Eucharista thought about this and then asked, "What would it take to put this ghost to rest? and if you did put it to rest, would we all suddenly feel better, because if that's the case, it's probably worth doing."  She left the converse part of that equation unspoken.

Korzak frowned, but couldn't deny that Caitlin made some devastating points. As much as he liked to be the hero and solve situations, he didn't know what ritual to perform. Still, it didn't sit right to just turn a blind eye to this.

Another look around the area with one last futile hope he might spot something, he sighed and relented.

"I suppose you're right. We might not be able to fix this today. We should mark it on our map to report to Lord Toede though." He really seemed to have a whole lot of faith in the Lord of Flotsam.

With a bit more thought he gave a nod and spoke more confidently as his mind, though hardly sharp as others in the group, formulated a plan. "Perhaps he could send some priests experienced with the matter of the dead out here to perform the correct rituals. We may even be assigned as escort. Until then, any caravans should be made aware of the lingering danger lest the restless spirit harm more travelers."

Caitlin nodded in agreement with Korzak's suggestion. At least he was not resistant to logic, she had to give him that. "Perhaps we could restore some more of our health before we move on, I'd hate for the bandits to take advantage of our weakend state." she stated for the record.

The mage wasn't keen on meeting the ghastly creature again, with or without Lord Thoede's backing and the promise of a reward. But if she had to choose, she preferred being paid for putting her life on the line.

The elven wizard considered Korzak's declaration, once he got over the initial shock that the hobgoblin was the authority on haunt lore.  "Perhaps not today, but perhaps we can linger long enough to handle the spirit ourselves - I do not belive there is any debate on handling the bandits prior.  I will confess that there are said to be troves of lost arcane knowledge in this very town, which would be best be suited returned to the world.  Perhaps you would be good enough to outline the best methods for handling the spirit, both in terms of our own protection as well as for an offensive strategy?  I don't sense that my spells had much effect."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:34, Tue 18 Oct 2022.

Moonflute nods at Caitlin's request and moves over to Korzak, intoning a familiar chant before laying her hand again on the warrior.

Casting Lesser Restoratio (str) on Korzak, restoring all 3 STR he had lost.

15:40, Today: Moonflute rolled 4 using 1d4.  Lesser Restoration (str) on Korzak.

Moonflute cast another spell while touching Korzak.

[
Korzak had Str +3 restored to him.

Caitlin is Str -1, Dex -1, Con -2. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.
Dialis is is Str -1, Dex -2, Con -2. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.
Eucharista is Str -2, Dex -3, Con -2.
Keliantharas is Str -1, Dex -3, Con -1.
Korzak is Dex -1.
Moonflute is Str -1, Dex -2, Con -1. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.

Petra is Str -1, Dex -1, Con -1. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.
Athena is Str -2, Dex -3, Con -1.
]
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:55, Wed 19 Oct 2022.

Moonflute continues her ministrations on those with the malady, moving to Eucharista and laying a hand on her. She then does the same to Keliantharas.

She turns to address everyone. "I am spent, though still hale. Do we move further in, or take rest to be rid of the ghost's breath?" she asks.

Casting Lesser Restoration (downranked) on Eucharista, restoring 4 DEX

Casting Lesser Restoration (downranked) on Keliantharas, restoring 4 DEX

09:49, Today: Moonflute rolled 4 using 1d4.  Lesser Restoration (dex) on Keliantharas.
09:48, Today: Moonflute rolled 4 using 1d4.  Lesser Restoration (dex) on Eucharista.

Moonflute cast two more spells.


[
Eucharista had Dex +3 restored to her.

Keliantharas had Dex +3 restored to him.

As they had only lost 3 points to Dex each, I updated how much the spell restored.


Caitlin is Str -1, Dex -1, Con -2. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.
Dialis is is Str -1, Dex -2, Con -2. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.
Eucharista is Str -2, Con -2.
Keliantharas is Str -1, Con -1.
Korzak is Dex -1.
Moonflute is Str -1, Dex -2, Con -1. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.

Petra is Str -1, Dex -1, Con -1. Can't be affected by his Horrific Appearance again for 24 hours.
Athena is Str -2, Dex -3, Con -1.
]

"I... wouldn't actually know what ritual to perform," Korzak admitted sheepishly. "There are some ancient holy texts that were kept here long ago that might provide some insight-- but I was kind of hoping it would be obvious what to do if only we found the body."

The tales he had heard of ghosts had never really explained the exact details. It was always something like the ghost asking someone to carry out one last task they couldn't do while they were alive or finding their body and giving it a proper burial or funerary ritual.

Eucharista smiled up at Moonflute. "Thank you Moonflute. That is very kind of you."

Given the animosity between branches of the eleven family tree, Keliantharas was somewhat taken aback by the savage's immediate reflex to provide succor.  His people in particular had a history of mistreating hers.  He tilted his head, muttering his thanks in the high dialect of the elvish language.

"I thought we had agreed to handle the bandits first.  Very well; the ghost.  A creature you say remains trapped here due to some wrongs done to it.  Let us assume logic - a walking tree.  We might also assume that the ghostly topiary, though far less aggressive, is somehow related.  I would surmise that something happened here so terrible that even the landscape is mystically scarred.  Perhaps our ambulatory tree is a demi-personification of the land's trauma.  Any relevant spell or ritual, then, would no doubt need to focus on the restoration of blighted nature, rather than any personal injury dealt a single tree."  He eyed the flora flickering in and out of reality.  "As I believe I mentioned, I expect any bandits residing in this area must have first found an effective way of warding off the spirit.  Else, no doubt the ghost would have been the end of them by now.  Perhaps we can eliminate the bandits, recover the dragon eggs, and gain their insights into avoiding the spirit.  Once we've done that, we can contemplate its release from this world at greater leisure."

Caitlin rubbed her face when Korzak once more began speaking about the ghost. She had pointed out to postpone any attempt to put the spirit to rest, finishing the mission first before going back, better prepared. As Keliantharas spoke, the sorceress tapped her foot impatiently, this was wasting time. "Yeah yeah, thanks for the reminders. Can we now, please, focus on getting the dragoneggs back so we can leave this place before we have to face that spirit tree again? - Thank you." she said, not wating for an answer.

Without further ado the mercenary moved forward, her spear at the ready, casting a glance at Dialis who had been unexpectedly quiet.

They spoke. Offered suggestions. And Caitlin continued forward.

Eucharista moved with Caitlin.  Now that she was feeling her old nimble self, albeit a sicker and weaker version, she felt ready to take on the bandits.

Moonflute lets the party move out before falling in at the back of the group, using all of her senses as they advance.

Caitlin bit her lip, unsure where they should go from where they were and she wondered how they could figure out the most sensible route without running into a tree spirit or other ugly creature again. Her eyes went to Athena and the owl fluffed her feathers knowing from the emotional link that something was going to happen. "It seems we need your aid to get through this my friend. Be our eyes in the sky and tell me which way leads to the thieves or warn me of dangers you may find." she told her feathered friend and raised her arm to the sky so Athena could lift off easily from there.

ooc:
10:24, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 29 using 1d20+17.  Stealth check Athena.
10:24, Today: Caitlin Merrywick rolled 20 using 1d20+18.  Perception check Athena.

Athena flew off to the north.

Caitlin sensed the emotions of Athena and was worried harm would come to the owl. Closing her eyes briefly she sent the emotion of longing through their connection, the agreed signal for the sorceress' feathered friend to return. Waiting with bated breath she searched the sky for her friend to return and share what she had discovered...

Athena soon returned.

The sorceress hooted a few times before asking the bird in a low voice, after all the owl had excellent hearing, about what she had seen that scared her so much.

GM passing a message.

Caitlin's face became serious as she nodded in understanding. "Athena told me the tree is waiting towards the north, and it has company: Several dead or undead, I believe the latter, around surrounding it." she told her companions.

"Thank you for your courage, please check the path to the west and let me know again if there is anything dangerous." the sorceress requested of the owl.

ooc: Try again, to the west.

The owl flew away, and remained away for some time, before returning.

Korzak replied to Kelianthharas by saying agreeingly, "Of course, you are correct! I only see a soul in need and it is my duty to provide assistance if I can. But I understand little of the natural world. That is more your expertise." He was used to dealing with people and his first instinct was to deal with a spirit tree the same way he would deal with a spirit person-- assuming its grudge was quite personal in nature.

He hummed and looked up and to the side as he stroked his chin and pondered, "But, it is odd that the bandits didn't run into this issue, isn't it? Surely if the spirit felt aggressive enough to attack us, it would no doubt have attacked the bandits as well. Yet not a one of them fell to it's fury."

It's not like possession of dragon eggs would have provided any protection against a raging ghostly tree.

Caitlin received Athena with the same concern as before and related the message to the others "I am afraid that this path is a circle, whether we go north or west we will always end up facing the ghost tree." she told her friends, thinking for a few heartbeats. "I cannot be sure, but Athena said the people around the tree were dead. What if that is correct and they are the bandits we are looking for, who paid for their stupidity with their lives?"

Looking at Dialis the sorceress wondered if her friend was completely overwhelmed with the situation. Although, the priestess had turned the ghost once already. "Do you think you can drive away the tree once more? - Perhaps, your gods willing, the eggs are right there and we can take them and leave this place?" she suggested hesitatingly.

Athena had settled on her shoulder again when Caitlin addressed Korzak "I agree with helping those in need, but the way the ghost attacked us - unprovoked - with an attempt to kill us, doesn't that make it evil? Are you not supposed to fight evil in this world?" the sorceress tried some different logic. "Please, let us go ahead, carefully, and see if we can get the eggs, then take care of the ghost?" the mercenary asked hopefully.