Blasphemous Existence

> WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!
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## Summary

Seven activates her dark aura and tries to grab him but she misses. Jackamo slashes at Seven with a poisonous blade so Xaillen calls Flint for an antidote. He tries to run off but Adrian Tanlaial summons a warp gate and slashes at Jackamo. Hoshimi begins inspiring everyone while trying to attack Jackomo. Jackomo brushes away the magic but the party is given courage. Olwen Edgeworth shoots Jackamo with Isaiah. Xaillen gets a little upset that Jackamo isn't paying any attention to him and that he can't figure out Jackamo's fighting style because of his cloak. He moves in as Flint goes to heal Seven. Seven flinches at the needles but notes the pain subsiding rather quickly. Flint tells her to be careful as he gave her something for next time.

Cora Treecreak begins pulling Arlyn out of the bloody circle and notices some extra limbs are starting to grow out of her body. She throws a dagger at Jackamo but misses. Sybl tries putting fear into Jackamo but he's unaffected. Sybl begins caressing his doll as his shadow creeps over to Seven's shadow. Seven attacks Jackamo as he attacks Adrian with his blade and runs off. Adrian quickly uses ray of frost to keep him from running and walks over to Flint. Hoshimi quickly soothes some of Adrian's wounds. Olwen tries shooting Jackamo again and barely misses. Flint tries throwing a redpitch bomb at Jackamo to slow him down but he misses. Xaillen gets more frustrated that he's being ignored. Cora dazes Jackamo with a hard hit of confusion and runs up to him while Flint stays with Arlyn.

Sybl begins cackling and gives Seven divine guidance. Jackamo angrily fires at Cora with a crossbow. Cora quickly takes out the bolt before the poison can enter her system. Adrian misses with his ray of frost as Hoshimi heals Arlyn. Olwen fires at Jackamo again and is more upset that she isn't hitting his legs. Flint gets Zu to help gives Seven a cheetah elixir. Cora puts Jackamo's poison on her own dagger and throws it at him. The poison makes Jackamo lethargic. Sybl continues giving divine guidance to Seven. Seven gets the idea of getting Xaillen on her back to carry him to Jackamo while boosted. She flings Xaillen to Jackamo but she misses. Xaillen quickly gets up as Jackamo slashes him. Xaillen just glares at Jackamo and shakes off the poison.

Adrian uses his ray of frost again while telling Seven to duck. It slams Jackamo and whizzes past Xaillen. Adrian tells Xaillen to end it but he says that he needs light. Hoshimi debates about helping him but uses her dancing lights to help Seven. Olwen packs up her tripod as Xaillen knocks out Jackamo with a flourish of attacks.

Xaillen asks for rope as Seven sits on Jackamo. Cora begins dragging Arlyn away to the exit. As Seven, Xaillen and Adrian tie up Jackamo, Adrian sees an odd glow in the distance. Cora notes that Jackamo doesn't work alone and that the broken children should be nearby. They hear a whisper muttering something about a 'stench.' Something comes down in the middle of the blood circle and it's an elephant serpent. Cora tries fleeing but the beast tells them not to move or he'll rip out their throats. It slithers between everyone as Seven remembers the beast's scent. The beast approaches Adrian saying that it was known by many names over the years but it prefers the name Grootslang.

Grootslang calls them treasure hunters like so many before. He talks about one treasure hunter that matched Arpolian's description. Grootslang cursed the treasure hunter with knowledge that caused him to go far away from there. Olwen asks if cursing travelers with knowledge makes it joyful. Grootslang agrees at it sniffs Olwen which also gives it joy. Grootslang notes that Olwen doesn't think like others of her kind do because of her sanctification. It pulls out Olwen's symbol of her deity. He laughs and leaps into a crack in the ceiling. He talks about the gods making him and brings out the bones of children.

Grootslang crawls out to Cora and seems to know her real name 'Kecatreea'. It touches her with his tail and her feathers go white while her eyes go red. When Grootslang pulls his tail away, Cora returns to normal. He mentions how her blood eliminates disease and venom. Cora tries to deny it as Grootslang mentions that she's cursed with envy from those who desire to take her gifts. He wonders if she'll share her gift with the world or run and hide just like Raquel. Olwen asks about Raquel but Grootslang doesn't say anything because Hoshimi is watching.

Grootslang moves to Hoshimi next and hates her smell. Seven runs over to try and help but Hoshimi tells her to stay put. Grootslang confirms that Hoshimi is okay because she hates her own stench as well. Grootslang mentioned how he left Jackamo to his own devices because he was full. He mentioned how Jackamo wanted to be better and awaken old and evil magic.

Xaillen joins Seven as Grootslang focuses his efforts on Sybl. Olwen slowly pulls out her rifle despite Hoshimi's protests but Grootslang doesn't mind. Grootslang is confused as Sybl doesn't fear death as the others do. He notes that Sybl is slothful and that he hopes Sybl will be afraid again. Sybl notes that he hasn't been afraid in a long time and wonders why the Grootslang is fascinated with fear. The Grootslang is fearful of one thing but it can't hurt him.

The Grootslang moves over to Flint as he reminds Cora that she needs to take care of Arlyn. Grootslang calls Flint a failure who's ashamed of who he really is. Flint calls him a blowhard and the Grootslang merely pushes him down on the forehead.

Seven is angry by this point but Hoshimi mentally tells her not to be aggressive. The Grootslang is surprised and calls Seven his sister. Everyone is confused including the Grootslang and it wants to know. Sybl calls it a new fear of the unknown while the Grootslang wants to experience more. Sybl offers his help but the Grootslang declines.

The Grootslang snorts at Xaillen before going to Adrian. Xaillen says it's fair while slightly bitter. Grootslang notes that Adrian knows his place yet he doesn't. Xaillen goes off on a tangent saying what the Grootslang would likely say to him including the fact that he's worthless and that he's baffled that the rest of the group hasn't banished him yet. Grootslang laughs and knows exactly who Xaillen is. He claims that Xaillen is desperate for control and grasp his own life. He calls him empty and his swords bloodless.

## Notable events

* The party fights Jackamo and knocks him out
* The party finds a Grootslang who reveals everyone's fears (minus Sybl's)
* Cora Treecreak's white form is revealed briefly.