KWN.4.2 The Grandfather Tree

Session Preface

Departing the elven encampment, Vosh'ri, your centaur guide leads you back towards the central clearing surrounding the Grandfather Tree. As dusk begins to fall, the gargantuan Grandfather Tree's silhouette scatters across the entire clearing, it's massive branches casting tangled, winding shadows like tentacles of a kraken across the forest floor. The scent of dirt and a hint of rain fill your nostrils as you hear one of the Uthgardt barbarians shout out to another across the clearing. From your current vantage point, you observe a small patrol of barbarians spread out along the perimeter of the outer ring of oak trees. The shouting individual moves from guard to guard, speaking and interacting with each in turn.
Vosh'ri turns back to you, his head low. "Here, I must be more forthright with you." He pauses, glancing away. "While I have rapport with The Red Lady that allows me to grant you audience, I cannot say the same about the other factions here." The centaur turns, looking over the clearing towards the partol and then further north. "The Thane of the Stone Giants does not give think highly of any of the woodland folk and Orcbane and I have... our differences. I'm afraid I cannot aid you much with either of them. I will be happy to tell you what I know, but my services as an ambassador have been spent. For this, I am sorry." Vosh'ri sighs, avoiding eye contact.

Session Summary

After Vosh'ri explains a bit more about the Uthgardts and their leader Boovald Orcbane, the party approach the tribe. The patroling guards converge on their arrival, forming a half-circle folding in on itself. A herald announces that the party, if they wish to speak to the chieftan, must pass through the sacred barrier. Tristain is able to do so without incident, but when Pax and Aethuriel follow, they are barred by a pair of fae creatures blocking their way. The guards then close in around Tristain and the chief. Tristain introduces himself and his companions, explaining their purpose and intent. While initially suspicious, Tristain's sincerity when speaking of his desire for order, balance, and justice, moves the chief. He moves past his guards and interogates both Aethuriel and Pax. Once the later finally admits that the party is incentivized to resolve this situation peacefully because it means a favor aiding them in their long-term goals, the chief finally relents.
Orcbane invites the three Knights to walk the permieter with him, explaining that the tribe is forced to take such a defensive position because of a lack of land and room to grow, particularly with the addition of the Blue Bear tribe that has recently returned to the Grandfather Tree, seeking to fold into the Tree Ghost tribe. He offers the party that, were they able to clear out a nearby elven ruin of the residing fey'ri, he and the tribe would be able to be more lienient about the land surrounding the grove. Upon their acceptance of this task, Orcbane sends his daughter with them to provide details to their guide. At their camp, she has a light-hearted exchange with Vosh'ri before departing.
After making camp, Aethuriel treks the perimeter of the grove, coming across the pathway towards a massive makeshift cavern where the stone giants likely stay, and briefly interacts with an elven guard who does not invite him to keep watch, but is not as dismissive as some of her counterparts. With Vosh'ri already asleep and Pax deep in his reading researching the demonic fey'ri, Tristain and Aethuriel have an extended conversation around the campfire after his return. The two speak of their shared growing up in the Order, Aethuriel's near century of study and training and lack of worldy travels, as well as Tristain's brief adventures over the last year. Aethuriel makes the connection between Tristain's father, as well as his nickname "Demonslayer," while also sharing a bit of his own story and the role he plays in the Knights of Holy Judgment. The two also discuss Aethuriel's elven heritage and how his fate of watching many of his peers die, in Tristain's eyes, gives him an important sense of perspective that is important in a leader. Aethuriel pushes off this notion, but is appreciative and shares his respect for Tristain as well. The two share an awkward embrace before Aethuriel takes first watch for the evening.
The next day, the party ventures northwards towards Fhaorkerymkilr, the elven treetop ruins overrun with demonfae. Along the way, Tristain notices a pair of displacer beasts eating a humanoid prey, but the alerts the party who manage to escape undetected thanks to Aethuriel using magic to cover their tracks and hide their presence. Pax later finds several blooms of Celosia, a flower harvested for its uses in brewing tea.
Finally, the pary approach the elven ruins and begin discussing preparations. As the conversation diverges from discussing the nature of sucubus to their etymology of the word and then the nature of etymology itself, which is no small revelation to Tristain, Pax begins to scout the outskirts of the area only to find that he and the rest of the party, Vosh'ri included, have been surrounded by their fiendish foes.

Session Overview

Date Played:
May 31, 2022
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax
• Tristain

Time Passed:
Elient 8, 1493 (PM) - Elient 9, 1493 (PM)
NPCs:

• Vosh'ri
• Boorvald Orcbane

Loot:

• Celosia petals (for brewing tea)