Helgash as you slip you can try to catch yourself on the rope that Jetro provides. Please make a DC 20 reflex save to keep from falling. If you fail you take 15d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 1, 4, 1, 6, 1, 4, 6, 4) = 40 falling damage.
Greta does not make it as far before she slips as well and can try and catch herself. As she is not as high if she fails the DC 20 reflex then she takes 5d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 6, 6) = 28
After a long and arduous climb for some, a quick flight for others, you manage to reach a flat mesa located behind the Maiden's head. Vertiginous cliffs surround the mesa top on all sides, though a rock wall backing the top of the figure's head rises above the plateau, creating some cover from the cold winds blowing across the mesa. From every direction the view is dizzying, offering a clear panorama of miles and miles of lobarian wilderness. A small copse of bare, weathered trees stands in the shelter of the rock wall, their knotted roots clinging desperately to the cold, hard stone. Dozens of bones litter the ground before the grove, some so ancient that the trees' roots appear to grow right through them. In one of the trees a carcass of a freshly killed centaur hangs allowing the blood to drain from its body. Behind the trees, a shadowy arched opening in the wall leads deep inside the rock.
F 8 R 11 W 9 | hp 103/103 | Init +7 | Perc +20, +1 vs traps | Effects: Endure elements (vs. cold), Fly, Shield, Greater Darkvision Female Elf Rogue 3/Evoker (Admixture) 3/Arcane Trickster 8 | AC 23, T 14, F 20, CMD 19 |
"It may matter - how was the centaur killed? Spell, claw, blade?"
While you don't know about any such ritual it is easy tos ee after the winds blows just a little and exposes the body more that the centaur has been cleanly gutted and bled.
Moving closer to se in what manner she was killed before gutted you near the small group of trees. In the center of the small grove you see a peculiar sight, nearly 18 feet tall, willow tree with a trunk in the shape of a woman is near the centaur but slightly behind it. 30ft away from the centaur the tree moves and speaks to you unexpectedly. "All who seek to enter Artrosa must first present me with a sacrifice." With that she points towards the centaur.
Roll20 / Male half-orc investigator (empiricist) 1/swashbuckler (inspired blade) 1 // Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7 / AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge) / hp 22/22 / Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +6
Helgash steps forward after donning his armor - "Please explain what you mean" - he bows - "Do you mean we need to kill one of our own to be allowed entrance?" - he frowns.
The witch tree chuckles as he brings a long branch down to point at each of you. I do not require such a profound and glorious gift as sacrificing one of your own. Although I did appreciate the gesture by the group who came before you. While a frost giant would have made alarger sacrifice ther is something special about one willing to kill one's own kind. No, you only need to sacrifice an intelligent creature to fulfill my requirements.
sense motive DC 18:
You catch a slight hitch in the 'only' and think that there might be another option that it is unwilling to speak.
F 8 R 11 W 9 | hp 103/103 | Init +7 | Perc +20, +1 vs traps | Effects: Endure elements (vs. cold), Fly, Shield, Greater Darkvision Female Elf Rogue 3/Evoker (Admixture) 3/Arcane Trickster 8 | AC 23, T 14, F 20, CMD 19 |
Knowledge to identify the 'witch tree':1d20 ⇒ 2Unsure which bonus might apply, so just a bare roll for now
Sense Motive:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Edit - with that roll, I hit a DC 10 or DC 11 in several knowledges, up to DC 15 for Arcana. In other words, probably not enough.
Roll20 / Male half-orc investigator (empiricist) 1/swashbuckler (inspired blade) 1 // Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7 / AC 19, touch 14, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge) / hp 22/22 / Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +6
Sense Motive:1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 3 = 15
Eeeeesh...
Variel, will you DMPC Beck's Sense Motive? :D
"Sacrifice an intelligent creature? Why would you need us to commit such an heinous act, simply to allow us passage?" - Helgash replies - "Why would entrance anywhere require such wanton murder?"
"I believe our 'tree-friend' is not being completely honest with us - I sense she is not telling us all. Perhaps the sacrifice is not the 'only' way you can allow us passage?" - Greta growls.
The witch tree pulls back a branch slightly at Greta's words but does not say anything to confirm or deny the statement. she just stays standing there waiting for a sacrifice.
Venja what one thing do you want to know about a witch tree?
AC 19/11/18 (12/t11/ff11) ; hp 63/63; saves: F 5 R 4 W 9; bab 4, melee 4, ranged 5; CMB 4, CMD 15; speed 30; init +5; aasimar (peri-blooded) Witch (winter)-5/Winter Witch-4
skills:
Acro 2, appr 5, bluff 3, diplo 6, fly 12, heal 5, intim 7, Kn arcane 16(17), know planes 10, know history 10, know nature 10, kn local 9, ling 9, perc 14, sm 3, splcrft 16(17), stealth 1, UMD 11/+2 hut
"Oh my... " she says quietly, more to herself than the others, as she realizes how well protected the witch tree is.
To the tree she says fully aloud, "What aren't you telling us.. what other kind of sacrifice can we make to appease you, for we aren't the type to sacrifice a good being to you?"
Intelligent tree so twisting your words but you or others can make a diplo check to try and coax out other information.
If possible the tree chuckles and grins at you. I never said that they had to be a good being only intelligent. So by your statement either you assume that only good beings are intelligent or that you are willing to sacrifice an evil being. Which assumption am I to make?
sense motive DC 15:
The tree is happy to talk about sacrificing creatures as it draws attention away from what Greta said.
F 8 R 11 W 9 | hp 103/103 | Init +7 | Perc +20, +1 vs traps | Effects: Endure elements (vs. cold), Fly, Shield, Greater Darkvision Female Elf Rogue 3/Evoker (Admixture) 3/Arcane Trickster 8 | AC 23, T 14, F 20, CMD 19 |
Sense Motive:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
"I think you digress. There are options other than sacrifice and, for us, sacrifice is not an option. In what other way might we gain access?"
AC 19/11/18 (12/t11/ff11) ; hp 63/63; saves: F 5 R 4 W 9; bab 4, melee 4, ranged 5; CMB 4, CMD 15; speed 30; init +5; aasimar (peri-blooded) Witch (winter)-5/Winter Witch-4
skills:
Acro 2, appr 5, bluff 3, diplo 6, fly 12, heal 5, intim 7, Kn arcane 16(17), know planes 10, know history 10, know nature 10, kn local 9, ling 9, perc 14, sm 3, splcrft 16(17), stealth 1, UMD 11/+2 hut
"We aren't the type to sacrifice any intelligent being... excuse me for not being clear, I guess... surely there must be some other way we can be allowed to pass... some other gift you would accept perhaps, or some other service we can accomplish for you?"
the witch tree reluctantly gives in to Duardlara. If you wih you can try to answer a riddle as well. However, the witch tree grins wickedly. If you fail then I will need a sacrifice. Do we have a deal?
You seem quite confident. Yet if you fail and are unwilling to sacrifice another does that mean that you will volunteer instead? Interesting proposition.
Very well here is the riddle...
Midnight, Morning, Bright Sun,
Spoke thee with but one.
Accursed now you be,
For he befell the wrath
Of two times seven.
Oh tell me, who is he?
AC 19/11/18 (12/t11/ff11) ; hp 63/63; saves: F 5 R 4 W 9; bab 4, melee 4, ranged 5; CMB 4, CMD 15; speed 30; init +5; aasimar (peri-blooded) Witch (winter)-5/Winter Witch-4
skills:
Acro 2, appr 5, bluff 3, diplo 6, fly 12, heal 5, intim 7, Kn arcane 16(17), know planes 10, know history 10, know nature 10, kn local 9, ling 9, perc 14, sm 3, splcrft 16(17), stealth 1, UMD 11/+2 hut
"Who did we speak with that cursed us?" Venja ponders the riddle, not making sense of all of it, but the only thing she can think of is Baba Yaga's rider. She whispers this to the others... "Could it be as simple as that?"
AC 19/11/18 (12/t11/ff11) ; hp 63/63; saves: F 5 R 4 W 9; bab 4, melee 4, ranged 5; CMB 4, CMD 15; speed 30; init +5; aasimar (peri-blooded) Witch (winter)-5/Winter Witch-4
skills:
Acro 2, appr 5, bluff 3, diplo 6, fly 12, heal 5, intim 7, Kn arcane 16(17), know planes 10, know history 10, know nature 10, kn local 9, ling 9, perc 14, sm 3, splcrft 16(17), stealth 1, UMD 11/+2 hut
"You weren't with us yet, if I recall correctly... Baba Yaga's rider was dying and cursed us... or tasked us... whatever you want to call it.. with his last breath."
F 8 R 11 W 9 | hp 103/103 | Init +7 | Perc +20, +1 vs traps | Effects: Endure elements (vs. cold), Fly, Shield, Greater Darkvision Female Elf Rogue 3/Evoker (Admixture) 3/Arcane Trickster 8 | AC 23, T 14, F 20, CMD 19 |
Duardlara remains quiet. Riddles are where she should be able to help, she hopes.
The witch tree starts to ask for more information when Helgash gives the full name the second time. With a scowl the witch tree steps back. Pity, I was hoping for another sacrifice. This centaur will have to do for now.
Behind the witch tree carved into the stone you see a door leading into the Maiden's head.