The Lord of the Roots (Patreon)

The next day, you head out. The dryad gave you directions to a tree known to him to be used for planar travel. On the way there, you feel a sensation of being watched... you turn and see a strange shape looming out of the darkness. As soon as it sees you looking, it disappears. 

The same shape then reaches out of the roots of the tree nearest to you, screeching loudly. You see an oversized ravens' skull claw its way out of the undergrowth. You run... you run hard and fast towards this tree which you hope will be your escape. You reach it, use the key and fall through the doorway as it slams shut 

you see this creature reaching for you...