We're looking for the oldest tree in the forest. Supposedly a moss grows on the oldest tree, Laurel called it Elderwood moss.
We also need a path to the old Dwarven settlement, if you know if one. There's a mushroom that grows there called Ironbloom that we need to gather.
Finally, there's a root called rat's tail. Laurel didn't know much about it, but said there's an old witch in the forest who might. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
Sick nephew? No wonder he's willing to help us. I just hope he doesn't bring up the Mayor thing again...
Taking out some scratch parchment and a charcoal pencil, Milon sketches you a rough map. He marks a couple of points for you.
"Hope this helps. Please make haste and I will be forever indebted to you."
"Thank you so much for your help! I'm sure it will help our wee quest against this plague."
Thank you very much, Milon. We'll do our best.
Drakroo looks up at the evening sky, looks to the treeline, then turns back to the rest of the group.
I know time is of the essence, but I think we should make camp here, and head out first thing in the morning. What do you guys think?
"It's probably a good idea not to enter a forest at night."
"I fine with either, I will however hide my coins if we stay close to the lumbercamp, they know we have coins to give out of."
"We should what ever we decide, leave at daybreak so we have enough time to navigate the forest. I suggest we start with the eldermoss, go to the witch's hut, and then we could camp near the old dwarven settlement if we run out of time."
"Sounds like a great plan!"
"That sounds fine to me too."
Taking time to set-up a camp for the night. The group gathers at one end of the lumber camp for the night with plans to awake early the next morning.
Drakroo rises with the sun, and stretches his arms before rising. Looking around the camp, he sees the bustle of the lumber camp already starting for the day.
Hey guys, wake up! Drakroo quickly rouses each of his companions in turn, It's time to find some elder moss!
On the trail of the elder moss, Ilya
Taking instruction from the map, Ilya makes haste into the forest in what he believes to be a general path towards the Forest Elder in search of the elder moss.
Kiroto while not skilled in tracking wants to help as best he can while they walk.
Jordi moves hardly through the bushes panting, trying to get with Ylia pace.
Guess asking for a nice cleared path was too much!
Says finally the warrior, more to cheer himself that to start a conversation.
Ilya
Kiroto
Drakroo
Tincorva
Jordi
Tincorva follows along, as bet he can with his shorter stride, and tries to be alert too.
Brushing along through the you feel as if you are making good time despite the rough travel. After five hours of pushing past the overgrown forest floors you find a small clearing . To one side, you see a dead tree with a multi-colored streak. Three sprite-like creatures are pinned to the fallen tree; their exsanguinated bodies turned to gnarled wood.
"That doesn't look good at all! Some sort of sacrifice, maybe?"
Ilya knows they are some kind of woodland fey, but is unable to identify exactly what kind.
"It appears to be more than someone hunting the creatures. Perhaps, as you say, a sacrifice. Or, perhaps as a warning to other fey creatures."
How near are we from our target? Asks Jordi, that is looking the scene with sadness. I'm worried that whatever that did this is going to take on us.
Jordi looks around the nearby area in search of any evil aura, just in case this is an ambush.
"Looks like someone or something in here doesn't like fey creatures, what could it mean? Kiroto mumbles while looking nervous around the area.
"Think we should head on? This place is eerie.
Drakroo is silent for a while, obviously disturbed by the strange occurrence.
Yes...Yes. Let's keep going...
The party quickly leaves the scene wasting no more extra time on the strange occurrence. The trek through the forest for the final leg is only another hour, still leaving plenty of daylight hours to investigate the enormous tree.
The dense trees and thick brush of the forest give way, parting seemingly in respect for the titanic darkwood tree that dominates this clearing. Several times taller than a temple minaret, in one direction the obviously ancient tree reaches into the sky with branches like a giant’s arms, while in the other it plumbs the earth with roots thicker than a man’s waist. Its limbs broad and strong, its bark thick and so richly colored as to almost be black, and its leaves the size of bucklers, the giant thing is less a tree and more a cathedral of boughs and branches.
Very little vegetation grows underneath the expansive canopy which blocks out most of the daylight.
"Is this normal?" Ilya says to his wolf companion.
"Well, this tree does look huge. And should therefore be old. I wonder where on this tree we might find that Elder Moss? It will probably require a bit of climbing to have a good look."
"I could probably climb it, alas I'm not sure if I can tell Elder moss from regular moss."
Kiroto seems to study the tree. "Perhaps we should look around the roots of the tree first, before we start sending people up into the canopy."
Focusing on the elder darkwood’s trunk, Kiroto spots a small patch of elderwood moss Laurel described. Kiroto also catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.
Three bodies hang from the limbs of the tree in the canopy above. The bodies have been stripped of nearly all their flesh, the woodsmen’s equipment still dangles from their half-devoured carcasses.
Not far from the trunk in the branches of the darkwood tree, Kiroto finds that they are being watched by something. Slithering like a large snake, this creature has the head of a dragon and a pair of clawed arms to help it move along and grasp prey. A sickly green mist wafts from its open maw.
Ilya will give his wolf the animal focus of the snake.
Ilya will cast charm animal on the creature.
If the is not charmed, then his wolf will circle around back of the creature
If the attack is successful,
The creature is in the tree 15 feet above you. The wolf companion is unable to reach it.
Ilya attempts to charm the creature, but finds that his spell is ineffective.
Looking up, Drakroo sees the strange creature in the tree before it has a chance to react to him. Reaching to his back he draws his bow, then an arrow, and lines up a shot to take the creature before he has a chance to find out if it eats Kobolds!
Please don't eat me, Drakroo mutters under his breath.
Jordi moves the nearest possible towards the snake-like creature and readies his greatsword to slash it if the creature gets at range.
Darn, what kind of creature is that?
"I don't like the looks of that thing. Whatever it is."
Tincorva tries shooting a fire ray at the strange creature.
He then steps back 5 ft from the trunk
"Ha! Burn you, you … whatever you are!
Drakroo's arrow sink into the shoulder of the reptilian creature. A ray of fire from Tincorva leaves a slight scorch upon its scaly hide.
With Jordi blocking the path to both of its intended targets, the creature digs its enlarged, blood-stained claws into the trunk of the tree. It climbs with impressive speed as if charging on flat ground. Rushing into Jordi's ready blade, the creature shows no sign of quit as it pounces upon the expecting paladin.
The creature bites into Jordi's shoulder and wrestles him to the ground in one mighty flurry of attacks.
"Attack!" Ilya shouts.
Ilya's wolf attacks the creature.
Ilya attacks with his scimitar.
Drakrook sees his arrow and Tincorva's ray find the creature, and is more than a little surprise when it charges forward at Jordi.
Coming Jordi! he shouts, as he lowers his bow, then maneuvers around to the other side of the creature, leaning in to take a bite at whatever-it-is after Ilya and the wolf lead the charge.
Tincorva shoots another fire ray at the reptile and steps back another 5 feet away from it.
Kiroto charges the creature slashing it with his longsword.
Jordi, heavily wounded, struggles to scape the grapple from the strange armed snake.
With a chomp, spark of flame, and a well-placed slash, the creature collapses on top of Jordi. He struggles for a bit, but is eventually able to shove the dead creature off of him.
Looking about there appears to be no further movement or signs of other assailants. A simple search finds the elder moss on the trunk of the tree. Though the three bodies have been stripped of flesh, much of their gear is still intact.
2x crossbows
2x short swords
1x suit of hide armor
1x masterwork shortbow
1x signet ring with the image of a flaming hawk (worth 5 gp)
9 gp, 12 sp
8 days worth of rations