When the strangers come, the peculiar undead creature is not surprised. That many of them are children is more a matter of delight than surprise, as well. Those who do not know better swiftly flock to anything outside their normal realm of experience, and he does particularly enjoy a game with someone who is still good at them.

His eternal grin moves from one to the other as they come, some speaking to him, some among themselves. The crimson lights pulsating within black sockets, though he does not answer their questions, or note their interest with more than a passing glance. That the glance seems to pierce through to the soul is all that makes it special in any way, unless one counts the rest of the person doing the glancing.

Only one says nothing, as the horse-creatures mill before him. The amalgamation of bodies looks at this one the longest, and last. It was hard, however, to look away from the one who offered her blood in ante, the woman who shined white like the light of his Mistress, and Master. Her windy fingers run against him, carry his fetid stench towards the gamers.

The air is brushed with that strange chill again when he speaks. Around the tree, the bones and vines of emerald oak begin to shift, the vines snaking out around the statue stillness of the monster, still curled tightly about the smooth white of their precious bones. As he speaks, they reach out towards each of the strangers gathered, and the amulet against his milky, wretched chest glows and dims, almost rhythmically.

All these were not once bones, at their mention, once-invisible runes along the lengths and curves of the various skeletal parts burst into stark, moonlit life, all these once lived, like you, like... me, once.

What can you tell me of my friends? Their bodies, their hearts, the winding way of their roots? One at a time now, do not rush.

The star light bedazzled items stop before the horses, unicorns, pegasi, and… fish. One for each person, the vines bobbing their burdens almost tauntingly, as if to disallow you to look closely at the item the undead creature of the tree has asked you to inspect.

We will be very pleased if you know.

• Kid is presented with a rather large bone that is long, and similar to a tibia. It is hollow, and seems much heavier than it is. The runes upon it are angular, and rushed, but seem to suggest a lion, and an eagle, among other things. When touched, it fills you with a sense of condemnation.
• Tyrath’s vine holds a very small bone, so small the vine must keep moving and shuffling it along its surface so he can look at it. It is like a joint, or something equally small. There is one rune on its surface, which looks like a rabbit, and it glows a peaceful blue. The unholy creature near the tree seems to look at this bone appreciatively.
• Tiamat is shown an eye socket, but it is huge, and heavy. It is marked with silvery wavering runes and droplets, and has the essence of something vastly powerful. The bone radiates with a sense of being alone, and not knowing why.
• Oizys is presented with a tooth, but it is not a horses’. It’s edges are serrated, and where it would lodge into the mouth has a divot; the tooth itself curves backwards, like a fang. It is marked with hundreds of microscopic runes, encircling the image of a Moon, and is pleasantly cool.
• Milo is shown a collection of bones which make up a hand. The pointer finger is extended while the rest are curled into the palm, with runes along each first joint of the fingers. It hums with power, and suggests sacrifice.
• Orithia is shown a spine. It curves dramatically and is made of very light weight bone. The spine is marked with runes that mimic the gesture of wind, and brings to mind thoughts of vast, open savannahs. When the bone is touched, one is filled with a sense of failure, and entrapment.
• Astarot is presented a smooth rib. It seems like it could have been taken from his own side, and is marked with runes shaped like crescent moons and stars. When you touch the rib, it fills you with a sense of accomplishment, and peace.
• Syrena’s vine shows her a collection of wing bones. They are very, very small, and the microscopic runes which cover every inch of their surface shine a multitude of colors, depending on how they are angled. They hum with a busy energy, and seem to radiate with the sound of the weird elk headed monster’s laughter.
• Lyanna sees wing bones, too, but hers are huge. The creature that wore them was at least three times her size, and their white surface is marked by what seems to be a life story. A small figure among the many others, including Moons, makes you think of the Bone Keeper at the tree. When touched, one is filled with the sense of flight, and enormous power.
• Aquila’s vine holds the bones of a paw. It is small, and has oddly curving toe bones, putting the weight of the animal on its tip toes and claws, rather than flat against the ground. It is marked with the face of a howling wolf, and a full moon, but these images are trapped within a circle of thorny vines. When touched, it fills you with a sense of suffering, as if it is continually being punished.
• Kitty is presented with a long, narrow tail. Its size suggests something small, and its whip like, flexible angles suggest the animal was nimble, and smaller than a dog. Its runes show Moons and what appear to be interlinking rings. When touched, one cannot help but feel like there is a promise yet to be fulfilled by the creature who owned this tail.