|
"Kazuuk" Ghul makes small talk "Being from a smaller tribe, I might imagine that there was a single deity or smaller pantheon that held the imaginations and faith of your people. My own path was wrought with trial and tribulation, for I abandoned the the faith of my upbringing, and spent a long time without such guidance. Tell me: What do you believe is the final destination of your immortal soul?..."
Ghul queries the iruxi warrior on his religion, sharing his own in turn if the conversation bears fruit.
|
While they're walking to the ruins, Thriss'k happily gushes about what he's learned so far from the Society.
"You know, Shaman Gaaz taught me about all the monsters in the vicinity, but there's even more weird creatures out there the Pathfinders fight on a regular basis! Up in the north, there's these dinosaurs and megafauna. They're like crocodiles or lizards, but super big and incredibly strong. And there's this weird creature that's half-bear, half-owl, called a bear-owl, and they fly through the night hunting for honey and..."
Thriss'k stops for a moment. "Wait, I must be confusing some things, that doesn't sound right."
He grabs another notebook from his backpack and starts leafing through it, looking for the right information.
"Ah see, it's called an owlbear, and luckily it doesn't fly. Can you imagine a bear flying through the air? I'd like to see that. From really far away, I mean."
He shows his notes, along with a crudely drawn picture of a bear with an owl's head.
|
As the team goes toward the ruins, Smell of the Pine tries to remember what happened last time and what he heard about elementals after some talking at the lodge. “Last time we went there we fought some elementals. They were attracted there, so some Pathfinders told that maybe the barrier between this plane and the elemental planes is thinner here. That might be the cause of the new trouble here.”
On the way, the team arrive at a place where Kazuuk expected to travel without trouble, a cliff where one can just walk down a big old dead tree trunk. Unfortunately the trunk has moved and felt, so a safer passage needs to be found by backtracking. With the help of rope and tools to get leverage, Resinosa manages to put the trunk back in place.
Over the course of your journey out to Igix's last known location, each of you do your utmost to impress your guide in your own way...
Merian will impress him by relaying the entire history of the azarketi people.
While doing pushups.
During a brief stop to rest, Merian drops and gives Kazuuk fifty, all while sharing the history of her people.
Kazuuk seems enthralled by Merian's words, remaining silent until Merian concludes the brief history lesson. "Chief Thakik and the other elders sometimes tell the younger ones stories of the other peoples that walk this world and cleave the skies. But for most of us, the stories we liked best were about the people who swim with tides and flow with the rivers. People like you and the azarketi, though I didn't know that was your word for yourselves until now."
"Maybe this seems strange, but...I feel like our people have a kinship, in a way," the iruxi continues and to your surprise, he suddenly seems shy and a bit awkward. "And I don't just mean an affinity for water. More that...we, iruxi, are survivors. We improvise, adapt, overcome. We've had to. It sounds like your people are the same. I...I respect that."
Perhaps feeling embarrassed by his sudden sentimentality, Kazuuk quickly chuckles and adds, "But what's really impressive is that you had enough air to do all those push-ups and still do all that talking!"
______________
"Kazuuk" Ghul makes small talk "Being from a smaller tribe, I might imagine that there was a single deity or smaller pantheon that held the imaginations and faith of your people. My own path was wrought with trial and tribulation, for I abandoned the the faith of my upbringing, and spent a long time without such guidance. Tell me: What do you believe is the final destination of your immortal soul?..."
Ghul queries the iruxi warrior on his religion, sharing his own in turn if the conversation bears fruit.
"My spirit will go to dwell with those of my ancestors when my time here is done," Kazuuk answers, without a shred of hesitation. "We look to the spirits of our ancestors, of the land, of the beasts. Others that leave their enclaves and villages to walk the world might also look to other forces, ones more familiar to humans and other peoples. Maybe the butterfly that lights the way or the river rat, for example."
"But most iruxi, we don't really think of the world as many people do," he explains. "Black and white, good and evil. We just...are. We exist, we try to survive. We tackle problems as they come and deal with the aftermath, whatever it might be."
Kazuuk gives Ghul a curious look. "What about you? Do you think about where your spirit will go?"
______________
Rawiri tries to impress the iruxui with a bit of dance. He moves around, making arcs with his feet as he rotates in a mesmerizing dance
Then he changes his movements and begins some acrobatics...
As the group strides through the swampy terrain, Rawiri opts to make a show of how he avoids soft patches of ground and deftly steps over fallen, moss-covered logs and around puddles.
"You've got a light step and quick reflexes," Kazuuk remarks, glancing over his shoulder at the dwarf. "If I didn't know any better, I'd almost think that maybe you grew up in a swamp too - or somewhere like it, where the footing is uneven and treacherous. We don't see too many outsiders who can move like we do, you know. And you almost make it look like a game, like a dance. Are such skills common among your people?"
______________
While they're walking to the ruins, Thriss'k happily gushes about what he's learned so far from the Society.
"You know, Shaman Gaaz taught me about all the monsters in the vicinity, but there's even more weird creatures out there the Pathfinders fight on a regular basis! Up in the north, there's these dinosaurs and megafauna. They're like crocodiles or lizards, but super big and incredibly strong. And there's this weird creature that's half-bear, half-owl, called a bear-owl, and they fly through the night hunting for honey and..."
Thriss'k stops for a moment. "Wait, I must be confusing some things, that doesn't sound right."
He grabs another notebook from his backpack and starts leafing through it, looking for the right information.
"Ah see, it's called an owlbear, and luckily it doesn't fly. Can you imagine a bear flying through the air? I'd like to see that. From really far away, I mean."
He shows his notes, along with a crudely drawn picture of a bear with an owl's head.
"A...bear-owl? Really?" Kazuuk repeats, sounding a bit doubtful until Thriss'k shows him the drawing along with his notes on the subject. His eyes widen. "Whoa...it looks fierce and strong! The spirits probably felt it was strong enough without giving it the means to fly."
He nods very resolutely, convinced that this must be the case.
"Those are the sorts of things Pathfinders deal with all the time? Hrm...if that's true, then most Pathfinders must be stronger than they look," Kazuuk adds, looking thoughtful. "We would certainly be stronger if we had allies like you, who fight owl-bears and really really big crocodiles and other beasts of unusual size. You'll have to tell me more about these dinosaurs and things later, after we return to the enclave!"
______________
As the team goes toward the ruins, Smell of the Pine tries to remember what happened last time and what he heard about elementals after some talking at the lodge. “Last time we went there we fought some elementals. They were attracted there, so some Pathfinders told that maybe the barrier between this plane and the elemental planes is thinner here. That might be the cause of the new trouble here.”
On the way, the team arrive at a place where Kazuuk expected to travel without trouble, a cliff where one can just walk down a big old dead tree trunk. Unfortunately the trunk has moved and felt, so a safer passage needs to be found by backtracking. With the help of rope and tools to get leverage, Resinosa manages to put the trunk back in place.
When Smell of the Pines shares a little additional background as to what happened during their previous mission, Kazuuk nods.
"I remember that Chief Thakik and Rain in Cloudy Day said something about creatures of the elements but I didn't completely understand what they meant at the time. So your chiefs think that maybe the barrier between realms here was thin...and that caused the problem," he repeats. "I think I understand. Sometimes the barrier between the realm of the living and the realm of the dead grows thin, allowing vengeful and tormented spirits to pass through. This would have been something like that."
Kazuuk then shakes his head. "But you and Rain in Cloudy Day fixed the hole in the barrier, right? So unless something tore it open again, there shouldn't be any elementals here. We haven't seen any, anyway."
As the group nears the ruins, Resinosa is able to use her own unique strength and ingenuity to replace a fallen tree that been used to traverse a small ravine. Kazuuk looks on with approval, though not surprise.
"Nature is a powerful force...and it's to our benefit when nature spirits wish to help us instead of hinder. Thank you, Resinosa!"
______________
|
|
"My spirit will go to dwell with those of my ancestors when my time here is done," Kazuuk answers, without a shred of hesitation. "We look to the spirits of our ancestors, of the land, of the beasts. Others that leave their enclaves and villages to walk the world might also look to other forces, ones more familiar to humans and other peoples. Maybe the butterfly that lights the way or the river rat, for example."
"But most iruxi, we don't really think of the world as many people do," he explains. "Black and white, good and evil. We just...are. We exist, we try to survive. We tackle problems as they come and deal with the aftermath, whatever it might be."
Kazuuk gives Ghul a curious look. "What about you? Do you think about where your spirit will go?"
"Dust" is his simple replay, before introducing humor and elaboration "But as you can see, my body has fallen to Dust long ago!" he pulls back his helmet to once again reveal his hideous face "But yet I endure, strange and cruel the joke played on my plight - but let me not trouble you with my burdens" he shifts course here "You probably meant the Spirit!" somehow enunciating the capital "s" "Where might my Spirit go once I pass (again) from this life? I do not think the place is very special. Everywhere. Nowhere. Which is to say, I believe, that all things re-enter the Great Cycle - call it what you will. But for me, there is an essential Geometry to it. My body crumbles it's last crust to feed the earth, which in turn feeds the plants - and from there, your butterfly or river rat feed - and their natural (and unnatural) predators - until all die again, back to Dust, and spurn the Great Cycle anew!"
He pauses in thought here, then veers yet another direction "And so it is that I find this Great Circle with the inclination of Man. Like you, black and white, good and evil, I see these as forces of opposite poles, framing eachother in their contrast, and thus, in a sense, arbitrary enough. For me and mine, I might define good as merely an embracing of this natural order. And too, should one stray from this path - this path towards acceptance - I find it my place to offer another path back. For in this brief existence there is some unexplainable beauty - even in the violence of the world! - and that itself, to me, is not unlike the Divine"
Our doomed hero attempts to smile here, but the uneven stiffness and atrophy that is his face perverts the smile into a foul and horrible look, the decayed muscles kaleidoscoping into a fearsome visage most macabre!
|
|
As they walk on, Thriss'k gushes about what he's learned so far. "Shaman Gaaz taught me a little bit of magic, but the Society teaches me so much more! There's basic survival training, creative arts, how to talk to other cultures... My favourite is the obstacle course. It's this big track full of tiny holes you must squeeze through, walls to climb over, and jumps you have to make. It's also very entertaining to watch, see?"
Thriss'k darts forward a bit, looks ahead for any obstacles to climb, scales it, then does a backflip off of the obstacle.
|
"You've got a light step and quick reflexes," Kazuuk remarks, glancing over his shoulder at the dwarf. "If I didn't know any better, I'd almost think that maybe you grew up in a swamp too - or somewhere like it, where the footing is uneven and treacherous. We don't see too many outsiders who can move like we do, you know. And you almost make it look like a game, like a dance. Are such skills common among your people?"
______________
Rawiri slows down his movement but keeps on shifting. "Ha, my people. You see part of me comes from dwarves, steady and slow-moving people. We have a subtlety of a rolling boulder down the hill. The other part of me comes from the flame, always moving, always shifting. I spent some time of my life working on a ship, which is a treacherous place to move upon. I am glad that you appreciated it!"
Rawiri smiling takes a deep bow.
"Dust" is his simple replay, before introducing humor and elaboration "But as you can see, my body has fallen to Dust long ago!" he pulls back his helmet to once again reveal his hideous face "But yet I endure, strange and cruel the joke played on my plight - but let me not trouble you with my burdens" he shifts course here "You probably meant the Spirit!" somehow enunciating the capital "s" "Where might my Spirit go once I pass (again) from this life? I do not think the place is very special. Everywhere. Nowhere. Which is to say, I believe, that all things re-enter the Great Cycle - call it what you will. But for me, there is an essential Geometry to it. My body crumbles it's last crust to feed the earth, which in turn feeds the plants - and from there, your butterfly or river rat feed - and their natural (and unnatural) predators - until all die again, back to Dust, and spurn the Great Cycle anew!"
He pauses in thought here, then veers yet another direction "And so it is that I find this Great Circle with the inclination of Man. Like you, black and white, good and evil, I see these as forces of opposite poles, framing eachother in their contrast, and thus, in a sense, arbitrary enough. For me and mine, I might define good as merely an embracing of this natural order. And too, should one stray from this path - this path towards acceptance - I find it my place to offer another path back. For in this brief existence there is some unexplainable beauty - even in the violence of the world! - and that itself, to me, is not unlike the Divine"
"Heh...you are a strange one, but I think we also have more in common than someone would think at first glance," Kazuuk remarks, his own smile more of a baring of sharp teeth than the sort of pleasant expression you'd see from most other humanoids. "The cycle marches on and on. On and on and on and on until even this world itself comes to an end. And who's to say that even that would be the true end? Maybe another world, like this one or not, will spring from the ashes."
______________
As they walk on, Thriss'k gushes about what he's learned so far. "Shaman Gaaz taught me a little bit of magic, but the Society teaches me so much more! There's basic survival training, creative arts, how to talk to other cultures... My favourite is the obstacle course. It's this big track full of tiny holes you must squeeze through, walls to climb over, and jumps you have to make. It's also very entertaining to watch, see?"
Thriss'k darts forward a bit, looks ahead for any obstacles to climb, scales it, then does a backflip off of the obstacle.
Kazuuk watches as Thriss'k scrambles up one of the more sturdy trees along the path and then expertly backflips off, executing a perfect landing without even so much as a wobble. He whistles with approval.
"You've come a long way, haven't you? I won't lie, I was worried that life among the Pathfinders would make you soft," he admits. "That you would learn many things but not how to actually apply them. I'm glad to see that I was wrong!"
______________
Merian smiles at the compliment. She does a few pushups with the barrel on her back.
"You'll have to let me try that later, when we return to the enclave," the iruxi chuckles. "I wonder if I can match you?"
Rawiri slows down his movement but keeps on shifting. "Ha, my people. You see part of me comes from dwarves, steady and slow-moving people. We have a subtlety of a rolling boulder down the hill. The other part of me comes from the flame, always moving, always shifting. I spent some time of my life working on a ship, which is a treacherous place to move upon. I am glad that you appreciated it!"
Rawiri smiling takes a deep bow.
"Hrm...a heritage of earth and flame, then," Kazuuk nods. "A powerful combination, to have the power to stand firm as the boulder but also be able to act with the speed and intensity of the flame when needed."
The leshy nods “Maybe something else troubled the place. It also could be creatures that took the place as their nest when its previous occupant was removed.”
"That's a good point," Kazuuk remarks. "Nature is ever full of opportunists and these swamps are no exception. A vacant lair, nest, territory doesn't stay vacant for long."
______________
All in all, it takes roughly two hours of trekking through the swamp - not counting the occasional stop to rest for a few minutes - before you finally reach your destination. A cracked structure, coated with creeping tendrils of moss and lichen, rises from the swamps atop a low hill ahead. The air is still here, as if waiting for a breath of wind. Even the usually noisy cries of animals fall silent close to the building. A set of broad stairs facing southeast lead up into darkness.
The answer to the question of Igix's fate is immediately apparent. Atop the hill, near the ruins' southeastern steps sits what looks like some manner of pitcher plant with tendrils topped by yellow flowers. Milling around near the plant are three sickly-looking humanoid creatures, wreathed in similar-looking yellow flowers that seem to be growing out of their ears. While two of these humanoid creatures appear to be human, the third is definitely an iruxi!
Unable to help himself, Kazuuk sucks in his breath with a sharp *sss* at the sight. In response, the three humanoids turn to face you with dull, glazed eyes, while the strange plant waves its' tendrils in an almost threatening manner...
This is a plant known as a yellow musk creeper. The yellow musk creeper enraptures creatures with its bright yellow pollen to bring them close. It then physically alters their brains with its tendrils, implanting a seed in each to turn the creatures into mindless thralls. Fortunately, they have a weakness to fire.
These three creatures are yellow musk thralls. A yellow musk thrall takes only the most rudimentary of actions: bringing the yellow musk creeper water and new creatures to infest. After a few days (or if the creeper dies), the thrall wanders off into the wilderness and falls dead within 24 hours. The body of a deceased thrall sprouts a new yellow musk creeper within hours of its death, becoming a fully grown plant within 24 hours.
Though they move slowly and aren't very reactive, yellow musk thralls can entangle creatures with their grasping tendrils if they get close enough.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
==============
Red
==============
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Orange
Green (Igix)
Blue
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Rawiri, Ghul, Merian and Thriss’k are UP!
|
|
Ghul slumps forward, raising his shield, holy light radiating in a 15-foot radius.
◆) Stride
◆) Raise Shield (AC 22)
+
↺) Glimpse of Redemption (Redeem or Resist 4 + Enfeeble 2)
↺) Shield Block (Hardness 5, HP 20/20, BT 10)
Unifax - trusty steed - follows his master into conflict, and snorts as it rears onto it's back legs!
◆) Stride
|
|
Thriss'k stands still for a moment, fascinated by the yellow pitcher plant and the humanoids covered in plants. He frowns, and you can see him mentally flipping through the Pathfinder textbook on flora.
The black-scaled iruxi's face pales as realisation dawns on him. "The plant can mind-control you! Its tendrils burrow into your head and mess with your brain! The humanoids are under its control, practically dead. I'm not sure if they can be reverted back to normal, but without the parent, they'll just die and sprout a new plant. Also, they can entangle you with their tendrils, so watch out!"
A big, almost sadistic grin appears on his face.
"The plant is vulnerable to fire, though...."
Thriss'k darts forward, body remaining low to the ground in an attempt to remain out of sight.
Ghul and Unifax trundle forward, opting to go straight up the hill rather than taking the long way around. Luckily even with the difficulty of the terrain the distance is short enough that it doesn't pose a problem for the dhampir. However, as he gets close to Orange the tendrils that surround the creature suddenly reach out and attempt to grab him!
Thriss'k, having the advantage of both Pathfinder schooling and being a native of these swamps, recognizes both the strange plant and the humanoid creatures that accompany it. Perhaps a bit late, he warns of the dangers of these creatures - especially the ability of the thralls to grab hold of potential prey. But on the bright side, the plant is apparently vulnerable to burnination! He then advances towards the hill.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
==============
Red
==============
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Orange
Green (Igix)
Blue
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Rawiri and Merian are UP!
As Ghul suddenly finds himself grabbed by wandering tendrils, Rawiri hustles closer, drawing his clan dagger as he does. He does a little dance, trying to fascinate Orange but the thrall doesn't seem to appreciate the performing arts. Still, Rawiri feels a small surge of power after his dance.
Merian drops her barrel to the ground with a loud *WHOMP* and pulls out a trident before also moving up to engage Orange. She stabs her weapon deeply into Orange's chest, leaving large, gaping wounds - but the thrall doesn't fall. Merian also fares a bit better than Ghul, managing to avoid Orange's grabby tendrils.
Aware of the presence of potential prey close by, the musk creeper slowly shambles its way forward slightly and releases a spray of spores in a cone that washes over Merian and the nearby thrall!
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
==============
Red
==============
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Orange
Green (Igix)
Blue
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Smell of the Pines is UP!
Merian finds herself rather disgusted as the yellow musk creeper farts at her in the most hostile way, but otherwise seems to be unharmed by it!
Smell of the Pines and Resinosa both close in on the action as well, with Resinosa taking the lead and flinging one of her branches at Orange. The branch connects with deadly force and accuracy, impaling the thrall in a splatter of blood and sickly-green chlorophyll! It collapses to the ground, the tendrils wrapped around Ghul going limp and releasing him from their grasp.
Green Thrall Igix and Blue Thrall both shamble forward, swinging their fists at Merian, but both of them miss - she doesn't even have to deflect with her shield. However, their proximity puts both Merian and Ghul within reach of their mindlessly-grasping tendrils.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
==============
Red
==============
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Green (Igix)
Blue
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Rawiri, Ghul, Merian and Thriss’k are UP!
|
|
Ghul pushes forward, lurching his back into his trained stance, grabbing his shield by his other hand, and bracing the center of the remaining foes, his protective aura shifting towards the center of the conflict, shimmering with a faint glimmer of warmth, in stark contrast to his cold touch, as if soaking up the very violence itself, and storing it like some kind of latent energy!
◆) Everstand Stance
◆) Stride
◆) Raise Shield (AC 22)
+
↺) Glimpse of Redemption
↺) Shield Block
~) First reaction to trigger
|
|
Thriss'k takes a quick glance at what remains of Igix, but doesn't have the heart to commit violence against his used-to-be clanmate. Instead, he makes sure he has a clear shot at the Red plant, and produces a small orb of fire, which he chucks at Red.
Thriss'k winces as he sees his fellow Pathfinders all standing around what used to be Igix. "I don't know if we can bring Igix back, but please don't hurt him too much," he says.
Though she finds herself somehow grabbed by both Green and Blue, Merian enters her specialized fighting stance before channeling a ray of magical frost into the strike she takes against Blue. Even hampered by the grasping tendrils, she easily connects - in the blink of an eye the thrall is both frozen by the spell and shattered into a dozen pieces by the force of Merian's trident!
Content to act as a bulwark for his allies, Ghul grips his shield in both hands before advancing up the hill and towards Red. Once positioned, he raises said shield, ready to defend.
Concerned for Igix, Thriss'k hangs back at the bottom of the hill and conjures fire into his hand, which he opts to fling at the yellow musk creeper. It's close, but he manages to hit! The fire burns brightly for a moment, withering some of the plant's tendrils.
Rawiri dashes forward, taking care to stay clear of the creeper's tendrils, and delivers a graceful, stylish strike to the plant with his dagger! He then draws out a second weapon, a rather nasty-looking razor that glitters in the light.
Noticeably burnt and oozing green fluid, the creeper lashes out at the things causing it harm. Two tendrils strike at Merian; she reflexively raises her shield to block the first one just as Ghul's power shines brightly for a moment and the combination serves to largely protect her from the first strike, leaving her only a little bruised. Though the creeper seems to weaken, the second tendril manages to just barely make it past Merian's defenses to slap her upside the head - it's a lot less fun than getting slapped with a trout!
A third tendril tries to swing at Rawiri but it misses by a country mile.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
==============
Red
==============
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Green (Igix)
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Smell of the Pines is UP!
Smell of the Pines and Resinosa continue to act in tandem as they position themselves to help their allies. This time it is Smell of the Pines who acts, conjuring an orb of fire into its palm and expertly lobbing it in a high arc that sees the orb land inside the creeper's open mouth...pitcher...thing.
*WHOOSH!*
The yellow musk creeper erupts in flames from the inside out! As the fire rapidly consumes the creeper and its greenery withers and shrivels, a faint screeching whine can be heard - and then, silence.
At this, Kazuuk, who has apparently been watching for signs of any other hostiles in the area, calls out, "Don't hurt Igix, maybe we can still save him! Try to knock him out or something!"
Now bereft of his creeper master, Igix-thrall wildly flails at both Ghul and Merian with his fists, accomplishing exactly nothing. The tendrils coming from his form are still an issue however as they instinctively reach out for Ghul yet again.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Green (Igix)
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Everyone is UP!
Responding to its master's unspoken command, Unifax moves up the hill and positions themselves behind Igix, as Ghul swings his shield back and forth in an attempt to knock the poor iruxi out cold!
Using a shield in this manner - especially without doing permanent harm - is easier said than done, however. Even pinned between two foes, Igix manages to avoid both strikes.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Green (Igix)
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Rawiri, Merian, Thriss’k and Smell of the Pines are UP!
While Merian tries unsuccessfully to clock Igix with the side of her trident rather than the pointy ends, Thriss'k waits and watches anxiously, unsure of what to do or how to help.
______________
Rawiri
Ghul
>Unifax
Merian
Thriss’k
Smell of the Pines
>Resinosa
==============
Green (Igix)
Active Conditions: None
Environmental Conditions: None
Rawiri and Smell of the Pines are UP!
Rawiri moves forwards and tries to tumble through the Igix
But the slams into him instead. He makes another attempt
, and he rolls behind the possessed creature.
He drops his dagger to the ground and with a half-turn he hits with his backfist, trying to knock the creature out.
Though it's easier said than done, Resinosa (with some help from Smell of the Pines) and Rawiri manage to pummel Igix into unconsciousness and put an end to the battle!
"Thank you, friends," Kazuuk rumbles as he sprints up the hill to assist you, producing some thick, braided cords from his pack. "Here, I will bind his limbs and those...tendrils...to keep him causing anymore trouble. When you're ready, we should return to the enclave - Shaman Gaaz will know for sure if he can be saved or not."
______________
After taking a few minutes to catch your breath, mend Merian's wounds, and secure the rest of the area (during which you find little of interest or value), you begin the trek back to the Tskikha enclave with an unconscious and bound Igix in tow. Thankfully the return path is easy to follow and the journey back is uneventful.
As the group comes striding into the enclave Kazuuk calls out, "Fetch Shaman Gaaz right now!" There's a flurry of activity as Igix is whisked away into a nearby mound, accompanied by Shaman Gaaz and several of the enclave's healers. Kazuuk watches them go, a mixture of worry and resignation on his face.
"It'll be up to our healers and maybe even Igix himself now," he remarks. "But at least he is young and strong. Such advantages can make all the difference."
Turning back to you, he bows his head. "I must go give my report to Chief Thakik. Please, wait here until she calls for you."
Kazuuk disappears inside the Chief's dwelling and for several minutes there is little for you to do but wait. Luckily you aren't left hanging for too terribly long as Kazuuk finally pokes his head out and beckons you all to enter.
Chief Thakik once again sits atop her bone throne, but now the hint of a smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "Kazuuk tells us you were quite impressive! This is good to hear. I wish to learn more of what you found, and I'm certain the Tskikha and the Pathfinder Society have a bright future ahead!"