Ireniana shrugs and draws her swords. "Nothing worth anything is ever simple."

“I guess this is it.” Rhayna puts away her Journal for it seems there won’t be much to record from now on. “I am ready.” She holds her pendant and readies her whip.

"Whoever that protector is - he did not come. And is this The tree you were looking for? May be we should come closer then?" Erky and Weesly carefully stepped inside the cave.

Since first setting foot in the Sunless Citadel, there has always been some degree of background noise, from the occasional drip of water to the muffled voice of a goblin or kobold; but now all is quiet and still, save for the soft footfalls of the adventurers on the sandy floor. The luminous fungi overhead shed their soft purple light on the fragments of stone walls, casting eerie muted shadows across the bramble-covered floor. Erky and Weesly have no problems picking their way through the thick briars, but the larger folk have to move more carefully to avoid tripping on the stubby bushes or snagging on the sharp thorns. You could almost swear some of them were intentionally trying to grasp at your feet, or closing in behind you to follow, but your attention is drawn toward the far side of the cavern and the eerie tree that dominates the area.

The upper branches of the tree begin to loom overhead as the group approaches the surrounding wall over which it towers. The walls are about twenty feet high, which is less than half the height of the cavern's ceiling. Several varieties of plants grow around the perimeter of the clearing, including several suspicious-looking saplings, but their importance pales before that which stands at the courtyard's center, and casts its shadow across the cleared floor under the violet light. Its blackened, twisted limbs reach upward, like a skeletal hand clawing its way out of the earth. Your approach was apparently expected: before the tree stand a few twig blights; a heavily armored, young human male with a shield and sword; a blonde, young human woman in a robe fit for a noble; and a middle-aged, bearded human male wearing a hooded brown robe and armed with a staff and sickle. The younger humans have black eyes and gray skin with the texture of bark. The older, bearded man speaks in a deep voice that cuts through the silence like a blade: It's beautiful, is it not?

Kastix turns to the others, "Are these three any of your targets or I'm just to blast them now,"

"They don't look they are doing very good." Rhayna holds tight her pendant. At any sign of trouble, she will Bless all party members. (Sorry, this time not you Erky.)

"Is this the tree that bears the fruit? Are you Belak?"

Kaylyn asks the man.

OOC: Erky is fine - he can use Bless himself, don't worry.

"If one of them Belak, it must be the older one," quietly said Erky to the group, "because I think I recognize those younglings - they were brought as prisoners to the jail I was in. Talgen and Sharwyn were their names I believe. The older man I do not think I ever saw."

Out loud Erky admitted: "The tree is indeed magnificent. Though I admit, it's strange to see so much vegetation so deep under the ground."

"Any reason we should keep them alive?" Kastix whispers. 

Royan whispers back to Erky: No, the man is Sir Braford, though I hardly recognise him. Then, looking at the shield he claimed from the hobgoblin chief, he adds: I get the feeling Targen didn't make it this far.

In response to Erky, the bearded man says calmly:
Why? Because I dared to expand nature's reach in ways my circle couldn't grasp? They expelled me, the fools - cast me out! But it matters not - I have found what I sought in the Gulthias Tree. Then turning to look up admiringly at the tree he adds in a voice filled with awe: It is indeed beautiful. It lives, though it looks dead. In an age long past, someone staked a vampire on this very spot. The stake took root. And so grew the Gulthias Tree, reverberating with primal power for those who can tap it.

As he speaks, you can see a ruby-red apple growing on one of the branches, although it appears to not so much be growing like a regular apple, but extruding from the black limb like a cyst. Then to Kaylyn he says:
Yes, I am Belak. You seek the fruit do you? I give it to the goblins with orders to disperse their seeds on the surface, from which grow the twig blights. Deceitful beings that they are, the goblins barter the fruit, but it matters not, the seeds are dispersed all the same. My plan for colonizing the surface with the children of Gulthias continues.

"Colonizing the surface with the children of Gulthias?  That would certainly explain the twiggy mass of twisted sapling stems the townspeople report that disappear shortly after they reach a couple feet in height.  Twig blights eh."

Kaylyn answers.

"So how does the fruit grow on a tree that looks dead but is alive?"

Ireniana shrugs her shoulders. "Goblins aren't all bad. But why colonize the surface with these 'seeds'?"

As the party members are trading pleasantries with Belak. Rhayna records the information in her Journal. She even draws the Gulthias Tree as well.

Belak turns a wrathful gaze on Ireniana and answers:
Why? That an elf must ask this proves how pervasive the blight of civilisation has become. Cities and towns grow unchecked, sprawling like a disease, consuming the earth and all natural things. We who truly love and worship the land are so few to fight this war, but with the aid of the Gulthias tree I build my armies to turn back this unnatural tide.

Turning to Kaylyn, Belak says:
How the fruit grows even I cannot say, despite all my knowledge and study. Now it is summer, and the red fruit of healing ripens, restoring life to those who eat of it. In the winter a white apple will appear, which takes life from those who partake. Thus is the balance of nature. But the seeds of both give rise to these (he sweeps his arm around, and you see that another eight twig blights have gathered in behind you), the lesser of the children of Gulthias.

The greater are these (and he now gestures to the two humans beside him, who remain motionless and speechless, as if part of the tree itself). They were the first supplicants. The Gulthias Tree has accepted them, and they are mine to control, just like the twig blights. Now that you have come, you too shall be reborn as children of Gulthias. Surrender and submit peacefully, and you shall retain your lives, after a fashion. Resist, and your remains will enrich the compost, and thus you will serve the Tree regardless.

Upon issuing this ultimatum in a calm and persuasive tone of sincere invitation, Belak backs up and gestures toward the tree, as if beckoning you to step forward and accept your destiny. Sharwyn and Sir Braford (at least whatever remains of them) however stand defensively as if expecting resistance.

Ireniana shakes her head. "I will admit that there are people and groups who have hurt the world. There are even elves who have used their power to hurt others and the earth. But there are also good people. I have come across many whose desire is to lead a good life and make the world a better place. Perhaps if you left this temple and actually met with people and spoke to them, you would see the good beyond the surface." She glances at her companions. "I will not speak for you but I would rather become compost than a slave any day."

"This is going well I think," Kastix states as he eyes the group and tree, "I would like to say my piece on this matter, I've seen thing that haunt me and you can see it in my eyes. This," Kastix points at the tree "Is just pathetic parasite that will burn," Kastix casts Scorching Ray, 2 rays at the tree and one at Balek. 

First Ray Attack: 11 Damage: 7

Second Ray on tree Attack: 9 Damage: 5

First Ray on Belak  Attack: 15 Damage: 4

(....i have +7 to attack and this is what I get huh? any chance I get advantage for surprise?)

"You can safely speak for me," joined Erky, who would probably do better to keep to background, but could not let absurdity to pass freely, "people and civilization as much of the god's creation as nature. You are no God, it's not your place to judge what should stay and what should go. Look at your "creation" - a twisted carcass, huge and impressive but the way cadaver of flesh-golem is impressive. You are a mere necromancer of the nature, maker of abominations, usurper of the nature's will, not even an interpreter. You want an absolute power yet pretending it is for some abstract greater good, no one but you is supposed to enjoy. You are a tyrant, nothing else! Joining you is the worst thing any sane living being can do. It's a "no" from me."

Quote from Shodai_Kishi >>

 

(....i have +7 to attack and this is what I get huh? any chance I get advantage for surprise?)

(OOC: But not quite as bad as my gnome wizard's Scorching Ray attack on the T-Rex)

(OOC: No surprise here I'm afraid. Everyone is aware of everyone else's presence)

You can all roll Initiative though...

Belak: 14
Sharwyn: 2
Sir Braford: 18
Twig Blights: 17
'Kulket': 3
Royan: 14

Erky's Initiative: 16

If Kulket can understand Erky - then Suggestion (Wis save 14) "Hide behind the tree"

Kastix Initiative: 6 (can't roill over 10 it seems)