DM Brainiac's Stolen Fate: Table 1

Game Master Brainiac

The audience gasps and cries out as you make your dramatic arrival on the stage. The actors pause mid-sentence to stare at you with wide eyes.

After a moment's hesitatoin, the actor playing Alangus Thrune takes a wary step forward. "By Asmodeus's ruby rod! What beneficence! It would seem that more aid hath arrived to battle the dread linnorm Bandraguzun! But, uh, there is no need for that, verily, for I, Alangus Thrune, have the situation well in hand! Wouldst thou kindly return to thine seats that you may witness my glorious victory?"

Now that they were so much closer, Sanjana could admire the details of the costume, as well as the "linnorm" the actor is confronting. Sadly, this was not the best time for that - they had to make this look as a part of the performance, or at least buy the others time to do.... whatever they planned to do. Assuming there was a plan.

"Art though so sure of victory, then? Dost thou not know of the peril that awaits thee?" Sanjana pulls out the rod from their belt and uses it to gesture dramatically at the actor. "For behold! a winter witch has placed a most terrible curse upon thee, using rituals most secret and ancient! Lo! The curse, inscribed upon the Harrow card tucked into thine cloth!"

Performance: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32
Deception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Alangus frowns and looks down at the card tucked into his costume. "Nay, thou art mistaken. This Harrow card was a gift that appeared to me afore I set out on my quest to tame the savage North! 'Tis a blessing, not a curse, friend."

The crowd murmurs, confused by the sudden shift in the narrative but buying it as part of the performance. Backstage, you catch a glimpse of a man who must be the play's director gnashing his teeth and twisting his hat in his hands as a confused stagehand hurriedly flips through pages of the play's script.

"A curse indeed, else your motley outrages would not have caught my eye. Come fool, see if my 'savagery' may be tamed."

Exploit Weakness/Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24 Siiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhhhh

"I've no wish to fight you," Alangus says. "I've more pressing concerns at the moment, for this dread linnorm yet draws breath!" He glances at the mechanical linnorm. The puppeteers inside have been staring dumbfounded at the confrontation. Alangus clears his throat. "I said, this dread linnorm yet draws breath!"

The puppeteers snap to attention and begin operating the linnorm again! Its jaws open wide, and an illusory growl echoes across the stage. Alangus levels his prop sword at the dragon, turning his back to you, as he raises his voice in operatic song.

"Now, have at thee, foul wyrm! The fight's not over yet!
House Thrune will prevail! On that, thou canst bet!
By blade or by bow, I'll indeed win the day!
And prove life is the best when lived the Chelish way!"

It is all that Sanjana can do to not roll their eyes at the terrible verses. Flourishing the silver-filigreed scepter, the kashrishi raises their voice to counter the hapless actor.

"Beneath the icy cloak in winters of yore,
A wrathsome witch calls forth the ancient lore,
Conjuring high the aurora's blazing light,
To thwart the invader, and banish him from sight."

Brilliant, shimmering light bursts over the actor's head, bathing him in blues, greens, purples and whites - an approximation of the phenomenon that Sanjana had read about.

Cast Hypnotic pattern on the actor, DC 31 Will.

Alangus stops and stares, slack-jawed, at the shimmering pattern of lights in the air. The crowd gasps and murmurs appreciatively at the dazzling display!

Will: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

While Pen has a desire to attempt to Do Anything to show this land the error of its ways, she knows just random acts of violence will do little to change their minds... she knows this. Yes, She Does!

Her mind and heart has a little talk as Sanjana takes care of the situation, sets them down the sensible non violent path. Yes, sensible.

So the wizard casts invisibility on herself and flies behind the slack-jawed actor to remove the card from his person. Hopefully calculating the dimensions of the lovely pattern.

Pen is able to yoink the Harrow card out of the actor's belt without him being the wiser. Everybody else is still distracted by the shimmering pattern.

Flying back to the others, hovering like an unseen ghost in the air, the disembodied voice of Pentella Cole softly says "I have it."

Angered nearly beyond measure by Alangus's cowardice, Visna shoves Maiden's Smile into its loop on her belt. She plucks a long-handled great flail from the bracelet at her wrist, the unnatural laminate of the conjured haft reflecting oddly in the light of Sanjana's Aurora.

Then she strikes.

The threefold heads thrum through the air for an instant before the sound of splintering wood and tearing fabric drown them out as Visna demolishes the puppet-Linnorm.

"Learn what meager history your own people possess before attempting to steal from us again. This mercy is unearned."

Turning to the stagehands or anyone else of halfling stature she announces, "We must depart for now, but any who wish to dwell in the free city of Absalom may travel with us."

You open a portal back to the Harrowed Realm. A half dozen halfling stagehands use this opportunity to rush through the gateway, a chance for freedom from corrupt Chelish society. The confused audience applauds as you make your escape with The Theater.

Heading back into Harrowheart so quickly Briar laughed. "Well that should teach them. Perhaps a short reprieve and then we make our mark on the last few cards?"

She understood that Pen and Visna would perhaps need a small bit of decompression time after that mess.

Pen is... what is she. Surprised, elated, glowing, maybe stumped, but the sight of the six people FREED

FREED!

well that is something she will never forget (not that forgetting is an option under normal conditions, but this memory will be held in a tight excited hug for decades if not centuries).

She stops, nods to Briar's suggestion "Yes, please." Before disappearing to her cozy, cat-filled room, she places a hand tentatively on Visna's shoulder, to get her attention, then quickly pulls it back. "I know you will tell me it is not needed. But... thank you." two words, completely honest, with the weight of awe and relief.

"Hwaet!" The anger that clouded Visna's temples vanishes from her face in bemusement. "Pen, never would I disdain something so precious. I wish only that I had done as much when I trod these lands ere now. Yet the first visit and then the second were spent reaving and raiding the manses of petty tyrants, and an empty seat could only be carved upon the benches by a fallen friend. When I returned alone, I swam the river Adivian unto the Chelish heart. It made me difficult to track, to hunt, but it meant that when I departed, all that returned at my side were memories..." A cloud returns.

"I pray we may return, when time is less short. Word of those dear to me does not easily escape such a land."

"Thank you, my Pen, for claiming the prize of that folly's Thrune, for allowing me the chance to right at least the shadow of a greater wrong."

The first thing was to see to the needs of their new guests, so Sanjana busies themselves getting the halflings comfortable and getting their input in carving out space for them in the citadel. Then, the kashrishi begins gently conversing with them.

First, they introduce themselves, mentioning the names of the other three and reassuring any who might be apprehensive about Briar. They listen to any details the halflings might wish to share about themselves, and asks what their immediate desires are. After such an eventful evening, they should all rest before discussing plans for the future.

Diplomacy for halflings: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (10) + 26 = 36

Pen had forgotten about the card. The reason we were there.

But a story given demands a story in return. "I lived there once, as a clerk. There was a protest against the new lord-mayor, a minor one but it turned violent." Pen remembered getting in the way of someone else about to be arrested, when she should have tried to get away. "The friends I was with and myself were arrested, and while I was let go eventually, they never were." records of the arrest gone, sold by the guards under the table to some slaver, moved out of the city. "I never found them."

The gloom was strong in those final words, blaming herself as much as despising that land. But when her eyes rise up to Visna's there is fire "When you return, I would like to go with you." Pen is not mild clerk she was back then.

But she still is that person that personable skills slip through the cracks time and again, which is one of the Many reasons having Sanjana around is fortuitous. When she notices, Pen excuses herself from the warrior, and follows the Kashrishhi and her charges around, taking notes and helping as she can.

After Pen leaves to tour with Sanjana, Briar looks over to Visna.

"So... that was... an odd altercation of culture." Letting that linger for just shy of being awkward she plodded on with a chipper mood. "Would you care to talk about it Visna?"

"The lie offends me. It lays claim to my home and to the freedom of my people. At that theater it merely gets fatuous applause, but the lie does not stop there. The house of Thrune and those before them have used that lie and others like it to war and murder. It offends me."

Having never really had to deal with such a place trying to usurp her own home Briar didn't have much to compare it to. Outside of perhaps one commonality.

"I'm sorry that it offends you. They shouldn't be so willing to try and steal your ancestral home from you, and the precious lives that guard it. I don't know what we might be able to do now, or if we'll be able to do anything in our short time in this world. But I know your great deeds will be sung about in truth should you take them to your home."

Her eyes wander on Visna for a bit trying to gauge if that helped or not, "Might I spin you a tale of my own, of how my people were nearly consumed by an untamable force? I don't want to encroach on a subject that may be seen as belittling your feelings on the matter at hand. Just perhaps it will get your mind off of things enough to come to a solution in the future."

"Your tale would be most welcome, Briar."

"Come then we shouldn't be standing for the entirety of it."

She leads the way towards one of the comfier seating areas no doubt that Sanjana has already lead her charges and Pen through so that they'd not be bothered soon. "As you well know I hail from Mwangi and I joined with Sanjana on their quest to fulfil their destiny. What you may not know, is the exact nature of how we came to be traveling companions, or why I of all my clan, especially of my young age, was chosen to be the champion of our people." Briar lacked the ability to provide suitable tea and sweet amenities that Sanjana and Pentella could. But at least she could choose a good place to sit, with a nice view through one of the windows over the sprawling town.

Gripping the bone dagger abroad her breast, the gnoll began twisting it between her thumb and index recalling the memories. "Before I was born my clan was quite prosperous, we had decent dealings with the humans and elves in the dense jungles. Few natural enemies, excellent knowledge of the lands we call home, and exceptional hunters to protect us from the roaming beasts." She dropped the knife that had been the subject of her remembrance and undid the satchel around her waist. Dragging it into her lap to rifle through the contents producing a shallow bowl which she placed onto the short table.

"There were of course those who wanted more, speaking that the ancestors wouldn't want us to deal with cowards who relied on trade, and those who relied on outsiders were doomed to perish. Our Matriarchs largely disagreed with such dissenters and ignored them, though with all things there are exceptions. Those being the members of the Deft claws." She waved the name off like a bad omen. "May the great mother gnaw their bones to dust." Shaking her head, her bead coated mane giving soft clinks she continues.

"They left and shortly after we were visited by deadly plagues that ravaged the jungle. I was born to this life, where mothers, fathers, and children were born sickly with mange. The beasts were poison to us and themselves. The very trees wept with puss as if some diseased flesh had spread to them. At first the correlation between those who left and the disease the spirits of the ancestors became mad and panicked, hard to reach. Those who clung to their wisdom too closely worried that we'd upset them, by working with outsiders. By the time we learned the truth, that the little pack had turned to darker powers to punish us for our actions, my people were too weak to do much about it. Years of the wasting disease slowly witling at our strength. So we reached out to the scholars at Magaambya for aid. They sent a small contingent of adventurers, of which a slightly younger Sanjana was a member. They quickly put an end to the plague spreading cult and brought us food and medicine that we could no longer procure in our section of the jungle."

She dug into another of her bags pulling free a smaller pouch containing a few clacking pieces, peeking into the tiny bag she pondered something before looking over the table at Visna. "Soon the spirits could answer us, tell the speakers of their pain, their requests to give thanks to the saviors of our way of life. And although never touched by the disease myself I was thankful." She let that hang for a time, giving Visna time to ask any questions that she may have had.

"Had you enough in your clan to maintain your territory? I know that in a land of dangers, even a great champion cannot be the answer to all things at all times."

Briar shook her head to the question. "We had been reduced greatly, it was up to the young braves since our elders had been stricken with the disease in the years they struggled to protect us from it. They could share their knowledge, but their bodies could hardly keep up anymore."

She poured the knuckle bones into her large hand and held them unsure for several moments. "So of course those of us who could learn and train to protect our way of life did. It's the way of Mwangi, the strong survive, the weak perish. A harsh reality, but one that we accept in kind." Briar's hands clench around the knuckles tightly and though she could probably crush them if she really tried, she resolved not to crush or cast them.

"I was young but determined as no doubt you can tell. But my true path was always clouded before me. My ancestors refused to speak to me, refused to gift unto me knowledge. I thought I was unworthy, not enough, weak. So I sought out greater and greater challenges to prove myself thus cementing the legend of my strength for even far away clans to sing of." Her eyes fell to the bones in her palm again, as tears started to rim her eyes which she fought to blink back. "But they still... never answered. So when our eldest bone speaker called me forth to receive a message from our honored dead. I was elated, they had finally answered, finally seen me as something to be proud of, deserving of their fleeting attention if even for only a moment. I was told in no short terms, upon her death bed that I was to bear her jaw into battle, to repay a debt that our clan had earned years ago. To join Sanjana on their quest to follow their own destiny. So I did, so I have, for several years now."

Briarthorn seems to mull that over for several tender moments, "Even now I don't plan on backing down from my duty. No matter what it is that comes at us. But I can't help but wonder if this is all some cruel ploy. Am I to be a speaker for our dead." She lifts the knuckles up in her right hand. "Or." She plucks the dagger with her left, "Simply the executioner."

Visna sits quietly with Briar's words.

"I do believe in fates, and in duties owed to those that precede us. I believe the gods make those paths easier, and those difficult paths they truly wish trod are bedecked with the rewards of pleasing them. Most of us tread the easy path. Most heroes walk the harder. But if there is no trail before you that pleases you, I think you strong enough to blaze your own."

Visna gives a faint smile. "Though I consider myself fortunate that Sanjana's orbit has intersected so with my own. It is good to see them again, but I would have been the worse for having only known you in song."

Briar closed her hands around both objects as Visna shared her wisdom and feelings on the matter.
"Well suffice to say I am glad to have met you in person as well Visna. Perhaps I will either find the destiny the fates have decreed for me or I shall find the exact method to carve my own path as you say."

Though all the accoutrements are present for a cast of the bones Briar seems reluctant to actually attempt the ritual feeling unsure of what she'd even ask the ancestors. Even less sure that they'd actually respond or give her a sign.

"I hope that in sharing my tale I have aided you in your own dilemma in some manner?"

If ya'll wanna kick off the next gate i'm game, we can always spoiler tag this convo

Once you are ready, you step through the Arch of Tomes, emerging into the southern side of a clearing within a sweltering jungle on the side of a vast mountain range in Nagajor. One the opposite side of the clearing, a group of five figures work diligently at siphoning magic into a handful of seeds to grow the last of a ring of rice plants that surrounds the clearing.

It takes a few moments for the people to notice you. They are reptilian humanoids known as nagaji. They cry out in shock at your sudden appearance and assume defensive positions.

Visna raises an empty hand, her drinking horn in the other.

"Hold! We are not here for anything hwaet will cause you harm. I know that this land is of Nagajor, but which queendom is it that we have come to?"

She takes a sip then holds the horn out uncapped in offering.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 22 + 1 = 31+1 more if they take a drink

The nagaji do not speak Taldane, but when Pen translates Visna’s words into Tien, they begin to relax. One cautiously takes the drinking horn and sips, then he nods and passes it to the others.

”We are outside any known queendom, travelers. We are members of the Scaleseed Order—a group who works to protect nature from undead and other unnatural creatures. We have come to this isolated place after receiving word that a vampiric threat named Kannijo has been feeding on the essence of those who lived in the region. Alas, we quickly learned we lacked the skill to face Kannijo, and when our attempt to destroy the vampire succeeded only in drawing his attention, we began to despair.

“You should stay with us for protection, for once the sun sets, Kannijo hunts. Kannijo is beyond an atrocity. We had feared he was one of us, but spurned by death to feast upon the breath of the living, but we had no idea he was once one of our glorious leaders—a naga. We must report to our leaders of this development, but such a journey can’t be made before nightfall. Please, help us to survive the night, and your place in the world beyond would surely grow the grander for your aid!”

"A... vampire naga?" Sanjana tilts their head at the nagaji speaking to them, trying to see if they understood correctly. It would not be unheard of, for the curse of vampirism could take hold in many beings.

Recall knowledge, occultism: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (19) + 22 = 41

"Fascinating. If I recall correctly, they are undead who can regenerate. They cannot be poisoned, paralyzed, or put to sleep, and they are very difficult to kill, unless one uses weapons made from darkwood." The kashrishi looks inquisitively at their new nagaji friend; it may be too much to hope that the Scaleseed Order would be in the possession of such. "On the other hand, they can be held at bay by brandishing a mirror or ringing bells, but only for a short while." Remembering something, Sanjana addresses the nagaji directly. "Do you have an altar to the ancestors nearby? I remember reading that reminding them of their mortal origin could afflict such vampires with severe melancholy." To their friends, they add "And don't let it grab you! It will steal your life force through your breath."

As communication becomes key, Pen casts a spell that allows her to pass the translations to her companions quickly. Telepathic bond

As she translates Sanjana's questions, the elf includes "And she means Yes, to the helping you tonight." the bowels of hell itself could be boiling up to take these people and Pen knew her companions would never leave these people to their fate.

Visna perks up at the words 'vampire naga,' almost seeming to grow an extra inch out of sheer interest.

"Will this horror surely come to us? Or is there other prey whose victimization our own hunt might forestall?"

She listens to Pentella translate with the almost pained concentration of someone who's maybe catching every word in ten. "My thanks once more, Pen. When I travel alone in lands where my tongue might as well hang mute, I use scrolls or hirelings to make my words known, but with our travel so swift, and our foes so many, your learning is a treasure I cannot match." A thought strikes her. "Unless one of them wishes to place a wager on a game of shogi in Minkaian."

The nagaji shakes his head. "We have no altar here in the jungle, alas. The rice is our only protection. There is no one else nearby. Kannijo will come for us."

Another nagaji steps forward. "Kannijo commands the inner violence of plants themselves," he forlornly notes. "His minions will not be stopped by the rice. They will need to be dealt with. And his warped fulu is of a type we have never before encountered. A stiff square of paper depicting a humanoid figure armed with green poison." That sounds an awful lot like the image on The Snakebite.

"We must finish the ritual before sundown. Will you aid us?"

AID RICE RITUAL
CONCENTRATE, EXPLORATION

A character spends the last few hours before sundown aiding the Scaleseeds in preparing the ring of rice plants by attempting a DC 23 Farming Lore or Survival check, a DC 28 Nature check, or a DC 30 Religion check.

Critical Success: The PCs gain 2 Rice Ritual Points.
Success: The PCs gain 1 Rice Ritual Point.
Critical Failure: The PCs lose 1 Rice Ritual Point.

Briar keeps to the back ready to jump in if hostilities resume, but it seems to her that things are winding down quickly especially after Pentella spreads the knowledge with her telepathic bond.

"Greatmothers gaping maw, we're to deal with an undead abomination."

The gnoll seems to bristle and somehow grow even larger than she usually is becoming unusually serious at the situation. "We must help them rid the world of such a foul creature, card or no. Sanjana please share with me all that you know, if we must find a weapon of this Darkwood then we shall require it before the beast is upon us. But I fear we won't have time given the position of the sun. Is there any potential that we might be the ones to ambush it rather than the other way around?"

When the nagaji move to continue their ritual Briar moves forward to aid them. Looking to the others, "If you have ways to set up traps do so with what time we have. I'll aid them in their cultivation, though I know not how much aid they will need."

Survival: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42

Visna falters, clearly far outside the realms of her expertise. Using Esoteric Lore for all Recall Knowledgees is catching up with me bad right now lol

Religion: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

Dreaming of Good Saves for later: 1d6 ⇒ 4
The roll: 1d20 ⇒ 191d20 ⇒ 14 So I can roll a 19 on a Reflex later today

Survival: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36

Food, or things that were about to become food, was right up Sanjana's alley, so they are only to happy to help with planting the rice plants and helping them grow in record time. As they work, meticulously making evenly spaced holes in the soil and placing the seeds in them, they relate to Briar all that they know about the strengths and weaknesses of what they are about to face.

Nature, to find darkwood: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25

"Given what we know of it, we can certainly try to steer things to our advantage. The nagaji probably cannot fight it, but they can perhaps wield mirrors and bells to corral it, although they will put themselves in danger." Remembering what the nagaji had said about its warped fulu, Sanjana adds, "The card on its brow makes it immune to spells cast from a scroll or other item, but if one of us manages to sneak up on it while it is still unaware of our presence, we have a chance to steal it - and thus render it vulnerable to such spells again."

Pentalla does not swell in any way at the prospect of fighting an undead horror. She had dreamt of a simple life long ago, and now would be happy if none of those she has grown to care about would be butchered into vampire snacks. But she still could not imagine leaving these folk to their deathes.

So she settles her knees on the ground and quietly works on her given plants, methodically following the nagaji's instructions. Puck, her ceru, settles on her shoulders and tries to aid her with his luck.

Bit of Luck, roll twice and take the better
survival: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
survival: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

The little blue elephant does not help, but Pen feeds him a bit of halfling tart anyway.

6 Rice Ritual Points gained, plus 1 from the Scaleseeds efforts, for a total of 7, which is the maximum you can achieve.

Sanjana is unable to find any darkwood nearby. Still, you are able to help the nagajis complete their ritual, allowing them to use their magic to foster the rice plants' growth and create a protective ring as the sun sets.

Only a few minutes after night has fully fallen, the animal sounds of the surrounding jungle suddenly go silent. The sudden stillness is heavy with anticipation.

You have a few rounds to cast preparatory spells if you desire.

The surrounding trees rustle as three ambulatory plants creep out from the foliage. Each one is an enormous flytrap, several of their stalks ending in green, toothy jaws!

Everybody but Briar may act! Map updated.

Heroism, Enlarge, and Conductive Weapon up

Visna moves in closer and begins to hew away, trying to leave a place at her back that might be used as shelter. "Let us see if this time our battle-luck will prove mightier than plants." If this fight goes bad, Visna's gonna develop a complex lol

Stride
Esoteric Knowledge: 1d20 + 23 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 23 + 1 = 29
Snagging Strike: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 22 + 1 = 43
Magic Cold Iron Slashing + Cold + Electricity: 2d6 + 12 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 6) + 12 + (5) + (4) = 31 +10 for weakness, DC 24 Fort or Slowed, and flat-footed.

As danger approaches, Penetella casts a quick protection spell on Brair that hardens her skin. stoneskin Followed quickly by another that enchants her own eyes to SEE things as they really are. True Seeing

Then she holds her breath waiting for the moment-

THEY ATTACK!!

Plants. They are plants...

Visna's words make her remember they faced foliage and nearly died. "not this time" she whispered a firm promise to herself and then yelled "Incoming!" to her companions and allies to make sure they duck.

A split second later spears of flame shot through the night sky to bake and cinder. Cooking, hopefully, the plant the giant Visna is hewing.

scorching ray: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36
damage: 10d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 2, 5, 4, 6, 5, 4, 5) = 43
scorching ray: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29
damage: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 4, 5, 6, 2, 2, 5, 1, 3) = 37
scorching ray: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 34
damage: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 1, 6) = 34

Clutching their scroll case in one hand and the boomerang in the other, Sanjana glares at the giant carnivorous plants, also remembering the pain of the previous encounter with hostile flora.

With Visna and Pentella attacking one of the plants, they focus their attention on another (yellow).

Esoteric Lore, Exploit Vulnerability: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36

Esoteric Warden and Shared Warding: Sanjana and everyone else get +1 to AC and saves against yellow's next attack/effect, +2 if Esoteric Lore was a critical success.

Strike yellow, pacifying boomerang: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37 Damage, non-lethal: 1d6 + 4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 8 = 16

Share Weakness with Briar.

Visna moves in and snags the giant flytrap, scoring a critical hit! As she holds it, Pen unleashes a trio of scorching rays. The one that hits Visna's foe is also a critical hit, incinerating the wounded plant! The other two creatures burn as well. Sanjana whacks the second flytrap with their boomerang, but its pacifying effect is useless against the mindless plant.

The remaining flytraps move into the clearing, their jaws snapping at the rice plants! They each tear up a pair of plants, weakening the protective magic of the ritual!

Your Rice Ritual Points have been reduced to 5! Everybody may act.

"Hwaet! These plants are surely made animate by a wicked mind."

Trusting to Sanjana's wardings, Visna flings herself across the battlefield into the tangled vines of the northerly flytrap.

Stride, going after orange
Snagging Strike: 1d20 + 22 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 22 + 1 = 41
Damage: 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 4, 1, 1) + 12 = 24 +10 weakness, flat-footed, and I think DC 24 Fort or Slowed
Combat Grab: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 18 + 1 = 37 This could be a stride over to Yellow if appropriate
Damage: 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 2, 6, 6) + 12 = 27 +10 weakness, Grabbed, and I guess maybe DC 24 Fort or Slowed, but probably just dead.

As one plant burns to cinders, and another is being handled rather well by Visna, Pen concentrates on the remaining one that Sanjana hit with their boomerang. yellow

Grasping her staff in both hands, she focuses her mind and then sends a flaming ball shooting at the plant

produce flame, true strike: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29
produce flame, true strike: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26
fire damage: 6d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 1, 3, 2) + 5 = 17

Briar moves to interpose herself between the mages, the priests, the ritual circle, and the Giant plant. Bringing her fangs and weapon against the plant-matter since Visna clearly had the one on the other side of the clearing handled.

Bite: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31
piercing, acid, bleed: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 5) + 6 = 181d6 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 4
edit: +10 weakness

Bastard Sword 2hands: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25
slashing: 2d12 + 6 ⇒ (1, 8) + 6 = 15

move strike strike. No rage yet

Intensify Vulnerability: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Strike yellow: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (6) + 21 = 27 Strike yellow: 11 + 21 = 32 Damage, non-lethal: 1d6 + 4 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 8 = 18
Strike 2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21 Damage, non-lethal: 1d6 + 4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 8 = 16

Sanjana sends their boomerang twice more at their initial target, hoping it could be quickly destroyed before it does any more damage to the wards.

"Almost there! Strike them swiftly!"

Quick Capture vs Visna: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (5, 2) + 7 = 142d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7
Quick Capture vs Briar: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26

Visna moves up to another flytrap, scoring a critical hit as she snags it and then grabs a hold with her axes! It reacts by snapping a leaf around the Ulfen woman, its teeth digging into her flesh while caustic acid splashes her! Pen hurls flame at the plant, finishing it off and causing it to release Visna!

Meanwhile, Briar bites the remaining flytrap, dodging its snapping jaws. Sanjana scores a hit against it as well.

The remaining flytrap focuses on Briar, attacking with all four of its leaves! It hits the gnoll, grabbing her and trying to engulf her completely! Fortunately, she is too strong for it to swallow her.

Focused Assault: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33
Damage: 5d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 1, 4) + 7 = 292d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10
Swallow Whole: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

28 piercing and 14 acid damage to Visna. 29 piercing and 10 acid damage to Briar.

Bite: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 33
piercing, acid, bleed, weakness: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 8) + 6 = 161d6 ⇒ 51d6 ⇒ 110 = 10
grapple: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20

Briar tries to tear the stem of the plant with her fangs before wrestling with the plant to little effect. Sliding off of the plant's sappy exterior she runs her white glove over the wound she suffered from the plant causing the wound to close somewhat.

Healing glove: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 1) + 7 = 13

Pen still thinks preserving their resources is a good idea, since they needed to survive the night. There is no telling how many of these things the vampire naga can produce.

The wizard points her staff at the remaining plant, waiting until Briar slides off of its sappy exterior, then sending another bolt of fire at it.

fire bolt, true strike: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35
fire bolt, true strike: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35
damage: 6d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 4, 1, 4) + 5 = 22

Briar takes a bite out of the giant flytrap, then Pen finishes it off with a burning bolt of flame!

Moments later, a dimensional doorway opens in the center of the clearing. Through it hops a horrific monster, a pale spirit naga with milky white eyes and shreds of unshed skin hanging from his coils. Affixed to his brow is a Harrow card--The Snakebite.

Will vs Bitter Epiphany: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32

Kannijo hisses and recoils as she sees the rice plants around him. He is momentarily reminded of his debased nature and the truth of his existential disconnection from living beings. Still, though, he snarls at you. "Nine hundred and ninety-nine breaths I have stolen. I have received this sign that my ascension is at hand. Who among you shall feed me your breath, this precious final gasp I require?"

Sanjana and Visna may take their turns before Kannijo can act!