A/N: And here's the next chapter, and the final part of the party's first dungeon delve. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons I only own my original ideas,
Chapter 17: The Root of the Problem
We continued forwards into the cavern, which was filled with sickly-looking briars. There was no way we were getting through here without clearing a path. Charles began cutting through the briars, and as he did, more twig blights attacked, but was we cut them down easily. Eventually we emerged into a clearing. In the center of the chamber, there it was: a skeletal, black tree. Standing before it were a human man in heavy armor, a young woman dressed like a noble, and a bearded man in brown robes and holding a gnarled staff. Something about the younger two of the humans smelled strange, just like the tree itself.
"Halt a moment," said the bearded man, "you know not what you do!"
"Do we?" I said, "Then what are you doing?"
I noticed that Krisyra and Charles were glancing up into the tree's branches, and then spotted the giant frog hiding there.
"I am Belak," he said, "called the Outcast. My circle expelled me, the fools. Why? Because I dared to expand nature's reach in ways they couldn't grasp. I have found what I sought in the Gulthias Tree".
"So, this is a Gulthias Tree?" said Krisyra.
"It's beautiful, no?" said Belak, "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".
"What did you do to these others?" asked Charles, "what did you do to them?"
"They were first supplicants," said Belak, "The Gulthias Tree has accepted them, and they are mine to control, just like the twig blights. You can't save them".
"The real question is why are you talking to us?" asked Lydratir.
"Though your remains would enrich the compost," said Belak, "you'll serve my needs better as supplicants. You shall retain your lives, after a fashion. Surrender and submit peacefully, or perish!"
I could feel the fire within me heating up again. This… monster thought we'd give into to him!?
"Never," I snarled, "we'd never give in to you!"
"Then you leave me no choice," said Belak, "kill them".
Krisyra immediately stepped up close to our foes, and called forth a blast of thunderous noise. The blast also struck the tree, cracking the wood.
"You dare attack the great Gulthias Tree!?" shouted Belak.
"We dare, Defiler!" snarled Kirsyra as she morphed into a dire wolf.
The robed woman reacted to Krisyra's attack upon Belak and the tree by casting series of Magic Missles, striking Krisyra's form. One of the twig blights also stepped forwards to strike her, but she dodged away. Lydratir swiftly raised his bow, and fired at the enemy mage, taking her down. The giant frog leapt from the tree and attempted to bite Lydratir, but it missed. I stepped around for a clear shot, knowing it was time. I inhaled deeply, and unleashed my fire. Both of the remaining blights in the area turned to ash, the flames severely damaged the tree. I felt the air around me heat up with my own power… something had changed.
Narcrath seemed to catch my idea, and fired off a chromatic orb as a blast of fire upon the tree. It was smoldering badly now, and looked like in might catch light at any moment. Belak looked at us in rage, and fired a blast of poisonous-looking gas at Krisyra, but she simply dodged out of the way.
"Destroy that wyrm!" ordered Belak
The armored man turned to moved towards me, drawing a blade which flickered with magic. His blade bit into my hide, causing a snarl of pain. A moment later, flames coalesced around my attacker, catching him off guard and burning him in retaliation(1). Charles stepped up to the giant frog, striking a fierce blow. I heard movement behind us, and saw three more blights approaching. Krisyra-wolf bit into the blight before her, swiftly taking it down. Lydratir switched to his shortsword, and with it finished off the giant frog. I kept my focus on my primary target: the tree. I swung with my tail, slamming it into the tree and causing it to fall. The knight that had attacked me, as well as the blights looked around as if confused for a moment, and then their focus locked on Belak. Narcrath turned to the Blights which had joined from elsewhere in the complex and hit one with a Shocking Grasp, taking it down.
"You this is your fault!" screamed Belak at me, "You'll die for what you've done!"
He pointed his staff at me, and I felt the temperature around me spike, but I dodged the full extent of the rather weak-looking flaming sphere, my scales absorbing the rest. I snarled in response, and fire burst around Belak, but he saw what had happened to the knight, and dodged, only catching the edge of the blast. The knight stepped back from me, and moved up to Belak. He brought his blade down upon Belak, his longsword biting deep. The remaining blights swarmed Belak, ending his struggle. With Belak down, the knight and the Blights turned back to us, and prepared to attack. However, before that the knight spoke.
"What Belak said it true," said the knight, "You cannot save me. He has… converted me, made me into the tree's thrall. No matter what happens now, I'm already a dead man".
"Are you sure? Can nothing be done?" asked Charles.
"I am," said the knight, "Either I die here and now, or I die tomorrow, when I crumble to dust. Please, give me the honor of a warrior's death".
"It that is what you wish," said Lydratir, "then you shall receive".
The battle was joined once more. Krisyra-wolf tore into one of the blights, leaving only broken sticks. Lydratir turned on the spot and fired an arrow at another of the Blights, easily taking it down. Three more blights approached, and I destroyed one with my claws. Narcrath stepped towards the remaining blights, and struck both with a shocking grasp, taking them out. Charles stepped towards the knight, and brought his greatsword down upon him, causing him to fall.
With our foes defeated, Chalres collected some personal effects from the enthralled warriors, while Krisyra (now transformed back) made sure the Gulthias tree was dead.
Having completed our tasks here, we began to make our way back out of the ancient temple. We made our way back past the statue of Ashardalon, back past the settlement of the Goblins, and arrived back at the Kobold's area of the temple. Almost as soon as we arrived, we were directed to speak with Yusdrayl. We found her still on her throne, and looking pleased.
"Ah, you have returned," said Yusdrayl, "have you completed your task?"
"We have," I said, "The Gulthias Tree has been destroyed".
"A tree? The source of the fruit?" asked Yusdrayl.
"Yes, a vampiric tree, for lack of a better description," said Krisyra, "the fruit came from it, and those who passed though before us had been transformed into its thralls".
"Then it seems I have to thank you once more," said Yusdrayl, "Calcryx is resting now, but requested that you take this".
She cast mage hand, giving us a scroll tube. We quickly looked it over, and I noticed some runes I couldn't read. Charles, on the other hand did.
"Look like Dwarvish," said Charles, "it would probably be best to examine this more closely later".
"Thank you Yusdrayl, and thank Calcryx as well," I said, "let's head out".
We continued back the way we'd entered, and arrived back at the stairs lead up towards the surface. We all made it back up, and I couldn't help feel relieved to see the skies once more. We started off the trail, heading back towards Oakhurst.
A/N: And there we go! The party destroyed the Gulthias Tree and protected the people of the land from its power.
Also a quick rundown of the party and their archetypes: Charles (Human Great Weapon Fighter, Battlemaster Archetype), Lydratir (Aasimar Ranger, Hunter Conclave), Krisyra (Wood Elf Driud, Circle of the Moon), Narcrath (Dragonborn Sorcerer, Draconic Bloodline), Valignatrisk (Red Dragon, Force of Nature Archetype).
Footnotes: (1) Devastation (Dragon class feature, Force of Nature Archetype): At 3rd level when you use your breath weapon, the lingering aftereffects continue to ravage the battlefield for up to 1 minute. During this time, when a creature within 30 feet of you hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to cause a burst of elemental energy to erupt around them. The affected creature mast make a saving throw, using the same ability and DC as if saving against your breath weapon. On a failure, the creature takes 2d6 damage of the same type as your breath weapon. This damage increases to 3d6 at 11th level and 4d6 at 17th level.