The wounded treant spirit wants its heart freed without spreading the corruption into the roots.

The party can offer comfort, a druidic focus, a silvered blade, or a holy symbol. Gentle words and living wood earn the shard’s trust fastest.

• Speak softly and acknowledge the treant’s pain.
• Trace the shard’s spiral resonance instead of forcing the magic outward.
• Choose a catalyst that matches the forest: living wood, silver, or faith.
• Keep everyone focused; distractions make the shard recoil.

• Step 1: Comfort the spirit with a DC 12 Animal Handling check, or DC 12 Nature without a druid. Success grants advantage on the next check; failure imposes disadvantage.
• Step 2: Read the ley pattern with a DC 13 Arcana check. Failure deals 1d4 necrotic damage to the reader.
• Step 3: Place a druidic focus, silvered blade, or holy symbol beside the shard; make a DC 14 Religion or Medicine check. Failure deals 1d6 radiant or necrotic damage to the nearest creature.
• Step 4: Maintain concentration for 1 minute with a restoration spell or an expended 1st-level spell slot. Each character helping must pass a DC 12 Constitution saving throw at the end of the minute or gain 1 level of exhaustion.

• Comfort earns a low, aching hum and loosening vines.
• A correct spiral traced in the air makes the shard pulse in time with the speaker’s breath.
• A fitting catalyst draws black smoke from the shard and turns it green.
• Force, shouting, or careless movement makes the roots snap toward the nearest creature.