Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is an area reachable only during Baldur's Gate II Chapter 7.
The party must first pass through The Palace in Suldanessellar before transitioning to this area, by way of a revealed staircase.
==On the map==
* Automap Marker "To the Palace" {transition to The Palace AR2804) 
==Description==
This area depicts a part of the Forest of Tethir below the platforms of Suldanessellar, but still elevated above ground level. The ancient Tree of Life stretches massive branches in all directions, both vertically and horizontally. For the purposes of party movement (and gravity) the gameplay here is focused on the branches that are horizontal and can be moved upon by foot.
The artwork of the map indicates that smaller trees and undergrowth are visible at lower elevations below the Tree of Life, so it is likely that the party is still over a hundred feet from the forest floor below.
This area is technically considered an outdoor area and is subject to the effects on daylight and nighttime. Resting/camping can occur here, with no disturbances from attacking creatures.
==Gameplay==
===Enter the Tree of Life===
The party descends stairs revealed in The Palace, previously hidden at the bottom of a pool of water.
They appear in the northeast corner of the Tree of Life map on a staircase formed from a tree trunk.
Within detection range is seen a blurred image of Ellesime to the west of the arrival point.
===Converse with Ellesime's image===
A few seconds after arrival, Ellesime, seen as a blurred image of herself and projected by her magic and will - initiates dialogue, she says:
:"Wait! Who comes? You... you are the child of Bhaal, aren't you? The one that Joneleth... Jon... boasted of stealing power from? He claimed to have slain you!"
Gorion's Ward may reply. Ellesime will continue:
:"I am Ellesime, queen of Suldanessellar. Joneleth has me at the center of the tree, trapped in a cage of corruptive magics. This is as far as I have been able to send my image. Joneleth, the one you know as Irenicus, he... is drawing power from the Tree of Life into himself. There are... parasites attached to the Tree, draining it for him..."
The ward asks about the parasites, the Queen replies:
:"I do not know what manner of parasites these things are... but they are formed from corruption itself, I fear! They feed Joneleth the power and maintain my cage! Whether you are here to save my people or simply kill he who has tormented you, I care not. One thing must be done: The parasites on the Tree of Life must die! Do that and I can sever Jon's connection to the Tree. Then, and only then, might he be killed! I... believe he has protected the parasites somehow... I do not know. Hurry!"
The PC asks how to find the parasites, Ellesime answers:
:"Yes... he has severed branches. Use the nuts... the nuts from the palace gardens! They will grow new branches on the tree! You can use them to cross! Do it quickly, child of Bhaal! If Jon drains the Tree of Life, all of Suldanessellar is doomed... and Jon will have the power he craves! Please, you *must* stop him!"
With that the image fades, and the player's Journal updates with the Freeing Queen Ellesime questline - which reads:
:"Freeing Queen Ellesime
:I spoke with the projected image of Queen Ellesime. She is held near the center of the Tree of Life, caged with corruptive magics. Irenicus is absorbing the power of the Tree, draining it with three strange parasites that have been attached to the trunk in various places. Ellesime says that Irenicus is oblivious to everything around him and may be stopped if we act quickly.
:I must kill the parasites, reaching them by growing branches using nuts from the palace gardens. Once this is done, Ellesime will be freed from her cage and she can sever Irenicus's connection to the tree."
===Find and destroy the parasites===
The party can now begin exploring the branches and look for anything out of place, especially any "parasites" that are supposedly somewhere sapping the Tree of Life of its vigor and vitality.
The party can go any direction it wishes. It doesn't matter really - and visual indicators that may seem to be gaps in the tree branches may be crossable as long as the party has the Small Tree of Life Nut items in their inventory. If the player doesn't have these nuts, then they won't be able to complete the game properly.
As the Queen has previously stated, they will facilitate a hyper growth branch repair at sections that are eligible for that action. 
This effect will happen automatically by the game engine script - and a text message will be displayed indicating when it occurs. 
Each time it happens, one of the small nuts is consumed. The player can just control the party's movement and move forward as normal without having to worry about falling to their death or similar.
===Irenicus and Ellesime in a cage===
As the party explores, it is possible that they will come upon Irenicus and Ellemise (who is in a cage) on a small platform. 
This can occur before any parasites are found. Irenicus is seemly oblivious and in a trance of some sort - unaffected by the outside world and within a protective magic shell of unknown power. The tree's life force is being drawn out by the parasites and funneled to Jon. He doesn't react to the party, and no attacks will do anything to him (immune to all arcane and divine spells and most damage types). 
If the party tries to select to talk with Irenicus a text displays:
:"Irenicus cannot be affected until the parasites are destroyed."
Ellesime cannot be spoken to in her cage either. For now, the party can safely resume their exploration for the parasites.
===A parasite is located===
Navigating the tree branches will lead to discovering a strange object as shown in the screenshot.
Every few seconds an "Acid Attack" animation plays next to it, indicating the parasite is damaging and draining the Tree of Life.
The parasite can be targeted with the player's "sword/attack" icon. If the attack is commenced, a message is displayed on the information box:
:" This parasite, this *thing*, is like nothing you have ever seen before. Four snakelike appendages protrude from its swollen body and have driven themselves through the branch of the Tree. The parasite is sucking the very life out of the Tree. You can attack it if you wish."
A second attack generates and another text message:
:"At the first sign of hostility, the parasite swells with energy and summons guardians."
The guardians appear adjacent to the parasite and will be a pair of 12-HD elementals, either Air, Earth or Fire variety depending on which parasite is attacked.
When the elementals are destroyed, attack the parasite again. This displays a final message:
:"With its defenses down, the parasite is easily dispatched."
That's all there is to the process of destroying one of the three parasites on the tree.
===Destroy all three parasites===
After destruction of the second parasite, Ellesime's projected image appears by the party and speaks some encouragement and warning to continue and to make haste.
The player's Journal now updates the Freeing Queen Ellesime quest, and a text displays:
:"Journal entry: Freeing Queen Ellesime - "There is only one more parasite left to kill, and Ellesime says it must be dispatched quickly. Once it is killed she will begin disconnecting Irenicus from the Tree of Life, and I will have to go to the central area quickly. Irenicus will be disoriented and weak, and that may be my only chance. She warns caution though; the effect of the mage absorbing the Tree's power is unknown."
Once the third and final parasite is destroyed, the game script takes over and transfers the party to the central platform with Irenicus and Ellesime in her cage.
===Irenicus is interrupted===
The player's party is positioned near Irenicus and Ellesime is now outside her cage. Irenicus is surprised and says:
:"What...? Who... WHO DARES?!" and Gorion's Ward can make a reply choice. Irenicus follows with:
:You... you live *yet*! You have less than a fraction of your soul, and yet somehow you *continue* to oppose me?"
More dialogue continues, and eventually Ellesime enters the with her remarks. Jon and the queen have a back-and-forth exchange, revealing more background regarding Jon's ties to the elven court, and the lost love connection between he and Ellesime.
Later in the dialogue Imoen, Jaheria and Minsc (if they are in the party) have their own interjections.
Ellesime disappears from the map now that she has been freed and is done with her dialogue with Irenicus. The player's Journal updates the Freeing Queen Ellesime quest.
Jon eventually reverts back to his unrepented self, with only revenge left as his driving purpose, and says:
:''Your soul still courses through me. Come and make your attempt to reclaim it, if you like. I have power enough to deal with you!"
===Battle Irenicus on the Tree of Life===
Jon is scripted to Applyspell command an initial preparatory string of protective buffs (even if damaged it won't be interrupted).
For a more in-depth look at of this version of Irenicus, see the Jon Irenicus (Tree of Life) article.
Assuming the protagonist and party are able to get Jon to one Hit Point, he will make a final incredulous remark about being killed.
Gorion's Ward will now show several introspective dialogue boxes that describe a strange sensation and realization that something weird is occurring.
:''You feel a small tug inside yourself, a pull that seems to come from the apparition that rose from Irenicus. It is gentle at first, but quickly becomes urgent."
The incessant tug and pull of the force draws Gorion's Ward and the party into the void.
A cinematic cut scene will take over - eventually culminating with the party transported to The Abyss area. See that page for what transpires next.
==Containers==
A small nonvisible niche is located right at the area entrance stairs. A rich Random treasure is within for the taking.
==Bug==
The Irenicus version that is found within his magical shell was clearly designed to be mostly impervious to being killed. But there are some loopholes, and he can be killed if the player is determined to do so (verified by testing). This version of Irenicus is just for looks and animation at this point in the plot. 
However, if Irenicus is killed here, it will foul up the script that triggers opening dialogue between the party, Ellesime and Jon Irenicus (and everything following that). This will mean the game can't progress properly. The player's game will essentially end right here with no further developments happening. So, don't break your game. Wait for the scripted dialogue between the party, Ellesime and Irenicus to play out, and allow Jon to turn hostile before attacking him.
==Gallery==
TOL Parasite Air.png|Another parasite is found.
TOL Parasite Air 2.png|This parasite generated Air Elemental guardians.
TOL Parasite Earth 1.png|Yet another parasite is dicovered. What guardians will it spawn?
TOL Ellesime to Jon.png|Ellesime addresses Irenicus after she is uncaged.
TOL Irenicus Killed.png|The party kills Irenicus, and he sputters some final remarks.
TOL Soul Tug.png|Gorion's Ward feels something strange going on within. Something to do with the bhaalspawn soul after Irenicus died.
==External Links==
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