Chapter 4-2

Luisa transforms and vines burst from the ground around the village. The party engages with the strange plant creatures. Schmead casts Faerie Fire and causes Vaelyn’s skin to sparkle “This is the skin of a killer, Torren”

After defeating the vines attached to Luisa, she begins to melt into a gelatinous goop. The last of the monsters fall to ash - except for the form of Luisa.

Elander rushes over to the blob and gets on his knees to investigate the scene. It’s very analytical as he studies it and doesn’t seem concerned - clearly not her. He dips his fingers in the goop and starts assessing it. Apenthese - plants attached to the trees (higher up) are where the roots come from. These vines are new to the village and they’ve never seen them before.

Alander will go with the party to the village chief to discuss the events in Luisa’s house. Though, the chief comes to the door and looks heavily concerned. Excalibur explains to the chief what happened.

The party investigates Luisa’s house: Excalibur sees some samples of the roots - it looks like she was trying to do druidcraft with them but failed. Torren finds a notebook/journal left on the table that goes up to yesterday and is actively written in. It goes back a couple years worth of entries. As he follows along, he notices Luisa used to go out in the jungle a lot. She stopped about four months ago. Luisa wants to go to the Temple of Thina - things started to shift with her.

For the remainder of the afternoon: Over the next few hours Hazel hangs out on the beach to try and learn more about the roots. Vaelyn wants to spend more time with Alander to learn more about herbs and alchemy from his perspective. Torren goes back to the chief to inform him of what the party found in the journal. Excalibur takes time to review the article written by Graham Noot.

The village hosts a small dinner around the main square of the village. Dinner is served - rustic but comforting. Hazel introduces Gloom since they will be sharing the same house together.

[LONG REST ACHIEVED] The next morning - Walking into the jungle, the party begins their trek to the temple of Thina. The jungle is dense and lush. Even if a lot of people come through, it’s almost as if it’s filled in instantly. Nature takes over.

At some point, the party feels the ground shutter under their feet. Excalibur and Vaelyn spot the strange vines that move away causing them two to fall into a pit of acid. They both escape easily and the party continues onward. Eventually, cutting their way into a small clearing as dusk starts to set in.

The party comes across a group of corpses with a note: Captain, we were unsuccessful in the village and we’re seeking out the artifact elsewhere. Our associate in port revelry still requires it.
-Kennedy Bennington

There is a map with conjuration magic on it. A treasure map of holding

Cause of death for the bodies: They have broken bones, they might have been crushed. A few months. The bodies have been rotting and no animals have been eating.

Looking up, throughout the jungle, there are large plants affixed and wrapped around trees - Apenthese. They’re yellowish sack-like pods that would open and close.

The part walks for another 20 minutes until it’s completely dark and decides it is best to set up comp for the night.

In the middle of the night, the sounds of the jungle stops and after several minutes the jungle continues. There is a strange creature within the jungle towards the direction they are heading. During Torren’s watch, Excalibur and Torren send Garrus off to follow the creature. A large mass of vines and darkness bursts out and snaps Garrus. In the middle of the night, they begin to hear someone screaming for help… Heckin’ skinwalkers bro…