Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

Minsys takes two heavy swings at the last remaining orc.

Attack: 25 Damage: 9

Attack: 11 Damage: 12

He then turns to Vaxis and with an oddly calm voice says, "yes... all is well."

The last orc grins as Minsys' maul slams into his face followed shortly by his body slamming into the ground. The breath runs out of him in a slow wheeze punctuated by the sound of blood gurgling in his mouth and throat. The ring of battle gives way to the calm silence once again, broken only by the distant chirping of birds roosting in the trees across the lawn at the edge of the Neverwinter Wood.

The large, hideous-looking tree growing from the well at the center of the courtyard creaks eerily even though no breeze is present to move its massive gnarled limbs.

(END OF INITIATIVE)

" There, there, now... art thou suggesting I swap my current company for mere orcish brutes ?" Tabesha'l answers her familiar telepathically, " I would have thought thy demonic brains were more evolved: orcs are really no fun at all, and in any case if thou hath the need to ally with witless force and an almost total lack of battle strategy, I wouldst reckon we have a few of our number who already fulfill that part quite nicely indeed ! Now, wouldst thou be a good little Quasit and proceed with thy reconnoitering of yon manor ? Methinks this-here tree seems a tad unsettling, to start with... I also wonder where yon shaman may be hiding... Mmmh, maybe the tree is the shaman also ? Now, that would be utterly fascinating..."

The elf's silent conversation with Arvi descends into a full monologue as she attempts to hold her Shadow Blade spell and starts to first observe the tree from a distance, then approaches it gingerly.

Connak takes a look at each member of the party for critical wounds, before walking around retrieving salvageable arrows.  "I've had enough of orcs for a lifetime.  Orc boars too.  Lets finish searching this manse, and be mindful it is obviously trapped."

As Tabesha'l moves into the courtyard to examine the strange tree at its center, Arvi pushes southward into the room the orcish brute squad issued forth from.

WHAT ARVI SEES:

 Tabesha'l's inspection of the tree reveals no signs of animation or evidence of ritualistic casting, however she does note a rune carved into its bark that looks like three lightning bolts converging on a central point.

(OOC: A Wisdom (Religion) check would be required to detect evidence of use in a ritual and an Intellligence (Arcana) check would be required to identify the presence of magical animation.)

Tink catches her breath as the last orc falls. She lowers her hammer and pets Whisker on the head, "That left the margin for error a little too thin don't you think? Fortunately our combat protocols performed at a much more efficient rate compared to those at the orcs. Does anyone need tending to their wounds? I have one last bit of healing left with me."

Minsys nudged the Orcs with his foot.  Then he goes about collecting the weapons from the Orcs he killed.  He wraps them up and straps them to his pack.  He looks at the tree and says "Heal later... but I don't like this tree... I think we move bodies away from it."  He would then make an effort to move them away.

Vaxis walks to the tree with concern on his face.

(Wisdom{Religion} roll: 17)

Tab keeps on staring at the rune, trying hard to decipher it. Her saphire eyes rove up and down the tree, as she prepares for her own brand of ritual casting...

** Here come the other rolls ! Religion 22 and Arcana 8 . If given the opportunity, she will use the next 10 minutes in game to cast Detect Magic as a Ritual, too. **

Vaxis easily recognizes the lightning bolt symbols as the sign of the god Talos. Tabesha'l is unable to discern and additional information from the tree as she reflects back on her years of arcane study. She begins to cast her ritual, and as she does, some other ritualistic-like chanting can be heard in the room to the south.

Connak will nock an arrow and traverse the courtyard to get a view of the inside of the room where the chanting originates.

Vaxis frowns.

"I fear we are not done with the evil in this place. This tree reeks of Talos."

He then raises his shield and moves in front od the door, ready to open it and protect his allies.

Looking through the doorway, Connak can see into a large room with several plants situated along the walls. As he and Vaxis drew closer to the door, the sound of chanting became much clearer and Connak's keen perception allowed him to pick up on the smell of burning, rotted flesh.

From his vantage point, Connak can see that the room likely opens into a wider space, but he can't see around the corner from the courtyard side of the doorway. The shattered pieces of an old wooden door lay on the ground just inside the doorway directly in front of Vaxis.

(OOC: An Intelligence (Religion) check may be made to try and discern further information about the chants being heard. Vaxis may make this roll with advantage.)

"If we are to venture any further in, I would suggest we take restorative extended soothing timeout before we proceed," Tink suggests in response to Vaxis's statement, "I think we will need to be in tip top shape. I for one am only down to a single restorative vial."

(OOC: Tink is suggesting a long rest if possible)

Connak throws an empathetic look at Tink, but says, "I doubt whoever is chanting needs that long to finish what they are doing.  And given what we know about this boar god, sacrifices and all these orcs and fanatics we've slaughtered, I think we may want to put an end to that chanting before resting."

" Methinks fair Thuniviel hath the right of it, friend Tink..." Tabesha'l approaches the artificer and puts a comforting hand on her shoulder. " Nevertheless I shall send my faithful servant Arvi to scout ahead and see what awaits beyond yonder corners. Such ritualistic chants bode nothing well, I fear."

With a flick of her wrist, she sends her familiar the usual command: " Fly forth and do not become visible, lest thou receiveth the sharp side of what is sure to prove to be yon evil shaman's stick upon thy horned forehead, creature ! Go, and refrain from meddlesome initiatives, heareth thee ?"

After which she turns to take stock of the state of her party. " What shall it be, dear comrades ? Shall we rush blindly forth again, since this hath proven such an efficient strategy sofar ? Or mayhaps an alternative route may be envisaged ? Parley, even ? Or at least careful scouting first... ? I'll also have thee know that Arvi here can turn invisible along with whatever he happens to be carrying: some acid vial or lamp oil could prove a relevant mean of producing a surprise attack if needed ?"

Even if the slightly ironic smile still plays on the wizard's lips as she addresses her battered companions, she looks none too fit herself: some electrical burns from their previous battle on the manor grounds can clearly be noticed through tears and gaps in her scorched clothes.

Having finished collecting the weapons from the dead and leaving them by the exit and pulling the dead from the immediate vicinity of the tree, Minsys sighs.  "More fighting is fine, but I can feel the strain in my muscles.  That last one, it nearly ended my life story." He says.

He hefts his maul though.  "But when monsters need killin... they need killin."

"Well if you think this needs to be dealt with immediately then so be it.  This will be our third fight in a row so we will be running on empty I would think?" Tink voices her concern.

Arvi fades into nothingness upon Tabesha'l's command and advances into the room. Finding a perch near a corner of the room, he signals the elven wizard to view the scene through her familiar's eyes.

WHAT TABESHA'L SEES:

Tabesha'l reports what she saw through her familiar's eyes to the group, before lightly drumming her lower lip with the tip of one finger, in her classic thoughtful pout:

" Methinks yon potted plants may be more trouble that they seemeth. Yet I cannay help but wondering: what-but-oh-what would befall said-shamanistic ritual if little Arvi-Dear were to pour lantern oil on yon fire... or mayhaps simply water ? Doth one amongst thee wish to help with such musings, praytell ?"

A small dreamy smile appears on her lips as she finishes voicing her thoughts.