<div class="floatright">(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/1e/8a/a3/1e8aa32c16093d252e6e3e73d8020d14.jpg)</div>NOTE/WARNING, I'm quoting/updating the post. If you see something funky, ask because I might have missed deleting something.<br/>OOC Scene 8, Post 1<br/><br/>Note:<br/><br/>A culture note. There is no real distinction between 'Elf' and 'Half-Elf' in the' Elven Empire.' If you have Elven blood, you are considered an Elf. Frore and Darius are Elven despite his Dhampir nature.' The others in the party are 'retainers.'<br/><br/>Tree-Demon is a powerful nature spirit. Some NPCs will refer to him as a 'God'; others might call him an Avatar of a God. From being captured by the Elves, it's clear he has far from Guide-like powers. On the other hand - being able to grant Darius a Channel Divinity does argue that it has some God-like powers.<br/><br/>NPC:<br/>Lieutenant Arilemna Glynjyre (female Elf)<br/><br/>Situation:<br/>Quest: Rescue the Earth Mother, Tree Demon's wife, from the Elven Invaders.<br/>Lieutenant Arilemna Glynjyre considers herself a prisoner of war. She is upset (-1) with the party.<br/>The twelve Orcs have a Favorable (+1) disposition to the party because the Tree Demon vouches for them.<br/><br/>Lighting: Daylight<br/>Terrain: Open Grassland, strip of trees along the river, Mounds<br/><br/>Froroe: AC11 (+5 Shield), HP 16/20,<br/>Elli: AC 14, HP 24/24,<br/>Shade AC 16, HP 27/27,<br/>Kalinta: AC15, HP 39/44,<br/>Darius:  AC17/19, 25/25;<br/><br/><hr/>The Tree-demon leads the party into and through a nearby Tree (Transport via Plants). The Tree-Demon and the party come out of a large old tree overlooking a riverbank. However, the scene is very different. A few miles away are a series of mounds surrounded by a palisade fence and ditches. There is a large force of Orcs that are surrounding the Mounds and Palisade fence. Dead, both Orcish Elven, litter the ground from the Palisades to the mounds. Atop several of the mounds, groups of Elven and Human warriors appear to be dug in.<br/><br/>A group of Orcs had seen the party arriving and came over. The Orcs bowed to the Tree-demon,<strong>"Oh mighty emissary of the Gods, we apologize for being too late in heeding your call. We have trapped the invaders, but by the time we had the strength, they had made off with your body."</strong><br/><br/>The Tree-demon explained the situation<strong>"The Orcs attacked by surprise, hoping to seize my wife's and my totems. Then they would carry us of down-rive and enslave us, as they have enslaved so many Orcs before. However, they did not realize that one of my shamans was there. I was summoned and laid into the attacking forces. I slew many of their troops, but their wizards were a tougher nut to crack. They were eventually able to kill or drive off the shamans and bind me. However, the alarm had gone up and down the river to all of the villages."</strong><br/><br/>One of the Orcs picked up the story,<strong>"With the God's Avatar defeated, we fell back to the river. The fastest elements of the other villages came by river, many from the villages across the river. We were able to drive off the ships that had brought the invaders. Now, they lack the strength to break out of our village, but we lack the weapons to fight them at range. Right now, we wait for starvation to affect them. However, I fear that they have Shamans of their own that can summon divine food (create food and water)."</strong><br/><br/>The Tree-demon shook its branch in frustration,<strong>"Too many of my people have died already. As well, the villagers are summoned to war, rather than tending their fields."</strong>It announced telepathically. The Tree-demon turned to Darius.<strong>"The Elves will not treat with Orcs, considering them a lesser species. Should I go, they might simply seek to capture me. It is up to you and your companions."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Convince the Elves that this is not the place or time to die. Should they depart, I will let them leave with banners and weapons, a better choice than they would give a surrounded Orcish army. They are free to depart our lands."</strong>The Tree-demon's emotions chanced, over the telepathic link becoming harsher,<strong>"And should they refuse, tell them it will be a war to the knife, not an Elf in my Temple will be spared. Their blood and bodies will fertilize our fields.</strong><br/><br/>