Midnight RPG - Chapter 9.03
Kevin[edit]
This begins a situation that I hope to be "resolved" by game time... Concerning what happened to Eranon and the trees of the Dead Marshes.
When last we left the heroes of Eredane, it seemed as though the great trees of the Dead Marshes enveloped Eranon. Quickly advancing some 20'-30', overtaking the young Elven wildlander... But what seemed to be is not the same as what has come to pass... The great swamp trees had not advanced. Eranon stood firmly in the muck and mire on the outskirts of the Dead Marsh lands. He looked up into the black dense swamp-tree foliage. The wind began to rush. Cracking of bark and timber mixed with slurping splooshes and soon the wind carried a creaking moan on the foul smell of the putrid swamp beyond.
Holding aloft the necklace given to him by Ossion, he let loose the silver acorn held tight in his palm. Speaking into the slight wind Eranon heard the slump of his
companions all caught in mid-fall... Vines and black tree limbs reached out from around and above the wildlander pulling his friends from their feet as they dangled, drifting into unconciousness.
the Whisperer
"Fear not Eranon of the woodland realm." the wind would say.
As he began to hear the air escape the bodies of his friends, their joints cracking as the forest began to rip the human and orc bodies from limb to limb.
another voice this one not of the whispering wind, this one built with the gravel of tension and tiresome grinding of wood and muck raking...
"THEY DO NOT HEAR... THEY DO NOT KNOW... THEY...
DO
NOT
PASS!
THEY SHALL BECOME AS SOIL, FOR OUR OLD BONES..."
the voice of the black barked swamp cypress cracked as his timbers ground with a turn of what could appear to be the torso of this elder of the swamp. Its face,
not that of a man, yet strange and alien. As it bellowed out, as if in pain, the swamp replied... Two... Three... Four... and a Fifth moaned in a song of death murmurs, lumber snapping and breaking as the body of one of the humans was tossed into the vines of black elm.
These trees... were not of the living whispering woods familiar to any Caransil or other woodland folk. These were the trees of the Dead Marsh, these were the trees remaining from the once proud cypress, the beautiful ash, the elm, the cottonwood and the sycamore... And as they stand allowing the one with the silver acron to pass, the ones without will not be so lucky. These fatal few are the last tree herders, now pushed to the outskirts of their lands. Able to go no further. For they would die if they traveled beyond the pale and foul energy of the sickening swamps. But perhaps "die" is a poor term. Can that which is already dead, truly die?
Eranon stands at the forefront of the black
trees, perhaps he can ask these trees how they yet move when they are already DEAD?!!...
ROLL: Eranon (Knowledge Nature +10) ROLLED: 19+10 = 29
Eranon, you have heard of these tortured souls. Formerly Tree Herders (or Treants) in the days before the shadow fell. They were rare after the Sundering these majestic spirits older than most elves in the land. Some are still rumored to aid Aradil and the fights on the fronts of the war, but their time in the sun is gone. These five twisted ancients you now stand amoung are something other... Once herders, now turned and dead. Quite literally Undead Tree Herders. Valendil told you once of the story in a horrible lament song of sorrow. The tune could have resembled the breaking of the wood that you heard before the deep moans took the minds of your friends, driving them into unconciousness. Is it your heritage of elven-kind that protects you now or Ossion's amulet? Whatever it is -
Durgaz, Kyuad and Zal'Kazzir will be ripped in multiple parts if you don't have something to say about it quickly!!
Eranon / Steve[edit]
Eranon Eranon hold the acorn aloft and shouts. "Stop!!! They are with me. They too carry the blessing of Ossion, and they are under my protection. Please let them pass." Eranon isn't sure whether he is shouting at the Undead herders or the other trees for aid, but he hopes that someone will respond.
Steve Is Eranon actually free to move, or is he somewhat pinned in place?
Kevin[edit]
the BLACK CYPRESS it's bones made of branches, it's body the core of the tree - the broken tree herder cracks and bends to the Elfkind making the forest feel so very very small...
ROLL: Eranon (Fortitude Save +4) ROLLED: 12+4 = 16
Eranon pushes back the morning's breakfast as his stomach turns with the smell of rotten limb and leaf as a maw in the trunk of the tree opens to speak...
"THEY DO NOT BARE BOND OF ANCIENT KINSHIP!
THEY DO NOT HOLD THE SACRED METAL!
THEY DO NOT WALK LIGHT ON EREDANE.
THEY ARE NOT OF ELVEN KIN, KITH OR KIND.
THEY SHALL BREAK AS THE HUMANS LUMBER US INTO COTTAGES! THEY SHALL REND AS THE ORCS TEAR MY BROTHERS LIMB FROM LIMB! WHY DO YOU SPEAK FOR THEM? THEY DO NOT SPEND THOUGHT ON YOUR KIND. MANKIND AND ORC LEGION HAVE NARY A THOUGHT FOR FOREST-FOLK. EVEN IN DEATH IT IS THE ELF-KIN IN THE BLACK-NAIL THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO SWAY IN THE WIND.
WHAT... LITTLE ELF-KIND HAS MAN DONE TO GATHER YOUR WORD? WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO STAY OUR BRANCHES??"
the voice of the Black Cypress drones on for moments allowing Eranon to position himself as necessary for attack or defense. The sounds eminating from the trees seem to be a dark song that does not effect your elf ears.
[No. Eranon is not pinned. He is free to move. The trees do surround you looming over you having grabbed your falling companions. But if necessary Eranon could tumble out of their reach. There is more open swamp to your back but your friends now hang some 25' above you, held aloft together by the four other death shrouded Tree Herders.]
and as the Cypress drones on Eranon can hear the others rumbling voices seeming to speak lower to one another...
the TWISTED SYCAMORE
" YES... WHY DOES THE ELFLING TRUST THEM?!!"
the HUGE ELM
"IS IT TRULY ELF-KIN WHICH STANDS BEFORE US OR A DIRE-SERPENT ILLUSION??"
the DARK GROVED COTTONWOOD
"PERHAPS IT DOESN'T TRUST, PERHAPS IT HAS NOT A CHOICE, PERHAPS IT IS BEING FORCED"
the GRAY-SHADOWED ASH
"THE WILL OF THE FOREST DIED WITH US, IT COULD BE THAT ARADIL HAS ABANDONNED HER POST AND THE LONG EARS HAVE BECOME ORC MEAT WITH OUR FORGOTTEN BROTHERS ON THE BURNING LINE..."
the DARK GROVED COTTONWOOD
"PERHAPS IT CAN BE QUESTIONED, PERHAPS WE TEARS THEIR LEGS OFF SO THEY MAY NOT RUN, PERHAPS WE CHOP THEIR ARMS AS THEIR KIND DOES OUR BROTHERIN, PERHAPS WE TAKE THE ELF AND..."
the BLACK CYPRESS turning in defiance to his graven brothers...
"QUIET!!! IT HAS THE CHILD IN SILVER! IT IS OF ELF-KIND! IT IS OF ARADIL'S BLOOD. IT CAN BE TRUSTED. YET IT'S TRAVELLING COMPANIONS, WHETHER BY FRIEND OR FOE ARE NOT OF ELVEN-MAKE! THEY MUST NOT SEE US WALK, THEY MUST NOT KNOW WE LIVE AFTER DEATH. THEY CANNOT CROSS OUR SWAMP. ELF - YOU MAY LIVE, YOU MAY BARTER FOR PASSAGE. HUMAN'S AND ORC MAY NEVER KNOW OF US!!"
as the ground rumbles with the reverberations of the Treants speaking, the great Black Cypress dips it's leaves and you see first Durgaz, then Kyuad, then Zal'Kazzir begin to be pulled taunt again - seconds from being ripped in pieces!!
What do you do?!?!
Eranon[edit]
Eranon "NO!! With all respect, old one, you are wrong. They have all proven themselves friends of the wood, friends of elf-kind. They have all risked thier lives to deliver Messiah, a young ramaloce to the elves, to turn the tide of war. They all travel with me to save the Shadow-Wall from Vrolk. The Orc is Durgaz the Mirror Breaker, he has rid the marshes of the Shadow's reach. The Erenlander is Kyuad the Scroll Bearer, he brings the words or Aradil. They have all made a pact with the dire animal of the swamp, at the control of the Sarcosan. These deed they have done for my kind, and all of Eredane, and many more will they do, if you do not kill them. Please let them cross, I will take care to obscure your presence from them, though I don't know how you intend for me to cross."
"What can I offer you to ensure their safe passage?"
Kevin[edit]
and as the Cypress drones on Eranon can hear the others rumbling voices seeming to speak lower to one another...
the GRAY-SHADOWED ASH
"WE TREE CARE NOT FOR YOUR DRAGONS... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MESSIAH IN THIS WORLD OF SHADOW..."
the DARK GROVED COTTONWOOD
"PERHAPS ELF-KIN CAN FREE US FROM THE VILE'S CLUTCH? PERHAPS WE HELP THE LEGGED ONES? PERHAPS THEY ARE NOT FALSE? "
the HUGE ELM
"IT IS FALSE! WHY WOULD IT ATTEMPT SUCH THAT WOULD LEAD TO DEATH BROTHERS? THE ELFLING IS FALSE AND WE SHALL REAP THE LASH THAT IT FORCES BACK WHEN IT BRIDGES THE BLACK NAIL."
the TWISTED SYCAMORE
"THE ELFLING SPOKE CLEAR AND TRUE, WITHOUT PAUSE OR HINDERANCE. WE SYCAMORE WISH TO BELIEVE! WE WISH TO BE FREE OF VROLK THE WICKED, WE WISH TO BELIEVE WE DID NOT DIE FOR NAUGHT..."
the BLACK CYPRESS contemplative the lord of the black swamps bends...
"IT RINGS TRUE ELFLING, WE CARE NOT FOR YOUR WORDS OF HOPE. THEY HAVE NO MEANING IN THE DEAD MARSHES. THEY RING HOLLOW AS OUR BLACK TRUCKS. YOUR DEEDS MEAN NOTHING TO THOSE THAT WERE CONQUERED LONG AGO LITTLE ONE. MY BROTHERN WERE FORCED TO THE EDGES OF THESE MARSHES SO THAT WE WOULD NOT BE FORCED TO SERVE THE VILE OR HIS MASTERS, YET WE LIVE NO LONGER, WE ROAM NO FURTHER, THE BLACK TREES WITHIN HEAR US ONLY IN COMMAND - NO LONGER IN FRIENDSHIP. WE COMMAND AND HEARD NOW ONLY THROUGH PENANCE. IT IS OUR DESTINY. IT IS OUR PUNISHMENT FOR NOT STANDING MORE STRONG FOR MOTHER ARYTH. IT IS OUR CURSE, IT IS OUR ENDLESS TORMENT."
the DARK GROVED COTTONWOOD
"PERHAPS THE SON OF ARADIL CAN BREACH THE SHADOW SPIKE? PERHAPS WE LET IT TRY? PERHAPS IT WILL FIND A WAY TO LET US ROAM AGAIN..."
the HUGE ELM
"NAY BROTHER, THERE IS NO HOPE FOR A BLACKEN TREE. THERE IS NO TOMORROW FOR OUR LEAVES TO GROW. THERE IS NO SUN WHEN SHADOW COVERS THE LAND. HE WILL FAIL. WE WILL LIVE ON IN DEATH. "
the BLACK CYPRESS sad for his Elm brother, the Cypress interupts...
"MY ROOTS ACHE FOR YOU ELM, SO BLEAK IS OUR TIME HERE WE NEED NOT YOUR CONTINUED PESTILENCE. I RECALL THE TIME THAT SHADOWWALL WAS BUT A BABE IN HIS ELVEN KEEPER'S ARMS USING YOUR BRANCHES AS A NESTING CAMP FOR THE NIGHT. IF THIS ELF IS TRUE, I CALL FOR COUNCIL TO ALLOW HIM TO PASS, TO LET MIRROR-BREAKER, SCROLL-BARER AND THE HORSEMAN PASS. ALTHOUGH WE ARE DOOMED, IN DEATH I STILL STAND DREAMING... WHAT SAY YOU SYCAMORE? WHAT SAY YOU COTTONWOOD? WHAT SAY YOU ASH? WHAT SAY YOU ELM?..."
the TWISTED SYCAMORE
"TRUE OF HEART AND MIND, WE SYCAMORE MUST BELIEVE. LET THEM PASS."
the DARK GROVED COTTONWOOD
"LET THEM PASS. PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR THE SUN..."
the GRAY-SHADOWED ASH
"THE ASH CARE NOT FOR ALLIANCE OF ELF, MEN, DWARF OR DRAGON. FOR US THEY DIE HERE TODAY. FOR IF THEY SEE THE SUN AGAIN THEY WILL USE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR KIND TO BARTER WITH THE DEVILS. THEY CANNOT KNOW OF US. WE MUST REND THEIR HEADS FROM THEIR BODIES TO PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF THESE WORDS... THEY DO NOT PASS."
the HUGE ELM
"IT IS END OF TIMES. HOPE LIES WITH FOOLS. THE ELMS HAVE BENT TO DARKNESS TO MANY TIMES. THEY DO NOT PASS."
the BLACK CYPRESS
"SO THEN ELFLING, IT COMES TO WE CYPRESS TREES. SO HIGH WE REACH OUR LEAVES YET THEY SEE NO SUN. SO DEEP WE DIG OUR ROOTS YET WE FEEL NO PURE SOIL YOU HAVE COME TO THE LAND OF THE DEAD AND HERE ONLY DEAD WALK SAFELY. WE CANNOT WALK WITH YOU. WE CANNOT BE KNOWN. YOU SHALL HIDE KNOWLEDGE OF US IN THE RECESS OF YOUR MIND. YOU WILL NOT ALLOW WE UNDEAD TREE HERDERS TO BE WITNESSED. WE GIVE YOU THIS GIFT AND EXPECT YOUR VALOR. WE DO SO RISKING OUR UNLIVES. YET FOR THIS HOPE TO ONE DAY SEE THE SUN BEFORE THE NECROMANCER GIVES US UP, WE WILL STEP ASIDE AND LOOM OVER YOUR TRIP THROUGH THE HEART OF DARKNESS. THE VOTE IS CAST. YOU MAY PASS."
With an uneasy tension the will of the Council is obeyed and Eranon's companions are lain on the roots of the trees. The Sycamore rips a massive black tree, long dead and now just a shell for vermin, and lays it in the deep muck. Roots, vines and branches become your poles to push you heroes along through the dark swamp under the watch and word of the Undead Treants.
Before pushing away from your entry point a limb from the Grey-Shadowed Ash whips at your face, cutting above your forhead and cheek across your right eye...
the GRAY-SHADOWED ASH
"IT IS WITH PAIN THAT YOU PASS BENEATH ME ELF. WE WILL NOT FORGET YOUR FACE, NOR THE FACES OF YOUR CHILDREN. REMEMBER THE ASH ELFLING! REMEMBER YOUR BOND! DO NOT BREAK IT OR WE WILL GROW LIKE A FISSURE THROUGH YOUR FARE ELF HEAD..."
The switch branch did no damage, you barely felt it's whip. However you do feel the presence of a black splinter beneath your skin.
The creaking moans of the trees continue keeping your friends in a lull, but otherwise safe.
Your makeshift boat trudges with a haste given by the black swamp trees. Your wolf pants at your side and now and again you see a curious little snake slip in and out of Zal'Kazzir's shirt-sleeve. The young Cobra remains coiled at Kyuad's side, also unconcious from the tree songs. Above in the sky Kyuad's friend Nesse darts in and out of the treeline watching his sleeping friend.
When your stomach begins to ache beyond dinner the boat does not slow, yet swamp fruit drops into the hollow. It is lush and juicy, harvested by the Treants, tended unseen and untainted by any living thing.
You travel for just under 5 hours to the opposite edge of the black swamps of the Dead Marshes near the route of the path shown to you by Ossion. Finding that route may take some time, but now you have some! By your estimation you've easily doubled your time that you would have travelled by land making nearly 30 miles in this non-stop currented ride. According to your map you'd guess that the Obsidian Spire is approximately 50 miles away as the crow flies.
It was clear that the Undead Trees did NOT want your companions to know of them. They will awake soon. They will likely have questions. They didn't believe their was a cure to their madness in undeath, but have apparently been able to hide from the command of the mage in the Obsidian Spire.
OUT-OF-GAME:
- the Ash splinter: It's basically "insurance" for the negative Ash Tree. It won't hurt you as long as you don't reveal the truth about this encounter. It remains unknown if you can extract it safely...
- the promise: the Tree's basically don't want you to let anyone know about them, or that you even had the conversation with them, or that they helped you through the swamp. The fact is when your friends wake up you can tell them whatever you like. You can pretend to have been asleep with them. You can explain or choose to not explain to them that you just travelled 30 miles in 5 hours, afterall they won't know ANY of this happened unless you hint at it... and you could just say the maps are wrong. What you do/say is totally up to you though. :)
PS...
Please do not even tell the other players out-of-game about this, until (or if) it ever gets revealed in game. This is Eranon's secret.
Eranon / Steve[edit]
Eranon "Thank you, lords of the wood. I will do my best to break the curse of the Vile, though it may be the end of me."
Steve If I remember, it was only about 15 miles or so to the road, but maybe they're taking use elsewhere. I guess we'll figure it out tomorrow. Does the Ash splinter cure my bog hag disease? Just kidding."
