"Well, let's get to it, I suppose." Elena declared determinedly.  Before turning to leave, she bid farewell to the dryad with another bow, this one lower and more graceful than the first.  "May we meet you here again, if we defeat your wooden nemesis?  We're still relative newcomers to these lands, and you're the first friendly face we've met among the fey.  I would love a chance to talk about these lands of yours, when your thoughts are not so preoccupied with the threat of getting scythed by a tree."

Tiressia bids the group farewell and promises to welcome them back if they return victorious.

---

The adventurers rode their horses South through forest with trepidation. The trees were tall and menacing, their branches blocking out much of the sunlight. The air was damp and heavy, filled with the smell of decay and earth. Somewhere in the distance, a lone owl screeched, its eerie cry echoing through the forest. The creak of branches swaying in the wind served as a constant reminder that danger lurked around every corner. Despite feeling uneasy, they continued onward, ready to face whatever was ahead.

Eventually the party found a woodland clearing, chocked with the sweet stench of decay hanging thick in the air. Knotted branches of sickly trees line the perimeter, creating a thick canopy that blocks most of the sunlight and cloaks the hollow in shadow. Withered vegetation struggles to grow in ragged clumps among the multitude of bones strewn across the forest floor.

Based on Tiressia's description the creature they were hunting could be any number of trees as they all looked twisted and sinister.

A quick glance around showed that all of the likeliest candidates had canopies of leaves. It would seem to be too easy to have one tree that stuck out like a sore thumb. Tiressia had warned the group repeatedly that the scythe tree was an ambush predator, blending in until it was too late...

"So we're looking for a tree in the middle of the forest?" Borric sounded dubious. "But this tree must look more sinister than these, right?" He pulled out a flask, "I have one bottle of Alchemist Fire. Anyone care for it?"

"Thank you, but I have my magic. Speaking of which, maybe this particular tree radiates magic?" Kael considers using his spell to search for traces of magic on the suspicious trees.

Going to cast Shield and Mirror Image before we close in. And Detect Magic once we get in 60' range of the trees, though I have no idea if that would do anything at all. Detect Evil would work better, I think.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

"She did say it was an evil tree."  Elena suggested. "If it is, it won't be able to hide from me for long." 

A pale blue light began to emanate from the paladin's eyes as she attuned her senses to the cosmic energy around her.  Any powerful evil creature within 60' would have a visible aura she could spot.

OOC: Using Elena's alter self ability just for the strength bonus, then fully activating her detect evil ability before moving forwards.

I will take it, my lord, Caramip's small voice calls out. Most of the time of their travel she's just quietly looking about and trying to not get underfoot. If there are any interesting natural features she sees, she'll stop and jot down a few notes as to where the feature is in her map making kit so as to come back later for a detailed survey at a later date.

She also tries to prepare herself for what this creature might be able to do.

"I can't see the tree for the forest." The old elf complains, then lets out a little laugh as his familiar gives his hand an admonishing nip.

Dominique follows behind the others, letting the more dexterous and light of the party scout the footings through the underbrush. As the group travels he takes the time to appeal to Abadar for aid in the coming battle and as they draw nearer in these dark woods he takes up a handful of stones and begins to occasionally select a single stone, light it up with the holy light of a torch, and fling it into the darkest shadows which seem close in on them. Reaching the bone-filled clearing, the High Priest dismounts, ensures his crossbow is loaded and slung on his shoulder, and readies his shield emblazoned with the golden key of Abadar. He nods his readiness to others, and prepares to act when Elena outs the demon tree.

Preparing Summon Monster II in his open slot, assuming this is the same day.

Detecting for magic does get a faint hit but it is weird...it's not coming from the trees but seems to be buried underneath one of them.

As Elena scans the area though her inner paladin senses tingle as she start staring at one tree in  particular...and realizes almost too late that it is staring back at her...

Surprise round! Elena can call the alarm and you all get the standard "half round to do stuff, get into position etc. etc."

I'll work on getting a battlemap ready but it is ~25 feet away. If you guys are at 12 o'clock then it is around the 4 o'clock marker.

Bump my pm above.

"There!" Elena called out as she realized just what she was looking at.  She immediately dropped into a combat pose: Her feet sliding smoothly into a wide stance, facing the monstrous tree side-on with her glaive leveled and fully extended in it's direction.

Her first instinct was to charge, but something held her back.  After all, hadn't the dryad said the tree was intelligent?  Sure, it looked evil, and it detected as evil, and it's effects on the forest were certainly...not encouraging.  But none of that warranted death, necessarily, and the only other reason they had to slay the thing was the word of a complete stranger.

As pointless as it probably was to try and talk down something like the scythe tree, Elena felt obligated to give it some kind of effort.

"If you can speak,"  She called out, watching the tree carefully.  "Now would be a good time for it." She repeated the message in sylvan, the only other language she knew.

OOC: If you guys want to attack, Elena won't hold it against you.  You're not paladins, and trying to talk this thing down is a pretty low-percentage move.

READIED ACTION: If the enemy comes within 15' of Elena, she takes a 5' step towards it and attacks.

Once Elena spots the creature, Kael separates from the group and moves to one side.

Move 20' to one side, with the idea of going around it to establish flanking next round after it attacks us.

Borric drew sword. He issued a challenge to the tree and felt silly for it. Nevertheless, he stepped forward to strike at the trunk of the tree. "Should have brought an axe."

---

Swift Action: Challenge tree gives Borric +2 Damage Bonus at cost of -2 AC penalty from any other attacker that is not the tree.

Attack Tree
rolled 20 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 11.  ATK
rolled 12 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 7.  DAM

As the others begin to part and move in preparation for battle, Dominique raises his shield and offers a prayer to Abadar. The golden key emblazoned on the shield's face radiates with the god's divine will for a brief moment and a wave of courage washes over the allies.

Casting Bless, +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for 4 minutes.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Tue 24 Jan 2023.

Iar pulls a bit of dust from his component pouch and prepares the arcane words and gestures to double Elena's size and make her more effective against this creature. If it comes to blows that is. Iar wasn't a dwarf, he didn't assume that every tree was his enemy after all.

Caramip draws her crossbow and starts a recitation of the Ballad of Lord Germar. Staying where she is, she begins to point out stratagems on how to deal with the beast laced into the ballad. She reminds the others that weak to fire and strong against piercing and bashing attacks.

Actions:
Move: Draw Crossbow
Standard: Start Bardic Performance and use my Naturalist ability to give everyone within 30' +1 insight bonus to AC and on attack rolls and saving throws against extraordinary, supernatural, and spell-like abilities used by creatures of that specific kind of monster (e.g., frost giants, not all giants or all humanoids) aka Treerazor.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:48, Fri 03 Feb 2023.

Surprise Round

Elena steadies herself as she shouts out a warning.

Kael prepares himself by casting a defensive spell and suddenly there are illusuory duplicates of Kael standing in close proximity.

Borric issues a challenge.

Cara prepares her crossbow...

Round 1
Cara begins her bardic song...

Borric charges in and nicks the tree a little.

Waiting on actions from Dominique, Kael, Elena, Iar


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:43, Wed 08 Feb 2023.

Seeing that Borric is already swinging his sword at the scythe tree, Kael abandons his plan to circle around it. Instead he casts his most damaging spell and moves in to strike at the monster himself.

Swift: Spell Dance for movement and +2 AC against AoOs
Standard: Shocking Grasp
Move: Move to E12, just in range with Spell Dance
Free: Spellstrike

13:37, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 22,9,15 using 1d20+10,1d8+1,4d6 with rolls of 12,8,6,1,6,2.  Spellstrike (Attack, Damage, Shocking Grasp).

Elena felt silly for taking a defensive pose while the rest of her party rushed the tree, especially as their advance seemed to catch the monster completely off guard.  She hesitated for a brief moment, debating whether or not to hold to her earlier attempt to negotiate.  Making up her mind, she raised her glaive and charged the scythe tree.  Really, she couldn't think of any situation where they didn't kill the evil, forest-destroying monster, so she might as well get to it.

"Despoiler of nature!"  She called out, focusing her divine powers to empower her blade.  "Enemy of life and beauty!  Your blight upon the lands ends here!  In Shelyn's name, I smite you!"

OOC: I'm not sure how the surprise round would interact with the 1-round casting time of enlarge person.  If Iar can finish it on his turn, Elena waits for the spell to finish before advancing.

SWIFT: Declare smite against tree.
FULL: Charge scythe tree.  Hits AC 20 for 19 damage, or 31 damage if enlarged.

14:20, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 20,18 using d20+12,1d10+16 with rolls of 8,2.  charging smiting power attack. (note: I forgot the strength bonus from alter self)

14:23, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 31 using 2d8+17 with rolls of 6,8.  if enlarged.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:26, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Dominique had quietly hoped that the creature would have some response--be allowed some response--to Elena's attempt to parley. A peaceful, profitable solution is always preferable to risking the Baron's neck in battle, but before such talks could begin the Baron was already charging into the fray. After only the briefest of pauses to frown and sigh, the High Priest lumbers forward in his plate armor, commanding loudly as he moves, "Do not resist! You are in the lands of Rivermarch and we will be happy for the lumber if you do!"

Move: 30' to F7; Standard: Demoralize evil Tree "Stop resisting! Stop resisting!"
18:40, Today: Dominique Telvari rolled 18 using 1d20+13 with rolls of 5.  Intimidate Tree.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Thu 02 Feb 2023.

Iar starts some gestures that look to be expanding and muttering some arcane words that sound suspiciously like maximus. As he blows the dust in his palm at Elena the magic takes effect and the weave twists to his desire. Elena grows to twice her size as she charges forward.

OOC: Using Enlarge Person on Elena

Borric charged at the tree, his heavy boots crunching against the twisted, rotting wasteland. He hacked at the tree but the tree responded in kind with lightning speed and Borric barely raised his shield up in time.

The tree attacked, swinging its branches at the hero in a deadly arc. Borric raised his shield, deflecting the blows, and counterattacked with his sword. The two clashed in a shower of sparks, the knight's sword ringing out against the tree's branches.

Borric was skilled but the tree was relentless. His shield took the first hit, his sword parried the second but the third came sweeping in at his side and sent him staggering to the side as the iron hard branch smashed into his ribs and caved in his armor.

OOC: Borric takes 10 pts of damage.

Cara moves a little closer as she ends her commentary so that if she has to, she can rush in. She knows that her small crossbow isn't going to do much so she pulls out a glass flask and prepares to get closer to throw it.

Actions:
Move: Get 15' closer to square D5
Action: pull Alchemist fire to throw next round
Free: Lingering Performance for 2 more rounds

Naturalist ability gives everyone within 30' +1 insight bonus to AC and on attack rolls and saving throws against extraordinary, supernatural, and spell-like abilities used by creatures of that specific kind of monster (e.g., frost giants, not all giants or all humanoids) aka Treerazor.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Tue 14 Feb 2023.

Seeing Borric take a hit, Elena continued to press her attack against the massive tree in an attempt to follow up her last big hit.  Unfortunately, this time her strike went wide.

STANDARD: Power attack tree, natural 1.

06:55, Today: Elena Sazikova rolled 13,25 using d20+12,2d8+17 with rolls of 1,2,6.  Power attack.

Kael slashes at the tree with his sword before attempting to disengage. He judges it too risky to try using his magic this close to the monster.

Attacking, then moving to F16. Acrobatics roll to avoid AoOs probably failed, but Kael still has AC 26 against AoOs, as well as Mirror Image. So, he'll probably be fine. Probably. Oh, and I forgot to roll for number of Images before.

14:16, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 21,3 using 1d20+10,1d8+1 with rolls of 11,2.  Attack, Damage.
14:16, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 14 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 5.  Acrobatics.
14:25, Today: Kael Valleni rolled 3 using 1d4+1 with rolls of 2.  Mirror Image.