=> Whimsical Underground Adventure 2000: Kids and Fun

[Sypon]

Candy Dandies
3/5
Choice: D

Aandes resisted the urge to sneeze as the spores began showering down from the plants above them. This was terror. His eyes opened wide and he looked to Eostre for guidance, and soon she was rushing towards the grove. Attacking! His pump biscuit quickened in pace. He tugged at Koalapops and shot off after her. "Right! Right behind you!" He exclaimed, hiding his weariness in an attempt at confidence.

He reached into his own pocket for his... Well, it was hardly a weapon at this point. He figured he might as well let Eostre take the lead on this one, for fear of embarrassing or harming himself. Fighting wasn't his forte. Aandes had a sinking sensation in his bile sack - one of many pity-hate parties he held within his own head on this very trip - and bit his lip. So long as this wasn't the end of Aandes LaMode, he'd push through it.  

[Sypon]

Group 5
3/5
Choice: A
((I made the assumption based upon our chat that Miache's having some trouble with the gross muck of the cavern! If you'd like me to change anything I'd be happy to do so.))


Tamiya's mouth pulled into a dramatic grimace as she touched the goopy mess. It was better than being back-first on the ground, of course. But not knowing the contents of the strange slop was horrific. It was like blended spinach mixed with gelatin and smelled like Old Hemisect at low tide. "Nookslop, all of this," Tamiya muttered at a respectable volume. "Praise be that this infestation of plantshit ******** is as sticky as it is, or else we would be on our righteous asses. I trust you are holding up well, Alexin. Miache?"

Tamiya looked ahead of her a few times -- Miache looked to be having conniptions over the lichen that for a moment she chalked up to demonic possession, or perhaps toxins from the algae. Tamiya furrowed her brows. Either way, she had a remedy for his ails. She reached into a recess of her garb and carefully pulled out a silk, drawstring bag. Tamiya extracted its contents using her long needle-like teeth. It was a pity that she'd gotten some lichen on it, but alas. Sacrifices.

"I kchan ashshisht if shomeschthing tchroubles schhyou," Tamiya said - her voice was muffled by a marble-sized chunk of something sparkly she held in her teeth.

Tamiya couldn't do much to spread her special stardust with her hands, so she took the mouthful that she had and blew it in Miache's direction. It wasn't spitting on him, per se. She mainly aimed for the ground - a troll dealing with such anxieties should not be confronted directly with stardust to the eyes. It was simply bad luck.

Swallowing the remaining dust (a combination of practical juggalo ingredients including plastic glitter biscuits), Tamiya continued down the path. Soon the group had made it to solid ground. The underground grove was gorgeous. Tamiya narrowed her eyes at the unnatural beauty. It was awful.

"This is not right," Tamiya predicted. She would be correct. Tremors shaking from the plants around them suddenly caused her to start

She looked straight into the shaking branches and snapped her head forward. Tamiya swore she saw her father - or perhaps it was just the dust caught in her throat. She shook her head of the vision. No, this couldn't be affecting her. A judgment had to be made, and fast. What did she see over there? Perhaps it would be an alternate route.

"Something over there was moving, I'm sure of it. Let us flee, quickly!"  

[Hivestuck]

A) You rush away from the wall of plants and the spores, trying desperately to find an alternative to the unknown danger of the thicket. Unfortunately, the time it takes to find an alternate route means that you suffer the effects of the spores and the writhing plants. You manage to find a path that appears to have been cut away, but upon entering it with haste you realize you've stepped into a trap. IF THERE IS A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: A loop of nettles wraps around your lusus and wrenches them skyward. You lose sight of them in the chaos. One player’s lusus is now separated permanently from the party. IF THERE IS NOT A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: A loop of nettles wraps around your legs and hoists you violently up into the air. The party loses 1 HP.

B) You dive quickly into a deep pool. The shockingly cold water jars all of your senses, and for a moment you’re disoriented. The spores dilute and melt away, fogging up the brisk water. The perceived danger passes, but the plants are still roaring and shaking around you. Suddenly… IF THERE IS A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: You hear wild splashing from your lusus. A split-second later, they disappear under the surface of the water. One player’s lusus is now separated permanently from the party. IF THERE IS NOT A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: Something seizes your ankles and drags you underwater. Only by fighting for your very life do you escape in time. The party loses 1 HP.

C) The party stays still at the ready, but nothing emerges from the thicket. The spores begin to float onto the party, settling like snowflakes on your skin and clothes. Soon after, the effects of the toxins kick in. The feeling of burning shoots through each speck of dust, and wiping and spreading them around only makes the painful effect worse. The party loses 1 HP.

D) You charge headlong into the flora, weapons out and ready for confrontation. The wobbling of the surrounding vines and leaves is disorienting at first, but whatever it is that was causing the fuss has receded. Fortunately, going through the flora was a serious shortcut! The path to your next destination is clear. Your party advances.

Groups that have made it this far are now faced with the mysterious path through the cavern plantlife. The monstrous plants become more diverse while the path narrows. Suddenly, someone steps on a branch. The snap triggers movement within the bush, and suddenly a scrabbling troll hand appears at your feet, reaching for you desperately from out of sight. Muffled sounds of a struggle accompany the shifting plants, which you realize are closing in on you in a choking wall of vines. What do you do?


A) Ignore the hand and run straight out of the nightmarish path.
B) Attempt to climb the plants to escape.
C) Try to dig the troll from their entanglement.
D) Run back the way you came.  

[Gl!tch~]

Reemus smiled a little through his wince when he got both of his teammates' hands in his. He notably looked over at Nervit before they went down, a delayed response to her fussing over him. She was consistently kind to him but subtle about it. He'd have to pay her back for it later, express his gratitude properly. Also when he wasn't in pain and kind of irritable.

The ride down was as slippery and messy as Reemus expected, but at least they didn't get separated. They applied the grip! Good for them. Landing, he shook off the wet grossness the best he could, then got a good eyeful of of pale plants surrounded by water. It was wonderfully scenic, especially compared to the desert above, but the awe and wonder was short-lived. It seemed this place was out to get them! Was that even possible? Sandstorms were a thing, yes, but it never seemed so...malicious, like their surroundings had been time and time again. He let go of Nervit's hand to step forward protectively and growl at the spores coming down.

Then, before he knew it, Sinter was yanking her away. Reemus chased after, admittedly kind of startled at Sinter's sudden boldness. At least the ground was somewhat soft under his blistered feet. Once back at his hive, he'd have to tend to them and find new bandages to wrap. Or tie on trash bags, maybe.

Reemus caught up to the others on a new path. He wasn't sure that this was a great idea, since the spores were landing and burning. Bad. As he bit down on the need to scream at just how horrible he was feeling with everything going on with his body, Reemus heard something go off, like something was yanked away. It wasn't either of his teammates...but... Wait, didn't the redblood have a lusus along? Uh-oh. First Woofmum, now another. "We gotta keep movin'!" Reemus barked on gut reaction. As much as he'd like to try to save his teammate's lusus, they'd possibly burn to death with the spore effects intensifying like this. To make sure Sinter wouldn't do something else ~*~reckless~*~, he made sure to grab Sinter's hand and pull, so it was once again a connected train of trolls. Nervit pulled by Sinter pulled by the little mustardblood. He didn't let go until they were far away from the spores, and instead on a narrow path surrounded by trees.

The little leader then stepped on a branch, and yelped in response. He wasn't wearing any shoes. And likely popped a couple of blisters with the pressure. But there was some...other noise. Looking down, Reemus noticed a hand. "Crikey!" He immediately reached down to try to help whatever poor bloke had gotten stuck. Perhaps it was someone from one of the other teams, he figured.

In his haste, he didn't even notice that the 'walls' were starting to push in...

Group 3 chose Option C
---
-> 3/5 HP
-> Lost Woofmum
-> Lost Lophie  

[Sypon]

Candy Dandies!
Aandes & Eostre
3/5
Choice: C (oh good, the least likely option... And this is the 3rd 3 I've rolled what's up with that, yo.)

Both issues - the mysterious hissing and now this rustling - were solved by straight ahead action. Aandes cleared his throat and kept up with Eostre throughout, watching her moves. She'd accomplished everything he'd seen her do with that attitude - the knuckleduster attitude. He was really, to the core, impressed.

Aandes let out a panicked beep upon entering the grove. Everything was disorienting, and he tried not to lose Koalapops in the chaos. "Let's go... Here's the path!" He yelled, and the three were easily on their way.

The plants were nearly pre-historic. Even in the lush Four Fronds, Aandes had never seen anything like this in his life. He rushed through the bushes, legs aching from carrying his lusus. Suddenly, something threatened to trip him. It was a bit of grey in the bush. A... A hand.

Aandes blanched and yelped. It was attached to him now -- on his ankle! Gog! Oh gog! "Aa-AAHH!" the greenblood bleated. His only choice was to try and pull it out. Aandes tugged and tugged on the troll, eyes welling with tears. The drones! Hadn't the deployment drone said something about a search party?

An adult could help. Aandes' thinkpan short-circuited. Now was no time to think about all of the possible outcomes. He was already yanking on this poor troll's arm; he might as well get them to help the two of them out of here. And if something went wrong or they were... No. Aandes didn't think about it.  

[Green Minuet]

∞ Ephias Sagine

Cops and Robbers
Health: 4/5

It was beginning to look hopeless. There seemed to be no way to forge into the undergrowth without first enduring the nettles. Ephias was about to suggest that they just push through and bear it as best they could, when Wolly let out a delighted bleat. The sheep stood near an opening in the thicket, where the vines had been slashed away. Ephias considered it. Had another team passed through here before?

As he stepped forward to get a closer look, Wolly wandered into the underbrush. There was a short hiss. Suddenly, a coil of vines snapped around the sheep's ankles he was yanked up into the canopy. In a second, he was gone.

“Wolly!” Ephias screamed. He ran to where his lusus had stood only a moment before, just a pace shy of where he had vanished. Then something caught his eye. No, not vanished... Kneeling down, Ephias lifted the leaves of some ivy. Behind it the bark of a shrub had been stripped away. A length of vine lay coiled around its base and as well as a clipped branch. He ground his teeth and gingerly picked up the branch. The cut was smooth. Not vanished. Trapped. Taken. Maybe even...

As Ephias rose, he felt hot tears come to his eyes. He should have expected this. Etsali had been seperated from her lusus. Zindel had lost his to the shapes in the mist. Neither of them had made a huge fuss over it. Etsali had put on a brave face and claimed that Keeper was only scouting. Zindel had handled it with stoic indifference. They had a mission to complete after all.

But this was Wolly.

Ephias' mouth twisted into a grimace. Tears were streaming down his face. He tried to hold it in, but a choked wail still stammered out from his throat. Why had they not gone back to look for the other lusii? Why had he not said anything? Why had he thought it was more important to press on? The lusii were their guardians and without them his team was helpless. But the lusii were not just guardians. Wolly was not just a guardian. Wolly was... Ephias' shoulders pitched. Wolly was something more than that. Something Ephias could not describe. He only knew how important it was. Wolly had always looked out for him. Wolly had looked out for everyone. The least Ephias could do was look out for him as well.

Ephias balled his hands into fists. His sobs grew into an angry roar. Suddenly, he took the branch in his hands and snapped it in two. He flung the pieces into the underbrush and the red began to recede from his vision. He was going to get Wolly back. No matter what, Ephias was going to find him. He took an unsteady breath, then turned to his group. “W-watch out for t-t-traps.” He did not trust himself to speak any more than that.  

[thyPOPE]

The water was lovely and cool. Perhaps a bit icier than, say, the Four Fronds', but it was Dictys' preferred temperature, and the spores - fortunately - were washed away from Dictys' skin with the dip. How lovely, ey thought, and swam about noiselessly for a bit - before a high-pitched scream overtook the cavern again (was it still a cavern?). Frowning, Dictys sped to the surface, only to discover...Lorata. Crying. Screaming, particularly, at Dictys. Ey narrowed eir eyes, about to tell the little girl what for, but then she ran for it, and Dictys had to follow suit.

"This way, I believe," ey said, trying not to sound shaky. This was where she'd gone, right? Ey couldn't find her. Ey panicked, a bit - losing both a finned girl and her lusus? Would not be good. How would they have enough commissioned officers to fill out a fleet then? Soon the thicket of foliage opened into a narrowing path, and Dictys breathed a sigh of relief. There was no way she'd have gone elsewhere with a choice so clearly demarcated. "She can't be that speedy," ey huffed, not mentioning the small amount of trouble ey was having already. Even though there was more, er, water resistance than air resistance, running was stupid! Why did floors have to be solid? How could you move easily between different altitudes abovewater without a device to do it for you? Dictys didn't understand.

A twig snapped between eir bare foot, and Dictys looked at it in barely disguised horror for a bit, before realizing that something - sometroll - was grabbing for eir foot. Ey narrowed eir eyes. Clearly something had happened to take that troll down - and stopping to consider it would only put Dictys further at risk. With any luck it wasn't Lorata. "We can't stay here," ey said, pointing the issue out. If this troll couldn't figure their own way out, then, well, perhaps they had to increase the difficulty level in the brooding caverns.

Dictys was gone.

Team BETTER THAN YOU has chosen option A.
feat. Lorata Gorgos, Klymen Carcha, Dictys Glauci, Regina Marian

better than you: 3/5 hp
1/2 lusii QAQ
 

[leon_a_darkangel]

Voscil didn’t like the slow progress they we’re making, it was desolate and hopeless feeling. She felt uneasy, and kept close to her group mates. In the rush and hustle, it came as a horrible thousand pound weight. The yellowblood had tried to keep calm, and keep moving…it was all they’d really been able to do as each of the guardians had been swept away. She swatted at a couple spores, and much to her distress was beginning to feel its effects.

However before she could really worry or think about the vines and plant matter she watched in horror as Wolly had been snapped up and taken away. It wasn’t her lusus, any more than the others had been but seeing the redbloods tears stain his face made her stare in vacant horror. She’d had enough of this, and just wanted to run away.

Her words failed her, she opened her mouth to try and comfort him like she had for Estali and Zindel. Instead she walked over to him as he stammered about traps. “We…will have to find Wolly, Keeper and Wrenmom.” She insisted, reaching to gently tug on his sleeve. Voscil stepped closer to him, carefully trying to coax him into moving away from what had just happened. The vines were moving now, increasing her sense of urgency and dread. “I know you likely want to stay and look, but unless we move, we won’t be able to look for them ya know?” She finally let go of his sleeve as she offered him a tentative smile.

She could only pep talk as good a game as the other person would allow, and now was no different. Voscil hesitated before reaching out and clasping his shoulder. “I’ll do my best to help all of you look but not at the risk of us getting hurt right now…okay?” As much as she wanted to dive after and help right then and there but she too felt like crying. This whole situation was chaotic and scary at best.

Sensing the situation for what it was, the RoarBeast lusus moved closer first to her charge and nudged her with her head. Next she turned to Ephias, dipping down so her head was in the others hand briefly rubbing her face against it before taking a step back, eyeing the four troll children in turn. Mamaju knew she wasn’t meant to keep them safe as well; but she’d fight tooth and nail should the opportunity present its self.  

[Sypon]

Team 5
(Tamiya, Alexin, Miache)
5/5
-2 lusii
Choice: (B as chosen by Kyle! Ignore the die roll.)

The two-headed bird was gone. Tamiya narrowed her eyes and hissed instinctively. That was no accident or stroke of misfortune. It wasn't even an omen. That was a trap.

The plot against her group had been solidified in her mind. She should have seen the pattern starting with Kabukidad. His disappearance triggered this whole thing, O Woe! Where was Sinter, her stroke of luck! Surely he would bring them to their destination with less... Hairiness. Tamiya crossed herself and looked upon Alexin harshly. The child had lost their parent - a very difficult situation. She took pity on them.

But, there would be no time for that - Alexin had already rushed off, and unwilling to separate from her smaller companions Tamiya followed quickly.

"Let's move!" She shouted, attempting to pull Miache along with her.  

[Green Minuet]

∞ Ephias Sagine

Cops and Robbers
Health: 4/5

Ephias watched Voscil evenly as she spoke. When she touched his sleeve he stiffened but did not recoil, continuing to listen in mute silence. He did not have the energy to respond. His emotional outburst had taken it all out of him. Behind him, he could hear the vines rustling as they writhed. He caught Voscil's gaze slipping their way. She was likely having the same thoughts as him: they would need to move soon.

Suddenly, the yellowblood clapped a hand down on his shoulder. It was meant to be a comforting gesture; Ephias understood that. At the moment though, he was not in the mood to play along with polite social cues. He jerked his shoulder out from under her hand. “Don't,” he said simply. That was the only explanation she got. Hunching his shoulders, Ephias pulled away. He gave a grudging nod at her words though. He could not drag the others into danger for the sake of his lusus. It hurt, but he knew Wolly would not have wanted that.

“Let's stay close,” he said. That was the closest he could get to vocally agreeing with the yellowblood. Anything else felt like he was abandoning Wolly. After a moment he added hurriedly, “Well, close-ish.” The last thing he wanted right now was everyone crowding him.

“Voscil, could you... lead for a bit?” He gesture into the thicket. He was tired of making crappy a** decisions.  

[leon_a_darkangel]

Cops And Robbers
Health: 4/5
Choice: A

Voscil felt for a moment as if she was talking to a brick wall where Ephias was concerned until she actually physically touched him and he had shrugged her off. Dropping her hands at her side, she tilted her head at him her expression was a confused furrow of brows. “Huh?” She didn’t initially understand what he was referring too.

Squinting at the other, she chose not to ask questions as she pursed her lip some in a slight pout. “Oh, um alright?” She replied to him briefly as he hunched up and began talking again. In that moment she didn’t have it in her to be annoyed or bothered by the action. Albeit briefly she’d watched Ephias make a face when Zindel had grabbed him earlier. Assuming it maybe had some kind of relation, she’d just tuck it away for another time. Perhaps if the situation had been less grim Voscil would have played, or teased him with further pestering. Now just wasn’t the time for that. It would have been a waste of what precious time they potentially had left. Even if she wasn’t sure it was the right decision to turn tail and book it from this hellish place.

Looking back at Ephias as he asked her about taking the lead, she nodded her head perking up some from her gloomy brooding. “Oh! Oh! Sure! I’ll see what I can do for us no problem.” She was already on the move, feeling like it was her trials all over again. Of course she knew the others couldn’t likely keep pace with her. Moving slower sucked, especially when she wanted nothing more than to book it. Instead she jogged in place momentarily to keep her own self-momentum.

Once everyone was accounted for, she trotted ahead several steps. “This way? Yeah, let’s go this way!” Voscil announced, pointing in their new given direction along the path. To whom the "question" had been directed at was anyone's guess. As they had started to leave, a feeling of something was grabbing at her. Again. Squeaking in terror, she ushered the group along, not even bothering to check what had reached out and grabbed her. Her imagination was running wilder than even her feet could have hoped to carry her.  

[T-Kai]

Nervit almost tripped as Sinter pulled her along, but she made sure to flail an arm behind to signal to Reemus that they were moving along. Thankfully he seemed to get the flails meaning - or just simply noticed they were moving without him - and followed along. As the spores settled on her skin, Nervit couldn't help but begin to cry, brown tears streaking silently down her cheeks. She didnt' scream or anything - no, she'd learnt her lesson on noise after Sinter's scream had brought whatever that coiling thing had been down onto them - but her breath came in hiccups as the pain got to her.

She didn't resist being pulled along by Sinter who was being pulled along by Reemus, too busy trying not to cry out - at least until they paused and saw the hand. Eyes widening even through the tears, she dropped to her knees and began to pull at the flailing hand, kicking dirt away with big boots. She was a little more conscious of the trees beginning to move in, but they couldn't just LEAVE this troll here! Gods know she'd not like to be left to be buried alive.

Pyredad squeaked warning after warning, but Nervit was too busy to notice, and the other trolls in the party no doubt couldn't understand the lusus' words. The little amphibian had escaped notice for now in terms of being snatched away, but he was too small to do much in terms of protecting or helping the remaining trolls. Frustrated, the lusus continued his barrage of squeaking - but uselessly, uselessly.

===

Alexin wasn't so bothered by the burning spores as they could have been - being sick so much meant you got a little used to pain, so whilst they were wincing and cursing quietly under their breath, they didn't seem overtly emotional. That was, until a loop of nettles swooped down and tore their lusus away. Eyes widening, Alexin threw their arms out to try and grab for the giant, but all they recieved was a handful of feathers. Alexin stood stock still for a second, obviously in shock.

Their lusus was gone. Splitch was gone! GONE. They continued to stand still, completely oblivious to their surroundings (even the ever-burning spores) as they stared down at the feathers clutched in their fist.

And then, suddenly, they were angry. With a yell, Alexin tramped forwards into the bush, beating back plants as they did so with their small fists and feet, crushing leaves and snapping branches as they strode forward into the thicket.

"GIVE THEM BACK!"

They shouted, uselessly. Kicking the plants again uncovered a grey hand reaching upwards, and Alexin recoiled, backing into Tamiya and Miache, which seemed to snap Alexin back into some kind on sense. A deep blue blush scattered across their face as they realised how awful they had acted, how much danger they had put the party in - in fact, they were in danger now, Alexin realised, as the plants were closing in.

"Quick! Upwards!"

Taking refuge in familiarity, Alexin began to climb the plants to escape, quick as a nutbeast across the vines thanks to practice in their forest home.

Choice B!  

[Sypon]

Perhaps luckily, Tamiya did not see the hand sticking out of the underbrush. She merely saw Alexin rushing to climb the vines like a nimble creature and pursued him with intent to follow. "Alexin!" She cried. There was no time to argue. Tamiya gritted her teeth and turned to Miache.

"We must advance. I can carry you or you can climb but it must be ******** quickly," her words were quick and less embellished in her time of strife. She looked to the cave ceiling, which grew less and less apparent as the thicket drew in overhead. Tamiya was, at least, thankful for the blades on her footwear. She immediately dug in her heel and began to climb.

((Tamiya can be carrying Miache if that works for you Pocky!))  

[Hivestuck]

A) You ignore the troll vying for your attention and bolt, doing the best you can to keep ahead of the walls closing in. Thorns and vines cut you up badly as you make your way through the brambles, and you emerge out of the other end exhausted. THERE IS A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: You lose sight of your lusus in the greenery, and they don’t come out the other side with the rest of the group. One player’s lusus is now separated permanently from the party. IF THERE IS NOT A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: The party loses 1 HP.

B) With now much bigger limbs to grab onto, you make headway in climbing the plants. However, you’re grabbing onto stinging nettles. You have to choke through the pain to carry on. THERE IS A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: About half-way up, you hear your lusus struggling from down below. They were not able to make the leap in time, and you see them disappear in a tangle of vines. One player’s lusus is now separated permanently from the party. IF THERE IS NOT A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: The party loses 1 HP.

C) You grasp hold of the wrist sticking out from the underbrush and pull. The troll dislodges, and stumbles into the open. It’s one of the search party drones. They’re tethered to the ground by thin, cord-like vines. Blotchy, patchy skin makes them look as though they have spent a sweep in the darkness of the cave. The drone’s sunken, lifeless eyes are rolled back into their skull. Most telling, a series of deep, coagulated slashmarks decorate their torso. Their head rolls back and they lunge towards you. IF THERE IS A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: Your lusus suddenly puts itself between you and the drone. It valiantly holds off the troll while you make a break for it, barely escaping before the walls close in. One player’s lusus is now separated permanently from the party. IF THERE IS NOT A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: You fight off the drone as best as you can, but have to flee when the walls start closing in. You barely make it. The party loses 1 HP.

D) Running back the way you came only offers you solace from the closing walls – the voracious and diverse plant-life has been unhinged by the motion. You have to plow your way through the rest of the path to get back on track, while being assaulted by the living path. IF THERE IS A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: A particularly voracious pitcher plant stalls your progress and snares your lusus. As it pulls the creature into the wooded path, you have no choice but to flee without them. One player’s lusus is now separated permanently from the party. IF THERE IS NOT A LUSUS IN THE PARTY: The party loses 1 HP.

If you have been quoted, congratulations! You have arrived at the lair first. If you advanced less than three times, you will arrive second and will be quoted at a later time. All groups may roleplay their responses to the last CYOA choice, but groups arriving second must hold off on arriving at the final destination and interacting with Aendal until they are quoted. The next phase will begin on January 2nd.

Sypon

Aandes

purplerosesbeauty

Eostre

thyPOPE

Dictys

amicableAggressor

Regina

KitsuneAura

Lorata

PeanutButterpies

Klymen

Groups of trolls rushed through the underbrush, fleeing from the dangers of the underground garden. The pallid flora all around slowly transformed from white iridescence to lush shades of jade as the path filled with light from the main cavern. The reflections dancing around the verdant cavern walls became harsher and more frequent. At last, the final destination came into view.

The jungle opened up into a massive chamber. The ceiling of the cavern loomed above the rest, a perfect dome covered in plantlife and shimmering like an emerald. Embedded in the walls all around the invasive infestation of plants was a mosaic of colorful, translucent shattered glass. The opulent shards cast a rainbow of dancing lights onto the surface below. A perfectly spherical hole at the peak of the dome let the evening sky shine through, having the appearance of a sun. It was apparently sundown. The last of the rays that formed a perfect spotlight down into the cavern cast a golden glow around the interior. It gave the impression of a sacred sanctuary. This was not the work of many trolls. In fact, the deliberate nature and styling of the makeshift architecture was scarce but telling. The sun was welcome here. No troll in their right mind would create such a dangerous lair.

Rooted in the middle of the cavern, a pillar of vines wove tight and thick from the arboreal ground. The creation had the vague semblance of movement, pulsing and twitching from its core. It fed into a huge basin of water – feeding off of the filtered sun and Chittentown’s ample supply of moisture voraciously. The rest of the tunnels were completely dammed off, choked by the plants that thrived here.

At first glance, the vines were formed solely of the plant-matter surrounding the cave. However, on further inspection a disturbing patchwork made up the stalk. Small, grey features could be made out – orange glimmers peeking through a woven thicket. The Chittentown drones were embedded in the column. Many were trapped all in one piece, caged by vines that wrapped around their lifeless limbs. Others were not so lucky. Parts reclaimed by nature appeared to have been dissected by the force of the plants pulling apart the bodies of the trolls.

At once, the thin cord-like vines making up the network of the structure began to uncurl. They twisted outward, unravelling and casting off spores which illuminated between the lengths of the vines in a grotesque dance. The trolls were all on display, hanging from the vegetal wall in various states of entanglement. As the plant construct transformed, a path down its middle formed.

Descending from the serpentine masses, an adult troll stepped into the burning light. As he passed by the fronds and whips of his creation, the white hot glow of his skin illuminating plantlife bubbling up wherever he went. Tiny flowers formed and then wilted as he made his advance towards the party. He stepped over a body that had been released from its place in the tower, which now undulated slowly behind him. This was no living troll.

Vegetation had begun to overtake his body, casting off petals as the harsh sunlight shriveled the flowers and sprigs that grew from his skin. New buds soon took their place, a faint pattern of veining pulsing through the troll’s flesh. The layer of shrubbery only suggested at burns hidden well below the surface. Even his fiery jade eyes had been overtaken by flowers sprouting from within. However, he was still unmistakeably Aendal Volivi.

Though his vision was no more, Aendal looked to be scanning the room. First kids and now wigglers? It was a sick joke, surely. His mouth twisted into familiar disgust.

“So you bastards have come for me at last."