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Hopper nods to Calistro
"Good to see you again, Captain! Let me take a sip" he drinks what is in the bottle
"Potent, I was hoping for better quality, but given the circumstances, it will do." says in his pitching voice.
As they catch up on the new pathfinder's Hopper listens to the warning of his allies. He looks with fear on the river
"Hey you! Kiddos! This is more dangerous than it looks. Grab a stick and throw it in the middle of what you see. Observe how it behaves. Do not get any further!"
The small group of Pathfinder newbies starts listening after one of them throws a stick and the river and it behave not the way it should be!
One of them, having the symbol of Nethys around his neck says Thanks guys, we were ready to cross! Without your intervention it certainly will have been deadly for us.
With your help, you find another way to cross the river safely.
Khoumrock Blackthane appears next to you, standing covered from head to toe in leaves and bits of vine. Watch out guys! It appears that the Thorned Monarch has got the plants on their side. I just took out several, but watch out for more. They’re easy to miss until they’re trying to bite your head off. And bite they do! Watch your step!
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A natural in nature, Frogger has a keen eye for plants. He starts listing off the names of various plants he sees, almost sheepishly but excited he gets to share some of his knowledge. "Oh see that plant? That's Ricinus communis also known as the castor bean or castor oil plant. Highly toxic seeds. Wouldn't eat them if I were you.". While on the lookout for plants, he's also on the lookout for plants - anything that looks out of the ordinary.
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"I don't know If I've ever seen dangerous plants before"whispers Lydia. "Though I once met a leshy agent with a gourd head and we cast light on their head." she chuckles to herself and adds "Don't worry, it was at their request."
Lydia leads the way; she puts away one sword and pulls out Hopper's mad concoction, ready to take it if things go awry .
As you move through the forest and undergrowth you see one large plant trying to hide through the bushes!
Frogger is the only one able to see another one and is able to act before it.
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Frogger's keen eye sees the plants before him. He then consults his familiar, "What do you think those plants are?"
◆ Recall Knowledge: Nature +11
◆◆ Cast Ray of Frost at Green
Frogger easily recognize these plants as Snapping Flytraps! He knows that they have a weakness to fire, resistance to acid and that creature striking it can be hit back by it!
The hidden plant moves and strikes at the closest target, Lydia! The leaf find a weak spot in the mantis' armor and deal a terrific wounds! then it grabs her and tries to swallow the poor Pathfinder but, luckily, fails to do so.
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The plant catches Lydia completely off-guard, her eyes go wide as she nearly drops the potion in her hand. Here goes nothing... races through her mind as she drinks the potion. Without taking time for the transformation she pulls some tools from her healer's kit and puts a single stitch through the now-exposed skin. The potion's effects work quickly causing her skin to burn and cauterize the wound before finally red scales begin covering her. Her eyes go wide with intensity once more and she momentarily forgets the pain she's in. Not wanting to close the gap with the angry plant quite yet, she reaches into her beltpouch to retrieve another potion. "Watch out!" she warns the rest of the team.
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Jumping back as he sees the plants racing forward. Seeing Lydia drink her potion forces Natesh recalls to the one he is holding and drinks it down to offer any defense against the hostile flora.
Natesh chokes it down and his body shifts, his skin and face taking a red hue as he is quickly covered by crimson scales. Reappraising the enemies with reptilian eyes the wizard laughs a bit as hint of smoke expels from his mouth. "If this is all the plants the forest has to throw at us, I'm unimpressed. Let's see how quickly we can turn them into tinder."
With the largely unwarranted boost in confidence Natesh conjures a ball fo flame and launches it into the one grabbing onto Lydia.
After a good sip of his mutagen, Natesh burns the plant with a well placed flame
Kazikli calls for the regenerating power of nature to heal Lydia and then tosses some air at the creature, wounding it even more!
Lydia then drinks her mutagen, heals herself and then draws another a potion.
The second plant moves twice and when it tries to attacks Marcus, its long lief entangles itself and completely miss the bard!
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Frogger consults with Viney. "Aha! Snapping Flytraps. Carnivorous. They grow in soils lacking in proper nutrients.. I could go on, but I'd rather not right now. Just use fire and stay far back from it!"
Seeing the plants approach, Frogger attempts to zap them, channeling thunder. "By the power of Gozreh, die!"
◆◆ Cast Electric Arc on both creatures
◆ Pull out cold iron spear
The green plant is unable to dodge the lightning contrary to its sister who avoids part of it!
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Wolfie growls at the plants and lowers his body to prepare for the jump.
"We are not going straight at them! Wolfie turn around, around!" Hopper forces Wolfie to takes a step backward and then begins to run. The goblin stays low in the saddle as they run around the plant
"Yes, I know that we have to help Lydia... No, I don't want her to be eaten..." reponds, even though no one is asking
Hopper reaches to his belt and takes out his Alchemist Firebomb and tosses it at the plant holding Lydia
"Let her go, you outgrown petunia!" then he reaches for his sling.
Marcus encourages his comrades but miss the plant.
Hopper too eager to throw some bombes miss his target. Nevertheless both plants are splashed with fire and burn like hell!
The first plant changes its target, attacking poor wolfie, hitting it with several of its leaf , grabs it and then tries to swallow it! But fails to do so, to Hopper's relief.
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"They are pressing the attack?" Natesh sneers a bit as they retain a hold on his allies. "Well let me see about unleashing a bit more power if they want to keep taking bites out of us."
Confidently stepping forward Natesh channels a magical spell into this hands and releases it as a wave of fire that engulfs both of the targets.
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fail, item dropped
Lydia yells "Thank you!" to Kazikli as she feels the healing spell rush over her. Hopper's bomb splashes fire close to Lydia, but her hardened skin has no trouble with the heat. She steps towards the creatures, attempts a flashy trick with her sword to distract one, and then attempts to slice it open.
Kazikli calls the wind and topples the first plant and stops the other one to go against the wind.
Then Natesh calls the fire and tries to burn plants. The first one dodges the worst part but the second completely avoids it!
The first plant still stand, even if badly burned and prone. Lydia moves and hits the creature lying down, but in reaction she's hit back! But Lydia's armor saves her and the creature dies with her strike!
The last one in a fury of leafs attack both Lydia and Natesh, but their new skin save them from the plant's fury!
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"We've already cut the one down," Natesh declares as he narrows his altered eyes on the creature. "Should be trivial to bring down this one as well. Let's finish this quickly."
With one hand he conjures a ball of flame and the other throws his magical hammer as it flies at the plant and straight back to his hand.
Although the ease of the previous blows may have dwelled his confidence too greatly.
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Frogger nods when Kazikli produces a gust of wind. "Good! I like how you think!" "I'm a big fan of yours. You make it seem like a breeze.
I hope I don't blow it.". He tries to continue making puns.
Frogger laughs at his bad puns, tears in his eyes. He holds up his arms to shoot a ray of ice at the remaining plant.
◆◆ Cast Ray of Frost
◆ Step
Frogger blew it, laughing too hard at himself! Definitely not a comedian.
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Hopper reaches for another firebomb and tosses it at the plant.
Then he commands Wolfie to charge at the plant
"Go for the throat Wolfie! I mean for the stalk! Go for the stalk!" yells Hopper as Wolfie gains on speed and bites the plant
"Unto the breech? Or close the wall up with our Goblin dead!" yells Hopper
The plants tries to reacts to Lydia's flurry but fails to catch the red mantis in her clutch and dies from the multiple cuts, burns that the Pathfinders have done to it.
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Marcus grimaces at the Mad Hopper's comment. "I suppose that line is far more inspirational when nobody knows the actual end of it. But I digress... and excellent performance."
He looks down at his sap encrusted wounds and closes his eyes for a moment.
"Anyone else need a patching up before we push onward?"
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The assembled Pathfinders set up camp before the shimmering doorway, the healers among the group offering their magic to heal any remaining wounds and cure any lingering ailments before the company beds down for the evening.
The following morning, Oraiah Tolal addresses the assembled Pathfinders standing beside the portal. ”Well, everyone, this is it. We have reached the Door of Seasons. This crown should allow us to open it. We don’t know exactly what awaits us on the other side, though we do know that it is not of this world. Be prepared for anything. May Alseta guide us through this passageway.” She holds the crown in front of the Door, and the shimmering magic within dissipates.
The demiplane on the other side of the door is green and vibrant, but the plants take on an otherworldly quality. A half-orc man, his age difficult to determine, is bound by vines and flowers. He looks up. His voice is halting and hoarse, as though he had not used it in a long time, “Can it be...Pathfinders?”
After a moment, Oraiah Tolal realizes who he is. “How can this be? Gregaro Voth! You’re still alive!”
The man replies, “It is me. How many years has it been? Wait, there’s no time. That crown! It’s the key to this plane! We’ve got to use it!” As Oraiah Tolal places the crown on Voth’s head, a strange wave emanates from the crown and passes over the assembled Pathfinders. Voth looks hopeful for a moment but then struggles against his bonds, still held fast.
“That would have been too easy. It’s going to take some time to harness the magic to unlock the power of the crown, and Qxal won’t wait long.”
Oraiah Tolal begins to direct the assembled forces. “Pathfinders, it’s time to act! Some of you need to help Voth with the crown. I’m sure we have a ritual to help him attune to it. The rest of you, be on alert! The Thorned Monarch could attack at any time!”
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At the end of the previous battle Natesh scoffs as he the other plant falls. A few minutes later the layer of scales covering his body dissolve as the mutagen wears off. As it vanishes it takes a few extra steps from the destroyed animated plant life. "Oh no. Well, that went well, although I guess I was lucky in that it didn't hit me. I probably should have pushed more, but ... hopefully I will use this experience better for next time."
The wizard gives a nervous laugh to Frogger, "that is quite a lark. I hadn't had the stomach in me to make jokes like that after most other battles I've been in. I'll have to remember those."
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Natesh is flabbergasted by the continued existence of Voth. He begins murmuring about fey tricksters that he stops quickly as Tolal confirms the identity of entrapped person himself.
"Well, I've restudied the magical rituals and have my full magical power again. I'm sure we can help either place, although helping Voth would take us off the front lines and I think I would prefer that... if others have that covered I mean."