No, the path is clear and silent

Even though you told the rest of your party that you did not expect any ambushes, you still cast Minor Shift to augment both your vision and hearing and pull your Sun-ray Spear back out to activate its ability to emanate daylight. The spearhead glows a brilliant yellowish white and lights up the entire width of the tunnel, providing plenty of light to see by. Llwyd sets the pace at a quick walk -- nearly a jog for you -- but you do not order him to slow down. You once read a piece of advice which you believe applies to this situation: don't give an order you aren't sure will be obeyed. The Cataphract is clearly distraught over Cai and you have the feeling that he is only keeping his pace down this far with extreme effort.

Just as before, the tunnel gradually narrows as it extends into the hill. Four times the main tunnel splits off into much narrower side passageways, but you already know where you are going. However, shortly after the final side passage, you begin to see thin vines extending along the ground, ceiling, and walls. These weren't here last time; you distinctly remember how smooth the stone wall was. Even Llwyd slows down when he spots the brown, dried plants, although he doesn't stop and you don't ask him to.

"I do not like those vines. They have to be coming from the heart of this place, but they were not here a week ago. The Taig can control the vines with its magic, so now we can expect to be attacked on all sides. There's nothing we can do about it, though, since we can't risk backtracking to a side passage and hoping one of them leads around to the central chamber in a place that isn't covered in vines. There's no certainty that would even work, and too many lives are at risk to spend the time. Brighid, I'm tasking you with fighting off any vines which attack us from behind. Go ahead and start burning them with your Fiery Aura, even. The Taig already knows we're coming." She nods and activates her aura again, causing the tendrils nearest her to immediately begin to smolder. You cast Flame Jet and start burning vines as you continue giving orders. "We're almost there. There will only be room for one of us to go through the door at a time, if the dakhol isn't blocking it, anyway. Ceirios, I want you to send the golem in first and tell it to occupy the dakhol. I won't risk either Llwyd or Ysbail when the dakhol could be waiting just to the side of the door to smash whoever walks in first with its club. Llwyd, I won't stop you from going in second, but please be careful and don't lose your head regardless of what you see. Ysbail, you're after him. Concentrate on disabling the dakhol. I'll be the last one in. Maeryn, Ceirios, stay outside unless you absolutely have to enter to be effective. Concentrate your attacks on the Taig if it's there. My salamander and I will deal with the vines and the briar patch around the altar as best we can, then help with the Taig." You pause, then say, "Be careful everyone; this is the literal heart of the Taig's power and attacks will come from every side. As you may have already discerned, I already died once trying to cleanse this place. I would prefer if none of you paid the same price I already have."

Even as you finish your quiet orders, the sunlight from your spear shines on the ornate archway leading into the round chamber. Dim light proceeds inside and you can just barely make out something reflecting light in the middle of the chamber. As a group you step forward, weapons and spells at the ready, until the interior is fully illuminated.

The circular chamber is even more full of thick, dead vines than before. They completely cover every surface of the room, leaving no safe footing. The altar in the center is no longer even partially visible; a giant mass of brambles easily two meters across pulses and beats there instead. And, pinned to the heart like an insect, is Cai's now naked body. Blood oozes from the myriad holes driven through her body by the thorns, but only very slowly. Llwyd lets out a strangled sob and, breaking your orders, surges forward into the room towards her. You and Ceirios both curse, and Ysbail follows him in. Thankfully, he isn't immediately leveled by a lurking dakhol's club. Unfortunately, as soon as he is completely inside the chamber the vines on the floor twist with incredible speed and wrap around him, jerking him into the air. Instantly you launch all nine Burning Barrage motes, controlling them to twist around Ysbail as she darts into the room. They detonate all around the base of the mass of vines holding Llwyd, and to your relief, the vines are still completely vulnerable to fire. The simultaneous detonation completely disintegrates a huge chunk of the vines holding Llwyd aloft and he crashes back to the ground.

Ysbail begins hewing into the vines near her, slicing through one or more with every swing of her massive blade, but Llwyd has no real slashing weapons to protect himself and is soon caught from behind by another thick vine. You follow Ceirios's golem into the room and begin burning all the nearby vines with Flame Jets, but you are only a few seconds in when Brighid cries out from behind you, "There are too many! I cannot fight them all off! Shit! Aidan!" Her voice rises in pitch at the last and you spin around to see vines lashing all around her, wrapping around her wrists and ankles and lifting her into the air. More vines are wrapping around Ceirios and Maeryn with Brighid disabled. You raise your free hand to burn the vines around Brighid, but just then the 5 second duration of your cast ends. You curse and immediately begin to cast again, but a vine grabs you by the foot and pulls hard, sending you sprawling and starting to drag you into the room. The shock doesn't disrupt your concentration on the spell and you manage to burn that vine off, but another one whips around your hand and forces it down towards the ground. You drop your spear and desperately start casting with your other hand, but almost immediately it too is ensnared.

Within seconds, you are bound like a mummy and suspended in the air, forced to watch as the other members of your party are caught and dragged into the chamber. Only once you are all captured and bound does the Tannath Taig step out into the altar room from the doorway it was hidden in. The twisted, androgynous, beautiful humanoid claps its hands in childlike glee and then throws its arms wide, greeting you cheerfully. "Greetings, my little rat! I am overjoyed that you have returned! I would like to sit and chat and let you know of the grand reward you have earned!" Its hands glow with the same sickly green-black swirl and you hear creaking as the vines in the room shift. You are lifted and pressed back against the wall, vines wrapped tightly around your hands, arms, torso, and legs, but your head and groin are left free. The other five remaining members of your party are brought around in front of you, each tangled much more loosely in the vines than you are and each trying desperately to free themselves. The vines around Brighid are smoking from her aura, but the Taig waves its hand and new growth quickly spreads out and continually repairs the damage. The golem and your salamander are caught as well, but instead of being captured the vines simple constrict and twist until both summoned creatures are slain and vanish. Of Riama there is no sign.