If a Tree Falls, part 1
Log Info
- Title: If a Tree Falls, part 1
- Emitter: Aftershock
- Characters: Ashes, Asmli, Elena, Lanier, Smuldur, Tetrosabier
- Place: Forests around Alexandria
- Time: Monday, June 08, 2020, 8:55 PM
- Summary: The adventurers are sent to follow up on a story where a copywriter was beaten to a pulp by a treant. It's out in the woods and some way, but they find the place with ease. Although their first step is to fall into a hole with a talking spider. It is swiftly dispatched, then the party moves on to a dark, glittering pool surrounded by large trees and one even larger one. The pools contains skeletons of various ages. Ashlee touches the water, determining it has both a weakness and is a source of the Plague Ooze that has been the scourge of Alexandria. Ash's touch awakens the Treant and some debate on how to proceed as it looms threateningly. Lanier engages it verbally, attempting diplomacy, Smuldur tries to light the water on fire. The others assist with the negotiations. Lanier determines the water has caused all this, and orders Ash to find a better source. She leaves with the group and they are successful in their search. Meanwhile, Lanier, is left behind to deal with a treant which is not happy it was disturbed.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face Asmli 4'2" 178 Lb Storm Dwarf Male Blonde khazad-mornir, walking with a limp. Elena 5'6" 125 Lb Half-Elf F Half-Sil Cleric with a neat, disciplined appearance. Lanier 6'0" 245 Lb Human Male Young, lean and strong Acanian wearing hide clothing. Smuldur 3'4" 45 Lb Goblin A gently used (cut, scraped, burnt, exploded) gobber. Tetrosabier 6'8" 275 Lb Eaglefolk Male A tall Eaglefolk dressed in fine blue clothes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aftershock -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
A few hours ago, you'd been called into the office of a well-known paper in Alexandria. It was a Guild quest for sure, but at the request of the magazine and they refused to share the details until the editor met with you. So that's how you found yourselves in the offices of Better Homes and Dungeons. Well known for their publications on affluent homes and their colorful pieces on the lairs of beasts that existed around Alexandria and other fascinating locals.
Your mission, is to go to the home of a particular treant. Which is why you are currently tromping through the forest in the hopes of locating said treant and their abode. You were warned by the editor - as you left - that the treant had beaten the copywriter that he'd sent out to a pulp. Which is why this is apparently your job.
Tetrosabier begins by introducing himself. "Hello there, my name is Tetrosabier, and what would your names be?" He takes time to shake everyone's hands except for Ashes, whom he gives a clap on the back.
Asmli, who'd worn a smirk through much of the description of the errand, seems more amused than worried as he sets off on the trail. Stout and sturdy, he does move more slowly than the others, but shakes the egalrin's hand - not without eyeing them carefully, of course. "Asmli, Clan Stonesmasher," he tells Tetrosabier with a good-humored grin, glancing over at Elena, who he seems to recognize.
Ash has brought her sturdy boots, so she is properly prepared to stomp through forests. Her clothes are well-made black gear that has faded into greys. She has a battered leather satchel, and not much else. She gives a thumbs-up to the back-clap. She answers the question in a flat monotone, "I'm Ashlee Ciardahn, I prefer Ash. I know Lanier also."
When copywriters get beaten to a pulp, you call for a doctor. When copywriters get beaten to a pulp and you need a doctor that can beat something to a pulp right back? You call a cleric. Elena walks with the others, most of the faces familiar. As Tetrosabier makes introductions, however, she offers an easy smile. "Elena Tenirieth."
A tromping we will go, a tromping we will go! Tromping in the dark is bad. "Smuldur" introduces himself as he tromps along with torch in hand. After that formality he calls out ahead, "Tree ant! Tree ant!" They supposed to find it! What is it, though? He looks at the bigguns.
"Tree ant... Tree like ant? Ant big as tree? Ant live in tree?" There are alot of them around in the forest to look over.
Lanier glances towards Tetrosabier as he walks along with Spud, his heroic wolf companion walking not too far beyond him, watching for trouble. He casts a small smile in Tetrosabier's direction, and then a nod to Ashes, "Lanier Vaylan, or the Mythwood." He glances in Smuldur's direction for a moment and then grins, "A treant is a large, sentient creature. Like a living tree, but not exactly." He then adds, "I'd like to try negotiating with it first before we resort to violence. It may be ill-tempered, but it is a living creature of the forest and I'd rather not kill it for Better Home and Dungeon's spring edition." He then points, "Look, see that large barky thing over there? Treeant's do their business in the woods, and this treant ironically needs more fiber."
GAME: Tetrosabier rolls survival: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Ashes rolls survival: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Smuldur rolls survival: (9)+6: 15 GAME: Lanier rolls Survival+3: (12)+11+3: 26 GAME: Asmli rolls survival: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Elena rolls Survival: (20)+4: 24 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls reflex: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17
Suddenly, the ground gives way from underneath Tetrosabier's feet revealing a huge hole in the ground and with it the lair of one hungry-looking spider! Tetrosabier manages to not fall into the hole, in fact manages to keep his feet entirely, but he /is/ rather suddenly face-to-face with a monstrously large arachnid.
GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+8+2: (15)+8+2: 25 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d8+4: (6)+4: 10
"Whoa!" Asmli, who'd been moving a little slower than some of the others, looks over as Tetrosabier nearly gets sucked in! In a flash of leather, the harness over Asmli's back that holds the mighty urgrosh drops to the dirt, and the weapon is in both of his hands. "That's ugly! Let's keep it down there!" Without hesitation, there is dwarf in the hole, slashing downwards with sharpened axe, followed closely by a boot and a metal foot!
GAME: Smuldur rolls melee+1: (10)+5+1: 16 GAME: Asmli rolls reflex: (14)+4: 18 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Elena rolls 1d20+2+1+4: (4)+2+1+4: 11 GAME: Elena spends ONE use of HAND OF THE ACOLYTE.
Elena reaches for the weapon at her hip, tossing it at the spider with a flash of energy. Unfortunately, her aim is a bit off as she tries to avoid hitting the others down in the hole, and the weapon misses -- but it flashes back into her hand.
GAME: Tetrosabier rolls reflex: (15)+7: 22
"Ahh! Tree an-No! Ground spider! Ahh!" Smuldur leaps into the hole, with the assistance of gravity... and bonks the spider on the noggin with his burning club! Or whatever that is. Spider ends are hard to tell apart
GAME: Asmli rolls reflex: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (1): 1 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls weapon1: (3)+5: 8 GAME: Asmli rolls reflex: (13)+4: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls reflex: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Smuldur rolls reflex: (11)+3: 14 GAME: Smuldur rolls reflex: (10)+3: 13 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+2: (15)+2: 17
Tetrosabier stumbles back as the hole opens up beneath him. He rapidly glances around and is glad there are no horses in his vicinity. Looking down however, he is greeted by an equally unpleasant spectacle of a giant spider. He pauses for a moment, not quite sure as to what his next action should be. Watching the dwarf rush gallantly and quickly, Tetrosabier decided that with his restricted range, he would also have to get closer. Jumping down the hole, he drew his rapier and pointed it downwards.
Realizing he might hit Smulder, he drew his weapon back and missed the spider. Coming to a stop at the bottom of the hole he heard an "oof". Looking down he saw the blue boot in the poor dwarves face and did his best to move onto the now flaming spider as it set fire to his legs.
Angrily the spider hisses and spits. "WHAT KINDSSS OF DINNERSSS BE YOU!!! SSSETSSS FIRE TO HOUSSSSE!!!" It's on fire thanks to its hairy disposition, and it can't seem to put itself out what with the /people standing on it/. Just the same it skitters and manages to try and bite at Smuldur. Thankfully the goblin's armor saves him from its teeth, but the spider is absolutely /furious/.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+1: (18)+1: 19
Ash is far back enough from the hole she easily avoids falling in. Also, she's not much of a fighter. That's one big spider, she prefers them smaller. She does very little, beyond staring intently at it. Her eyes burning deep in the dark eyesockets of her skull face. In response, she flatly replies, "We're not dinner."
GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+Melee+1+PA: aliased to 1d20+Melee+1-2: (7)+10+1+-2: 16 GAME: Lanier rolls 1d20+Melee+1+PA-5: aliased to 1d20+Melee+1-2-5: (15)+10+1+-2+-5: 19 GAME: Lanier rolls 1d10+2H_Str+2H_PA: aliased to 1d10+6+6: (5)+6+6: 17 GAME: Lanier rolls 1d10+2H_Str+2H_PA: aliased to 1d10+6+6: (10)+6+6: 22 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d20+8-2: (7)+8+-2: 13 GAME: Asmli rolls 1d8+4+4: (1)+4+4: 9
Lanier looks away from the treant leavings just in time to see Tetrosabier nearly fall into the hole. Lanier calls out the name of his companion, and then the Sildanyari word for protect or guardianship. He reaches behind him, removing a bardiche from the sheathed position on his back. He moves quickly up to the edge of the hole, calling out, "Trapdoor spider!" With a frown, he lifts the bardiche above his hand and then slams it down, driving through the spider to lift the axe-type weapon up and bring it down a second time.
Asmli swears colorfully when the egalrin lands on him, and the half-shaven head now sports part of a dirt-covered egalrin bootprint, all too visible on the fair skin. "Oy, watch it, birdbrain!" he yells at Tetrosabier, then reverses the axe end in the limited confines with a snarl. "The burnt kind, you ugly thing," he growls as the axe bites deep one last time. The back end misses, but it doesn't matter as the thing slumps over dead, cracked carapace oozing ichor.
Elena seems ready to try again. But then Lanier is spearing the thing with the world's biggest, sharpest axe, and Asmli does the rest of the work of bringing it down. Between the fire and confusion in the hole, it takes her a moment to get her bearings, but eventually she pulls it together. "Is anyone injured?" she asks, offering a hand to those in the depths.
Ash watches as the blows land and the spider goes down. She looks over at Elena, adjusts her satchel and kneels, holding her hand down to those in the hole as well.
GAME: Tetrosabier rolls athletics: (5)+2: 7
Smuldur emits a gobber bellow of triumph as the spider proves -not- to be the burniest of the burning. The bellow mostly involves blowing a raspberry at it. It looks like it. Sounds like it. Might even smell like - "Ha!" he adds, for good measure. He then looks around. "Where tree ant?" Right. He starts to scramble out of the hole so he can see the trees again.
Tetrosabier watches as the spider goes limp and relaxes. Apologizing to Asmli as he attempts to leave, he leaps and goes to extend his wings as to further his jump. His wings get caught on the narrow confines of the hole. Smashing his boot back into Asmli's face he continues to apologize as he takes Ashes hands and exits the hole.
While the others are trying to scramble out of the whole, Asmli goes digging around in his pack, and before long, produces a length of spidersilk rope. Before he can toss it up to those up top, though, the egarin leaves him a matching print of bleeding talon scratches on the other side of his face, and he swears even more colorfully, several of the words used not repeatable in remotely polite company. "Get -off- me, you numbskull! Oy, catch!" Stepping back and yanking on the coil of rope he'd fished up, he tosses the rest of it to those up top.
There's a look of sadness on his face as the spider falls, but it's short-lived as Lanier casts the bardiche aside and picks up the rope that Asmli has tossed up, "Is everyone alright?" He takes a few steps away, beginning the process of wrapping it around the base of the trunk, where the roots anchor the tree to the ground, thus making it the strongest part. This is obviously not the first time he's used rope in the forest. Make of that what you will.
The ashen arvec watches the continuing events in the hole, mostly Tetrosabier stepping on Asmli again, as well as Lanier tying off a rope and throwing it in. She remains kneeling, hand outstretched, although she gives it a little shake to draw attention.
Elena waits until the others are well out of the hole, looking them over for any burns. "Alchemist's fire in an enclosed space is -- usually unwise," she sighs. "But I suppose it was effective." A glance over at Lanier, the weapon getting her curiosity, though she glances down the path. "The ent in question isn't far now," she tells the others, pointing. Apparently, the cleric knows precisely where the creature in question is. Perhaps she's familiar.
Taking the lead, she starts down the path, apparently confident in her ability to find the thing in question.
Thanks to Elena's excellent direction, it doesn't take long to find what you're looking for. It's a pool. Dark and dusky in color, shimmering with rainbow sparkles. On the edge of the pond, away from the rest of the trees is one massive one, its coloring darker than that of the other trees. It, is clearly the treant. If only due to the fact that it has managed to grow rather far from any other tree, and its notably larger size.
GAME: Ashes rolls perception: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls perception: (18)+12: 30 GAME: Lanier rolls Perception+2: (11)+11+2: 24
Asmli is still grumbling as he packs up his rope, grabs his weapon harness, slings it back over his shoulder, and ambles along with the others. By now, his stride is a little halting, a little jerky, and he grumbles to himself under his breath the whole way, until they all stop.
GAME: Asmli rolls perception: (20)+4: 24
Hidden beneath the murk of the unnaturally dark water, you can make out skeletal forms in the deep. The earth has largely taken them back, but you can still make them out.
GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (14)+8: 22
Ash follows along, moving along the edge of the pool so there is room beside it for the others. She gazes at its odd, sparkling depths, then looks up at the tree, or perhaps the treant, she can't exactly tell. Finally she points out the obvious and asks, "There are skeletons at the bottom. Did the copy writer spill ink in this?"
Smuldur looks around at the trees as they move. Thinking about how best to find a Tree Ant. "Tree Ant like tree, but move? Add fire to all tree, watch for moving one!" See? Excellent powers of deduction! "Pond!" He points. Excellent powers of observation, too!
GAME: Elena rolls Perception: (10)+6: 16 GAME: Ashes rolls heal: (19)+7: 26
"Let's avoid a raging forest fire if we can," Elena suggests. "I think that the other Temples, and the Green Word, would be a bit upset." She glances at Smuldur on that one. "We might not need fire at all." But she, too, looks in the pond, her frown deepening. Perhaps because she doesn't see what the others see. Perhaps because she wants to believe otherwise, and can't. "Let's all be careful. And not provoke it if we can avoid it."
Tetrosabier rests a hand on his now hilted rapier and glances around at the party. Upon Smuldur's suggestion, he let out a suppressed chuckle before tapping him on the shoulder. "Yeah that might get him to come out, but it would make a huge fire that we might not be able to escape from." He glanced at his singed leg as he talked. "Plus it would anger him and make him attack us. We are just here to talk with this creature and talk it out of anger if we can"
Ash crouches down, peering more intently into the depths of the pool. "It's a mix of bones, some animal, some humanoid, mix of ages. Very well picked clean, considering."
GAME: Ashes rolls knowledge/nature: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Tetrosabier rolls 1d20+3: (14)+3: 17
Lanier looks towards Elena, nodding his head, "I'd like to as well, but this is far outside the normal behavior of a treant. It's like this treant has gone mad. Let's take a look around to see if there's a logical source for the madness, but otherwise..." He frowns, his face darkening, "It may be more humane to put it out of its misery." He then adds, "I speak Sylvan. Let's ask it when it comes around."
"More fire always better..." Smuldur shares while eyeing the water. He pokes a finger at it, then reaches for a tindertwig. Hey, you never know if water might burn unless you keep trying..
As Ashes sits down by the pool of water and dips her hand in, the tree at the edge of the pool resolves, rising up and shifting to loom over her much, much smaller form. It emits a low groan and stares down at her with huge black eyes that weep blackness.
As the treant comes to life, Lanier is quick to move alongside Ashes, upon whose should he sets his hand for the briefest of moments, "Ash, I'm trusting you to keep that one from setting the forest on fire. Please keep an eye on him." He then takes another step away, moving along the edge of the lake, "I am the Green Warden Lanier Vaylan. We've come meaning no harm to you or your forest." He then tilts his head, "Who are you, Treant, and what happened to you?"
GAME: Lanier rolls Diplomacy: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls diplomacy: (6)+7: 13
Hand still on his rapier, Tetrosabier appears beside Lanier, ready to leap in front of him and protect him if the treant attacked. It would also alow him to give input on any discussions him and the tree might have.
Smuldur looks up... and up... at the big tree. Maybe its bark is worse than its bite! He points a blackened finger at it. "Tree Ant stop! Stop..." he looks at the pool, then back "... putting people in sparkling water!"
GAME: Ashes rolls knowledge/arcana: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Smuldur rolls diplomacy: (18)+2: 20 GAME: Elena rolls Diplomacy: (16)+8: 24
The groan draws her in. Ash gazes up at the huge form looming over her. She is small in its shadow. She returns the stare. She has a painted skull face, with dark sockets, and her eyes are like shiny beads within. The treant weeps blackness, she is struck with compassion, and remains looking at it.
She's also been given some instructions, to which she responds with an unemotional, "Yes sir." Smuldur will be watched. He seems fine now.
She swishes her hand about in the pool, feeling the water run over her fingers. Something makes her look down at it suddenly, a confused expression on her face. "This water has a weakness." She cranes her head back to look upwards at the treant above. Her hand still swishing around. "And it can infect people with the plague. Don't touch it."
Elena spreads her hands to the side, well away from her weapons, fingers in no mudra for magic. "Please, friend," she tells the tree. "There is no need for violence today. We're only here to help ease your suffering, and the suffering of others." The black ooze that runs from it, though, causes the angles of her face to tighten a bit as she sets her jaw, a small, whispered prayer under her breath.
The treant looks down at you all, moaning again. "Man.... come.... bring water." It shudders and walks into the water, sliding towards you as if it can not help itself. The water barely skims over the edges of its roots and curves around the base of its trunk. The brackish water doesn't seem to bother it, but then... it has been feeding on this water all along. "Water turn dark... FLESSSSSSSH. HUNGRY." The treant moans again, leaves shaking, boughs creaking. This... is starting to look bad.
GAME: Lanier rolls Diplomacy: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls Diplomacy: (5)+7: 12
Lanier glances towards Ashes, nodding his head, "I understand. I think the water infecting the treant has driven it insane. Can you rally the others to try to find a source, Ash?" He then frowns, looking back up towards the Treant with sadness, "The water is poisoning you. You should back away from it." He then asks, "What is your name, Treant?"
Pulling himself ahead of Lanier, Tetrosabier readies to attack at the treant as it draws nearer. "Hey, I think it might be a bit far gone to be reasoned with." He grips his rapier tightly as the massive tree slowly approaches. Noticing Ash touching the water. Gently, and using his off hand, he grips Ashes on their shoulder. He makes an attempt to pull them away.
GAME: Smuldur rolls ranged: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Smuldur used a Alchemist's Fire.
Smuldur looks at the Tree Ant, then the skull-face one and then Lanier... and back to the water. "Bad water! Burn!" He yanks a vial out of his belt pouch and cracks it into the water. If the water's bad, it should pay... and he does really want to see if it will burn, too.
GAME: Ashes rolls knowledge/nature: (3)+7: 10
"Water is usually Fire's weakness." Ashlee says, as Tetrosabier pulls her away and to her feet. She was supposed to watch Smuldur, check; prevent him from burning down the forest, ... results pending. Stepping back from the pool and the impending treant seems prudent, so she does. "The water's weakness is bludgeoning."
She also needs to rally the troops. Her military training kicks in, and she replies with a bland, monotone, "Yes sir," to Lanier, followed by an empty, motivationless speech, "We need another source of water. I don't remember any on the way. Do any of you?"
GAME: Elena casts Sanctuary. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (9)+9: 18
"Ssshalehazel. Me." The treant replies slowly, hissing around the edges. Then, Smuldur reveals the fire and it quickly backs away back across the pool, shuddering and hissing violently at the goblin. "FIRE BAD! FIRE /EVIL/." It seems to be /very/ upset over the flicker of flame which dies quickly in the pool of water as if it had been a threat against its life.
GAME: Lanier rolls Diplomacy: (10)+4: 14
Smuldur looks disappointed at the minimal flicker. Almost! One of these days, he'll get water to burn. It's just a matter of will... and enough volatile materials. He looks over as the Tree Ant backs away. "Fire not bad! People not use fire right are bad!"
Lanier reaches out, attempting to seize Trtosabier and pull him back behind him, "You can better redirect your energy elsewhere. That's a very small sword and..." He looks towards the Treant for a moment, "That's a very large treant." As the treant backs away, Lanier turns towards Smuldur, "No, you idiot!" He then turns towards Asmli, "Please... If he tries to light another fire, bludgeon the water and the ground around it with him." The ranger does not seem happy at the turn of events. He redirects his attention back to the treant, frowning slightly, "Sorry, Shalehazel. It's out now. You're not longer in any danger."
"We can outrun Shalehazle," Ash says, and takes a step back, giving the treant a long, lingering gaze. "We'll leave and find you a better water supply, then take you to it."
She thinks things over, the mission was to check on the treant, and its issues have been determined. To be redundant she tells the party, "We don't have to stay. We should find it a stream or another pond."
Then the ashen arvec sets out to do just that.
Elena turns to look at Ash as she starts to leave, then looks to the others. And then to Lanier. "What do you think?" She seems ready to move one way or another, but seems unsure of which path to take.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (7)+9: 16
"LEAVE!" Booms the treant, glaring at Smuldur. "Take fire and go!" It seems furious still with the creation of the flames, and perhaps more so with the individual defending the stuff. It doesn't seem to be listening well to Lanier at the moment, the threat of fire enough to cut through any amount of sickness or diplomacy for the moment. There is one thing that no treant could ever forget, and that is the age-old enemy.
GAME: Lanier rolls Diplomacy: (16)+4: 20
As the treant booms its command, Lanier's head snaps back. He looks towards Elena and says gravely, "I think we should leave... Besides, I trust Ash. She seems to have a plan." He then calls out, raising his voice, "Shalehazel! I am the Green Warden Lanier Vaylan! I follow the edicts of the Stag and I'm NOT going to let them harm you unnecessarily! Listen to me... The water is poison. We're going to try to fix it, but you must fight to maintain control, and stay away from the water. Do you understand me?" Even as he asks the question, he is backing up, careful not to take more steps than his companions, looking to not outpace them.
GAME: Smuldur rolls survival: (18)+6: 24 GAME: Ashes rolls survival: (20)+3: 23 GAME: Tetrosabier rolls survival: (13)+3: 16
"Better water!" Smuldur was only trying to burn the bad stuff... but maybe that's why it didn't burn?! He scampers and bounds after the skull-faced (bone headed?) one, quick for having comparatively short legs.
Tetrosabier moves back towards Ashes. Not quite sure wether it would be wise to continue antagonizing the evil tree, he says "Hey, the tree told us to leave... I'm pretty sure we aren't going to be able to fight that thing. We really don't want to piss it off."
Ashlee sets off on her new mission, to find a better source of water, with the troops consisting of Smuldur and Tetro. While she's far from social, lacks leadership skills and charisma, her military past left enough of a mark she knows the right things to say. Her even more distant past was living with a witch in the woods, so while she has few trained survival skills, she does have a knack, and an instinct.
After a short exploration, keeping each other in sight, observing the lay of the land and the concentration of foliage, the scouting party discovers a nice, freshwater spring bubbling up that's not even that far away. Ash looks around, down at the goblin, over at the egalrin. She doesn't smile and there's no emotion in her voice, but this is still a victory. "Good job. We found water. We should report back."
GAME: Lanier rolls Diplomacy: (9)+4: 13
Elena nods to Lanier, not looking like she wants to fight the man's advice that much. "Leave it is, then." She gives the Treant a sympathetic look, then follows with the others to a safer distance.
Which leaves Lanier alone with the treant, and the treant? Seems done with diplomacy.
-TBC
