Rangers approach and escort you toward the largest of the palatial trees. "Matriarch will see us now," Guide tells you. Vines come down the tree to grab and pull you upward. You are set down high in the tree's crown on a grown platform, bathed in sunlight reflected by a thousand white flowers. The Rangers take up positions, flanking an elaborate throne grown from the same white marble wood as the tree itself. To your surprise, you see a human crouching on the floor. The man is in dirty rags, his long beard gray, his body weak and skinny, his eyes bereft of hope or sanity. "Puppet," comes a hushed Knock from Guide, trembling with fear beside you.

A rustling of leaves makes you look up as branches bend to make room. A ray of sunlight breaks through and blinds your eyes. Surrounded by dazzling brightness, the Matriarch comes down from above. Supported by vines, she is gently lowered onto her throne. The long vines growing from her head are covered with pitch black flowers, absorbing the light. They embrace her like a living dress, and stretch out over her head and to her feet, in all directions like a crown connecting with the tree. On her throne, the living branches unfurl their leaves and the white flowers all around move to reflect the light toward her. There is no doubt who the Matriarch is here. When she is ready, she sets her gaze upon you. One of her vines moves to touch the man on the floor, releasing some spores directly onto his head.

"Treekillers!" he croaks. "Explain why you desecrate our land with your presence!" Now you understand why Guide called him 'puppet'. His own mind is gone - the Matriarch speaks through him.