fiery blast.
The constable stops in place as the pumpkin explodes in front of her. Burns cover her body.
And Yuzu, Tessara, and Gareleth happen to arrive just then.
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Satsuki lets out a horsey scream as they come upon the scene and nearly rears back, but Yuzu manages to keep her under control-- Tess is only almost thrown from the saddle.
Given the attacking gourds exploded, the samurai did not get a good look at what happened here.
"Was it pumpkins, as expected? Or something else these wounds inflicted?"
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Wiping pumpkin off his rapier, Andrelis smiles, Well Garelth, nice of you to bring us another proper mount. We're okay, although it looks like Elise may need some tending to.
Looking around, I'm glad you are all back here, there is a map which tracks these odd plant growths in a spiraly pattern to Bertinard's house, whether this is the origin or terminus we don't know however.
Shrugging, Now that you are all here, shall we go inside and see what's happening?
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Yuzu gives Satsuki a few reassuring pats and nods.
"For my legs it would be best
To give the saddle a bit of rest."
She dismounts and stretches her legs with a quick routine before nodding.
She holds her staff in one hand and her bow over her shoulder; indoors is less likely to allow her to maneuver a big ol' lance.
Patches of red moss that marked the dreadful spiral toward Bertinard's house cling to the creatures' bodies.
Infused with necromantic magic, rubbing the moss over your skin (as a standard action) grants the benefits of false life (CL 3rd).
The possessed gourds continue to glow even after the Pathfinders destroyed them.
One gourd's pulp functions as oil of continual flame
One gourd's pulp functions as an elixir of fire breath
Bertinard comes up to the Pathfinders. "Are any of you hurt? I can provide some basic healing if needed. And thank you for saving me.... I can only imagine what would have happened if you weren't here.". He goes back into his bedroom momentarily and returns. "Please have these!". He hands you a small token and a very finely crafted sickle. "That's a feather token - tree I believe. And this sickle will help you. Those pumpkins must have come from somewhere."
Heading outside, it is quite obvious where the jack-o'-lantern came from. He had left a clear trail back to the fields. At first, the Pathfinders can easily follow it. As they travel through the fields, the trail gets harder to follow ().
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Tess inspects the moss and gourds.
"Hey guys: rubbing the moss over your skin grants the benefits of a false life spell, and this gourd's pulp functions as oil of continual flame! come grab some of that free stuff!"
Tess proceeds to use the red moss on her and collects a few fistfuls of the continual flame pulp.
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Gareleth moves forward to inspect the red moss.
"Well, would you look at that, Andy? Necromancy. Yep. Although, there's arcane vitality in this. Basically it would work like that 'false life' spell we saw that necromancer in Osirian use," he says as he begins working carefully to collect some of the moss for later use. "Maybe this would be beneficial to Yuzu?" he muses even as he's scraping the moss into a container.
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Nereus will thank Bertinard for any healing he might be able to provide, pointing him towards the injured constable first.
Nereus studies the leftover pieces of the gourd, but gives Tess a rather hard look, when she starts suggesting folks start rubbing the moss on themselves.
"Given what this flora did to these things... or what has occurred earlier... I wouldn't be so eager to start covering yourselves in it."
"The trail appears to head in that direction."
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Yuzu frowns as Tessara rubs herself down with the moss.
"I hope you do not take offense,
But you shall not ride until you cleanse."
She's hesitant to trust the red moss that seems likely to have been related to the zombie pumpkins.
"The gourds exploded, that seems to be true;
How much time after death is it that they do?"
The Pathfinders leave Bertinard behind with Elise. Travelling through the fields is relatively easy with the moon shining bright down on them.
In the distance, the Pathfinders can hear some ominous sounds. Every now and then, a huge thud rings throughout the field and a satisfying crunch.
As they draw closer, they pass through fields of pumpkins and other gourds. They notice some pumpkins have been smashed open. Up ahead, a deeply distressed gourd leshy with a feather necklace paces through the fields, smashing gourds with a wooden mallet.
She spots the Pathfinders and starts waving her arms frantically, but not approaching the group.
You hear the leshy say in Sylvan: "Pumpkin, bad. Smash." as the leshy brings up her mallet to smash a pumpkin.
The leshy looks surprised when the kitsune speaks to her.
"Thank goodness! Didn't realized you can speak to me. Yes, yes, I know they're evil. Have you seen taller, evil versions of me? One of them killed Elm. I cannot fathom why they would do such a thing to such a good person!!!"
She holds out her feather necklace. "I'm Feather Seed." then she smashes more pumpkins. "I've been following several jack-o'-lanterns. Maybe you can help."
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”Fellow friends, this one is known as Feather Seed.
It would seem that Pathfinders’ help she needs.
She knows of this, as much as we;
Let us lend our aid to she.”
Smiling at the feather necklace, she produces a feather token (recently received from a local).
With another, the us will be three!
Let’s stand up together
To fight pumpkins nether
And hither, wherever they be!”
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Andrelis quickly draws steel when the leshy is spotted, then stops as it begins to converse with Yuzu. He listens to Yuzu's rhyming explanation of the leshy's situation, somewhat confused.
Yuzu? You got this? need anything?
His rapier lowers at the strangeness of the situation, waiting word from his furry companion about what next.
With Yuzu translating - Tessara is able to win over Feather Seed with her feathers.
"Tell your friend I would love one of her feathers. They ward off evil, you see.". She proudly holds up her collection again then takes off six of her feathers. "Each of you take one - it will help!".
The leshy hands each person a feather from her necklace - if they are willing to take one.
She also hands the group an glowing pumpkin she calls a lesser glowing gourd.
The leshy continues to speak, using Yuzu as a translator.
Come with me. Lets hunt these monsters down.
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"'Feathers ward off evil,' says she,
And thus a gift she gives to we."
She accepts the feather and smiles.
"If any we have in return,
She will be happy not to spurn."
She thinks a moment, then reaches back and plucks a small fluff of hair from the tip of her own tail (with a wince thankfully hidden beneath her mask).
Freely given can ward off the bad ones,
Keep it in your pocket,
When fear comes, you stroke it
You'll find all your troubles are quick-done!"
She turns back to her friends;
"She wants us to follow her to end the fiends,
If we are all set, then let us intervene.
No more shall the pumpkins strangle the locals,
If anyone spots one, please do become vocal!"
With that, she sets Satsuki to follow their leshy friend.
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Gareleth smiles and gives a warm, "Why thank you, small friend," when he receives the feather. Then, noticing some of his companions giving feathers to the leshy, he says, "Oh, ummm, I don't..." as he starts looking at himself and then around the area. He has lots of random trinkets, but no feathers.
When the leshy starts leading the group off, Gareleth decides to follow, but is keeping a look out for any random feathers he might find.
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Andrelis graciously accepts the leshy's gift with all the solemnity of receiving a great gift of gold from a king. Why thank you little one. It is most appreciated. He bows his head deeply in thanks, tucking the feather behind his ear and taking his place next to Gareleth in their oddly led procession.
The leshy and the Pathfinders exchange feathers and Gareleth looks out for any fallen feathers on the ground. And he is in luck! He finds a crow feather that looks in relatively good condition.
Feather Seed practically runs and it's hard to keep up with her eagerness to destroy the evil jack-o'-lanterns. "We're almost there." she says with Yuzu translating. The Pathfinders look around - they notice that this swampy wetland hugs the Sellen River and they guess it's a few miles north of Rosehaven.