A Fungus.... among us

It had been a long time, but the outpost was back in action. There were new faces and new troops to man the stations. To kick things off, Kunder summoned Justin and Alydra to the commanders office to brief them on a mission tailor made to test some of the new recruits. There were reports of a strange plant form growing out near the northern mountain base and they needed a small group to investigate and report. They gathered up a team that also included Books, Warrex and Hunter and set off.

On their way north west they ran in to the latest patrol heading back in who reported they had seen nothing out of the ordinary. No tracks, no creatures, no plants. Trudging further on they eventually discovered a busy area of tracks that were identified as made by giant ants. The tracks were odd as there was one column like track entering the area, a large number of tracks that appeared to be milling about and then all the ants split up and went bolt straight away in separate directions. Warrex pointed out that the absolute dead straight line was completely wrong for these bugs. Justin decided it was a good idea to follow one ste of these tracks to see if it lead anywhere interesting, but after a mile or so the tracks became impossible to follow and they had found nothing of note. So back they went to the original milling area.

Tracking the main column back they found an area where there was a strange powder like substance splattered in several circles abouts a close area. There were ant tracks and what was surely the small foot tracks of at least one Xvart. Not sure what the powder was Books took a sample of the material in a rag and stashed it in a pouch for later examination. Having searched the area they followed the tracks back further and found their way in to the foothills of the mountain and were stopped by one of the Xvart guard posts. Sarge , the commander of the post parlayed and allowed them to join his squad in their post for the evening. Talking to him he was able to report that the number of passersby had diminished lately but he had seen nothing out of the ordinary. They camped for the night as a downpour of rain fell and left early the next morning to return to the outpost.

Stopping briefly at the site of the powder marks to get one last look in the aftermath of the rain they found a Giant Ant carcass under one of the powder splotches. Curious, they took a sample of the body for examination and continued on their way. As they marched they spotted a live Ant. It stood, almost standing post or lookout on the top of a rise. They backed away and made a loop around to steer clear only to come upon another doing the same. Warrex approached and toosed a big rock at it to see what it would do and it simply backed away for a few moments and then, what could only be described as, returned to its post looking out over the area. With this completely odd behaviour to note they made quickly for the outpost and reported their findings.

They posted their results to Raifer who had John Z examine the powder and the Ant carcass. The powder was beyond his knowledge and so they sent a runner back to Al-Alin in hopes that there was someone there who could identify it. The Ant was noted to have been 'eaten from the inside out' or something like that. Now completely dumbfounded by this information Raifer dispatched the group back out to find out more. Justin once again was put in charge and this time he made way with Books, Alydra, Warrex, Nord, Marci, Booty, Ilikiya and Leonard . Their mission, find out as much as they could abouth the ants and more about the powder.

The travelled quickly back to the area of the white powder this time to find that some strange mushroom type plants had sprouted where the powder lay. The decision was made quickly to burn the fungus and the group gathered brush, encircled the plants with oil and Booty set the material on fire. Yet the fire did not burn well at first as it was likely dampened by the previous rain and the live vegetation. Justin attempted to hurl extra oil in to the fire but had little luck as it fell from his fingers and spilled. Marci was much more effective and her oil splashed across the fungus setting off a large burst of flame and what those near the fire heard sounded like a faint scream from inside the fire. It was as that barely audible scream was recognized Warrex spotted something moving through the grassy area around the party moving towards them. They set for some type of attack.

The tall grasses parted and Giant Ants were revealed racing towards the party. The group set up their defenses and readied to respond. Booty was the first to engage one of the bugs and struck with a crushing blow that knocked the ant over, sending some white viscous goo splattering around and striking her. Alydra fired several bow shots in support of Books, who was now engaged with another, stiking her target and sending more white goo splashing on Books. Warrex charged in and took on 3 of the bugs, sweeping with his huge 2 handed sword, striking and splattering yet more goo on himself and Nord . No one knew quite what this fluid was, but it was certainly unnatural.

The bugs and the party shifted around for better attack and defense positions exchanging shots. One Ant charged in on Alydra who had been peppering it with arrows. One last shot from her as she backed away sent more goo flying. Books moved in behind that one and was able to dispatch the bug with a final swing, sending yet more of that goo around onto himself. Marci finished off a second bug with a pin point arrow shot reducing the number to 4. Ilikiya made her way in to the fray firing her bow trying to support Nord only to have the arrow miss the bug and plant in the thigh of Nord. The battle continues, Marci shooting and hitting, Ilikiya making her presence felt with a few devastating bow shots and Alydra finishing off a 3rd with her bow. Ilikiya's first kill came in support of Nord, but the blow also sent more white goo in to the air, this time striking Nord.

Books made another deep cut in to one of the bugs only to see that unwanted white stuff splatter on him again. This time though he also had trouble holding on to his sword as the goo appeared to act as a glue like material almost pulling it from his hand. Nord raced in with his spear, charging and killing the bug and taking another splash of white fluid. Booty finally found a way to finish off her first kill experiencing a second splash of fluids, and Justin claimed the last kill. Warrex and Books tossed the bug bodies in to the fire they already had going. The faint screaming they heard before became much more distinct and everyone could hear it. The fire came close to dying but one last oil set it ablaze and burned the remaining corpses. Having finished the fight, they moved off a ways and set up camp for the night.

The first watch was comprised of Booty, Nord and Justin. Justin noticed that the other two were behaving oddly and moved around to see if there was a problem. He called to Booty from his side of the fire only to see her retreat away while Nord stared in to the fire from where he stood well away from the camp area. Justin quickly woke Alydra and instructed her to wake the others as he moved towards the other two watch mates. Alydra turned and gave Books a good shake to wake him. He did and jumped away with a start and in to a defensive position and then made a dash towards Nord and Booty. Alydra then moved to wake Leonard and Ilikiya. As they awoke each surveyed the situation. Ilikiya then moved to wake Marci .

Justin began to move around the fire towards the other two and called for them. Nord, in what looked like an altered mental state called out "They're coming for us" and charged at Justin with his spear, attacking, but fortunately missing. The party, from the other side of the camp fire, called to the others asking for an explanation of the problem only to be met by yet another strange response from Nord, "The fire is calling us". As they stood confused, Books moved to defend himself and leaped at Ilikiya, who was between himself and the fire. He missed and tumbled accidentally in to the camp fire, burning himself but causing an 'awakening' of his real mind. It became clear to him at that moment that he had been victim of some form of mind control, most likley by the white goo or spore material they encountered. He made the decision to stay in the fire and burn as his mental faculties returned, also warning Leonard , who had moved to help, to not attempt to pull him free of the flames.

Alydra now not sure what to do, attempted to shoot Nord in an effort to slow him down, aiming for a leg. The shot went wild and Nord was infuriated. Justin made use of a Hold person spell to stop Booty, but failed to get Nord. He moved in and tied up the held Booty. Fortunately, Nord was entranced by the reaction of Books in the fire and his apparent fascination with the flames and he dove in after Books. As this happened, Books shouted "Not yet!" to Leonard, who was still trying to help him out of the fire. And it was then that Warrex was finally aroused from his sleep, the fourth victim of the spore mind control. He backed away confused.

Books' eyes finally cleared and he knew that he was no longer controlled by the spores and rolled out of the fire and out from under Nord who's eyes were clearing slowly. As he left the flames, a completely confused Warrex jumped in to the flames to be with his fellow spore mate Nord. As they experienced the burining the spores controlling their minds died returning them back to full control of their own selves and they each rolled out of the fire leaving only Booty as under the influence. Justin and Leonard picked her up to carry her tied body to the fire and she squirmed swinging wildly trying to hack at her bonds. Justin swatted the weapon away and they brought her to the fire where she pleaded and cajoled trying to talk them out of placing her in the flames to no avail. At that point in a rush of adrenaline she exerted her considerable strength and shredded the lasso holding her. She leaped to her feet and tried to escape only to be swatted with the flat of Marci's sword, tripping her followed quickly by another Hold Person, this time from Leonard . They took her body and gently placed it in the fire trying to control the burn. As successful as it was as Booty slowly gained control of her mind she leaped fully in the fire trying to completely rid herself of the unwanted controller. This last leap worked, but caused too much burning damage and Booty went still. They pulled her body from the fire and performed many healing spells on her. She was very close to death but they were able to revive her and keep the party in tact.

They rested the remainder of the night with no unwanted vistors or events. In the morning they made double time back to the base with the information about the fungus, it's effects, why the ants were behaving oddly and a warning that the Xvarts may be in danger. Raifer took the news and increased the patrols and made preparations to send a group to the Xvarts to warn them and find out if there are any problems in their camps.

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