I stand above the struggling siren watching as she keeps trying to turn her body over until I finally motion for Slab to flip her onto her back. As soon as the gnoll touches her smooth scaled skin a whimper is heard before she spasms a few times in Slab's hands before he rolls her roughly onto her back and steps back so she can see me.
"So we're looking for an ogre, a dwarf, and some other folks that came with them. Music was heard from the forest and then our lovely orc friend here was knocked unconscious. So considering you and these half women were eating these things alive I have to assume you know exactly where my friends are so here's the deal. You answer all of our questions and if you do so honestly we leave you here with a few healing supplies and we don't see each other again. Now where are my friends and what happened to that village." I say calmly as the Sirens eyes stare at me with fear as tears stream from her eyes, her head nodding frantically as she starts babbling.
"Big man and short man came through yes came through not long ago. We already have food so we send to our master. Masters master told him village chose to not follow so we could have. We kept food while other warriors moved on. We supposed to stay and kill any new people or invaders, maybe even recruit. Friends sent to master to be judged and offered to join. If refuse they die. Most creatures here given choice, sisters die but I survive." The siren babbles out as tears continue to fall from here eyes. After a few more questions I motion for Wake to give her one of the healing potions we found along with some bandages before we make our way in the directions she pointed us. Before we leave the clearing I run back to where the Siren is sitting while holding her legs, her body still shaking in fear before she looks up at me and she begins trying to crawl away from me in fear.
"Wait! Wait I'm not going to hurt you I promise! Look if what you said is true and you were forced into this and want out go to the village with your hands up to show your defenseless. I have a small group of warriors there that can help you and we need a guide through this place and if afterwards you want to stick with us then you can follow us back to our town outside the swamps. Its not much but I'll give you a chance to get out of here if you want it ok?" I say gently as the siren finally calms down and stares at me in wonder before nodding her head furiously. As I smile and reach my hand out towards her she flinches before gently taking my hand in hers and shaking it before struggling to stand up.
"Different from others here. Sense kindness like sisters also had but different. I go to warrior camp and try to help. Name is Nessa, daughter of Dilya. Careful of master when find him, very dangerous and hate filled. Can control plants and has pets that eat people who refuse. Weak to fire though but that's all I know. Good hunting." Nessa says quietly before bowing once towards me and then turning around and making her way towards our camp before I have a chance to respond. As I think about what she said a new prompt appears in front of my vision followed by another one.
{New quest received! Intel Gathering-After offering kindness to an enemy who wished to leave their side you have learned that the one in charge of her gets orders from someone much stronger. Use the information Nessa has given to you to capture or kill the "Master" and learn more about the situation in the swamps. Reward-Possible recruitment of a Songstress for your settlement.}
{New Skill unlocked Interrogation! Through showing compassion or malice you have learned the basics to obtaining information from your enemies while they still draw breath. Enemy must be defeated and still alive in order to use Interrogation.}
I smile at the usefulness of the new skill as well as the chance to recruit Nessa to our settlement on as a permanent member. Although I don't know what a songstress does the fact that just having one is a reward option means it must be pretty special so as I make my way back I start planning how to deal with the creature we're going against. After telling the group what Nessa told me we start brainstorming as we make our way through the swamp, noticing that the plant life is growing more prosperous the further we go before we stop for a break and figure out what we can do about using fire against the enemy before Tugta raises her hand.
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"I can light the thing up if you give me a few minutes. I'm actually a battle shaman instead of a warrior but because I don't use magic often people always assume. I don't have a big mana pool to use so if I'm gonna do this I need a clear shot because I probably only have one or two in me before I get magic sickness and collapse." She says as I nod towards her then look at Slab.
"She mentioned that this guy has some pets that are pretty dangerous. I don't know what exactly you found near the village but these things might make a good choice as well for you and you need to remember that you have an open slot for another pet of your own. Think about it once we see what we're dealing with is all I'm saying." I say towards Slab as he nods his head in acceptance as we begin moving forward again.
As we move through more plant life and mud we finally start hearing some noise from ahead of us so we begin to try and move towards it faster before we finally see a clearing filled with the scent of blood. After we approach slowly we can see into the clearing and we see both Ogis and Wug laying on the ground surrounded by a birdcage made of spiked thorns, several other cages are dotted around the clearing as well as a large hut made of the same thorns as the cages while two large creatures wrestle with each other in the center of the clearing, both fighting over the bloody leg of some creature. One of the beasts finally pins the other to the ground before its face opens in a silent roar as I realize that the creatures are actually a type of plant beast hybrid. Its face turning out to be a large venus flytrap that flows into a body made of tightly packed vines while thorns pop out as claws from their paws and a large needle shines from the tip of their tails. As I'm about to use inspect on the creatures the door of the hut flies open and a towering figure walks out slowly while using a studded war club as a walking stick as he approaches the cages and begins talking under his breath. As the creature stands still I inspect both its pets and him and shudder as I read.
( Mutated Vine Blight Level 19)
Blight are creatures spawned from corrupted or evil creatures that have further spread their influence to native flora. Vine blight are large, incredibly powerful creatures made of the blighted vines of the native environment. This mutated version shows signs of being more intelligent than average ones as well as more viscous.
(Corrupted Swamp Touched Shambler level 15)
Shamblers are predatory sentient plants that take the form of various animals they've eaten or absorbed. Extremely patient hunters these creatures are adept at hiding themselves into the native environment until prey walks nearby, which at that time they pounce and devour the prey whole or constrict it until it stops struggling. These corrupted Shamblers show signs of rot as well as being actively predatory versus their more docile cousins.
After reading both descriptions I can't help but wonder what kind of creature could create something like the Blight in front of us. Before we move out Slab explains that the creatures aren't actually beasts so he can't do anything about them but if he summons Jawbone then he's sure the hellhound could cause a lot of trouble for the two plant based creatures. After we all agree to the plan he starts setting up the stuff he needs to summon his pet while we creep out of the swamp line and approach the clearing before a gravelly laugh is heard from the Blight before it turns around and rests its club on its shoulder.
"I was wondering when you gnats would come out of the bushes. Those worthless breathers couldn't even capture you for the Master so I suppose it's up to me. Now how about we get started?" It says in a voice that scrapes across the air like gravel before he begins walking towards us with a smirk on his face.