"It appears, lady dryad, that you may be the only help for both a grove near here and for 3 men currently bound for a watery grave."
Ivo chimes in and adds, "We seek to replant a grove of trees near the pool of the nixie Melianse. She indicated that you might be able to help us to regrow her majestic oaks, which have unfortunately fallen."
Tiressia contemplates the situation briefly before answering, "Perhaps we can help each other here. A vile plant called a scythe tree has taken up residence in the glade to south. Thus far it has proven too much for my poor Falchos to deal with. Rid the glade of the scythe tree and you will be rewarded. Part of that reward will allow you to give Melianse what she wants."
Pausing for a few moments she asks, "Do we have a deal?"
Scythe trees are malevolent plant creatures found in heavily forested areas where they naturally blend in with normal trees. Scythe trees are carnivorous by nature and draw very little sustenance from sun, air, or water, preferring a diet of dryad or elf flesh. They use Stealth to catch wandering prey by surprise. The scythe tree is an intelligent plant but does little with its intellect other than devise new and cruel methods to torment its food once it has secured meals.
A scythe tree, on average, is 20 feet tall, but may reach or exceed heights of 30 feet. It weighs about 3,500 pounds and has a trunk diameter of 3 feet. Its bark is dark brown, shading darker as it nears the roots. What few leaves a scythe tree has are reddish-brown (and do not change color or fall out as the seasons change).
The branches of a scythe tree resemble wicked-curving scythes (this is where the tree gets its name). The scar that appears on the trunk is the tree’s mouth (it appears as a scar when closed). Scythe trees hate treants and dryads and attack both on sight (though a scythe tree usually only confronts a treant when it outnumbers it).
CE Huge plant
Senses: blindsight 30 ft., low-light vision; Perception +16
Fort - Best, Ref - Worst, Will - Worst
Defenses:DR 10/slashing; Immune mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison,polymorph, sleep, stunning, plant traits
Weaknesses: vulnerability to fire
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee 3 branches
Space 15 ft.; Reach 15 ft.
Ivo turns back to his crew and raises an inquiring eyebrow.
Garethane shrugs his shoulders. "I've not run into one before, but perhaps our numbers can triumph where this single brave satyr was unable. Can you tell us anything about the way it fights, sir satyr?"
The satyr shrugs as he says, "It's got one hell of a reach and it hits hard and often."
Tove returns Ivo's glance with a confused stare. "I don't like the sound of it, I can tell you that much. But if it helps save those men, then I say we go."
"If it's a tree, I'm gonna guess that it doesn't like fire," says Ivo. "Besides if it's as nasty as these two say, we probably don't want to leave it wandering around anyway. It'll kill someone if it crosses paths with a simple woodsman or hunter."
"My thoughts exactly, Ivo." He then turns to the satyr. "Do you know if there is a better time of day or night to approach it?
"and does it have any defenses we should know about heading in? Any information would be helpful to fell such a mighty creature that gives a satyr such as yourself a hard time Raz says addressing the wounded goatman, hoping for any information,
Falchos comments, "I don't think either day or night is better as it pertains to the scythe tree, though your own limited senses may lead to a daytime assault making more sense."
Thinking a moment before answering Raz's question he says, "It's a tree. Chopping is going to be more fruitful than bashing or stabbing. Otherwise, I can't think of anything in particular."
"Fruitful. Heh."
The party, having agreed to deal with the scythe tree in the morning, sets up camp near Tiressia's grove.
The night is uneventful, other than the strange dreams you each have of the grove on a bright, summer day. Tiressia and Falchos seem to be having a pleasant gathering, hosting any number of fey creatures. All manner of mischief is occurring. Drinking, carousing, and even more amorous pursuits are sprinkled across the grove until the skies darken and all those at the gathering are bound and restrained by the grove itself. You awaken as a voice condemns those bound as traitors to the First Realm and Queen Nyrissa.
Upon the sudden awakening and a bit of conversation, you realize that each of you shared the dream, including Tiressa and Falchos. Both of the resident fey seem reluctant, and even perhaps a bit frightened to discuss the dream further.
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Following a quick breakfast and breaking down the camp you head south toward the last known location of the scythe tree, on this uncharacteristically chilly morning.
As mid-morning arrives, you find yourselves in another clearing. Perhaps it was once as idyllic as Tiressia's grove, but now the sweet stench of decay hangs thick in this woodland clearing. Knotted branches of sickly trees line the perimeter, creating a thick canopy that blocks most of the sunlight and cloaks the hollow in shadow. Withered vegetation struggles to grow in ragged clumps among the multitude of bones strewn across the forest floor.
Garethane says to the two fae, "To run afoul of a fae queen seems a dark fate indeed. Did our dreams speak true?" When they choose not to speak on it, he will nod to them in condolence and ready himself to depart.
"Nyrissa, not the first time for some of us, having this name thrown at us in threatening tones. Although invading the sanctity of our slumber is a new tactic. We best be on our guard as we head deeper into these woodlands."
As the group enters the darkened grove, Tove gathers her companions for a quick prayer.
"Erastil, bestow your blessing upon us, warm our hearts at your great hearth on this cold morning. Watch over us and guide our hands in the coming endeavor, that we may live to serve you another day."
"Dunno," says Ivo tersely as he rolls up his bedroll in the morning. "It's uh... that was distinctive. And I'm a little surprised we all remember it."
The gnome packs his gear and then pauses. It's clear that he's thinking a lot. Perhaps because gnomes are reputed to be exiles from the First World, he may have his own private thoughts... which he is not sharing at the moment.
This is a place of death... we may have found where the tree lives, if we havent found the tree itself. raz says, then shores up his defences with a shield spell, expecting a fight.
"I guess it could be any of the big trees here," says Ivo, looking around the canopy. "Thick with branches and leaves. It would just look like the rest of them, right?"
The party continues to stand at the edge of the clearing, looking about for any sign of the scythe tree. Suddenly a loud crack to the western side of the clearing draws everyone but Bassius's immediate attention as you see one of the trees slowly moving along the edge of clearing and towards you.
Spotting the tree on the move, Ivo hides behind Tove's horse.
Garret will dismount his horse and move 40 ft forward in an attempt to set the great tree up for a strike by Bass or Ivo. Shifting Feral Focus to dexterity.
Raz will dismount and move perpendicular to garethane 30ft in hopes of setting up an easier flank, and
"May Erastil dispel the darkness with his holy light, and let this abomination of the natural world wither before his grace."
Tove calls down a burst of heavenly light, filling the western side of the clearing with a brilliant flash of shimmering light.
The scythe tree does not seem to be particularly slowed by the blinding flash of light, but you do notice a small amount of smoke rise from its scorched branches, courtesy of Tove's spell.
Torsten dismounts his horse, conjures a spear to his hand, and hurls it at the malevolent plant. Unfortunately the toss goes wide of his intended target.
The scythe tree lumbers forward and from a distance of twenty feet away takes a heavy swing at Razarak, but fortunately for the sorcerer the swing catches nothing but air.
(power attack)
(power attack)
Raz will move 30' back and activate his amulet of mighty fists, enveloping his hands in crackling energy.
Bass will move forward and engage the monster with the cry "For the Lord of the First Vault!" He will then attempt to chop at the tree with his sword, in conjunction with an attack from Emperor Stavian.
As Bassius rides in, the scythe tree takes a heavy swing at the paladin, but fortunately for Bassius the strike misses. Not as fortunate for the Abadarian and his mount, both fail to land a blow on the tree.
(power attack)
Ivo bursts from cover and starts racing across the clearing, firing as he goes.
Razarak will drink his potion of shield of faith,then move forward, to eventually provide a flank with the other party members
Garret charges in, swinging.
Tove slides from her saddle and moves up to the centre of the clearing, sizing up her allies as they close on the tree. She calls out, "Erastil is at your back, servant of Abadar!"
Ivo comes rushing out from behind Tove's horse and blasts the scythe tree, unfortunately for the gnome, the shot does little more than scar the bark of the malevolent plant. Tove casts a protective spell on Bassius, while Raz drinks a potion to help with his own defenses.
Garethane charges in and hacks away with his blade, taking away a not insignificant portion of the tree's trunk.
Feeling that his normal spear would be ineffective, Torsten reaches for his wand and sends two magical bolts into the scythe tree.
Having been harmed the most by Garethane, the scythe tree focuses its ire on the hunter, unleashing three attacks, with one taking a good chunk out of the hunter.
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
Ivo swears under his breath and keeps darting across the field, hoping to dive into the bushes on the far side to get into cover again. Noting that his pistol had no effect, he doesn't waste another bullet until he can get behind cover and hide.
Seeing Garethane nearly crushed to death, Tove rushes forward into the pack, praying the fighters around her will continue to draw the tree's ire while she does her god's work.
Gripping her holy symbol in one hand and laying her other on the elf's back, she whispers "Erastil’s divine light upon you."
Raz will move to flank with Bass, popping his claws out as he moves, and swing at the tree with his crackling claw, hoping his additional spells and potion give him enough defense to avoid the swinging branches as he runs past garethane to the other side of the tree from the mounted man.
His literal prayers answered by Tove's healing magic, Garret will stay on the offensive, taking a step to better flank with Bass.
Readied Attack
Confirmation (with guidance)
Bassius moves into a better flanking position and continues his attempt to damage the tree.
Bassius shifts on his horse to the left before he and Emperor Stavian unleash a flurry of attacks, with only one of the warhorse's hooves landing. Unfortunately for the pair, the strike seems to have little to no effect on the scythe tree.
Ivo scurries across the clearing in hopes of finding a better way of attacking, while Tove rushes in behind Garethane to undo the damage done by the scythe tree.
Razarak moves in, hoping to take advantage of a flanking position with Bassius, but does little more than swing wildly. Unfortunately for the sorcerer he draws an attack from the tree in the process, on the more fortunate side of things, the attack misses.
(power attack)
(power attack)
Garethane, emboldened by his previous success and the healing prowess of Tove, strikes at the scythe tree again, cutting deeply into the trunk of the scythe tree.
Torsten continues to make use his wand in an attempt to bring the tree down.
Again, being the primary source of its pain, the scythe tree targets Garethane, nearly cutting the hunter in half, before directing other attacks at Razarak.
(power attack) - potential crit
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
(power attack)
Raz will swing his two claws at the huge tree after it takes a devestating swing at his elven partner, desperation making his swings innacurate and wild.
Razarak claws at the scythe tree, but fails to land a meaningful blow.
Bassius will continue to slash at the tree.
On his next turn,raz will forgo the claws and just attemp to touch the tree in order to set off his shocking grasp, if hes still alive