"We anxiously await your return then. We promise your people will be treated fairly. They will serve as our defenders to make penance for their crimes for now." she replies.
"Seems fair. Let us see what this Sycthe tree is and help our Woodland neighbors out" She says as she looks to the others seeking agreement before she heads that direction.
When the dryads came out Alexand quickly casts Comprehend Languages. He continues scrawling, recording the conversations.
Zilybar watches as the others talk to the dryads. He lets his eyes pass from one to the next. He nods politely back if any of them take offense to his actions. He rubs his chin in thought and turns to the speaker. He clears his throat...and keeping his words as calm as he can.
With all due respect...You said "She considers your words". Meaning that you are in contact with her or she is among you?
He stops to see the reaction of the dryads and then continues on.
Lady Orlessia, It would seem your enemy has become our enemy and I am thinking that you have more to lose if we fail. Care to help stack the deck in your favor? Could you tell us what we need to know about destroying this scythe tree thing. Its weaknesses, strengths, do I need a silver etched dagger to cut out its wooden tree heart. We already agreed to give you aid even if the situation was not as it is, we still would give you aid. It is the right thing to do. I am asking you to give us some help to accomplish this task.
Zilybar had a knack for reading in between the lines. He felt very confident that there was more to this story than was being told. He got the feeling that the dryads were not only about reparations. They seem too eager to give them the task...as if they needed them to do it.
I wish I knew more about these tree people...
"It's a tree...A tree possessed by powerful dark magic but still a tree. Uses axes and fire it's you people do isn't it?" replies one of the dryads dryly rolling her eyes.
The dryad who had the speaking until now intervenes "Ahem what my sister means to say is that you should attack it like you would a normal tree. Use fire and slashing weapons. The tree attacks by swinging it's branches that have been sharpened like blades and be warned that while it normally moves very slowly it can quickly sprint and pounce a creature attacking it with it's many bladed branches all at once."
Seeing him address the lady the dryad waves his hand for him to stop.
"The lady can see and hear anything that happens in or near her forest but you will need to wait until you return to speak to her directly."
Zilybar smiles at the eye rolling dryad.
A tree is a tree and a scythe tree is not just a tree...
For if it was just a tree you would have not asked us for help.
He nods at the dryad.
What are you not telling us...or...maybe I got this wrong and this is just a penance for felling a tree?
After listening to the other dryad.
I thank you kindly for your advice. We shall put this information to good use. Pray that we are able to take care of this problem and return to you.
Krafnik listens to all that is said and says if evil magic inhabits and bring such a tree to life, I should be able to strike it harder.
Alexand pauses scrawling for a moment, looking as if he were about to say something. Then shakes his head and continues note taking.
Probably best not to ask for more paper....would be funny though...
I wonder if I could overpower their charm magic? It would be worth experimentation at some point. Definitely a note for later.
"So we kill an evil killer tree. Sounds simple enough." Ionnia says smiling as she looks at the others."Seems we get to be loggers this go round...against the Sycthe Tree!"
Krafnik considers and then says 'I suppose the most simple question then and the only one remaining is where is the Sycthe tree located so we may do battle with it?"
I assume you head there now. The trip will take 2 hours.
Heading along the way some of the group might recall that you found a dead unicorn in the woods not to far to the north from were the groove is located. (I believe that was an encounter you had with the previous gm)
"Let's be alert, no idea if that tree is hiding among the non-dangerous ones waiting for a opportunity."
You arrive at the tainted groove and you can tell something rather terrible must have happened here. There is a pool of water here that is black as tar and bubbling and the ground itself seems black and rotten and the air stinks.
You spot the Scythe Tree rather easily. It stands out.
Scythe tree
The tree seems to notice you and begins crawling in your direction.
Your go.
Hrungnir spoke a prayer, causing an ethereal shield to form on his arm. ”A hammer isn’t exactly the best tool for This job, but I can make it work.”
Krafnik will see what he knows about the tree
He will then start bard song giving everyone +1 to hit and +1 damage.
Alexand begins recording notes on the battle.
Zilybar watches as the thing shambles towards them and decided it is time to act.
Fingers wiggling back and forth as word of power fill the air around him. With the fleece disintegrating into nothing, a wall of fire erupts out of the ground surrounding the tree. The heat of the spell burns at the tree in the center.
Let us see if this works, hope this thing is not mindless.
"Hmmm I don't have much weaponry that would effect a tree? Might anyone have an axe or sword I may borrow" She says her weapons clearly more for stabbing and bludgeoning.
Aurora prepares herself and is disgusted at it's appearance.
@Aurora not sure what more to tell you it has dr/slashing is weak to fire and can lunge a short distance and use all it's attacks at once.
Hmm not mindless but it is blind and sees trough blind-sense. I don't think it would even know the illusion is there. (I know the picture has eyes but that's not an actual picture of a scythe tree just the closest thing I could find)
The tree creature lunges forward with surprising speed and attacks Hrungir with multiple sharp branches.
Your go
"Anyone have axes, swords and fire at hand?"
Bludgeoned and slashed by the tree, Hrungnir took a five foot step back and called out to Adabar for aid. His skin hardened, much like that of the tree they were facing.
"I've got this! Get around it while I've got it focused on me. Don't get within it's reach until ye are ready to burn it down."
here is a map I will try to add coordinates later
Smite evil upon the tree, five foot step back and attack
Zilybar watches as the tree walks right through his spell.
Well that went splendidly...
He steps off to the side but still well out of reach of the tree.
Let us see you walk through this one.
Pulling forth a dart, a green leaf and a long orange fleshy looking squash, Zilybar let his finger move in precise fashion. Tracing arcane patterns as he mutters mystic words. The The items are wrapped around the dart so much that it does not appeared to be a dart that will travel more than five feet. It barley resembles that ranged weapon anymore. He pulls his hand back to throw the dart as the arcane energies build up around the projectile. His hand shoots forward and dart does not go anywhere, it just remains in his hand. The items that he wrapped around it turned into a arrow of their own. A arrow that is made of green liquid.
Alexand continues to take notes, his curiosity peaked.
I wonder if this thing is susceptible...I wonder if I could?
Aurora Goes into the party loot box and takes the MW CI Longsword.
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Lady Ionnia begins to cast her spells. First she casts Bless
Are back to the tree's turn?
The tree will take a 5 step forward and continue attacking Hrungir.
Your go again.
Buyoed by the tree's inability to get past his armor, Hrungnir broke into a full charge!
While the tree might have best been felled with an axe, Hrungnir struck it with all of his might. Hitting it directly, he could feel how solid it was...luckily, so was his hammer. It was the kind of blow which would fell a raging orc warlord. He hoped that it would be enough to crack open a tree as well.
The tree takes one more swing at Hrungir before he smashes right trough it's trunk and sends it tumbling down into a heap.
It's quite dead.
”Nothing that a determined dwarf with a hammer can’t do.” Hrungnir said with satisfaction.
He touched his wounds, willing them to close. ”Let’s go see if the fey are willing to bargain fairly now. It wouldn’t do to allow them to keep our lumber operations silent and our people charmed.”
Alexand nods approvingly as he continues recording.
Impressive. That will be quite useful.
Krafnik smiles and grins at the group and says well done group, we handled that thing readily. Hrungnir, that was certainly a mightly blow, I could hear the crack of and see the blast of the wood from here! Krafnik slaps Hrungnir on the back and will search the area to see if the tree perhaps had killed any others or left any thing behind so that it might either be returned or be of value to the kingdom.
Hrungnir nodded. "And a fine shot from ye. Never seen an arrow go so deep into a tree before. As for this hammer...tempted to get it enchanted to strike with lightning. It would be a fine testament to what it accomplished this day."
You search the groove and the surrounding area and you find a small stash of magical items. potion of cure moderate wounds (2), scroll of summon nature’s ally II, wand of cure light wounds (26 charges), 6 feather tokens (tree);
There is a strange corruption of the land here even the air feels wrong somehow.
[diceCLW]1d8+1[/dice]
Hrungnir took the wand and tapped himself with, causing his wounds to close. ”Well, this works. But, can ye all feel it? This land is corrupted. This tree might well have been a byproduct, not the cause. Perhaps if we return another day with some holy water and silver dust we can consecrate this place.”
Alexand gathers a little psychic power and channels it into minor arcane sight and takes a quick look around to see if he can identify what is happening and also potentially identify a solution. His eyes glow a faint purple as he looks up from his notes.
Zilybar slowly approaches that felled tree. He looks at the dwarf and then at each of his other companions.
Well that is done. Let us collect what we have found and get back to the those that hold our people.
Looking down at the tree, he picks out some of the wood to take with him. A chuck that is about the size of a spellbook and a wand sized branch.
Never know what these could do....
There is a powerful lingering aura of necromancy in the air (strong necromancy/death) Alexand is unable to determined what spell was cast but it was very strong (caster level 15-20)
Krafnik will walk around the area detecting evil to see if there is a centralized location for the problem.
There is a moderate aura of evil all around it seems to be centralized around a pool of water in the center of the groove.
Krafnk will report what he has found and say we need to find someone who knows or can help us deal with the evil here as I feared it may be beyond our ability. For now let us try the dryads. Perhaps they know more?