Vine Hell

While leading the way through dense undergrowth, ⟨name⟩ suddenly loses their balance and pitches forward.

"Aagh!"

You hurry over and find a thick, sticky vine wound tightly around ⟨name⟩'s leg. Only after pulling with all your strength do you manage to tear it free.

⟨name⟩ wipes away a cold sweat and glares at the vine.

"Even a massive bear would have trouble escaping once it set foot in these vines."

You suddenly look deeper into the thicket where the vines extend.

Animal and human bones-apparently the remains of victims claimed long ago-lie scattered within. These vines do not seem to be plants that happened to grow here, but predators that have waited patiently for prey.

(no dialog text - scripted sequence)

When the expedition members throw their torches, the sticky vines begin burning fiercely and belching black smoke.

Once the flames die down, nothing remains but the powdery ashes of the bones.

⟨name⟩ pushes through the sticky vines and searches deep inside, but finds nothing useful.

⟨name⟩ pushes through the sticky vines and ventures deeper inside. A short while later, they struggle back out with several bones clutched in their arms.

"Commander... I found a strange vine."

It looks like it could be quite useful.

You burned everything and recovered the bones.