As they rushed to the center of the settlement to defend the Mother Tree, Terran thought he heard a noise behind him, just in time to see Roald appear out of thin air and shove a dagger right into his chest.
You have died!
Chapter Thirty
As Terran returned to awareness, cradled in the upper branches of the Mother Tree, smoke filled his nose and burned at his eyes. He struggled to his feet as elves shouted and bows twanged.
At least half the settlement was in the trees, firing at Crag Trolls while flames raged. The fire only burned on the trees nearest the Mother Tree, but the Crag Trolls had more oil casks they were preparing to smash against her wide trunk. A few feet away, Enoki had taken to throwing rocks at the trolls, clearly having lost her sap bucket and pole. When she glanced over, he saw the fear in her eyes, not only at their crumbling defense but at the raging flame. Soot covered her forehead, and she had a black eye from the earlier fight. He tried to give her a reassuring smile, but it came out a grimace.
A crash from below was followed by a whomp as the oil caught fire, and greasy smoke billowed up into the upper branches, forcing Terran to throw himself backwards. He took a few points of damage, but that wasn't as bad as the new information with which he was presented.
Mother Tree Health – 94%
Already the flames were ticking away at the percentage, at least one a second, leaving little doubt to the ending of this adventure. As the heat grew, Terran could see three figures in back of the massed Crag Trolls. Selune and her two lackeys were watching patiently as the fire did its job for them. While there were only a dozen Crag Trolls left, and most were injured in some form or another, that was still more than the remaining settlement could handle.
While he couldn't see Captain Lhoris or Chanterelle anywhere, he heard the sounds of steel on steel further out, which meant they were being kept from defending the Mother Tree.
As he watched the Crag Trolls laugh and throw twigs and limbs into the fire, ignoring the few arrows that were reaching them, a great black pit of despair opened up beneath Terran. It was one thing to fight a battle over loot and experience, but the Mother Tree was the home of the Rock Leaf Elves. If they lost it, they would be doomed.
Mother Tree Health – 71%
It seemed like there was nothing left they could do. His hands quivered as he wiped the soot from his face. The proper thing to do at this point would be to escape from the back of the Mother Tree, leave the settlement, and set off on his own. He doubted Luna would come with him, because he would be setting off to find his friends, no matter how hard that task.
There was nothing he could do…well, there was one thing he could do, but there were no guarantees that it would help, not at this moment. And if he made that decision, he could risk everything. Who knew what would happen to him if he was the Champion of the Mother Tree when it was destroyed?
When he looked to the Rock Leaf elves in the upper canopy of the trees, fighting with all their heart, throwing every last arrow and rock at the Crag Trolls, Terran knew what he had to do, damn the consequences.
He mentally reached out to the Mother Tree. Okay, I'm ready now. The quest returned to his vision.
Champion of the Mother Tree [Unique Quest]
Become one with the Mother Tree (minimum length of time - one year)
Reward: Character enhancement
He accepted it before he could second-guess himself, and the effect was immediate. A rich verdant light shot from the tree, hitting him right in the breastbone, filling him with a glow. Three things happened in this time. The first was his attunement to the Mother Tree enhanced her protections, making her stronger in this critical time.
You have completed the quest Champion of the Mother Tree
Mother Tree Champion Buff [Bonuses to Tree Stats]
+25% Damage Resistance
+50% Maximum Health
The second was that a minor buff extended to the tribe, those that were currently alive anyway, returning some of their hit points and increasing their attack and defense. It wasn't a lot, but any little bit helped.
The final part made him feel like he'd been injected with a powerful drug. Not only did his whole body feel rejuvenated by her touch, but his mind expanded, much as he'd felt during the vision, but not as passive. He could sense his live connection with the living things surrounding the hillside. While he knew that he could reach out further, it would take time, something he had precious little of.
Champion of the Mother Tree Enhancement
[Permanent increases]
+2 All Stats
Rock Leaf Elf subrace template added
· Rock Leaf Skin: 20% Natural Armor
· Nimble-footed
· Rock Leaf Invisibility: +5 Stealth in Forest or Cave Regions
While the buff gave him a sudden desire to leap into the middle of the Crag Trolls, he knew that would quickly end in his death. They had to stop the fire, but to do that they had to get rid of the Crag Trolls. The Mother Tree was resilient, the fire was finding it difficult to take hold, but eventually her resistance would fail.
When he'd connected with the Mother Tree, and with it, the animals in the region around the settlement, he'd found a familiar presence, one that was quite far from its original home. But as soon as he reached out, he realized that he'd sensed the Spirit Bear already, when he'd been circling the bramble wall.
The Spirit Bear had been drawn back to the Mother Tree, a connection that had been made when the creature had carried a piece of her essence, but it had hesitated below the hill, for fear of the fire and of the Crag Trolls. But Terran was able to make a connection with the Spirit Bear, feel its rich, pungent soul. He only had to make a slight nudge, before he sensed the creature's thundering approach.
The bear alone wouldn't win the fight, but Terran couldn't see with the flames flickering up the side of the tree, so he ran out onto a thin branch, forgetting that he was as fumble-footed as a sloth, but his feet miraculously found easy purchase at each step as if he'd been living in a tree all his life. He glanced back to see Enoki's surprised face at his acrobatics.
Perched on an extended limb that swayed with his weight, Terran could see the flames raging against the Mother Tree. The tree itself wasn't burning, but they'd piled limbs and other refuse on her side to feed the fire, since her stone-like flesh was more resistant than normal wood. He also saw a trio of Crag Trolls with axes hammering on the back side, knocking the protective layer of stone bark away.
Mother Tree Health – 45%
He knew if he could explode the ground around the fire, he might be able to scatter it, putting out the majority of the flames. Through his connection with the tree, he sensed all the stone in the hill, including a small section near the flames, but before he could trigger the stone, he heard Roald shout.
"That little shit is back," he said, pointing up at Terran.
Selune stepped forward, looking up at him with a contented smile on her lips. She knew she was in control of the fight.
The blonde raised her hands as if she were conducting an orchestra, her lips moving adroitly, an intensity to her gaze that gave him the shivers. Terran quickly refocused his attention on the deep stone—his priority was to put out the fire—but before he could trigger it, Selune made a fist and the tree branch he was standing on snapped in half, dropping him onto the grass.
He took far less damage in the fall than he would have thought—another benefit of his Rock Leaf Elf subrace—but it wasn't the fall that was going to kill him. An eager Kratow, with his claymore, and a sinister Roald, with his twin daggers, crossed the distance between them in a heartbeat.
"Time to die," said Roald.
Terran felt the Spirit Bear's arrival the moment before he saw the dirty white fur appear out of the darkness. Neither Roald nor Kratow saw the enormous bear, as they were entirely focused on killing him, their weapons raised in what they thought would be the killing blow.
The Spirit Bear hit Kratow w
ith its bent head, flipping the warrior into the trees with a flick of its neck, followed by an openmouthed crunch on Roald. Terran was up close and personal as the bear's enormous mouth, filled with glistening teeth, closed around the assassin's neck, snapping it and killing him outright.
Then the Spirit Bear stopped in the middle of the fight and let out an enormous roar that shook leaves from the trees and made the nearby Crag Trolls step back.
The already light-skinned Selune looked positively translucent with fright, her jaw hanging loose as her fingers worked absently at a spell, but eventually she gathered her senses, gesturing towards the Crag Trolls.
"Kill the bear!"
As the Crag Trolls rushed the Spirit Bear, Terran slapped his hand to the earth, triggering an explosion near the tree, which scattered the fire, sending embers in a wide arc. A cheer went up from the elves above them. From the back of the hill Captain Lhoris, along with Chanterelle, Luna, and two other warriors on their flank, broke into the clearing beneath the Mother Tree.
The elvish warriors crashed into the backs of the Crag Trolls, who were trying to approach the Spirit Bear as it gamboled across the hillside, taking bites from the lumpy humanoids as they tried to attack the much larger beast.
With the fire mostly put out, Terran climbed to his feet, avoiding the Crag Trolls, but looking up in time to see Kratow rushing at him with his claymore raised. Terran had no time to do anything but put his arms up.
Before Kratow could reach him, Chanterelle leapt forward and shoved her blade right through the berserker's neck. The surprise on his face lasted for a second, followed by a gurgle, then he slid off her blade, collapsing to the grass with glassy eyes. The body began to disappear moments later.
Behind them, the Spirit Bear was making quick work of the injured Crag Trolls, leaving Terran and his friends to advance on Selune, who was slowly backing away, defiant and angry to the last.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Terran," said Selune. "I have powerful friends, and I will make you pay for your defiance."
"Actually, I think I'm the one with powerful friends, and it looks like you're currently paying for your arrogance," he said.
"You think I won't get my revenge? I swear to you that I will become queen of all of these lands." She threw her arms out. "All of them. And I will remember those that opposed me. Remember, there's no going back. This is our lives, for all time, asleep in the stars, and I will never rest."
As she backed up, the Rock Leaf Elves that had survived the fight made a semicircle around Selune. Petram was there, along with Captain Lhoris, Ara, and Kumotake, who looked quite battered, but even angrier.
As the remaining Crag Trolls fell to the Spirit Bear, the blonde Selune opened her mouth—whether it was for a spell or a last promise of future revenge they would never know because Enoki hurried from the side and slapped a handful of sappy leaves over her mouth. The enchantress didn't know quite what to make of the wet mess on her face, especially when the entire tribe began to sing softly, until the leaves hardened, and her expression turned from confusion to abject terror.
Terran turned away from her last suffocating struggles, content that they'd won the battle and defended the Mother Tree and the Rock Leaf settlement that lived within her leafy embrace. While the elves cheered their victory with whoops and hollers, and song, of course, and the Spirit Bear chased the last of the Crag Trolls into the night, Terran wandered to the edge of the hill, a place where the brambles had been destroyed, leaving a wide hole, and he looked into the darkness.
You have completed the quest Defend the Mother Tree
Reward: Your reputation is now Revered with the Rock Leaf Elves
A year, he thought. I traded a year away from my friends to save the settlement.
But the exchange had been worth it, and while he knew that he hadn't seen the last of Selune, Kratow, and Roald, they would have time to rebuild. He would have time to level up, the settlement and Mother Tree included.
A warm hand touched his lower back, but it didn't startle him, as she'd purposely scuffed a blade of grass so he could hear her approach.
He linked arms with Chanterelle.
She turned to him, and he matched her, hands cupping each other's faces. Her brown-gold eyes reflected the lights from the center of the camp, and though he could hear their song and cheer, he could only see her.
He parted his lips. "Shall we try this again? This time without interruption?"
The tip of her tongue playfully caressed the underside of her teeth. "Please," she said, a primal need in her tone. "But after we're finished with this first kiss, I'm going to show you how real Rock Leaf Elves do it." She glanced to the trees as a grin hitched to her lips.
Terran's eyes widened as he swallowed. "Oh."
Chapter Thirty-One
The next morning, after Terran bathed in the nearby chilly stream, he joined Petram at the Mother Tree. Burnt grass covered a wide arc in the clearing, but the massive tree had already shaken off the damage from the night before.
"Buried bodies already?" Terran asked.
Petram wagged his eyebrows. "Looted. We received quite a haul for the battle."
Terran chuckled under his breath. "Don't leave me hanging."
Petram wrinkled his forehead as he glanced into the canopy. "But you are on the ground?"
"Sorry," said Terran. "A human expression, it means don't leave me waiting."
"Ahh, but you are not human any longer," said Petram with a knowing smile. "Not completely."
"Yes. You'll have me as your leader for at least a year," said Terran, trying not to sound disappointed.
Petram clasped him on the shoulder. "I know you wanted dearly to reunite with your friends. But without your sacrifice we would have lost the battle, and the Mother Tree would have been no more."
"I don't regret it, Petram, not one second. And there are benefits to being a member of the tribe," said Terran as he caught a glimpse of Chanterelle returning from the stream herself. She walked with an easy, hip-swinging sway that brought heat to his cheeks.
Petram raised an eyebrow as he glanced in the direction Terran was blushing, before saying, "The trolls had quite a collection of metal weapons. While most of them are too big for our use, a few of them we can repurpose for the warriors while the rest we can sell or trade when the opportunity presents itself. There was some currency—silver coins—and trinkets and gems, which will be valuable later on.
"I also sent a group of warriors to the Crag Troll camp. While most of the materials were unusable, the humans' tents had a nice surprise. There was a small chest where they kept extra magic items, which I liberated."
Warmth invaded Terran's chest as he thought about turning the tables on the Terrible Trio and taking their gear, after they tried to do the same to him.
Petram passed over the items for Terran to review. He could immediately see why they hadn't used them as the skills didn't fit them.
You receive Eagle Eye Bracers.
+3 Agility for ranged weapons
+25% damage when on high ground
Death from above!
You receive Circlet of Leaves
+1 Intelligence
+20% Mana Regen Rate
+5% Health Regen Rate
You receive Folding Trident of the Fishes
+30% damage when in water
Can hold breath for twice normal time
Fish scales not included
You receive Nightblade
+15% Damage in darkness
+2 Agility / +5 Agility when using two weapons
+10% AC
"Give the trident and bracers to Lhoris to distribute to his warriors," Terran said as he handed them over.
"The others?" asked Petram, eyebrows raised.
The circlet was made of silver with a decorative leaf that fit behind the ears to hold it in place. "I'll take this, but I can't for the life of me think why Selune wasn't using it."
Petram made a self-satisfied noise in
the back of his throat. "Why don't you try it on then?"
Grasping either side with his forefingers and thumbs, he slipped the band over his ears, settling it on his head.
Requirement Met: Rock Leaf Elf race
"Well, that explains it," said Terran, then squinted at Petram. "But you already knew that."
"That's a powerful magic item that was lost long ago," said Petram, "so it's fitting that it has been returned to the tribe, and specifically its champion." He paused. "What will you do with the sword?"
Terran blushed. "I know someone who could use it."
"Very good," said Petram. "I know you have much to do, but when you're finished with your other tasks, please come by the hut. I have something to show you."
The shaman's cagey expression told Terran that he wouldn't be spoiling the surprise, so he didn't bother asking. Besides, he had to level up, which he'd been too distracted to do after the battle.
Terran found a quiet patch of rock overlooking the valley to pull up his character sheet. He'd been thinking about applying some ability points to Strength because he felt like he was running out of stamina during fights, but the bonus he received from becoming Champion had solved that issue for him, so he felt safe in applying the points to Endurance and Intelligence as he had been.
Character: Terran
Level: 8
Class: Earthen Mage
Subrace: Rock Leaf Elf
Champion of the Mother Tree
HP: 184
Mana: 350
Sta: 340
Strength: 3
Intelligence: 10
Endurance: 11
Cunning: 3
The Stone Tree: A LitRPG Adventure (Kingmaker Saga Book 1) Page 20
