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Burning Grove
Burning Hatred
I leave the Predator's Den, rest up, and head for the entrance to the Burning Grove which is towards the southwest corner of the Ashenwood map.
Once inside, there will be an undead monstrosity known as a Shape of Fire surrounded by several burning trees. One of the trees near the Shape of Fire has the Charred Branch, which can be used to create the Ashenwood Staff, but that staff does not figure into the long term plans of the good party. Also nearby will be a Burnt-Out Husk that has the Bark Cinders, which I'll need for the Anointing Solution.
I speak at length with the Shape of Fire, who was apparently imprisoned here by the Wood Man as a punishment for bringing a past Spirit Eater to the Ashenwood. I now have two possible choices. I show a different choice in each of the videos.
A weapon that does cold damage, but not fire damage, can be used to 'bash' the burning trees and put out their flames. Note that a weapon with both fire and cold damage won't have any effect one way or the other. I inform the Shape of Fire that I will put out the fires, which earns a little influence with Okku. Next, I have Kaelyn use her warhammer to put out the burning trees.
That's when the Shape of Fire attacks. It can use fire-based spells like Fire Storm, and inflict extra fire damage with its attacks. It is nonetheless very easy to gang up on.
I then have another choice. I can use a Jar of Condensed Orglashes, which can be obtained from an Ice Hag in another part of the game (more on this later), in order to snuff out what remains. Doing it that way would avoid an influence penalty with Kaelyn. I instead prefer to use Devour Spirit on it, and swallow the small influence penalty with Kaelyn.
The Shape of Fire leaves behind a Shape of Fire Essence that can be used in one of two ways in conjunction with the Mold Spirit ability. One way is to apply it to an armor or shield so that the armor confers complete immunity to fire damage, but with -25% vulnerability to cold damage. Another use is to add +6d6 fire damage, but again with -50% vulnerability to cold damage.
I use the Shape of Fire Essence on Valeria's Zalantar Light Shield. Between the Shadow of the Void Essence having been used on her Mithral Chainshirt, and the Shape of Fire Essence having been used on her shield, Valeria now enjoys net 75% resistances against both fire and cold damage. So why make a big deal out of this when she has the Evasion ability? Well, once in a while I do miss my Evasion saving throw (on a roll of 1). Also, the epic spell Hellball ignores Evasion, so it's still useful for a character with Evasion to have elemental resistances in Mask of the Betrayer.
Just to the west of where I fought the Shape of Fire will be an exit to the World Map.
*Evil* Burning Hatred
At 2:23 of the video Safiya finds the Charred Branch, which is an ingredient for the Ashenwood Staff that I'll be able to create once I obtain the Malleate Spirit ability.
Otherwise the evil party does the opposite of the good party. Safiya uses the Rammbus Staff to inflict fire damage on the other trees that are not yet burning so as to set them on fire. Once the fire is spread enough, it's apparent that the Wood Man won't be coming to gratify the Shape of Fire's desire for revenge. So Zarathos agrees to use Devour Spirit on it and get the Shape of Fire Essence.
My next destination is the Immil Vale.
