=Tracking=
Cloaker: -47
New this round: MI 5
New damage to Xiao this round: 9
The fire elemental fails to find an opening as Ferdrin unleashes another barrage. The damage staggers the creature, allowing Chunhua and Aldar to land their strikes (5 and 4 more damage to Xiao, respectively).
Round 5
Freed up as Xiao's body goes limp, the cloaker exerts its will as the shadows peel away and reform around its body, creating additional simulacra. The armada then proceeds to launch itself upward through the crevice.
Party Up!
|
Critical confirmation and damage
Aldar takes his quick swing before moving to help Xiao.
Aldar pulls out a jar, pulls off the lid, and shoves it under Xiao's nose. "You may want to heal yourself, friend."
These sharply scented gray crystals cause people inhaling them to regain consciousness. Smelling salts grant you a new saving throw to resist any spell or effect that has already rendered you unconscious or staggered. If exposed to smelling salts while dying, you immediately become conscious and staggered, but must still make stabilization checks each round; if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous action), you take 1 point of damage after completing the act and fall unconscious again. A container of smelling salts has dozens of uses if stoppered after each use, but depletes in a matter of hours if left open.
Ferdrin's continuous arsenal of arcane missiles knocks the cloaker out of the air and it crashes into the tangle of roots and vines.
Combat over!
The temperature rises toward the back of the cave. A tangle of vines spins and twists out of the rocky ground to cradle an enormous seedling. Both the seedling and the vines glow with a vibrant green light.
|
As they continue along and start winding through the tunnels, Ferdrin's fire elemental finally goes back to his home (for now).
When they come to the warm opening, Ferdrin suspects the seedling is some form of living creature. He inspects it from afar, hoping to confirm this.
He also checks the room for any magical auras.
|
|
“I recognize the first one there as Speak with Plants.”
“Hey, does anyone want to use the speak with plants scroll to communicate with the seedlings and the vines? Perhaps they know where Amenira is, and what condition she’s in?”
Chunhua gestures at the brilliantly glowing lifeforms. “I wonder if this is where Robori came from originally? Remember the blight we found on Robori’s roots?”
“Maybe this little guy could be his replacement?”
Ferdrin confirms that the seedling is alive and plant-like in nature, but not more than that. Casting detect magic, Ferdrin's senses are overloaded with transmutation and conjuration magic, like staring at an eclipse unshielded. It takes more than a few moments to recover.
Chunhua doesn't notice anything past what's been covered.
|
|
Wow. That is a lot of magic. I can't pinpoint specific affects. Lots of conjuration and transmutation.
Ferdrin frowns. For all of his academic knowledge he does not have anything resembling the druidic powers.
I'm afraid I don't.
He begins flipping through his spellbook, but that doesn't last long.
Finally he turns to the doll that's been following them.
Can you tell us about this plant?
Ever stoic, Nira flatly answers, "Plant... grows?".
Stepping forward, Xiao queries the seedling, allowing the manure-like stench to fully fill his nostrils while waiting in silence.
Xiao completes the druidic incantation, but doesn't notice any immediate effect.
A gentle rustling of foilage stirs through the cave as Xiao and the seedling begin to converse.
|
Xiao junior starts by explaining that he is a Halfling and also gives details about his companions.
”We have been in this town for a while now because it has been protected from many incidents in the last years! Something is protecting this town and the people here are praying to the higher power! But there are also forces here that are trying to create instability and or even endanger this town and we protected it and it’s inhabitants! Can you tell us more about yourself?!“ he asks.
|
|
"Did you want to ask about Amenira, Xiao Junior?"
Chunhua reconsiders her statement as soon as it passes her lips. "Hmm ... maybe we should wait to find out more about our plant friend first?"
❦
"Do they know about Robori? Or the Cloaker and the bats? What about the human sacrifice on the altar we found?"
|
|
So the entity the villagers worship as their protector is a sentient alien plant?? Wow! Was not expecting that!
“Can anyone detect evil or good?”
“Xiao Junior, can you please ask our friend where they came from and how they came to be on this planet?”
“Also, do they perceive an evil presence or shadow(?) trying to corrupt or destroy their good work?”
"My children were like you... fleshlings... halflings... humans... but I've helped them... made them stronger..."
...
"Warmth... waters from the skys... Elders... they brought me here... then left... to grow?"
...
"Sense no evil... just hardship... help children I must..."
|
|
Oh, yes. Two more questions and then I’m ready to move on.
But first, Chunhua takes a moment to digest all she’s heard and put it together with what she’s experienced over the past two weeks.
“So if I’m understanding correctly, the Mercyites are unknowingly worshiping our friend here, who has the power to move the Mana storms away from the village.”
“The alien plant is benevolent, and wants to see their ‘worshippers’ thrive. Any threats to the village are either:
• Normal human societal infighting, or
• A ‘natural’ external predator, raiding a village it perceives as weak (ie the Cloaker, which we have slain)
She frowns as she tries to put what Nira has said together with the honest plant’s ruminations.
“There are still a few things that I’m still not satisfied about:
• Nira associates Mercy with Murder. I assume that means Amenira was murdered, but maybe it was by the Cloaker and not a villager??
• Who established the cave altar to the Outer god, complete with items native to Mercy? Was it the Cloaker? Could it have been Amenira? (I expect the altar is outside our Plant friend’s sensing range)
• Where is Amenira, or her remains now?
Chunhua pauses to listen to what the others have to say, before turning to Xiao Junior.
“Do you think you could ask our friend if it knows Amenira, her condition and where she might be please, Xiao Junior?”
“Also what is in the underground chamber we haven’t explored yet.”
Who established the cave altar to the Outer god, complete with items native to Mercy? Was it the Cloaker?
After thinking aloud, Nira's arm starts to shake violently, the sound of wood on wood, "Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!" as the doll pounds the ground several times before slowing in fatigue, crumpling over itself.
---
Answering Xiao, "No... no Amenira fleshlings... the names of fleshlings are not known...."
"Storage from the Elders, they say."
|
|
"Maybe it will lead into another 'room' we have encountered before, Freddy. But I don't think that necessarily means it will become a dead end."
Chunhua shoulders her longbow and draws her Lucerne hammer. "I'm up for searching the passage for any loose ends remaining from this caper.”
"Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!"
“Poor, Nira.”
The young warrior sighs, having grown fond of the ‘living doll’ that scared the life out of her the first time they met.
“I guess the Cloaker was both the murderer and Outer god devotee.”
|
|
I hope the Cloaker was it... I believe the level of danger of such devotees only grows stronger from there. Given the townsfolk' strong beliefs, we might need one to come see and confirm its remains to resolve the matter. Perhaps you are right about this passage, I will scan it with you. Who knows, perhaps Nira's body is stuff back there...
|
|
Although her head had accepted for some time that Amenira is probably dead, Chunhua can’t help wiping away a tear upon being confronted by the physical evidence and the living homunculus’ mournful wail.
“I’m so sorry, Nira. I wish there was more we could do.”
Chunhua removes her enchanted cloak and gently and respectfully wraps up Amenira’s remains within it.
“The smell might be too bad to get her back to Absalom, but I’ll be damned if I’m burying her in the Mana Wastes.”
Chunhua slows her breathing and washes her face with a half-skin of water. “Nira what would you like to do? I don’t know what your lifespan is, but you’re welcome to accompany us back to Absalom.”
“The three spherical seedpods are likely the Cloaker’s treasure. Does someone want to detect magic or otherwise identify them?”
Given the townsfolk' strong beliefs, we might need one to come see and confirm its remains to resolve the matter.
“Although the Mercyites didn’t do us any favors, I think it’s only right they know their enemy is dead.”
The warrior's demeanor hardens. “I’m not inclined to backtrack miles to the village, and cop a heap of disbelief and abuse for my trouble though.”
“I suggest we send a letter to Sheriff Molume via the next supply wagon from Katapesh, while we get debriefed by VC Roderus.”
After some time, Nira's head wobbles back from hanging limply to one side to the other, a little less off-center than before. "Home. Nira go home..." she answers, trodding after the group sullenly.
|
|
Ferdrin grimaces and looks away when Chunhua chokes up a bit. He's just about the worst at emotional support. Not a lot of academic study for that...
Her hardening of demeanor brings him relief, but Ferdrin frowns at the practicality of her suggestion. Closure with the townsfolk would be good, but pushing through the social friction of their skepticism sure would take a chunk of energy. Perhaps sending a letter is better.
He nodes and approaches the seed pods to scan them for magic...
There's certainly something here...
These pods contain enchanted liquids that are roughly like potions for three different effects: greater escape, protection from alignment, and resilience.
|
|
"The body has been dead for two months."
Chunhua closes the corners of her cloak over the remains of Amenira's face. "So at least all the runaround the Villagers gave us didn't change anything. The poor thing had already passed to the Boneyard by the time we arrived in Mercy."
"She bears wounds inflicted by several bites, which are the most likely cause of death. So again I think we can be fairly confident the Cloaker did it."
🔫
"Thanks for sorting out the plant-based potions, Freddy."
The warrior straightens up, hefting her pack. "I've also realized Alkenstar is closer to Mercy than Katapesh."
"If we send a letter by supply wagon, it will probably reach Mercy more quickly from there."