Ryman Drax

Having never seen such a creature before in his life, Ryman looks at the weeping tree with a mix of horror and fascination. He'd heard about this Queen, some sort of fay but he wasn't at all here for any of that, if the rest were that was their business. This talk of shards and was far beyond him, but just as well, he couldn't deny the curiosity that was slowly welling up within him. He'd heard rumors of course, legends of the mirror that was shattered and spread across the forest and the darkness that resided within this horrid place. Perhaps killing two birds with one stone was in play here, he could help in preventing something evil from coming into the world, something far worse than the man that had tortured him and in that way perhaps save others from his fate.

"I say we find these shards," he said, "perhaps before this queen does. The way this tree is talking about it, it seems like it's important and perhaps she needs them? I'm just going off on a guess here, but perhaps by getting them we could somehow slow her down or something?"

Norlaith

"WAIT!" Norlaith yells up to Weltershmerz when she sees his hand go to his weapon, "Treants aren't naturally hostile creatures, maybe it could help us?" 

She looks at Ryman and her face twists in apprehension as she whispers, hoping the Treant doesn't hear her, "I don't know about you guys but I'm not here to find any shards. Although if the Queen is as bad as the stories it might not hurt to try and find them..." She trails off, lost in thought. 

Suddenly she speaks up to the Treant, with a look of terror but one also with determination, "would you tell us where to find the shards?"

Persuasion (?) : 10

Weltschmerz

"Do not worry, elf." Weltschmerz replies to her interception. "It's just a precaution. I don't intend to kill innocent creatures if I can help it. But there is nothing wrong with him physically, yet something seems amiss. Also we should have a chat about our intentions afterwards."

Ryman Drax

Ryman moves a few steps forward, just enough to be about half a foot in front of Weltschmerz and kneels down to try and glean any clue to see what's wrong with the tree.

Investigation: 12

Kirra speaks up as Weltschmerz, gives a firm No.  "Wait..." but it's too late.  She ponders, from the way the tree said 'she has returned', if this is a good thing or a bad thing to the tree, despite the weeping sound.  Perhaps they are tears of joy, or much of the weeping happened because she had been gone.

She casts Enhance Ability on herself such that her Fey mentors will guide her Wisdom.

Insight on tree: 25

Insight on tree: 15

OOC Please ignore first roll.  Entered it wrong.

Ryman finds nothing wrong with the treant, though close inspection of the sap tears revealed that they do not harm the creature itself, but happen to burn and even melt dirt and rocks on the ground nearby.

Kirra attempts to see just what side the treant is on. Through close and careful listening, she is able to hear...a slight amount of joy when it speaks.

Ryman Drax

Ryman stands from his crouch and nudges Weltschmerz, pointing to the base of the tree. "Look there. It's burning the rocks and dirt around it," he then turns to the others. "Whatever this treant thing is, I'm beginning to like it less and less."

Kirra walks behind Weltschmerz's large form so that she can cast Enhance Ability once more without being seen to enhance her ability to influence others this time.

"We are all strangers here but perhaps this large one simply means he cannot look for the shards because he does know what or where they are.  I, on the other hand, hail from the Queen's old home of the Feywild and might be most willing to look for the shards, if I knew where to look and they can benefit the Queen!  After all, I was sent in honor of the Queen's return!"  She speaks most enthusiastically about finding the shards, but does not actually tell any lies thus far.

Persuasion 11

OOC  I can only assume the tree hears everything we are saying.  'Eagle's Splendor' to enhance CHA this time.  Technically Kirra has not told a lie, she is just being vague about why she might be willing to look for shards.  If the dungeon master prefers this to be Deception, however, which would be quite reasonable, let's perhaps just subtract (5) from the roll above.

For those who used Insight...You can see that its tears flowing more and more, and its weeping voice started to grow louder. It was getting concerned. It was losing patience.

The treant was suspicious for a moment, but after listening to the words of Kirra, it started to almost sound...relieved. Joyous, even,

"Thank you! Thank you! You truly are her most loyal of followers! I know where the shards lie, and have helped watch over them and protect them from intruders seeking to deny her what she deserves. I shall request the forest to speak to the others, and let them know that you and your allies are here to help."

It turns to the the forest behind it, and speaks in an uncommon tongue.

Kirra will immediately recognize it as Sylvan, and understand its words:

After it had finished speaking, the Treant turns to the group and tells them of where the shards are,

One rests at the bottom of a dark pool.

One is embedded in the trunk of the Hanging Tree.

One lies beneath a mound of smooth, black stones.

One has fallen into a deep pit of shadows.

And one is somewhere within the Putrid Bog.

The Weeping Treant moves to the side of the path before you.

"Go forth, now. Our Queen will surely reward you for returning to her what was lost."

The road ahead is dark, but you all can make out four paths branching out from where you are. The East, the Northeast, the Northwest, and the West. All of these paths are available...

"Thank you, loyal friend to our Queen!  We will be sure to tell her of your great service.  May I ask, where are the Hanging Tree and the Putrid Bog?  As I said, I am from the Fey and not familiar with our Queen's newer home here."

The Treant was slightly disappointed by the question, but guessed that it was fair enough. It pointed to the Eastern paths.

"The Putrid Bog is on the Eastern-most path. The Hanging Tree is where the Northeastern path leads. Be warned, servants of the Queen. The bog had been taken sometime ago by a creature not loyal to the Queen. It has used both its own power and the advantages of the bog to trick and slay many of us who seek to reclaim the shard for her majesty. We dare not ask Aazael to assist us in such an endeavor. Such a task should not distract him from his own duties."

"If this will get me closer to my query I'm all for it," Ryman says, "I'm up for the Eastern track."

"Thank you, loyal guardian of the Queen."

Kirra simply says "Indeed, to the East" and leaves it at that for now since they are still too close to the weeping tree to talk openly.

Weltschmerz

Weltschmerz heads off towards the east. When he is sure of being out of earshot from the treant he turns to confront Kirra. He seems agitated "I hope my assessment of this being a ruse is correct. You'd better be careful, lest you accindentally deceive me too. I don't know you well enough having just met you, so you better find a way to let me know if you pull a stunt like that again."

He seems lost in thought for a moment then continues in resignation. "If the queen has indeed returned I fear I'll need all the help I can get, so I'm forced to trust you. I guess we can try to find ONE shard to see if it can be destroyed, but we need to be careful or we might unwillingly help the Queen."

Having spoken his mind he turns again to continue eastward. "By the way does anyone know who this Aazael guy is supposed to be?"

Kirra smiles at Weltschmerz and speaks calmly and still in an upbeat tone.  "Do not worry my friend, we are on the same side and any small skills I possess should benefit us all, as will your mighty sword.  You do not need to ask me first if you feel it is pressing that you use that, after all.  I have no such weapon, myself," she adds, humbly, gesturing towards his massive great sword as she speaks.  "If we come across an enemy, I will say what I must for the good of our newly fated group here, although I do prefer not to have to lie or use vile language.  It is not my way, you see.  I was simply vague with the tree.  I will give you that hint, dear Weltshmerz.  If you hear me saying something that could be taken a number of ways or is otherwise vague, you might know that I am playing my hand, as they say.  To you, I will speak directly, however.  I wish to destroy these shards, or do whatever else is best to banish or destroy this 'Queen' in the name if Titania."  She reaches up to put a hand on his shoulder, if he will allow, and looks him in the eye.  "You may not know me, but you know of the Gods, and I know you have faith.  That is why I will put my trust in you, mighty one."

A moment later, with regard to the shards and Aazael, Kirra adds "unfortunately I do not know of this Aazael, but I did not want to push it any further with that tree."  "I was thinking that we should find out what this creature in the bog is, and ask if it knows more of the shards or how to destroy them.  I assume destroying them is good, at least.  I doubt the creature would give us a shard, but hopefully we do not need them ourselves.  If we can help the creature destroy one, perhaps it will aid us in finding more and doing the same to those."

"It sounds dangerous, so we must find a way to enter the bog and show that we are no threat.  What do you all think?"

Weltschmerz

"I do believe you for now as I hope your actions will support your eloquent tongue. Trust is hard to earn and easy to loose. Also it ultimately comes with pain." He turns around his helmet hiding his expressions but his voice betraying that he is once again lost in his own world.

"I'm not good at posing no threat. But there are bigger stakes, so if your deception helps us avoiding taxing confrontations I'm in support" he asserts his voice firm and commanding again. 

A little bit later he even has an amused tone "Don't downplay your capabilities, Kirra. A big sword is just impressive but can be easily replaced. A mere vessel of far greater powers bestowed to me by the gods."

Kirra smiles at Weltschmerz once again, and agrees with his final words.  "Indeed, we are all humbled in the light of the power of the gods.  May we serve them well."  After another pause she adds in a more playful tone "you're right, you know, I'm not too bad with this bow!"

"So, shall we head this way then everyone?"  Once they set out, she will stroll up next to Charlotte.  "Hi Charlotte!  So what do you make of all of this?"

The group continues on down the path toward the Putrid Bog. Nothing seems to attack them along the way, but there is certainly a feeling of eyes watching them from the shadows of the thicker trees. As they proceed, they feel the temperature change. Instead of the cold winds, the approach to the bog feels warm. Further down the path, they begin to find bodies of various creatures. The corpses of giant spiders, wolves, worgs, and other creatures were passed by. There was even the corpse of another Weeping Treant, and bones scattered about...Eventually, the group finds themselves high part of the path that overlooks the Bog. The stench of it seems so strong that the group can practically see it...