We quickly moved toward the trees. The mist gradually cleared, and we didn't feel quite so dismal. Lush, green grass grew within the circle of trees. Lyra cast 'talk with plants' before we entered the circle. She asked if it was a dangerous place. The grasses all spoke at once in a squeaky voice and were impossible to understand. The nearest tree slowly spoke in a deep voice, "This is a safe place." When she asked who had passed here, the tree rumbled, "Four days ago, a group like you passed." Finally, she asked what dangers were nearby, and the tree simply said, "The dead?"
Mical saw a piece of paper and something else at the base of one of the other trees. We entered the circle. The hair stood up on our arms, and we felt lighthearted, even happy. The piece of paper was a note, in common, and the other object was a scroll. Lyra recognized their names; the note was from two of the guys in the tavern. It said:
"We are going to attempt to return to the barrow field. Samson and Jason have already died from the attack of the night monsters. I warned them that we should not have removed the treasure from the tomb. Their bodies seemed like empty locust husks after the monster touched them.
"We are safe as long as we stay in this peaceful circle, however there is something strange about this place. The air makes the hair on my arms stand straight up at times as if it is filled with magic. We have run out of food, so we are going to have to make a move soon or die of starvation. At times that does not seem like such a bad fate. If we are to have any hope of returning home alive we must return the sword to the tomb.
"I am leaving this note here in the hopes that any that may come after us will either have the bravery to rescue us, or the intelligence to leave this place. I also leave this scroll that I found since I know nothing of the black arts, and since it came from the barrow fields it scares the hell out of me.
"May the gods help us on our journey.
Elendril of Sharin
Glamoril of Sharin"
Needless to say, we were not intelligent enough to leave. I pity those poor men that they suffered such a horrible fate, but we were just too curious to turn back. We hoped we wouldn't end up the same, but we are all a little arrogant about our abilities, and tend to feel immortal at times. The scroll was indeed intended for a mage, but I couldn't read it until I got time to memorize 'read magic.'
We also noticed that all of the trees except one had a rune of unknown origin on them, which looked like a squiggle and two circles. The other tree, which was facing the suspected location of the tower, bore the elven rune for 'turn back.' We didn't listen to that either.
