The hallway, entirely unadorned with any distinguishing factors, seems to stretch endlessly within the limits of my darkvision. The only sound disturbing the heavy air is that of our passing. I’m silently thankful that I’m not claustrophobic, because this would be a nightmare otherwise. The walls almost feel like they’re pressing in on me, with the strange, triangular shape of the hallway doing nothing to alleviate that impression.

Within only a minute of careful walking, we reach the end of the hallway, which opens into a suitably impressive room. However, despite its large size, there’s actually very little occupying it. The ceiling towers away far beyond my sight range, and though much of the space at the edges of the room is still cast in darkness for me, my brief look indicates that there are many hallways just like the one we entered through that proceed into the inky blackness. The tree itself is large enough to contain a vast network of these tunnels, and considering these creatures seem to have a proclivity toward nature, and its manipulation, there’s little doubt in my mind that they’ve used the space to its fullest extent.

We enter the room at what could be considered the base level, in stark contrast in terms of height to the raised dais on which seven hunched masses sit in simple, if large, chairs. Their position affords them an imposing view of whoever enters the room, and acts to form a sort of semicircle surrounding the center of the room, which Thetzeke pushes me towards.

“Fallen one. You have sought our gaze, and it has been granted… a final time.” Where Thetzeke’s voice sound like rushing wind through leaves given form, the voice that shudders down from above could only be called a gentle breeze. Despite the volume difference, I have no issue understanding.

“I was promised two more appeals.” From the darkness, something moves, and the resounding crack nearly makes me jump, and I hear a grunt of pain from behind me.

“And you have been given two. One for your entry, and the other for that of this creature. Use it well, unless you wish to waste the opportunity with your impertinence.”

“Very well.” I can hear Thetzeke gritting its equivalent for teeth as he forces out the words. ‘I present… a new source of information. I found this creature in our woods. Its structure resembles the remains we’ve found among the Hanging Vines, and so is believed to be one of the newest set of contestants. It followed me and, when confronted and fatally injured, was able to restore itself to full vitality, despite Mana nullifying poison being used.”

“You… were followed. Hmm. Regardless, what makes you say that it does not simply have an abnormally rapid regeneration speed? Such a thing is surely worth documenting, but if that is all-”

“Not at all. The creature lost no body mass as a result of the injury and the subsequent healing. It also lost the ability to breathe, move, and survived large quantities of blood loss, all without external aid or magic. If this was possible for all of its kind, none would have perished to the Hanging Vines.”

A long pause follows as several of the huddled masses shift slightly, seeming to interact with each other in some non-vocal way.

“We will verify this and extract the required information. Should our efforts prove successful, you will be rewarded appropriately.”

“My mother, all I ask is her freedom-”

“Dwell not on rewards not yet earned, fallen one. The interrogator should be finished in a few days, and you will be summoned and judged accordingly.”

“I wish to gather the information, if I-” I manage to cover my ears slightly before the crack. Thetzeke holds his tongue better this time.

“Begone, you hold no right to ask for such an honorable position. Do not anger us further.”

Hissing in aggravation, I hear Thetzeke turn and head back the way we came, leaving me alone with the huddled masses.

“Do you speak, creature?”

“I do.”

“Very good, very good… do you intend to cooperate, creature?”

“Depends. If you just want to know about what I can do, I’ll tell you what I’ve been able to figure out, but it’s a process. I don’t know everything. If you expect me to teach, then I won’t be able to help.”

“Unable or unwilling, I wonder. We shall find out… yes indeed.”

I’m suddenly grabbed from behind and pushed towards a different hallway. None of the ‘elders’ move at all, returning instead to the unnatural silence from before. I’d say it’s a relief if I wasn’t actively headed to what’s likely a glorified torture chamber. Life magic and a desire for information… I’m not sure I like the possibilities there. I can only hope I’m more creative than this thing is. The fact that I still have my sword is comforting, but I doubt they plan on letting me remain armed for long.

I absorb every detail of our trip, committing it entirely to memory. There seems to be a stark logic and order to the rooms, and I’d bet they’re organized by purpose as well. We reach the end of the hall, where a spiral staircase ascends into the ceiling, and a sharp prod to my back indicates that’s where we’re headed. Up we go, then another hallway, then up again, to arrive at a single room in a tower, likely part of one of the upper branches of the massive tree just based on how far we’ve climbed. This room is open to the outside, with a 4 foot diameter hole formed in the ceiling directly over a scarred section of the wall.

I burn a bit of Energy and test the strength of the vines that hold me, but I can immediately tell that the creature is actively reinforcing them. I think if there were fewer, I could likely overpower it, but the fact that Thetzeke said nothing about enhanced strength and speed means it doesn’t know I can do that along with healing. They’re going to have precautions in place to deal with healing, but not Energy attacks or combustion.

These thoughts are my only comfort as the vines begin writhing and my sword and stick are removed, followed by my pack of supplies. They’re barely investigated, except the sword when the vines that touched it all shatter when they attempt to move. The ‘interrogator’ pauses and looks between me and the sword.

“What… is its nature?”

“It’s my sword. Don’t touch it.”

The creature says nothing, but retrieves a length of the destroyed vines and studies it, making several notes on what appears to be a piece of paper. Of course they’d have paper, they can manipulate trees. Thin wood wouldn’t be hard at all. In the meantime, the remaining vines slowly drag me to the scarred section of wall and bind me in place, arms spread.

The creature then meticulously gathers a length of vine and, giving a weighty sigh, cracks the vine across my chest. The sting is intense, and I feel a trickle of blood flow from the wound even as my Energy rushes to stop it.

Though painful, the wound is trivial and heals quickly. Though I considered not healing anything short of life threatening injuries, I figure they’ll keep me alive as long as they think they can learn more from me. I don’t know why they feel the need to record all knowledge in their ‘archive’, but they seem to think it’s a very important task. One that I’m totally fine abusing.

“So… he spoke truly. Most… interesting. How far, I wonder… does this go?”

“I can’t wait for you to kill me finding out.” The searing pain comes as no surprise.

“You care… very little… this pain is… too small. Hmmm…” Without a movement on the interrogator’s side, I feel pressure in my back, arms, and legs.

“Mmmm… yesss… yes I see now. Very good.” The pressure abates suddenly, but the restraints tighten, and more vines grow to encompass my feet and bind them to the wall as well.

“Wh-” I start to goad it again, but my remark turns from wit into blood. The metallic taste fills my mouth and I fail to keep the surprise out of my expression. A number of roughly inch thick spikes poke through the skin of my chest, legs, and arms. The pain is nearly blinding, and the only thing that keeps me from screaming is the agonizing feeling of my lungs rubbing on things that shouldn’t be inside me.

“A strong hide, to be sure.”

Where before I was able to keep the fear at bay, now it comes crashing down around me. It takes everything I have to keep from using all my trump cards immediately in a desperate bid for escape. I can’t. I have to wait until I’m alone, or I have the advantage somehow… and I’ll get out of here. I will. But I’m taking this demon’s head with me, and every one of those monsters on their thrones will know suffering.

I swear it.