If a Tree is Fel in an Empty Forest...

Sonadora searches around the area as they walk to the forest.
Sonadora: Survival [1d20+12 = 29]
The fog makes every sound echo back to you in a strange way.
(Survival) You notice the tracks of many animals and people, but none of them stands out to you in particular. As you get nearer the clearing you see some tracks that look as though someone was dragging a shrub or small tree around. Weird.
Sonadora: This is strange. Someone was dragging something here.
Ranja: Listen [1d20+3 = 9]
(Listen) You hear a distant howl.
Sonadora: It looked like a bush of some kind.
Arphaxad: Be ready for anything
As you enter the scorched earth of the clearing, you see that nature has already begun to reclaim the grounds in the few days since the lightning and the elementals seared the palce. Small, bare trees have begun growing in the ashes of the old plant-life, looking almost like hands reaching towards the branches of the lightning-scarred tree in the center. The air here is silent and the mist thicker than you'd seen today, causing the little sound you brought to the clearing to sound muffled.
Ranja shivers and loosens her sword from its sheath.
You hear something carried on the wind from afar. It sounded like the flapping of wings.
Sonadora shivers.
Arphaxad: What's that?
Sonadora: Guess we should look at the tree....
Sonadora edges forward slowly with her quarterstaff at ready.
Geyer steadies Golem as the horse whinnies nervously. "Easy, girl."
Geyer peers into the cold fog, one hand on his sword hilt.
You don't see anything on your way towards the tree. The only tracks are the strange dragged-branch ones.
Arphaxad: Perhaps we should folllow the tracks?
Geyer: Look around for something trapped in the ashes.
The bark on the central tree is gray and ashen like the skin on a corpse. An enormous rent in the bark allows you a slight glimpse of the inside of the tree, though most of the view is shrouded in shadow and mist. The barren branches of the tree tremble in the wind.

This be no MORTAL Tree! Nae, 'tis a Fel Tree!

Sonadora trembles and peers into the hole.
Looking inside the trunk of the tree you make out the bleached stare of a skull that would be human except for the goat-like horns that extend from its forehead. Small tufts of reddish hair cling to portions of the skull. You may have found what happened to the son of the goat-man at the Pack's camp...
Sonadora: Uh oh.
Arphaxad: Well?
Sonadora: I found the goat man.
Sonadora: Or what looks like a smaller goat man.
Arphaxad: This must be what needs freed.
Arphaxad: Blood of blood trapped in ashes.
Geyer unhooks his lance from the saddle straps and sets it in its brace.
Sonadora swallows and timidly reaches in to pull it out.
Arphaxad: Twisted by evil, that lightning bolt was not natural.
Arphaxad: At least we have solved the riddle.
Geyer: I don't like this...
Sonadora: Strength bonus [1d20+1 = 8]
You tug at the skull with all your halfling might!
As you try to dislodge the skull from inside the tree, you see the small, bare trees in the clearing begin to shake as though something were running through them... you can hear trees being torn from the ground, though you cannot see anything through the mist except for pinpoints of red light.
Geyer nudges Golem into a path patrolling the clearing's perimeter while the others try to free the skull.
Arphaxad: Prepare yourselves... something is coming...
Sonadora: Uh oh.
Sonadora pulls harder on the skull!
Sonadora: Strength bonus [1d20+1 = 20]
Ranja edges closer to the others, one hand on the hilt of her sword.
Even with a mighty yank, the skull stays stuck! You can almost feel the hate pouring from the tree - and you swear you see it tighten around the skull!
Sonadora: It won't come out!
Arphaxad: Become twisted by evil... what does it mean/
Sonadora hits the tree with her staff.
Sonadora: Let it go!
Ranja: Could we cut it loose?
Arphaxad attempts to detect the magic in the area.
GM: You detect the same aura of Transmutation you detected days ago... but stronger... much stronger.
It suddenly becomes clear why you cannot see anything coming through the trees - the pinpoints of red light are coming from WITHIN the trees themselves. As the trees themselves begin to move towards you, you realize that you might already be surrounded!
Ranja: Could we cut it loose?
Sonadora kicks the tree for emphasis.
Ranja draws her sword and glances nervously around her.
Geyer: Bane's blood! The trees live!
Geyer: Ready yourselves!
Sonadora: Initiative [1d20+3 = 15]
Ranja: Initiative [1d20+1 = 17]
Arphaxad: Initiative [1d20+5 = 12]
Geyer: Initiative [1d20+2 = 5]
A living tree rushes towards the center, reaching sharp claws towards Ranja!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 17]
A living tree: [1d3 = 2]
A living tree scratches Ranja's arm! (2 damage!)
Ranja: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 6]
Ranja feels as though her strength has been sapped! (-1 to Strength!)
A living tree rushes from the south and claws at Sonadora!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 4]
Sonadora deflects its branches with a few deft blocks using her staff!
A tree rushes out of the forest towards Golem!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 21]
A living tree: Crit Confirm [1d20+1 = 8]
A living tree dives at Geyer, raking his leg with its claws!
A living tree: [1d3 = 2]
A living tree claws leave a bloody rent in his armor! (2 damage!)
Geyer: Fortitude save [1d20+5 = 25]
Sonadora attacks the closest living tree since she can't see it and tells Vida to attack too!
Sonadora: Quarterstaff [1d20+4 = 5]
Sonadora's staff gets caught in the living tree's branches!
Sonadora kicks the tree.
Sonadora: Bite it Vida!
Vida: Bite [1d20+3 = 23]
Vida: Bite, Crit Confirm [1d20+3 = 23]
Vida: Bite, Crit Confirm [1d20+3 = 8]
Vida: Bite damage [1d6+1 = 7]
Vida: Bite damage [1d6+1 = 2]
Vida leaps to the side and tears into the living tree, freeing Sonadora's staff by reduing the branches to kindling! (9 damage!)
Ranja grips her sword tightly and swings at the tree closest to her.
Ranja: Longsword (Attack 1) [1d20+1 = 19]
Ranja: Longsword damage [1d8 = 7]
Ranja swings viciously at the tree that struck her, reducing it to syrup!
Arphaxad casts Scorching Ray!
Arphaxad: Burn Vile TREE!!!
Arphaxad: Scorching Ray [1d20 = 17]
Arphaxad: [4d6 = 17]
Arphaxad: Death Comes for you!
A ray of searing heat shoots forth from Arphaxad's hand! The tree is reduced to ashes before it even knows what happened!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 17]
A living tree: [1d3 = 2]
Arphaxad: Fortitude save [1d20+1 = 17]
A living tree rushes up to Arphaxad and pierces his skin with its claws! (2 damage!)
Geyer: Ride [1d20+8 = 25]
Geyer: Heavy Lance (Attack 1) [1d20+6 = 21]
Geyer: Heavy Lance damage [1d8+4 = 11]
Geyer nudges Golem back and strikes forward with his lance, piercing the tree down the middle!
As you feel near victory, you see more pinpoints of light appear among the fog!
Arphaxad: Someone get the corpse out of the tree, they seem to keep coming! The rest of us will hold them off!
Sonadora: But it doesn't come out!
Arphaxad: Geyer try!
A living tree drags itself towards Ranja and strikes!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 20]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 5]
A living tree: [1d20 = 3]
A living tree: [1d3 = 1]
A living tree manages to wrap its branches in her hair and scratch her face! (1 damage!)
Ranja: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 6]
Ranja feels herself getting weaker!
Several other living trees rush forward swinging, but manage no damage!
Arphaxad: Geyer, do you think you can get it out?
Sonadora: Quarterstaff (Attack 1) [1d20+4 = 22]
Sonadora: Quarterstaff damage [1d4+1 = 5]
Sonadora swings her staff at the tree attacking Ranja. Score!
The tree falls over dead!
Vida: Bite [1d20+3 = 11]
Vida rushes towards a tree and tries to bite it, but fails!
Ranja runs for the tree across from her, swinging her sword hard.
Ranja: Longsword (Attack 1) [1d20 = 7]
Ranja hopes that Vida will protect her...
Arphaxad casts scorching ray once again!
Arphaxad: [1d20 = 3]
Arphaxad lets loose a searing ray that misses the living trees!
Arphaxad fumes with anger!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 18]
A living tree: [1d3 = 3]
A living tree rushes after Arphaxad and stabs his chest with its claws! (3 damage!)
Arphaxad: Fortitude save [1d20+1 = 8]
Arphaxad: Someone tear that tree down! We can't wait until we are surrounded like with the rats! We must complete the Oracle's task!
A living tree nearest to Geyer takes an attack at his flank!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 4]
...but misses!
Geyer spurs Golem forward, charging at the vile shrub near the wizard!
Geyer: Heavy Lance (Attack 1) +6 [1d20+8 = 17]
Geyer: Heavy Lance damage [1d8+4 = 11]
Geyer runs the tree straight through the middle and sends it flying!
Geyer coughs as a small cloud of sawdust settle where the tree once was.
The trees redouble their attack!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 5]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 17]
A living tree: [1d3 = 3]
The tree near Ranja strikes her! (3 damage!)
Ranja: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 20]
More trees pull themselves out of the ground and assault you!
A living tree: [1d20 = 19]
Arphaxad: Pull back to the tree!
A living tree: [1d20 = 17]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 18]
A living tree: [1d3 = 3]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 18]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 3]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 11]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 20]
A living tree: [1d3 = 1]
Arphaxad: Don't die Ranja, get back here!
The trees all attack in concert and ashes fly into the air as they speed towards you in a fury! (Ranja - 3 damage, Arphaxad - 1 damage)
Ranja: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 13]
Arphaxad: Fortitude save [1d20+1 = 21]
Sonadora casts produce flame and hurls it at the middle tree with the skull.
Sonadora: [1d20 = 4]
Sonadora: [1d6+3 = 8]
The flames spread along the branches of the tree, casting an orange pall over the battle!
The tree, however, does not appear to be weakening from the flames...
Vida: Bite [1d20+3 = 7]
Vida strikes at the nearest living tree, but misses!
The flames dance over the battlefield.
Ranja moves a little away from Vida, who is doing a LOUSY job at protecting her, and swings at the nearest tree.
Ranja: Longsword (Attack 1) [1d20 = 3]
Ranja's hurried swing slices a few branches, but doesn't appear to deter the tree at all!
Arphaxad casts acid splash on the tree to try and break through to the remains.
Arphaxad: Acid Splash [1d20+2 = 12]
The acid rolls off the ashen bark!
Sonadora feels frustrated.
Sonadora: What do we do? We can't just leave the skull.
Arphaxad: No we can't...what was the riddle again?
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 20]
A living tree: [1d3 = 2]
Vida: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 9]
Vida is suddenly struck from behind by a living tree, and whines loudly! (2 damage, 1 Strength damage!)
Arphaxad: Become twisted by evil, and not nature's strike.
Vida appears visibly weakened! (3 hp left)
Arphaxad: Twisted by evil....how are we to be twisted by evil?...climb into the tree?
Arphaxad: Climb into the tree Geyer and try to pull it straight out!
Geyer dismounts from Golem, dropping the lance.
Geyer: Ride [1d20+8 = 13]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 7]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 3]
The two living trees claw at Geyer's back, but he skillfully deflects them with his armor!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 6]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 21]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 20]
A living tree: Damage [1d6 = 2]
The trees once again time their attacks into a burst of activity!
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 6]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 20]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 4]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 12]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 3]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 11]
Fortunately the group holds... mostly. Vida takes another hit to her back leg and nearly crumples! (2 damage)
Vida whines loudly!
Sonadora: Vida!
Arphaxad: Get back here, Vida!
Sonadora attacks the tree that currently assails Vida!
Arphaxad: Pull her back to us Sonadora, and you too Ranja. Group together!
Sonadora: Quarterstaff (Attack 1) [1d20+4 = 11]
Sonadora's strike bounces off the living tree's tough bark!
Vida: Bite [1d20+3 = 21]
Vida: Bite damage [1d6+1 = 5]
Vida continues to follow Sonadora's commands and bites through the nearest tree!
Sonadora: Get close to me. I'll try to get the vines to hold them.
Ranja concentrates, closing her eyes, and casts detect undead.
Ranja - you feel no undead nearby.
Sonadora: Can you use the axe?
Geyer: I am about ta do just that, but the rest of you will need ta cover me!
Vida: [1d20+1 = 17]
Arphaxad casts burning hands into the place he just stood
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 21]
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 12]
Arphaxad: [1d20 = 11]
A living tree: [1d6 = 2]
A living tree: [1d3 = 1]
Arphaxad: [3d4 = 7]
A living tree: [1d20+2 = 8]
A living tree: [1d20 = 8]
A living tree: [1d20 = 6]
Arphaxad: I hope you all burn.
An arch of fire shoots forth from Arphax's hands, searing the trees around him! (7 damage to G I C)
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 2]
A twig blight tries to sneak up on Vida again, but this time he's ready and crouches back!
Geyer draws the magic axe from his belt and goes to work on the central tree.
Geyer: Let's see how ya like the taste of this blade, tree!
Geyer: [1d20+2 = 7]
Geyer: [1d8+4 = 7]
You aim at the junction of the tree, where the skull is closest to the surface, and tear out a solid chunk of bark! The skull is exposed!
Arphaxad: Grab it and lets go!!!
Geyer: Grab it quick!
Geyer: 'Fore this bark grows back!
A living tree: [1d20 = 6]
A living tree: [1d20 = 15]
A living tree: [1d20 = 2]
A living tree: [1d20 = 5]
A living tree: [1d20 = 14]
A living tree: [1d20 = 16]
A living tree: [1d20 = 8]
A living tree: [1d3 = 1]
The remaining trees rush you to prevent the taking of the skull! But fail!
Sonadora runs to the tree and grabs the skull.
A living tree: [1d20+1 = 3]
The tree tries to stop you, but fails to hit!
Sonadora reaches into the tree and tugs out the satyr's skull!
The wind suddenly dies quiets down to nothing, and you can hear the group's breaths in the stillness.
As you hold the skull, a grim sight assails you... veins and muscles begin to form around the bleached bone, covering the whiteness with pulsating flesh. The head shakes out of your hand, its blood making it slick and difficult to hold - but instead of dropping to the floor, a pair of newly formed bat-like wings unfurl from its side and it begins to hover in midair!

This floating head can curse you into becoming a floating head! Quite freaky, isn't it?

Sonadora: Um....
Sonadora stares at her hands with disgust.
Geyer drops the axe and draws sword and shield.
Arphaxad: Knowledge (Arcana) [1d20+9 = 23]
Sonadora: Knowledge (Nature) [1d20+3 = 19]
Arphaxad: Knowledge: Planes [1d20+9 = 15]
Ranja: Knowledge: Religion [1d20+6 = 21]
The being in front of you is completely unnatural. Summoned by great evil, the Vargouille's greatest weapons are its shriek and kiss.
Geyer: What foul magic is this? The head lives on it's own!
Sonadora: Maybe we can put it back?
Arphaxad: Maybe it speaks.
Sonadora wipes her hands on Arphaxad's coat in a way he won't notice.
Arphaxad: The oracle foretold this.
The vargouille releases an ear-piercing shriek!
Arphaxad: Fortitude save [1d20+1 = 14]
Ranja: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 5]
Sonadora: Fortitude save [1d20+4 = 7]
Vida: Fortitude save [1d20+2 = 14]
Geyer: Fortitude save [1d20+5 = 11]
Geyer, Sonadora, Ranja... you feel your ear drums rupture as the Vargouille's shriek pierces your skull! You find yourselves unable to move at all!
Vargouille: [2d4 = 5]
Vida: Bite [1d20+3 = 20]
Vida leaps up to bite at the Vargouille and manages to catch the bottom of it!
Vida: Bite damage [1d6+1 = 4]
Arphaxad casts Scorching Ray!
Arphaxad: Scorching Ray [1d20+2= 20]
Arphaxad: Damage, Scorching Ray [4d6 = 7]
Arphaxad steals himself and summons forth a scorching ray with his will! It engulfs the Vargouille, tearing its wings to shreds!
A glow settles upon the skull and the ghastly flesh upon it withers and fades, leaving just the goat-horned skull.
Sonadora tries to hoot but she can't move her vocal cords. Settles for standing still.
As the Vargouille dies, you feel the paralysis wear off.
Sonadora falls over from the shock.
Sonadora: What was that!?
Arphaxad: You're lucky that you can move, knight. I was gonna put you into the tree where the skull was
Sonadora crawls over to Vida and tries to heal him some.
Sonadora: Heal [1d20+8 = 19]
Sonadora - You look over Vida's wounds and find something unsettling... aside from the wounds and poison, it appears he may have ingested some of the Vargouille.
Geyer: So the weird head thing died pretty quick. But now what?
Arphaxad: Now we go back to Garrett, to learn what this all means.
You do what you can for the poison, drawing it from the wounds, but you're not sure if the vargouille's cursed flesh might have other effects.
Geyer: Fair enough. You carry the skull, wizard. It seems you can handle it if it acts up again.
Arphaxad: Very well.
Arphaxad picks up the skull.
Geyer collects the axe and lance he dropped, and whistles for Golem.
Sonadora: Ranja, can you heal Vida? There's something wrong with him.
Ranja moves closer to Vida and closes her eyes, murmuring a soft prayer beneath her breath.
As you heal the wounds, you notice something odd about a wound on Vida's forehead.
After a closer look, the wounds appear to be the beginnings of horns...
END SESSION