Event Finished Conservation: Deep Woods

Ferris would not find his time within the plant to be pleasant. Around his ankles, a thick syrupy substance would begin to pool, beginning to fill the space. Where it touched his flesh, it would sting, although not quite burning. There was minimal room to maneuver with the plant bearing down on him, and swinging a seven foot long great sword would be absolutely impossible in the enclosed space. The best he could manage was maneuvering it around and stabbing down in one spot, letting the ice magic work its magic.

But freezing the massive plant would be a slow process, and all the while it continued to press down, contracting around Ferris and limiting his movement further.

—-

Marucs would not be able to hear Ferris's shouts. Just from the height of the tunnel, Ferris was only a foot or so down, but the plants covering the top were thick and closed. There was a twitch that passed through the plant life, and then the entire plant seemed to contract, with long ropelike roots beginning to withdraw towards the center. If Marcus wasn't careful, he would be caught up in them, but the roots themselves didn't seem to be particularly focused on him right then.

The sticky fluid at Ferris's feet would freeze when it came into contact with the greatsword, but it's most significant effect would be when several roots slid into the entrance, coming down the mouth of the plant and towards Ferris. The plant wasn't smart--not by a long shot--but even the stupidest of creatures could tell when they were being injured, and the plant wanted it stopped. The vines would be heading right for the greatsword, trying to wrap around it so that it could pull it free.

—-

The vines failed to notice Marcus, even when he fell, and he'd be able to spot several of them vanishing into the (mostly sealed) entranceway to the plant's mouth, obviously occupied. Really, it didn't seem to react to Marcus at all.

Ferris could rip through the plant to a certain extent, but the problem was that there was nothing but dirt. The tunnel had only ever been the mouth of a plant, empty by virtue of the plant holding its mouth open. Jerking the blade around did manage to tear a hole, but it wasn't nearly large enough for Ferris to get out through, and dirt was all he could see.

The plant, sensing it was in danger, contracted harder... and began to fill itself with juices. Rather than spending days trying to convert Ferris, it was focused instead on killing him. Some of the juice drained out through the hole that Ferris had made, but their feet would begin to burn as the stomach acid went to work.

—-

Marcus would not be alone for long. Not long after he crashed to the ground, he'd hear the sound of something cutting through the woods, and in short order the guide would appear, its head swaying in place as it surveyed the situation.

Where is Ferris? Would come their mental voice, but they didn't stop and wait for an answer. Tracing the roots along the ground they found the spot where the tunnel had been, reaching behind themselves in a display of flexibiltiy to dig around in their bag.

We must free him. The synthesis flower is strong inside, to trap their prey, but weak outside.

Their voice would even reach Ferris down below.

Ferris's strength was impressive, and his claws would cut through the thick plant matter with ease. The issue was his position. Below the ground, even when he did cut through the plant matter, he would just find more plant... or if he was lucky, dirt.

—-

It would depend on how angry it is, the guide broadcasted. There would be a general idea that went along with it, one conveyed by impression more than words. The idea of the plant, burrowed down in its hole, with a human inside of it. The idea of damaging its outsides, and of the way the plant would react--drawing inward to protect it's sensitive insides.

We must kill it.

With that proclamation, the guide withdrew a bottle from its bag, gingerly approaching Marcus and holding it up.

Without hands, it is difficult. Please get it as close to the center as you can and break it. Simply shoving it down would be enough.