"I've never studied the schools of the necrotic." Kwiz replies. "So I really wouldn't know... all of the components for my spells are more simple." and he reaches into his pouch to pull out string, a coin, bat guano, and other more benign things. "But also, this entire area is radiating transmutation energy." then turning to Xanth asks "And you said this area wasn't here before?"

Andrømeda walks back into the area, stopping at the remains of the doll and the still beating heart. "Am don't know vhat du vere used for, but den's clearly not good." Raising her foot up, she brings it down in a solid stomp onto the heart.

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Kwiz gasps, which causes his servant to also drop the still beating heart on to the ground for all to easily see.

As soon as the doll hits the ground, the impact of it causes the pig heart to rupture just enough to stop beating and die. As soon as that happens, the dead tree’s roots begin to magically animate and erupt from the ground.

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Rush will move to the heart.

”Well... clearly necromantic.”

Does the doll look like it was made for this or like it was a regular toy until it was used for this? Any initials on the foot, or maybe a stain from some kid playing pretend and trying to feed it blackberries or something? 

Since Rush's momentum had him stepping into the circle just before the roots erupted, he needs to roll a DC12 DEX saving throw. 

Andrømeda and Sael were still outside of the circle when the roots burst from the ground, and Xanth was standing next to Kwiz, as well.

Dex save 10 ruh roh

Uh-oh, indeed! Rush is now Restrained and he takes 6 bludgeoning damage.

Andrømeda, seeing Rush get grabbed by tree roots, grabs her greataxe and attempts to chop them where they extend from the ground.

Attack: 26 Damage: 14

Though everything is happening so quickly, Kwiz quickly stands up and regains some composure, before looking to the sky and sending a message to Duncan to scan the area again. Perhaps this trap summoned danger as well ((perception 6))

Andrømeda's axe tore off a chuck of wood from the root, releasing it's hold on Rush, for now.

Duncan doesn't see any other dangers lurking at this point.

Andrømeda reaches out as soon as Rush is free, grabbing the back of his armor and pulling him away from the circle. "Are du alright?"

“That hurt, but nothing serious,” Rush tubs at his ankles. 
“That’s pretty bizarre.”

Andrømeda grunts in agreement, looking at the circle. Looking around, she finds a branch or rock to throw into the circle to see if anything happens.

The branch hits the ground and the roots whip it around a little bit like a beach ball, but otherwise, nothing happens to it. 

Andrømeda hums in thought, then looks to the others. "Any thoughts? Am'm not sure how many roots dir is, but Am can try to kutt my vay through, ja?"

“I could try to dispel the magic around the tree...” Kwiz ponders, then looking to the centaur asks “Ah.. Xanth. How far are we from your home from here?”

Rush strikes at the tree with a toll the dead DC 15 Wis save for 12 

It hits, but Rush gets the feeling that it didn't affect the tree, at all.

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“I could try to dispel the magic around the tree...” Kwiz ponders, then looking to the centaur asks “Ah.. Xanth. How far are we from your home from here?”

"We are only another day's journey from here," Xanth says. "Maybe less. You said something about dispelling the magic? I wonder if that would work."

Kwiz pulls out his spellbook and casts Dispell Magic on the transmutation magic he’s detecting around the area.

The roots quiet themselves and settle. The forest is at peace, again. 

"That was odd," Xanth says, pensively. "I'm sure the anchorites of Talos had something to do with it. They must have. Thank you for quieting the forest, again, though."

“Glad to help” Kwiz says “Though I do hope we can find the cause. I just cannot stand an unsolved mystery!” He then puts his spellbook back beneath his robes and is ready to continue their journey.

“Maybe... we can deal with them on the way? Or come back? I don’t want to put off our task much longer, but this needs attention, too.”