Death in the EZ (Part 2)
An Exclusion Zone Botanist actual play
The lumps on my arms and torso have begun to give way to tiny green sprouts. More dark humor. What an ironic way for a botanist to die.
Welcome back to Death in the EZ! This is an actual play of the solo drawing game Exclusion Zone Botanist.
This is part 2 of 2. To find out what happened previously and learn more about the game we’re playing, see part 1.
Gameplay
Hour 12
Location: Area 6A
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[1]Plant discovered.
[5] ([4] + [2]) [4]Large / ovate leaf shape / opposite leaf arrangement
[6] [6]Plant Group D, Lashing Vines
[Roll 1d6 to attempt to dodge]
[2]Successfully dodged.
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[1] [5] >>> RV 4Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 5C.
16:00
There is blood streaked on this paper. My blood.
After recovering from my encounter with the toxic fog of M. nebularis, I opted to return to an area I had passed through a few hours prior. I found a specimen: a large tree with a messy crown composed of ovate leaves arranged in an opposing pattern on tangled branches.
As I leaned in to examine some of its lower branches more closely, I heard what sounded like the crack of a whip mere inches away from my ear. Startled, I turned to find that dozens of thin, yellow-green vines had descended from the tree’s dense crown. The vines moved almost in unison, curling and uncurling in a threatening manner.
Skittish after my encounter with the toxic fog, I began to back away. Paying more attention to the vines (“Mutantem flagellum,” I recall thinking to myself) than to the ground beneath my feet, I tripped over a tree root and fell backwards, scraping my arm on some rocks.
As I fell, several of the vines suddenly lashed out, barely missing me and instead latching onto a large fallen branch that lay on the ground nearby. As the vines began to constrict, I heard a sickening crunch as they crushed the thick branch before dropping the pulverized pieces back onto the ground.
I rushed to my feet, then, and jumped away, barely dodging as the vines lashed out one more time. After running out of range of the reaching vines, I used the supplies in my first aid kit to bandage my arm. Unfortunately, some blood had already dripped onto my sketchbook.
Hour 13
Location: Area 5C
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[2]Plant discovered.
[4] ([1] + [2]) [1]Medium / linear leaf shape / alternate leaf arrangement
[1] [4]Plant Group A, Sticky Leaves
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[3] [5] >>> RV 5Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 5D.
17:00
I found another specimen this hour: Mutantem aureus, a medium-sized plant with two large, linear leaves arranged in an alternating pattern.
M. aureus was fascinating. Its two massive leaves were covered in tiny stalks dripping with sticky, golden sap. Stuck in the sap were countless small insects, trapped in the viscous stuff and futilely attempting to get free.
Considering how the EZ has treated me so far, I couldn’t help but feel for the pitiful creatures.
Hour 14
Location: Area 5D
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[4]Plant discovered.
[2] ([1] + [3]) [4]Small / linear leaf shape / opposite leaf arrangement
[2] [5]Plant Group B, Giant Spadix
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[4] [3] >>> RV 5Corrupted: Small lumps begin to form on your skin.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 5B.
18:00
Another novel carnivorous species: Mutantem comedentis, a small plant with linear leaves arranged opposite one another on a thick, green stem.
Like M. devoratoris, M. comedentis features a giant spadix, and inside the curved spathe of the specimen I stumbled upon lay the half-digested remains of mice and God knows what other types of creatures.
I am starting to feel quite ill in this forest. The itch on my torso, neck, and arms has grown steadily worse, and I see now that small lumps have begun to form on my skin.
I set out on this incursion determined not to succumb to the corruption of the forest, and I can no longer deny its impending threat. I have to get out of here.
Hour 15
Location: Area 5B
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[4]Plant discovered.
[6] ([2] + [6]) [4]Large / lanceolate leaf shape / opposite leaf arrangement
[6] [4]Plant Group D, Dyschronometria
[Each turn spent in this hex, advance by two hours]
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[2] [1] >>> RV 5Corrupted: Tiny sprouts erupt from the lumps.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 5A.
19:00
I have reached the perimeter of the EZ. Earlier, I came across the barrier the Bureau erected decades ago to demarcate the “safely accessible” portion of the Sylvan Exclusion Zone. Printed on the massive steel fencing was the designation: “Area 5.”
Considering that the perimeter of Area 5 is on the opposite side of the forest from the exfiltration portal, I must come to grips with the possibility that I am completely lost. I had intended to be in the middle of Area 3 by this hour, and now I must make up for lost time if I am to be extracted from the EZ before forest corruption overcomes me.
But this damned forest conspires against me! Almost two hours ago, I encountered a large bush featuring opposite-arranged lanceolate leaves (if I had the heart to laugh, I would find it darkly humorous that even now, the scientist in me can’t stop classifying specimens).
As soon as I got near the shrub, I felt a familiar dizziness, and my vision blurred. Yet another species with the power to inflict dyschronometria. By the time I recovered, nearly two hours had passed, according to my chronometer. If I am to be trapped in this forest, then it was this plant—Mutantem vertiginosus—that sealed my fate.
The lumps on my arms and torso have begun to give way to tiny green sprouts. More dark humor. What an ironic way for a botanist to die.
Hour 17
Location: Area 5A
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[2]Plant discovered.
[6] ([2] + [5]) [1]Large / obovate leaf shape / alternate leaf arrangement
[3] [1]Plant Group B, Sticky Mucous
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[6] [1] >>> RV 6Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 4B.
21:00
The novel species of the hour: Mutantem mucosus, a large tree featuring alternately arranged obovate leaves, its trunk, branches, and leaves coated in a sickly yellow mucus that looks disgusting yet smells strangely pleasant and sweet.
I realize that it’s ridiculous for me to continue documenting floral species given my dire situation, but I find the act of observing and classifying soothing. I think it might be the only thing keeping an all-encompassing panic from consuming me right where I stand.
I also know that rather than stopping to rest, I should keep moving toward the exfil portal as quickly as I can. But I am tired. Very tired.
Hour 18
Location: Area 4B
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[6]No plant discovered.
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[5] [6] >>> RV 6Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 4A.
Note: Entry left blank.
BUREAU DOCUMENT CONTROL NO. PR.5202.21.30 Hour 19
Location: Area 4A
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[2]Plant discovered.
[2] ([4] + [5]) [6]Small / oblanceolate leaf shape / whorlet leaf arrangement
[5] [2]Plant Group C, Many Faces
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[6] [6] >>> RV 6Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 4C.
23:00
Mutantem multifaciem. Small tree, oblanceolate leaves, whorlet arrangement.
There are faces. Faces in the trunk. They disappear when you look at them straight on, but I see them out of the corner of my eye.
Will corruption turn me into one of those faces?
Hour 20
Location: Area 4C
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[1]Plant discovered.
[3] ([1] + [1]) [1]Medium / needle leaf shape / alternate leaf arrangement
[6] [1]Plant Group D, Toxic Fog
[Roll 1d6 and immediately move one hex in that direction]
[2]East (move to Area 4D)
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[6] [3] >>> RV 6Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 3A.
00:00
A medium-sized tree with alternately-arranged needle-like leaves: Mutantem acus.
Too late, I noticed the orange-and-black-striped pods hanging from its branches. Another release of toxic fog. I think I ran east. Again, I am lost.
My chronometer tells me it is past midnight. I have spent almost 24 hours in the EZ.
Hour 21
Location: Area 3A
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[5]No plant discovered.
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[2] [4] >>> RV 6Corrupted: The sprouts become vines, wrapping around your limbs.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 3D.
01:00
The tiny sprouts that had emerged from the skin on my torso and arms have morphed into long, thin vines that are beginning to wrap themselves around my limbs.
I can still move, but I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep walking in this state.
I don’t see any sign of the exfil portal.
I think I’m going to die here.
Hour 22
Location: Area 3D
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[6]No plant discovered.
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[5] [2] >>> RV 6Corrupted: The vines struggle to anchor you to the soil.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 3F.
02:00
The vines have wrapped around my legs and stuck themselves into the soil. They’re trying to anchor me to the ground.
It’s getting increasingly hard for me to walk.
Hour 23
Location: Area 3F
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[4]No plant discovered.
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[6] [5] >>> RV 6Not corrupted.
Phase III: Keep Moving
Move to Area 1C.
Note: Entry left blank.
BUREAU DOCUMENT CONTROL NO. PR.5202.21.30 Hour 24
Location: Area 1C
Phase I: Look for New Plants
[6]No plant discovered.
Phase II: Check for Corruption
[5] [1] >>> RV 6Corrupted: You are the forest.
04:00
My hands can move, but the rest of my body is trapped in the vines.
It’s dark. I cannot see.
I scream, but there is no sound.
I didn’t want to die here. I didn’t
Note: This was the final entry in the sketchbook of senior botanist and field agent MM (presumed deceased).
The sketchbook was found beside a tree on the southwest edge of Area 1C in the North East Unified Containment & Sylvan Exclusion Zone 502-H.
BUREAU DOCUMENT CONTROL NO. PR.5202.21.30 
Bummer MM didn't make it out. Enjoyed reading it and hoping for a better outcome. Better luck to the next botanist.