Fey Glade (Lamashan (X) 25th 4708 AR)

The trees moved to attack the nearest foe each round. The animated trees fought to the death.

Entry Hall. The natural stone steps led down more than thirty feet before ending in a small chamber with a low ceiling. An elegant pair of oak double doors stood closed opposite the stairs, with a much plainer door off to the side.

This entry hall opened into the underground lair of the roseblood sprites. Each of these chambers had unworked stone walls and 7-foot-high ceilings. Phosphorescent fungus that grew in patches on the walls and ceiling lighted all the rooms.

Intricate carvings covered the double doors to the north, showing a field of rose bushes being tended by a single regal roseblood sprite with a crown on his brow. The heroes heard the sounds of laughter and merriment coming from beyond these doors. The heroes only heard a faint buzzing noise at the other door. None of the doors leading out of this chamber were locked.

Dining Hall. Quiet laughter and the tinkle of glass echoed from this large chamber. Running down the middle of the room was a huge table, flanked on either side by ten toadstool chairs. A banquet of roasted meats, steamed turnips, and hearty breads rested on the table. Four small sprites sat on the toadstool chairs, enjoying the feast, oblivious to the interruption. Opposite the main entrance was a dense wall of roses.

This chamber served as the grand dining hall of the King of Roses, the sprite who ruled this place. The feast was real and the food smelled quite delicious.

The wall of roses on the north side of the room blocked line of sight and was completely impassable. Those who attacked the wall found that it regenerated all damage as quickly as they could deal it. Those adjacent to it could hear the clear laughter of the King of Roses on the other side but could not otherwise interact with him. Those who returned with roses from the mother bush were told, rather curtly, by the sprites: “The King of Roses does not receive those who do not bring him the gifts. We hear roots are in fashion this time of year.” This referred to the roots in the root cellar. When the heroes entered this room with both a gift and roses, the wall of roses parted, allowing the heroes to approach the King of Roses and his throne.

The four sprites in this room did not attack until the King of Roses was threatened. The sprites did not answer any questions, but close examination revealed that two of them were missing one ear each, while the other two had human ears seamlessly grafted to their heads. The plates and silverware on the table were made of gold.

Root Cellar. Thick and gnarled roots dangled from the ceiling of this room, some of them reaching down to small puddles on the floor. The rich scent of upturned earth was heavy in this chamber.

Hundreds of roots hung from the ceiling between huge pillars of stone. These roots were edible, but quite bitter, and were harsh on the stomachs of humanoids.

When the heroes came here to find a gift for the king, they discovered that not just any root would do. Bringing back a random root to the dining hall got a response of “You call that a gift? No, I am afraid that will never do. Do you not think that the palate of a king deserves the biggest, most bitter root you can find?” While finding a large root was hard enough, finding the most bitter was a bit more difficult. The heroes eventually found the bitterest kind of root. This, combined with noticing large roots, was sufficient to find the right root to satisfy the king.

Nursery. Planted in rich black soil around a glittering pool of water, twelve small rose bushes grew in this room, each a perfect specimen of beauty. The pool of water on the far side of the room was shallow and treated as difficult terrain for Medium or larger characters.

Two of the rose bushes in this chamber were actually roseblood sprites, one on either side of the pool. These sprites reverted to sprite form and attacked the moment the heroes entered the room, screaming, “You are not allowed here!” The square directly in front of the door contained a snare trap.

Gryxxa avoided surprise by noticing the bushes changing into sprites. The sprites made it appear that two closer bushes had also changed into sprites. Both fey attacked the heroes using thorns until engaged in melee. These sprites fought to the death.

The pool of water glistened because of all of the silver coins and other shiny trinkets tossed inside. There were small silver trinkets such as silverware, lockets, goblets, bracelets, and necklaces in the pond. All of the coins bore the markings of the Empire of Cheliax (making them several hundred years old).

Mother Bush. A shaft of light descended through a narrow hole in the ceiling, illuminating a gigantic rose bush covered in large, beautiful blossoms.

For all of its beauty, the bush was also quite dangerous. Huge thorns covered its stems, making it hazardous to retrieve the flowers. Gryxxa attacked the bush, which ruined one of the flowers, but Jules managed to take one.

Throne of the Rose King. The wall of thorns leading into this area only parted when the heroes had found the right gift and garnered the blessing of the mother bush.

The wall of roses slowly parted to reveal a towering throne of oak, decorated with twisting rose vines. A majestic figure, clad in the finest silks with a crown of roses upon his brow, sat on the throne. The King of Roses looked up with cold contempt. “How dare you interrupt my revelry?”

This was the throne room of the King of Roses. The king was unfriendly. He demanded to know why intruders had come to his home. The heroes answer truthfully, but he showed no sign of regret over what his people had done and was indignant at any suggestion that they stop. He refused to relent on this position, claiming that the harvesting of ears from the workers was vital to his people. After several minutes of pointless banter Gryxxa attacked.

Two of the sprites moved to engage the heroes in melee, while the other two tried to remain outside it, using their thorns and spell-like abilities instead. When given the opportunity, they suggested Jules should eat a hearty meal. When the king was threatened, some of these sprites fought to the death.

After calling for his fellow sprites to attack, the King of Roses divided the room by creating a barrier of very tough, pliable, tangled brush bearing needle-sharp thorns as long as a human finger, cutting off most of the heroes from reaching him, while leaving Gryxxa on his side for him to fight. He then suggested Gryxxa to go have a meal of his gift. After this, he attacked with his rapier.

The heroes are still fighting this fight.