Anton tilts his head and scans the area with eyes unfocused and nostrils flared. Although expecting an illusion, he'd assumed that Aycenia would change her appearance, not put forth an entirely illusory self. It isn't his fault; the skillful ranger just doesn't have a magical bone in his body, and is only barely able to recognize some spells and magic items from exposure to the like. At Nim's warning, he brings all of his fine halfling senses to bear on detecting discrepancies between sight, sound, and scent.
Order of Combat Round 1:
Anton 18a
Nim 18b
Wic 18c
Aycenia 17
Corbrius 13a
Tragershen 13b
Aedalis 10
Darkwood 8
Mihai 3
The Aycenia in front of you stops moving but chanting starts coming from her...it sounds like a spell may be being cast but you can't really tell what she is doing!
Corbrius to go.
Hearing Nim's warning Corbius immediatley begins scanning the area for any signs of danger while drawing from his belt the black polished wand with a prism on the end.
Touching the wand to his chest and he gives the command. Effingo. Suddenly 4 copies of Corbius spring fourth seeming to move and shift as he does.
Looking over his shoulder at Trag, Mihai and Aedalis Back up. Put some room between us and her tree!
Round 1.
Tragershen will try to determine where the voice is coming from. He'll try to narrow it down to, say, a ten foot radius. :)
Perception
He purses his lips in frustration. "I believe the true Aycenia is invisible, but I can't tell where!?!"
Anton zeroes in on the red-tinted banyon, tilting his head back and forth, eyes still unfocused. "I think she's behind where the tree looks like it is!!"
Tragershen, suspicious of the "dryad" before them and believing he has seen through the trickery, casts a powerful spell in hopes of ending the deception.
Casts glitterdust just past the banyon tree where he believes the chanting is truly coming from. If that catches the dryad in it, DC16 will save to keep from being blinded.
Glitterdust to be centered at -D/-E 5/6. That should affect F5-6, E4-5-6-7, D4, D7. Plus the squares the tree itself is in.
Tragershen's spell throws the glittery substance in the area...you don't spot her as of yet. The chanting continues...
Aedalis directed his Unseen Servant towards the tree while he himself took a cautious step backwards and began a summoning spell...
What was once a beautiful Banyon suddenly changes...now a large maw appears from the trunk of this large tree. It's roots burst from the ground as it pulls itself free from the ground and shambles forward 15' before attacking Anton with one of it's long roots...
Anton ducks and the The root goes wide over his head, just missing the experienced Ranger.
Mihai and then onto Round 2.
Anton ad Mihai can't see part of a Glittery figure behind the tree. Corbrius, Tragershen, and Aedalis can now see a shape...Nim can see part of something...
Once Mihai goes....
Order of Combat Round 2:
Anton 18a
Nim 18b
Wic 18c
Aycenia 17
Corbrius 13a
Tragershen 13b
Aedalis 10
Darkwood 8
Mihai 3
Round 1:
The piece of fruit that Mihai was enjoying turns to ash within his mouth as he realizes the deceit. Mouth drying out he stands and spits the half-chewed fruit onto the ground. Touching his hand to his Harrow cards, he calls upon the grace of the Walker to guide the arms of his companions.
Round 2
Anton ducks a swinging root and breaks into a smile as he sees part of a shimmery figure behind the tree. Stepping off to one side, he pulls out a little javelin and hurls it at her.
The javelin strikes her in the chest but it does not penetrate and falls to the ground harmlessly. The chanting reaches is apex...
You reconize it as a Darkwood Tree. It is a plant that loves human and Halfling flesh. They are quite slow moving.
It has a bite attack and can attack with up to two of it's roots at the same time. They have a very long reach.
As above plus. Its root have the ability to pull someone closer to it if they hit.
The bite can then attack. They are also immune to Electricity and Fire.
As above plus.
These carnivorous plants prize human and halfling flesh, but eat anything they manage to catch. Darkwoods typically explore an area, taking note of any groups of trees, and then root themselves and wait for prey to wander by trying to blend in. They use their roots to drag likely prey back to them.
Darkwoods are created when a particularly evil creature dies and its blood and soul seep into a tree. Under certain circumstances when a Dryad's tree dies a Darkwood will offer itself as a dark pact to the Dryad in exchange for an unending supply of flesh. The Dryad then falls and becomes a Dark Dryad her powers slowly changing to deceit and evil.
Beware the tree's long reach and bite! It is slow moving but immune to fire and electricity!
Knowledge Nature
Nim continues to enhance his ability to fight, casting another spell upon himself... ...causing his features to take on a decidedly bruin like appearance.
Nim then repositions to his left... drawing his shield as he goes.
Wicewakan continues to stay at his master's side, ready to attack anything that threatens Nim.
Aycenia finishes her spell...the effect hits Corbrius and his images and Aedalis.
You collapse to the ground asleep, although without a perception check from the others they might think you are dead. The DC is only 5 though to tell you are still breathing.
She then moves up to A7 and suggests, Anton, come over next to me, the real me, and I will make things right between us. The tree will not harm you under my protection!
Swift Action: Enhance Rapier
SA: Cast shocking grasp
MA: Move to B8 use acrobatics to avoid AOO and deliver shocking grasp via Spellstrike to Aycenia
Corbius feels a wave of drowsiness overcome him before succumbing he shakes himself awake. Growling and seeing Aycenia, he waves his off hand in a well practiced form, feeling the energy surge through him he rushes forward to thrust his sword into Aycenia.
Most of you see Anton nod his head in agreement to Aycenia's request.
Corbrius rushes forward to meet Aycenia head on, the tree lashing out at him as he moves up.
The root misses Corbrius and doesn't even destroy one of his images... His strike is true though and electricity runs through her body...she glares at Corbirus dangerously...
Tragershen and Aedalis to go.
Aedalis opens by placing a hex on the tree, forcing it to be less successful in striking out at you...
Aedalis directed his Unseen Servant towards the tree while he himself took a cautious step backwards and began a summoning spell...
Aedalis' incantation completes and a figure wrought of stone flows into being from beneath the earth. With a point and bark he sends it forward to the fray.
The elemental lumbers and lashes out with a heavy limb at the dark dryad...
Power Attack Slam: for
Seeing Anton nod in agreement with the dryad, Tragershen shouts "Anton, don't!" The elf is chanting as he sprints across to the halfling. Releasing the power of the spell into the little ranger, he adds ”Don’t become her slave!”
Move to C3, use bonded object ability to cast Protection from Evil on the fierce halfling.
Anton looks up in surprise when Tragershen runs over and casts a spell that he doesn't recognize in his enchanted state. The little ranger's eyes glaze over and he looks puzzled briefly, then he shakes his head and smiles at the learnèd elf. "We're just going to have a talk."
Destroy the imaged one! she points to Corbrius.
Roots and a huge maw twist around and begin to swing at his 4 images...
With Corbirus' special protection from Aedalis they just miss the extremely lucky Magus. Aycenia's eyes almost pop out of her head in surprise...
Round 2:
Mihai notices Anton fall under the soporific musings of the dark dryad and is filled with a resolve of spirit. Striding closer he extends a hand to the ranger and implores him "No Anton, that is not your path." Mihai's voice is not his own as he speaks, and it is as though the sounds themselves flow through the air like water, swirling with intent though remaining intangible.
Anton feels the harrow card that Mihai gave him days ago grow warm in his pocket, and with the warmth comes doubt. Doubt that the dryad speaks true, and desire to follow his own instincts rather than those given to him.