PERIDOT vs. SAPPHIRE/ONYX

[dramatispersonae]

An immense tree towers above you; it looks as if it might be a fruit tree of some kind, but there's no fruit on it at the moment. Instead, a clear path winds through its huge sturdy branches, slowly leading up to the top of the tree. Along that path are strewn helpful ladders making shortcuts up the branches--as well as enormous black snakes, their tails leading down.

Two silver dice rest on a small pedestal at the bottom of the tree. You get the feeling that you'll need these to move forwards and up the tree.