Mal completes his summoning spell. Just like Garborn, he also conjures a creature of fire, though instead of the floating flames the druid summoned, the woodsman calls a thin, lanky wolf with reddish-brown fur, white claws, and burning, fiery red eyes out of the shadows of the forest. Seeing the melee around the tree, it leaps forward to charge around to the tree's backside.
As soon as the hound finishes manifesting, he moves a few feet closer and starts casting another spell, this one causing a pair of wickedly barbed chains to burst out of the ground to lash at the tree.
Skokan also attacks with claws and fangs.
Nico's bolt hits above and between the dark sockets which seem to serve as its eyes. Vladimir's blade sends bark chips flying revealing the sickly bare wood beneath - dark mottled colors of badly bruised flesh.
One of Malylev's chains grazes the scythe tree, and leaves behind a splintered wound. Skokan tears a small chunk of bark free with a bite.
You hear wood creak as the scythe tree turns.. bladed limbs slash wildly at the small fiery creatures... only one winks out of existence.
Good, good! Attack elementals, leave friends alone instead.
As one elemental falls, three more appears and speed towards the tree.
The flames continue to spread.. the scythe tree roars again.. its branches flail as if it's begun to go into a frenzy.
Marisol misses again, wasting her last scorching ray.
Seeing the opening in the bark, Vladimir strikes at the opening hoping to end the battle soon.
(flank, haste)
(challenge, precise strike, panache)
(flank, haste)
(challenge, precise strike)
With a resounding crack, a seeping wound opens in the scythe tree's trunk. A moment later, the wicked branches droop, and its maw hangs agape. The flames linger.. slowly spreading.
Garborn quickly moves forward, as quickly as his bulk is capable of at any rate, and begins to cast a spell to summon water.
"Exciting! Gyahahahahahaha!"
"Is anyone hurt?" Malylev asks even though he would have felt the pain through the link he had created with his companions.
"Skokan and I both could use a bit of healing, if you are offering." Vladimir says.
"Great work everyone. Let's search the area for anything of note and then be on our way back to Tiressia and Falchos."
"Hmm, if tree keep treasure, inside itself maybe? Maybe...remains of other...meals?"
Mal nods at Vladimir. "One moment and you should be right as rain." He closes his eyes to concentrate on the feeling of pain through his link with his companions, taking their damage into himself and then hitting his own vital energy points to encourage healing.
Vladimir finds a few gems under the roots. There are also several shredded corpses in the area.. as well as further down its wilted and trodden path.
3 amber (100gp each)
silver ring (65gp)
"Obviously this... thing has had its share of victims already," says Marisol. "I don't feel particularly bad about destroying it. Garborn, how do these sorts of trees come about? Evil spirits? Unseelie faerie magic? Tree lost a bet at card game night?"
"I think my crossbow bolt really made the difference here."
"Well, you see, when papa tree and mama tree love each other very much...."
"Things like that shouldn't exist." Mal shakes his head, his expression one of deep distaste. "Killing it was the only right thing to do."
Garborn shrugs a little, in his typical easygoing way.
"Well, is dead now either way. So hopefully, can now backtrack along quest and make people happy."
You return to the dryad's glade.. Falchos greets you at the edge of the clearing.
"We heard its howls... "
Tiressia suddenly appears - stepping up to his side...
"And its death shrieks... Thank you. We are indebted. I will no doubt grant that which you seek.. and more if I am able. What aid do you require from me?"
Garborn raises his finger high in a dramatic declaration poses and says with a big grin.
"Trees!
Garborn and friends require trees, five trees, to replace trees lost.
Were told to ask for tokens of trees."
"Ah.. so you felled trees in Melianse's grove?"
In a flash, five tokens appear in Tiressia's outstretched palm.
"Not us, but some overzealous loggers," says Marisol. "We are simply hoping to set things aright, to return the trees that were taken."
Garborn chuckles.
"Is curse of getting old, when young, Garborn create trouble, now as older man, forced to sort out trouble made by young!
Guess is only fair, some old sorted out Garborn's messes before no?
Still, will help, avoid violence.
Guess everybody is happy then."
Vladimir stands by, content to let Garborn and Marisol handle the conversation.
Garborn will approach Tiressia with a big grin and very gently take the tokens from her hand.
"Thank you very much pretty lady.
Garborn always happy to help, one bad tree in exchange for five good ones, seems fair trade to Garborn.
Would love to stay and sing and dance some more, but busy busy busy!"
"Please... This is nothing compared to what you've done for me and mine. What else can I do for you?"
Marisol gives a wry grin and says, "I think he already said he'd like to sing and dance."
Garborn pauses and rubs his beard for a moment, it's clear he is thinking serious thoughts.
"As realms expand, trouble sure to follow.
Trade routes made, caravans, bandits come. Bandits often hide in forests...
Maybe, if possible, warn us when something happen in forest?
Could be useful, could prevent lots of sadness and death."
Garborn's large face takes on an almost childlike earnestness.
"It will be done. A bird will come to you bearing a message of dangers in the woods should I become aware of any.. lurking threats."
She glances back and smiles as Daldin approaches from where he'd awaited your return.. holding a bundle.
She continues... "I do hope you continue to care for your good people.. It is heartening to see kindness among you."
Falchos adds "We'll see each other again.. yes? We should go...."
Tiressia nods. "It is time to perform rites for our friends who have fallen in the fight against the scythe tree."
"What do you have there, Daldin?" Vladimir asks, vaguely concerned about the dryad's smile.
"Gifts from Tiressia.. my Lord." He extends his arms offering up the bundle.
Within, there is a fine cloak, a wand, and a satchel containing a few potions.
+1 Cloak of Protection
3 potions of Cure Moderate Wounds
Wand of Burst of Radiance CL3 (15 charges)
"Well, all things good now.
Let us travel, to Melianse now!
As much as Garborn enjoy helping people, still plenty of land to explore and map!
Focus, yes? Can't always put off til tomorrow what needs doing today."
Vladimir turns back to Tiressia and bows. "Thank you for these generous gifts, Lady Tiressia. Just as you will warn us of lurking dangers, do not hesitate to reach out to us if you find yourself in need of assistance."
Turning his attention back to his companions, he says, "Garborn has the right of it. We need to be back to the camp with these tokens as quickly as we can."
Marisol doesn't need any extra urging; she's up and onto her horse again momentarily.
Mal nods at the others and prepares to leave.
Tiressia waves farewell again... "It was a pleasure speaking with you, dear Daldin. I hope your wife will be pleased with the seeds."
He responds.. maybe a bit sheepish.. "I've got no doubt, Miss... thank you again."
It is late afternoon as you leave Tiressia's glade. Now more familiar with the path on your return, your pace is slightly increased.
You reach the riverbank across from the lumber camp at nightfall. You see the loggers and Marlbeck's rangers seated around a campfire.
Within seconds, just beyond your illumination Melianse surfaces.
"You came back.. any luck?"
The loggers - who've now noticed you - rise... Corax slaps the back of the lumberjack at his side. "Ha! I told you they'd come through!"
Garborn laugh and thumps a hand against his chest with a loud thud.
"Never fear, Garborn and friends have trees from pretty lady TO pretty lady! Gyahahahaha!"
"Indeed, as Garborn has said, we were successful." Vladimir says, gesturing for the Druid to hand the tokens over to Melianse.
"We have held up our end of the bargain, please release those under your spell."
Melianse swims to the bank and rises... her long dark hair wends itself away from her face, and shifts to cover her body just enough. She takes the tokens from Garborn, inspects them, and smiles.
"Well done."
With a beckoning gesture, Marlbeck in wolf form, and the remaining ensorcelled loggers rise from the river. A moment later, you see them visibly shake off the fog, and Marlbeck morphs into his human form. He takes a knee.... "Thank you for freeing me.", and looks to the nymph.
"There was no need for this... I would have helped you, but.. I forgive you."
Melianse bows her head to him, then gestures and murmurs facing the river.. which begins to part. The now lower level allows safe and easy passage to the far side.
"There is a grove of hardwoods - larger than this one - upriver. I will lead you there if you wish. Return here and call for me when you are ready."
"See? When talking, sometimes get good solution for all.
Garborn is very glad everyone reasonable now, was hard to fix this, would be sad for Garborn if he had to bash skulls in now."
The grin on Garborns face is genuine, but there is just a slightly crazed edge to it, putting the idea of "bashing skulls" being a joke in slight doubt.
"Don't worry, Garborn," Nico says. "Someone, somewhere is, uh, probably doing something stupid right now that can be resolved with skull bashing. And I am sure we'll hear about it."
Marisol can't help but chuckle at Nico's comment. "Sadly too true," she says. "But it seems we've smoothed over the relations between lumberjacks and faerie-ladies, by giving them wood, so I think it's time to move on."
After Marisol's comment, Vladimir gives her a sideways glance, grins and shakes his head.
"Agreed. Let's make sure Daldin is ready and head for home."