Myconid Meddling - Session 4 Report

General Summary

Tying Up Loose Ends

The Bugs

Having dispatched the Venothrivica brood mother and the last of the grubs, Bliqtaz, Davin, and Häxan set about investigating the cavern. Bliqtaz did a perimeter sweep and found the sources of the water streams, additional tunnels exiting the space, and a section of the cavern that seemed to have been excavated by the bugs for purposes only known to them. Davin set about investigating the brood mother's corpse paying special attention to the crystals embedded in its head which seemed to react with a static pattern of light as he directed a minor power towards it. He did not want to disturb them too much, however, concerned that he might disrupt whatever made them function. Häxan decided that, with the danger passed, it was high time to take another lick of the red, glowing mucus that coated several of the pillars in the cavern. Each lick seemed to yield a new delicious flavour of some raw fish another, a symphony of seafood delicacies coming together as the feline collective feasted.   The three of them came together again, Häxan pulling away reluctantly but feeling delightfully satiated on red goop, and they proceeded to destroy all of the remaining eggs in the cavern as well as burn the egg sac that had been severed from the brood mother. Häxan decided to try to remove one of the smaller crystals from the brood mother but was unable to pull it out with their little paws. Bliqtaz decided to cut off one of the brood mother's fore-claws as proof of the kill. As her axe cut cleanly through the monstrosity's limb, it seemed to react with something and absorbed some kind of glowing fluid from the brood mother's body. This transaction was enough to jar one of the crystals loose (which Häxan immediately pounced towards before it could shatter on the ground) and the axe appeared to vibrate violently for a few seconds before it settled into a stable, very quietly humming quiver.   Each party member decided to fill up a canteen with the red, mucus goop from one of the columns in case it would prove useful later. They decided to leave but Davin suggested that they return with Lonna who might be able to figure out more about the anti-gravity crystals.  

The Myconids

Returning back to the myconid cavern, Davin informed the Grand Mycol of their success in dispatching the bugs as well as ensuring that they, or their counterparts (specifically Lonna), could return in the future and be granted safe passage through the cavern. The myconids assured them that as long as the brought the fungus signaling device with them, the cavern's defenses would consider them friendly and not attack on sight.   Häxan offered their canteen of goop to the Grand Mycol for a taste, curious if it knew anything about the fluid. The Grand Mycol extended a somewhat unsettling fungus tongue and eagerly lapped up some of the mucus then declared it to be "pristine carcass!" and summoned a merchant from one of the nearby structures to barter with Häxan for the canteen. The merchant introduced itself as Batuu and eagerly brought the party to its small shop. After showing several of its wares, Häxan agreed to trade the canteen of goop for a leather gauntlet that housed Li'l Batuu, a tiny myconid companion that can be called upon for aid, for a price.  

Goop Harvesting

Returning to the surface, the party informed the technicians of their success but that they would return later that day for some follow up work. They also visited Councillor Helgan Cor'Synoro's office in Synoro's civic centre and received their payment for the job.   Deciding that the red, glowing, delectable goop could provide them with several opportunities, the party purchased a large barrel and then sought out their Trian companions, Lonna and Verric Dopwaller for a late-afternoon harvesting excursion back to the Venothrivica cavern. They were met with few obstacles on their journey but found that a lone coyote-like creature had found its way into the cavern and was eagerly licking away some of the red mucus. Häxan rushed over to try to frighten the creature away from their goop supply and, although the swarm of cats seemed initially to have little effect, an entity within the collective rose to the surface and supercharged their intimidation with a psychic embellishment directed at the coyote. The coyote, snapped out of its goop-trance, quickly scampered away down one of the tunnels and the party set to work filling their barrel with mucus.   Lonna and Verric also took a look at the crystals embedded within the brood mother. Verric confidently extricated the crystals via his pickaxe and Lonna was able to determine that they were indeed some kind of technology, although one that was foreign to any sym-tech she is familiar with. She hypothesized that the crystal has a pre-programmed function that could be activated by some biological signal. Davin attempted to jam one of the crystals into his hand to see if he'd be able to activate it but was unable to implant the crystal into himself. It would need some dedicated study and maybe specialized tools, but Lonna figured that the party could learn more about the crystals and if they could be reprogrammed if they devoted the time or resources to that.  

The party levelled up to Level 5.