Tales of Atlantia, Chapter 2: The Quest for the World Tree

The archmage has summoned the half-elf hunter wizard and set her to the task of finding the legendary world tree. To this end he has given her gold to hire companions. In the nearby town she finds an interesting scene. A tavern is crowded with soldiers, commoners and merchants, all watching what appears to be an elephant drinking at the bar. The elephant is quite drunk. This scene intrigues the crowd so much the neglect the bard on stage. After a brief conversation with the elephant the wizard sets out a sign reading, "Archmage seeks crazy adventurers, join here!"

The elephant became an earth elemental, purging itself of the alcohol, and joined her at the table. Soon they were joined by a human fighter wielding an axe, the bard from the stage, and a jack of many trades. They were paid 20,000 gold and promised more should they find the tree. Thus was the quest joined by a (human) bard seeking the song, a (human) (wizard) half-elf hunter, a human wood carver fighter, a human exemplar, and a forest hugging (orchard hating) master of many forms.

They begin their quest by going south, to the forest, because "to find a tree, go to the forest." After scaring off a few lumberjacks they camp for the night, and are set upon by bandits. The formless one became many things and scared most of the bandits away and killed the rest.

In the morning the exemplar awoke to several corpses and after finding nothing of value they attempted to teleport to the world tree, figuring this was not worse than any of their previous ideas. They arrived in an orchard and the orchard hater tamed the guard dogs. They retired to the once elven city of Ferrion. The bard and fighter were tossed from their first bar for throwing an axe at the dart board, and the (wizard) retired to the library.
...
After a few days of searching the library two of the companions find a book referencing a world tree legend, that it once stood in the northern part of a massive continent. It also said a river was to have sprung from the roots of the tree. This continent broke up and the world tree disappeared, but it also said some very rare dragons might know of where the tree ended up. It wrote of the King of Dragons, a lost evil dragon and suggests that Leviathan might have been a dragon of some sort.

Armed with this information the group randomly decides to go to Voseko, due to it being a very northern continent. This decision was also based on there being a large forest and a lake on the island. Along the way their shapeshifter decided he would make himself into a meal for a few very hungry hydras and spent the next day or so in the form of a half-eaten troll. Upon reaching the lake the group found only a small party of fishing gnomes, in the begining states of their work. The shapeshifter caught up with them a few hours into the next day and they traveled north to Sehanla. Here they found no library, but after a debate in a tavern encountered a halfling who knew a legend of the world tree. Unfortunately he passed out before telling them.

Staying the night they woke the halfling with beer, much to his enjoyment and learned his legend. "Only the "Shaldrend" know how to get to the world tree, but they don't tell anyone. I think it doesn't really exist, just another part of the "Shaldrend" myth." And with this they decided to seek out a Shaldrend to ask them.

The Journal of Jack Hilt, Search for the World Tree, Day 1

Today was a good day. Not only am I twenty thousand gold richer, but I get the privilege of working with one of the most famous elf hunting wizards in the land. Of course she was recruiting for some crazy mission to find the world tree. Not that I believe in such nonsense, but price was right.

As for our chances of success, I'd say they're not very good, and not just because the world tree is a myth. I'm probably the second most powerful of the group with the wizard and all her experience hunting elves definitely topping even me. That exemplar guy seems pretty good a lot of stuff, but I have yet to see him useful in a fight. There's not much to say about the bard. We get along well, in fact he sang a song about my axe, well right up to the point where we got thrown out of the bar. That thing though, the shape shifter, he is nothing but bad news.

I thought he was cool, making a scene at the bar by turning into an elephant, but man this guy has some sort of grudge against lumberjacks. Why he roughed up Bob down at the south woods, and he wouldn't hurt a fly. A real disgrace I say. Guess I'll have to introduce him to my Axes: Ex, Why and Zee. If we need to find the tree by spilling blood, then best that its his.

So, um... What else happened here. Did the idea of posting this die, or the campaign?

I have no idea what it was even about to begin with...so um...yeah.

Forgot to post last weeks misadventure, since I wasn't planning on dming, but malcom was sick. I was editing the first post, but since you don't seem to like it.

...
Now told the tale by the old man of the Shaldrend the half-elf hunter decides to return to the Tower of the Wizards to learn what information she can. Before doing this she drops her party off at the old capital of the human nation, Dreteius, leaving them to their own entertainment. As normal the bard and axman got drunk while looking for the library, seeming to mistake bars and taverns for places of learning. The shapeshifter wandered off into the woods with the Dragion and the exemplar found the library, all relevant books, and did it in less than two hours.

While her party tried not to cause too much mayhem she returned to the Tower's library and learned what the wizards knew of the shy Shaldrend. They avoided people, they dwelt in areas of the world where magic was the most concentrated, mostly the oceans and islands with the fewest of people. Quickly dismissing the search of the oceans she identified six different places to check and returned to share the news with her wayward companions.

To this end they teleported to the island north of Sehanla and began to scourer the place for information. Alas all they found was a cave inhabited by a couple of slaughter wights, quite a large number of native animal corpses, and a long dead troll with a pike. So far their search had been in vain.
...

Cap'n Pat wrote:

I have no idea what it was even about to begin with...so um...yeah.

Basically Panthera is recounting the Friday night campaign for your entertainment, I added a little too, but we're bad about updating. Especially when nothing funny happens.

I hadnt noticed that you have been editing it. Since it was a page I was expecting updates on I was always looking for the new posts flag. Either way is fine with me. Now that I know to look for it.

...
They proceed to check both other northern islands, while they only find barren bedrock and a circular patch of volcanic glass on the most northern island the one slightly more to the south they encountered an unusual stag. The largest creature on the island, standing on the northern coast. Surprised the shapeshifter turns into a stag to greet it, only to find it speaks in the human tongue. They realized it was probably a dragon, but with a small identity crisis. A few queries revealed to them that even if they found a Shaldrend none would tell them of the location of the world tree. None could, it was defended by a magic that prevented any who found it from revealing in any form, its location.

They travel to Derm, noting the presence of both humans and elves in the city, being watched by halfling guards. They rest for a day and teleport to the island of Denhir. They find themselves in a snowy isle in a snowstorm. They traveled around the island for three days, encountering only a few snow spiders. The shifter took to the sky on the third day, to scout out the mountains. He found only a few camps of snow goblins and one of snow giants, but nothing else. They returned to Derm to rest.

After bemoaning their futile quest they encountered a drunken gnome who spoke of another, more ancient, gnome who occasionally babbled about the world tree. They proceeded to immediately break into his house in the night. Unfortunately they found only a weary, crazed and unintelligible gnome, who they feed alcohol, but to no avail. They returned in the morning and convinced him to relate the name of every tree he knows and he ends with Yggdrasil. Though the half-elf wizard proves to be smarter than him, he relates the tale of Yggdrasil. "It was a great tree that a greedy dragon stole away and hid for himself. He is said to hide among its branches or perhaps to guard it." The gnome then passed out due to the dwarven brew. The exemplar locked the door on their way out.

...
They decide to wait a week, to see if the world tree will come to them. Oddly enough it did not. During this time the shapeshifter was attacked in the night, but failed to find his attacker. The exemplar and the half-elf wizard unlocked every locked door and and axman and bard get thrown out of every bar and told to stay out. They determine to travel to the dwarven capital of Tor and learn what they can. As they prepare to teleport out they are attacked by an elf and force her to flee.

They arrive at Tor and order the best of a tavern. This very potent drink knocks them out and as they awaken slowly over the course of hours or the next day. They determined to send the bard and the woodcutter off to learn what the dwarves might know of the world tree and for the rest to visit the elven capital to see about the attack. The dwarves are told a story while young about the world tree, "The remains of the world tree are on the top of the highest mountain on Denhir. It is shrouded by mist and no one remembers what shattered the great tree. The remains are guarded by an ancient race, the last of their kind, lest anything seek to befoul the last of Yggdrasil." They then attend a dwarven kindergarten to attempt to teach the bard dwarven.

The half-elf hunter takes the exemplar and the shifter to the hidden city of the half-elves, revealing herself to be both a half-elf and a sorcerer, protector of the half-elven kind. There they ask of the elven nation and determine to travel to Sylvantaia and speak with the council. They share their information and quest with the council-elf in charge of aggressive external magics. He informs them that since they were thought to work for the humans they should have expected to be opposed by elves who do not wish humanity to find the world tree. He laughs when they inform him they Archmage seeks to free the world tree from the grasp of the elves. The councilor thinks the Archmage seeks to weaken the elven nation by finding the world tree to help humanity win the war against the elves. He also speaks, perhaps in accident, on the world tree, "... the world tree is under the ocean..." in passing, perhaps quoting a part of what the elves know of Yggdrasil.

He agreed to speak with the council and meet with them upon the morning.

Umbra_Panthera wrote:

They then attend a dwarven kindergarten to attempt to teach the bard dwarven.

Sadly this does not do justice to the tomfoolery that Robles and I constructed. Its probably for the best that Dwarven kindergarten beer is watered down.

The post would have had to have been four times as long to include all of your antics. You could always include them in your rarely posted journal.

Since the h-elf hunter wished to keep her job of saving other half-elves the council member offered the only option he could think of. To continue their quest, but not tell the Archmage nor do anything he asked them to. The solutions they came up with was to either wait out the Archmage's life, kill him or follow the council member's advice.

After returning to the dwarven city of Tor they teleported to the small volcanic island to explore it. There they encountered a gargantuan undead. The fight nearly killed both the Seeker of the Song and the Axman, however they were victorious. Realizing they were in minor need of a few magical items they returned to Dreteius.

While buying things the Exemplar got himself arrested for stealing, the axman was thrown out of the bar (previously thrown out for chopping down their dart board) then assaulted when he broke into a darkened shop while looking for a magic shop. The half-elf hunter purchased a staff for the exemplar and then broke him out of prison where he was unconscious from attempted suicide. He had broken the door and tried to hide, while the plan seemed to make sense to him at the time it did not secure his freedom.

He borrowed the Half-elf hunter's earing of disguise to reclaim his impounded possessions and approached the evidence locker. There he told the guard he was needed by the gnomes up stairs. Unfortunately there were no gnomes and when he tried to claim it was a prank on the new guy from across town they arrested him again. They were the only guards in the city. He revealed he was the old escaped prisoner which they only believed when they found his empty cell. He again tried to hide from the guard but this time it worked and he escaped! Disguising himself as a gnome he told the evidence guard he was needed upstairs, confusing him and secured his belongings only to find the guards "stole" his money.

Having lost his money the exemplar attempts to commit suicide, giving up upon beating himself to death for drinking himself to death. He passes out and remains that way until awoken by a cleric a little over a day later.

In this time the sorceress reads through all the maps in the library, finding nothing. Upon returning to their inn she is informed of the lost possessions and takes matters into her own hands. She intimidates the guards into helping her discover who is responsible for stealing from the evidence locker. The guard captain determines it isn't the day shift guard and directs her to the home of the night shift guard. She uses her reputation and position as a hunter of half-elves to enter the guard's home, which appears far more luxurious than a guard would probably have. Ordering his servant to wake him she and the shape-shifter retire to the parlor to enjoy tea and snacks while they wait for the guard to arrive.

Once he does they force information out of him concerning the location of his safe, much to his feeble attempts to hide the truth. They eventually learn of his "trick" safe and have him open it. They take what they find therein, keeping the magical weapons and the stolen gold for themselves and return the rest to the city guards. They destroy the evidence of their torture of the guard by destroying his body.

Having restored what was lost to them, they again set out to seek Yggdrasil, searching the lakes of the world, realizing trees probably do not thrive in salt water. Sadly they are again mislead and find only one very large crab, they do not make crab cakes however.

Upon a whim they party decides to seek out the mountain on the Elven island, mostly because they hadn't been there before. Disguising themselves as elves and making sure the axman Jack was wearing his helmet and not speaking, they teleport to the far south-eastern shores and travel to first the river, then the peak. They meet only a single Elven scout, and convince them they are surveyors. They fly above the clouded peak and find a crater with a shrine in the center. They approach only to learn there is some ritual to approach properly and the guards refuse their passage. Shamus O'Crap decides to pull Jack Hilt's helmet off revealing him as a human! This natural shocks both the guards and, oddly enough, the party themselves.

Here Shamus the exemplar laments how he never knew his adopted brother was a human and how hard the news would hit his mother. He bemoaned how they always knew he was "retard" strong (which the Elves were confused by since the word for human and retard are the same) and his younger brother was always taller. Never did they suspect it! At this point poor Jack has been trapped in a resilient sphere and not speaking Elven has no idea what is being said.

They guards try to convince Shamus they will "take care" of his brother and to tell his mother a tree fell on him. He requests the axes as mementos for his family's loss. They have him tell Jack to put his hands up in dwarven since none present speak human. His actual words amount to, "When they drop there sphere, charge them." The shapeshifter Crux has a different idea though and when the sphere drops he turns himself into a giant, grabs the human and dashes off! The guards are having one rough day. They depart and attempt to learn the ritual. First the bard enters a small fishing village pretending to have amnesia, the priest attempts to heal him and failing sends for medics from the city. He encourages the bard to stay until they arrive.

When a day passes the sorceress Kim enters the village claims him as her brother and they depart, the bard first, screaming like a mad-elf (so in messed up french) with a book in hand. They send the bard out again this time suggesting he use suggestion to learn of the ritual. He does and after smacking an old fisherman with his own pole, returns to tell them of it. Kim travels to the shrine, performs the ritual and enters. There she finds an alter depicting an ancient battle and a duel between two creatures, both made of metal. The walls are covered with the genealogy of the noble houses of the Elves. She drips a drop of her blood on the altar and, though woozy from the ritual, feels something watching her, but from within herself.

They depart, having learned nothing of the World Tree, but for a place where it is not.

The trusty bard determines they should employ the gnomes to aid them, perhaps with a device to seek out the tree. They travel to the capital of the "short-people" alliance, not their name for it, to seek out aid. The bard meets with a gnome, after narrowly avoiding a few explosions and asks for aid. The gnome, in turn, asks for more information and that he will consider the idea of seeking out a mythical tree and have a few ideas the next day.

In the mean time Kim and Crux decide to teleport themselves to the center of the world, taking a few precautions first. After a dozen seconds in the white molten core they decide a tree is indeed not present and return to the surface. In the ocean, to cool down, near a ton of gnomes. The cloud of steam from the ocean interests them and they spend the next hour attempting to capture it, much to the amusement of the rest of the party. Kim's polymorph ran out ending the gnomish entertainment.

The bard returns to the gnome who quotes him a few prices after brow beating the bard into a numerical time line. The bard, Safour, tells the gnome he will consider it and return in a week. The gnome, not being an idiot, translates this as, "I am a poor bard, with poor companions and after a myth I can not afford." A single piece of information falls into the bard's hands, though he nearly forgets it. The gnome told him of a legend, "The world tree lives in the massive forests of Eulart. It looks like every other tree, but it isn't. It speaks to those who come near it. Not only that but it moves in the forest, never resting in the same place twice. The woods themselves defend it." Safour eventually informed his companions and they began a search of the forests of Eulart, a continent of almost nothing but forest.

Here they encountered an armored figure on an armored horse who seemed quite ineffective in combat, since only Crux suffered harm and most of it from Kim's spell.

Journal of Jack Hilt, Search for the World Tree, Day 59 (approx.)

We continue our search for the tree. Its been a while since I wrote in this journal, flipping to the other page it would seem that this is indeed the only other entry present. Oh well, lets see what has happened since then. I think I'll be rather brief since my memory isn't the best.

Week 1:
Traveled to a bunch of islands, no world tree.

Week 2:
Ran into a talking deer, and found out that anyone who knew the location was magically bound not to tell. Also, snow.

Week 3:
Met a gnome who may know something, but Shamus kept getting him drunk.

Week 4:
Waited for the world tree to come to us. Now we don't wait for anything.

Week 5:
Attacked by a damn, dirty elf! Then traveled to the Dwarven city of Tor. Found "The Good Stuff" and passed out several times was phased a little, its pretty good. Also discovered the Dwarven equivalent of darts. They call it 'axes' my kind of game if you ask me. They use boards made of soft clay, much better than wooden dart boards for axes. I plan to open a bar featuring this game when I retire, maybe even start my own league for humans. Also, also, Dwarven kindergarten beer is really watered down. Also, also, also found out that the world tree may be underwater, really helpful.

Week 6:
Fought some weird creature at a volcano, don't ask. Returned to Detritus and bought a belt of strength for a good price. Shamus was captured by the police, but he escaped so it was no big deal. I realized that since trees require fresh water and not water of the sea that it must be under a lake, but we searched all the really big lakes and found nothing.

Week 7:
Against my better judgment we traveled to the elven continent as we suspected they may be hiding it atop the Lonely Mountain. It made sense from the tale we learned in Dwarven kindergarten told of the world tree being atop a mountain, and Dwarves know all about mountains, maybe there were some that used to live in the Lonely Mountain long ago but were chased away by a dragon.

Regardless everyone had a magical disguise but me. Since I couldn't speak elven the plan was for me to be a mute, and to wear my helmet at all times. Of course I was still a bit tall to fit in with those damn dirty elves, but they tend to be a bit unobservant compared to humans, something to do with those slanty eyes.

Anyways it was all going fine until we reached the summit. Apparently there was some sort of ritual we had to perform to enter their cursed temple. Then Shamus pulled off my helmet and started yelling and crying. It really tricked the elves, and Crux was able to exploit this moment of weakness to save me from their terrible magic. As a sign of thanks I agreed not to harm any living trees for a month. In the end we didn't get anything from their shitty temple, but we had fooled the elves, which was quite satisfying.

Week 8:
We were out of ideas, if the elves didn't have it then where was that damn tree? The bard suggested that we go to the Gnomes and have them build a device that will search out the world tree. I suggested he stick to entertaining us with real stories. The ludicrous idea of hiring a legion of Gnomes to attack each other, and have others watch them as to supervise, in every square mile of the continent so as to find the place where blood could not be drawn was also suggested, jokingly, of course.

In the end we did gain knowledge that the tree resides in the forests of Eulart. We traveled there and were attacked by a laughably weak man on horse back, its a pity he wouldn't stay to fight.

So that's about all that has happened so far, perhaps I will record my journey on a more timely basis from now on.

...
They searched the continent by air and by land, though mostly by air. Sadly they found nothing beyond a few fights and some trees swaying in the breeze. They decided to muddle together a few of the rumors they had heard and determined they were looking for a forest, in a caldera of a mountain, possibly underwater, possibly of kelp or trees, where the objects in question were moving and looked like each other.

Kim scried out such a place and teleported them there, after casting spells to ensure their survival underwater. They ended up suffering some minor pain and floating in the darkness of the ocean without a place of reference. Crux determined to travel further downward and they departed in what they thought was the correct direction. There they encountered a pack of dire sharks and triumphed over them.
...

Journal of Jack Hilt, Search for the World Tree, Day 66

We've been searching the forests of Eulart for a week now and have seen nothing of this world tree. It could take months to track down this elusive plant at this rate. At least I had a chance to practice my skills recently.

We encountered a tree that sprang to life and attacked us. Usually I hold no ill feelings towards trees, but this one riled me up. Now you might be asking yourself "But Jack, you're a lumberjack, don't you hate all trees?" This just isn't true. For some reason people have gotten the image of a sap crazed, chopping maniac into their mind when ever they think of a lumberjack.

Let me tell you that I took up this work because it is necessary and because I am following in my dear pa's footsteps. Really wood is very necessary to all areas of human civilization. So when I chop down a tree its not because I hate it, but rather because I love it for its utility.

Where was I going with this? Oh yes, so you can see the myth of the lumberjack who froths at the mere scent of pine is completely ludicrous.

Wait, who am I talking to in this? Am I talking to myself? This feels awkward, I guess I'd better stop for now in case someone else is reading this.

...
They decided to sink to the floor of the ocean, though they found nothing. Kim again attempted to teleport them to the location she scried upon. This time they made it, only to be attacked by an unusual caller of the deep. While the battle was long and Jack suffered some major injuries the endless shapeshifting of Crux drew the attention of the creature. Crux however was hardly injured by the assault.

After the fight they searched the caldera of kelp seeking anything, but finding only a single very unusual rod, empowered with some of the most random and useless spells, they named it the rod of O'Crap and gave it to Shamus. They retired to Jorort to rest and recover.

They discussed some of what they had learned and determined to seek out the dragon they had meet earlier. Kim teleported them to the island, though she missed and they ended upon on the wrong island. Jack discovered this while searching. Kim, not wishing anything to do with this re-searching, was only quite drunk, though managed to teleport them to the correct island this time. They searched though found nothing unusual or different from the last time they were there. They didn't find the dragon this time however.
...

...
The next morning they departed the island for the mountains in Eulart. They searched high and low, through glacier, literally, and cave. It was in a cave they came across an old hermit, unwise and hungry, who Jack asked about a walking tree, or maybe a flying tree. The hermit was quite amused at them for seeking out an unwise hermits in random caves looking for something no one had ever seen nor heard of. Kim feed the poor hermit though they learned nothing from him, though most got a very good laugh out of his reactions to the talking eagle which became an elephant. In the hermit's mind, mostly because of dwarven brew.

Here they traveled to Voletreatus to search the plains and the lake. When neither search found them anything, except a really long swim for Jack, Crux returned to ask some great eagles what they knew of the world tree. Here he learned it was a sort of inevitable teenage phase for the eagles. Most would seek out the legends of the tree at some point, many considered it the first step in the path towards wisdom. The eagles told him those who protected the tree left pieces of information with the people of the world, one true and one false to both lead and mislead those who would seek out the tree.

They rejoined and contemplated what they knew, and Crux asked them to travel to a river head in Eulart. There he tunneled into the nearby glacier seeking, perhaps some information. Unfortunately there they were finally caught by the wizard. This particular wizard appeared to have some problems with teleporting and always seemed to arrive facing the wrong way. He had arrived moments before they teleported from the island, and again when they were upon a glacier. Each time Kim either teleported them away, or hid them with magic. This time she was not so quick, though he was distracted by yet another hole in the ice. Though he was disappointed to learn that Crux was making them, though none answered why the first one made more sounds than coins he dropped nor why they exploded. Here he delivered the device the Magi were making them to aid their search, a rectangular box laid with great spells and many runes. The bard took it. The magi told them they were to open it when they found what they were seeking, or perhaps to break it when they did, he didn't remember. When asked his name by Jack he revealed himself to be Decel, the under-secretary magi and counterspell instructor, which Kim remembered not at all. They buried the box when Decel left only to find the bard driven mad for it. To solve this problem they knocked him out and traveled to Macnir.

Here they fashioned a fake of the box which helped the bard some and decided they would split up and seek rumors of the world tree and meet again in Duhato when they were finished.

Jorort - The world tree was destroyed in a war long ago, but it left a seedling. The Elves carried it away and planted it upon the peak of a mountain in the midst of their country to protect it. They allow no one to approach it and keep a constant vigil.

Macnir - The world tree burried itself during a violent war. The war was so violent the continent itself broke up as a result of it. The tree burrowed deep into the land. Some say there are tunnels leading to it, a perfect glade underground, filled with all sort of things that no one has ever seen.

Derm - A greedy dragon claimed the world tree for itself and hid it away. The dragon guards it still, keeping all creatures away.

Cuac - The world tree is the source of all water in Atlantia. It resides upon the tallest peak, shrouded by clouds. You would think this massive mountain would be easy to find, but it moves! It tricks people, leading them up and getting them lost, leaving them on random peaks, without paths out, to die.

Tyradur - The world tree lives in the massive forests of Eulart. It looks like every other tree, but it isn't. It speaks to those who come near it. Not only that but it moves in the forest, never resting in the same place twice. The woods themselves defend it.

Asicion - The World tree rests upon an island someplace. A giant troll picked it up one time becase he wanted shade near his cave and planted it. The tree granted the troll immortality and he rests in the shade waiting for ships to land on his island so he can eat them.

Asium - Yggdrasil resides upon the island of Voseko, deep within the wild forests. The path is hidden and few may find it, but the road from the wild forests travels ever north, beyond the bounds any map would show.

Rismir - The world tree is the source of the unity, the force which will prevent violence. It is sad, the force doesn't apply to things not of this world. Such things could end that peace. I think it comes from some purpose beyond mortal comprehension. What, where is the world tree? Don't you know, it is just a legend.

Sehanla - Only the "shaldrend" know how to get to the world tree, but they don't tell anyone. I think it doesn't really exist, just another part of the "shaldrend" myth.

Rasga - The world tree is on the island north of Voseko. The waves and the reef about this island prevent anyone from reaching it though.

Duhato - The secret of the world tree rests in the hands of the Elves on Veraell. They either have it or know where it is. Not that they tell anyone, thinking themselves some kind of holy protectors.

Tor - The remains of the world tree are on the top of the highest mountain on Denhir. It is shrouded by mist and no one remembers what shattered the great tree. The remains are guarded by an ancient race, the last of their kind, lest anything seek to defoul the last of Yggdrasil.

Aquaea - The world tree was destroyed in a war long ago. It supposedly existed on the northern penninsula of a massive continent. It is a funny legend as the continent it was supposed to be on is larger than anything that exists now.

Myticea - The world tree resides in the center of the forests of Jarochflan, unfortunate isn't it? The humans have no idea how to find it though. That part is fortunate, the would probably chop it down if they ever found it.

Lauralas - Yggdrasil rest upon the land of Aellakelore, which has vanished from the face of Atlantia. Aellakelore basically means land which is no more. Perhaps it is at the bottom of the ocean, perhaps the Elementals simple erased it from the world. No one has ever seen Yggdrasil, so no one will ever know.

Norevaia - The world was once one land where the world tree rested upon the northern tip. To protect the world from humans the dragons split the land and hid the tree in a place no mortal may find.
...

Having all but exhausted themselves they again meet after traveling the world to decide upon a course of action. Firstly they attempt to deceive the Archmage into thinking they had found the Tree and returned. They handed him the information they had gathered and requested payment. To this the Archmage responded, "Where is the box?" He proceeded to hire them, again, to seek out the box and return it, revealing it would contain information about how to reach where they had traveled. Kim negotiated a new payment for their previously undone deeds to which a very confused and muddled archmage agreed, paying them significantly more than originally planned. Having failed to trick the mage, but more convinced than ever that he was a raving lunatic, Kim returned to her companions.

Here they decided not to get the box, but to continue to seek out the Tree. They knew a tree required soil and air, therefore could not be in the sky nor in the ocean. Having searched the known world over they could only conclude it rested in the unknown reaches of the world. Here they figured a part of the old world had drifted northward from the single land mass. Hoping in this conclusion they decided to hire a ship and travel north from the human lands. They inquired at the port of anything unusual far to the north. They learned only that a storm seemed to be quite far to the north, but few, if any, ever traveled there since it was distant from all trade and fishing routes.

They set sail keeping the crew's moral up with infusions of food from land until the reached a stormy bank of clouds, fog and churning water.

And so they traveled in the form of earth elementals under the seabed, passing the 1.5 miles of outward turbulence and the 1.5 miles of inward turbulence. They arrived upon an island, surrounded by the storming clouds, finding a peaceful village, filled with all of the races. They began their travels towards the massive tree in the distance, taking the form of air elementals to speed their journey.

This was to prove the downfall of Kim Greene. Upon their second day, as they neared within twenty miles of the Tree, they encountered the five who had hunted them across the world. While Kim attempted to reason with the Elves they were not altered in their course and attacked. A great battle ensued with fire, song, steel and light striking both sides. It was, perhaps, the expenditure of Kim's energy earlier to form their group into air elementals that gave the Elven hunters early advantage. Kim perished from a bolt of lightning, sending her companion and familiar into a frenzied rage, striking down the offending Elven sorcerer. Here the dragion turned upon the bard, who retreated invisible to eyes. Sadly the dragion's fury was ended when the archer threw six bolts of purple-white fire at it. The battle raged on, with both the elven bard and cleric restoring their companions from their wounds...

The battle rages on, with the bard and arcane archer attempting to kill Crux while Crux beats the Crusader into mush. While those who remain attempt to subdue the cleric, Jack keeps her grappled while the others try to kill her. Bolt after arrow after bolt strike Crux and he nearly falls twice, yet the Seeker of the song keep him alive. Protected in her armor, yet unable to do much else the elven cleric suffers a terrible loss as the exemplar shatters her holy symbol. Crux falls upon the Crusader, wounded by the multiple arrows and lightning bolts, pinning him to the ground. The arcane archer falls and the elven bard see only a losing battle. Here he and the Crusader choose a final act and detonate their wind and earth magic against Crux, hoping to finish him. Yet they fail, the Crusader falls and the bard flees. The cleric breaks free and in a final attempt calls down a firestorm before dying.

Taking the body of Kim back to the coastal village they restore her to life and travel to the base of the World Tree. Here the Seeker of the Song hears the song and is freed from his need of the Archmage's box. They decide to gather the box from the fled horse and hide it from the world, only Crux knowing its location. They decided to remain upon the lost Island, transferring Kim's half-elven village there as well.

Kim returns briefly to the Archmage, collecting a huge sum of gold and telling him they found the tree, upon the Island, saying she can not speak more of it. She also says the box was destroyed upon the isle. Here the Archmage nods and smiles, congratulating her on her work. She returns to the Island to live her days in peace. Jack gives up lumberjacking and starts training an axe throwing club. The Seeker returns to Yggdrasil often to hear the song, the Exemplar stocks up on the best of Dwarven ale.

Unknown to them, hidden upon the isle, the Humans push the Elves off Voletreatus and reduce them to their single Island of Veraell. For five hundred years the war rages, almost all peoples against the Elves. However, the Humans find their war is not as easy as they were lead to believe it should be, as though some plan of action were thwarted...