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Whisperer of Secrets (The Hangmans Tree)
A hangman’s tree, filled with corpses (swaying gently in the fetid breeze), knows a secret. It is a root of the World-Tree, manifesting where there is great life or death, and the memories of the world coalesce. It will trade knowledge for a fresh corpse added to the tree’s branches. Or, it will trade minor memories and knowledge for a time of hanging in the tree. Finding it again will be next to impossible. It can only be initially be encountered accidentally. It can be tracked through hearing the creaking rope of the nooses in the distance – often mistaken for ships rigging. The tree will tempt those it can, or at the very least pique their interests… Those hearing it will hear it get louder the closer they get.
Encountering
Following the sounds, the mist clears and before you is a massive tree. A full trunk that twists upon itself and leans southward as it reaches skyward 40m. It has massive roots and branches, wherein dozens of bodies in various stages of decay hang, the ropes around their neck groaning and creaking as they sway gently in the breeze.
Origins: The tree is modelled as a miniature version of the world tree – a kind of memory vortex into The Pattern in which a person experiencing death opens a connection to the Halls of the Dead and knowledge is drawn from the spirits and dreams it is bound to. Places (worlds) where Equitas Crystals are found in volume will always manifest an instance of this, perhaps even multiple. It can be laid to rest only by powerful magics or epic magics that can permanently kill masses of foliage and corrupt the land. Usually only to crop up elsewhere in the world.
A breeze blows, sickly sweet, and a voice carries on it. “I am the keeper of secrets. My roots go into the earth and across all lands. I hear the plans of beggar and king alike whispered in the darkness. Such knowledge is mine to give as to make you powerful and rich, all I ask is a watering of my roots with your lifeblood or another’s. Offer a living, twitching soul or climb up and hang in my branches upon a noose of your own making to learn the secrets you seek. But know this, whatever you choose, this place will be a dark hole in your memory to you – you will never find your way back here with any abilities you possess. Powerful divination may uncover the truth, but if you do, any further truth seeking will only have a greater cost. What say you?”
Parameters: If a victim hangs, it must hang to death. No rope will break once cast on it’s branches. To prepare to hang, the tree insists that the items belonging to a hanging character be placed in its roots – part of the sacrifice. Victims must hang for 24 hours, and if they die, they cannot be cut down. If any attempt is made, the tree will attack with it’s branches and roots, summoning all manner of beasts from the locale. HP can be shared, but the sharer shares the fate – though not have to hang but stay.
Looting the Tree
Trying to take from a body hanging in the tree or loot will animate as some form of undead and cause the tree to attack. Most items are absorbed in the roots. Those worn drop into the soil and are absorbed. “A bargain was made!” If asked, “It is part of the sacrifice”.
iCore™Incarna d20™ Whisperer of Secrets Details/Mechanics
Looting the Tree
Bodies will animate as a wight or mummy.
Finding the Tree
[ i ] > DC 11 Wisdom (Perception) to hear the creaking rope [of the nooses] in the distance.[ i ] > DC 16 Wisdom (Perception) to hear the sound of a flow of hundreds of coins hitting the ground.
Its the equivalent of Legend Lore in the information it can give and needs at least a Divination spell to find again after the first time. DC 25 Intelligence (Arcana) check to know what it is.
Gaining from the Tree
Initially, the character must sacrifice HP (from max. HP total) permanently. Can also sacrifice a level/1 Essence per 1hp after they make their first sacrifice. If you have done it with HP sacrifice before and find the tree again, the next must be Essence.
A character can try and gain personal power by hanging themselves in the tree for 24 hours, during which time they appear to be dead. The character must make a [Fated] DC 20 Constitution check – minus the Health or Essence they sacrifice. If they fail, they die permanently. If they succeed, they take permanent damage equal to their sacrifice but such things that can be gained: A feat (loss of a level and max. HP of that level); Knowledge of a spell (-1 hp per spell level); a spell slot (-4 hp x spell level); Proficiency in a Skill (damage equal to their current Proficiency Bonus minimum); Proficiency in an attribute (damage equal to double their current Proficiency Bonus minimum); Knowledge of a treasure hoard (-1 hp per 1000sc value of it), etc. If a level loss corresponds to a feat (i.e. 4th for all) the feat knowledge/capability is lost.
Treasure Horde: 50% will be the value of Real Goods + Archeological Value they can sell, they other in coin. There will be a 1 +1 (For each 1000 in value) in d6 chance of d4 minor magical items to be part of it.