Arissa casts vicious mockery. 

Damage: 3

Once again, Ozum calls forth a blazing strike of lightning from above. The tree, sufficiently aware of its surroundings and the dark druid-called cloud above, is able to avoid taking the full force of the strike. What little life remains in the tree, however, is snuffed out by the words of Arissa. The tree, already misshapen and diseased-looking, becomes immediately moreso. Twisting and turning in on itself, it eventually falls to the ground and bursts into thousands of splinters when it does so. 

Arissa goes around, checking to see how her companions are doing. "You know, the plants from around where I grew up had the good manners to not attack passersby, but I suppose one can't expect the shrubbery to be particularly pleasant around here."

"Definitely seems dead this time" says Ysander poking some of the remains with his toe. "It looks like you can all take care of yourselves, I seem to have had some luck in finding you."

"Give me a second to check some of the others." Ozum will use the remainder of his spell to 'check' the trees in front of him in the form of lightning strikes.

Frandal lowers his bow and keeps quiet, it seems that he seems lost in his own thoughts, and checks again his bow string and the weapon’s balance. 

The tempestuous cloud overhead continues to scorch tree after tree as Ozum calls forth lightning bolt after lightning bolt. After a few minutes, the surrounding area is filled with half-burned trees, trees that are slowly smoldering in flames, and trees that have been split in two. It seems that the party has dispatched the only tree blight in the vicinity. 

“How are you Thoradin? “ ask Frandal to the Windhover as Ozzum commands the nature to clear the path for them. 

Thoradin brushes himself off and mutters something in dwarvish that is inaudible to the others. He then says, “All’s well, master elf. By Moradin’s beard, I’ll never look at another tree the same way.”

After Ozum concludes the rain of lightning strikes, the party continues toward the dark valley etched into the mountainside as described by Veraveznik. Eventually, the twisted, eerie trees become less common and the ground becomes steeper and steeper as the valley draws near. Like a massive, black gash in the rock, the valley leads deep into these mountains known simply as The Teeth.

As the walls of smooth stone begin to rise on each side of the party, Veraveznik’s dragon form can be seen silhouetted against the somber sky. A few minutes later, she perches her massive body on a ledge above the group and says, “Kubrithani’s tower stands on the other side of The Teeth, little ones. I do not think it wise to scale these mountains, however. The climb is far too difficult. Furthermore, I have learned the dark knight’s tower can only be entered from underground…from the Skein.”

Those two words—the Skein—have a haunting effect on Slasher, for that is where he was when he nearly died and was rescued by Veraveznik. The ranger has seen how dark and treacherous the Skein can be.

“The Skein—as its name implies—is a nightmarish tangle of tunnels that winds through the rock beneath The Teeth,” explains Veraveznik. “Those who are unfamiliar with its twists and turns may become lost forever. But your path to Kubrithani, and your captured friend Bharash, lies that way it seems.”

The dragon’s resonant voice falls quiet momentarily as Veraveznik climbs down from the ledge and shifts into the form of an old woman. “This valley, I know, has an ancient entrance to the Skein.” She points to where the valley leads deeper into the mountainside.

Frandal looks to the others and replies to the dragon in the form of an old woman, with a firm determination in his eyes. 

“You are our guide Veraveznik, we pledge to the wisdom of your words. “

The eagle perches herself at the elf’s shoulder.

*I do not like tunnels, you know it*

*Yes I do * replies to her telepathically *but I trust the dragon. Climbing that mountains seems too dangerous and not all of us could fly as you can my friend*

*If only you had practiced more with the Wave... you could have been a bladesinger like your grandfather...*

*And deprive the world of such a fine archer as I am? That’s preposterous!* 

* fine archer? You just missed an inmense tree... a tree...*

*Well I didn’t want to hit the dwarf...*

*Sure...*

After a few seconds the eagle spoke again.

*Frandal*

*Yes?*

*Would you mind if I retire to rest once we reach the tunnels?*

*Of course my friend, you deserve it*

*Call me back when you reach the tower...*

*Sure..*

( Frandal will put Celebquesse in the dimension pocket when they reach the tunnels) 

Ozum coughs a bit after the storm cloud dissipates and the smell of ozone fill the air, "Ahem, sorry. That may have been a bit of overkill."

When the party reaches the entrance to the tunnels he asks Veraveznik, "Besides wind, what can we expect to find on the way there?"

"I cannot tell you with any certainty, druid," she responds. "Very little good, if any at all, I would think."

Veraveznik walks several minutes with the rest of the group before saying, "I am told the entrance is very near...on the other side of this rock formation." After winding their way through jagged chunks of rock that seemingly fell from high above, the members of the party see an enormous stone statue that stands near a smooth, almost polished, vertical wall of rock that extends hundreds of feet above the valley floor. The statue, which seems to have been fashioned in the image of an elf wizard, is approximately 12' tall and carved from mottled gray rock. In its hand, also carved in stone, is a ring containing five keys. Upon closer examination, each adventurer can see a keyhole in the wall of smooth rock behind the statue. 

Arissa smiles. "This seems to be some kind of puzzle! How exciting!" She looks at the keys to see if they have any distinguishing features.

Perception: 23

Arissa approaches the statue so that she can garner a better view of the five stone keys on the key ring. When she is within 10' of the statue, however, the entire valley suddenly begins to reverberate with the sound of rock grinding upon rock as the stone statue becomes animated.

"Create...destroy...surrender...steal...answer...ask..." it says slowly and lifelessly. "Which key do you choose?"

"Here goes our secrecy... " says Frandal 

"Wait.. did he just said six words? but there is only five keys and five keyholes right? "

Frandal tries to recognize the elf wizard trying to have any hiunt of his history that could give them any clue of wich key should be the right one. 

( History? 16 )

Frandal: Nothing about the statue, or the elf wizard it seems to represent, is familiar to you. 

"What do you think?" asks Frandal to the others "Create?" 

Slasher replies “The Skein... dangerous *mimics haunting screams*... only destruction. All words... fire and ice... opposites.”

"Let me see if I can get us any more information." Ozum waves his hands over his eyes and mutters a single word in druidic. He casts detect magic and examines the statue and the locks for any auras or anything else that may stand out.

Checks if needed:

Arcana: 2

Investigation: 20

Perception: 16

Based on his knowledge and experience with the arcane, Ozum deduces that the statue is some sort of stone golem. The fact that it can speak, however, is somewhat perplexing, for golems normally lack the ability to communicate.