2.8 KiB
| title | created | updated | public | syndicated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00020 | Thu, 29 Sep 2022 06:51:14 -0600 | Thu, 29 Sep 2022 06:51:14 -0600 | yes | yes |
00020
Looking around the chaotic scene, one of the vines among the bushes caught Inky's eye. It was one of several bean plants probably native to the Tammineaux Forest, with strands of faintly glowing pods hanging from the vines.
Inky snatches several of the dried but luminous bean pods from the vines, then sprints a wide circle around the centaur, all the while counting out 43 beans and throwing them into the topsoil, where much of the earth around the sinkhole had already been turned over by the gnomes' drills and machinery.
Earlier in the commotion, one of the gnome explosions caused a water main leading towards what had been the kobit caves to burst. Water was now spraying across the area with the gusto of a fizzy cold spring and gathering in small pools over the soil. More water sluiced over the moth-like creature's singed wing, snuffing the remaining embers.
Within moments, long tendrils shot up from the ground, which rapidly thickened at the bases to the size of young southern oak trees, to curl gently but firmly around the centaur. "Sister!" a melodious voice emanating from somewhere amid the beanstalks exclaimed, "What are you doing up? It is not yet autumn. Go back to sleep!"
The pooling water puts out any of the licking, reaching flames that followed the centaur up from below. The dark smoke carries the smell of ash, soot, and burnt popcorn up into the air.
There is no mistaking the climbing vines of the common Tammineaux Forest Bean. If you don't recognize it by the heart-shaped leaves or the winding stems, then the luminous, dangling seed pods nestled amongst the bulbous pink blossoms are a dead, somewhat obscene, giveaway.
Inky plucks a handful of the pods and rips them open, meticulously counting out a mystical number of individual beans, and sowing them in the ash and the mud.
Vines erupt from the ground and entangle the centaur, dragging it gently back toward the sinkhole and whispering a soothing lullaby in its ears. The centaur struggles weakly before surrendering to the vine's caress. It is pulled back down underground.
In the aftermath, there is a handful of leftover beans, and also some large, vibrant kernels of corn that flaked off the centaur during the struggle.
You and the first Ginnarak Crystal are able to leave the dig site and the Tammineaux Forest without further incident.
You pack up your faithful multibeast and trek back to the city of Vay'Nullar, where your adventure started.
THE END OF CHAPTER ONE
EPILOGUE: what are you doing in the final moments of this battle? Or on the way home? Or, what are you doing to rest, relax, and recover once safely back in town before reporting back to Blavin?