22/10/2024
26th Day of May 1492
Weather: Clear.
High Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius.
Low Temperature: 9 degrees Celsius.
Mission: Find the Hart of the Forest
Campaign: Forest of Wyrms
Location(s): Whispering woods, Forest of Wyrms, Sacred Glade.
Present: Barlyn, Zinalla, Seraphina, Brielle, Elysande, Glepper & T'or.
Order of March: The group prepares for a treacherous journey, forming an order of march to ensure their safety. The adventurers are lined up with Brielle, the perceptive leader, at the front, followed by Glepper, a rogue with deadly poisoned daggers, Seraphina, an archer whose bow rarely misses, Barlyn, wielding a fearsome battle axe, and Zinalla, a paladin with a gleaming sword. Elysande, the battle-hardened warrior, stands near T’or, a ferocious barbarian also wielding a battle axe. T’or and Elysande are roped together for additional security as they approach a precarious cliff edge.
Cliff Edge and Path: The group reaches a cliff with a 300-foot drop to a forest below. A narrow and steep path winds down the cliff, just wide enough for a single person. The adventurers begin their descent cautiously, moving sideways when necessary. For an entire hour, they carefully pick their way down the dangerous path. As they near the bottom, Brielle notices something hidden in the long grass – a marker stone etched with an Elvish inscription. She reads it aloud:
Brielle: “It says, ‘Follow the markers.’”
They exchange glances, unsure of what dangers lie ahead, but they move forward across the scrubland, trusting the Elvish guidance.
The Scrubland and Strange Pool: The group crosses the scrubland, keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of danger. In the distance, they spot a tree that stands out. As they approach, they see a small pool of water about 20 to 30 feet in front of the tree, and another marker stone ahead.
Glepper, who has been scanning the area with his sharp eyes and ears, suddenly gets distracted by a branch that snaps underfoot. He turns to Barlyn.
Glepper (whispering): "Move quietly, will you?"
But as he scans the surroundings again, Glepper freezes, his eyes widening. A massive creature – a feline-like beast with six legs and tentacles sprouting from its shoulders – emerges from the shadows. It leaps toward the group, specifically targeting Zinalla, sinking its claws into the paladin.
Battle with the Beast: Zinalla grimaces in pain as the beast’s claws dig deep. Glepper quickly reacts, casting Chill Touch, but his spell goes wide. Brielle summons radiant power and casts Sacred Flame, striking the creature and dealing significant damage.
Barlyn surges forward, while Elysande performs a precise and powerful lunge attack with her battle axe, empowered by her superiority dice. She slashes the beast, landing a heavy blow. Seraphina, however, misses her mark and her arrow accidentally grazes Elysande. She gasps and whispers to Zinalla.
Seraphina: "Shh, don’t tell him it was me!"
Zinalla, undeterred, calls upon divine energy and delivers a devastating Divine Smite, severely wounding the beast. T’or, now raging, lets out a war cry and cleaves into the beast with his axe. But as quickly as the battle began, the beast suddenly vanishes.
T’or, still in a rage, drops to the floor in frustration.
T’or (grumbling): "What was that thing?"
Glepper, curious as always, scratches his head.
Glepper: "I’ve only heard rumours of a large, fast beast. It could be one of them…"
The group, wary and on edge, regroups and continues onward, but something feels wrong.
Second Marker and Ominous Signs: Brielle spots the second marker stone up ahead, but T’or sniffs the air suspiciously.
T’or: "Something don't smell right ahead."
Zinalla tightens her grip on her sword, eyes narrowed.
Zinalla: "I feel a malevolent spirit ahead."
They proceed with caution, their eyes scanning the eerie landscape. In the distance, strange bushes loom, and a palpable sense of despair weighs on the party.
Second Marker and Ominous Signs: Brielle spots the second marker stone up ahead, but T’or sniffs the air suspiciously.
T’or: "Something don't smell right ahead."
Zinalla tightens her grip on her sword, eyes narrowed.
Zinalla: "I feel a malevolent spirit ahead."
They proceed with caution, their eyes scanning the eerie landscape. In the distance, strange bushes loom, and a palpable sense of despair weighs on the party.
Glepper, ever the scout, hides in the bushes to get a better view but is suddenly hit by a wave of sinister energy. The atmosphere grows thick with tension.
Battle with the Tree: Suddenly, without warning, a giant tree animated with dark magic rises up, its branches thrashing like massive arms. Brielle immediately casts Bless on herself, Zinalla, Elysande, and Barlyn to bolster their spirits. Zinalla charges forward and smites the cursed tree with divine energy, causing it to shriek in response.
Barlyn, fighting his way through dense branches, swings his axe but struggles to land a solid hit. T’or, raging with fury, attempts to strike the tree, but the thrashing branches make it difficult, and he misses. The tree retaliates, grabbing T’or and trying to throw him, but T’or manages to slip free.
Elysande, always ready to seize an opening, lands a critical blow. He unleashes a series of rapid attacks with his battle axe, causing massive damage to the tree.
Elysande: “Yah-hoo!”
However, the tree fights back viciously. It throws T’or through the air, sending him tumbling eight feet away. Zinalla feels a dark wave emanating from the tree, as do Brielle, Seraphina, and Barlyn.
The Battle Intensifies: Glepper, dashing behind the tree, seizes an opportunity and stabs it from behind, landing a critical hit. Seraphina follows suit and shoots her bow, damaging the tree further.
As the battle rages on, the tree strikes back. Seraphina is thrown, landing hard on the ground and falling unconscious. Glepper, angered by the loss of his companion, uses his Fury of the Small ability and strikes again. Brielle, too, is struck down and falls unconscious, her Bless spell fading from the party.
Desperate Moments: Zinalla rushed to Brielle’s side and used a healing kit to stabilize her, but Brielle remains unconscious. T’or, ever defiant, charged the tree once more but is again thrown to the ground. Elysande continues to deal damage, but the tree’s attacks take their toll, injuring multiple members of the party.
Seraphina was close to succumbing to death. Brielle too, edging closer to death. With the tree still thrashing, the group fought desperately. Barlyn was struck down, but succumbed to his wounds, and died on the battlefield.
Glepper and Seraphina took cover behind a rock, licking their wounds. Meanwhile, T’or, filled with berserker rage, landed the final blow with his axe.
Timber: The tree let out a terrible groan and began to fall. Brielle, unconscious and lying in its path, was crushed beneath it, failing another death-saving throw. Zinalla tried to dodge out of the way but was hit by the falling branches. T’or managed to leap to safety just in time.
T’or: "Hurry, we have to save them!"
Despite their efforts, Barlyn was beyond saving. He succumbed to his injuries. Brielle, however, was saved in the nick of time by T’or and Zinalla. She drank multiple healing potions and was revived. Zinalla, too, was healed and back on his feet.
The battle has left them battered, but the party presses on, mourning the loss of Barlyn and carrying a renewed sense of caution for the dangers that lie ahead.
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