Trick or Treat 6

Log Info

• Title: Trick or Treat 6, The Great Pumpkin
• Emitter: Cryosanthia
• Characters: Tenoc, Jaen, Strike, Geir, Rocky
• Place: H07: Kultari Road Outside Vadran Village
• Time: Sunday, October 25, 2020, 2:30 PM
• Summary: Ezekial Waterfall hires adventurers to harvest Zebediah Winterson's four acre pumpkin patch. There are clear differences between the two. Zebediah explains that his neighbour cursed his field, but he reversed it, and that's why his is so full of pumpkins and even has a gargantuan pumpkin. He explains that there is a stone buried beneath the Great Pumpkin, and while it's been dormant, a house sized pumpkin will be a problem no matter how you slice it. They start harvesting, nothing happens for a while, until one of the pumpkins turns into a person-thing and attacks the group. Battle Ensues, and the Great Pumpkin draws the party towards its maw as more Little Pumpkins emerge and attack. Finally it is defeated, inside they find several halflings, half-way turned to pumpkin seeds. The party drags Ezekial and Zebediah to the town's magistrate to sort it out, and it seems to be.

-=--=--=--=--=--<* H07: Kultari Road Outside Vadran Village *>--=--=--=--=--=-

The meandering Kultari Road runs right past this small village. The village itself exists at a crossways, where Eldwyn Road and Kultari Road converge, before each wanders past and on its way. Logs surround the village Vadran in a carefully laid, though commoner's defense. During off times, children can be seen tumbling and balancing on the log surfaces, or chasing each other in games of tag. In look and form, Vadran could be any of the number of villages that dot the Alexandrian countryside.

Beyond the village is an expanse of farmland, country roads, and the occasional, wooded area. During the days, horses and mules can be seen, strapped to plows and other means of work and labor. During the weekends, the center of the village will be filled with social activity.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Tenoc        7'0"     280 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Tall, green-scaled Sith'Makar hunter
Jaen         5'7"     130 Lb     Wild Elf          Male      Wiry green-haired sylvanori in hide wrappings.
Strike       5'11"    155 Lb     Half-Elf          Female    A dusky grey half elf girl in grey and black clothes.
Geir         5'8"     200 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A short, copper-scaled Sith-makar.
Rocky        6'8"     460 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A grey Sith in armor, bit like a statue.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

"Hallo."

"Guder mariye"

A farmer leans on a fence, talking to his neighbour. The human wears coverals, high boots, a plaid shirt. He has a straw hat, a pot belly and a flat behind. A fringe beard that frames his face which a khazdi would call 'a good start'. He is weatherbeaten, arms and face tanned to look like old wood. The fence is one of rough hewn logs supported by X fenceposts. The neighbour is similar in appearance, both to the wood and the visiting man. Same build, same beard. Pleasantries exchanged, the visitor speaks again.

"Zebediah Winterson, it wonders me why your field is so full and mine is not. The soil, the slant, the sun is the same. The water we is drawn from the same stream. A slight hedgerow aparts, and yours is so fecund while mine so blighted."

"Ezekial Waterfall, I am not one to speculate. I toil and plow my own ways and you have yours, and not one man can criticize. I can't explain it and don't mean to try. For why is you here with all these adventuring fellows in tow?"

"Well Zebediah, I am in kind mind and mean to help you out," says Ezekial.

"Well Ezekial, I have the curiosity now," says Zebediah. The farmer in the field Looks at the adventurers, addressing them directly, "Who be you and what is your intent?"

All they have been told is to meet Ezekial, he brought them over without explanation.

It is grey. Chilly. Damp enough to magnify into miserable. Yet Tenoc endures this as he must, for the sake of proving and learning and struggling through difficulty. He chuffs, shaking off his woolgathering as he rumbles.

"Hssk. This one was asked to come and meet soft--humans." He finishes lamely, face stoic as he presses on. "Seeking new hunting lands for the People. Sssk. Wish best places to know, hunt, stay away from. Be good neighbors."

And not burn everything down accidentally.

Jaen heard directly from the farmers, perhaps Ezekiel himself, of a need for assistance. What assistance, he's still uncertain of. Listening to their words and pulling what he can from them prompts him to look between the respective fields, as referenced. "One grow, one not?" An adept orator in Trade he is... not.

Strike briefly considers the paired farmers, idly considering the overarching similarities. Once the client's beneficiary(?) makes their inquiry, she gives a polite nod, "My name's Strike, my intent is to see what the job is." A glances to her fellows, "Then, likely follow through. What seems to be the problem?"

"...also to help with problems," Tenoc adds, glowering. 'Good neighbor' things. Rather be hunting boar!

The farmer in the field nods, "Well, this be plowed lands from here to the town then aught else aout beyond. Little hunting here except foxes. You be seeking hunting grounds look cross the river." He gestures at a line of trees on the far side of his field. No river is visible, but presumably they border its shore.

Zebediah nods at Jaen, standing in a field which has plants and leaves that reach his waist, a distinct contrast to the one passed on the way up. "That be true."

Strike gets a similar nod, then he addesses the neighbour leaning on his fence. "Ezekial, we all stand await the explanation you harbour. Will you share it now?"

"Well Zebediah," said Ezekial, "All my gourds have shriveled and dried up. All my crop pickers have vanished. I've hired on these ones to do the work that doesn't need doing. So I thought, the karma is so imbalanced I must have done you wrong. To make up, they will harvest for you. Your gourds are so giant you must need the help."

"Well Ezekieal," said Zebediah, "I do need the help and I can't refuse such generousity without someone wondering mischeef, so I won't. Your hirelings are welcome to harvest but I'll ask you to stay there. Good fences, good neighbours."

"It vexes me, Master Winterson, that you would put terms to my generosity. But a man's land is a man's land and one should stay off another's like it was his wife, so I will." Ezekial waves for the party to climb the fence.

"You know well Mistress Winterson has been in the ground these three years and anymore not accepting callers, Master Waterfall. Thank you for the reminding. My fields are my fields and not open to all." Zebediah Winterson says, also waving at the party to climb over while making a stop motion towards Ezekial. He walks away through the undergrowth, summoning, "Come, I'll get you all cutters and the cart. You can get to your work."

Tenoc has but the barest inkling of what is coming. Blithely, innocently, he hops the fence in a quick motion, smooth as he holds the spear in counterweight. "...hunt dangerous gourds?"

There are certainly many enemies if that is the case. There are gourds everywhere!

Strike glances to Winterson, to Waterfall as they trade formalities and barbs, but nods as the interplay comes to the invitation to do the job. Hardly one worth what the Guild probably gouged out of the man, but, it's the job. The hal-Mul hops the fence in turn and takes up a flank on Wintersun as he makes to lead them to their contractual gourdianship.

"Harvest." Jaen states simply, as if it explained all, before he hops over the fence between the fields.

Zebediah Winterson leads the small group, carefully stepping between plants. His field is vast. It is overgrown and overfull with gourds. Mostly pumpkins, but squash and cucumbers are also visible. The pumpkins are simply immense.

It's a stark contrast to the field passed that was further down the road. That one was completely barren, scraggly weeds and some dead runners, entirely dirt. Even a fallow field sprouts more random grasses. It took work to make it so bleak, and it was even more despairing to come on the overabundant field.

"Mind you step in the rows," he instructs, once they are out of earshot of Ezekial. "You be owed the light he denied. As one might surmise we are in competition. Since Mistress Winterson has laid herself unending rest I've been vexed by sleepless nights and taken to staring at my field."

He pauses, having arrived in front of a barn, with fading red-brown paint. In front is a wagon, some sacks. He has a basket full of bill-hooks on harvest handles, not pikes. He starts handing them out, "I expect you will not want to use your fine blades on gourd vines. So one night this spring past I see Ezekial in my field, a dancing. The morn after I find a rock. I take my liberty to investigate his field and find a similar rock, and swap them."

He makes a weary sigh, facing the group, "This is what he expects you to find, when you harvest my field."

Tenoc watches with careful calm, quiet survey. "...ssk. So...." He struggles for the right word, tail lashing thoughtfully. "...Orderly. The plants. Not as the green of home." He turns his eye on the farmer, listening with new respect. New knowledge! And dark knowledge, too. THe Makar sketches a sign of warding on the air, to avert evil spirits. Even in simple things, they lurk to cause mischief.

He follows carefully, striving to keep step and spear haft and tail in the marked rows. It... is difficult. So many moving parts!

Jaen walks along the row, familiar enough to understand the need and polite enough not to stomp on the crops. He picks up a reaping hook before looking to Zebediah intently. "Harvest. Want find stone..." He looks back whence they came. "..stone there..." Back to Zebediah. "Cursed stone?" There are all manner of terrible magicks possible. It's also entirely possible that Jaen completely misunderstands the farmer.

While not exactly the story Strike was expecting after navigating the field, it is one she's listening to as she examines the billhook. She does, however, recognize certain proprieties and looks up his way with a gentle, "I'm sorry for your loss. I expect she was a fine woman." Swapping rocks seems somewhat anticlimactic, but it apparantly had the proscribed effect. She arches an eyebrow and notes, "You're surprisingly forthcoming about this... are there other troubles from this... rock?"

"A blessing for your concern. Mistress Winterson was. As vibrant as the farm." Zebediah says, pointing out across his field.

It's as if Winterson's field sucked all the productivity out of Waterfall's. His is so chock full of produce it seems unnatural. If the oversized pumpkins, nearly an arms span in size or greater weren't enough, smack in the centre of the field is a giant pumpkin. A gargantuan pumpkin. A pumpkin as big as a small house, easily thirty-two feet in diameter and over twenty feet high. It's visible from anywhere in the field, from the road, from down the road. Someone with a telescope and the right line could see it from an Alexandrian guard tower, several hours ride away. It's immense. It's so obvious it dominates the field, should never need to be pointed out.

Zebediah points directly at it, "And yes, I expect some curse to the stone. I have no care for you to suffer from his plans. The stone you will find in that, or under that. The exacting middlemost of the field, where I replaced it."

Strike looks toward the indicated behemoth with a quiet, 'hmmm.' She looks to the other adventurers and back to Winterson, "Have you encountered any of his missing crop-pickers?" she wonders, forming theories about the whole business.

Tenoc rumbles darkly, tail giving a slow lash. First instinct: to stalk back to Waterfall's field and torch it, leaving the blacked bones of its former master stretched as a scarecrow warning to others about calling on dark spirits.

But... neighbors. He thinks hard: what is lesson about being thus? Hunters provide; often, meat more than berries and fruits,, but... food is food, yes? Whether berry bush found in wild or in cultivation. So.

"This one thanks for opportunity to learn... new thing." Sssk. Reluctantly, he sets his spear aside, taking up the harvesting hook with grave forebearance. "If would wish, can ask... Greenspeakers. Dar-oo-d's?" He rumbles, shaking his head over the strange word. "To come. See. Listen to Great Gourd."

"I have not. They were with him for springsong and his nighttime dance. They are lucht siuil and itinerant, bought by a farm for task and then they move. I was expecting them after Master Waterfall's harvest, but he clearly has none." Zebediah explains, "It worries me their ritual participation may have led them afoul fate."

The farmer nods to Tenoc, taking up a bill hook and demonstrating in the air around his wrist. "Grasp tightly the stem of the gourd, then rotate hook around. This should cut enough a tug with the hook will severe it. The back of the blade can be used to hack, take the care to avoid hitting the produce."

Zebediah looks out across the field, "It's been looked at, shows faint magic and naught else. A Greenspeaker might reveal more. I've not asked that, and have no contacts. It has been safe to walk up, around, so far."

"What of stone?" Jaen looks from Zebediah to the others. They know where it is, but he's confused on what it desired of it. "Leave? Move?"

"It's entirely possible. Your neighbor's dance could have been a sort of ill-concieved ritual." Strike notes,then "Have there been any other strangers about? Anyone with an odd air about them?" Once her query is in the wind, she approaches one of the nearby gourds to begin the indicated reaping process.

Tenoc looks on intently, listening with care. An odd tool-- like spear... and totally *not* a spear. He tilts his head as others mention questions, concerns, turning back with a rumble of breath. Fingers twitchiing to sketch ward on air again. Ssssk.

"It is my mind that Master Waterfall expects a triumphant discovery of it, and some furtherance of his plans. I am weary of the wonderment, having watched the Great Pumpkin swell and swole over the months, knowing what lies beneath." Zebediah admits, looking old and weatherbeaten.

"I would that you assist the harvest, as he has paid for you to. Load some in the cart, the rest to the barn. There is a site cleared." He gestures into the barn, and though the interior is dark there is an area with a clear floor, raised off teh ground.

"Oh, that it is some foul ritual I have no doubt. Master Waterfall's face is not oft seen at the Temple." Zebediah continues, "strangers pass through. I'm not one to watch the roads, can't say if they've lingered at his farm house."

He nods approval at Strike's harvesting technique. He moves up to another pumpkin, deftly cuts it from the vine.

Tenoc nods gravely, brandishing the harvest hook like a weapon. Striding into the fields-- conquering--! --harvester. But dilligent-- he goes to work, struggling at first, keeping a careful eye on the hookbill as he works. Remembering the technique shown: hook and tug and slice and again. More or less.

"....vegetables," he grouses for the fourth time. "They would be better if they bled, yus. Or scampered. Ran." He pauses, quirking. Fox? Fox! Fo-- sssk. Harvest, not hunt. Grumble.

Strike nods with a considered, "I see, thank you." and carries on about their work. She focuses more on being accurate than fast, at first, carrying the fruits of her labor inside the barn.

Over time, as the harvesting moves further out, she starts allocating the larger gourds to the cart.

Jaen starts on a row not attended to another, cutting and pulling, then moving the gourds to the spot in the barn as necessary. As he moves farther out, the cart becomes the interim destination.

The harvesting is straightforward work, but it is hard. Not individually. Collecting a gourd is easy enough, but each repetitive action, carrying them back, returning to a cut a few more. It's a constant exertion that drags.

Zebediah Winterson has a slow and steady pace, which at first seems lazy. However as over-eager, energetic efforts are expended, his rhythmic approach becomes difficult to match. He might seem slow, but is relentless, and doesn't take a break which aching muscles are begging for.

The field is large, four acres, four hundred and twenty-some feet on a side. The Great Pumpkin is directly in the middle. Out near the edges, the squash and pumpkins are normal size. The closer one gets to the middle of the field, the larger they become. Soon they are approaching a size that a small person, like a halfling, could be curled up inside.

Nothing obvious happens. No screams when the vines are cut, no unexpected bleeding. Even the gourds themselves exhibit blemishes, they aren't perfect, they aren't grossly abnormal.

Besides being large.

Harvest, cut, drag, heft to store-- back again for more. Tenoc strives through the unfamiliar work with dogged determination, dutiful-- merciless as he hauls offending vinery away! "Sssk," he rumbles noncommittally, begining to wonder which is more a test of endurance-- the weather, or the plants! Snorting, he continues his work, sparing a glance for the farmer and Strike.

Rocky is still new to the land of SoftSkins, and the last few days have been unplesantly novel. Which is to say, cold. The sith is no stranger to ice, but he's more stuited to a jungle. Still, the warrior gets moving, careful not to trample any crops underfoot. The steady pace suits him fine, though the specifics are new to him. River Stone pauses now and again, taking a second to peer at the massive central gourd, fully expecting -some- sort of trouble, if not from it, then over it.

Strike eventually reaches one of the larger gourds, cutting carefully before crouching down to rap her knuckles against it's thick rind. She listens, then and waits a few seconds, then knocks again.

So many pumpkins! The barn, the cart, are starting to fill and it seems like the field is hardly dented.

Knocking on it, the gourd seems perfectly normal, the right tone for something of its size. The rind firm and resilient. There is no return knock.

Zebediah returns to the barn, carrying two sacks full, one in either hand. Far away, on the fence, Ezekial watches. His manner and expression unreadable at the distance.

Geir walks along the row, slowly approaching Strike from behind. He observes her knocking upon the gourd, and listening at it's rind, his own head canted, ears straining. "One wonders.", he says lowly, "If anyone or anything answers? Is the call for help a request to listen to the woes of squashes and gourds?"

"This one does not know," Tenoc answers from the row alongside, bent over in his own carefu-- darn it. Too much vine. He chuffs. rumbling as he cuts through with a shrug. "Sssk. Does not know. One has not heard anything, but did not learn this manner of gathering foods." He pauses, thoughtful before he continues back to his work. "Perhaps they are only Mourful enough that one with proper ears can hear them>"

The field is difficult terrain, because of all the plants and the way the ground is uneven. Everyone is five to ten feet apart, which represents a little distance in the same row, or the next row over.

Strike shrugs absently and hefts her reaped gourd at the question, "So far, no." She turns, then to consider the source of the question, "With bizarre dances resulting in magic growth rocks and missing Lucht Siuil workers, I would rather rule out possibilities."

Jaen is now into the larger pumpkins, as they work towards The Great Pumpkin. He can no longer carry multiples at a time, and has brief issues lopping through the heavier vine on his current. Afterwards, he grunts with some effort at lifting the thing.

The pumpkins are quiescent. No calls for help, nothing unusual. No odd shifting of weight inside them that would suggest something trapped in a hollow space. They're just pumpkins. Each one easily severed from the vine and less easily carried back to the cart.

Until one isn't.

A Jaen cuts and lifts one, it transforms into a pumpkin-man. Eyes and a mouth appear on the gourd and vines sproud from the severed stump. Vines which immediately slap and strike at the wild-elf.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (20)+-1: 19 (THREAT)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (14)+-1: 13 (not confirmed)
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "roll a DC12 Reflex save please"
GAME: Jaen rolls reflex: (15)+5: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3-2+1d6: (1)+-2+(6): 5
GAME: Little Pumpkin damaged Jaen for 5 points. 28 HP remaining.

The gourd guy gouges Jaen with a leafy strike!

GAME: Geir rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Tenoc rolls knowledge/nature: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)

Wiser or more knowledgeable individuals might recognize a few of the details shared, but they remain a mystery.

GAME: Jaen RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 6 temporary HP
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (9)+7: 16
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (10)+7: 17
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse: (10)+7: 17
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d6+strength+2: (2)+2+2: 6
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d6+strength+2: (5)+2+2: 9
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d4+strength+2: (2)+2+2: 6

Jaen doesn't expect the gourd to suddenly rear up, much less strike him! Initially, he's left blinking in a moment of shock... which then turns to ire as his eyes narrow and teeth are bared with a snarl. Teeth that elongate even as his nails extend into sharp claws. He is a hunter, not prey, and certainly not to a vegetable!

He slashes at the ...whatever it is, proving his claws work as well as the sickles in cuting through the vines as he removes at least one 'limb.' A snap of his jaws at the pumpkin proper tear a large mouthful from it. The remains drop and crack open wetly upon impacting the ground.

The pumpkin-headed, plant-person thing is torn to pieces. It tastes just like raw pumpkin, and the body of it falls to pieces under Jaen's claws.

A halfling is not inside, a rabbit is. A rabbit that seems to be decaying in a strange way. It's covered in a film, and through it the soft parts of it's body appear to be turning to... seeds? The rabbit's eyes, nose, inside of the ears are lined and formed from seeds. It's hide, teeth, seem normal.

There's only a moment for the wild elf to take this in. Dirt flies up in the air as buried roots, other vines, free themselves. There is distant laughter, Ezekial Waterfall is beating on the fence, "Your crimes have caught up with you Zebediah! The field never forgives!"

He is barely audible however, as a face appears on the Great Pumpkin and it rises, pulling itself from the ground.

The field is four acres, being four hundred and twenty feet on a side. The Great Pumpkin is situated directly in the middle, it is two hundred and ten from any side. The harvesters are roughly one hundred feet west of it. Their staggerd and scattered arrangement in the rows putting them slightly closer or further away. The Great Pumpkin itself is as big as a small two story house, easily covering a twenty foot square.

It's the only thing sprouting from the ground.

For now.

GAME: Strike used a Potion of Bull's Stength.
<OOC> Strike says, "ok, so i have a temp +4 to strength"

There is, of course, the unfortunate vindication of Strike's concerns. Of course, not exactly as she expected, but certainly there are things amiss, here as one of the pumpkins decides to get uppity. Her cargo his the ground by the time the barbarian's mauled his assailant, and so it is that she turns toward the sound of the Great Pumpkin being rouse to... particular fanfare. She may have to kick his ass, too. But, noting the size of the immediate foe, she roots through her bandolier for a particular vial, uncorks and chugs it, and there is a subtle swell to her muscle, more definition prevailing amongst the shadowed tones of her skin as she begins to stalk toward the agent of Disgourd, "Try to flank it, but beware of what's around you, there may be others ready to spring to action!"

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20: (18): 18

The Great Pumpkin rises up. Roots and vines are puling out of the earth, all across the field. It's beneath the entire ariable area. Plants are pulled free as it emerges, clods of dirt exploding everywhere across the acres.

Yet, it's first attack is a stream of seeds, spat at Rocky. Perhaps the stone coloured sith'makar irritates it, perhaps it hates stones, perhaps it seeks them. That would align with Zebediah's story.

The seeds miss, though where each one hits there is a small explosion of vines.

The sudden transformation of a pumpkin, into a pumpkin man, then into shredded pumpkin and rabbit corpse, only takes a few moments. In that time, Geir straightens, his spear coming down to a ready position. "One suspects the time is now.", he says to Strike, as she chugs a potion. Eyeing Rocky for a moment, the copper-scale Sith begins to move resolutely towards the giant pumpkin as it begins to rouse itself from the earthen field. "Time to make some pumpkin pie."

The copperscale is sixty-five feet away.

GAME: Rocky rolls intimidate: (4)+7: 11

It's one thing to expect weird magical stuff. It's quite another to actually witness it. The sith called Rocky expected trouble, but is still surprised when it comes, blinking a moment before surging forward. A stream of seeds, likely magic, pass by, serving only to focus his attention. Shield in on hand, blade in the other, Rocky bears his teeth and roars, trying to look scary... pumpkins don't have a lot of sharp tooth predators, maybe sounding like a bunny would be scarier to a vegetable?

Tenoc blinks in surprise, momentary focus on the plants interrupted by-- the plants?

Growling with a rumble of hot breath, he tosses the tool aside, eyes gleaming with red hot relish. Striding confidently forward, he works towards the offending plant creature....If not for all the interfering vines!

Placing him seventy feet away, apace with Rocky.

One down, but now there is another... and then there is also the Great One. Jaen watches the spewing of seeds and begins making his way through the patch its way.

Strike considers her own advice as the others get off to a more immediate charge. As the others have a head start, she alters course to try and get off to it's lefthand side.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d5: (5): 5
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "attacks Tenoc with vines"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (2)+19: 21
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+10: (6)+10: 16
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Tenoc for 16 points. 29 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "It tries to ensnare you"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (1)+15: 16 (EPIC FAIL)

The Great Pumpkin roars an eerie, unsettling sound. It's a little like a giant wood-wind, something carved, something harmonic.

A vine whips out of the ground, slamming into Tenoc, beating him. Leafy fronds whip around, attempting to grab him, but he manages to slip free.

As the large pumpkin begins to flail about, striking at different targets, Geir ducks a little lower and begins to jog forward. Angling away, to take advantage of others' distractions, or to create one of his own. "Be on your gourd, any of these lesser ones may become creatures similar to the first. Does anyone have fire spells?"

The copper-scale is thirty-five feet away, angling to get to one side.

GAME: Rocky rolls intimidate: (13)+7: 20

Rocky continues forward, not too worried about stepping on things, but still aware this is someone livlihood. The sith bangs his blade of his sheild, making noise, and bounces a little, unsure just what will grab a magical pumpkins attention. "This one has sword and armor, that is all."

Forty feet away for the granite-scale.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (10)+-1: 9

One of the gourds disturbed by Rocky's passage keeps rolling then ends up on vine feet. It chases after the sith'makar, coming up behind him and flailing with whip-vines. They come nowhere near to connecting.

The banging is getting attention.

Tenoc tries main brute force, shoving through the offending undergrowth to reach the monstrous pumpkin-headed man. And then the undergrowth shoves *back*...

The first slamming into his back leaves Tenoc reeling, heavy scales hammered by the sudden, relentless assault; quick to recover, the Makar moves-- from brute force to more mobile doggedness, pressing closer to the TGP, determined to get through!

Placing the hunter-sith forty feet away as well.

Strike continues closing in, glancing toward her fellow farmhand on the sound of the impact.

The mul'niessa-golem is thirty-five feet away, angling to end up on the creature's north facing.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (11)+19: 30
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+10: (5)+10: 15
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Rocky for 15 points. 19 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (18)+15: 33
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Grabs Rocky, pulls him 20' closer."

The Great Pumpkin lurches on its vines towards the harvesters in the field. Dragging dirt, dragging smaller pumpkins, it's on the verge of passing over Jaen. Rocky however, has gained its attention, and a vine swipes at the granite-scale. It wraps around the sith and drags him closer, right up to its ragged maw.

GAME: Geir rolls weapon1: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Geir rolls 1d8+4: (6)+4: 10

The copper-scale blinks and slows momentarily as the gigantic pumpkin lumbers closer, lashing out at Rocky with its vines. Geir grunts and stabs outwards with his spear. It thunks home with a satisfying noise, leaving behind a hole. "One wonders what is inside this creature!", he yells out. "This one has created a hole, perhaps someone might continue carving?"

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4-2: (9)+7+-2: 14

Rocky does not mind when the massive gourd heads his direction, and most certainly does not squeek when he gets picked up and hauled closer. The sith does chuuf loudly and swing his blade at the vine holding him, but between the angle and the grip on his sides, the blade does little more than slide off.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, a Little Pumpkin appears and goes after Strike, and the one that attacke Rocky last goes after Jaen"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (11)+-1: 10
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (12)+-1: 11

Another 'little' pumpkin rolls out of the patch and up on vines when Strike passes it, following and flailing at her. The one that was harrying Rocky turns to follow Jaen as the sith'makar is snatched up into the air. Neither connect.

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14

With the rugged undergrowth, Tenoc curses vehemently in the tea-kettle tone of angry frustration. Growling, he struggles away from the writhing vines, moving to the grey-hued Makar nearby; seizing the varioud clinging vines, he begins to rip, tear-- fight their insidous ravelling as swiftly as he can! A furious struggle, and a close one-- vines try to rewrap as quickly as Tenoc tears them away.

GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2: (8)+7+2: 17
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2: (18)+7+2: 27
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2: (18)+7+2: 27
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d6+strength+2: (4)+2+2: 8
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d4+strength+2: (2)+2+2: 6

Jaen doesn't like the vines, and not JUST because they smacked him. They, and the furrowed ground, make getting there more of an ordeal than it might be. "No grow!" He growls at the Great Pumpkin before clawing and biting at it. It worked for the smaller one, and seems to work moderately well on this one. There's just more of it.

GAME: Strike rolls weapon0+2: (13)+9+2: 24
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0+2: (12)+9+2: 23
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+5: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+5: (4)+5: 9

As she is suddenly assailed from the side, Strike's stride falters only in that her leading foot snaps out to the side to thrust down at a diagonal into the offending gourd, shattering much of it's upper rind and soaking her fine boot in it's seedy mush. Her thigh tenses sharply, and her foot reemerges from the creature, launching much of it's upper half toward the Great Pumpkin, almost as a single motion. Pretty as you please, the half-Mul sets her dripping foot down on the next step on her approach, her face and cadence as impassive as a machine.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "constricting on Rocky, CMB vs CMD"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (5)+15: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Rocky for 7 points. 12 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and attack on Jaen, who did the most damage last round"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (8)+19: 27
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+10: (12)+10: 22
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Jaen for 22 points. 12 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (19)+15: 34
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you're tangled up too, lifted up towards its mouth, tangled up near Rocky too"

The Great Pumpkin's vines tighten around rocky, squeezing the granite scaled sith'makar. His body is twisted in unpleasant, painful ways. Like ropes, they scrape over scales and rend him.

The wild-elf who opened up a giant rent on it's underside is the focus of its next attack. Roots rise up, a vine slams down, Jaen is buffetted and then finds himself rising up, closer to the maw of the thing.

Inside, through the gaps of the teeth, bodies are visible.

GAME: Geir rolls weapon1: (9)+6: 15

The copper-scale moves a few steps along the circumference of the gigantic pumpkin, and thrusts his spear a second time. He grumbles as just as he strikes home, he stumbles over one of the vines. The spear barely even leaves a mark. "Tsk. This one has fought on better ground than this.", he mutters.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4+2-2: (15)+7+2+-2: 22
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+3: (9)+3: 12

Rocky continues to hack away at the vines holding him, still tangled, but helped somewhat by his fellow sith. The long blade connects, and the stone-scale drops to the ground, free, but somewhat mangled. "....ow."

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, the little pumpking htat was on jaen goes to Tenoc, and Strike gets another one"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (18)+-1: 17
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (8)+-1: 7

The little gourd-person is shattered by the mul'niessa, but as the pieces fall to the ground another one springs up. Vines flail, but she is not injured.

The one attack Jaen turns towards Tenoc now, rushing and flailing. It misses as well.

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22
<OOC> Tenoc says, "+2 to hit for Jaen!"

From one to another, Tenoc moves, this time to free Jaen from the undulating maw of the vegetable malice! By means of rending vines, tugging roots, tearing the whole free from the insidous ensemble-- and wishing for the dozenth time that he had not left behind his spear as he lunges a quick, diverting kick at one of the approaching plant men! He grimaces as he catches a glance of what lies behind the monster's jagged maw, rumble growing grim as he tugs and tears free. "This one--" He pauses, growling as he rips another vinetip away. "--ssk. They are found."

GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2-2+2: (15)+7+2+-2+2: 24
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2-2: (9)+7+2+-2: 16
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2-2: (15)+7+2+-2: 22
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d6+strength+2: (5)+2+2: 9
GAME: Jaen rolls 1d4+strength+2: (2)+2+2: 6

Gourds are for people to eat, not the other way around! Jaen is tangled up and being drawn towards the mouth... and it appears the last meal is still inside as he can see ...a body? Maybe more?

Jaen has an infallible plan to avoid being eated; he will bite it first! Again! His claws scrape at the rubbery hide, though only from one hand, and he manages to take another bite out of cr-eepy animate pumpkins.

GAME: Strike rolls weapon0+2: (6)+9+2: 17
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0+2: (19)+9+2: 30
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+5: (3)+5: 8

Strike finds her progress once again intercepted by a little pumpkin, and, she stomps this new foe into the soil, though, perhaps foolishly, she takes her eyes off the big one....

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Rocky is free, Jaen is entangled still, so constrict roll CMB vs CMD"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (11)+15: 26
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Jaen for 10 points. 2 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d5: (4): 4 on Strike
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (18)+19: 37
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+10: (7)+10: 17
GAME: Great Pumpking damaged Strike for 17 points. 30 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "entangle"
<OOC> Geir says, "It struck Strike. Will Strike strike back? xD"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (13)+15: 28

The Giant Pumpkin roars its strange whistling bellow as Jaen slashes at its mouth. The bodies inside are lit by an eerie orange fire, which flickers. The wild-elf gets a great view as the vines twist and try to shove him in with the others.

Meanwhile, roots erupt around Strike, then she is smacked by a length of vine. Entwined, she's pulled towards its mouth.

GAME: Geir rolls 2d6: (8): 8
GAME: Geir damaged Rocky for -8 points. 20 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Strike for -8 points. 38 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Jaen for -8 points. 10 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Geir for -8 points. 32 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Tenoc for -8 points. 37 HP remaining.

Geir eyes those in trouble nearby, and moves towards Jaen. He thrusts his shield forward, and calls out. "Holy mother, guardian of the dead, allow this one's companions to feel your warmth. Mend their wounds and pains." The faint emblem upon the shield, a set of scales finely balanced, and worn from battles past, weather good and bad, bursts momentarily into flames, and a shining light flashes brightly and blinks out. Nearby, wounds begin stitch together, bleeding slows.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (18)+7: 25
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+3: (7)+3: 10

Rocky takes a second to access the situation, but not a healer, wizard, or tactician, the warrior sticks to what he knows. hack the big thing with sharp metal. Not the greatest plan, but it works... well, is working... making progress.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, another LP pops up, both of them spit seeds at Rock and Tenoc"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16

Gourd everywhere! It's a pumpkin patch full of pumpkins. It's impossible to tell when or where one of them is going to turn into a walking pumpoctopude, or pumpkin-man, or swashy-squash.

Another sprouts vines, and the pair fire seeds at Rocky and Tenoc, which bounce off the sith'makar scales.

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6

A never ending conga line of misery! Tenoc seethes as yet *another* is added to the Adventurer Buffet Line, seething as he twists beneath coiling lines, leaping over and through the tangle of vines.

"This one does not like farming!" he snarls, heaving up with a grunting snarl of frustration. Lunging, he casts aside aid for offense-- savagely lunging for the Great Pumpkin Horror, clawed fists smashing into it! A lash of leg must first leaping strike; the next sinks into rotten ruin, leaving the Makar grimacing as he recoils from the decaying patch.

GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2-2: (1)+7+2+-2: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2-2: (2)+7+2+-2: 9
GAME: Jaen rolls finesse+2-2: (3)+7+2+-2: 10

Maybe the pumpkin is smarter than its pulpy gourd suggests. It doesn't need to eat the pointy ends first, and Jaen's flailing this time is kept out of range of its orange flesh.

GAME: Strike rolls escape artist+5: (16)+9+5: 30

She's overheard someone reading Crimson Pen entries about scenarios like this. She's had little interest in the experience, but, here Strike is, though she doubts the drives on this particular instance to be anything but carnivorous. She hisses, "Skifha" and, it almost looks like the half blood tapers further at the waist under her corset as she makes a concerted effort to wiggle free, though the damned vines yet hold her fast. She's going to have a talk to Morgan about this.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (10)+15: 25
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (2)+7: 9
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Jaen for 9 points. 1 HP remaining.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "vine attack on 1 Rocky, 2 Tenoc, 3 Geir"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3: (2): 2
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (2)+19: 21
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+10: (6)+10: 16
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Tenoc for 16 points. 21 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+15: (17)+15: 32

The vines twine, ever tighter. Jaen and Strike are shoved towards the Great Pumpkin's mouth, but it's unable to cram them inside. Instead they are held up where it can stare at them, with burning orange eyes. They are too far to attack the body of the gourd now, and its high enough a fall will hurt. As the vines squeeze, the wild-elf takes the worst of it, while the mul'niessa manages to wriggle herself enough they can't crush her.

Then vines slam down on Tenoc, and he too is hauled up into the air, held at a distance. The Great Pumpkin roars at them all.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6: (9): 9
GAME: Geir damaged Rocky for -9 points. 29 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Strike for -9 points. 47 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Jaen for -9 points. 10 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Geir for -9 points. 32 HP remaining.
GAME: Geir damaged Tenoc for -9 points. 30 HP remaining.

Geir steps up, letting the power of the Death Singing Dragon flow through him. Some wounds are soothed, restored, by a small about.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Rocky rolls damage4: aliased to 1d10+3: (3)+3: 6

Rocky roars back at the massive gourd. Not quite so impressive, but he's a lot smaller, which isn't a situation he's used to. Still, the blade hacking seems to continue to make progress, tough it's hard to be sure.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (1)+-1: 0 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (3)+-1: 2

The Little Pumpkins are not doing great. Vines flailing one of them rushes Rocky, and fails. It's vines are cut on the edges of the granite-scale's living shield and it's deflected up into the grasp of the Great Pumpkin. Oh well, gourds to gourds.

Geir is also assaulted, and emerges undamaged.

GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8-2: (19)+8+-2: 25
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8-2: (16)+8+-2: 22
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Falling damaged Tenoc for 3 points. 27 HP remaining.

Tenoc is staggered-- a fact not helped as the vines suddenly focus on him! Hauling the Makar bodily into the air, the teakettle hiss of frustration becomes a roaring snarl of outrage; the Sith strikes back, twin fists hammering the viney growth, fighting to rip it away. Succeeding--!

--followed by falling. OW--!

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+7: (4)+7: 11
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d4+7: (3)+7: 10
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (1): 1
GAME: Falling damaged Jaen for 1 points. 9 HP remaining.

Frenzies seem to be the best strategy. Jaen copies Tenoc, slashing at the vines, the only thing he can reach. Success!

And Falling!

The wild-elf lands much better than the sith'makar.

GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Strike rolls weapon0: (12)+9: 21
GAME: Strike rolls 1d8+5: (7)+5: 12
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (3): 3
GAME: Falling damaged Strike for 3 points. 44 HP remaining.

Seeing how things are going for the others, Strike tries to kick herself free, but misses horribly the first time, half tangling her leg in the vines, though the followup from the other foot sheers through it and the half-Mul ends up in the dirt with the wind knocked out of her lungs with a, "Hwouf!" but, the severed vines about her body slacken.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, Prone less likely to be attacked. 1-2 Rocky, 3 Jaen, 4, Strike, 5 Tenoc, 6-7 Geir"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d7: (5): 5
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+19: (7)+19: 26
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+10: (3)+10: 13
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Tenoc for 13 points. 14 HP remaining.

As its vines are cut, the Great Pumpkin roars. The orange fires of its mouth and eyes shoot skyward, casting all in an eerie glow. Another wave of dirt and roots whip down on Tenoc, smashing the sith'makar.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (6)+-1: 5
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (16)+-1: 15
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d3-2: (3)+-2: 1
GAME: Little Pumpkin damaged Geir for 1 points. 31 HP remaining.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (16)+8: 24 (Concentration Check)
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d8+4: (9)+4: 13
GAME: Great Pumpkin damaged Jaen for -13 points. 22 HP remaining.

The mourner sith'makar makes a break for it, dodging between the Little Pumpkins as he heads for Jaen. One misses, one wraps vines around him. It's not sufficient to stop the determined healer however. He drags it through the dirt, reaches the prone wild-elf, and shrugging off the gourdy distractions, delivers some of Vardama's mercy.

<OOC> Rocky says, "might be dumb, but gonna try to dive inside the maw, rip off some of those membranes. or just attck from the inside, where teh rind is softer, because that's totally how that works, right?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "DC 20 Acrobatics or Athletics"
GAME: Rocky rolls athletics: (3)+3: 6

Rocky hesitates, eyeing the burning maw. Setting his feet, the sith charges forward and dives for the interior... only to fall a fair bit short and crack a tooth... not one of his, but still. "Dumb beast, you wanted this one there before..."

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (12)+3: 15

One of the Little Pumpkins continues to keep Geir entangled, both of them fire a stream of seeds at Rocky, attempting to trap him after he fails to to climb into the great gourd's mouth.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay! a LP AOOs you as you stand up"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (2)+-1: 1
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25
GAME: Tenoc rolls 1d20+8: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Tenoc rolls 2d6+8: (7)+8: 15

Tenoc spends about half-a-heartbeat on the ground, rustling of leaves all about. He rumbles a growl, twisting quickly to the side-- just in time, to avoid the Lesser Pumpkin's thrashing strikes. Lunging up and forward, he moves back to the Greater Pumpkin, smashing it with one fist-- the second rising in a brutal, savage uppercut, smashing the creature's lower jaw up, teeth crashing together, cruinching-- shattering with a burst of wooden spray!

Tenoc lands, roaring a furious victory roar, tail lashing with fierce delight!

The Great Pumpkin falls. The sith's blows shattering its rind. The body of the thing spilts as it thumps into the field. The contents spill out, of it's mouth, eyes, and the great crack caused by the lizard.

Seeds. And people being turned into seeds.

The orange flames flicker and fade out.

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Jaen stands, gets AOO'd, then flurries on a LP"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (5)+-1: 4
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10

The wild-elf gets to his feet, attacks and is attacked. Neither blows land.

GAME: Strike rolls melee+2: (14)+8+2: 24
GAME: Strike rolls roll 1d6+4: (roll 5)+4: 9

Slowly the Great Pumpkin collapses under its own weight.

GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (14)+6: 20
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6

Strike rolls some to her side, the vine slithering free as she gathers her feet, one hand white knuckling at one end. She scans about as Tenoc solves the Great Pumpkin, and she lashes out at the one pressing Geir, deeply buckling the smaller gourd's rind and it goes still.

Freed by Strike's strikes, Geir turns his spear on the Little Pumpkin that's menacing Jaen. He stabs true, wounding but not killing it.

GAME: Rocky rolls weapon4: (3)+7: 10

Rocky pokes at the fallen remains of teh massive pumpkin a moment, but the sound of combat swiftly draws his focus, and the stone sith joins the fray. Not overly helpfully, but it;s the thought that counts, right?

<pre>GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20
GAME: Falling damaged Jaen for 1 points. 21 HP remaining.

Another stream of seeds is fired at Jaen, sprouting and tying the wild-elf to the field.

Tenoc's snarl carries with a warning rumble, a glare towards the fallen Megagourd. Not willing to let the matter lie to chance, he steps up to the fallen monster-- stomping often, repeatedly, and with savage relish! "....sssk. To be sure," he growls, eyes glittering.

GAME: Strike rolls melee+2: (14)+8+2: 24
GAME: Strike rolls 1d6+4: (4)+4: 8

With only the one pumpkin left, Strike looks down at her dripping weapon, then manages to effectively kill the small pumpkin with the remains of two others. It's a conceptual fluke that prompts a brief snerk, then she looks at her cohorts, "Is everyone alright?" Establish team status... then stomp a farmer.

So many smashed pumpkins. The sweet smell of their flesh fills the air.

Zebediah Winterson arrives, stepping over the rows. A boot crushing one of the rind parts as he draws close. "So this is his mischeef. Them poor lost souls, them are the field hands we hire around here." He noses his chin towards the filmed-over halflings.

Tenoc 's fury runs hot, primal, savage. A last stomp into the pumpkiny gore-- tail lashing, he turns back towards the barn and the shed, quiveirng with a distinct, terrible purpose.

To retrieve his spear.

Rocky tsks softly, moving to check on the little ones. He holds little hope, but stranger things have happened... today... right here...

GAME: Rocky rolls heal: (15)+1: 16

Strike looks to Zeb as he approaches, as their group seems to be alright, thanks for the Copper Mourner. There's a glance between them and she says, "I'll be back." The Mul starts to stalk around the devastated pumpkins toward the far reaches, where their erstwile employer had previously been crowing.

They live!

They... live?

The halflings are alive. The first one sliced free of the membrane draws breath, then coughs up... seeds. Seeds and blood. Handfulls gush from his mouth, his eyes, leaving them empty, staring sockets. His ears, now only holes. His nose, his tongue is gone. A frightened howl, like the Great Pumpkin made, leaves his mouth. Fingers, toes have likewise rotted away to show bones.

He's alive, in terrible, untreatable shape for the magic Geir has. Channels and heals will help him live, but restoration will be more, for all of them.

Meanwhile, the 'neighbourly' farmer remains at the fence watching Strike approach.

The half-Mul is not the only one to approach. Retrieving his spear, Tenoc turns with undisguised revulsion for the neighborly farmer. Turning, gazing with hot, hard eyes.

Striding across the field towards the neighbor, filled with terrible purpose.

Rocky is no healer, but does what he can for the twisted Lutch. Something else is going on, but this is the matter of importance... for now.

The copperscale stays to tend the unsettling injuries, assisting Rocky, doing what can be done.

It's a long walk across the full field.

Ezekial Waterfall seems very pleased as Tenoc and Strike approach, until they continue to close and meanace remains in their gait. "Be you daft and blind? What sweet tale did he sing you with his silver tongue? The horror lies in his field, the missing in his monster's maw. You be the means to bring justice for his violations against marriage and nature. These reasions why I brung you hence."

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "roll... sense motive."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Hunch is DC20.."
GAME: Tenoc rolls Sense Motive: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Strike rolls sense motive: (13)+11: 24

Ezekial is over two hundred feet from the Great Pumpkin, which fell apart and into the very flush field. It's not possible to see the halfling bodies from here. No one can barely see whatever Tenoc and Geir are doing beyond being crouched down. He might have guessed, but... the mul'niessa has a hunch.

Strike continues her march, almost absently pulling a small leather bundle from one of her pouches. As Ezekial makes his protests and... noteworthy statements, the half-Mul's head turns only slightly to one side though her eyes don't leave him. "I intend to bring him in alive." she mutters to her companion, then, more loudly, "Marriage? Elaborate." This is about to get into 'going way up theah, huh?' territory, isn't it? On the upside, while he's yapping, he isn't running.

Rocky stills, falling as unmoving as the stone he resembles for several long moments. Swift when he does move again, the stone sith checks his own hunch, finding the largest intact pumpkin around... and slicing it in half with his blade. Best see if there are more surprises...

Tenoc's spear gleams as he approaches, eyes sharp-- and murderously so. But.... restraint. A modicum of restraint. He growls as he glances towards Strike, tail lashing briefly before the Makar goes into calm, eerie stillness. "As one desires," he states simply, hunter's eyes locked on the good farmer. And silent eyes asking the only question that matters.

A reason. *Give* him one.

"His tolerance of Mistress Winterson's wandering eye and wandering ways until he did not no more, and death do them part with his assisting that caller to her. She lays buried in this field, beneath the abomination yonder." Ezekial waves angrily, "It sprout and his foul bargain be clear. How you doubt what lays so clear ahead?"

GAME: Tenoc rolls Sense Motive: (12)+2: 14
GAME: Strike rolls sense motive: (9)+11: 20

Ezekial sounds a little... off, somehow. Another hunch. Winterson's wife cheated on him with Ezekial? Ezekial is jealous they had an open relationship but he didn't get to be part of that open? There's something jilted-lover-ish... although maybe he's just a stickler for tradtional marriage.

Strike can't prevent an eyeroll at that. It has to come into things somehow with Meat, doesn't it? She continues her approach, glancing over her shoulder to Tenoc on his stated forebearance, something sympathetic there to those that know the way this sort of mammalian protein shell conveys certain mindsets. She looks back to Ezekial, "You brought us here with the stated purpose being to help him. This we have done. I think more has been unleashed here that must be addressed, and so I will ask, once, that you come with me. Peacefully, please."

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, roll a diplomacy or bluff, DC20"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "or intimidate"
GAME: Tenoc rolls Intimidate: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Strike rolls intimidate: (11)+8: 19

"This one," Tenoc rumbles in addition, a tectonic gravel in his voice, "Shall ask the Speakers of Green to come. To talk with the softskin dr-ikens." He snorts again, glowering at the still-unfamiliar word. "They shall speak to land. Learn what is to learn." His grip hardens on the tepoztopilli, a rattle from the beads at his chest as he shakes his head.

Scales still stained orange. Smelling of pumpkin fruits. Totally ruined effect.

Ezekial looks so close to running, or blustering something else. Finally he says, "All right. The magistrate in town will know his history and not be swayed."

Rocky chuffs to himself, tail thumping to the ground with a wet splat. Moving to speak to Zebediah, the gray scales shakes his head. "More bunnines inside. This One would not eat these fruits, nor plant thier seeds. But This one is not a Grower of Things. Perhaps without the Stone, they will be okay." He blinks, and chuff quietly. "...the Stone needs found." Looking towards the edges of the field, Rocky heads towards the very center, where the house sized gourd grew, before it starting moving.

Strike still holding her tanglefoot in one hand, and a long lash of vines in the other stares at the man as he speaks, "Perhaps you're right, and one way." A glance to Tenoc, "Or another, this will be resolved."

Zebediah nods, looking at both the rabbits and the halflings.

Rocky finds the stone in the disturbed earth beneath where the Great Pumpkin grew. It takes some digging, but it is found.

It is resolved, with some effort. Both farmers agree to go speak with the magistrate in town, and both seem confident their tale will be believed. Throughout the investigation, Zebediah remains calm while Ezekial becomes increasingly frantic. There is clearly more history between the two than was shared with the adventurers. Fortunately it is known to the locals. Ezekial's tale breaks down, he doesn't attend the Temple, he's known to do strange rites, and the harvest team vanished at his place, not Zebediah's.

The halfings, live. They are brought back to Alexandria, and after some expense, restored. An expense that eventually is collected from Ezekial. He is imprisonned first.

Zebediah returns to his farm and harvest. The produce is brought in without incident. The strange seeds are sent to the Temple for safe keeping. The remains of the Great Pumpkin and Little Pumpkins are determined to be safe, and make for some great pies.

One of the first of these being purchased by a rather lumpy looking sith'makar male in a trenchcoat. Three pies, in fact. He buys three pies.

Combatty Stuff

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so, since some of you are really close. Gargantuan things have weird AOO rules. Something has to be Huge for it to be able to AOO it, and Large or smaller creatures both don't flank and don't get an AOO if it moves. It's also possible for smaller creatures to climb it - that will provoke an AOO."

<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a -2 penalty on all attack rolls and a -4 penalty to Dexterity. As you're already in difficult terrain, you'd be at 1/4 move"

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Geir..........|   32     |  32  |
 | Jaen..........|    9     |  33  |
 | Rocky.........|   29     |  34  |
 | Strike........|   44     |  47  |
 | Tenoc.........|   14     |  45  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Name   |   Race   |   Class   | CHP | HP  | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Geir      |SITH-MAKAR|Clr        | 32  | 32  |15/14/11 | 17 | 7  | 2  | 7  |
|Jaen      |WILD_ELF  |Bbn        | 10  | 33  |16/12/12 | 19 | 6  | 5  | 5  |
|Rocky     |SITH-MAKAR|Ftr        | 20  | 34  |28/26/15 | 19 | 6  | 3  | 2  |
|Strike    |HALF-ELF  |Mnk        | 38  | 47  |17/14/17 | 25 | 7  | 8  | 4  |
|Tenoc     |SITH-MAKAR|Mnk/Rgr    | 37  | 45  |21/19/18 | 24 | 9  | 8  | 2  |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 8 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     20   Jaen             1  Raging (9 rnds active)                       
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     17   Strike           4  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     17   Great Pumpkin    1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     16   Geir             1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   Rocky            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9    Lil'Pumpkin      1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 7    Tenoc            3   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================