Veggie Delight

Log Info

• Title: Veggie Delight
• Emitter: Ezil
• Characters: Lanier, Strike, Burai, Lysos, Nels
• Place: Merkebah: North Garden
• Time: Monday, March 17, 2020, 8:30 PM
• Summary: A party went missing inside Merkebah, and only one survivor made it back. The Explorer's Guild was approached with an emergency mission by the party member that escaped, and they are now leading a new expedition to save their friends. This soon turns out to be a ruse, and the party finds themselves in a trap laid out for them by those that have deemed themselves the rulers of the forgotten garden.

--------------------------------Merkebah: North Garden--------------------------------

Merkebah has been dangerous, and many an adventurer have already had their mettle tested within the forgotten city. It seems one group has gone missing, and only one of it's members seems to have escaped whatever encounter they faced. The Adventurer's Guild has reason to believe that the rest of the group might still be alive, and that member now stands before the party.

A squat female lucht with crazy eyes. They must be red with worry and stress, but she seems to have pulled it together to brief the party on what's transpired. The hour has grown late, the sun already setting, meaning that Merkebah is just /that/ more dangerous. "Please, I know you all came last minute... but I'm Tilla. I'm the one who last saw my group, but... but we got separated when the wall of a building gave in, and cut me off from them! I couldn't get around it in time, and they were gone when I found a different route. They are strong, but... alone in there I couldn't do it. I can lead you toward them, but I just couldn't search alone." biting on her lip, and looking away. "It's been almost half a day, and they didn't make it out." her clothes and garb making it hard to tell her profession, but one might think some sort of skulk or scout. She keeps looking past the barricade, though it's hard to tell if it's worry, dread.... or something else.

Burai turns his head to peer in the direction past the barricade. "So you want us to go and rescue them?" He glances about the rest of the impromptu party, trying to guage their abilities and experiences. A sudden thought occurs to him and he turns back to Till. "Are you coming with us? To guide us?"

Nels nods gravely to the lucht, and she says, "Have no fear, ma'am. This won't be my first rescue mission." She tries to smile reassuringly, though that doesn't come naturally. Also, the last time she was here, she set quite a large explosion that may have destabilized some areas, and she's feeling a bit guilty. Not a lot, but ... maybe.

The challenge, itself. Strike, who has for the most part been quiet, aside from take a quiet interest in Lysos and Burai's wellbeing and a cursory once over of Nels, has barely done more than keep a stuious lookout. As the Lucht, the source of the mission, speaks, though, her attention turns thattaway and there is a ghost of something in her eyes, though she gives a small nod. "Do you have any idea what compromised the wall?"

Lysos mutters darkly to herself, words that would likely only make sense to another tsuran, then thumps her forhead with the heel of her palm a few times. Then she looks not at the barricade, but back from whence she and some of the others came. You can almost read it in her face, the urge to take a hard pass on this and return to the city. But she sees Nels, and then Strike... then drops her eyes away from the dark half-elf. She clenches her fist once, twice, then squares her shoulders, grips her staff tightly with the other, and fully joins the group. "Once more into the breach, dear friends, yeah?"

His dirty (in both coloration and character) blonde hair hanging down to darken his already dark face, Lanier listens to the description of the events related to them, his eyes narrowing. He takes a look around their surroundings, and one can almost see the faint rising and falling of his shoulders, "We'll go. I can track them once you've led us to a place that your group has been before." He tilts his head, his emerald green eyes locked on the halfling, "Can you do that for us quickly, Tilla?" Then then now looks up to take in the gathering, "Time would be of the essence here."

Tilla looks between the group, first settling on strike. "I don't know. I felt like there were eyes on us the entire time, but all I saw was vines, and overgrowth. I had stopped to...." a shaking breath suddenly taken. "I was stupid. I stopped to smell a flower. They were everywhere and beautiful. I looked up to see the wall falling, and.." the rest the party knows. "We're called the JarWolves, and we've seen some chop... but not like this. I was there quick, but they were gone. No sign of them. I will take us there, but...." a twitch and her eyes closing tight for a moment, but the blonde man gets his firm nod. "I will indeed take us there." something inside her speaking with a firmness she didn't have before.

The half-Mul arches an eyebrow at Lysos' response, but focuses on the task at hand. Tilla's rundown obviously doesn't impress her, but Strike doesn't make any remarks to the effect. The Lucht was a fool, recognized it, and is within her capacity, owning it.

Transition:

Tilla leads the party through the dark, her lantern hooded to keep the light from giving away the party to the 'entire' city. It's a long walk, the cracked and broken bricks of the path soon overgrown with grass. It's like one walked from one world into another. The ruins of Merkebah that were just old and decaying are now overgrown, and filled with a life that has been on it's own since from when the city fell. It's as if a garden that hadn't been attended has turned into a forest in it's own right. Flowers are in full bloom on the vines, and there is even a small pond in the distance that seems to have clear waters. It's tranquil, but off to one side there is a mound of collapsed rubble, a wall having broken loose just as the lucht said, and so after an hour, the party arrives. "We have to go around. Near the pond has a path, but it's steep."

Nels is getting a bit of deja vu here, with the pond and collapsed rubble, but this pond looks clearer than the one she dealt with before. Just the same, she warns, "Bad things lurk in the waters, we should be careful." So careful, in fact, that she loads shot and a ball into her thunderbelcher, packing in the paper to keep the ball set, and she carries it ready to use.

Burai takes to holding his large sword in his hands rather than wearing it on his back. He looks around as they arrive at the wall, straining his senses. He remembers what Tilla said, why they're here. The previous party hasn't returned, and odds are he and this new group will encounter whatever is the cause of their disappearance.

"Bad things lurk everywhere..." Lysos says, and it isn't a groan, not really. There is a bit of an undertone to it though. By now she's secured her staff on her pack, and walks with her crossbow cradled in one arm and a bolt to load into it held in her other hand.

Strike traverses the area behind the Lucht, occaisionally poking particularly uncertain looking spots of cobblestone with her staff to test the integrity. Her off hand, when not supporting the main in such endeavours, hovers near her bandoliers. Nel's observation warrants a quiet, "Noted."

Lanier walks along behind Tilla as she leads them deeper into the ruins. He looks towards Nels for a moment, his eyebrows popping up for a moment before he replies, "Do bad things taste good, at least? I was going to drop a hook in there for lunch." He carries with him a longbow, his greatsword clasped to a frog on his back. He looks towards his companion, the mighty wolf Spud, and mutters something in Sildanyari. The wolf for his part, doesn't seem to acknowledge it much beyond breaking away from the ranger and trail the group along its edges.

As Nels loads that weapon, and the warnings of Merkebah are passed along, a loud snap rings out from near the rubble. It sends Tilla into hysterics. She hides her face, and has to hunch over and breath deep, but she's cowering. (Perception, Knowledge Nature)

GAME: Lanier rolls Perception: (16)+9: 25
GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/Nature: (12)+10: 22
GAME: Burai rolls perception: (12)+10: 22
GAME: Burai rolls knowledge/nature: (11)+6: 17
GAME: Nels rolls perception: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Strike rolls perception: (8)+12: 20
GAME: Lysos rolls perception: (16)+1: 17

Burai says, "Be careful - those flowers will try to close on an unwary passerby, like the jaws of some beast." He eyes one of the flowers and then glances at Tilla. "What's wrong with her...?"

GAME: Strike rolls sense motive: (6)+9: 15

Nels says to Lanier, "We didn't try to eat it, but it didn't -look- edible in any event. It didn't look like a natural thing, either. I'm no war golem who can eat anything, and this looked like a thing that couldn't be eaten." She also doesn't know a geranium from a man-eating pod plant, so pays attention to the warning from Burai and steers well clear of the plant.

"Nope. No, absolutely not!" Lysos doesn't seem surprised by Burai's report, possibly because she had the unpleasant fortune of seeing one of the plants close shut like a mouth for herself. "Why are these even a thing? Why haven't they just used those airships to drop a bunch of explosives on this place?"

Shrugging his shoulders lightly, Lanier replies to Nels, "I don't know. With the right Tsuran spices, closed eyes, and imagination..." At the snap, Lanier turns sharply and raises his bow, the arrow drawn back to his cheak as he searches for a target. His arrowhead rests on a plant as the source of the noise, and then a moment later, lowers it. He looks towards Burai and says, "She was stuck here alone. That can break anyone." He then nods, "That plant shouldn't be here. I've never seen that variety of that plant before."

"Munch has valuable experience." Strike remarks offhandedly to Nels', though her gaze hardens as she regards Tilla and interposes her staff between the Lucht and her most likely route of departure, "Don't you dare." pulling a tanglefoot bag from her bandolier, "She's compromised!"

Tilla rubs furiously at here eyes, doubled over as she stumbles several steps away from the party. "I'm so sorry! I'm SORRY!" she yells, fingers digging in as claw franticly at her face. "It's hungry... it needed more! I..." and then she goes still, her arms dropping as she's suddenly cackling. "Now!" her twisted features suddenly revealing the growths that have been hiding within her eyes, vines that crawl outward along her face, some even coming out her nose and lips.

It's then the vines on the wall suddenly grip tighter to the buildings they surround, causing them to crack and break. Brick and dust land near the party, and the vines whip out of control as they begin to move and take life. A humanoid form with five of these flowers emerging from the building it destroyed. One on it's head, one on each hand, and legs.

GAME: Strike rolls ranged: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Strike rolls ranged: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)

Ready with her plan in place, Strike is apparently startled by the third option revealing itself as the Lucht gets thorny eyes and bits, rattling her enough that her bag slips free from her fingers midcast to splat uselessly on rubble close at hand. The rest of her instincts, training, whatever, carry the Mulblooded one forward to keep Tilly pressed so the rest of the unit can concentrate on the plant.

GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (17)+11: 28
GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (2)+1: 3

Nels acks as we're suddenly surrounded, but she was kind of expecting this, and she reacts smoothly, shouldering her thunderbelcher and firing at the big plant monster thing. There's a tremendous kaboom, and a cloud of smoke and jet of flame as her weapon fires, but not a lot of ichor, seems she barely scratched the plant, or hit it in someplace where there weren't a lot of vines overlapping.

GAME: Strike rolls will: (19)+3: 22

Tilla looks at Strike, her eyes red and wild as something deep in them flash with power. Whatever magic is sent her way does not take hold, and is brushed aside by Strike's will alone, however Tilla just keeps cackling.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9

Walking slowly towards the group, the shot from Nels seems to have angered the shambler. The vines near it's head contort and swell, the flower there shooting a stream of acid towards Nels in retaliation, but it simply burns the grass near where Nels stands.

GAME: Lysos casts Color Spray. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (6)+1: 7
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4: (2): 2

Lysos sees the walking plant abomination and just shakes her head, repeating, "Nope." She half turns, sees Tilla's transformation... and then definitely groans this time. "Stars above.." she mutters, then grits her teeth, drops her crossbow bolt, and dashes just past Strike. Making sure to stay out of arm's reach of Tilla as well, Lysos flings her hand out at the lucht and utters, "Razzle dazzle!" A miniature rainbow made of clashing colour spills out of her hand washes over Tilla, blinding her and leaving her sensless.. at least for a few moments.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d8+4: (8)+4: 12
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9

As it's shouted that Tilla is compromised, Lanier's eyes widen as he turns to watch the transformation happen within (and without) the Lucht. He grits his teeth turning his bow upon the halfling with an almost feral growl. Then the appearance of the shambler causes the growl to morph into a gutteral howl that is punctuated with a very contradictory command issued in silken Sildanyari. His companion, Spud, angles towards the shambling plant create and dashes towards it.

Well rehearsed and so well-timed, Lanier fires his nocked arrow and then follows it up with another arrow fired a split-second later. One hits the shambler center mass, but before there is time to register the impact, Spud has sunk its teeth into the creature with a snarl, drawing forth more green ooze.

GAME: Burai refreshes spells.
GAME: Burai casts Flaming Sphere. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20

Burai is taken aback by the sudden appearance of the monster. But as the rest of the party moves to attack, it snaps the half-orc back to his senses. He throws up a hand and chants something in the secret language of druids. A sphere of flame appears but the plant avoids it. Burai screws up his features in concentration, and the sphere begins rolling after the creature, slowly picking up speed…

GAME: Strike spends ONE point of KI POOL.
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (8)+8: 16
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (3)+8: 11
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+3: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11

Strike gives a quick, "Nice." as Lysos moves in to deliver her dazzling support, there is a smile of approval at her lips. Then, to work, as the corrupted Lucht is at least temporarily disabled, Strike unleashes a flurry of body blows at particularly tender parts that aren't necessarily of structural or life support importance. This 'mercy' thing may get her killed, but , it's worth a shot.

GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (18)+11: 29
GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (6)+1: 7

Nels is backpedalling as the thing approaches, even as she's dropping another cartridge's worth of powder and shot into the barrel of her weapon. She shoulders it again and fires, smashing more of the plant material and causing one of the flowers to dry up. "It's working, keep hitting it," she calls.

Tilla-Crow is stunned and blinded, and then suddenly beaten by Strike. If her senses weren't already everywhere, she'd be reeling from the possible concussion. For now she just takes the assault.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17

Each of the Shambler's hands lash out like serpents made of vines, each flower snapping at Lanier with an audible clack, though both miss. One was close, the acid oozing from it's petals almost dripping on the man.

GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+1+3-4: (9)+1+3+-4: 9

Lysos looks... almost surprised when Tilla reels from the spray of colour.. and the Strike is laying into the lucht. Lysos winces, then sucks her breath in through her teeth, apparently somewhat sympathetic to the beating Tilla is taking... but she leaves the pair to their dance and pulls out another crossbow bolt. She loads it in, draws back the string, then raises the crossbow to her shoulder and sights. And looses. And curses. "Easier when no one is in the way..."

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+BAB+Strength+2-2: (20)+5+4+2+-2: 29
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+BAB+Strength+2-2: (11)+5+4+2+-2: 20
GAME: Lanier rolls 2d6+6+6: (4)+6+6: 16
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11

With fists, fireballs, and gunfire flashing all about them, Lanier clearly sees the way forward as Spud takes another bite into the green hide of the shambling plant monster. Dipping low wiht a bend of his knees to avoid the first of the fly traps attempting to return the favor, Lanier opens his hand to let the longbow fall to the ground with a soft thump. Like coiled springs, his legs propel him forward as he deftly dodges away from a second attack. His hand reaches up, grasping the hilt of the greatsword attached to his back. With a yank and a heave, the knot of the frog securing the sword falls away and Lanier brings the sword up and then down as he places his foot forward firmly within range of the creature.

The forward momentum of the Gilead ranger transfers smoothly to the blade in his hand, coming crashing down and cutting deeply into the plant monster, quite nearly cutting it in half with one swing. Lanier pauses for a moment, assessing the damage. As vines begin to make connections back within the body of the creature, Lanier narrows his eyes and then takes a step back, removing his blade from the body of the creature with a snarl.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14
GAME: Burai rolls 3d6: (17): 17

Burai is still gesturing with his hand, the ball of spongy fire following his every motion. Just before it collides with the plant monster, Burai clenches his hand into a fist. It seems to flare just a bit brighter and burns greedily into the vegetable matter that makes up the monster. The druid drops his hand to the handle of his falchion and closes in, readying the blade for a slash.

GAME: Strike spends ONE point of KI POOL.
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (9)+8: 17
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (11)+8: 19
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10

Since things were going well, and that's usually when the wheels come off, Strike continues to press her assault. While her strikes are viscious, they are precise and inwardly quite controlled. After the one-two to either lock of the Lucht's jaw makes the little one start to collapse, the half-mul drives the heel of her palm into the center of her forehead.... just to cover her bets before she turns on her heel. Now, she can turn her attention to gardening... just in time for the rest of the group to bring that to an end as well, "We'll need to bring her back for study, and curative measures, should it be feasible."

GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (12)+11: 23
GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (4)+1: 5

Nels calmly loads another round, and takes a bit more care with her aim this time. She's got a better idea of where to hit the thing, aiming for that last flower and firing. A thunderous boom erupts, and that flower is gone, and the thing falls over backwards, drying out. She reloads hastily, just in case, but it looks like we're clear.

The Party had gotten into a scrap, but came out unscathed. It didn't catch them as off guard as it could have, but the building across from them now covers half the road to the small pond. "Uuhhh *cough*... why does my *cough*...." Tilla about to say something as she stirs on the ground. A sudden jarring cough causes a large seed to dislodge form her throat, writhing and wriggling until it too soon dies and shrivels. "It... it killed my friends! It.. it makes those vines for fun..." she groans, now holding her head because of the pounding sensation put there by Strike's fists. "The Queen and King of the Garden need more bodies..."

Burai stirs the remains of the plant creature with the tip of his sword. He then uses the broad part of the blade almost like a shovel, to toss bits of plant matter into the sphere. Soon the sphere fades away and he turns towards Tilla, expression dark.

Lysos lowers her crossbow, then starts to visibly shake. She has to close her eyes to get herself in hand. Tilla's voice draws her attention, though, and once she seems a bit calmer Lysos opens her eyes and looks at the lucht. "So it was controlling you this whole time? Right from the beginning?"

Nels hms, and asks Tilla, "Can you take us to this king and queen? I'd like to see if they can be shot, also. Most things can, I've found." She looks around, then asks, "If it killed your companions, we might be able to bring their effects back, at least, for their families."

As the creature falls, Lanier lowers his sword and then looks towards Spud and giving the still snarling wolf a quick nod. He turns to begin walking towards the others, where Tilla had fallen. His eyes angle momentarily towards Lysos, and the shaking causes the ranger to alter his path just enough to pass by Lysos. He gives her a quick nod, "Excellent. That could have been much worse had you not razzle dazzled our charge directly in the face." He then looks towards Nels, and finally turns his attention to Tilla. He lifts his greatsword, setting it broadside down on his shoulders, "I'm going to do a damned sight more than shoot them."

Lysos' direct question causes the Lucht to curl into a ball as hands cradel her head. "Yes..." comes the meek words. It's an affirmation, but one filled with shame. She had tried to fight it, but lost. "The Queen rules the Timeless Garden.... and the King protects it. They wanted to make a child... but they require bodies for fertelization. My friends were not enough, and instead of using me as they did they others, they set this trap to lure what they needed." the truth finally coming out. "The King likely watches now, and the Queen lives on the pond."

Strike doesn't move from her position near Tilly, and her eyes hold as much of the group in sight as possible as she reminds them, "She knows things we need." That said, the rest of the story tells the repackaged soul all she needs to know, "Best for all that they are destroyed."

Burai squints at the pond. Nect he turns his head to peer into the remaining forest. "Destroyed?" he repeats. He blinks and then turns to Strike. "Best for -all- that they are destroyed? You mean, best for unwary adventurers who wander into here. Who else is threatened by this...'King' and 'Queen'?" He peers at the wall and then the edges of the garden. "Perhaps if the wall can be repaired, markers to warn off those who would wander inside...?"

Lysos jumps a bit when Lanier walks by, then lets her breath out. "Hah. Nerves. Thanks." Then after she listens to Tilla's explanation, she goes a bit paleskinned. "I think I'm starting to agree with the gobbers about explosives..." she mutters, giving the shrivelled seed Tilla coughed up a good kick. To Burai, she says, "Don't forget they found a way to draw people in. That goes a bit beyond protecting yourself."

Nels smirks to Burai, and says, "They may have been made of plants, but nothing in this ruin is part of any natural order. They deliberately implanted the seed, and tried to draw us in to our doom as well. You can find your way home if you like, but I'm for taking out these predators before they capture enough people to reproduce, like she said they were planning on."

The large pond lies toward the north, and the Lucht seems hesitant to move. It's now clear why this garden is desolate, as the creatures that inhabit Merkebah know of the dangers here, and avoid it. The once clear waters now have a blue glow, as if some sort of algae lights and grows within it during the night. Bio-luminescent, and eerie as a large lotus floats far out upon the ponds surface. It's hard to see anymore than that from where the party is at, but the party knows that is where the Queen is said to be. As for the King? No one knows.

Strike turns to Burai a brow arched in challenge, "Would you volunteer your flesh to serve their ends?" she asks, stepping closer, "Or hers?" a gesture to Tilly, "Or mine?" She hardens then, she affirms, "Destroyed."

Lanier nods his head to Lysos, "That's natural." He turns and looks down and away for a moment, before he looks back up towards Nels, "Predation isn't an unnatural occurrence. There are many intelligent hunters in the natural world, however..." He looks towards Burai, "I'm of a like mind to you, but she's right. There's nothing of the natural world in this place. We need to restore this place to allow nature to take back what belongs to it in its own course."

"It does go beyond protecting themselves," Burai nods gravely at Lysos' words. "They are providing for themselves. And for their offspring. Much like a hunter or a fisherman might do, when setting out a trap for their prey." He looks at Nels and then back at the rest of the party. "And what would you know of the natural order? With your..." he gestures at the thunderbelcher. Then he shakes his head. "Whatever that is." He takes a deep breath and then tries again. "Tilla is free of their influence. We can see to it that others are warned. Perhaps I can learn what these creatures require. If there is a middle ground...?"

Lysos growls a bit to her self, looking at the pond to the north, then the path back to.. well, relative safety. But she looks at Tilla, looking so.. well, pathetic. And broken. Thinking about the friends she lost. Then she looks at Burai. "Look... I don't really want to go further in. The people we came to save are gone. We freed Tilla. But... I think they're right. These things, if they wanted to talk, they could have. Could have used Tilla as a.. what.. an ambassador? But they didn't. They used her to get more people killed. Just because they're providing for themselves doesn't make it right."

Tilla has began to recover, and sits up to look at the party. "The garden is close, and it's in a large opening just before us. They tended it when all others were gone or killed." The glowing pond at the end of this lane of broken and entangled buildings doesn't seem to bode well for the party as Tilla explains. The waters extend at least forty feet in every direction, forming almost a perfect circle from where it was once the center piece of this garden plaza. In the middle floats a rather large lily pad with a giant lotus resting on it. The blue strands of whatever dwell within the pond's waters are now active under it since the last fight had started. It could be called beautiful, like twinkling stars that shift under the calm surface.

Luckily for the party the paved pathways are still intact, circling the outside edge of the pond, being just overgrown by grass. The trees and everything within that place look to have been trimmed and well kept, the water seeming to be the source of the life that was left to survive here. "It's not deep, but.... I don't know what awaits you. We were captured before we made it to the Queen. The vines you already fought surprised us." Tilla seemingly free of whatever controlled her. "That's where they dumped my friends." yes, they dumped them in the water. Nels isn't sure what to make of all that happened except that it's bad and it's still dangerous. But then again, so are we, so she loads her thunderbelcher, powder, shot, and wad, packed down with the ramrod and ready for action. She looks over the area, for the king who roams and the queen who may be under the water. The water was kind of clear, she thought, before when she looked, so she'll look again to see if she can see more clearly now.

Burai looks troubled, but moves along with the party. He peers at the surface of the water and then ventures, "Is anyone able to fight underwater? I can change into a form more suited to the water," he offers. "...but I won't be able to speak or cast spells."

It's a bit easier to be brave when forced to make snap decisions. A little bit harder to make yourself knowingly step forward into something like this. But Lysos reminds herself that she voiced agreement to ending this threat. Maybe that makes it a little easier to put one foot in front of the other. "Well, Tilla says it's not deep.. maybe it's not over our heads?"

The water is clear, even from the distance it looks like the surface is made of crystal. It's just that something clearly seems to be lurking below as there is a shimmering light that ripples now and then from within it. The party can't be sure of much more because of the distance. It would require getting closer.

Nels is willing to move closer, though if she has to lead, she'll go closer slowly. To Burai, she says, "I'm not much use underwater, but if we get closer, maybe it'll come out after us?" She's not brave by any means, but she's a goblin and she's got a gun, and there's a certain amount of bravado that comes with that, and it guides her forward. To take a better look, at the very least.

"I never learned to swim." Strike replies quietly, looking about as the group makes their way along. She considers the water, once again inwardly cursing the forces invoked that left her in this state, but "Or we could disable her mate and see if that draws her out."

GAME: Strike rolls perception: (13)+12: 25
GAME: Nels rolls perception: (14)+7: 21

Having returned his sword to the scabbard on his back and retrieved his longbow, nocking an arrow, Lanier and Spud walk easily alongside the rest of the group to the place that Tilla indicates that her friends are brought to. The dirty and dirty-blonde haired ranger grunts, his head turning towards Burai and shaking his head, "Don't bother. We'll lure it out. I have a plan." He looks towards the pond, clearing his throat and looking towards Spud, "Stay."

Proceeding forward alongside the others, Lanier edges towards the pond, his breathing slow and steady in spite of his eyes widening the closer he gets. He tilts his head slightly to the right and calls out, "Your Majesty! Wake the fuck up!" He raises his bow, drawing back and arrow and letting it fly into the water.

GAME: Nels rolls initiative: 12 + 4 = 16
GAME: Strike rolls initiative: 6 + 3 = 9
GAME: Lysos rolls initiative: 14 + 7 = 21
GAME: You roll initiative for Puppet-Crows: Roll: 2 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 2
GAME: Burai rolls perception: (20)+10: 30
GAME: Burai rolls knowledge/nature: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Burai rolls initiative: 8 + 2 = 10
GAME: You roll initiative for Queen Lotus: Roll: 19 + Bonus: 6 = Total: 25
GAME: You roll initiative for King Mandra: Roll: 15 + Bonus: 4 = Total: 19
GAME: Lanier rolls initiative: 5 + 3 = 8

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Ezil rolls 6d3: (11): 11
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+Will: (2)+3: 5
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: You damaged Lanier for 11 points of nonlethal. 11 total.
GAME: Note Sleep added to Lanier with a duration of 2 rounds.

The moment Lanier yelled, the Lotus Queen shifted from her perch upon her lily pad, her head sharply rising and a glare shot to the brazen human. Six seeds are shot his way, the velocity impressive as they hit him all across his body and limbs. They erupt, dousing him in a cloud of pollen, and to the parties surprise, the man is suddenly asleep.

GAME: Lysos casts Shield. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15

Lysos casts her hand forward, palm out, fingers splayed, shouting, "Defendarius!" Her shield flares briefly into existance as a blueish energy, then fades to invisibility. Then she starts edging forward, eyes half on the fallen ranger.. and half on whatever else this nightmare situation might have jump out at everyone.

GAME: Nels rolls will: (6)+2: 8
GAME: Nels rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Lysos rolls will: (14)+4: 18

"Protect the QUEEN!" comes a yell from the bush to the right of the party. Some had seen him, but most of the party had not. King Mandra comes charging out, his humanoid form small, like a child, but made of root and wood! He's charging after the party, the two odd looking plants that had been hiding with him moving much slower and unable to catchup. He intakes a hefty breath, and bellows a cacophony of sound at both Lysos and Nels, the nauseating effect of his scream only catching one of his foes!"

Nels calls out, "In the pond, the swirling seaweed has a flower thing on it, like the last monster did." She points out the lotus flower on top of a lily pad, where the swiring and sparking is most intense. And then things all seem to happen. Lanier's down, and she's shouldering her thunderbelcher. But before she can fire, the kings attack overcomes her, and she's suddenly heaving her guts out. Unabe to fire her weapon in that state, she runs as best she can to get clear, pausing every few steps to decorate the grass.

GAME: Burai casts Burning Hands. Caster Level: 4 DC: -87
<OOC> Burai thinks it should be DC 14 (reflex save, for half damage)
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Burai rolls 4d4: (8): 8

Burai is starting intently at the lotus and the figure below it - what turns out to be the Queen. He catches something out of the corner of his eye and whips his head around, in time to spot the King emerging. Burai opens his mouth to yell a warning, but once again he's too slow and the King emits its sickening scream. Burai marches forward, shifting his grip on his falchion until it's precariously held between thumb and palm, while the rest of his fingers are splayed out towards the King. "Burrrn!" he commands, holding out his hands and sheets of flame wash out, singing the creature, the ground around and even some of the vegatation behind it. Burai shifts his falchion back to it's customary grip and closes the remaining distance to stand alongside the King.

GAME: Strike rolls weapon0+2: (6)+8+2: 16

Seeing the movement in the bushes, Strike's fingers try to draw open the pouch containing her alchemist's fire, but the button is apparantly stuck. The brief delay costs valuable time, and so, the fire caster is in close to the revealed enemy and curtails those options. She shakes her head and rushes the plant creature and thrusts a mighty fist at it's middle-bits, but accomplishes only rustling some leaves with the turbulence of her near hit.

After firing the shot, Lanier looks up towards the Lily with his eyebrows raising. The incoming shot comes too fast for the Ranger to duck away from, and he reels from the impact of seeds against his legs and torso. With an inhalation of the poison, Lanier falls to the ground like a sack of root vegetables. It is readily apparent that the ranger has experience falling unconscious in dire circumstances. His free hand, having recently released an arrow from his bow, has landed behind him, cupping the back of his head. He is otherwise limbs akimbo in what can only be described as a most comfortable form of manspreading. His jaw is lax and his chest is rising to take in the first breath of his slumber, though it seems to be hanging somewhere, causing a noise somewhat akin to cutting large, armored fruits and vegetables with +1 medium-toothed hand saws.

Shambling out of the underbrush are two abomminations. They must of been the adventurers who were captured as a vines now wrap the entirety of their faces, obscuring any features of what they might of once been. Where there would be eyes, there are small flowers blooming, the shambling walk of dried out husks taking their time toward the party. They don't make it, but now they are only 10ft away, one heading for Lanier.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: You damaged Lanier for 3 points. 42 HP remaining.

Dancing across the water's surface, the Lotus Queen darts from her lily pad with a grace that makes her look almost elegant. Having risen from her crouch, she too is only the size of a child, and it is telling as her slam that impacts Lanier does little to actually harm him, but it does jostle him from his sleep. She stands on the water, lily pads forming under her feet... yes, this is her domain.

<OOC> Lysos says, "Alright. Moving to Strike and using touch of destiny on her. +1 to attack rolls, skill and ability checks, and saves for one round."

Lysos makes a start towards Lanier, but then the Queen is there and Lysos shies back from the half step she took. Her eyes cast around, watching Nels stumble away puking... not much she can do there, either. Finally she looks at Burai and Strike facing off against the King. And then.. it's like she sees something else. The young tsuran then scrambles towards that trio, calling, "Strike!" She doesn't want to get an elbow in the face, after all. She quickly touches the dark half elf's arm. "I see it. You can do this."

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4+2: (1)+2: 3
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5
GAME: Strike rolls fort+1: (5)+6+1: 12
GAME: You damaged Strike for 8 points. 31 HP remaining.
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4: (4): 4
GAME: Note Fatigued added to Strike with a duration of 4 rounds.

Nels has gotten to what seems to her like a decent distance, still sicking up over the lawn here. She's bent over, using ger thunderbelcher like a cane, holding on and leaning over to get it as far from her borrowed boots as possible. Miserable, and gagging, puking up the gunpowder chili she had last night, this morning's sandwich, and some macaroons she ate for a snack last week, too, by the feel of it. She's puking up things she only thought of eating. Or so it seems to her.

GAME: Burai casts Entangle. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (11)+1: 12
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (4)+1: 5

Burai's eyes widen as the King pummels Strike. What he hears from the direction of Lanier and Lysos and the Queen tells him that similarly, she is also deceptively effective at melee combat. Realizing the small party is in danger of being overwhelmed, he shifts back away from the King. This allows him to cast yet another spell - the weeds and vegetation around the King's minions suddenly grows and grasps them, doing it's best to hold them in place while they're still too far away to threaten.

GAME: Strike spends ONE point of KI POOL.
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0-1: (5)+8+-1: 12
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (5)+8: 13
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (20)+8: 28 (THREAT)
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Strike rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+2: (1)+2: 3

Strike blinks somewhat drowsily, her defensive footwork becoming more sluggish despite Lysos' augmentative magics. Her counterattack is kind of sloppy, even lethargic compared to the previous battle, and of her combo, only the last, a stright on mule kick actually connects, but doesn't budge the creature. She looks almost ready to collapse, though she has negligible wounds.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11

The two grotesque creatures made bu the King are still within the entanglement, one stuck fast, but one threatening to almost break free. Usually, Lanier Vaylan is sleep with one eye open kind of Ranger, all too used to making his home amidst the perils of the forests of the Mythwood, the Feywood, and for about a week and a half in the Spring two years ago, the Felwood. This was the best sleep he's had in a long time and it was woefully too short thanks to a slam delivered to him by the Queen. He's awake now, his green eyes open, and convey all the grumpiness of a man who was getting very good sleep, but for only about two and a half seconds. He stirs, cracks an eye open, smiles, and then seems to remember that he's smiling at a Lily-based turret-mounted seed-shooting murder plant.

He looks over towards Spud, shouting for the wolf to enter the fray. This seems to cause a bit of the interference the Ranger needs to get his feet under him and begin to stand. He dodges an incoming slam from the Queen on his way up with a duck of his head, the attack flying away from him. He them draws his greatsword from his back, "No more luring people in to snack on." With a wild swing and a snarl, Lanier waves the sword over the head of the queen by at least a foot and a half, but cut him a break. He just woke up...

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (13)+1: 14
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (5)+1: 6
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: You damaged Lanier for 3 points. 39 HP remaining.

The Lotus Queen is worried, but she keeps pressing her attack, slamming her vine-like fists into Lanier with little effect. Maybe some bruises, or a scratch. "Why won't you die! The others were WEAK!"

GAME: Lysos casts Color Spray. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+2: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4: (3): 3
GAME: Note Blind and Stunned added to King Mandra with a duration of 3 rounds.

Lysos's breathing is coming quicker now. One could possibly mistake it for excitement. But it's really more like barely suppressed panic... things do not, after all, look like they're going well. More in desperation than anything else, Lysos gets around Strike so she can yell "Razzle dazzle!" and fling a rainbow into the King's face. She almost stumbles over when she sees it actually effects him.

King Mandra is suddenly stunned, and blinded, rocking in a stupor caused by Lysos' spell of color. He loses himself, looking much like a gnarled and malshapen root when he's not moving or being vicious.

GAME: Note Nauseated on Nels ended.
GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (14)+11: 25
GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (4)+1: 5

Nels seems to have yacked up all she's going to yack, so she steps smartly up hill a few steps and hits the turf, so she's less subject to things coming at her, and she draws a bead and fires her weapon. There's a thunderous kaboom, a cloud of smoke and a jet of flame to mark her position, her shot impacting the king, though it doesn't look like it had a huge impact.

GAME: Burai rolls weapon3-1+2: (9)+8+-1+2: 18
GAME: Burai rolls 2d4+9: (5)+9: 14

Burai looks between the King and his minions. Both seem to be disabled for the moment. Burai's features grow grim, and perhaps just a little bit eager. He slips into place behind the King and slashes him across the back with a two-handed swing of his falchion.

GAME: Strike spends ONE point of KI POOL.
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0-1: (6)+8+-1: 13
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0-1: (13)+8+-1: 20
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0-1: (9)+8+-1: 16
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8: (7): 7
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8: (1): 1
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8: (4): 4

Strike, barely standing in the wake of... whatever the King dubbed her with, unleashes a wild flurry of punches, cryying out in weary effort with each connection. The objective complete, the shrivelling plant creature ends up buried under the mul-blooded brawler as the last of her strength goes under the poison.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+5: (19)+5: 24
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d6+1: (1)+1: 2
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13

Scrambling to recover after his first missed swing, Lanier snarls a reply as Spud sinks his teeth into the Queen Lotus and drags her down, "I'll die when I'm damned good and ready." He raises his sword above his head and then crashes down with it. The weight of the sword seems to work against Lanier for the first time, bringing the blade wide and slamming down into the ground with a loud, but ultimately ineffective, thud.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (15)+1: 16
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (3)+1: 4

One of the Puppets makes it free, but it still couldn't close on Lanier in time to attack. The second one has no luck, stuck in that field of entangling vines unable to move. It seems the tide of battle is quickly changing.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+Will: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+2: (19)+2: 21
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d4: (2): 2
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22

The Queen expels her spores in a desperate attempt to get away. Her king is gone, and this fight is turning sour. Lanier is again put to sleep, but as she tries to stand to run, but the damned wolf is on her in an instant! "No! Let go!" she yells, panic ebbing into her voice. "My king! Why?! Why now after so long!"

Lysos huffs a few times... she has no idea what she might do for Strike, but at least.. her eyes fall on Lanier, and she nods to herself. She runs over to his side and kneels down beside Lanier. Of course, shaking him would probably suffice, but the young woman's nerves are so shot and she's so full of adrenaline right now that the man gets a slap delivered to his face. "WAKE UP!"

GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+1: (18)+11: 29
GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (2)+1: 3

Nels's prior target was taken down, and her first choice is going to be hard to hit, so she gets to her feet, then takes aim at the one of the two nasties that broke free of its earlier restraint. But it's a smaller target and she only nicks it with the shot from her thunderbelcher.

GAME: Burai rolls weapon3-1: (20)+8+-1: 27 (THREAT)
GAME: Burai rolls weapon3-1: (1)+8+-1: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Burai rolls 2d4+9: (5)+9: 14

(There was cat issue, and this pose was lost. It was Burai hitting very hard with her weapon.)

GAME: Strike rolls weapon0-3: (16)+8+-3: 21
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0-3: (10)+8+-3: 15
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8: (3): 3
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8: (2): 2

Strike exhales in a huff as oblivion retreats, creating a little shockwave in dust and stray pollen. Groggily, she sees a foe before her and lrches to her knees, to a shaky three about halfway to him and with her last step, she balls her fists and clenches her teeth as she stands upright in the most personal of personal spaces, bringing the crown of her skull up under the point of the abomination's chin, the arching of her back pulling her fully upright, then she opens her eyes and headbutts him straight on.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+10: (20)+10: 30
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d6+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Lanier rolls 2d6+6: (11)+6: 17

Spud, the real MVP in the team of Lanier and Spud, continues to keep a hold on the Queen, snarling and gnashing his teeth between shaking his head violently. Lanier, for his part, is blasted right back to sleepy time again. He turns to the side, falling into his flank with his head in the crook of his arm. His lowest leg is extended straight out, while his top leg is bent slightly. He's spooning his greatsword, which fits Lanier's reputation as naturalistic, animal-like killer for the Green who loves to cuddle.

As he's subsequently slapped, his emerald green eyes pop open, and he shouts in return, "FINE!" In a flash, he's up on to his feet, and hefting his sword. With a loud growl that turns into a howl (human howling, not the arooing Reddit crap), he brings the sword down in a crop that burries the blade into the Queen. Then, with a yank, he pulls the blade free and is already setting up his next attack.

GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+8: (9)+8: 17
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d20+1: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Ezil rolls ad6+3: (13)+ad6+3: 1
GAME: Ezil rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: You damaged Strike for 12 points. 19 HP remaining.

While one of the Puppets is still struggling, Strike takes two large strikes from the one that's free. While their Queen lives it seems they will not stop fighting, catching her as she's weakened.

GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14

Retreating, the Queen throws herself backwards, skittering across the water as Lanier and Spud miss her the second time, her wounds from the first leaking ichor still. The speed she can cover is astounding when she's on her own element, stopping just on the other side of where the lily pad in the pond's center rests. "So this is how it ends?" not attacking, but with how much ground she covered, she might not be able too from this distance.

GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15

"Stupid plants," Lysos grumbles, before realizing she's somehow ended up holding on to her crossbow all this time. She quickly scrambles for a bolt and loads it in, then snaps off a quick, barely aimed shot at the retreating plant queen... and it shows. That crossbow bolt won't ever be found again.

GAME: Nels rolls 1d20+11: (19)+11: 30
GAME: Nels rolls 1d10+1: (10)+1: 11

Nels grumbles as the queen creature thing makes a break for it. But she'd gotten on her feet, so she dashes after it, boots kicking up turf into the water as she stops just at the edge. She shoulders her thunderbelcher and there's another report, the gunsmoke billowing as she fires, and the Queen is struck down by a direct hit. "Hah," she pants breathlessly, finally able to make a decent contribution.

Burai sees the puppet-crow fall in front of him. A glance towards the patch of still-writhing vines and weeds shows him the one that never quite made it out of the entangling spell, has also fallen. Burai watches for a moment more to make sure it's not some trick. Then he tears his gaze away and looks for the Queen, just catching as she sinks into the pond. He moves over to the edge of the pond and then looks at Nels and her thunderbelcher with new respect - and perhaps a hint of caution.

Lysos shudders and exhales, dropping fully down to her knees and bottom, her crossbow held limply beside her on the ground. And she stares at the water.

Lanier takes one last swipe at the queen as she retreats, his sword finding nothing but air. He reaches down quickly, dropping the sword and picking the longbow back up, but Nels has already left a smoking hole in the target. He raises an eyebrow, looking back towards Nels with a grin. He lowers the bow and then nods his head to Spud. He reaches out, patting the wolf, "Good wolf." He lifts his sword, putting it on his shoulder as he takes a look around. Noting Lysos, he also reaches down and pats her on the head, "Good magic-user of indeterminate origin."

Standing back up, he takes a deep breath and lets out a contented sigh, "I don't know about all of you, but I'm feeling very well rested."

The glow of the pool slowly begins to cease, the bones at its bottom being the final resting place of the Lotus Queen. She will rule her garden no more, and the trap set for adventurers was uncovered and thwarted without the loss of another life. It is an odd tale to send back to the Adventurer's Guild, but Tilla was written as the sole survivor of the first group that faced this horrible encounter, but she's been quarantined for a while just to make sure none of this business will begin again.

If the party had wished to know, there was a followup report that when a third group was sent to check on the location to confirm the story, only a muddy and nasty pond with a wilted garden remained. They think the threat is over.