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Woodland Manse
Caught in battle in the Woodland manse, the group fought the three Gulthias trees while Grannoc had managed to abscond through a portal, leaving the group close to death. Things were not looking good for the intrepid group, all of them barely clinging to consciousness, and Siax being grabbed and dragged into the tree's huge maw as it tried to heal itself from his life force.
All was not lost, however, as in an amazing feat of strength and skill, Idris managed to strike down the main Gulthias tree with a hugely damaging blow, leaving only the two smaller ones. As the large tree crumbled and started to fall back into the well, Falcon dodged over and grabbed Siax from the opened trunk of the tree, hauling him to safety just in time.
Between Pine's use of his spirit guardians, and the help from the rest of the group, the smaller trees fell, even as Zenari, who had blinked away from being in the larger tree's grip, managed to grasp the body of Grannoc from through the portal, and transport him to their room, unwilling to allow him to get away to heal. Through the portal, both her and Siax saw the group that had been on the hill through the portal start charging towards it, and quickly Pine closed the portal so they were not met with yet another battle while still in desperate need for recovery from the first.
Grannoc lay on the ground, dead, and yet his corpse was not like it had been the time before. It had been largely like a normal corpse that last time, and yet this time it was clearly degrading and rotting at a very accelerated rate. There was no soul there, nothing to put to rest. Grannoc was gone, his soul likely consumed by the tree that had once sustained him.
The group takes time to breathe and recover, at least for a short time, binding their wounds and healing themselves. They also had a quick look through Grannock's journal, and while they did not have time to read through it all, they did manage to find some passages that had some relevant information.
1st Entry
Darned fools. I told them that attempting the ritual without the focusing amulet would lead to disaster. I could never have predicated how it went awry however – a passing dragon seeing the magic was drawn to us like a fly to honey. Many anchorites were slain before we drove the creature away but it was too late – the dragon had dipped into the ritual site and absorbed much of the magic there. The creature was seemingly wounded when it did so but as is their wont healed rapidly when exposed to raw magic.
I grow distant from the other Anchorites; they do not listen to reason and wish to attempt the ritual again. Fools.
2nd Entry
A silver Lining. The dragon has seemingly taken nest at the peak driving the orc tribes there down to the plains. It was easy enough for Yargath to bend them to our will. They have been divided into warcamps, one sent to the shrine of Savras to await the signal to attack, one sent to guard the circle of Thunder and the rest split into smaller squads. I have taken one of these with me to the Manse I have claimed as my home.
3rd Entry
The tree responds to my ministries. I have commanded the orcs to retrieve people from their raids. I can use them as components to ensure the tree grows and flourishes. Yargath demands my attention but I am growing less and less interested with the anchorites plans. Talos respects strength and already I have outgrown the others – this tree gives me powers as I bind with it. Most promisingly I have bid it to create a weapon for me - a prototype of sorts, a bow capable of thought. It is rudimentary but I believe I can teach it to grow into something of power. It is technically a separate Gulthias tree, capable of growing to the size of the original. I HAVE MADE LIFE!
4th Entry
With my new powers it was simple to retrieve the focusing amulet from Phandalin. It was their useless mayor who held it, likely the thief who had taken it all those decades ago. Perhaps that’s why he often hid from sight? No matter, I killed him. Faced some troublesome adventurers however, somewhat amateurish but can be potentially dangerous. I studied their essence and have enough to create soul traps in case they do come snooping around. They took the bow but I don’t care, it was a flawed creation, growing extremely slowly and resisting my attempts to unlock its power, for some reason attempting to speak to me. Good riddance, I will make something better.
5th Entry
Too slow, the orcs assigned to me grow uneasy. So what I used one of their number in my experiments? They have been useless lately, bringing less people back for me, claiming that people in the valley have evacuated to the mountains. The annoyances I fought seem to be behind that – when I am done here I may seek them out and destroy them once and for all.
6th Entry
Yargaths face when I brought back the focusing crystal. Ha! I accomplish what the ancorites could not do in ages because I am more than human. The ritual will occur on the sixth day of Mirtul. I am loathe to leave the manse alone (the stupid orcs having fled me the other day) but I have left defences in place. Through the tree I have summoned dark plant life that obeys my will. The soul bins have been left on a mantlepiece, a sure death for the curious.
Oh but it will be glorious, the ritual will unleash Talos upon this land, a storm like no other. Once complete the storm shall be unending and the Storm Coast will be more aptly named. In such an environment our powers will grow tenfold. And since I have the greatest power now.. I believe I shall kill Yargath soon.
7th Entry
Our dark designs will soon bear fruit. Chaos unleashed, fear will ensnare the realm. Storms rage, Talos' might unleashed. Our brethren, united in devotion, stand ready to usher forth the reign of Talos. As I bask in the storm's triumphant crescendo, I shall be rewarded. Tree and Storm as one.
Siax took the time to commune with his bow after it had fought against him when he had tried to harm the Gulthias tree. It spoke to him in his thoughts, rudimentary and simple, but understandable. It wondered if Siax was going to kill it next. However Siax reassured it that he killed to protect others. "I don't want you to die," he told it, and afterwards the bow emanated a soft pulsing light. It had been awakened by being once more near the Gulthias tree, and it was reassured by Siax's words.
All was not well though, for a storm was brewing to the northeast, and seemed to be heading towards the manse. The group was careful in searching the place for anything left behind, but all of the traps that had been in place, even more stick figures, appeared to be entirely inert now that the tree was gone. Siax and Pine found several items in hidden locations, including Grannoc's journal, and the group decided to abscond from the manse before the storm hit and head to Falcon's Lodge.
On their way, they came across a place of slaughter, where several large dogs that did not appear entirely natural, had been torn and ripped apart. Between Siax and Pine they figured out that whatever had been hunting here, it had six legs, large paws, and the hounds had absolutely hated it. Pine took the time to put the angry spirits of the hounds to rest, and the group moved on without investigating further, for the storm had changed directions and did appear to be following them directly.
Falcon's Lodge
Upon getting to Falcon's lodge, the group were wary of the coming storm. Pine especially was uneasy about it, for their task to go to the mountains and kill the dragon would be near impossible if storms took over the sword coast as Grannoc's words had told him was the plan. However this storm did appear to be smaller, at least for the moment, and the group set about hastily making preparations for whatever attack was to come, for if they Talos anchorites had managed to summon a storm to chase them, they would not be far behind. Falcon rigged up a tower with explosives, before helping Pine set up some lightning rods. Idris summoned Effie and Barolt to keep watch, while Siax does some preparations of his own and finds a good vantage point.
They tried to sleep, but were woken far too soon as the storm closed in and orcs and half orcs surrounded the Lodge.
"YOU! You have killed one of the anchorites. Grannoc. That is not an insult taken lightly. You shall die here."
From all around, the orcs started chanting "Gorthok!" and from out of the storm, a massive boar wreathed in lighting charged at the fortified walls, breaking through the 12 foot perimeter like it was kindling. It was no mere wild animal, shrugging off even strong attacks while lighting slammed down around it, although thankfully much of it was caught by the lightning rods.
Zenari attempted to trick the boar with her magic, but not only did the boar shrug it off, but the magic seemed to go wild when met by such a creature. All around her the guest house burst into flame, and a sentient robot appeared nearby and attacked her. Knowing better than to linger, she lept out of the window next to her, leaving the robot behind in the flames.
Falcon, seeing the dire straights the group were in, dashed back away from the west entrance to where he had left coils of rope to the tower, pulling it. As the orcs streamed in through the huge gap in the wall that the boar had made, several of them were caught and instantly incinerated as the entire tower blew up, debris scattering around and damaging several others, even as Idris shot a lighting bolt down the line of orcs to the west.
"Hey, ugly, over here!" Falcon shouted at the boar, but it seemed not to bother with him, instead charging after Zenari, instantly decimating the guest house that Pine was standing on. Thankfully the tabaxi was able to leap away, but things were not looking good for the group. The orcs were streaming into the Lodge's grounds and the massive boar, Gorthok, was laying waste to whatever it came into contact with.