4. Ensnare in Roots

Sered Cycles of the Tree Peoples

Media: Rowan / Spruce / Bamboo

BTS: 62% (St)

ULT: 32 hours

Materials: a root or twig (not being used as Media for the Spell, where applicable).  Ent wood may be used instead, and gives +1 on the Spell (but is very rare and difficult to obtain).  There must also be a tree(s) (the "Ensnaring Tree(s)") growing within reach of the Radius, to provide the roots to Ensnare the target(s).  Note that roots may spread further than the visible branches of trees.

Actions: brandish Materials at Target(s) to be Ensnared

Effect of Throw:

1 to 14 No Effect

15 to 29 Strength of Ensnaring Roots = (T-8)/2 FRD

>= 28 Strength of Ensnaring Roots = (T+9)/3 FRD

Duration: permanent, until Roots cut or Ensnaring Trees die

Range: 20d ft -d(d-1)/2

Radius: 5r ft -r(r-1)/2

Notes:

  1. Causes the Ensnaring Tree(s) to reach out from the ground with their roots and automatically to ensnare with those roots all corporeal Beings caught within the Radius (no saving throw), unless they are Plants or have a Pass Through Overgrowth Spell, ability or effect (e.g. they are Ents, Squirrels, Birds or Druids Shapechanged into Squirrels or Birds) ("Targets").  Those on the edge of the Radius have a 50% chance of being caught in branches of half Strength.  The Ensnaring roots only appear in the second after Casting, and will not Ensnare further Targets after then.
  2. The Ensnaring Trees will then attempt to drag the ensnared Targets under the ground.  Each Target must make a st each second that they remian ensnared after the second in which the Spell took effect and they were caught.  Failure to make the st results in them being dragged underground.  They must then make a st each second they are underground against failing to hold their breath and being suffocated by the earth (which results in Death).
  3. The roots may be caused by the Spell to grow up to Radius feet to achieve the Ensnare effect, but will take -1 to Strength per foot grown.
  4. Strength is the amount of DAM that must be done by each Being caught to break free.  The DAM must be done with a cutting weapon or attack mode (e.g. Sword, Axe, Claw, Bite) or by Lightning or Acid damage.  Other methods (e.g. Mace, Spear, Butt) do only half damage for this purpose.  The DAM is done by taking AMR as normal, automatically hitting the roots, and just rolling normal DAM.  Ranged Weapons do not damage the roots (but can damage those caught in it).  A Being who has been dragged underground may only use weapons with Reach 0 to cut the roots, but the roots may be cut by others on the ground to pull them free.
  5. Those caught in the roots take a minus to both D & RD of current Strength less the DAM they have done so far to break free.  Doing them DAM with melee weapons is likely to help them break free.
  6. Once the roots have taken 2 * Strength in DAM, they are destroyed.
  7. Fire does double damage to roots (which are Fire Vulnerable), and may cause the Ensnaring Tree(s) to catch fire as well.  They are unaffected by Cold (except it may cause them in Autumn to shed their leaves).
  8. Killing the Ensnaring Tree(s) as if they were Huorns will cause the roots to let go.
  9. The Ensnaring roots do not obscure visibility.