Looks like we are all in the same boat, or hut in this case. Perhaps we can all find a way out of this weird place.
Musing aloud, ”So why, Grandmother, do you send your potential saviors to this place? What is it we seek now?”
Manos rocks on his heels and watches the new crew. "Soooo. Anyone going to tell me how you got here? Or why you're here?"
He snaps his fingers as a thought comes to him. "And most importantly, do you have any booze?"
Duardlara ignores the question, focused as she is on reviewing the clues they have received from the witch.
Bizarrely enough, we are trying to find Baba Yaga to stop some eternal winter thing.
"I'm Cynehelm, that's Orgos, Jetro, Duardlara, Helgash and Greta. Nobody told me much when I joined up, either. It's because it's hard to follow. As Jetro says, we're actually in service of a greater evil to stop a lesser evil from taking over Golarion in some sort of eternal winter. I hope your sense of morality is somewhat flexible."
And I'm a cleric of Sarenrae!
Nodding to Cynehelm. "I know what you mean, sometimes you just have to bend the rules to get things done. And eternal winter sounds like something those Winter witches would like, and nobody else."
Well maybe with your skilled hands added to ours we can get back to warmer weather.
Nope in the exact center of everything.
So let's try going North then
Deep shadows cloak the barren soil of this dense grove of
coniferous trees. A twisting, disused trail winds its way into the
depths of the wood.
Moving ever deeper into the trees you come to the exact center. Before you stands a sickly, overgrown ash tree, with tangled drooping
branches jutting out at peculiar angles and malignant
knots disfiguring the trunk.
”No need to panic yet, but the trees are moving. They are covering the path behind us.”
Jetro gets his bow ready.Well we better be ready to burn our way out.
"That's an unpleasant looking bit of wood, anyone know what it is?" Manos asks uneasily, constantly looking around and keeping his black rapier ready.
Just a tree to me
"Just about everywhere we've been here is unpleasant. At best."
Orgar too keeps alert (as best he can)
"Perhaps there is some sort of message carved in a stone or the trunk of this tree. This cove certainly appears to be a focal point for this copse of trees."
She begins to look around the area for a sign or message of some sort.
Cynehelm looks around the small grove and spreads out away from his companions as he attempts to round the tree.
As Duardlara begins her exploration of the small clearing containing the massive tree she is startled as 2 large branches come crashing down on either side of her. The malignant looking knots on the tree move and you can now make out the outline of a face. The knots part slightly as a low earthy rumbling voice speaks slowly to you with a touch of malice in it. Who are you that disturbs my grove and my slumber?
"We're strangers trying to find a way out of this place.
"Had we known you were there, we wouldn't have disturbed you."
When trees attack,wish we had some giant beavers.
Goddess! thinks Cynehelm. What has the vile old witch done to this creature? The very place is causing it pain.
Cynehelm holds up his hands in placation. "Look, we apologize for disturbing you. We'll leave in a moment. But I can't help noticing how much pain you're in. We're good people. Let us help you. Whatever it is, we can try to make it better."
Duardlara raises her hands so they are clearly away from any possible weapons and takes a step away from the tree. "A thousand pardons, Grandfather Tree. We did not recognize this was your grove. How did you come to be here in this most unusual place?"
Manos keeps his head swiveling around, looking to see if anything else is going to join the party? A brow raises when Cynehelm talks of pain? 'He seems to know what he's doing.' Manos decides, moving so he can cover the cleric's back and letting him do the smooth talking.
The cool soothing words of Cynehelm have a calming effect on the giant tree. The knots look like they relax a bit and the large branches that came crashing down bend ever so slightly as if the creature is slumping down from an immense weight. It has been so long since I have heard a quiet voice around here. All I can remember is of this place and its shallow sallow soil, its false sunlight, its stagnant air, and acidic water. To feel a keen breeze, the taste of fresh water and soil...that is what I want.
will save vs DC 20
As the Treant talks you can sense that it has thrown off some sort of malaise that was resting upon it. The lingering effects are still there and will be for some time but you think by befriending it you have done a great work already this day.
Lifting its arms away from Duardlara the treant smiles for the first time. Sorry little one for startling you. You surprised me in my sleep. AS for how I came to be here...that foul master of witches tricked me here to tend to her garden.
"It feels as if a pall has been lifted from you Ancient One" - the paladin smiles - "I am Helgash. Well met" - and introduces himself - "Do you mean Baba Yaga has imprisoned you here? Our fates all seem to revolve around her" - he adds.
"What is your name, Old One? And do you know how we can aid you in leaving this place?"
Jetro just gets this blank look on his face.
The treeant huffs and puffs when Baba Yaga's name is mentioned. Do not speak her name again. the very sound of it is enough to make me insane.
As to my name...you can call me Mossbark. As to how to get me out of here I do not know if there is an exit my size or not. She brought me here with magic.
"Do not be angry with Helgash, I beg you, Mossbark. He is a holy man and no friend to she who will not be named again."
"We will look for an exit, my friend, and will help you if we can. In fact, I have been reading holy writ lately and believe I have found a passage that may set you free, but I must ponder this for a day or so."
"In the meantime, may we have your permission to look around this garden you have been guarding?"
The treant mossbark relaxes and slowly seems to sink in comfortable pose. [bTake a look as you will but be warned not everyone here is as nice as I am, hmm hmm hmm.[/b]
"It sounds like we all want to find a way out of this place." Orgar says to nobody in particular.
The treant mossbark relaxes and slowly seems to sink in comfortable pose. Take a look as you will but be warned not everyone here is as nice as I am, hmm hmm hmm.
"Grandfather Mossbark, we do not wish to fight if we need not. Is there a better way to approach some of those that are not as nice as you are? If we are attacked, well, we are still here? We don't want to cause a death if we can avoid it, especially not a friend of yours."