Bix addresses Ragdor, Yes, I do have my bag of holding. It should be able to carry some limbs from the cured tree. I will be happy to help forge for food and anything else we need.
ERKY will look at the dead Giant Frog, “I recall eating frog legs once. It wasn’t too bad. These legs might feed us for several days.”
The party will make camp near the entrance to the grove level. The party will lead Sharwyn and Sir Braford to the area. You will notice that they are reticent to leave the area with soil and walk upon hewn stone. You should be able to camp in a location where they can stay on the soil.
As Xanth and Ragdor head out the dwarf turns to Bix, Lady Bix, you're really good with that blade, could you help Erky dress those frog legs for cooking? I'll keep and out out for something to make a cooking fire with while we are looking. Thank missy.
XANTH and RAGDORsearches the Grove and determines that only the party, Sharwyn, and Sir Braford are in it. That is, beside a great number of bushes and shrubs where you will find plenty of material to build a fire.
ERKY with assistance from BIX and GLYNT will prepare the Giant Frog for roasting.
The frog taste kind of like what you would get if you mixed the texture of chicken with the flavor of fresh caught haddock or some other similar variety of fish. Roasted, it was quite good.
ERKY ponders about Giant Frog farms, but alas the Gnome is far more studious than entrepreneurial.
(To move things along.)
RAGDOR will pray and try everything to heal Sharwyn and Sir Braford. Nothing works. He will correctly assume that it would take at least a divine Heal or Regenerate or both to reverse what has happened to these two.
DAY ELEVEN (Ten Days Until the Summer Solstice)
(What does the party do? If you work on very minimal rations, the party may could go ten days supplemented by the giant frog. Nature checks would be needed to determine if there is anything in the grove that is edible. Do you wait it out or do you go ahead and try the red fruit? OOC-Almost like do you take the red pill or the blue pill.)
Xanth will try and talk with the Sharwyn, and Sir Braford. "We were sent by your mother to bring you home. Do you want to go home? Did you see or hear the Druid do anything that could be useful?"
The party will produce a stick to write on the soil. Sharwyn will write slowly, "Home. Yes." And then, "Red Fruit Life." "Pale Fruit Death." "Tree must uproot." "Split Red Fruit." "Remove seed, crush them." "Half to me." "Half to him."
Glynt will Investigate the tree, looking at the fruit, root structure, and anything else that seems unnatural or out of place (being careful not to get too close and keeping Xanth at hand to watch his back and react if needed) :
GLYNT will determine that the fruit a red one on the far-right limb, and a pale one on the far-left limb appear to be fully ripe. The roots appear to go into the ground and along the top of the soil. The Gnome will notice sprouts coming up along the roots many feet away. You will notice that even after a single night the burn areas on the tree seems to be all gone. It would take a lot to totally destroy this tree.
XANTH picks the red fruit, cuts it in half, and gives it to both Sharwyn and Sir Braford. He crushes the seeds. They eat of the fruit. The change is almost immediate. Their woody skin becomes softened yet still retains an ashen look.
After a few minutes, Sharwyn is able to speak, "Thank you. I thought we were dead." She will tell the party what she recalls. She begins to weep when she recalls the death of her brother Talgen at the hands of the Hobgoblin Chief. Unfortunately, her recollections after becoming a supplicant of the Gulthias Tree is murky at best.
The healing properties of the fruit is tremendous. And though Sharwyn and Sir Braford could feel the party uproot the tree, they urge and even assist the party in destroying the Gulthias tree.
Sharwyn and Sir Braford recovers though they retain the ashen skin color as a reminder of their ordeal.
The party leaves the grove and heads up. They pass the Goblin zone without incident, now led by a Hobgoblin Chieftess. When the party reaches the Kobold section, they see again Meepo and Yusdrayl. The party with Sharwyn and Sir Braford rest the night with the Kobolds.
DAY TWELVE and who cares any more about the Summer Solstice
The next day the party heads up and out of the rift leaving the Sunless Citadel behind.
The whole town rallies around the party as you enter Oakhurst. The Matriarch Kerowyn is equally overjoyed at the return of her daughter, Sharwyn, but saddened by the loss of her son Talgen. The party will give Kerowyn, Talgen's signet ring. And as promised Kerowyn will give the party their reward and then some. She gives the party a coffer containing 50 Waterdeep Platinum Pieces.
The town erupts in a celebration that last way past midnight.
END THE SUNLESS CITADEL
DAY THIRTEEN
The sun arises to a warm and beautiful day in Oakhurst.
Bix addresses Ragdor, Yes, I do have my bag of holding. It should be able to carry some limbs from the cured tree. I will be happy to help forge for food and anything else we need.
ERKY will look at the dead Giant Frog, “I recall eating frog legs once. It wasn’t too bad. These legs might feed us for several days.”
The party will make camp near the entrance to the grove level. The party will lead Sharwyn and Sir Braford to the area. You will notice that they are reticent to leave the area with soil and walk upon hewn stone. You should be able to camp in a location where they can stay on the soil.
The party has an uninterrupted rest.
DAY TEN (Eleven Days Until the Summer Solstice)
(What does the party do on day ten?)
Xanth will take a closer look around the Grove hopefully with Ragdor. (Trying to give him advantage on a perception check)
Ragdor will cast guidance on Xanth and help him search the grove out.
Perception 11
Guidance 4
As Xanth and Ragdor head out the dwarf turns to Bix, Lady Bix, you're really good with that blade, could you help Erky dress those frog legs for cooking? I'll keep and out out for something to make a cooking fire with while we are looking. Thank missy.
XANTH and RAGDOR searches the Grove and determines that only the party, Sharwyn, and Sir Braford are in it. That is, beside a great number of bushes and shrubs where you will find plenty of material to build a fire.
ERKY with assistance from BIX and GLYNT will prepare the Giant Frog for roasting.
The frog taste kind of like what you would get if you mixed the texture of chicken with the flavor of fresh caught haddock or some other similar variety of fish. Roasted, it was quite good.
ERKY ponders about Giant Frog farms, but alas the Gnome is far more studious than entrepreneurial.
(To move things along.)
RAGDOR will pray and try everything to heal Sharwyn and Sir Braford. Nothing works. He will correctly assume that it would take at least a divine Heal or Regenerate or both to reverse what has happened to these two.
DAY ELEVEN (Ten Days Until the Summer Solstice)
(What does the party do? If you work on very minimal rations, the party may could go ten days supplemented by the giant frog. Nature checks would be needed to determine if there is anything in the grove that is edible. Do you wait it out or do you go ahead and try the red fruit? OOC-Almost like do you take the red pill or the blue pill.)
Xanth will try and talk with the Sharwyn, and Sir Braford. "We were sent by your mother to bring you home. Do you want to go home? Did you see or hear the Druid do anything that could be useful?"
Ragdor listens as the kids respond.
Sharwyn nods in the affirmative, but cannot seem to form words. She makes sounds like two sticks rubbing together.
"Do we have anything she can write with?"
The party will produce a stick to write on the soil. Sharwyn will write slowly, "Home. Yes." And then, "Red Fruit Life." "Pale Fruit Death." "Tree must uproot." "Split Red Fruit." "Remove seed, crush them." "Half to me." "Half to him."
"I see." Xanth will go over to the tree and take a closer look at the fruit. Are there pale apples and red apples? Is there anything else noteworthy?
(My investigation is +0 I would love to aid anyone in this though.)
Ragdor follows Xanth to help check the tree out, casting guidance on him. Tree must uproot? What'cha think that means?
Glynt will Investigate the tree, looking at the fruit, root structure, and anything else that seems unnatural or out of place (being careful not to get too close and keeping Xanth at hand to watch his back and react if needed) :
Investigation (advantage from Xanth): 24
After helping with the frog, Bix moves over closer to the tree with Glynt to see if she can see anything.
GLYNT will determine that the fruit a red one on the far-right limb, and a pale one on the far-left limb appear to be fully ripe. The roots appear to go into the ground and along the top of the soil. The Gnome will notice sprouts coming up along the roots many feet away. You will notice that even after a single night the burn areas on the tree seems to be all gone. It would take a lot to totally destroy this tree.
Assuming he tell everyone. Xanth will pick the red apple cut it in two pull out the seeds and crush them. Then gives a half to each of them.
Ragdor notices the roots and muses, with roots that close to the surface it should be easy to uproot uh?
(Moving on!)
XANTH picks the red fruit, cuts it in half, and gives it to both Sharwyn and Sir Braford. He crushes the seeds. They eat of the fruit. The change is almost immediate. Their woody skin becomes softened yet still retains an ashen look.
After a few minutes, Sharwyn is able to speak, "Thank you. I thought we were dead." She will tell the party what she recalls. She begins to weep when she recalls the death of her brother Talgen at the hands of the Hobgoblin Chief. Unfortunately, her recollections after becoming a supplicant of the Gulthias Tree is murky at best.
The healing properties of the fruit is tremendous. And though Sharwyn and Sir Braford could feel the party uproot the tree, they urge and even assist the party in destroying the Gulthias tree.
Sharwyn and Sir Braford recovers though they retain the ashen skin color as a reminder of their ordeal.
The party leaves the grove and heads up. They pass the Goblin zone without incident, now led by a Hobgoblin Chieftess. When the party reaches the Kobold section, they see again Meepo and Yusdrayl. The party with Sharwyn and Sir Braford rest the night with the Kobolds.
DAY TWELVE and who cares any more about the Summer Solstice
The next day the party heads up and out of the rift leaving the Sunless Citadel behind.
The whole town rallies around the party as you enter Oakhurst. The Matriarch Kerowyn is equally overjoyed at the return of her daughter, Sharwyn, but saddened by the loss of her son Talgen. The party will give Kerowyn, Talgen's signet ring. And as promised Kerowyn will give the party their reward and then some. She gives the party a coffer containing 50 Waterdeep Platinum Pieces.
The town erupts in a celebration that last way past midnight.
END THE SUNLESS CITADEL
DAY THIRTEEN
The sun arises to a warm and beautiful day in Oakhurst.
LEVEL FOUR
(What does the party do next?)