He in turn tells you,

Petar translates the orcs, who claim the slow going is due to a difficult trail to follow.  The elf has no reason to be suspicious and can imagine the trail looking different day versus night.

The owners of the webs did not seem to be around, although the orcs were keeping their weapons at the ready, paying sharp attention to the uppers branches of the trees.

If the more money-inclinded among them were keen, Petar deems it safe enough to quickly take a goblin head.  Bounty was bounty.  Still, no point lingering here.

They had thick stems, growing from two feet up to almost six feet in height. Their heads were all pointing towards the sun, just like sunflowers do.

"Hmm, carnivorous plants," Petar muses, explaining that such things were not unhead of .. but hesitant to go too close to a man-sized one.  He is sure he's read about these things.  Giant sundews?  Sundrops?  Something like that.

Nature Lore: 11 vs target 17, if applicable
21:39, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 11 using 1d20.  Nature Lore forest on Killer Plants.

Agreeing with Angus, the elf indicates a controlled burn with oil might clear enough monstrous flora away.

"We want to be careful, this far from a settlement.  Too much damage to wilderness will anger any nearby guardians, whether they be fey or merely more familiar stewards like rangers or shamans.  However, since our goals align, hopefully, with any druids or similar, I think we can risk it."

"Another idea is to keep the plants busy by eating something else, fresh meat we might catch by a quick hunt."

As for the dead green orcs, Petar tries to determine the cause of death too, from a distance.  Arrows sticking out were obvious, but if not that, then what?

Petar also asks the red orcs exactly where the opening was.  He looks for any trail the undead might have made, too.

+1 vote for 'kill it!  kill it with fire!' ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:41, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

Not quite sure I am following you: the "opening"?

"Is there path around these monsters? Petar you can speak there language... Please."

Brulna thought of a spell that could clear a path, but it was beyond her current talent.

"I have never seen such plants," Aila said, her nose wrinkling at the less-than-pleasant odor.  "I'd rather leave them alone and try to find another way, to be honest."

In reply to Aila (msg # 11):

"We can go around or burn them out. What say you? Ask the orcs Petar."

"Yes, once we know exactly where the cave is, we can decide properly," Petar agrees.  He asks the orcs for a precise indication; hopefully the killer plants could be totally avoided.

"If these plants are sentient. Will they follow us? Wish my sista was here... she would run in chopping at them."

[ Exposition for All ]

If Petar's memory serves him right, these are Emerald Skymarrows, a very rare species of plants that are very aggressive, as plants go. They are capable of projecting exuberant fumes at a short distance. Anyone caught unawares inhaling these fumes is easily rendered unconscious. Once incapable of resistance, the skymarrows wrap their prey with their roots and drain it of vital fluids. The roots are remarkably strong, but not exceptionally resilient, which makes getting trapped in them the only real concern.

However, that is not their only method of defense. The plants are capable of launching a volley of piercing seeds from their bulbs as well, which burst open to release a corrosive compound. This corrosive fluid is able to render grievous injury to flesh and bone alike, and is a defensive weapon the plants only use in last resort situations.

One of the most remarkable aspects of these plants is that they are actually mobile. If they detect no prey in the vicinity for a short number of days, they are capable of uprooting themselves and moving to another area. They move slowly, but as long as they have soil beneath them, they can re-root and continue their life cycle.

Anyone encountering these plants is advised to stay at a safe distance, at least 20 yards away. If there is a need to approach, it is recommended that you go by at a run, as their reactions are slow. They can be removed like any other weed infestation: by cutting them down (not advised) or by starving them. The greater opinion is that they need to be burned away as soon as possible in order to prevent their spore release, which brings on the next generation of skymarrows.

Skymarrow compounds and powdered root are often used in alchemical mixtures, and fetch a profit when sold to the right buyer.

The Emerald variety is one of the more "docile" versions of these plants. The Crimson one is known to able to project its corrosive compound into the air, which bursts into flame once in the open, causing severe burns to its prey. The Quartz version is found in caves and has incorporated arcane elements into its biology from rooting into veins of crystals. It has adapted to its underground environment by using its corrosive compounds to dissolve rock and minerals, which it feeds on. It is capable of releasing its seeds as arcane projectiles, and is by far the most dangerous, and mobile, of all the Skymarrow varieties. It is rumored that the Quartz Skymarrow is cunning enough to be considered almost "intelligent". Fortunately, it is only found underground as bright light causes it to become severely lethargic.

---

You explain the situation to the orcs, and they agree that it is best if these 'things' die. But they also see the possibility of keeping them as 'pets' or 'guards'. But that might be for another time. They are concerned with the possibility of burning the forest down, so they will review the area to see how close the flowers are to the trees.

After a short while they return telling you that the plants have rooted in the middle of the clearing, and that if burned there is a good chance that they will not catch the forest in the flame. They also tell you that they do not need to cross through them, as they can easily go around and avoid them, and work to recover the trail again. The opening cannot be too far away now, maybe another half mile.

The scouts are quite amazed at these things. They didn't cross through a field of these flowers when they were returning to camp. They must have moved here over the course of the two hours you have travelled so far.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:41, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

"These plants are very rare," Petar points out.  "Destroying them is almost a crime .. as we can go around them."

He tries to be persuasive on this point, confident that the orcs will be able to find the trail again.

The elf supposes there was a risk of the skymarrows following them to the cave and trapping them inside, but that would belie a level of intelligence (or at least cunning) that Petar does not abscribe to these plants, well, at least not this variety and he says as much.

Vote changed to: go around them :)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

In reply to Petar the Elf (msg # 16):

"I have never encountered anything like them before and never heard of them. My life has been in my books, Let's go around them. Brulna? What is your vote my dear? Aila love, your vote too?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:37, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

"My opinion on the matter remains unchanged," Aila said, giving Angus a withering look.  "I would prefer to go around--avoiding.  We can take the other action should it become necessary."

In reply to Aila (msg # 18):

Angus gets a forlorn look of puppy dog eyes at the look Aila gives him, not meaning to offend.

In reply to Black Angus (msg # 17):

"I say lets go around them." I don't have the power to destroy them yet.

With the general consensus of "going around them" established, the party moves on and skirts around the flowers. The orc scouts resume their tracking, and shortly thereafter find the trail they were looking for. At this point, the terrain has become quite hilly, and rises and drops in the path are quite common. You have been getting closer and closer to taller foothills, but have several more miles to go to actually reach the foot of the mountains.

You suddenly leave the line of trees behind to stand in an open area at the base of a hill with a collapsed side nearby. Small critters and bugs scatter at your approach, and a large flock of birds takes to the air not too far from you towards the west. The ground is covered with the remains of dead animals, small groups of bones scattered all over the area. The fallen side reveals a core of rock covered with lichen and other plant growth, accumulated probably over many years. Oddly, eroded boulders lie scattered about the area. The side of the hill is perhaps over 20 feet high, measured by rough eye estimate. One of the boulders leans dangerously balanced against the rocky remains of the hill, covered in vines and the untold droppings of birds and other creatures.

The orc scouts point at that rock, crouching under it and disappear from sight. Their voices echo hollowly from beyond it, telling you that you have arrived at the cave they mentioned.

Sowen and Olagh seem excited to be here. Their interest is very high, and they approach with open curiosity, ready to step behind the boulder and into the space beyond.

Sowen beams with a satisfied grin, "Finally! Here you are."

Camille is directing her attention at the bones, as if searching for something.

Mysh and LLand are keeping a lookout, as the warriors they are.

Lland asks bluntly, "Is this it? Is this the place?"

The orcs are waiting on you to see what you decide to do.

Bessy the mule is getting nervous and braying frequently.

OOC: Perception rolls.

These are WIS checks at -4. You want to roll below or equal to the resulting value.

In reply to Game Master (msg # 22):

07:59, Today: Black Angus rolled 3 using 1d20.  wisdom check.

OOC: Sorry I've not been on much lately. Real life has been getting the better of me. I'll try to be a bit more active.

22:08, Today: Oswyn rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  Perception (Wis 13).

Aila looked about intently, trying to make sense of the terrain in view.

---

07:43, Today: Aila rolled 16 using 1d20+4.  perception  (vs 13).

No worries. Life is more important than a D&D game after all. As you can see from my own posting frequency, I often cannot maintain a schedule of my own liking either. =)

In reply to Game Master (msg # 26):

I think we all do pretty good overall. Posting is fairly regular here.

The ground is covered with the remains of dead animals, small groups of bones scattered all over the area.

Some kind of predator's place, Petar muses.  Wolves?  Bears?  Drakes?  A sidelong glance towards Sowen and Olagh follows - perhaps their secret will soon be revealed.

The orc scouts point at that rock, crouching under it and disappear from sight. Their voices echo hollowly from beyond it, telling you that you have arrived at the cave they mentioned.

"I think we had better be prepared for anything, from animals to undead," Petar says.  "Get torches and weapons ready, spells, too," he adds with nod to Angus and Brulna.

Camille is directing her attention at the bones, as if searching for something.

Petar comes over and asks if he can help search.

Lland asks bluntly, "Is this it? Is this the place?"

"I hope so.  Otherwise we are back to where we started in the search for Exidamarall."

10:49, Today: Petar the Elf rolled 3 using 1d20.  Good ol' Perception vs 10.

Roll of 3 vs (10-4) .. looks like a success
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Fri 05 Mar 2021.

For those of you who succeeded:

Your eyes were drawn to motion in the sky above the tree line. Close to where the flock of birds rose to the sky, you saw a group of winged creatures in the air. They were approaching your location quickly.

It looked like Olagh spotted them, too, as he grabbed his brother by the shoulder and pointed him towards the western sky. Sowen drew his sword silently, and Olagh strung his bow with the demeanor of a man who knows that war sometimes was inevitable.

As the brothers prepared for battle, the orcs grew tense as they followed their eyes.

Regnok, the leader, declared,

[Language unknown: "Eveateine di ingingrut. Li estherwhe enneis."]

The orcs dropped their packs and took on their spears.

With the evident preparations going on, Camille, Mysh, and Lland also pulled their weapons and strapped their shields to their arms.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:33, Fri 05 Mar 2021.

"Drakes! Get ready to fight and possibly die, there are several of them!"

After pointing out the incoming flyers, Petar scans the sky closely to get exact numbers and types.  "Let's try to drive them off with arrows and spears," the elf says, repeating the latter word in orcish as well.  "Maybe they won't attack prey that puts up a pointed defense!"

Hopefully there was enough cover nearby for all, even the mule.  Of course, they could all just go into the cave but that seemed a little rash - no point getting trapped in there, Petar thinks.

Actions
Move to cover.  String bow and get ready to shoot while also trying to figure out how many and what colours.

OOC: Ok, I'll buy me some time today by keeping to a one-post-a-day schedule max. This way others can post as well before we rush the action too far ahead.

And I also buy me some time in case I need to make a map.