Great Trees

There are trees, and then there are the Great Trees. There are forests, and then there are the Great Forests – those which host a single Great Tree. If a party ever stumbles across one, roll twice on the table below – the first is the tree’s appearance, the second is its true nature.

D4	Description
1	Ancient, wise and true
2	Twisted, bitter and malicious
3	Capricious, fickle and fey
4	Young, curious and naïve

If the Great Tree deigns to speak to the group, roll below to see what is has to say.

Ancient Tree

D6	Speaks thusly…
1	Answers a single question with absolute truth. Opinions are the Tree’s own.
2	Recounts a notable historical event of interest that occurred within the forest.
3	Tells a tale of the time before man, elf or dwarf trod foot on the world.
4	Imparts a bleak prophecy based on recent (within past 100 years) events.
5	Finally answers the question the last group it met asked it.
6	Gives directions to allies within the forest.

Twisted Tree

D6	Speaks thusly…
1	Imparts horrible doom upon the group.
2	Gives false answers to any questions asked of it – these answers will be damaging where possible.
3	Gives directions to ‘allies’ – actually most dangerous creature of the forest.
4	Invents rumours of impending war/plague/famine – intent is to create self-fulfilling prophecy.
5	‘Prophesies’ success of group’s current objective and the horrible consequences of this.
6	‘Prophesies’ failure of group’s current objective and the horrible consequences of this.

Capricious Tree

D6	Speaks thusly…
1	Gives directions to get the group hopelessly lost in the forest.
2	Sends the group in the complete opposite direction of their current objective.
3	Gives the group fabricated clues to any questions asked of it.
4	Answers a question truthfully but in riddles.
5	Attempts to coax the group into sleeping beneath its branches – will cast sleep if needs be.
6	Signals dryads/nymphs of the area silently.

Young Tree

D6	Speaks thusly…
1	Asks the group incessant questions on any and all subjects.
2	Stumbles over speech and confuses the players whilst trying to impart information.
3	Demands an interesting fact from each member of the party.
4	Insists the party stays until it is bored of them.
5	Nothing – it is awed simply watching the players zip about.
6	Imparts information regarding events occurring near the forest within last 5 years.

When Great Trees choose to speak and answer questions, tradition demands a sacrifice or offering to be made…

D10	Offering of…
1	A token watering of the tree’s roots.
2	The leaf of a distant tree.
3	The sacrifice of an animal.
4	The sacrifice of an intelligent being.
5	A sincere conversion to Druidic beliefs.
6	A significant amount of mineral wealth.
7	A literary work of note.
8	An intelligent carer for 1 week.
9	An intelligent carer for 5 years.
10	An intelligent carer for life.

A group unwilling or unable to make an offering is inflicted thusly….

D4	Punishment
1	Animals to hound them in any Great Forest.
2	Never a restful night in any Great Forest.
3	Innumerable dead-falls, rabbit holes, thorny plants and the like in any Great Forest.
4	The Great Trees will spread tales of your terrible deeds – whenever they tell a lie, there is a chance your group is the subject of the lies.