"But some of them are still working," says Pine, confused. He searches his backpack for any sign of the cards whose powers he still seems to have. "Maybe they didn't get them all?"
Billy nods to Slick, "I don't doubt for a minute you would've finished them off. I just fear I wouldn't have been conscious to witness it." He smiles, "So I just needed to try this new spell to get them to be less aggressive in their adoration."
Billy helps Slick search the area. He casts Detect Magic focused on the area where the gate opened.
As the fury of battle fades and you check the area you find a few different things. Under an overturned table is an elaborate set of bangles with a note wrapped around them. It reads, For helping the show go on.
The daemons have left nothing behind. Also, it quickly becomes apparent that while all of your cards have gone you have managed to retain an "echo" of their power. At least of a few of them. It also seems like you are still able to enter Harrowheart.
However, before you leave, while you are still searching the place a strange figure slowly manifests in the Theatre. A varisian woman slowly comes into focus, floating incorporeally in the centre of the room.
Such a cruel twist of fate. You do not deserve this. The world does not deserve this. Not to worry, friends. I can help you. You shall recover what was taken from you, and you shall be free to make of your destiny what you will. What lies ahead, I fear, will test you further than all you have yet endured, but endure it you must. I know you shall and only want to do what I can to right a wrong I may have, unintentionally, loosed upon us all.
Slick turns to the strange figure as she slowly manifests in the center of the theater. He listens to the ghostly varisian woman speak, his frown deepening with every word. "Sooo... it's your fault we lost the cards then? Aaaand... now you want to help us get them back?"
He squints suspiciously at the apparition. "Just who exactly are you; what is your relationship to the dark-haired women we saw through the portal; and why would you want to help us recover the cards?"
When their new guest manifests on the stage, Billy is very excited to meet another ... performer in their play. However, the little halfling is horrified that he's not at all presentable. He attempts to slap a quick battle dressing on himself.
But he's so excited to meet a friendly face, he gets flustered and bandages his good leg. He tries again.
He then spends a moment to focus heal himself.
Finally, with most of his wounds mostly covered, the bard retrieves his comb and mirror, adjusts his golden locks, and steps forward to address the newcomer.
"Forgive my friend's manners. In his defense, we've had a rough day. I'm Billy. It's a pleasure." He pours honey mead from his jug for any who need refreshment. He offers some to our ghostly guest. "Are you saying you had a role in our little play here, and you can help us now?" Billy sits on the stage cross-legged and listens.
"What Billy said. But you just said something about being responsible for all this - how so?" Sigourney says as she Refocuses for 10 minutes.
Zellara sighs and her head dips, “I am... or I was... Zellara, a harrower. In my life, I performed harrow readings from my home in the city of Korvosa in Varisia. In my death, I aided heroes not unlike yourselves against the threat of a tyrant queen. I have been here for some time here, watching my wayward student Raven Nicoletta steal your cards. I couldn’t prevent her from doing so, but I know how to help you recover them and stop her.
Momentarily forgetting the dire situation, Billy interrupts, "Wait! You're a harrower too?" He continues excitedly, "After we save the world, maybe we could spend time together discussing readings and the harrow?" He adds, "I mean, if you're not too busy."
After Zellara finishes, Billy confirms, "So your former student, Raven, is now a tyrant queen?" After her response, he stands and avows, "If you tell us what we need to do to recover our cards and stop her, we'll make you proud!"
"You should not...blame yourself, for what your student has done. After all, you did not train her for the express purpose of using her powers for evil, did you?"
Sigourney coughs gently into the inner part of her long sleeves before continuing. Small droplets of crimson red blood dot her clothes. She fixes the ghost of Zellara with a Biological Eye, trying to place who she was and her role in that society.
Slick nods at Zellara's reply. "Ah, so you blame yourself because this Raven woman was your student and you feel you could have done a better job of training her." The failed teacher and the wayward student; it was a tale as old as time.
He then frowns. "Do you have any idea what your student might want with all the cards? Nothing good from the sounds of it. And... how exactly are you going to help us recover the deck?"
Zellara smiles at Billy and gestures at her rather incorporeal state. I would be happy to speak to you on the Harrow Billy but I fear my time here will be limited. I was able to divert myself from the River of Souls but my time is brief.
Ah, I think you misunderstand. The tyrant I refer to was Queen Ileosa of Korvosa. I helped guide a group of heroes to overthrow her. Raven was my student, I taught her all I knew of the Harrow. She was able to take the cards with the power of the box she holds. It was always created to hold them, in a way Raven simply called them home. I believe she intends to use the Deck for its intended purpose, to pursue a reading which will fix the future in ways most advantageous for her. I did not think such a thing was possible, but it seems that she does.
As for how I can help you, I can at least tell you where Raven and your cards are now. She has returned to Varisia, to a great nexus of power, a ley line. She has made her home...
Before she can say any more Zellara freezes in place, a moment later a coiling mass of golden strands writhe around her, binding her in place. She then promptly vanishes. Into the silence another figure appears in the old Theatre. It appears as a massive spider, 12' tall, with a skull like head topped with a pair of hairy antlers. It addresses you all telepathically.
Greeting mortals. I am Ildamir, Herald of the Harrowing Three. They have sent me here to offer you an invitation to meet with them at their home of Svarýr, in the land you know as Irrisen. Your companion Zellara awaits you there now, if you are judged worthy enough of an audience with the Three. What say you?
"I think you're supposed to judge us worthy before you invite us."
Pine hopes one of the others are more familiar with "The Harrowing Three" and can provide more context, because he's not confident he knows.
Slick listens carefully as Zellara speaks to them about her ex-student Raven Nicoletta and her plans to fix the future to her advantage. He suspected that what might be advantageous to someone such as Raven would not be so advantageous to Slick and his friends.
But when the ghostly harrower is interrupted just as she's about to divulge where they might find Raven and the Deck, only to be replaced by a massive hairy spider, Slick takes a couple of steps back and draws his sword in preparation to defend the group from attack.
Fortunately for the hirsute arachnid, Ildamir speaks to them before Slick can launch himself at the creature. He frowns. "Who in the blazes are these 'Harrowing Three' it's talking about?" He glances over to Sigourney and Billy for answers before turning back to the spider.
"What exactly do the Harrowing Three want with us? As you might have noticed, we're a little busy right now trying to recover a stolen deck of cards and thereby save the world as we know it. I think you can agree that this takes priority over afternoon tea in Irrisen with your bosses. Now if we could just get the last bit of missing information from Zellara, we'll be on our way."
Slick fully expects that they'll not get their hands on that last vital bit of information until they've met with this Harrowing Three, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Billy was enjoying Zellara's company. He knows that between harrow magic and the occult, there are ways to have conversations with his new friend. But as she vanishes, he cries out, "Noooo!!! Come back! We'll find you!"
When Ildamir appears and tells her tale, Billy's eyes widen. "The Harrowing Three?!? I've heard of them! They're legendary."
After sharing what he knows, the enthusiastic bard says, "You had me at Harrowing Three. I'm in! Let's go find Zellara."
Ildamar regards the group. It is not for me to determine your worth. The Three have extended this invitation to you. If you are worthy then you will overcome the challenges you will face to meet them. He raises one hairy leg, No, do not ask me their nature, I know not. No doubt you will discover this once you arrive at The Tree of Answers. As for why they are interested, that should be apparent. You have sought to seize the cards of the Deck of Destiny. Have you never wondered where the Deck came from? It was a creation of the Three but it was scattered by Raven and her allies before it could be used. Perhaps that will be sufficient to pique your interest...
He turns to go but pauses, Ah, yes, of course. One last detail. You may find the Three at the Tree of Answers. It lies in the centre of the Bleakmarch, in the north eastern region of Irrisen. Powerful magical wards protect it, making it difficult for those not invited to reach it. However, as you have an invitation you will find yourselves drawn to it once you enter the March. Good luck mortals, it is unlikely we will meet again.
With that, he fades away into shadows.
Slick sighs as it becomes clear that they'll have to trek up to Irrisen to meet with the Harrowing Three before they can get on with confronting Raven and recovering the Deck of Destiny from her. "Doesn't sound like the Three are going to make it easy for us to meet up though."
Once Ildamar decamps, Slick turns to the group. "It appears that we don't have much choice in the matter. We shouldn't tarry too much, but I don't think it'll hurt much if we take a day to prepare before heading off to Irrisen for our date with the Three."
"Yeah, we've wondered. But nobody tells us anything!" Pine sticks his tongue out at the spider, though after he's departed of course.
"...where are we now, again? I've gotten used to traveling around the world from Harrowheart. Now we have to worry about geography again, I guess?"
Billy watches in awe as Ildamar fades away. "Can you believe it? The Harrowing Three have requested our presence. This is a great honor." He instinctively reaches for his mirror and comb to start some very-important (to him) primping.
When Pinebrush wonders about travel plans, Billy says, "Hopefully we still have access to Harrowheart. If not, I can teleport us to Absalom." He continues, "And if we can't use our epitomized Harrowheart cards to travel to the Tree of Answers in Irrisen, I can use magic for that too."
"Well, that sounds like a sidequest. At least we do not have to collect any cards now...Let us take a day of rest first. I have used up so much magic keeping you alive healthy and the enemies dead that we cannot make the trip now." Sigourney says weakly, hunched over and grasping onto her Staff of Healing for dear life.
She performs the well-practiced activity, drawing upon now-missing in an attempt to return to Harrowheart. "Come on Baines, open the way for us!" She mutters under her breath.
"They've requested our presence, but they want us to prove ourselves first. They should make up their mind. If they want to convince us to go, they should be proving themselves to us..." Pine relents a bit when Billy seems impressed by their reputation. "...but I guess that means they have."
The sprite is glad to learn that he was mistaken, and that they're still able to enter Harrowheart. Since they've agreed to take a bit of time to rest, he heads into Absalom with the others to have his weapon upgraded one more time.
He also takes a bit of time to travel into the desert to look for The Eclipse. If they can still use some of their card abilities and enter Harrheart, the connection hasn't been entirely lose. Have they lost access to the epitomized cards, or not?
If he finds that they can, he will spend the time to face his self-doubts.
If he can't, he pouts. "Everybody else got to do it. No fair!"
As the hour approaches for what could very well be the final set of harrow readings Billy performs for the party, it is Sigourney who seeks Billy out for a reading and not the other way round. Her former skepticism towards the power of the Harrow has been disproven countless times - but instead of her usual disbelieving smirk, the lines on her face are creased with worry.
As she settles down into her seat, she winces with the exertion and coughs hard into a dainty handkerchief. After her body stops shuddering, she speaks to Billy, anxiety tainting her tone.
"Billy, we have faced devils, demons and now daemons. It seems as if all of the Lower Planes are after these cards. And you - you nearly died back there. In fact, we have all nearly died at one point in this adventure."
The morbid thought hangs over her like a sword waiting to fall on her head.
"What I am trying to get at is, do you not think the Harrowing Three want to kill us too, like so many have tried before them? And even if we deal with them and this Raven woman, who else is going to come after the cards? Cheliax? Nidal? The Whispering Tyrant himself? I can name off a whole list of powerful nations and people who would want to control fate. Maybe...maybe we should just let it go? Let the Deck of Destiny be someone else's problem. Why should we be the ones to collect all the cards? Why court death over and over again? What is the point of all this?"
Sigourney unloads the concerns pressing at the back of her mind onto Billy.
As everyone returns from their shopping trips in Absalom, Billy calls the group individually to join him in the parlor for their Harrow reading.
But before Slick arrives, Sigourney pops in with a worried look. Billy nods, "Yes, it's true we have all faced death since the harrow found us." Trying to lighten the mood, he suggests, "But if saving the world was easy, everyone would do it." He continues, "The Harrowing Three? Trying to kill us? Perish the thought." Billy smiles. "Stories of the Three are many and varied. But they are neutral deific beings, interested in fate, not power. The enemies we've fought are either power-hungry, evil, or both." When Sigourney wonders if we should let the Deck of Destiny be someone else's problem, Billy looks her in the eyes and asks, "Would you really trust anyone else to handle this heroic task?" Billy pats her on the back. "It'll be alright. We were meant for this! Now run along, so I can prepare for Slick."
Heightened only to rank 7 to avoid chance of crit fail.
TLDR: Each PC gets 7 harrow reroll cards. Choose 1 of 2, for each card.
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After breakfast on the morning of their visit to The Harrowing Three, Billy casts one of his Energy Aegis scrolls. He then shuffles his harrow deck and draws a Harrow Omen card.
"Uh yeah! Devils and demons show up, so we gotta fight 'em! Somebody's gotta fight 'em, 'cuz that's what you do with devils and demons. That's what heroes like us are for!"
This is exactly why Pinebrush can't do the Eclipse thing. He just doesn't have any self-doubts. Yeah, that's totally it.
You all make your various preparations and gather together the following day. Using the power of your remaining Harrow cards you can transport yourselves to Golarion and Billy can then teleport you close to the Bleakmarch.
The March is a wide stretch of cold, stinking, sucking bog, interspersed with clumps of stunted trees and bushes. The area is foggy, making visibility tricky, and the soft ground pulls at your boots and makes going difficult. Cold water seeps into your boots, drizzle soaks your clothes and the whole experience of making your way through the region is miserable. The deeper in you travel, the colder and more miserable it gets.
You are fairly sure that, if you did not have an invitation, you could wander through this forbidding landscape and never find your destination. As time drags on it begins to feel that maybe you will never find it and you will be lost in this mire for ever. As the sun begins to dip towards the horizon the mist parts though and reveals a huge clearing of green grass, hundreds of feet across.
An enormous tree grows from the centre of this clearing. The tree’s trunk seems to twist around itself as it rises hundreds of feet into the air. Its countless branches grow out in every direction, some reaching even higher up toward the sky, while others reach back down toward the ground. The furthest edges of these branches are strangely difficult to see, shimmering like the snow that surrounds the clearing. This must be Svarýr, the Tree of Answers, which legend holds, straddles the planes to reach into the First World.
The tree’s roots burst from the ground all throughout the clearing, wrapping around themselves before winding back into the earth. This maze of roots creates dozens of tunnels and walkways along the ground surrounding the tree. The tree itself sprouts no leaves or other plants growing along its length, yet it seems alive as branches occasionally meander about or roots reposition themselves. Hundreds of creatures—dwarves, elves, humanoids, and fey of all sorts—move across the ground beneath the tree, along its branches and roots, or cling to the side of the massive trunk like ants.
The tree and its roots are surrounded by a low stone wall. Archways are built into the wall at regular intervals. The keystone of each arch bears a simple rune that looks like it was made by a person’s finger, the way a mark might be drawn into wet clay. They vary between those large enough to admit anything from a halfling to a giant.
About a hundred feet away from you, a figure stands before a human sized archway. It is wearing ancient, rusted, armour and appears to be remonstrating with the inhabitants. It gestures wildly with a massive axe and is shouting (in Skald). The inhabitants are ignoring the figure, even those who come almost within reach of its blade.
Pinebrush peers out at all the people visible over the wall. "Wow. It's a lot more crowded than I would have expected." He points at the armored figure. "That's strange. You'd think they're either invited or they'd have a way in. And nobody seems to be stopping them from going in, anyway, so what are they yelling for?"
Slick slogs through the bog in his armor, somehow managing not to enjoy it at all. "Best of both worlds up here, eh? Cold weather, but not so cold that the ground's frozen yet."
When they reach the clearing, Slick cannot help being impressed by the enormous tree rising at its center. Regardless, he groans. "I hope we don't have to climb that thing."
He assumes this must be the Tree of Answers Ildamar mentioned. He was not looking forward to working his way through the tangle of roots surrounding it, but before they could even get that far, they would have to deal with the stone wall encircling the tree.
Spotting the Skald in rusty armor shouting at the residents to be let in, Slick realizes that getting past the wall may require more than simply walking through an archway. He wonders whether their official invitation from The Three might make things easier for them in this regard.
He considers avoiding the Skald entirely by using another entrance, but something tells him a confrontation is inevitable. Maybe it would be best to face the situation directly. He turns to his small companion. "What do you think, Billy? Should we go talk to the fellow and see what the problem is?"
Billy is in awe as the group comes within view of the legendary Tree of Answers. As he's about to approach the magnificent tree, he hears the knight shouting in a strange language. When Slick suggests a chat, Billy nods and sings,
♫"What's with all the yelling? Not making any sense.
We'll talk (I'll be compelling). And then we'll all be friends."♫
Billy brings up some Musical Accompaniment and retrieves his Jug of Fond Rememberance. He then confidently leads the group forward, calling out to the Skald in his native tongue, "Greetings, Sir Knight. I'm Billy, a renowned minstrel from afar. You look very important. You must be in charge. My friends and I were invited here by The Harrowing Three. Can you help us?" Realizing no one is paying attention to the poor man, Billy asks, "Or perhaps we can help you? Is there anything we can do? Maybe resolve a language barrier?" Holding up his jug, "When you can take a break, won't you join us for some honey mead and chat?"
At some point after the chat with the knight, Billy looks up, way up, to the great tree. He retrieves his Speak with Plants scroll.
In plantspeak, he calls up, "Oh wondrous Tree of Answers. I'm Billy. I've heard much about you. It's quite an honor to meet you. We're here on an invitation by the Harrowing Three." Billy doesn't really expect an answer, but he feels proud to have made the attempt.
Sigourney looks around at...everything. The sheer majesty of the nature of this place was awe-inspiring...if it wasn't so tiring to get around on. Climbing over all these roots would be such a chore and she was starting to get the sniffles from all the pollen flying about. Unwilling to exert any more effort than she needed to, Sigourney mounted her Floating Disc and flew along behind the party, Reginald on her shoulder.
When Billy actually suggested talking to the strange figure that is clearly armed and dangerous, Sigourney considers rebuking Billy but thinks better of it. She trusts her friend to make a good impression. She instead tries to Recall Knowledge on this creature and figure out what it is, if not who it is.
When Sigourney sees Billy talk to the plants she doesn't even raise an eyebrow. That didn't even rank within the top ten weirdest things she's seen the party do.
The group approach the strange figure shouting at the inhabitants. As you call out to him he turns and it quickly becomes very apparent that the warrior is a mouldering undead. His skeletal face peers out at you from his rusty helmet. His clothing is sodden and rotted, his armour seems held together more by hope than reality.
His voice echoes out of his helm, Mortals, who are you and what brings you to this accursed place! You must make them let me in so I can slay the betrayer Trygve.
Billy approaches confidently. When the skeletal warrior asks about the group, the affable bard smiles and nods knowingly, "Ahh, Sir Knight. Perhaps you didn't hear me over all your shouting ..." Billy repeats, more slowly, "I'm Billy. My friends and I were invited here by The Harrowing Three."
Realizing what's going on, Billy responds, "We're humble visitors, so we can't, as you ask, make anyone let you in. However, I'm always interested in a good story. Can you tell us about Trygve's betrayal? Maybe we can help."
As they approach and it becomes clear that the Skald counts himself amongst the legions of the undead, Slick slows his approach slightly and casually draws his greatsword in case the diplomatic approach were to fail.
"Hey now, Slick, we do not need to assume the worst of every undead we see. Did we not get along with that last undead guy we met? We went to run errands for him. We could work with this guy too." Sigourney puts a hand on the eager fighter's shoulders to try and slow his desire to act.
She conveniently leaves out that they killed Trexima in Golarion's most humiliating fashion - a dance off.
The skeletal warrior regards you for what feels like a long time. I am Bolti, my brother was Trygve. Together we fought many battles, defeating all before us. My brother betrayed me while we were hunting the Troll King. Trygve claimed he knew the secret to a great treasure. He brought us to this miserable and accursed place. I grew angry as he had wasted our time when we should have been hunting the Troll. We quarrelled and he slew me. I rose in the form you see now but Trygve fled beyond this wall where I cannot follow him.
He glares across the wall at the inhabitants, who studiously ignore him.
Many times I have stood here, demanding entry, and they refuse. The Harrowing Three ignore my demands for justice against my treacherous brother. Many times I have fought their guardians and each time I fall I have returned. Eventually I will force my way in and have my revenge!
He pauses and seems to think. Only those who are invited may enter. You say that you have been invited. You can enter and then you can invite me inside. Finally I can have my vengeance. In return, I will aid you with whatever task brings you here. Do we have an agreement?
After offering Bolti a drink, Billy sympathizes, "I'm very sorry to hear about your brother. That's terrible." Taking a sip of mead, he continues, "While I want to help you, it would be poor etiquette for us to simply invite you in against the hosts' wishes. If we even could."
Billy counter-offers, "Since we're interested in the aid you can provide, Sir Bolti, here is what we can do: either try to get you a proper invite, or bring your brother to you." He smiles. "Do we have an agreement?"
Billy turns back to the great tree, and tries again to address it. In plantspeak, he calls up, "Oh wondrous Tree of Answers. I'm Billy. It's an honor to meet you. You're probably very busy, but can you tell us about this place before we enter?" Billy still doesn't expect an answer, but he's persistent.
A seemingly relaxed Slick stands a step behind Billy as his friend talks with Bolti. Nevertheless, the grip he has on his sword remains tight and he is ready at a moment's notice to intervene in a more robust way if the discussion takes a turn into violence.
He listens to Bolti's story and sighs internally. "Yet another sorrowful tale of fratricide and revenge." If Bolti's fury at his brother was enough to keep him from joining the River of Souls and to spend what looked to have been many years, if not decades or centuries trying to gain access, then maybe the Skald should be allowed entrance. If only to find out that his brother was long dead, thus finally freeing his soul to travel to Valhalla, or wherever it is that warriors of his ilk ended up.
Slick finally speaks up. "If our invitation will get us past this wall and its guardians, then I don't have a problem inviting the big man in to find out what happened to his brother. But, only if he swears that he'll attempt no harm to the Norns, the Tree, or the Tree's denizens... or us for that matter." He turns to face Bolti. "Can you make us such an oath, Bolti?"
Pine stays hidden to observe, for now.
"I sympathize with your plight, Bolti. I too am on a quest to right a wrong. But I do agree that if you are to accompany us on our journey, you will need to promise not to harm us. You should also know that I do not possess the means to heal the undead, so any damage you take will last. If those terms are agreeable, then you may follow us."
Sigourney's face shows no sign of worry whatsoever. She's fully confident that the four of them could take this meathead down.
Bolti glares at Slick and ignores Billy. You would have ME swear an oath to the likes of you! He gestures with his axe, I am Bolti, hero of the ages, my word is my bond, honour is my lifeblood, I have been fated by Kings and Gods....
The ranting goes on for some time before he finally subsides...
However, if you invite me inside I have no interest in you mortals. I only desire to find my brother and deal with him!
In the distance the Tree seems not to notice Billy or possibly its thought processes simply take so long that it has as yet not formulated a response.
While his friends are negotiating with Bolti, Billy waits for a response from the great tree. And waits. And waits.
Eventually, he turns to the skeletal knight, "To be fair, we don't know how it works. Once we're inside, we'll learn more and invite you if we can." Draining his mug, he adds, "I'm sure one as honorable as yourself can appreciate that we don't want to make promises we can't keep."
At Bolti's response, Slick shrugs. "I guess that's as good an assurance as we're likely to get. Let's see if we can get past this wall with our invitation. Once inside, we'll invite the big man in and see happens."
Slick then heads to the nearby human-sized archway and attempts to walk through it.
Once inside, Slick turns and beckons for Billy, Pinebrush and Sigourney to join him. Once the group has made it in, he calls out to the Skald. "Okay, Bolti. I now officially invite you into Svarýr. Remember now, play nice or you'll be kicked you out."
Sigourney floats through the human-sized archway on her Floating Disc, utterly unconcerned with Bolti and whether he follows along or not. As far as she is concerned, the four of them could take him on if he causes trouble for them...she attempts to Recall Knowledge on him beforehand with a focus on what kind of undead is Bolti now (aka best known feature).
Before entering the archway, Billy takes one last look at Bolti and recalls what he knows.
On the inside, when Slick starts to invite our new friend, Billy interrupts, "Um, Slick, aren't you worried about disrespecting our hosts?" Continuing, "Bolti has likely been waiting a long time to get in. Surely he can wait a little longer while we investigate, before we invite a violent skeletal warrior inside. Maybe we get permission first?" Billy wants to make a good first impression on the Harrowing Three.
Slick considers his friend's concerns about inviting Bolti through the wall, but quickly dismisses them. "Our so-called hosts have already gone to great lengths to disrespect us, so frankly, I'm not concerned about their delicate sensibilities. Quite the opposite, in fact. I'm actually hoping that Bolti will make a nuisance of himself, but I suspect the Norns and their minions are more than capable of dealing with any problems he creates."
He then waves back at the wall they just came through. "After all, if the guards can keep someone like Bolti outside for years at a time, I don't think he'll do much harm before they kick him back out." He shrugs. "And anyway, after all this time, the man deserves a chance to satisfy his thirst for revenge and with luck, find his way to the Boneyard."
As Slick invites him inside Bolti roars with triumph, FINALLY!
He strides into the broad clearing beyond the wall. As he does so various residents nearby scatter, vanishing into the folds of the roots which run through the clearing. Bolti makes no effort to pursue or harass them. he glares at the tree.
I sense my treacherous brother nearby, he lurks somewhere beneath the Tree but I am good to my word. I will aid you in your task here but do not tarry. My vengeance has been delayed for too long!
The tree rises in front of you, its upper branches vanishing in a strange haze. Most of the inhabitants have disappeared. There does appear to be a large door at the base of the tree but it also seems possible to make your way up the roots and into the branches which seem to form some sort of road network.
As you stare up at the Tree Billy hears a deep, sonorous voice fill his mind. Welcome Billy, I have been waiting for you.