Kalla let out a snort "All breeds started as mutts until someone decided they were 'better', just took enough inbreeding to get there." but she doesn't have much bite in her words since she is more than a little banged up "Who'd have thought mushroom could hit like that. Dawn or Laz, could you help this 'mutt' out a bit before we move on?"
Dawn calls on the spirits to soothe the group's wounds with a garden of healing energy.
Once everyone is patched up and ready for action, you continue on towards the trouble in the topiaries.
Six painstakingly trimmed topiaries stand in two rows within a clearing in the maze. They’re shaped like fierce-looking beasts: a giant ape looming contemplatively, a stately unicorn, a giant mantis in mid-strike, a menacing cobra, a rearing owlbear, and a boar poised to charge. Though the topiaries are maintained with exacting precision, the walls and lawn are tangled and overgrown. According to Ursula's information, the attack that put the other agents to flight happened in a patch of mud between two dense clusters of trees - likely in between the owlbear and the cobra.
A gentle breeze makes the topiaries rustle and sway almost as though they were alive, but Laszlo notices that the movement isn't always just with the wind...
With the recent mushroom assault fresh in his mind, Sajan decides more caution is in order. "I admit, knowledge isn't my strong suit. I'll let someone more qualified take the lead."
Dawn does her best to identify the topiaries, wondering if they are living creatures or some sort of magical hazard.
"Why do people make statues out of plants anyway. Seems like they would simply grow out of the shape someone had to spend a lot of time making... pretty though." Kalla looks to Dawn, looking for a sign on whether she should just walk up to the mud spot to see if she is attacked or if the dwarf knows some other way of seeing what is what.
"Hedge sculptures are not my preferred art form, but you have to admit there's something intriguing about shaping a living plant into the form of a different, ambulatory creature," Ursula comments as she looks around. "These are so well made I could certainly see them being enchanted like the animated armors at my family's keep."
Sharlott is keeping far away from the topiary, the skittish maid clearly not wanting to get attacked again. "Um, what are we looking for, miss?"
"Check for paw prints like the ones we saw at the stones. Perhaps some of the paint they used, they might have done something to interfere with any magic here," Ursula suggests/commands, keeping her gaze lingering towards the ground for clues.
Ursula can't see any signs of them from here, but further on there's supposedly a muddy patch that should be able to hold tracks better...
Laszlo sighs, "The master always said he preferred working in living materials 'for the extra challenge'. A part of me wishes he would have stuck to plant life but... no use worrying about it now."
He shakes his head to clear out the dark thoughts. "These do seem to be ideal vessels for some type of golemancy though. The closest ones do not appear to be active, but we will want to be cautious as we advance. Enabling one will likely awaken the others."
Reaching into a particular pocket on his pack, he pulls out two Alchemist Fire flasks. "It is never a sure thing, but the verdant nature of these creations suggests a vulnerability to fire. I've made these this morning, and perhaps some of us with a free hand might want to have some ready, in case we do set these creations off. Sajan? Dawn?... Sharlott?"
Ugh. Mud. Still, Ursula would not be deterred by a bit of runny dirt. She strides ahead keeping herself alert for any movement or traps. "Thank you for the information. There's a muddy patch ahead between the owlbear and cobra that we should look at for footprints."
Sharlott looks at Laszlo as her mistress forges forward. "Uh, so, we shouldn't try and attacking any of the sculptures then? If that's the case, um, I would rather keep my lady's belongings safe... in the rear... away from danger..." She presses herself into the inanimate hedge that looks like a proper hedge. "Miss, please be careful... "
As Ursula moves towards the center of the clearing she notices three things: More of those pawprints in the mud, a small ornate wooden box, and some of those topiaries are definitely moving!
The monstrous mantis surges into movement fast enough to catch you all Off Guard. . It darts forward, flickering out to pierce Kalla and scrape Dawn's armor with its verdant claws!
Topiary Mantis
Kalla -11
Topiary Ape
Dawn
Ursula
Laszlo
Topiary Boar
Nixoret
Sajan
"Hells, Bells, and an old man's swells!" Kalla yells out as the plant stabs her. "Might be branches and leaves, but it feels like jagged steel going in. Worse coming out." her curses and complaint about combat efficiency of bushes are infused with her normal magic.
Even though she is bleed nice and wet from her wound, ruining another tunic, she steps forward without further complaint. Putting herself between the shrub and Dawn, and attempts to violently prune the mantis.
Kalla's great blade makes a mess of the topiarists' work, carving a nice diagonal hunk off of the mantis's head!
But that's not the only topiary on the move; the contemplative ape lumbers forward, swatting diffidently at Nixoret and Sharlott and smashing them into the hedge!
Topiary Mantis -14
Kalla -11, Courageous (1)
Topiary Ape
Dawn Courageous (2)
Ursula Courageous (2) (Sharlott -8, Courageous (2))
Laszlo Courageous (2) (Bruit Courageous (2))
Topiary Boar
Nixoret -4, Courageous (2)
Sajan Courageous (2)
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A growl emerges from the fleshwarp as he stalks to a clearer line of sight. "Poor form... one does not attack noncombatants. This is what happens, when you focus on aesthetics over function... poor form." So saying he lobs his remaining flask of Alchemist's fire at the offending gorilla before snapping, "Bruit, Ved"
Sharlott screams as she barely avoids a lethal hit, going pale as her dress.
"Sharlott, move out of the way!" Ursula snaps off an order, as the scared maid bounds away from danger as quickly as her feet can carry her.
Ursula is close enough to see the boar shaped construct getting ready, so she mutters and focuses her arcane energy into reinforcing her dueling sword. "There's one more coming, I'll hold it off!"
"Come at me, pig."
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Sharlott screams as she barely avoids a lethal hit, going pale as her dress.
"Sharlott, move out of the way!" Ursula snaps off an order, as the scared maid bounds away from danger as quickly as her feet can carry her.
Ursula is close enough to see the boar shaped construct getting ready, so she mutters and focuses her arcane energy into reinforcing her dueling sword. "There's one more coming, I'll hold it off!"
Ursula considers fighting, but sees she's closest to the small wooden box. Out of place here, it's obvious it might solve the problem with the attacking topiary quicker than cutting them down. She rushes through the mud to open the box, peering inside.
Inside the box are three creations of folded paper: a monstrous mantis, a vicious boar, and a contemplative gorilla, all placed atop a stack of small sheets of brightly colored paper, some painted and some not.
You don't see anything about the paper structures to show that they were crafted with the intention of bringing the topiaries to animation, but the coincidence otherwise would be staggering.
Dawn steps up to help Kalla, calling on her apparition to give her feral power. Her hand transforms into a claw as she tries to gouge the topiary mantis.
With flame and talon, Dawn and Laszlo tear great chunks out of their leafy foes - though Laszlo's seems to be collapsing into fiery wreckage much faster!
Ursula instead focuses on uncovering another mystery of the maze, but before she can do more than open the box, the third topiary beast is upon her! Despite her distraction the well-schooled noble beats the beast's tusks back - for now...
Topiary Mantis -22
Kalla -11, Courageous (1)
Topiary Ape -10 (1 Fire)
Dawn Courageous (1)
Ursula Courageous (1) (Sharlott -8, Courageous (1))
Laszlo Courageous (1) (Bruit Courageous (1))
Topiary Boar
Nixoret -4, Courageous (2)
Sajan Courageous (2)
Seeing Kalla's wounds, Sajan focuses his attention no the mantis. "It's a shame we have to destroy these beautiful artworks."
After stepping into a a flank with Dawn, Sajan adopts his signature stance and strikes.
Sajan hews huge chunks from the mantis while Nixoret takes cover and blasts both shambling shrubs with lightning! The gorilla staggers backwards, still smoking from Laszlo's incendiaries, but the mantis simply collapses!
Topiary Mantis -44
Kalla -11, Courageous (1)
Topiary Ape -16 (1 Fire)
Dawn Courageous (1)
Ursula Courageous (1) (Sharlott -8, Courageous (1))
Laszlo Courageous (1) (Bruit Courageous (1))
Topiary Boar
Nixoret -4, Courageous (1), Take Cover
Sajan Courageous (1)
Seeing that the bush is near its last breath... breeze? Maybe. Kalla pushes the thought aside and tries to trim the rest of its head off with wild swings.
Kalla makes a headlong charge back at the other topiary, and while Bruit distracts it from one side she slices through the fire damaged foliage with a single great chop!
Kalla -11, Courageous (1), one action left
Topiary Ape
Dawn Courageous (1)
Ursula Courageous (1) (Sharlott -8, Courageous (1))
Laszlo Courageous (1) (Bruit Courageous (1))
Topiary Boar
Nixoret -4, Courageous (1), Take Cover
Sajan Courageous (1)
Kalla makes a headlong charge back at the other topiary, and while Bruit distracts it from one side she slices through the fire damaged foliage with a single great chop!
Kalla -11, Courageous (1), one action left
Topiary Ape
Dawn Courageous (1)
Ursula Courageous (1) (Sharlott -8, Courageous (1))
Laszlo Courageous (1) (Bruit Courageous (1))
Topiary Boar
Nixoret -4, Courageous (1), Take Cover
Sajan Courageous (1)
Battles are a confusing chaos of violence, blood, shattered branches, and more running than anyone is comfortable with. Kalla gets into it with a gusto, so much that realizing which bush beast she is hacking into is lost in the melee.
So as an... ape? yep Ape, falls to silent rustling, she is running Again toward a boar she thinks. And the arrogant one. "Why Helllloooo, good lady, fancy meeting you Way over here. ever heard of teamwork, staying with your party... stuff like that..." Kalla pants a bit as she prepares to chop her sword like an axe again.
The boar was on her, but Ursula reaches into the box, plucks out the boar shaped origami and uses her Ignition cantrip to burn it to a crisp. If it works, it works, and if not, she supposes she'll need to enact stronger violence against the topiary directly.
"Have you ever heard of proper form? You wield that blade like you're trying to break it," Ursula snipes back at Kalla.
"Of course, I'm trying to break it, It is trying to Gore you with its branch tusks!" Kalla snipes back, misunderstanding the object of the pronoun usage.
Dawn hustles after Kalla, using her magic to heal the wounded bard.
The boar crashes into Ursula as she drops her guard, but her flames are quick, and as the origami burns, the boar's animation ceases!
As the flames die down, you notice that the overgrown nature of this clearing has not yet reverted itself... But that not every strip of paper in the box is the same as the other origami figures.
Kalla -1
Ursula -4 (Sharlott -8)
Nixoret -4
"Thanks Dawn" Kalla throws a beaming smile back at the dwarven lady. Directing her attention to the other lady hunched over the box "And... good idea burning the paper boar to stop the bush boar. Is there a snake and an owl in there too? Thinking burning them before they decide to get frisky would be nice as well" she keeps her bastard sword at the ready, pointed at the owl.
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Laszlo calmly walks over to Sharlott, pulling out a variety of materials to start mixing a poultice. "I'm terribly sorry you were subjected to that. Entirely inappropriate, everyone knows noncombatants are not to be harmed unnecessarily. Please, allow me to treat your injuries. I have a very useful poultice, smells awful unfortunately, but cuts down healing times by days."
Looking back over his shoulder he calls out "By the way, if you two don't mind bickering over here, could one of you bring that box? I would like to examine its contents once I'm done treating injuries. And I suppose neither of you escaped uninjured either, so we should deal with that." He turns back to Sharlott with a lopsided smile, shaking a noxious looking vial in one hand. "Now, please tell me where it hurts the most."
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Ursula plucks the offending origami figures out of the box, burning those two. She picks up the box and examines its contents. "No snake or owl, but take a look at what else is in here," She says, offering Kalla the box before going to tend to her panicked servant.
Sharlott looks relieved that the terror is over, her body shaking like a leaf from narrowly escaping a horrific blow. It seems the healing poultice will work best soothing her spirit than actual grievous injury. "It's why I stay away, but it charged so suddenly and I didn't think it would attack me and Miss Ursula is - oh, Miss Ursula! Your tunic!"
Ursula stops in front of Sharlott and Laszlo with an odd expression before checking her clothes. To Sharlott's horror, there was a gash in the sleeve where the boar's branch tusks had torn through the silk. Ursula hums in disappointment. "Unfortunate. We'll need to buy a replacement later, Sharlott. A change of clothes will suffice for now."
Sheathing her sword, Ursula takes up the wayfinder from her belt pouch. The discerning amongst the party would note that it is of a slightly different configuration from their own. She unclasps the device's lid open, peering inside, before snapping it shut. Immediately, her garments under her armor were replaced by a fresh blue tunic and breeches. The injured clothes were folded neatly in her other arm, as she hands them to Sharlott to fold and tuck into Ursula's bags.
"Once we have solved the overgrowth problem, we should consider out next investigation site. One where Sharlott will stay out of harm's way." Ursula pointedly emphasizes. "It would be terrible if she were to perish, and I was without someone who could tend to my personal belongings."
The maid nods and bows her head. "Of course, miss! Won't happen again! Thank you again Mr. Laszlo for the poultice!"
Ursula notes the healing poultice, looking at Laszlo. "You have my gratitude as well for tending to her." Her head inclines briefly in his direction.
Kalla takes a breath, then two, maybe three, before she slides her sword back into the sheath on her back and takes the box from Ursula. She looks at the retreating noble in slight confusion, then looks into the box to see what is there. While she walks (carefully, but not Overly carefully) with the container back to Laszlo since he asked politely.
As Ursula burns the last of the origami the overgrown walls and lawn revert to their usual, neatly trimmed appearance. Aside from the offending papercrafts, you also find two specially prepared strips of paper: one is black with silver ink that seems to hide except within the corners of your vision, the other is blue with dark ink that seems to be slowly swirling around the paper.
***
Back at the Central Courtyard, Forest King Narven's statue awaits you, still garlanded with vivid roses. You've tamed the Feyhenge and trimmed the troublesome topiaries - where to next?
You head off to where Ursula's sources have warned of holes and barricades and ambushers. In this labyrinth of crisscrossing corridors, the air smells of damp earth and fresh foliage. Heaps of branches, rocks, and other junk block some of the corridors, and trinkets of leaves and small rocks woven together with hair hang from the hedge walls, swaying in the breeze.
The ways are much rougher here; barricades of wood have been thrown up across the twisting paths, and small clumps of divots create patches of difficult ground. The earthworks are still underway; you can see a deep pit with a cover of foliage netting still just lying next to it rather than providing any concealment.
Warned by her companions that what lurks here will be the fey, Dawn spies out several creatures lurking near the barricades: three squat humanoids that seem to be nearly all head — an unfortunate circumstance, considering how ugly their puffy blue faces are, and another trio of even smaller creatures slinking around as if the world's most revolting lapdogs had somehow learned to walk on their back legs.
As they realize that their ambush has failed they brandish blades, darts and bows, taking aim at you all!
Nixoret
Sajan*
Dawn
Kalla
Wretched Cur (Yellow)
Blue Meanie (Blue)
Blue Meanie (Yellow)
Wretched Cur (Blue)
Blue Meanie (Red)
Wretched Cur (Red)
Laszlo**
Ursula
After a quick analysis of the battlefield, Sajan realizes the only path forward is the most direct. Focusing his Ki, he rushes past the barrier in a blur and unleashes a flurry of attacks at a blue meanie.
"Okay, it's probably best to wait them out, give them time to pani-" Kalla has a moment to think about strategy, before realizing Sajan is already at the walls punching the fae into a bloody mess. "Oh, hells, FINE" her words inspiring the others to perform their own deeds of impetuousness as she rushes after the monk.
As Sajan streaks forward, the reason that only one path wasn't visibly guarded becomes horribly clear. With a crack, a flimsy frame that could barely hold the weight of its camouflage gives way and the monk plummets into the pit!
Nixoret Courageous
Sajan -5, Prone
Dawn Courageous
Kalla
Wretched Cur (Yellow)
Blue Meanie (Blue)
Blue Meanie (Yellow)
Wretched Cur (Blue)
Blue Meanie (Red)
Wretched Cur (Red)
Laszlo
Ursula
Doing his best to get back in the fight, Sajan coughs out, "I'm okay..."
Dawn moves along the southern path until she sees one of the beings behind the barricade. She fires a divine lance somewhere in its general direction.
"Good" Kalla yells down to him, and then yells to the others "WATCH OUT FOR PITS!"
Nix runs headlong after Sajan but stops dead in his tracks as he watches the monk tumble in to the trap. Not wanting to meet a similar fate, Nix focuses his energy on his horns and lets loose a crackle of lightning at the two nearest fey.
Bolts of lighting and rays of light drive the fey deeper into hiding, but attempts at melee seem to be foundering...
A hail of darts and arrows flash out from behind the barricades. Ursula and Sajan collect some scratches, but an arrow shatters against a tree, sending the arrowhead careening down to wedge on the inside of Kalla's armor in a shockingly painful wound!
Nixoret
Sajan -6, Immune to Aura
Dawn -3
Kalla -11, Unlucky!
Wretched Cur (Yellow) - Taking Cover
Blue Meanie (Blue) - Taking Cover
Blue Meanie (Yellow) -2 (Vengeful towards Nix), Taking Cover
Wretched Cur (Blue) (needs to reload), Taking Cover
Blue Meanie (Red)
Wretched Cur (Red) -10
Laszlo - Courageous
Ursula - Courageous
Laszlo begins picking his way to a more advantageous position. The pit seems to be a trap, even after being revealed, so he and Bruit make for the southern entrance to attempt access there.
Ursula follows Laszlo and Dawn, calling out to Sharlott. "Keep an eye on the others and relay if they're in trouble!"
With Sharlott holding for now, she focuses on the edge of her dueling sword, as she conjures up a thin sheen of acid that she flings towards the enemy, splashing them!
"Sajan, I'll distract them while to dig your way out!" Kalla hopes to distract the enemy by thinking he'll dig instead of climb, which would be a really bad idea if Sajan decided to go that route. Kalla raises her hand , pointing at the nearest bluehead and fired a trio of magic orbs at its head.
Acid lightly spatter the southern fey, but Kalla's force barrage entirely circumvents the barricade and pummels one of the blue meanies to the ground!
Nixoret
Sajan -6, Immune to Aura
Dawn -3
Kalla -11, Unlucky!
Wretched Cur (Yellow) - Taking Cover
Blue Meanie (Blue) - Taking Cover
Blue Meanie (Yellow) -2 (Vengeful towards Nix), Taking Cover
Wretched Cur (Blue) -2, (needs to reload), Taking Cover
Blue Meanie (Red) -1, Taking Cover, Vengeful towards Ursula
Wretched Cur (Red) -10, Taking Cover
Laszlo - Courageous, Unlucky (Bruit unlucky)
Ursula - Courageous, Unlucky
Not following the deception, Sajan replies, "Digging seems like a bad plan, but climbing should be easy enough."
Sajan scrambles out of the pit and takes aim at the blue meanie, but ends up punching the barricade instead.
Dawn fires another divine lance, this time coming a little closer but still missing.
Nix lets a goofy grin pass across his face as his magic strikes true and lets out another flash of lightning targeting the same two creatures.
After the ozone dissipates, the kobold realizes that he might be better served by trying to figure who is attacking them. He affixes his gaze on one of the smaller red assailants and pours through his memory various monsters. Recognizing them as Fey, Nix searches through his pockets for a sliver of cold iron he slides under the leather of his hatchet's grip.