The End of an Era Part 1

[BelGareth]

Shimura is suddenly pummeled into the water, and through it, the rush of the bubbles streaming past him in a rush to get to the surface forewarned him of the impending stop, the bubbles screamed like little fish trying to warm him of the coming pain.

And there it was, he smacked against the rocky ground, his vision flashed in an instant, turning from complete blackness to a sharp white, and then back again. For a moment, he panicked, letting water in his mouth, and down his throat, his weapons almost fell, but then he gripped them, consciousness and training coming to the forefront, he rolled, and gathered himself on solid ground, pushing off, he emerged from the water like a beaten and battered warrior of old to do battle with his nemesis, he was like a battle dragon coming froth from his layer to spread doom and death with his claws.

Not deterred, he kept battling the elemental, slashing, and striking like a whirlwind of steel and blades.

Spoiler

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LETS DO THIS!
Law devotion, -3 PA

Attack 1 - (1d20+17)[24]
Damage - (1d10+12)[14]

Attack 2 - (1d20+12)[26]
Damage - (1d10+12)[13]

Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai \ Mirumoto Niten Master 2
Level 7 Init 3, HP 43/61, Speed 30
AC 23 Touch 14 Flat-footed 18
Fort +9 Ref +5 Will +6
Stats Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition's Fortification 25%, DR 2/-, Mantle of flame 3d6 fire on hit[UNSHAPED], Law devotion [1/10]
Special Law devotion [0/1], Belt of Healing [0/3], Anklets of Translocation [3/3], +1 bonus on saving throws against paralysis and sleep effects, Blade Guide, Eternal Training [0/1], Mass Aid (+1 morale to hit & fear), Essentia 3
speech: 008080

Mirumoto Niten, Ancestor (Blade Guide)
Least Soulspark, Tiny Outsider (Lawful, Incarnum, Native)
Hit Dice 2d8 Init 5, HP 16/16, Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC 15 Touch 13 Flat-footed 14
Fort +5 Ref +4 Will +4
Stats Str 10, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 13
Condition's Amorphous (immune to crits/sneak attack), DR 1/chaotic, Evasion
Special
-Attack Bonus: 0/2; +1 bonus to-hit&damage / Essentia
-Deflection Bonus: 0/2; +1 deflection to AC / Essentia
-Healing: 0/2; Fast healing 1 / Essentia
-Saving Throw: 1/2; +1 resistance bonus / Essentia
Attack: Soul blast +5 ranged touch (1d4+1)
Skills: Diplomacy +3, Hide +14, Knowledge (history) +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6
speech: #DAA520

Soulmeld	Benefit	Essentia benefit	Invested	Bound
Mirumoto Niten dragonmark	-	+25%/e	2/2	Arms
Mantle of Flame[UNSHAPED]	1d6 fire	+1d6/e	0/2	-
Soulspark Familiar	Blade guide Familiar	multiple options	1/2	-

[Auranghzeb]

It is a combination of the dancer's valor and the samurai's determination what finallly breaks down the elemental and dismisses it to its native plane. The cave falls into an eerie silence only broken by the slight but constant sound of the tide coming up, like a soft soft wave.


Upon the solid surface of the cave, the bodies of the dead and beheaded samurais lay silent. Their gear still intact, their weapons broken except for a black steel naginata with purple veins in the blade and a red demonic samurai mask. One of the fallen samurais is wearing an armor that matches that mask, on his person you found a couple more items.

Spoiler: Loot

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Ya'll deserve some loot.
+1 Druchite Naginata of Brutal Surge: This is not made of steel, but of druchite, a material from realities unknown to any of you. against creatures that rely on darkvision, its enhancement bonus is +2 higher.

Spoiler: Mask of Mockery

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Mask of Mockery: This devilish mask covers the nose and mouth of a creature with a devil's mouth grinning and showing two fangs. Basic Effect: +2 Profane bonus to Bluff, Perform and UMD. Tainted Effect: If the wearer of the mask is tainted, the mask gives a +1 Profane to attack and damage per point of Taint.
Binding effect: If the wearer can bind vestiges, she can choose to supress one of the vestige's granted abilities and instead gain the following:
--With just the faintest edge of dark energies, you can afflict your victims with a word-eating curse. Make a melee attack. If it hits, it deals weapon damage as normal, and the target must succeed at a Will save (DC 11 + charisma) or take a –4 penalty on language-based skill checks and suffer a 25% chance of failure when casting spells (including divine spells) with a verbal component for a number of rounds equal to your initiator level. In addition, a struck target becomes cursed for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your character level, regardless of whether or not it succeeded on its save
This ability is usable 1/encounter.

Essentia Effect: +2 to bluff, perform and UMD per essentia invested.
Soul Bound effect: If a character has the ability to bind soulmelds to the brow slot, they can bind the mask. The character gains at will use of Tasha's hideous laughter DC 11+Wisdom Score.

Eagle claw talisman

Devastation gauntlets

head, the cave opens into a maze of rock and three roots, but at least it seems to slope away from the sea and into the heart of the mountain. What do you do?

[Alhallor]

When the mighty water spirit falls down in of itself, Onka punches the water some more, just to make sure it's really defeated, then his head whips over to shimura.

Shimura-san? Are you alright? I have a potion somewhere... Onka offers one of his healing potions to Shimura and looks him over.

I thank you deeply to standing at mine and Leylek's side despite... Whatever has tainted us.

After the talk with Shimura Onka looks over the things that surfaced from the crabs.

We'll probably make better use of these things, then the crab did, but let's get out first.

Onka has no qualms looting the usable equipment of the fallen samurai, though he currently doesn't take anything for himself, it's more important to get out, now that the way out of the watery grave seems clear.

[BelGareth]

Shimura's primal shout of aggression slowly dissipated into the cave system, as it reverberated and lost power as it went. The water calmed.

The water calmed

He looked around, and saw no threats, his muscles still twitched, tenses ready for something, but nothing came. He slowly relaxed, and just slowly knelt down into the shallow water, completely exhausted.

He mutely nodded to Onka and takes the potion, drinking it.

Spoiler

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Shimura is SPENT, only has his anklets for anything special, other than that, just regular attacks.

Assuming Potion of CMW
Heal - (2d8+3)[11]

Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai \ Mirumoto Niten Master 2
Level 7 Init 3, HP 61/61, Speed 30
AC 23 Touch 14 Flat-footed 18
Fort +9 Ref +5 Will +6
Stats Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition's Fortification 25%, DR 2/-, Mantle of flame 3d6 fire on hit[UNSHAPED]
Special Law devotion [0/1], Belt of Healing [0/3], Anklets of Translocation [3/3], +1 bonus on saving throws against paralysis and sleep effects, Blade Guide, Eternal Training [0/1], Essentia 3
speech: 008080

Mirumoto Niten, Ancestor (Blade Guide)
Least Soulspark, Tiny Outsider (Lawful, Incarnum, Native)
Hit Dice 2d8 Init 5, HP 16/16, Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC 15 Touch 13 Flat-footed 14
Fort +5 Ref +4 Will +4
Stats Str 10, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 13
Condition's Amorphous (immune to crits/sneak attack), DR 1/chaotic, Evasion
Special
-Attack Bonus: 0/2; +1 bonus to-hit&damage / Essentia
-Deflection Bonus: 0/2; +1 deflection to AC / Essentia
-Healing: 0/2; Fast healing 1 / Essentia
-Saving Throw: 1/2; +1 resistance bonus / Essentia
Attack: Soul blast +5 ranged touch (1d4+1)
Skills: Diplomacy +3, Hide +14, Knowledge (history) +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6
speech: #DAA520

Soulmeld	Benefit	Essentia benefit	Invested	Bound
Mirumoto Niten dragonmark	-	+25%/e	2/2	Arms
Mantle of Flame[UNSHAPED]	1d6 fire	+1d6/e	0/2	-
Soulspark Familiar	Blade guide Familiar	multiple options	1/2	-

[Cygnia]

Ahalyā quickly hopped off the rock in relief and splashed over to Shimura. She carefully touched him, giving him the blessing of fast healing. Whatever potion he quaffed would not be enough. She shook her head sadly, trying to reassure herself that the elemental was not dead, merely sent back to wherever the yama-uba had summoned it from.

"O spirits, may these fallen be sent to their eternal oblivion and no more curse this world with their presence..." Ahalyā murmured, gesturing to the bodies of the Crab. Would that they had the time to properly take care of these corpses! "And may we be able to meet with the next Sisters in safety."

Spoiler: Actions

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Burning a Turn to activate Healing Devotion on Shimura. Fast Healing 2 for 1 minute (so, healed for 20 HP after a minute)

[Metastachydium]

Leylek, just about to come down with a thunderous kick once more can't fail to notice the commotion below has died down, all tension quickly fading away. A fight born of his errors concludes; and he barely fought in it, with less success yet. He lands softly in the water and looks away, frowning wordlessly at first.

He takes a few, tired steps towards the dry patch of ground at the base of the tunnel and only then does he let loose a low, hissing sigh. I was sent along to find the way for you. he says slowly. And I found a trap for you my past faults made a battle ground. Shimura-sama. Mistress Ahalyā. I thank you for saving Onka-san, at your own peril and in my stead. If your trust in me is broken, I understand. His hand passes briefly over a stone on his belt. If any of you requires healing, this is the first I used my belt today. In all else… the sentence is eft hanging unfinished in the air. The Crane merely shakes his head and looks ahead, ready to go.

Spoiler: OOC

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Belt: (2d8)[8]

[Alhallor]

With Alhalya's might Shimura seemed at least to be a little bit better.

The dancer get's towards the crane, trying to check himself how he feels. I'm... Mostly fine? The dancer says, kinda surprised himself. He remembered about his dream, where he was a river, he did mimic the movement of the mighty water spirit and it seemed that did helped him get out of that situation better than when he didn't.

Onka was at a loss for words how he could lift Leylek's spirits, for now they should get away from the sea, before the water was really rising too much for them.

[Cygnia]

Once more, the dark side of honour flared up as the crane warrior verbally flagellated himself. Such self-inflicted wounds of the soul were beyond the shaman's magicks. "Your regent trusted you for this mission, Master Leylek. Surely, his judgement in what you are capable of is worthwhile..." Ahalyā began gently. "And we would be lost without you in these caverns."

She shot a look of concern towards the tainted mask.

"As much as I loathe bringing that mask with us, I fear what its influence might do to the yama-uba if it is allowed to stay."

[BelGareth]

After the potion, he is a little more awake, it must of had caffe in it or something. He stood up, and slowly walked over to LeyLek, tenderly placing a hand upon their back.

"There is nothing broken between us, this day, these...events, they are testing us all." his face becomes a mask of pain as he recalls the previous days events, where he had attacked his allies, it was just for a moment, "Do not wallow too long dear friend, we may need your talents." he says the last part to everyone.

"Come, let us take what we may and move on, I do not wish to linger here any longer"

A poem sprang to Shimura's mind as they followed the winding passage out, and he softly recited it:

"In shadows we dwell,
Where honor may quell.
Through trials we're pressed,
Our hearts put to test.

Though oaths may bend,
Our spirits don't end.
In darkness, we find,
Strength intertwined.

With wounds unseen,
And regrets keen,
We rise from the fray,
To face another day."

Spoiler

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Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai \ Mirumoto Niten Master 2
Level 7 Init 3, HP 61/61, Speed 30
AC 23 Touch 14 Flat-footed 18
Fort +9 Ref +5 Will +6
Stats Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition's Fortification 25%, DR 2/-, Mantle of flame 3d6 fire on hit[UNSHAPED]
Special Law devotion [0/1], Belt of Healing [0/3], Anklets of Translocation [3/3], +1 bonus on saving throws against paralysis and sleep effects, Blade Guide, Eternal Training [0/1], Essentia 3
speech: 008080

Mirumoto Niten, Ancestor (Blade Guide)
Least Soulspark, Tiny Outsider (Lawful, Incarnum, Native)
Hit Dice 2d8 Init 5, HP 16/16, Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC 15 Touch 13 Flat-footed 14
Fort +5 Ref +4 Will +4
Stats Str 10, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 13
Condition's Amorphous (immune to crits/sneak attack), DR 1/chaotic, Evasion
Special
-Attack Bonus: 0/2; +1 bonus to-hit&damage / Essentia
-Deflection Bonus: 0/2; +1 deflection to AC / Essentia
-Healing: 0/2; Fast healing 1 / Essentia
-Saving Throw: 1/2; +1 resistance bonus / Essentia
Attack: Soul blast +5 ranged touch (1d4+1)
Skills: Diplomacy +3, Hide +14, Knowledge (history) +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6
speech: #DAA520

Soulmeld	Benefit	Essentia benefit	Invested	Bound
Mirumoto Niten dragonmark	-	+25%/e	2/2	Arms
Mantle of Flame[UNSHAPED]	1d6 fire	+1d6/e	0/2	-
Soulspark Familiar	Blade guide Familiar	multiple options	1/2	-

[Metastachydium]

Even the dour Crane's stern face and mood mellows somewhat at the words. He bows himself, simply and curtly. That is more confidence than I would dare ask for. I will strive to make it feel better earned. Thank you. he says, with equal simplicity. Let us move, then. he enters the tunnel, his steps cautious. If you can spare Raksha, I'd have her by my side; we'll need your light still Shimura-sama, if hopefully not for much longer. Onka-san: if you'd watch our rear…

[Cygnia]

Raksha already began padding over to the crane warrior even before Ahalyā gave the nod. The wolf was eager to leave this place of wet and death. Shimura finally looked healthy enough for the shaman's concerns, but it would be best to make sure Leylek was a little bit more healed up just in case. Ahalyā activated a charge from her Healing Belt and gently touched him.

Spoiler: OOC

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7 minutes on the Mass Aid & Shield of Faith -- don't know how much of that is gone yet.

Spoiler: Action

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1 healing belt charge on Leylek is...

(2d8)[11]

[Metastachydium]

Healed once more, Leylek bows his neck again and advances into the tunnel at last, leaning forward and stepping lightly. Ready for all. Raksha. he says softly to the wolf. I sense a current flowing our way and it is no sea air. But it is faint; I will need a better nose to follow it well. Help me lead us back to the sunlight.

[Auranghzeb]

As you ascend through the maze of caves and grottos, these transform into cavern with earthy ground, and moss growing in the rocks, strong roots grasp the rocks and feed from the moist. The moist penetrates your nostrils with an intense tinge. The smells are those of a deep wood, and soon the soil itself reminds you more and more of that of a forest; thick with moss and earth in patches around the pointy rocks and stalagmites.

The ascent takes you several hours, often backtracking even if Leylek has a better feeling of this zone than he did in the underground before.
You don't feel alone, the roots, they seem to move ever slightly and shift, the rush under the ground and up again.

Finally, you come across a ledge that opens to a hidden valley six miles wide for what you can estimate, behind the cliffs that wall the island and then you face a winding road through crooked thin tall trees. In the distance, under a misty fog, you spot a huge tree with horizontal branches extending hundreds of feet. below, the crooked trees grow under a heavy damp myst and the crows caw.

[BelGareth]

Shimura is silent most of the way, guiding the party with his light when needed, and dismissing the strange orb when light became a steady assumption.

He looked around as the floor became mossy, and the air damp, a raised eyebrow was the only indication he saw any movement on the ground, having noted it and seeing nothing was needed, he moved on. Once at the opening he scanned the area and sighed a deep sigh, filling his lungs with the fresh air from the forest before them.

"It is good we are on dry land again, I fear I am not a sailor, and my legs will never become like that of the sea."

Peering at the large tree in the distance "I think that may be where we need to go." stating the obvious.

Spoiler

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Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai \ Mirumoto Niten Master 2
Level 7 Init 3, HP 61/61, Speed 30
AC 23 Touch 14 Flat-footed 18
Fort +9 Ref +5 Will +6
Stats Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition's Fortification 25%, DR 2/-, Mantle of flame 3d6 fire on hit[UNSHAPED]
Special Law devotion [0/1], Belt of Healing [0/3], Anklets of Translocation [3/3], +1 bonus on saving throws against paralysis and sleep effects, Blade Guide, Eternal Training [0/1], Essentia 3
speech: 008080

Mirumoto Niten, Ancestor (Blade Guide)
Least Soulspark, Tiny Outsider (Lawful, Incarnum, Native)
Hit Dice 2d8 Init 5, HP 16/16, Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC 15 Touch 13 Flat-footed 14
Fort +5 Ref +4 Will +4
Stats Str 10, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 13
Condition's Amorphous (immune to crits/sneak attack), DR 1/chaotic, Evasion
Special
-Attack Bonus: 0/2; +1 bonus to-hit&damage / Essentia
-Deflection Bonus: 0/2; +1 deflection to AC / Essentia
-Healing: 0/2; Fast healing 1 / Essentia
-Saving Throw: 1/2; +1 resistance bonus / Essentia
Attack: Soul blast +5 ranged touch (1d4+1)
Skills: Diplomacy +3, Hide +14, Knowledge (history) +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6
speech: #DAA520

Soulmeld	Benefit	Essentia benefit	Invested	Bound
Mirumoto Niten dragonmark	-	+25%/e	2/2	Arms
Mantle of Flame[UNSHAPED]	1d6 fire	+1d6/e	0/2	-
Soulspark Familiar	Blade guide Familiar	multiple options	1/2	-

[Metastachydium]

Indeed. Leylek narrows his eyes, swallowing what would have been a sigh of relief all too undignified. And a clear path presents itself to us, even. he adds. A rather bemusing sight, given what they were given to endure so far. He looks around slowly, intently. For trouble. He has seen the roots move, just as the Samurai did. Perhaps too clear.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception: (1d20+10)[16]

[Alhallor]

Onka follows the others, guarding the rear as told. Hope presented itself in the shape of a forest when they finally got out of that accursed cave. Onka sits down for a moment after the hours of trecking through the cave, they obviously still had some ways to go but this time they even had a clear path before them.

The doubts of Leylek doesn't sit well with the dancer but it was probably better to still be on the lookout, with one sister kinda bested it would stand to reason that the others wanted a piece too.

And they could still be eaten.

We will not fall, we will not disappear...

Having gotten a bit resolve back, Onka stood up again.

Let's keep going, we shouldn't be too late for the fishers to came get us back.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception: (1d20+10)[27]

[Cygnia]

The empathic link between shaman and wolf went both ways.

And, so it was that Raksha sensed Ahalyā's discomfort. Dashing back towards her with concern, she whimpered "...Mistress...?"

"S-s-so many spirits around us..." Ahalyā managed to get out, eyes wide in awe? Yes, more awe, but some fear as well. "...the trees, the very land and air too! Ohhhh, be aware, my friends, be aware!"

[Auranghzeb]

You move with care and awareness into the misty woods, there, about fifty yards into the forest, you find more dead crab samurai, four bodies broken and intertwined with the roots of the trees. The roots are predatory! feeding from the dead bodies and absorbing them slowly, but the roots ignore you, bearers of the amulet.

Above and between the branches, the crows observe you, impassive.

Yo are walking towards the heart of the crooked trees approaching the large tree in the center of the meadow.

Onka notices that all the roots of all the trees are one, as if every tree was just part of a larger organism.

[BelGareth]

Having sheathed his weapons, Shimura walked at a steady pace, and was studying everything as they went. Once they found the dead crab Samurai, he moved through them slowly, inspecting the bodies, and staying out of the way of the roots. He frowned, dead Samurai were one thing, even from a sworn enemy who have skirted everything you know to be good, is one thing, but moving through and seeing them caused Shimura to quieten up.

Those were his people, regardless of their liege lord, he could have been one.

He walks somberly as the others lead the way.

Spoiler

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Miromoto Shimura
M LG Human (dragon) Samurai \ Mirumoto Niten Master 2
Level 7 Init 3, HP 61/61, Speed 30
AC 23 Touch 14 Flat-footed 18
Fort +9 Ref +5 Will +6
Stats Str 18, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition's Fortification 25%, DR 2/-, Mantle of flame 3d6 fire on hit[UNSHAPED]
Special Law devotion [0/1], Belt of Healing [0/3], Anklets of Translocation [3/3], +1 bonus on saving throws against paralysis and sleep effects, Blade Guide, Eternal Training [0/1], Essentia 3
speech: 008080

Mirumoto Niten, Ancestor (Blade Guide)
Least Soulspark, Tiny Outsider (Lawful, Incarnum, Native)
Hit Dice 2d8 Init 5, HP 16/16, Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft. (perfect)
AC 15 Touch 13 Flat-footed 14
Fort +5 Ref +4 Will +4
Stats Str 10, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 13, Cha 13
Condition's Amorphous (immune to crits/sneak attack), DR 1/chaotic, Evasion
Special
-Attack Bonus: 0/2; +1 bonus to-hit&damage / Essentia
-Deflection Bonus: 0/2; +1 deflection to AC / Essentia
-Healing: 0/2; Fast healing 1 / Essentia
-Saving Throw: 1/2; +1 resistance bonus / Essentia
Attack: Soul blast +5 ranged touch (1d4+1)
Skills: Diplomacy +3, Hide +14, Knowledge (history) +3, Listen +6, Move Silently +6, Sense Motive +6, Spot +6
speech: #DAA520

Soulmeld	Benefit	Essentia benefit	Invested	Bound
Mirumoto Niten dragonmark	-	+25%/e	2/2	Arms
Mantle of Flame[UNSHAPED]	1d6 fire	+1d6/e	0/2	-
Soulspark Familiar	Blade guide Familiar	multiple options	1/2	-

[Alhallor]

Onka keeps guarding the rear, looking around fearfully, more dead samurai are really not reassuring and speaks of even more danger up ahead. How many did they lost on they're conquest of this small aisle just to exchange them for the horrible monsters they already faced?

The dancers eyes have been flitting from root to root a seemingly intangible mess. Just to keep his mind from wandering his eyes followed one root, who joined another, who joined another, who...

This is all one giant plant! Not different ones.

Onka wasn't sure how that knowledge could help, but it seemed important.

[Cygnia]

"...amazing..." murmured the shaman at the revelation. For all the trees to coexist like this, as one entity.

Ahalyā did not share Shimura's discomfort towards the roots feeding upon the dead Crab. It was what those of the natural world had to do in order to live. One day (and may it be a very long time in coming), her own empty shell of a body would hopefully feed the animals and/or nourish the plants. Indeed, her only concern was that whatever evil the Crab had in life had not passed on their taint in death to this great tree...

[Metastachydium]

Leylek's frown never leaves his feathery brow, not for a moment as the group proceeds along the footpath and into the strange spirit-woods. He still lacks much in the way of confidence that these spirits will not, despite apparently granting them the courtesy of a truce so far, turn against them, should his vigilance falter, or indeed even if it never does. The dead Crabs, perhaps slaughtered before the theft of the child, for carryibg the same sinister mark that is now within Onka and himself, only seem to reinforce that point.

To Onka's revelation, he merely nods, somberly. He has known patches of shrubs or many tufts of stiff grass sprout from the same, one root, and this might just be the same – if at a grand scale, this time, one he can barely comprehend. That is not good as feelings go, not here: he would, perhaps marvel at this being, walking as though within the living bowels of a giant at rest, of a body spread out over much ground, so much of it lying past what he can hope to see at once otherwise. But this giant is not asleep, or looked at: this giant is watching him and his, all its form a staring eye. For what reason: Fate only will tell.

[Auranghzeb]

The group walks through the clonal forest, more samurais lie half buried in the roots. This was a full on onslaught and these are the ones left behind.

Ahalya feels the wounds of the spiritual world and pays closer attention to the dark sap drying up where the crab blades hurt the tree(s). She can even hear the low frequency humming of a lament.

Protected by the talisman, you make your way closer to the large tree under which the canopy is dense and the light turns even so more ghostly. When you are about fifty yards from the tree, the road becomes impassable without stepping into the roots. Here, the cries of the tree are loud for ahalya, and barely audible for everyone else.

Ravens and crows, dozens of them, stare at you from branches all around.

[Alhallor]

Onka try'd to calm his nerves by reciting a short prayer, though nothing came to mind. He stepped over the tangled roots and they're was a slow humming, or perhaps a scream? That hang in the air, quietly building up, but nothing more than a faint buzzing to the dancers ears.

When the path got overgrown he looked at Alhalya for guidance, would the shaman know where to go?

Spoiler: OOC

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Knowledge: Arcana (1d20+3)[11]
Nature (Untrained) (1d20+1)[9]