Lords of RPG

Task: Investigate the Fruit of Life
Participants: Timm Valorson, Shade Scintilly, Sempos the Brown, Gabriel Grun
Authorized by: Zuc Swain
Dates:  Month of Plenty, 11th day to 25th day in the year 150 AE
Report by Timm Valorson

Summation of Results:

While the fruit was located, it was not retrieved. The tree that bore the fruit we were sent to investigate was being fed by human sacrifice. The tree was determined to be the remains of a vampire named Guthias, who had been killed by vampire hunters hundreds of years ago but somehow survived in a diminished capacity. Over centuries, this vampire-tree hybrid, or “Blood Tree” grew, roots stretching further out and up, finding weaker creatures to serve it. One of whom was known as Balek. For due cause, not limited to but including human sacrifice, necromancy, and demonology the decision was made to eliminate the tree.

Encounters:

Townsfolk -  Marchen                 
Kobolds – Sunless Citadel
Goblins, Orcs, Small White Dragon – Sunless Citadel
Hobgoblin, Giant Rats, Mutant Fungi, Skeletons – Sunless Citadel
Blood Sirens, Blood Dogs, Giant Reapers, Red Eyes, Balek, Benju the Imp, Blood Tree – Guthias Cavern

Sources of Information

While our sources of information and collaborators could be questionable, all seemed uninterested in deceiving us. The townfolk seemed unconcerned with the source of the fruit and more interested in the fame and business it brought to their town. The kobolds wanted their dragon back. They didn’t mention it didn’t want to go back, but other than that their info was helpful. Benju’s timeline and explanation seem reasonable and might be confirmed through other sources, historic records or magical retrieval.  He did not offer any information about Guthias and the tree after he determined that we were hostile.

Detailed description of events:

Upon entering Marchen it was quickly determined that the Fruit of Life was being sold to the town by a nearby tribe of goblins. Goblins were traced to the nearby ruins known as the Sunless Citadel. The party travelled to the Sunless Citadels entrance.

In the first level of the dungeon, we encountered Kobolds. We threatened them into cooperating and sending a guide with us. They provided no further resistance. They claimed the goblins had stolen their dragon and wanted us to retrieve it.

The second level was inhabited by goblins and their orc compatriots…there was also a small dragon. We fought our way through them while distracting the dragon, who seemed particularly cranky. We fought a running skirmish with the greenskins and were able to use the dragon’s size to our advantage…blocking access to the passage we were fleeing down. We encountered a couple more greenskins before descending through a large pit into a huge underground chamber with odd fungi being tended to by undead keepers.

This third level led us to magic wielding orc shaman with giant rats as pets along with several other rooms containing more skeletons, odd fungi and more occasional rats. We enticed the greenskins to provide us with the name of the person who provided the fruit to them. Someone named Balek. Eventually, we found a downward sloping passage to a lower level.

The fourth level was a giant series of tunnels leading to a massive cavern. In the center of the cavern was what appeared to be a small tree at an undetermined distance. As we made our way towards the tree, we noticed the walls and ceiling of this cavern were all soaked with blood. Then the first scream happened, and a body fell from a hole in the ceiling, the scream stopped on impact.

Stepping out of the streams of blood and onto what appeared to be a calcified pathway, we learned the pathway was the roots of the tree we were walking towards. That’s about when the creatures started rising out of the blood. Female undead of a previously unknown type. When within fifteen feet of them, they could draw your blood and lifeforce with it directly from you and heal themselves with it.

We moved around them and headed towards the tree. Second and third bodies fell from the ceiling, but different areas. In the distance, dozens of eyes were watching us and a terrible animal type screech filled and echoed throughout the place. Rivers of blood poured towards the tree which was still a long way off. We sped up and were able to lose our original pursuers but were soon being chased and attacked by blood red undead canines.

After fighting them off, we encountered an Imp named Benju the bloated who claimed to serve Guthias, an ancient vampire who had been defeated here. Benju went on to explain that the tree was Guthias and living upon those who feed it. Upon approaching the tree, Benjy realized our intentions were not necessarily friendly and fled.

A fifth body fell from the ceiling. Long-limbed giant-sized creatures were tending the bodies that had dropped into the cavern and were circling the great old tree. We decided it was best to avoid them and timed our approach appropriately.

Upon getting closer we could see that the tree was huge. Roots twelve feet wide with large pools of blood lapping up against it. Easily fifty feet in diameter at its base and more than a hundred high, this dark red ancient oak like monstrosity was sparce for leaves with those it did have the same color as the blood feeding it.

As we approached the tree an undead creature in the body of one known as Balek rose and attacked us. First using magical charm techniques and then outright violence. After breaking its charm we were able to recover and turn the tables on our enemies.

While distracted with the three of us Balek had not noticed Shade slipping around him, out of sight. At the tree’s base, Shade was able to light a fire…adding more oil to the fire every few seconds as we kept Balek occupied. The Imp returned and attacked Gabe, aiding its master but eventually, we downed the vampire type creature.

Upon Balek’s falling, the great tree started to crack and split. The whole cavern was shaking as the giant roots collapsed along with the tree. With only seconds to search, we were able to locate a single piece of fruit on the tree, but no way to retrieve it. Too high and away from our escape route. With the cavern collapsing, we quickly departed running back the way we had entered. Running past the giant creatures, red eyed humanoids, blood sirens, and canines as they dissolved into the blood they had been cast from. No attempt was made by the greenskins or kobolds to detains us. There were no further encounters with the dragon.

<Assuming Zuc Swain might not be immediately available, Timm delivers a sealed written report to their benefactor>