"I have gold, take it as you will."
Sciath heads to retrieve his gear.
Ragnarok agrees with Tessaraea, and offers to help carry the wounded warrior to her shop. Along the way he asks. "Tessaraea, would it be alright for me to sleep in your shop tonight? I wouldn't be a bother, I've got my own bedroll, I can just set it up on the floor. But he's the closest thing I've got to a family."
Next morning Right on time Ulfgard is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready for exploration.
Sciath rises early, checks his gear and heads out to wait for the others.
He nods towards the dwarf, up and ready already.
"Ulfgard, I've heard tale of the strength in your arm, let us hope this is enough to fell our foes and hold up our allies.
Tell me, do you trust our companions, the girl and the lemming farmer, they do not sit well with me."
Ulfgard looks at Sciath. He takes his kukri from his belt and starts. "Lad that is a Sgian Dubh.
It isn´t made from the best of steel. Nay. But it works. You don´t need much strength to kill someone. Yu need will. We all are not perfect, lad I know I ain´t. but in the wilds, you look for the chap next to you. Because otherwise you fail. He does the same. Now go and fetch your belongings and worry about those who captured the woman. You ain´t fecht no guid fecht if you worry about the one before and the one next to you!"
Slapping Sciaths back with a hard, but compassionate hand, Ulfgard waits for the others to arrive.
Grandma Mable joins the others preparing to leave. She is wearing a heavy winter coat but has left it open.
"I hope I didnt make you wait for little old me!" She exclaims.
"What a bueatiful morning! Don't you just love the fresh air in the morning!" she says with a smile.
Grandma Mable has her tall walking stick which has been her constant companion, but it seems to be missing a few things. Gone are the many trinklets made for her by the towns people. All that remains on her walking stick is the unicorn cozy sitting on top.
Salvia has been lurking in the shadows, but she steps into the light as Grandma Mable approaches.
Ryksa steps forward, having purchased a winter blanket, 50 ft. hemp rope and some black eye makeup (which really shows on her pale skin. She also has a nice walking staff in hand. She looks over her comrades, giving them a smile. "Sorry, had to make sure I was ready..."
Ragnarok also shows up early that morning after checking on Yuln. He is carrying some firewood for their trek (1 days worth). "I'm ready. Let's set forth."
"Does anyone know where the attack took place?"Grandma Mable ask as she looks at each of her companions.
Salvia shakes her head. Got no idea, Grandma. All I remember hearing is that she was attacked by bandits.
Ulfgard remarks:"Wasn´t she attacked on the road through the woods?"
Ryksa shrugs and turns to Ragnarok. "Didn't you know that man? Didhe say where? If not, we could see him before we go. Better to narrow the area down lest we walk circles..."
"I think we should stop by for a brief visit before we leave. Ulfgard would you be so kind as to ask him where the attack took place and any details you can gather. It would be so helpful." Grandma ask with an endearing smile.
Ulfgard shoulders his longhammer and walks toward the mayors house.
After a quick talk he returns with the informations he found out.
Ragnarok replies to Ryksa. "Yuln retired for a short time here in Heldren. I count myself lucky he was here, he taught me a lot of things about my ancestors. But the wanderlust is strong in him, and he found a mercenary job. He sent me a message saying he was returning but gave no details."
"If he's a friend of yours, Ragnarok, then he's a friend to me and Lina here as well." She pats the little belt pouch that holds her little friend. "Hopefully we can sort this and give you two time to catch up, yes?"
Turning to the party, she smiles and points towards the zone of winter, her pale skin and white fur winter coat making her almost begin to blend into the snow. "I don't know about you all, but the sooner in, the sooner out is my thought." And with that, she turns, muttering a little arcane phrase and begins to trudge in, almost not slowing in the snow as her Frostfoot Hex takes hold on her feet.
Grandma Mable shoulders her pack and say
"Well we best be going."
and follows Ryksa out of town.
Unless anyone would prefer, Sciath takes up rear guard, preferring not to leave his back exposed to the others.
Ragnarok hurries and catches up to Grandma and Ryksa. "If its all the same to you ladies, I'll go first. We don't know what might be out there, plus I'm sure Yuln left a trail coming back to town, and I'd like to backtrack him." After a few minutes of trudging he notices that the snow doesn't seem to be bothering Ryksa as much as it is him. [b]"Ummm.....Just how are you walking like that?" he asks.
Salvia says nothing. She moves with the group, slipping in just ahead of Sciath and behind Ragnarok.
|
The party troupes off just after 9 am and comes in sight of the Border wood just past noon.
The nearer the forest gets, the colder the air becomes. First, you're able to see little puffs of vapor whenever you exhale. Then, your hands and feet start to numb. Finally, around 3pm, you enter the Border Wood itself and the cold is so sever that your lungs start to hurt every time you take a breath.
Deep snow lines the road on either side and, just ahead, debris and the corpses of slain man and horses litter the path. A carriage stands in the center of the lane, it's team of horses missing or cut free, while another carriage lies sprawled and broken next to the tree line. To the south, more bodies have fallen around what appears to be a statue of ice. A row of depressed snow leads off the path and into the woods nearby. The foot prints are single file, making it very difficult to discern the number of aggressors.
Sciath draws his sword and visually scans the area, looking for trouble before approaching.
Ragnarok pauses at the carriages come into view. He looks around for a moment and then cautiously approaches the carriage that seems mostly intact. He hazards a quick glance inside, looking to see if anyone is hiding.
"Oh those poor dears" Grandma Mable says as she see the bodies laying on the ground
"There's someone moving around in the carriage." Ragnarok exclaims. "There's something strange about this. Anyone tied up for the entire night in this cold should be unconscious by now.
Ryksa looks around, trying to spot any possible foes, as well as trying to wrap her mind around what Ragnarok is saying.
Ulfgard looks at Ragnarok and then says"Laddy, open the door. We just check! Maybe he had a spell, too?"
Hearing Scaith's sword being drawn, Salvia draws her own short sword and waits to see who or what is inside the carriage.
Grandma Mable carefully removed her beautiful unicorn cozy from on top on her spear just in case.
Deciding that multiple people poking around in the carriage is probably not helpful Sciath eyes the treeline, no point letting the attackers sneak up if they're still around.
Grandma Mable looks at the carriage and realizes she would just get in the way, instead she begins to look around for other items of interest.
Ragnarok is startled by the sudden flight of the owls and steps back. Where the hell did those come from. he thinks. He looks for a cage in the carriage and carefully goes over the vehicle.
Feeling the cold working its way under Ulfgards clothes he starts to shiver and slaps himself to keep warm.
Having a good look at the dead soldier he looks to Ragnarok."Aye lad, can you fynd those who did this. If we continue, close the door, it should keep the biesties away from him."
Midway through searching the carriage, Ragnarok stops. Slaps his head with his right palm. "I'm an idiot." He then starts looking for the owls that flew away.
He replies to Ulfgard. "I certainly hope I can. If I had to guess the trail that leads into the woods yonder is where the attackers went. Are you doing OK." He asks concerned.