Grand Endeavour Against the Weeping Tree - 05/06/20

Gather around, for I have a great battle to tell, and drink with us for we have triumphed! As you may have heard, we decided to venture north, past the dwelling of the plips, whom you have recently seen practice around town. They live around a great tree that offers them protection. See, this is no ordinary tree! His name is Aerfaeder and he is powerful indeed, to be able to give protection in such a dangerous land. Aerfaeder told us of a place of death and blight, that poisoned the forest, the waters, and the very earth around it. Not only that, but the road that leads deeper into this uncharted land is also often watched by some warriors we started calling bloodbarians, and it  has been discovered, that they are also connected to this cursed tree. And so, to make these parts in Xadkha safer, and to help out Aerfaeder and the plips, we have decided to march against the bloodbarians and this source of ill, and at the crack of dawn Aegon, Bardrin,Juniper, Me, Lucille, Tortleeni, Victor and Zhess left Geistholme, and soon passed the Magisters' steps.

We made quick progress over the main road, without any interruption and reached Plipholm with ease. The others had a short talk with Aerfaeder, who, when hearing that we finally plan to take up his plea, has offered us some wondrous sap that invigorated all of us. Surely a welcome assistance in the comming day. We moved up towards the glade surrounding this Tree, and we knew from earlier scouting that a large den of spiders surrounds it. We used mystical fire from Aegon to cut into this intricate barrier, and as we have ventured deep in their territory, they have descended upon us with hunger and rage in their chitters. The most fearsome of these were as large as a horse, but as they climbed down from their nests, we were more surprised to see two more, the same size, appear close to us, as if they just popped into existence. Now, you have all seen the web of a spider in your attics, perhaps, and you may all know that spiders, when hatching, are more than plenty. These spiders were no different, and as what were their adults, I'd say, their similarly vicious offsprings came from almost all direction. Worse still, we have also seen some monstrous mixture of spider and men, clearly having arms like yours or mine, a face, though twisted, and buglike, but bearing the hint of a nose, and eyes with will behind them.

We tried fighting them off, and the fighting WAS fierce and glorious. Aegon made good use of the fire he commanded, Bardrin seemed to move back and forth, keeping enemies at bay on opposite side of our group, I dropped my shield in anger at some point, someone created a tunnel of wind, to blow more spiders into the raging fire! But there were so many, and we did not want to exhaust ourselves. So as we fought, we moved forward, into a tunnel made of web, that crossed a chasm in our path towards the center of this glade. I have to admit, one of the first to enter this tunnel, I was more interested in chasing down this half spider, half man like creature, that had the power to cast spells, and did so from the safety of cover, which angered me greatly. So, as I gave chase, closely behind one of my brethren -I recall it was Victor, but my memory is hazy- we caught up to this spiderthing, and took it down with overwhelming numbers, as the others were also catching up. Unfortunately our path backwards was caught off, as the swarm of insects massed at the entrance of this bridge of web, so we moved to the other end, hoping to find the other side. Someone blasted the swarm behind us, but this has torn the web's support, and it slowly started to shift. Our search for safe footing was narrow, but by the time the tunnel became vertical, we all found safe ground near the other end, and the swarm did not follow us yet.

As we reached the exit, we found out why, as a sea of chitinous legs, pincers and bodies gathered around, but did not attack, and as we cautiously moved out from the tunnel, they swarmed around us, but let us pass. As if they were trying to shepherd us towards a certain goal. None of us complained, as we had enough of these webs and spiders, and had more important things to do, so we pressed on, towards a barrier of mist, with the vague shape of a tall but gnarled shape of a tree. As we reached close, the barrier parted, to let us through, and so we entered the center of this glade, and beheld this eerie sight. A reddish tint covering the sky and the glade around us, the tree in the center, as twisted as expected, tainted springs flowing from its roots, and branches reaching far above us with skeletons tied to it. At the base of the tree, a great throne, and on it sat a skeleton, taller than even me! But between us, and the tree or the throne awaited our battle, the bloodbarians in all their numbers.

In the center, a wall of shields, about eight or nine shoulders. Behind that, their skald, and the few of them who did not take a shield, throwing javelins instead, or wielding two handed axes. We set up our own battle line, and were ready to move up and face them, but they acted faster and were already upon us, shield to shield, a well practiced formation.  We have bombarded them with several thunderous explosions, but their shield wall held true. Bardrin Victor and me stood our ground trying to hold them off, while Tortleeni, so nimble on his foot, darted around them, and attacked their leader, or skald, who was standing alone, behind them. With surprising unity, someone barked an order, and they all disengaged, and immediately surrounded Tortleeni, who was surrounded by shield and stabbing short swords. Sadly, I cannot retell every strike and spell, for I was overtaken by the thrill of battle, but the bloodbarians were fighting hard. As their numbers started to thin (along with ours), someone lit the giant skeleton on fire, and it spread onto the tree. As the last of their numbers fell, and the tree was burning bright, the ground beneath this dark place crumbled, collapsed, and swallowed the Weeping Tree, revealing an enormous, beating heart at its center, which shortly after the tree, also burned up. As we returned to Plipholm first, and told Aerfaeder of our success, he let out a hearty shout, and the plips around all rejoiced. We spent the night there, before returning the Geistholm, but the horrible sight, and the hard fought victory afterwards will stay with us for long after.