"Honey? Flowers? It smells like a delectable aged cheese suffused with mold! Maybe just a bite..."
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"You all don't hunt do you?"
WIS Save
"Wait! Don't fall for it's charm! Do you not see that boot protruding from that large blossom. It's a trap"!
Lil moves to intersect whoever is closest to her and seems to be charmed. She will slap, punch gore whatever is necessary to delay their progress.
Toki moves toward the towering pitcher plant, axes drawn and at the ready. At the same time Rilkus and Lilly grab Dacknar and Dur as the eyes of both elf and ratkin glaze over and the two start to hurry toward the source of the captivating and intoxicating scent.
Beort also resists the lure of the flowers, but hesitates, not seeing D'Nateh hurrying toward what is most probably a gruesome doom. The druid moves past the carefully approaching Toki. No trace of concern or worry of threat upon her glassy eyed face. She steps right up to one of the bigger blooms and gazes inside.
As the druid looks into the barrel sized bloom, Toki sees the area surrounding himself and the druid begin to shiver and move as dozens of long thorn riddled vines begin to move and slither like leaf covered snakes. In moments several vines entangle the oblivious D'Nateh and begin to lift her into the waiting bloom.
Snap out of it, N'Dateh, your expertise is needed...
Lil attempts to keep her hold on Dur, while calling forth a large set of semi-transparent horns in the air above the flower, and attempting to gore it. Spiritual Hammer
STR Check to hold Dur
Spiritual horns
Spiritual holes
Beordt rushes to Dacknar and attempts to scoop him up over his shoulder and move him further back.
So dreamy, so full of the sweet scents of this earth... The best the land can summon... thinks N'Dateh, until the slight pain she feels reaches a threshold...
"Ugh! Predator!" shouts N'Dateh as she snaps back and summons fire in her palm and slaps her burning hand against the plant.
"Let me go, just let me go." Dacnar says in a sleepy voice and he wiggle in the grasp of the Warforge.
The gearforged remained completely still, the elf firmly in his grasp. While he didn't say anything, he thought to himself that there were some advantages to no longer having basic biological functions. Smell, for example. He knew what was out there, but it wasn't the same as breathing into a flesh and blood body. The magic that sustained him made for a very different system. For as much as he bemoaned his fate, looking down at Dacknar wiggling in his grasp did show him that he should look on the bright side of life more often.
"Whoof! You're right, why would there be cheese in the middle of the jungle? More than that, why would the cheese be in a plant that's eating our druid! You can put me down now."
Assuming the rat is released, he's going to shoot at the main body of the plant.
Toki and Beordt tug N'Dateh back and free from the vines just before her head dips into whatever sticky and very likely highly deadly substance lurks within the big pitcher shaped bloom. The scratches and sudden jerking motion of her rescue by her companions is enough to jar the druid free from the beguiling scent of the plant. Unhappy about her brush with the flowering predator's mind altering ways, N'Dateh conjures a handful of flame and sends it flying into the center of the churning mass of vines and flowers where is flares even brighter and causes a portion of the plant to immediately turn black, wither, and die.
Dacknar continues to struggle with the iron strong grasp of Rilkus and Lilly's hold on Dur remains fast until the ratkin stops struggling and is able to shake off the effects of the intoxicating scent. Both ratkin and minotaur add their own efforts toward the destruction of the venomous plant. Although Dur's arrow seems to have limited effect, Lilly's holy horns do an effective job of crushing and ripping vines.
Vines swirl and wave all around Beordt, Toki and N'Dateh as the plant becomes even more active and agitated following the fiery attack. Vines lash out at the perpetrator. N'Dateh dodges the first set, but not the second and the druid finds herself once again struggling to escape the thorn riddled grasp of the plant. At the same time big Beordt is also beset by grasping vines and is forced to escape or be dipped inside a hungry bloom.
Carnivorous Pitcher Plant: 80/120
Toki sticks by N'Dateh to break her free if needed...
With vines lashing out at his comrades, Rilkus decided that it was time to get his hammer out. No longer could he just wait by and restrain the others. No, now was the time to end the threat. He strode into the lashing maelstrom of vines, hammer swinging, seeking to crush any part of it that got in his way.
"Move off. We are fighting the jungle itself. We are better to get out of reach."
"Let me go!" shouts N'Dateh, but it doesn't seem to work...
Toki hooks his axehead in the thorny vines and hauls N'Dateh free!
I got you, friend! the northman smiles, Light 'em up!
[dice=Athletics]1d20+4 Toki hooks his axehead in the thorny vines and hauls N'Dateh free!
I got you, friend! the northman smiles, Light 'em up!
Lil let's go of Dur, as he seems to shake off the effects of the plant, and continues to pelt the creature with both her ethereal horns, and her crossbow.
Ghost horns
Ghost holes
Crossbow
Bolt
[dice=Athletics]1d20+4 Toki hooks his axehead in the thorny vines and hauls N'Dateh free!
I got you, friend! the northman smiles, Light 'em up!
"FEEL THE HEAT!"
"It moved!?"
The thorny vines leave any exposed area of D'Nateh's in red and filled with what feels like hundreds of tiny punctures and scratches. She tries to wriggle free but the constricting vines are simply too strong and secure in their grip. That is until she feels Toki once again grab her by the boots. She braces herself again for the pain as the bard desperately yanks hard on her ankles. Thorns rip and tear flesh as she is once again dragged free of the grabbing, entangling mass of foliage. Taking only a short moment to try and calm her pounding heart, the druid conjures another ball of flame to toss into the center of the twisting, curling mass. But just as she releases a rather tiny fireball from her hand, one of the vines slips over and and jostles her arm. The bit of elemental fire misses the towering plant altogether and instead goes sailing off into the jungle where it quickly sputters and dies.
There is a mighty roar nearby, the sound of Beordt breaking free of the vines wrapping themselves around his burly frame. Stepping back, the bearkin calls for the others to retreat as well. His words go unheeded though. Within moments the sound of whirling gears and clicking mechanical limbs pass him by and go rumbling toward the plant. Rilkus crashes into the thorny mass. His silver hammer pulvering several fat portions of the plant turning them into a fine pasty goop.
Lilly commands her spiritual horns to swoop in for another pass while she also takes aim with her crossbow. Both horns and crossbow hit although similar to Dur's arrows, the crossbow bolt seems to be a bit less effective.
Carnivorous Pitcher Plant: 64/120
Dacknar's mind starts to clear. He shakes his head and tells Rikus "Thank you, my mind is clear. We need to help the others."
So not undoing what Rikus has done for him. Dacknar draws his bow and lets an arrow fly.
"Well, I'll keep shooting arrows at plants, but really, could we just run?"
Still regaining his senses, Dacknar's arrow manages to miss the plant entirely. Instead it lands around the same spot still smoldering from N'Dateh's ball of fire. Dur sends his arrow into the interior of the plant where it seems to do a bit more harm, but still not as much as the ratkin might hope.
The plant continues to lash out at Toki, D'Nateh, and now Rilkus. Vines whip and strike out at the three, but none manage to get a hold on the three crafty adventurers.
Vicious Plant: 58/120
"Get out of there ye fools, It's not like that plant will chase us down." Dacknar calls out to the melee fighters right before he sends another arrow at the plant.
N'Dateh nods, then carefully withdraws, keeping her guard up.
”There is a boot sticking out of there, and I’d like to see who it belongs to before we continue looking”.
holo horns
Rilkus silently began to withdraw, his shield up as he backed away from the plant. He hoped that the others would follow suit, lest he have to wade back into melee.
Dacnar keeps shooting from a nice safe distance.
D'Nateh and Rilkus both duck and weave their way back from the vines while Lilly, Dacknar, and Dur all continue to do thier best to smash and poke the plant into submission. Beordt holds back until the last moment, waiting for Toki to follow the others. Finally the bearkin steps up slashing with his sword and infusing the blow with the scorching light of the sun. Several wriggling vines fall to the ground, sliced free from the main plant. Seeing the others retreat and Beordt's icy stare, the bard follows D'Nateh and Rilkus in dodging away.
Having fought off the luring effects of the plants scent and easily able to stay well back from its grasping vines, it is only a matter of time before druid and priestess are able to burn and smash the jungle plant into oblivion.
With the plant rendered harmless, Lilly moves closer to investigate the boot. Although it has fallen free of the partially crushed and torn flower, the single soft leather boot is still intact and filled with a foot and partial remains of a lower leg. The upper portion of the leg apparently having been dissolved and digested in the sticky, acidic substance held within each huge flower and that leaks onto the ground from numerous damaged and battered pitcher flowers. Whereever it touches plant and living matter hisses and is quickly turned into a gelatinous goop that slowly soakes into the ground.
"Well that is a poor way to die. Ah hope that it was quick and painless."
Daknar turns to Rikus "Thank you, Ah really mean it, thank you."
Then he heads of into the jungle in search of any survivors.
Rilkus responded by putting his hand on Dacknar's shoulder and nodding. He made an effort to ensure that the nod was actually visible. "My respect for all that survive in this jungle increases by the day." He said.
N'Dateh gives the boot a grim, careful look, hoping it didn't belong to someone they know, or knew...
Lil takes the boot, and walks to a quiet place. She begins to speak to the boot.
"Now who did you belong to, and how did you end up here"?
Speak with Inanimate Object Spell.
N'Dateh examines the boot. Leather, hard sole, well warn, laces frayed in several places. It could be that of a sailor. Could also be that of just about any traveler who might be venturing along the Spice Coast. It doesn't immediately trigger any memories of recognition for the druid so she hands it off to Lilly.
The minotaur moves off a short distance to gain a little space and quiet, perhaps to avoid the others odd looks as she begins to talk to the shoe.
It takes a moment and a little cajoling, but finally you are able to break through the shoe's constant running dialogue.
"Eh? What? What's this?" The shoe questions. "I'm saved! Oh thank the Cobbler, saved. For this I will forever cover your feet, keep them warm and do my best to prevent blisters...although...you do seem a little big."
"I think this plant digests things quickly. Unless there are others on the island, I fear this might be one of the sailors. Let's scan the perimeter quickly and try to pick up a trail".
Perception.
Lily tucks the shoe into her pouch, determined to find it a good home.
"That was my fear... What a way to go... Drowning on firm ground... Never underestimate Her cruelty..." mutters N'Dateh solemnly.
Mong watches from his secluded perch high within the kapok tree. Golden pupils measure each of the ones he has labeled Disruptors with a heavy gaze as they burn, cut and pulverize one of the old sweet snatcher plants. They are the ones. He thinks. Responsible for the recent disruptions in the balance. The ones who freed the old one from his ancient prison.
White furred brows furrow in concentration as he watched the tall horned one, a minotaur, in the language of the those to the south, perform some vile ritual to commune with the remains of another outsider. He is too far away to hear what is said, but it is clear the Disruptors seek the others who passed by Mong's tiny outpost a little over a day ago. An odd group of outsiders accompanied by frogkin. The memory of the frogkin causes Mong's hand to clench. His forearm ripples beneath the white fur and in a moment the three inch thick branch he'd been holding cracks and snaps like a twig. The mere thought of those vile swamp breeders regaining any of what they'd lost causes a red hot fury to burn within his mind.
There is much to do. Much to tell those back home. Much to warn them about."
He continues to watch. It doesn't take the Disruptors long to discover the trail they seek and after they do they quickly disappear back into the shrouds of the jungle.
Mong's head turns back to the east, toward the big pillar of black stone. It's broken down fort and secrets hidden below. Large nostrils sniff the heavy jungle air. He has their scent. He feels the ripples of power that still echo across the land following the earlier storm and whatever incident happened at that ancient rock. An incident that tilted the scales toward something that Mong and his kin would not allow to remain a threat for long.
With a grace and agility surprising for one of his size and strength, Mong swings down out of the two hundred foot tall tree. Branches bending as his mighty hands grasp, swing, and then catch the next in his descent. Then within moments, his great white frame also disappears into the dark depths of the jungle.
*****
While Lilly finishes her conversation with the boot the others search the area to rediscover the trail. It doesn't take long for Dacknar to find it. Judging from the broken leaves and marks of boots dragging in the soft ground some of the survivors were forced to drag away others. It all makes for a rather easy trail to follow. Easy for yourselves and easy for Grumph and his warriors.
This is likely why after another few hours of steady marching you come to yet another clearing in the jungle. This one is much larger. Near the center are a quarter of abandoned huts that are then surrounded by old rice paddies that make up most of the clearing. As you first approach the edge of the clearing, you see and hear nothing except the usual hum of insects and constant calls of birds. But then a scream followed by croaking laughter bursts out of one of the huts in the center of the clearing.
"Those scoundrel's!" barks out Dacknar.
As he pulls his blades out and rushes to the scream. When he gets close he starts to stick to the shadows and creeps forward to see what is going on be rushing in.
Toki dons his shield and draws his axe, following quickly behind Dacknar...
Beordt brings forth his great sword and follows along.