The spore explodes in a dangerous burst!
With the spore's destruction, a fissure in the ground is revealed—the route through which a filament of fungus burrowed here. The fissure collapses into rubble after a few feet, making it impossible to trace its source.
But you know now that Greengold is in danger. Fortunately, the ship you traveled on is still in port, and you are able to quickly book passage and set out immediately. You can only hope that Greengold will still be in one piece by the time you reach it...
Takarias paces, wishing he could do something to urge the shop on more quickly. He hopes the trip won't take years, like he heard happens sometimes in Iblydos.
The Ilverani Elf sniffs.
A bit dusty in here isn't it?
Idari races back to the docks!
Being drenched in poison spores cannot dim the incensed joy that fills Blooms in Darkness. "Proof! Treerazer's rot no longer hidden away beneath notice, but shown clear as day before all our eyes! This root has escaped us, yet naught else will of his rot!"
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After exiting the sewers and while waiting for the ship to prepare to make the return trip Alkabah soaks in the sun dockside and begins blooming, literally. Flowers of white radiance begin to bud and ever so slowly flower across it's wooden carapace to be shared with those nearby.
Plucking a single radiant blossom from it's branch at a time as they open in full bloom, Alkabah first hands one to Idari fellow follower of his goddess and most injured. Even holding the divine bloom formed of concentrated sunlight condensed into pure positivity Idrai can feel his wounds mending. This process continues for each of his allies until each have been given a single flower. The last and largest blooms atop Alkabah's central core and remains purging the toxins of the spore from earlier from the Conrasu before breaking apart and scattering across the bay in motes of light.
During the trip back to Greengold Alkabah makes sure to request the ability to communicate over long distances from it's goddess which is surprisingly granted to the non-elf.
"Your highness, a cult dedicated to Treerazor's demonic forces seeks the destruction of Greengold. We Return with haste, the Tyrant is to be a distraction."
"We will ready our defenses throughout the city. Travel swiftly and safely. Report to Dalamian at Vynoren Estate when you arrive," comes the reply to the sending.
The journey from Xer takes about 10 hours. As the ship nears Greengold, the city's familiar skyline beckons, a twinkling gem on the waters of Lake Encarthan. That gem suddenly goes dark, however, as a plume of green-gray fog billows from the center of town, turning sickly yellow as it grows and creeping through the streets like a pestilent wind. Buildings across the skyline shift and tilt as if they were being pushed up and aside by something massive moving underneath them.
In the center it all, a spiral of fungus erupts from the temple to Calistria. The building’s elegant dome shatters as pallid stalks grow up out of the once-majestic structure. Stretching high above the fog, the twisted stalks unfurl diseased-looking, thorn-studded mushroom caps. Other fungal stalks sprout at different locations around town, bursting through streets and upending houses in a haphazard assault. When they come a few moments later, the sounds of screams and crumbling buildings serve as irrefutable proof that what’s happening is real—the city of Greengold is under attack from within and below!
Even from a distance, it's clear that this catastrophe has not enveloped all of Greengold. The docks are clear, and the captain of the barge drops you off before promptly departing for safer waters. People are fleeing from the city in droves. In the places where the fungus has erupted, the air is thick with spore-laden fog.
Fortunately, Vynoren Estate remains untouched, its high hedges and walls intact. The guards at the main entrance quickly let you inside and usher you toward the manor house. Dalamian greets you with a cry of relief, clad in armor with her longsword and bow at the ready.
"Queen Telandia conveyed your warning to us. Even so, we weren't expecting the magnitude of this attack! You said this was not Razmiran's doing, but Treerazer's, yes? We're maintaining order for now, but it's a tenuous grasp that's slipping by the minute."
Behind Dalamian, the delegates and their staff who remained to aid Kyonin are gathered around a large table covered in maps and reports. They regard you with cautious hope.
"The queen has told me that similar fungal uprisings are manifesting all across Kyonin. Greengold seems to have been the first, but the nation's defenses are tapped at the moment as the true scope of this attack unfolds. There are worries that Treerazer might have infested the aiudara network. The portals have been deactivated for the time being.
"The fungus hasn’t stopped growing, and I fear that if it’s not stopped as soon as possible, any help that does come from will arrive too late. We need to take action."
"Do we have any clue as to the proximate source? Was it contaminated food? Cursed items?" Raneshi has wrapped a glyph-covered cloth around her head and neck, pulling it up to cover her mouth and nose when they wander the streets of the besieged city.
"Help won't arrive too late," Takarias exclaims. "It's already here! We'll cut this off at its roots?"
He pauses for a moment.
"Do mushrooms have roots?"
Findeladlara be praised, brother Alkabah. Your talents never cease to amazed. Truly.
Idari's wintery blue eyes stare at the fungal explosion with a bit of anger at the Red herring composed by Treerazer.
He has had centuries to plant seeds of devastation. This will get much worse. Where do we begin? Perhaps find the center of the eruption?
"Help won't arrive too late," Takarias exclaims. "It's already here! We'll cut this off at its roots?"
He pauses for a moment.
"Do mushrooms have roots?"
"We do, for metaphor speaks more truly than physickers."
"The epicenter of the infestation seems to be the temple of Calistria," Dalamian says. "We've sent soldiers there, but none of them returned. You should start your exploration there. The delegates and I have pooled our resources together to get some supplies that might help you."
Dalamian gives you 4 doses of greater antifungal salve and a single dose of major antifungal salve, 3 vials of greater antidote, 3 vials of greater antiplague, four greater healing potions, and a countering charm (containing toxic cloud).
Alzarius turns to you. "Once again, I offer my assistance to help put an end to this threat." He will accompany you to the temple if you wish to accept his aid.
***
The empty streets of Greengold feel quiet and brooding as you make your way to the temple, fungus growing on most surfaces in livid patches. The once majestic dome of Calistria’s temple is now shattered, and long tendrils of fungus riddle what remains of the rest of the building. Clouds of spores hang around the fallen structure, making its form hazy and indistinct, but even from a distance, the heart of the infestation is clear: one massive tangle of thorny, unpleasant mushrooms growing from a mound of rubble that was once the temple’s sanctum hall.
Idari's wintery blue eyes smiles as the tall Ilverani Elf begins to consume some Elixirs!
Greater antifungal salve
Cheers!
At his mentioning of joining them to the temple of Calistria, the Twight light Speaker smiles disarmingly.
Perhaps if you stayed within reach, along with a small retinue? You can guard our retreat.
The Barbarian stands staring at the formerly beautiful picturesque temple with anger and sadness.
Idari hefts his elven curve blade in both hands as he prepares to enter into its depths...
"Of course, we'd be happy to have you!" Takarias says, pulling his bow out as they plan to head to Calistria's temple.
The square in front of the temple lies shattered and ruined, covered in filth and thorny filaments of fungus. The founder’s statue is missing entirely, apparently torn from its stone base. The nearby buildings are a jumbled mess, their foundations clearly undermined by the massive growth that burst out of the temple.
The moment you are about to step foot on the stairs of the temple, six figures lunge towards you with a gurgling wail! Each wears the garb of a Calistrian priest, their skin melted away, their bony bodies riddled with fungus that wraps around what remains of their brains and nerves to reanimate them! Takarias does not recognize these undead.
Before you can react, the creatures gesture, causing fungal roots to reach out to try to snag you. The undead then move in to melee range!
Critical Success: The creature is unaffected.
Success: The creature takes half damage and becomes clumsy 1 until the end of its next turn.
Failure: The creature takes full damage and becomes clumsy 1 with an unlimited duration. In addition, the creature is restrained (Escape DC 27) for 1 minute.
Critical Failure: As failure but double damage. In addition, the creature is exposed to rotter infestation.
Raneshi grimaces as the fungus grips at her legs, but the growth doesn't slow her down.
She raises her shield and charges into the fray, attempting to carve a fiery rune into one of the fungal zombies.
"These are no longer Calistrians! Cut them down."
for
HP 136/136, piercing resistance 2
AC 33 (34 with buckler raised)
Fort +19, Ref +21, Will +20; +2 vs. disease and poisons; +1 vs. inhaled threats
Hero points: 2
Prepared tactics: Strike Hard!, Shields Up, Buckle-Cut, Stupefying Raid
Effects:
"Look out!" Takarias cries, nimbly avoiding the roots as urges his companions on, firing an arrow in the general appropriate direction.
Idari's left boot plants firmly on that initial stone step, as the Fungal Priests protrude their roots!
Slightly entangled by the forwardness of the Fungal root, the bit Clumsy Barbarian--Freely--Rages at the sight of this atrocities!
Idari calls on his Spiritual Interference !
The Buckle-Cut Blitz certainly has the raging Ilverani Elf moving and grooving!
He--Reacts--by Striding next to the closest Fungal Priest.
Idari then offers his thoughts on its foul presence here!
And because it is certainly disgusting!
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Alkabah stomps it's own roots down and seems to ward off the encroaching fungal hyphae.
Raising the symbol of the goddess above it's head Alkabah prays for their victory.
"We shall not be stricken by your foul roots daemon kin. The hand that guide shall lead us to your very center, that we may burn the infestation from the inside out.!"
A litle sprinkling of refreshing pure water descends onto Raneshi.
Blooms in Darkness sneers in disgust as the undead try to spread their loathsome taint, responding to the encroaching tendrils with annihilation!
Alkabah bolsters Raneshi as the runesmith scores a critical hit against the nearest undead, inscribing a rune upon it with the strike. Idari scores two critical hits against it, the slashing damage proving super effective against the fungal foe! Blooms creates a sudden blight, destroying all of the fungus on the ground and visibly slowing down the undead menaces. Takarias's arrow finishes off the wounded opponent.
The five remaining rotting undead attack, relying on their jaws and fists. Three attack Idari and two attack Raneshi.
Raneshi interposes her shield, blasting one of the creatures, but still takes significant damage. She raises her shield again and slashes at the wounded creature.
for
for
HP 136/136, piercing resistance 2
AC 33 (34 with buckler raised)
Fort +19, Ref +21, Will +20; +2 vs. disease and poisons; +1 vs. inhaled threats
Hero points: 2
Prepared tactics: Strike Hard!, Shields Up, Buckle-Cut, Stupefying Raid
Effects:
Takarias fires a couple of quick arrows in succession. "That's it! We're doing it! Don't let the zombies get you down!" he calls out, waving his bow.
Idari takes the thrashing like a professional. The Ilverani Elf does wince, but that was at poor Raneshi's thrashing.
Walk it off, Raneshi! I've got you!
The Barbarian Strides into a Flank with Raneshi's thrashing partner and Strikes!
Because it feels only right!
Blooms in Darkness calls, and fire answers. A storm of whirling flames engulfs the oncoming undead, tearing through them before igniting some of the gases left over by the mycological devastation.
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Channeling the divine energy of the goddess into Raneshi, the runesmith would feel various hands take on the burden of the damage dealt.
Though it's unlikely that Alkabah will get attacked by the fungal priests the various branches of it's body begin to bind up and form a protective shell as brambles begin to sprout along the bark.
Blooms' whirling flames badly burn all five undead! Alkabah heals Raneshi as she scores two critical hits against one of her opponents as her sword slices through the fibrous fungus. Takarias' holy arrows also prove particularly effective against the same foe, taking it down. Idari slices into his opponent.
The four burning foes left standing attack Idari and Raneshi. Idari is bitten once, while Raneshi is hit three times. Fortunately, Takarias' defiant banner protects them from most of the harm. Raneshi's attacker is burned by her runic blast.
Raneshi raises her shield and attacks the creature that struck her, hoping to finish it off.
for
for
HP 136/136, piercing resistance 2
AC 33 (34 with buckler raised)
Fort +19, Ref +21, Will +20; +2 vs. disease and poisons; +1 vs. inhaled threats
Hero points: 2
Prepared tactics: Strike Hard!, Shields Up, Buckle-Cut, Stupefying Raid
Effects:
Takarias continues firing arrows and encouraging his allies.
Blooms in Darkness's work is not yet complete, but as fiery death births itself among the undead again and again, perhaps that time draws nigh.
Idari's elven curve blade continues to cut his adversary!
And again!
And just because he is feeling lucky!
Blooms scorches the lot of enemies while Alkabah heals Idari. Raneshi slashes her attacker twice. Takarias shoots one of the remaining undead twice, setting up Idari to cut it down with a critical hit, then turn to another opponent to slice it twice. Blooms' flames flare up a second time, causing two of the smoldering undead to go down! Only one remains.
Rather than keep fighting on its own, the last fungal foe destroys itself, causing a small explosion of thorny roots!
One of the undead was a powerful priest, and his robes still hide a few trinkets including a scroll of heal (7th rank), a +2 greater striking grievous whip, and a greater potion of fire resistance.
Idari's elven curve blade whistles through the air with little impunity. The Ilverani Elf blinks at the explosion.
Wiping his face, the barbarian smiles at Alkabah.
Anyone got a mint?
Idari's posture predicts his probably entering the ruined cathedral....
"That wasn't so bad!" Takarias says. "And we got some nice new toys out of it!"
"Let us not tarry too long. The temple awaits," Alzarius says, tugging on the sleeves of his robe.
Once you have recovered from the fight on the stairs, you enter the temple proper. Much of the cathedral roof has fallen in, creating huge piles of stone debris. The floor is overgrown with a dense layer of fungus and filth, and a spiral of fungal stalks and thorny coils grow from the chambers behind the altar to the west. The doors that once led toward the sanctum hall are still visible, albeit embedded in the fungus, but the way is entirely blocked by the invasive growth. On the other side of the room to the east, two ten-foot-wide openings in the wall provide access into what look more like fungal caverns than what were once the temple’s personal quarters and lounges.
After a moment of exploration, the true guardians of this chamber stomp in through the massive hole in the north wall of the temple—a pair of fungus-infested tyrannosaurs. The gargantuan beasts bellow with fury, clouds of toxic spores pouring from their mouths!
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Alkabah sees the toxic spores ushering from the beasts and scuttles nearer to them. "Toxic gases likely fungal spores harmful to us... I shall keep the air purged of the unholy contagion. Protect us."
Clasping it's hands together, while others sprout vibrant leaves and branch out a sudden burst of soothing and crisp clean air fills the room pushing any nearby dust, detritus, or spores away.
"Lubaiko, strike down this abomination!" Raneshi shouts as she raises her shield and hurls a bolt of lightning at one of the fungal dinosaurs.
for and 7 persistent electricity
Idari's posture speaks of a bit of graciously accepted humor at Alkabah's offered Mint.
The Ilverani Elf pops it into his mouth!
Refreshing. My thanks, Alkabah.
The barbarian steps into the erratically alter decor of the previous pristine palace. His blue elven eyes peer about the spacious chamber.
This happened quite quickly and totally.
As he gingerly maneuvers inside the fungus, he immediately raises his elven curve blade at the sudden sound of predators!
We seem to be on the menu. Anyone wondering where these came from? It certainly wasn't bring ones pet to work day.
The Barbarian--Freely--begins to Rage!
Calling on his Ilverani Ancestors, the Snowcaster brings forth Spirits Wrath, targeting the same Fungal Dino as Raneshi!
Idari then Strides to the closest spiral of fungal stalks and thorny coils growing from the chambers behind the altar to the west.
The elf then Climbs 20' up it, yelling the entire time!
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"Oh, it's a sporesaur!" Takarias exclaims. "No, wait, a Tyrannosporus rex!"
He fires an arrow into it, and then another in the same direction.
Blooms in Darkness's response to the spore-tainted tyrannosaurs is immediate and instinctive. They burn. And burn.
Blooms burns the fungal dinosaurs with fire, exploiting their weakness to flame. Raneshi's javelin falls short, but Idari hits with his wisp strike. Takarias scores a critical hit on the same tyrannosaur, pinning its massive foot to the floor! Alzarius blasts both dinosaurs with a howling blizzard, making the floor slippery and difficult for them to traverse.
The fire flares up, burning both enemies again. The pinned tyrannosaur easily pulls its foot free, then opens its maw to exhale a blast of toxic spores. Fortunately, Alkabah's cleansing spells keeps them from getting anywhere near you! The other dinosaur stomps carefully across the icy floor, getting to within 15 feet of Idari.
Raneshi raises her shield and advances on the closer t-rex, trying to carve a rune into its side.
or for plus 4 bleed
From 20' up, the barbarian roars back at the approaching Fungal Dino!
Once again calling on his Ilverani Ancestors, the Snowcaster brings forth Spirits Wrath, targeting the same Fungal Dino as Raneshi!
HP 136/136, piercing resistance 2
AC 33 (34 with buckler raised)
Fort +19, Ref +21, Will +20; +2 vs. disease and poisons; +1 vs. inhaled threats
Hero points: 2
Prepared tactics: Strike Hard!, Shields Up, Buckle-Cut, Stupefying Raid
Effects:
"Now, get it!" Takarias cries, urging his companions forward as he fires another arrow.
Raneshi will Stride as the free reaction, then use her freed-up action to detonate the rune on the dinosaur.
Blooms in Darkness continues pouring on the fire, smaller bursts sufficing now that the beasts are closer to the heroes and farther from each other.
Blooms' fire spell is super effective, both tyrannosauruses completely failing to avoid its effects! Idari taunts the dino and pummels it with wisps. Takarias shoots it and urges Raneshi to blitz! She dashes in and scores a critical hit on the nearer dinosaur, then detonates her rune, but the tough beast resists its effects. Alkabah's divine lance misses. Alzarius unleashes another blizzard, then Blooms' fire flares up a second time, immolating both of the massive beasts! The ground shakes as they collapse.
One of the spore tyrannosauruses ate a foolish thief who tried to enter the temple to loot the ruins; his arm is still caught in the creature’s maw, and a ring of maniacal devices still adorns a finger.
Investigating the temple reveals twitching filaments of fungus leading to the east.
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"We are lucky to have your flames with us, little friend," Raneshi compliments Blooms. She casually cuts the ring of the hand of the unlucky temple dispoiler, gives it a quick polis hand slips it on her finger.