The earth vibrated even stronger beneath their feet and a deep, rumbling voice was heard. " Whhooo wanders in our wooodsss!!"

Nanith was taken back by the earthy voice. " Errr, it's just u-us." he stuttered. Clearing his throat, he glanced at the druidess before continuing. " We're a group of adventurers traveling through this forest. We were making our way to a nearby village, but nightfall came quicker then we thought. We decided to make camp not far from here." He pointed in the general direction of their campsite while the others stared at the wall of bark surrounding them merely yards away.

Nanith began introducing the rest of the party until the voice resonated above his squeaky tone. " You are no korbasholavids ?!" The trees began shifting their branches around and a few limbs began poking at the fellowship for confirmation. " Speak or you shall never seeee yourr friennds a-gain." The root then clamped around the unconscious creature slowly squashing its limp body firmly into the ground.

Erelis, a bit flustered, cried in earnest " No! We are not any evil beings. We are here in need of our kingdom and to any creature great and small that seeks our aid!" The psionic glanced over to the others giving them a look of reassurance that perhaps he could help relegate their situation.

A swishing of branches was heard high overheard and the bark seemed to twist and turn as if the entire grove was growing restless. After a few minutes, the tree pinning the kobold down continued its prodding. " You are hhere to hhelp you ssay?"

Nanith and the others shook their heads avidly, happy to bring hesitation to the minds of the encapsulating trees. " Then maybe you have some ansswers for us. In dire need we are you seeee...." The trees again began shifting as if to show more sides of their casings. And indeed there was a difference; many of the trees had a blackened cankerous growth spreading unchecked upon their sleek, brown bark. Roslyn eyes widened and she shook her head with sadness. " We are under attack you seee. Fungus we know not how to defend overtakes our home!!"

Oktavianus, once reluctant to interact with this strange conversation, said gruffly " And you think it would be us that threatens you? Better think again matey. We have our own agendas and they be good and far more perplexing."

The large oak lowered its branches and grabbed the dead kobold from the ground. It raised the beast to examine it more closely. " Noooo, you doon't knoow this thing. These creatures are poisoning us. They wander our groves spreading pestilence and corrruptness. They run too wild." With that, the fellowship eyed eachother wondering if they were in more trouble than they originally thought.
" Won't you pleease help usss??" grinded the old wood being.

The druidess responded " Well, I being a woman of the woods, feel obligated to help you. But I must say I would like more proof that this dead creature caused your illness before I agree. I could not live with myself if we find out somehow that they weren't guilty to begin with."

The old oak tossed the kobold back into the forest with a distasteful bounce and watched as the rest of the trees talked amongst themselves by grinding their roots and rattling their branches. The master oak replied a little disheartened " Moorrre prroof you saay? Go saave your kind from them now and return to me when it is oover. You will see myy wiisdom for whaat it is."
With that, the circling trees parted allowing the six a retreat path back to the campfire where a dire circumstance was now taking place.

Nanith's eyes grew larger when he realized that their companions at the campfire were in danger. Teflar and Erelis immediately bolted through towards the treeline followed by the others who were willing to be clear of this current situation.

The male hobbit pleaded with the trees as he pulled his crossbow from his hip. " Help us save our friends and destroy these creatures that poison you! I promise on my part that I'll help you in any way I can!" The trees swayed a bit but stood resoundly quiet as ever. Realizing that time was crucial, the hobbit vowed to return afterwards and scampered off after his comrades.

Within minutes, the stretch leading back to camp was covered and the party realized a devastating fact. They were now being overrun with kobolds and the high-pitching yapping echoed throughout the canyon!! Gailwind and Aramil were fighting desperately around the fire trying to fend off the marauders overwhelming them. The falcon defended its master by divebombing any nearby beasts but it was only a matter of time before these nonwarriors would succumb to the vicious aggression.