Short Day

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Good news, everyone! You've been hired!

Hired to... deal with...

...okay, so, there's this field. And according to one of the local farmers, it was overtaken by gigantic mushrooms overnight. The guild seems to think he was exaggerating the size but, you know, given the recent attacks by the so-called Gardener of Alexandria who was leaving carnivorous plants everywhere for a time, it's thought that this could be his handiwork.

So you're on your way out of the city, to a shepherd's grazing field.

Braith trudges along. Her pair of warhammers are hanging from her belt. The dwarven lass glances at the others as they travel.

Daed has offered little in the way of conversation, just a polite introduction giving that short version of his name and an equally polite nod. He walks along at the back of the party, his sharp red eyes keeping a vigil on the horizon. His steps are graceful and purposeful, and it's clear he's ready for whatever might come their way. It's shown in that gaze and the way his hand never truly strays far from the hilt of his rapier.

Toha, her Earthbreaker propped on her shoulder, walks in pace with the group. Her introduction was amicable enough, if somewhat boisterous, though now that the party is out in the wilds, so to speak, she's mostly clammed up, though occasionally, very faint sounds, trying to form a simple if sober melody occur at that place within the Golem where her voice is found. The other indication that she isn't entirely dwelling in her own head is the face that her head pivots periodically to survey the land as they travel.

GAME: Braith rolls perception: (16)+8: 24
GAME: Toha rolls perception: (16)+6: 22
GAME: Daechir rolls perception: (7)+3: 10

Victor nods politely when he notices Braith's glance. He walks along a bit mechanically, his stride always exactly the same unless he needs to adjust it due to terrain or to maintain even spacing from the others.

GAME: Victor rolls perception: (12)+6: 18

It isn't too hard to pick up the trail of the herder for more precise directions. You've located the right /area/, of course, given that it was indicated on a relatively decent map, but from there, well... finding a herd of sheep's trail is not especially difficult. Still, you save yourself a good hour and thus have plenty of daylight left when you locate the..

... the mushroom field. It's pretty much what he said. A large field covered in... mushrooms.

Giant ones. Man sized. Easily. And then some.

It stretches out over a good 100 or so feet.

Bright.

Multicolored.

Mushrooms.

Braith draws both of her warhammers. She holds them tightly as she looks around. "This the place then?"

The mushrooms do not answer Braith's question. Well, they /kind/ of do. Just not directly.

Victor says, "It would appear to be. However, these don't fit the description I was given of the Teacher and his plant growth. For that matter, mushrooms are fungi."

Daed is about to answer the question with a light smile dancing on his lips at the obviousness of the answer, but he's beaten to the punch as it were so he lets his silence linger on. There's no need to answer a question already answered after all. Instead he moves slowly toward the fungi. Cautiously of course.

Toha, too, continues to move closer to the fungi, tucking the Earthbreaker's haft into some of the loops in her greatsword scabbard chains. That done, the greatsword comes out, though instead of wading in swinging, she inspects the locals, "Last time foliage was this big an' bright around me, there's fae involved." she asides.

Victor turns to look at Toha. "Indeed. And how did you handle that situation?" He moves to follow Toha and Daed rather than let them get to far ahead.

There does not appear to be any tiny winged creatures fluttering about, at least. Well, aside from the usual assortment of birds and bees. No doubt some of them will be feasting well if this is left alone.

But this is definitely not your ordinary, run of the mill fungal breakout.

Down into the Mushroom Field you go.

This tall, they provide plenty of shade for all of you, blocking out the summer evening sun. It's nice and cool down here, and the soil feels a bit squishy and moist beneath your feet, unusually so given the lack of recent rain.

Which begs the question of what these things are growing on...

Braith frowns just a little, but doesn't see anything to smack so she just keeps a hold of her warhammers with a good grip and keeps her eyes open.

Victor kneels down and places his fingers on the ground, pressing gently. He raises his hand and rubs the fingertips together. Finally he straightens to his full height again. "I can see why they wanted help," he finally remarks. "This is a mystery."

Toha shrugs, a subtle hiss of the greatsword's edge skating along her shoulder with the movement, then, "Beat the shit out of a big cricket that was outta tune. There was a reality... shift... or... something. It started wierd and just packed on the speed." While her face doesn't turn fully that way, there's probably the sense that she's scrutinizing the other golem. She's never seen that particular type before, and she's curious. Hmm, "Should the ground be this soft...?"

It's a very good question. What these things are growing on that is. Daechir is watching the ground now suspiciously. There are few things which make mushrooms grow this rampantly and none of them are particularly pleasant to think about. Decay is the main one, and the one that has his brow furrowed. He knows just enough about plants to be wary. "It would be, if these are growing on what I think they are. Be careful of your step."

GAME: Victor rolls knowledge/nature: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Toha rolls perception: (8)+6: 14
GAME: Braith rolls perception: (13)+8: 21
GAME: Daechir rolls perception: (11)+3: 14
GAME: Victor rolls perception: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Delilah rolls perception: (3)+0: 3

As you pass by one of the mushrooms, it seems to split open and out pops a rotund figure that could give Sandy a run for its money.

Well, okay. It's got a giant mushroom cap for a head, too, and it reaches out to grab Delilah!

GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Victor spends ONE use of TELEKINETIC FIST.
GAME: Victor rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4

Victor pauses and then turns to face one of the mushrooms. "Beware of--" he stops as something reaches out and grabs Delilah. "Ah...to late." Focusing for a moment on the creature, the war golem goes completely still. A ghostly shape forms in front of him. Then without warning it streaks out like a translucent snow wall and thumps into the creature.

GAME: Braith rolls weapon3+2: (17)+8+2: 27
GAME: Braith rolls 1d8+3: (8)+3: 11

Braith shakes her head, "Nope, wanna grab someone grab me." she mutters and then surges forward and whips one of her warhammers around to smack hard into the mushroom thing.

GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (7)+6: 13

The second fungus-beast staggers out of its stem, moving towards Victor. It's claws reach for him.

GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15

Fortunately, they don't feel terribly accurate yet. Or at least haven't quite shaken that 'just started moving' funk off themselves yet.

GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (12)+5: 17
GAME: Victor casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17

Victor turns to face one of the newly appearing mushroom-creatures - which happens to be coming straight at Victor himself. The war golem moves back away from it, this time move obvious about casting a spell as he chants and then gestures. A searing beam of light scorches across the enemy. "They appear to resist fire," Victor notes calmly.

GAME: Delilah rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20
GAME: Delilah casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Delilah rolls 4d6: (17): 17
GAME: Braith RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP
GAME: Braith rolls weapon3-4: (18)+9+-4: 23
GAME: Braith rolls weapon4-4: (10)+9+-4: 15
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (6)+6: 12
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (19)+6: 25
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (16)+6: 22
GAME: Braith rolls 2d6+6: (5)+6: 11
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d6+3: (3)+3: 6

Braith looks around at the others for a moment, "Don't panic." she says and then lets out a cry that sounds almost like a howling demon trapped in the abyss. As she calls on her rage, her eyes darken turning fully black. Her forearms start to turn black and scaled moving all the way up to her fingers which turn into wicked looking claws. The black claws grip her warhammers tightly as she apparently isn't done. Black lines runs across her skin, that can be seen, like it was in her blood and then she starts to grow, swelling in size. When she stops, the shorter dwarf stands just over 9 feet tall, and her warhammers are the size of earthbreakers. She swings first one and then the other at the one she hit before, though only one hits.

GAME: Braith rolls fort: (5)+7: 12
GAME: Daechir casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Daechir rolls 2d4+2: (6)+2: 8
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8

Watching the others with their attacks being at least partially deflected Daechir decides that his rapier will likely have as little effect on the things. He lifts his hand instead, pointing his fingers at the nearest mushroom-person and uttering skittering arcane words that don't linger on the ears at all. It's as though they can not truly be heard. Two bolts of white light pulse forth from his fingers, arcing through the air and connecting with the creature's flesh. This at least seems to work as effectively as it should, and Daechir lets loose a small grim smile.

GAME: Victor rolls fort: (17)+6: 23

These things have sharp claws! Once scratches Victor while the other scratches Bratih, leaving bloody furrows in each of them and traces of ugly dusty spores on their bodies in the process. Not good.

GAME: Delilah rolls ranged: (6)+5: 11
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 4d6: (17): 17
GAME: Braith rolls melee: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Braith rolls melee: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Braith rolls 1d8+5: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Braith rolls 1d8+5: (6)+5: 11
GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Victor rolls 4d6: (9): 9
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (16)+6: 22
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 2d6+6: (4)+6: 10
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8

Braith drops her warhammers as they didn't seem to be doing as much damage. The massive things hitting the ground as she goes after the mushroom thing with her black razor sharp claws. Both claws find purchase and she rips into it. It isn't moving after she turns her black eyes looking for another target.

Victor stumbles backwards, buffeted heavily by the attacks. He casts his spell again and sends another searing beam at the mushroom, but this time it has no effect at all. Victor tries to regain his balance.

Delilah takes another step back; in fact, she takes several, so that hopefully beefier types than herself will remain between her and the evil, sacrifice-happy mushroom grognards. "Hit him, Braith!" she exhorts. "Hit... it! Whatever! HIT IT HARD!" As she finishes her encouraging words, she starts tracing arcane runes in the air once again; she utters the accompanying words of eldritch power, and lets loose with another furious blast of flame. "Fire is also good," she comments. "I like fire."

One of the remaining of the three savagely rips at Braith, rfaking her with its claws and bleeding her quite badly, especially with the second blow that has puncuted her armor and left her midsection a bloody mess.

GAME: Daechir rolls CMB: (3)+3: 6
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8
GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

There's times in a battle when things crystalize, where you realize that something has gone terribly wrong and that you must /do/ something. That's how Daed feels looking at the wound that Braith gains from the mushroom-person. It's claws dig in deep and he drops his hand, forgets his spells. He knows it's foolish but it's not the first time he's done something foolish in a fight. Wordlessly he moves forward, rushing toward the creature to try and bowl it over. The effort is completely ineffective, but he hopes to have gotten it's attention at least. Anything to keep it from killing Braith.

Victor is rocked back by another blow. His side is crumpled. He tries to focus and send off another telekinetic attack, but this one rockets off to bounce harmlessly off of one of the larger, immobile mushrooms. "Won't be able to...krrk...last much longer," he comments.

GAME: Delilah rolls 2d4+2: (5)+2: 7
GAME: Delilah casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Braith rolls melee: (17)+7: 24
GAME: Braith rolls melee: (16)+7: 23

Delilah likes fire. She really likes fire. But, it isn't quite having the effect she's been wanting it to have. The sorceress sighs, shakes her head, and takes another step back, moving behind Victor. "Let's give you a bit of help," she suggests. The rune she traces in the air is a simple one; the words uttered relatively short. They conjure twin bolts of sizzling energy, that rocket into the Myceloid fighting Vic and scorch it! Scorch it real good! "Take *that*!" she punctuates. "You're about to be salad, buster!"

GAME: Braith rolls 1d8+5: (1)+5: 6
GAME: Braith rolls 1d8+5: (4)+5: 9

Braith rips into another with her claws doing good damage.

GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (17)+6: 23
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 2d6+6: (4)+6: 10
GAME: Daechir rolls weapon1+2: (12)+3+2: 17
GAME: Daechir rolls 1d6: (2): 2
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (14)+6: 20
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: NotSleepyPool rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7

After Daechir collided with it, the creature jerked in surprise and turned on him, burying its claws in vulnerable flesh.

Victor is turned to and slashes across the side of his face, leaving ugly bleeding marks there that narrowly missed his eye.

The wound from the creature staggers Daechir. Blood flows freely from the wound, and he can in truth barely stand. His vision wavers but he finds grim satisfaction in knowing that he's done exactly what he intended to do. His hand somehow, almost magically finds his sword's hilt. The dark elf draws it in a sound that's unmistakable. His grip is slick, but his aim is true. The blade finds its mark on the creatures hide, but there's little if any strength behind the blow. Exactly as he thought it does nothing to injure the creature. Even so he the smile on his lips doesn't fade, indeed he flashes his fangs and grins all the wider through the pain. "Come on, try me again you sun-blasted thing!"

GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (16)+5: 21
GAME: Victor rolls 1d3+1: (3)+1: 4
GAME: Delilah casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Delilah rolls 2d4+2: (3)+2: 5

Victor is swaying on his feet now. He holds one hand up against the slashes on his face and lurches away from the monster. He cups his free hand in the air and chants briefly, and a bit of green glowing light appears. Which he immediately slings at the monster, scorching it. "Acid kk-rkkk appears to hkk-kkrk work..." he notes.

GAME: Braith rolls melee: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Braith rolls melee: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Braith rolls 1d8+5: (1)+5: 6

Braith continues with the claws ripping another up.

GAME: Daechir casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Daechir rolls 2d4+2: (6)+2: 8

Delilah is paying attention, and it seems like Daechir is getting hurt, and hurt badly. "Hold on!!" she calls out, shifting her focus while moving to keep Victor between herself and the other mushroom thingy. Don't want to get torn to shreds, afterall, and she's very shreddable. She conjures two more bolts of brilliant energy, firing them straight into the creature picking on Daechir, blasting at it and sending little bits of mushroom flying everywhere. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

Daechir barely notices that the one in front of him is going down, but he notices Delilah's yelling. Notices the way her mouth moves to shape the words with a sort of odd hollow feeling as his weapon drops from his fingers. Amazing really how heavy it feels all the sudden. He lifts a hand and points it at the one remaining creature. The one so close to Victor. He's watching the golem bobbing and weaving and knows intimately how it feels. Like the world's slowing down. Words leave his lips by rote, familiar words that seem so slow to him now as though he could take forever to speak them. Then they're free from his lips and light leaves his dark fingers to flash across the distance between him and the creature.

He hardly notices at all when it falls too. He's too busy dropping to his knees. Watching the darkness eating at the edges of his vision. Somehow he hadn't realized how tired he was until just now. How warm the blood on his skin feels beside the coolness of the air around him. He realizes belatedly that he's still smiling. "I appreciate that." He says this to Delilah, but he's not sure if she can hear it. He's not sure he actually managed to make the words come out or if he just moved his lips. "Good shot."

The dark elf laughs and the twinkling of bells echoes it.

Now that the last of them are dead, you have a lot of mushrooms to look at...

... and each one of them could be carrying one of those things inside them...

Delilah relaxes, and her tattoos and eyes stop glowing. She straightens, cracking her knuckles and stretching her arms behind her. "Well... that could've gone worse," she muses. "Here... let's give you some help." She hooks an arm under Daechir's, and just kind of... supports him, for the moment. "Hey, whatever you two are going to do with the mushroom field... do it quick, yeah? I'll just look after Daechir for a moment, while you two get it sorted."

Victor moves to find a way to set them alight. He's limping, hunched slightly and limping. He doesn't have any fire spells left, so instead begins summoning more acid blasts and sends them sizzling into the stalk of a mushroom one after another.

Being propped up a bit seems to help Daed. Enough that he's able to snag his rapier on the way up. It takes him three tries to sheathe the blasted thing, but he manages. He hums a burning song beneath his breath, something old and riotous and not in the least bit elvish. He's still smiling, but it's probably the bloodloss. The shadow elf watches Victor start the blaze and lets out another little bell-tinged laugh. "Victor for victory." It's amusing. His red eyes slide to Delilah and he offers her a nod as the blaze begins. "To survival then, a fire to celebrate."

It's certainly bloodloss.

-End