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"Yofiel has a lot of questions about the enemy."

"How big are the topiaries? ________
Can they change shape quickly or slowly? ________
Can they shoot out tendrils? ________
Can they wrap their branches around people to hold them fast? ________
Do they stay rooted in one place, or can they pull up roots and move about?" ________

[from Yofiel's Thursday December 7th, 2023 6:41:49 PM post] In the morning, she shows the party the nets. "We need to practice with these," she announces. "Grim, you are a Topiary," she says with a giggle. "Your arms are branches. The rest of us need to try to toss this net over you, then try to bind you within it. I know you are strong, so try to not break it, but you can struggle a little. I don't think the topiaries will be as strong as you, but we shall see."

She has structured it so that between three and six people can each hold the end of a rope. Or three can each hold two rope ends. "Once we toss it over the Topiary, one stands still, and two people run about to wrap from top to bottom the victim within." After people try it on Grim, then Yofi will stand in as the topiary so Grim can give it a try, too.

"Who's our druid? You're our druid!
Who can do it? Siolo can!"

The Psittacosaurus, a resident of the Early Cretaceous period, roamed the regions of what is now Asia.

Its name, which means �parrot lizard,� aptly describes its parrot-like beak, which it used to nibble on vegetation. One of its most endearing features is its chubby cheeks, which give it a perpetually curious and friendly expression.

Standing on two legs and measuring up to 6 feet in length, this herbivore had a tail that provided balance and agility. Its large, expressive eyes and gentle demeanor make it easy to see why it�s a favorite among many.

* Calm Emotions
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area creatures in a 20-ft.-radius spread
Duration concentration, up to 1 round/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates; Spell Resistance: yes
This spell calms agitated creatures. You have no control over the affected creatures, but calm emotions can stop raging creatures from fighting or joyous ones from reveling. Creatures so affected cannot take violent actions (although they can defend themselves) or do anything destructive. Any aggressive action against or damage dealt to a calmed creature immediately breaks the spell on all calmed creatures.

This spell automatically suppresses (but does not dispel) any morale bonuses granted by spells such as bless, good hope, and rage, and also negates a bard�s ability to inspire courage or a barbarian�s rage ability. It also suppresses any fear effects and removes the confused condition from all targets. While the spell lasts, a suppressed spell, condition, or effect has no effect. When the calm emotions spell ends, the original spell or effect takes hold of the creature again, provided that its duration has not expired in the meantime.]

- How can we help?
- What should we know?
- Are there dangers on the next levels?

�Taim was right. There is a way to the ground from up here. I was sure he was talking nonsense when he said there had to be a way up for the non-flying animals and plants to have taken root here, I mean we live in a land of gods and wizards so there�s a dozen other ways a breeding population could have gotten up here but I�ve never been one to refuse to admit when I�m wrong. It�s a cavern complex, long collapsed at several points, but it would make a really convenient space to expand our operations if we ever needed to. Between Oznif and I we could clear it out fairly easily.�

�I�m thinking about starting a new venture. Exotic pets have become a whole thing among the rich. The main competitor getting people killed is offering money for captured dinosaurs. It�s a lot of money for the average person or even a relatively fresh faced adventurer, the kind just experienced enough to feel confident in their skills but not experienced enough to deal with a passing Trex. Not only is it getting people killed here, most of the time any captured animal is on deaths door from the beating taken to capture it and makes a short lived pet. No doubt the man behind the scenes think�s that�s a perk not a problem. We�ll show him. Or her. Whoever.�

�First dinosaur sold today. Mixed results. Taim was able to train it some, but it�s still a wild animal and prone to acting like one. Customer was happy, but almost lost fingers because he wanted to treat it like it was a new dog. Made sure he had some hired help who knew what they were doing and taught them how to properly care for them. We�ll need more work and hands to make this work long term, probably should keep it separate from Cloudhaven�s main operation. While the core group is able to handle almost any dinosaur it�d make the townsfolk nervous, and with good reason. Too many past towns have fallen to the local dangers. We�ll set up in the tunnels we found, keep the dinosaurs at the bottom and layers of security on top. Best to keep it quiet to prevent a panic.�

�Construction has started on our dinosaur facility. By which I mean I spread it around that I was going on a business trip and spent the last week using magic to open up and expand things. Shanaera outdid herself designing this place. It should hold most anything we care to capture until it can be trained. Probably best to teleport the product straight to market, this isn�t like spice where you ship caravans of the stuff we�ll probably only make a sale or two a month and that�s better then trying to ship a Trex or pack of predators through the jungle. We�ll need a proper druid to make sure everything goes smoothly. They mostly don�t care for coin so might have to search hard to find one willing to come out here and help.�