Characters: Fae’ael, Ilai, Serena, Prism, Florian
The party decide to head deep into the Jinxwode forest to the Giant Tree they have seen on the horizon. They prepare but first heading to the shelter and loading up on some temporary hitpoint potions just in case. They then set out with Florian first getting them lost, as they head into the forest. Fae’ael then takes over leading them northward, they come to a small river and find a bridge made out of gravestones. They wonder about the dangers of it, as Prism wanders onto the middle and is fine. The party investigates the bridge, finding the gravestones date from 62 SF to 112 SF. They wonder if this means “Since Founding.” They assume this bridge was made by witches.
Wanting to not rest at the bridge and to make it to a cave before nightfall – Ilai summons a group of Fey Giant Owls from the Feywild that carry the party safely to a small cave, only 12 or so miles from the tree. The cave smells terrible, reminding some of the party of the ogres they had fought before. Ilai casts “Pass Without Trace” and the group heads in, sneaking up on a troll. Fae’ael and Ilai tell the party that they will probably need fire and the group attacks the troll.
At first they think they have brought it down without taking any damage, but the troll manages to resist our attacks, laying heavily into Ilai – bringing them out of their bear form, and knocking them unconscious, before the party is able to wear the troll down again and with a combo from Fae’ael and Serena are able to destroy the troll. Serena seems concerned that she dealt the killing blow, but know that needs must.
After healing up with Cedric, the party decides to rest here for the evening. Fae’ael and Prism take first watch, and Prism shares about her life. How she grew up in a church that was her family and friends, but when she began to display her powers, she was excommunicated. Fae’ael sympathizes and explains that she grew up on a human settlement, her parents accepted into the community as refugees from an old war – she left when she was 16 for reasons she isn’t currently willing to share, and learned a lot from the woods. She appeared in this world decades later after she was tracking some-fiend.
Prism explains she appeared here after being chased by a group of someone’s and feels safe here. Fae’ael agrees and quietly shows Prism her burned and scared face and missing eye, as a show of trust. Prism says she can share anything with her, and the two pass the night in silence. Secrets shared the party heads north east to a reasonably large group of lakes. The water is still and not the nicest to look at, but still Florian pokes his head in and calls to see if a water dryad lives here.
To everyone’s surprise the water forms into a slim figured, slightly masculine form, high-cheekbones, thin-lipped features with shortish hair, and large big ears. His name is Droplets Filled with Fragments of moss on Deadfall – but the party call him Drops, Moss or Fall (they haven’t decided.) He is reasonably chill, and after Florian asks him questions and the others inspect the water, they are pretty sure the water is not corrupted – but just naturally not the most pleasant. A slow moving lake.
They ask Drops questions, and he lets them know that the tree up stream drinks from his head-waters, but isn’t doing him any-harm. He knows about the witches, and is aware of at least two hags that have not infrequently crossed his water – he is annoyed by this and knows they have built a bridge to cross safely. The party ask if he needs anything, he says they look like they get around and gives them a quest “To fill a vial with rainwater from a memorable event.” The party agree and head to the tree.
Once they get to the tree – they see it is a massive 350 feet tall, with a small hollow space underneath the tree. The group cautiously approaches with “Pass Without Trace” and notice some cloven hoof tracks around the base of the tree- it appears to be three individuals that are two legged, perhaps bovine in nature. Cautious – Fae’ael casts aid on Serena, Prism and Ilai and keeps a perimeter as Ilai casts speak with plants on the giant tree.
They greet the tree respectfully “Greetings ancient one of the forest” and they hear a deep resonating voice respond. Ilai continues “We are visitors here. Are your lands well, are there any threats nearby?” The tree responds “Not much that could threaten me anymore.” The conversation continues with Ilai asking about minotaurs passing through, the tree lets them know that they are beneath the trunk and have not caused the tree harm in any way.
The party asks Ilai to ask about the surrounds. The tree lets them know they aware of a wyrm (green dragon) that has “approached the Northern borders of my children. “ There also used to be other great guardians within the forest, but they are now buried, alongside other dwellings that are scattered about here and there. The tree additionally lets Ilai know about some hags that twist nature in unpleasant ways to the west.
Satisfied that the party does not appear to be in any danger, Ilai requests for the tree to take them up into it’s branches. The tree does so, and Ilai can see smoke on the edge of the ocean – 18 or 24 miles north, suggesting a town there. They return to the ground and convey what they saw to the party. Wanting to investigate the tree further, the party sneaks into the entrance under the tree, there they can make out the shapes of three minotaurs. Two of them are bound tightly with thick hempen rope and the third is sitting watching them. Near them in the roots is a translocation anchor – a portal that is closed.
The group discuss what to do and elect Prism to talk for them, as Fae’ael sneaks around to the side to wait for the possibility of combat. Prism calls out, but her mental influence is resisted, so she resorts to words. The minotaur grabs a large battle axe and then lowers it – saying that he knows this looks bad, he didn’t expect company. He came here to Paldenro– as a great bloodlust over took him and his “chosen blood companions.” He was goring an adventurer with his horns when a potion broke over him and brought him back to his senses. He decided to drag these two here with him, since he could not leave them – he had heard stories of this place
Prism continues to talk, learning that his name is Rador and his companions are Zanras and Halmian and look extremely furious about being tied up. The party discuss what to do, and whether to trust the minotaurs and decide to take a chance. Ilai moves up and tries to cast lesser restoration – but it does not seem to have an effect, this does not seem to be a disease or similar. They try dispel magic but aren’t able to remove the magical effect. Fae’ael comes out of hiding, seeing that there doesn’t appear to be much combat and they continue talking with Rador.
Rador thanks us for our assistance, but believes if we spend a night here then his “blood –companions” will be restored. He was told by his storykeeper of an ancestor called Mordrak the Proud; who after fighting an enemy called Anakil, rested here from his wounds under Paldenro– the great tree and awoke whole and hale, leading many battles after this. The party say they will wait with Rador until his companions are better, and Ilai inspects the anchor with Prism – they spot some Druidic and Ilai translates this as a “gateway to the Bronze Forest.” Rador knows nothing about this.
The party rests for the evening, but during the night Zanras and Halmian struggle out of their bonds, the party quickly goes to subdue them with Ilai summoning a giant boa constrictor and Fae’ael using her walloping arrow, Florian, Serena and Prism are able to help Rador subdue them once again. The rest of the evening goes without incicdent, and the next morning Zanras and Halmian have come to their senses. It appears spending a night here, gives anybody the effects of greater restoration. Rador says they will return to try and free their village, and the party gives directions to Sophia’s Rest if they need assistance.
Ilai then manages to open the portal with Prism’s assistance, the party bids farewell and walks through the portal, dragging along a reluctant Serena and Cedric. They appear in some very old ruins, in the rubble of a stone archway. There used to be a building here at some point, and by the sun – Fae’ael is able to tell they haven’t drastically altered time-zones which suggests they aren’t too far away from the map they know. They decide to explore a bit and head up into the nearby mountains – managing to discover more terrain. Fae’ael and Ilai are keen to explore, but notice the wariness of their party, and decide to come back later.
They return through the portal, and rest at the tree (the minotaurs having now left) and then return to Sophia’s Rest fighting some small creatures on the way home. Once returned they share what they discovered with the rest of the adventurers in town and discuss future explorations into Paldenro and the portal beyond!
