A Cleansing Reign: a Sticky Thicket has started at Outside Arx - Oathlands near Acorn Hill - Primal Forest.

Dante wields The Edge of Perdition, rose-warded alaricite longsword.

The journey towards Acorn Hill is not an easy one; past the borderlands and following the river towards its source is the group's best bet. Thankfully, that best bet pays dividends.

But upon approaching Acorn Hill, it is clear that something feels wrong. The soil here is fertile, with wildflowers and the like growing unimpeded, without any unwholesome mutations. What is truly offsetting is the complete lack of local fauna in this particular spot of the woods. Sure, some birds are heard chirping here and there, and the group might spot the occasional wild hare, but that's it.

They have to cut through bramble and thicket to get across to the stretch of the forest immediately surrounding the fief, and there they see the animals, but they are about to pay witness to a strange occurrence: as a baby deer approaches a patch of grass, a blur of green flashes in and out of sight, smashing the deer into a tree trunk before dragging it to places unknown, through the thicket.

That trail of blood is definitely indicative that something odd is afoot, however.

Rane made sure that those less martial in their talents were wrangled together, herding Roran and Katherine especially. The wild display of unanticipated floral violence caused him to halt a half step, but he need to show little to no fear in hopes that it would not take in the others. A glance was spared behind him to those in the party before continuing on at a careful place. Now that it was clear which of the vines were certainly voracious, he made sure to steer clear from them as much as possible.

Confused and somewhat disturbed by the forest’s unnatural display, Aedric kneels down to inspect the trail of scarlet left in the deer’s wake -- gaze searching for any sign of the beast’s new whereabouts, and curious if a traversable trail could be identified.

Aedric checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 1 higher.

"The forest is alive," the mariner says simply, taking a single step backwards. "Something impossible in the overgrowth." He draws his longsword.

Riding as far as possible, Dante dismounts and surveys the suspicious foliage with a wary eye. The thorny thickets do nothing to lessen that caution, especially when a fawn is grabbed and crushed against a tree into a bloody pulp. Immediately, the Marquis draws his sword and takes a defensive position next to Lora, peering into the dense woods of death to catch sight of what is in there.

"I suppose we shouldn't bring some of the seeds back for Lagoma's shrine in the spring." Roran says dryly, fine with being herded, water skeins of holy water and his lantern on hand.

There was no coming unprepared into the hazardous mass of briars and ensnaring tendrils, having placed twenty of her cavalry outside of the woods to keep stock of the mounts and another twenty follow after with sheathed shortswords or longsword given their preference but all are equipped with barbed spears. Brigid, watching the horrendous site of unnatural nature play out, keen ears pick up on Aedric, bright eyes searching for Katherine before brandishing her axe in a mirror of the armed others.

Rane checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 8 lower.

Brigida has been unnaturally quiet recently, perhaps the Archlector is particularly unsettled by the area around Arcorn Hill.

Brigid checked luck at difficulty 18, rolling 2 lower.

Brigida checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 2 lower.

Aedric checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 13 higher.

Dante checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 3 lower.

Under other circumstances Lora's presence might be almost comedic; she's wearing armor that is obviously not hers with a sort of long-suffering grace, as though she lost some kind of argument about this with her husband before they even got on the road to leave Arx. The tiny brown bird on her shoulder looks almost out of place, and the pair of them look with extremely wary interest in the direction of that strange flash of green.

Katherine checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 0 higher.

Lora checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 2 higher.

From the moment this adventuring troupe entered the forest, Katherine has been Lord Rane's shadow, never straying but a few feet away from his position. This time, she is wearing what her cousin could spare in terms of protective gear, and is no longer traversing the vile reaches of the forest in inappropriate attire. The poor baby deer is crunched into a pulp, and had she not been desensitized to this insanity the week prior, this might actually shock her. Instead, she's more or less disgusted.

Something in the tree branches swoops overhead and smacks into several individuals of the group, leaving a sticky, acidic sap. 20 inflicted and Rane is unharmed.

Something in the tree branches swoops overhead and smacks into several individuals of the group, leaving a sticky, acidic sap. 20 inflicted and Brigida is harmed for serious damage.

Something in the tree branches swoops overhead and smacks into several individuals of the group, leaving a sticky, acidic sap. 20 inflicted and Dante is unharmed.

Roran checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 4 higher.

For a moment, there seems to be a lull in activity, with a soft gust blowing through the leaves and making that most relaxing of sounds. But then there's the sound of something being suspended by a rope, or something equally rope-like, before Rane, Dante and Brigida are buffeted by a strong, sharp force; a soldier assigned to accompany the group isn't so lucky as to get a surface blow; he is stabbed through the gut and stolen away, his screams of anguish intensifying before the sudden silence that comes shortly after a loud bang. Likely a fatal fall.

Those afflicted with the sap feel that strong, pungent smell, and that's about when the creatures start pouring out from the thicket; about man-sized, these heavily warped plants stomp forward, what passes for upper limbs ending in a club-like protrusion with thorns. Seven, then ten, then thirteen of them appear, moving quickly to swarm the group.

Roran checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 6 higher.

Brigid checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 11 higher.

Roran checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 7 higher.

Brigid checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 3 higher.

Rane checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 15 higher.

Dante checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 26 higher.

Aedric checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 28 higher.

Katherine checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 25 higher. Katherine rolled a critical!

Rane checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 1 higher.

Dante checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 9 higher.

Lora checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 2 lower.

Lora checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 13 higher.

Katherine checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 0 higher.

Brigida checked dexterity at difficulty 5, rolling 16 higher.

Brigida checked luck at difficulty 5, rolling 15 higher.

Aedric checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Aedric curses beneath his breath before raising blade overhead and bringing it downward in the direction of the nearest aberration.

Dante checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 13 higher.

Dante charges at the two closest vegetative mutations, swinging the Edge of Perdition in both hands with a murderous intent. When one topples, sliced into two, the other one seriously hacked - but alas, still moving, he prepares for the incoming assault.

With dexterous swiftness she did not even know she possessed, Katherine dances out of view of those lumbering creatures and parks herself safely behind Rane's back.

Brigida checked mana + theology at difficulty 40, rolling 1 higher.

Brigida wincing in severe pain but still unbowed, Brigida clasps onto her staff tightly, a prayer to Petrichor on her lips.

"Forest Lord! King Stag! We walk through land rightfully yours, held to us in trust! Cast your eye back upon your faithful servants and may your majesty grant us Sanctuary and Strength in the darkness."

Rane checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 17 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked stamina(5) at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

The Keaton commander drew his blade in a flash of steel and hacked at a pair of the monstrous creatures that made for Roran and Katherine. It was more of a dance than anything barbaric, but it was clean and two were severed in half.

Surely there are enough swords and various things to go around; Lora does not go trundling up to face the man-plants, , though she does continue to stare that way for a couple of moments, a trifle wide-eyed. She falls back though, behind the line of other armored, armed people, gone to stand with the archlectors. Which is about when she spots the sap on Brigida. Her expression flashes somewhere between sad, suddenly, and wary, and then she turns about to watch the conflict.

Brigid checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 2 lower.

The creatures swing at Brigid, trying to club her on the head, upon the shoulder. 50 inflicted and Brigid is unharmed.

Where Brigida prays, bolstering the group in the face of this blight that's attacking them, Roran's doing much the same, but with a unscrewed skein and while praying to Lagoma himself, is squeeze the skein and tossing it about in cardinal directions, spraying the water upon the creatures that are advancing. "Blessed Lady, brightest in our heart, bless those who fight against the darkness and protect them. They work in your name, to bring change to these lands."

Roran checked mana + theology at difficulty 40, rolling 35 higher.

Roran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Lora is drenched in holy water after Roran misses that critical timing, but, to his credit, that does ward the creatures off; one of them tries to attack the Marquessa and combusts spontaneously, collapsing to the ground like a heap.

With five gone, there are eight to go. Brigid's failed strike opens her for a clubbing by one of the creatures, though it doesn't make it past her armor. Nevertheless, the sound resounds through the woods.

Thanks to Brigida's prayers, everyone feels a little lighter in their steps, a little more protected by their armor or clothes.

Aedric checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 4 higher.

In the midst of the fray, little attention is paid to the words of the expedition's soothsayers. He spins and thrusts longsword forward, blade penetrating the belly of the nearest monster -- rendering it lifeless.

Dante checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 19 higher.

Pivoting after the last engagement, Dante gracefully and viciously swings the alaricite longsword in an upwards arc. One plant is severed in two, its pal is cleanly decapitated. He seems to have his attention entirely on this lethal dance.

Katherine continues to stand at the center of this circle of decimation, watching each combatant take their shots at the monstrosities.

Brigida checked mana + theology at difficulty 40, rolling 6 higher.

Brigida continues to pray in a voice that is gaining strength and focus in the face of such hostilities, her face atill scrunched up in pain.

Rane checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 5 higher.

Two more of those viny, thorny bastards came charging from around the corner and once more, that polished glint of steel sliced through them with startling sharpness and precision.

Who isn't paying attention to Roran's water toss? Lora. Who gets soaked in holy water? Lora. She's almost more surprised by that than the plant-creature that makes it through the fighting line to attack and brings up an arm to try and fend it off, and then lets out one startled shard of laughter when it recoils and collapses, burning and twitching. She doesn't otherwise move though, maybe to be a better, shinier target than either of the archlectors.

Brigid checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

Thankful for the armor and that she could still successfully take a hit, Dragoon's attention focuses on the remaining sylvan horrors. The axe, while first thought to be helpful proved to be troublesome as she was used to brandishing weapons of greater size. Setting it aside did a swift hand go to her back for slung across, with a serrated blade tip, was a hefty throwing spear. Drawing herself at a steady one-two skip backwards for distance was the weapon hurled forward with deadly accuracy into a lashing vegetation seeking to slither forth towards the unwielding four - it would happen to zoom past Katherine however, most likely giving the gilded beauty a spook.

The Archlector of lagoma continues, prayers to Lagoma leaving his lips and carrying on with attempting to toss water everywhere. Friend and foe. Seems to help either way.

Roran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

The group of humanoid-like plant creatures is decimated, with only two of the original thirteen remaining. It is a fait accompli; the group, together, makes short work of the remainder, while there are at least two that have been set on fire, which has now caught on to the grass, trailing all the way to the bark of the tree, lighting it up.

A screech is heard as vines swing everywhere, spreading sap in a short radius around the tree while it combusts, and it stinks of burned rubber, or perhaps even worse than that, a black smoke billowing to the sky and filling the air quickly.

As the tree was immolated, Rane began to back up, now that the more mobile threats had been tended. There was floral viscera at the edge of his sword now, wiped off along the side of his leather leggings at the calf. The screaming and subsequent hissing from the tree made the Keaton all the more uneasy.

There's only a mild expression of distaste as the tree starts to erupt like a torch, although the billowing black clouds clearly visible in the sky gets a scowl. "Lora, are you alright? Baroness Katherine? Archlector Roran and - oh, Aunt Brigida!" Alas, Dante can't do anything for it besides look appalled.

Glancing around still as if waiting for the next threat, the sudden bought of pyrotechnics coming from the disgustingly corrupted tree catches her attention and while it wails out it's hideous death knell can she not help but feel the corner of her lips twist into a wry smirk of success - but that was just one and the Baroness ruminates on how many others there might be. Glancing over her shoulder to Brigida, "You going to live?"

Katherine instinctively whirls around to check on Lora and Brigida. Just as she is about to begin assessing them for physical damage, the spear that Brigid throws flies through that narrow space between them. The force of the throw generates its own wind, rustling her golden curls as it passes within inches of her head. Eyes flutter tightly shut, then open wide to be cast upon that incredibly confident cousin of her's. The expression that follows is a mixture of relief and consternation for so close a call. However, Katherine has little time to react further, seeing as how the flora is now screeching as though in pain. Her attention swiftly shifts to watch as the black smoke billows into the sky. "I hope that isn't toxic," she says with a sigh to follow.

Recognizing a brief moment of respite, Aedric kneels down and attempts to carve a hunk of bark-like flesh off a motionless podlings. If successful, he would wrap it in cloth and store it gingerly within the leather satchel hanging opposite scabbard.

'We have ways and methods of dealing with it if is." Roran caps that water skein, a glance ot Lora and her wet state. "As we did in teh Saikland greens." He's confidant. So much confidance, though he starts to move toward Brigida, dig into a bag to proffer bandages to the aging Archlector in case she wants assistance.

Brigida grumbles something under her breath before batting away those that are fussing over her. "Of course I will live. It wasn't anything bad..." She lies as she reaches into her satchel and begins chewing on some sort of root or herb. "Stop looking at me like I am a feeble old lady. Concentrate on the task at hand."

"That's somehow a bit more dramatic than our variation on the problem," Lora observes as the tree goes up in flame as well, prompting her to take a step back. The edge of her cloak is brought up to wipe water off her face, though the rest of the blessed liquid is apparently left to be like some kind of extra armor. "I wonder if the sap is particularly flammable."

Brigid looks over at Brigida, " I would be able to if things would quit attacking you due to their jealousy of your good nature." That smirk grows, a rare wink tossed towards the woman before glancing towards Aedric, watching him store a piece of matter away for further study.

The path away from the tree leads to a hill; amidst the tall grass, those trained to spot the herb can tell there are several clusters of Frosthope here, untouched by man and animal, and allowed to flourish. Now that they are far from the smoke, the air here smells fresh and pure, and perhaps they are allowed a moment of respite -- a trail leading to the ruins of Acorn Hill, along with a decayed sign, can be made out, not too far from the hill.

Rane likely headed the party with anyone else that was keen to accompany as they made their way deeper into the woods and closer to the fallen timber crossbeams of scattered, outlying homes that were nestled on the edge of the barony's proper seat. The commander pointed out the presence of Frosthope, looking all but identical to the samples found and taken at the Volkov Wood, with the tip of his sword as he passed. "More Frosthope here." He almost chuckled to himself, or would have if it was was a time for humor. More Frosthope...Moore Frosthope?!

Brigid checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

Fresh air is a welcome respite after the rotting stench and burning, corrupt tree smoke. Dante takes a deep breath, staying in front of the unarmed members of the party with his sword out and at the ready. Occasionally prodding and poking at some ruined piece of a building or clump of Frosthope, he nods at Rane. What he does not acknowledge is that joke, instead finding a reason to survey the rest of the group with a snort. "Anything any of you can see that looks familiar or hopeful to you?"

Katherine follows after Rane at a more cautious pace, coughing from the dense, smoky air. When they reach the small grassy hillock, she casts a glance around to those in accompaniment to ensure everyone was in one piece, and even better: still accounted for. After all, they /did/ just witness a plant creature destroy a baby deer with little effort. It might happen to any of them, at any time. How comforting! Attention is diverted to the Frosthope growing up from the soil. "It is known to grow in these lands, is it not?" she asks specifically of Brigid, a slender, blonde brow raising inquisitively. All the while, she begins to kneel down, fingers carefully tapping the edge of the leaf to test its hardiness.

Roran's not cracking jokes as they go, moving with the group away from that burning tree though he lingers a little, worried that it might spread. Not necessarily a -bad- thing. There's no further fussing over Brigida, though a swig of holy water is offered to the other Archlector, a glance to the new patch of Frosthope found when they reach clearer air.

As her suspicions reveal themselves in the form of Frosthope smatterings, the smirk she had worn faded the deeper they delved into Acorn Hill. A rather large decayed building, already crumbled in on itself with fences warped with moss and other plant matter demand Brigid's attention for a mere moment, bright eyes seeing through to what once was - a ghostly spectacle of hope. " It is known to grow in these lands but it is not a common herb." At Dante's question, " Well, off to the left where you see the remnant of horseshoes on that crumbling building?" It was the size of what appeared to be a modest arena with a fence line that disappeared over the knoll, " That was my home and further up the pathway we'll come to a village center with a fountain in the shape of an oak tree where artfully water used to fall from the branches - it was beautifully made." With that she continued forward, not stopping to glance at the Frosthope but continue further into the lingered ruination of her home.

Katherine can attest that the Frosthope samples of this area are robust and lively, their distinctive minty smell easily left behind as a residue on her fingers after touch.

From this distance, and especially from the vantage they might behold the ruins of Acorn Hill, one can make out those looming, ancient-looking and yet completely strange trees. Much taller than the original treeline, they stand out like a most unpleasant and terrifying reminder of the ill that was beset upon House Moore's principal holding.

A tattered banner lies in shreds on top of a tree of the aforementioned kind; its linen is dyed the red of dried blood, no doubt by the three individuals torn apart by the trees; their pieces hang from each branch precariously, as though they might fall any moment now.

Of note is the sign of recent encampment to the east; if one hugs the destroyed wall of Acorn Hill, one may spot several pitched tents -- and at least two corpses. A trail of armor pieces and weapons leads into the thicket. One of the corpses appears to be hugging something under one arm, and holding an axe in the other. Clearly, they didn't get much use out of it. Holes in the skull and down the torso in a straight line hint to puncture wounds or worse.

Frosthope is a familiar plant now, and its presence here is, perhaps, reassuring. More than the other flora, with its awful sap and mobile pods, all of which have left Lora looking warily at the trees as the continue up the trail. Still. "I am surprised it grows this far north, but that is reassuring. If it thrives here, then that expands where it can be cultivated, if it proves as useful as it's been rumored." Onward then, though. Onward. The strange trees that have made the forest seem ancient when it might merely be old are more familiar, as are, maybe, the way the branches pierce the bodies. The tents, though... "Did you have anyone patrolling the area?"

"I had scouts patrolling this area, yes. It had been cleared and all the dead of Acorn Hill laid to rest, a path had been cut out and so the most skilled of my trackers was lent to monitor activity. That was until the way they had hacked two horses wide was closed up, completely overgrown in the matter of a week and shortly after three of my own cavalry went missing with only their bloodied horses remaining - that is when I stopped letting anyone close and we are the first to enter." There was something on the tip of her tongue but it was bitten back, features maintaining it's usual taciturn calm.

The tattered banner and butchered man-at-arms was a truly gruesome sight to behold. So far, the expedition into Acorn Hill had been nothing short of a nightmare; viscera and gore painted onto a canvas of unearthly vegetation. Aedric lingered near the back of the convoy, perhaps concerned that the podlings would reanimate, and listened intently to the party's exchanges.

Brigida checked mana + theology at difficulty 40, rolling 2 lower.

Brigida checked command + intimidation at difficulty 40, rolling 11 higher.

Brigida checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 20 lower.

The shock of the fresh destruction was a difficult thing to stomach, but it was not something he hadn't seen before, though the vehicle of destruction was quite unique. Still, death and in particular gruesome ones, were never an easy thing to witness. He continued on and did as little as he could to pay them any attention in hopes that others would follow suit. Acorn Hill was within their reach.

The surrounding scene is terribly grim, ancient trees that shouldn't be and rent corpses with all-too-familiar puncture wounds. Dante does find some solace in the Frosthope being found here, investigating it with curiosity, never having seen it in person. "Baroness Brigid, you didn't hear anything else after that?" The Marquis stays close to Lora, wary and on guard. "Where would you like to check first, Baroness?"

There's something grim in the way Lora listens to the details surrounding the scouts that've been in this area, though there is a touch of distance in it too. She doesn't quite look at Brigid as she speaks, but rather, partway through, goes back to looking in the direction of the crumbled wall. "I pray fervently that we can finally put an end to all of this," is her answer. Dante's question is sound though, and she nods a little at it.

" No, it was silent but there were accounts from nearby roaming Abandon who were so frightened out of their wits they came clear out of hiding to say there were creatures inside that took my men." Glancing towards the bodies and the gore-ridden trail, " We will follow the trail of shattered lives hopefully find what took it and put an end to it once and for all - I didn't come here to scout." Was all she managed to say, that usually collected tone edged in a growl.

Roran regards the bodies of the fallen ones, the more recently fallen ones. 'We should see them buried, or burned, depending on what that one is holding." Roran gestures to the one that looks to be playing quarterback.

Katherine is quite helpless, at least where combat and defensive skills are concerned, but she is also inquisitive and so she wordlessly stands from her inspection of the Frosthope to walk carefully down the slope and up the trail. She sidles near Roran, regarding him with a wan smile, and then she kneels down to inspect whatever it is that is tucked there under the arm. It is a slow creep forward, knees bent and hands walking along the ground to maintain her balance and keep herself from falling forward into get a face-full of corpse.

Katherine founds a journal under the soldier's arm, and, along with it, a lodestone that he was carrying. Likely for luck.

Finds, too.

A grim but hopefuly smile is offered to Katherine, a squeeze of her shoulder before the woman is off crab walking around the dead bodies. "Any luck?"

Katherine leans in closely, gingerly, and pulls a lodestone from beneath the slack arm of the corpse. She turns to hand this object off to Roran, who is close enough to help, and then turns back around to collect the journal contained within. When she's sure everything was removed, she stands to her feet in one fluid, graceful motion and begins to wipe away the smudges of dirt, and the blood which have stained the page, and reads the few sentences that are legible aloud.

Katherine's daring approach is watched over by Dante who follows alongside, waiting to chop in half anything that may jump to life. Or undeath life. But she gets the items and doesn't go face down into a corpse, the ideal situation. "Let's finish this," he echoes to Lora and Brigid with a grimace.

After that search, the only way to go, of course, is forward, into the unknown, into the thicket. Carving a path through it finds them in a strange sort of place. One with a flowering plant not too unlike the one they spotted in Volkov Wood. Only, this one is moving. Slowly, but it is. Something emerges from its pulsating trunk, someone who looks like a human, if a human had legs that were curved like an amphibian's and their hands ended in sharp, triangular points. Oh, and the unnatural glimmer of those fully black eyes, and the slack set of the jaw. The oily texture of the skin.

Perhaps it is only a human at first glance. And around the tree are the remains of several people, including some bearing the livery of House Moore; the clothes far too clean, despite their removed heads, for it not to have been the scouts she sent into the region.

Rane checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Katherine checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Aedric checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Brigid checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Dante checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Lora checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Roran checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Rane checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 96 higher. Rane rolled a critical!

Brigid checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 9 higher.

Katherine checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

Dante checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 28 higher.

Aedric checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Lora checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

Roran checked stamina at difficulty 10, rolling 7 higher.

Brigid checked composure at difficulty 25, rolling 9 lower.

The commander knew his place. Rane was not the one to deal with the magical elements or mystical nature of the tree's origin. He stayed with Roran, Katherine and Brigida to continue to offer them as much of a buffer as possible.

Roran is not quiet. The man carries kittens in his pockets normally. In an effort to get out of the way of the more combat oriented types he is... less than stellar and the lantern in his hand creaks.

After the abominations are spotted, Dante drops close to Lora to remain before her while they creep forward. It all seems to go so well, but nothing can go perfectly. A creak from the side, Roran's lantern. The Marquis' eyes turn to the side, then back to the dark shapes before them.

Lora brings up the rear. With Brigida. Mayb Roran. Not because the Archlectors are particularly slow, but because the Marquessa is, and it has only partially to do with the rough terrain and the overgrowth, which she has to pick her way over carefully. And so she is very nearly the last to catch sight of the squat, moist, oily figure emerging from the tree, and that commands her attention a little bit more thoroughly than the remnant of the people who lay on the ground around the tree. Oh, but when she does, she goes almost green herself.

This unnatural /thing/ did not belong in the waking world. Dropping into a low guard, tip of blade pointed skyward, the mariner waits for a command.

Katherine walks with her eyes bent down to the pages of the journal, still attempting to make out the words that are smudged. Unfortunately, it seems the rest is simply not recoverable. This sightless meandering resulted in her walking directly into Rane's back, which also caused the journal to crunch up at an awkward angle. Thankfully, this bump did not result in a single sound. If it had, she would have competed with Roran's lantern. The woman stumbles backward a bit, then allows her gaze to settle upon this disgusting creature visible over the curve of Rane's broad shoulder.

Brigid checked command + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 3 higher.

There was very little that was known to visibly shake the Dragoon and what did it was all those of a social nature but there was clear recognition as silvery sights rested on the obsidian eyed creature, having spared her attention towards the decapitated remains of -her- men briefly. Jaw clenched, a typhoon of murderous rage swirling in the grey depths of her gaze as she eased up to stand alongside Rane, keeping those without weapons safely behind. Recalling how the last tree had been destroyed, " Burn it. Aedric and Dante we'll need to keep it distracted. Rane, please keep up the protective guard." An exhale of breath, " Roran, don't fuckin' fall."

The tree is slow to move, aye, but somehow it has keen senses. Perhaps it shares these senses with the creature it has spawned, for the facsimile of a human, given its twists and mutations, turns to regard Roran, fixing a stare at the man. As the slack jaw widens, one can see that this caricature of a human has teeth that would make a shark's eyes green with envy, a plethora of spikes and needles meant to rend into flesh just as much as obliterate it.

It lowers its arms, still somewhat awkwardly, as if it was a newborn, before it starts bounding towards the Archlector with surprising speed.

Given its singular focus, perhaps it is blind, perhaps it hasn't noticed the others.

But ah, there's a sickly sweet smell in the air, now, and a keen eye notices the blooming yellow flowers on the moving tree. Perhaps with concern.

Aedric checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 14 higher.

Amund GM Roll checked luck(5) at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

Dante checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 65 higher. Dante rolled a critical!

Rane checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Aedric lunges forward, drives his blade into the beast's torso, and forces the weapon downward -- carving a chunk out of its sickly body.

Like a great cat leaping at its prey, Dante whips the sword's blade upwards and severs that horrifying, toothy head right off, foul and ichorous sap spraying out in a stinking fountain. Nasty.

Even as its spawn dies ever so expediently to the blades of Dante and Aedric, and Rane severs a number of its branches, the tree has its own defenses.

The trunk opens as it pulsates again, contracting faster and faster before firing several spines in a wide arc.

Brigid checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 6 lower.

Aedric checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 21 lower.

Katherine checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 7 lower.

Roran checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 24 lower.

The spines flechette into Aedric's side, causing bleeding and a burning pain. 30 inflicted and Aedric is harmed for minor damage.

Rane checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 45, rolling 10 lower.

Lora checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 30, rolling 20 lower.

Dante checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 40, rolling 20 higher.

Several of the spines pin down into Rane, knocking him back from the sheer force. 35 inflicted and Rane is unharmed.

As Dante leaps to protect Roran, he takes more than a lion's share of the wicked projectiles. 60 inflicted and Dante is unharmed.

Lora's armor is tested with the several projectiles launched at her. 30 inflicted and Lora is unharmed.

A few flechettes sail through the air, hitting the Moores; it burns upon contact, like a potent sort of sedative venom. 10 inflicted and Katherine is harmed for minor damage.

A few flechettes sail through the air, hitting the Moores; it burns upon contact, like a potent sort of sedative venom. 10 inflicted and Brigid is unharmed.

Strong, but not particularly nimble, Aedric fails to avoid the serrated spines. They penetrate his breastplate just below the ribcage and set his nerves alight; an intense, burning pain that slowly gave way to the familiar warmth produced by oozing blood.

There but for the grace of Dante, is Roran unharmed, projectiles taken by the mans armor and the Archlector looking appreciative for that. Though swiftly enough, the man is putting down the lantern and tearing at the bottom of his robe. Terring off a strip of the silk and wrapping it around his belt knife. Prayers to the Goddess fall from his lips as he opens the lantern and sets the covered blade on fire. Ohhh does he ever sit it on fire, his hand gripping it. "Guard the lantern Marquessa." Roran instructs, moving forward with that burning blade in one hand and holy water in the other, starting to loudly offer prayer to Lagoma with intent to burn the tree.

Roran checked mana + theology at difficulty 40, rolling 0 higher.

Lora checked composure + performance at difficulty 40, rolling 97 higher. Lora rolled a critical!

Roran checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

As it happens, apparently the leather of Lora's cloak and the steel underneath are fair impervious to the needles launched by the tree-thing; lifting her arm and half-turning is a reflexive action, and the bits just kind of bounce off. She doesn't look particularly surprised by Roran's decision to cut his robe - and less by the decision to wrap it around his dagger, to turn into a bright, burning flame. Tasked with guarding the lantern, she picks it up carefully, both hands, around its handle, and picks up just a breath behind the Archlector. He prays; she sings, a familiar canticle that invokes Lagoma's cleansing fire, delivered in a soft, velvety alto that carries over the distance with him like poured oil.

At first, nothing ordinary happens when the dagger sinks straight into the tree trunk, deep enough the sap starts to leak out. But then, as the prayers continue, as the singing powers the words behind the prayer with heavy meaning and intent, bright red flames appear, dancing their path downward with the sap; that fire becomes a full fledged conflagration that burns from the makings of the root to the very last leaf at the top.

Silence fills the air before a loud bellow emanates from the pulsating trunk; this lasts only two seconds before the entire tree collapses to the ground as if it was ash. Everything in the immediate surrounding seems to catch fire as well, the flames spreading with surprising ease, flaring out, and then, abruptly, dying down.

The dagger, surprisingly, remains untouched. Completely, wholly untouched by the flames.

Rane gathered those around again, not that he had any way to combat the flames, but it was instinctive, no? Thankfully, they died out just as quickly as they seemed to spontaneously combust and the dead silence was doubly eerie, with naught but flecks of dark soot floating by on just the faintest of breezes.

Roran's prayers die down when the tree is well and truly off to perish, robes singed around the wrist and having to quickly snuff out some flames on the edges of his robes. Patting himself down as he turns, heading back to the group but making sure the Marquessa comes with him. "One abomination down. How many more to go." The dagger gathered as well and sliding that back into it's sheath. "Good for more than cutting meat."

As the tree begins to burn, does she feel a small shred of tension leave her body and eyes widen like that of a kitten who'd just witnessed something fantastic. A wide, wolfish grin touched her lips, the briefly fanned heat buffeting ashen streaks across pale skin. Turning did her eyes fall to Roran and Lora, absolute adoration shimmering through what might be detected as tears she wouldn't dare let fall especially given Roran did such a fabulous job of not tumbling head over feet. "Hopefully very little." Glancing back towards Katherine knowing that Rane would take care of her, attention went to a linger on Aedric, "You alright, Blackshore?"

Watching in awe as the corrupted tree bursts into roaring flames that build with the prayers, Dante sideglances at Roran and Lora afterwards with a spreading grin. "That was truly impressive, both of you." Ashes flutter down from the conflagration, some landing soot-like on his shining armor. "Baroness, I think that went beautifully. Hopefully that'll be the only one."

The sailor nods, returning longsword to scabbard. "Quick thinking. We likely owe you our lives," he muses, shifting attention to Roran and Lora. "Thank you."

Katherine stands close to those wearing armor and wielding weapons, naturally, relying heavily upon their physical protection as the flames build in power and strength. A hand raises to tuck a stray curl behind her ear, and she sighs heavily with relief as the cleansing fire completes its work, until all that is left is ash -- and one very special dagger. "That dagger deserves a name," she says with a small, appreciative smile to Roran. It is when all other stimuli has faded that the pain of her wounds becomes evident. It isn't overwhelming by any means, but enough to cause her hands to slowly move and inspect the shallow puncture, and the small object sticking out of her thigh. She had forgotten about it amid the chaos. "I suppose I ought to visit Reigna," she says aloud, to no one in particular.

Katherine checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 1 lower.

Katherine looks around to all the faces, each of them beginning to appear fuzzy. The edges of her vision grow dark. Her lips part to speak up, but no words come out. And after a second of struggling, she falls limp to the floor. Katherine has fainted.

"t has no name. I never understood the need to name every blade. The heirloom ones yes. But this? It just cuts my meal is all." Roran brushes it off, turning to look at the destruction. "I have a better understanding of what is needed though. To assist you in regaining back your lands. "between the Blessed nad I and with your helps, we can see order restored, and a beneficial change brought around."

But there's a fainting Katherine and Roran's eyes widen, moving toward her to check on her.

At least Lora isn't humming that -other- song this time. She carries the last notes of Lagoma's song until the flames die, ashes drifting about like early snow but warm instead of cold, and when Roran comes to collect the lantern she hands it back. She turns, eventually, to smile a little at Dante. At the Moores, and Rane. "Fire does seem to work near equally well on almost everything. Fire, and steel, and prayer. But hopefully we'll be done s..." And then Katherine crumples and the idea is cut entirely off. "Oh dear."

Brigid doesn't move forward seeing as the attention of Roran is comfort enough but a look is shot towards Rane.

Roran checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 40, rolling 4 lower.

Rane checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 1 lower.

Rane turned to look over the party to look for any wounds that might have been sustained. He saw one of the spines coming from Katherine's thigh and at first, he thought little of it. "Yes, the marquessa wou--" And then she fainted and he broke into a quick trot, sheathing his sword. He was unclear what was happening, whether this was something lethal or not. Rane was on a knee quickly, checking for a pulse and found one that was weak. He cleared his throat and eyes were perhaps a bit more wild than intended. The commander was used to martial, potential lethal wounds, but poison? How Lycene. He was helpless. "She needs aid!"

"Could someone see to getting some of the holy water at the ready. Pull out whatever this is and then perhaps pour the water over it." Logic dictates that might be the problem. But how to treat it, Roran doesn't know. Just tossing out... potential avenues.

Roran checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 45, rolling 2 higher.

Rane is overheard praising Roran: The true savior of Acorn Hill

Katherine, all things into account, is well cared for by Roran. He manages to awaken her by using a mixture of Frosthope and something more pungent, and they carry the drowsy Lady of Moore all the way to their own encampment. They've seen their fair share of horrors now, but they've also gained knowledge.

Knowledge to be used in cleansing the forests of Acorn Hill and Volkov Wood for good.

The next step is the ritual. Some might even say that is the hardest.