Skyne moves toward Wulfgang, cold iron in hand. "Come here, you little imps. I have a present for you."
Standard Concentrate on silent image
Decorated Trees - Round 3
23 Gar Yellow
20 Shor Green
19 Pym Blue (evil eye, -2 attacks, 7 rounds)
15 Wulfgang (1 NL)
11 Irina
9 Skyne (2 NL)
7 Peltra
7 Vosi Red (6hp dmg)
6 Ruso (2 NL)
6 Jack
Wulfgang's big swing comes up empty and Skyne advances with his cold iron arrows in hand, ready to stab an unwary fey.
Irina gives the evil eye to the green sprite. "Go away!
Decorated Trees - Round 3- continued
Irina spreads her hex power out, this time targeting Green Sprite. The winter witch smiles deliciously knowing her witchcraft has worked once again.
Faced with two foes seen through the obscuring "mist", Red Sprite decides on a withdrawal while contemplating a new approach.
Ruso trudges forth from the mist once more with his rapier in hand. He moves to place the tiny winter sprite between himself and Wulfgang before stabbing at it once again.
Jack moves along the path to get close to the red sprite.
Decorated Trees - Round 3 -concluded
Using Wulfgang as a flanking foil, Ruso is able to catch the Blue Sprite unaware, and with his precise strike, is able to strike a serious blow to Blue Sprite, but not quite take it from the fight.
Meanwhile Jack is able to chase down Red Sprite after hustling at top speed through the deep snow, his cold iron weapon at the ready.
End of Round 3
Decorated Trees - Round 4
23 Gar Yellow (3hp dmg)
20 Shor Green (evil eye, -2 attacks, 7 rounds)
19 Pym Blue (8hp dmg, evil eye, -2 attacks, 6 rounds)
15 Wulfgang (1 NL)
11 Irina
9 Skyne (2 NL)
7 Peltra
7 Vosi Red (6hp dmg)
6 Ruso (2 NL)
6 Jack
After taking a bludgeoning wound from Peltra last round, Yellow Sprite moves backward a bit and fires his tiny bow at the acolyte, taking a defensive stance as well. Peltra is able to use her shield to ward the tiny missile which glances away harmlessly.
Feeling the effect of Irina's witchery, Green Sprite sends a dazing cantrip her way but the young girl has seen her share of this kind of magic, and does not fall for the spell.
Seriously wounded and surrounded by a pair of over-sized foes, Blue Sprite tries to fly into the mist, hopefully finding some safety there, even if it means attacks from foes to get there. Her flight is marred by her injury and both foes are able to take full swings on the tiny fairie.
Continuing to press her attacks, Peltra makes another swing at Yellow Sprite with her mace, once again smashing the diminutive creature, but not to full affect without a cold-iron weapon.
Skyne somehow pushes the mist with his hands, as he moves farther down the path. "Irina, I can't conjure enough mist to protect you that far away. Come closer!"
Standard Concentrate on silent image
Seeing the little sprite trying to get away Ruso lashes out with his needle like blade once more. "Not so fast. There are consequences to choosing to attack travelers who where just passing through."
Decorated Trees - Round 4 - continued
Thrusting his rapier at the fleeing Blue Sprite, Ruso misses but he is heartened as Wulfgang's greataxe connects solidly, and the winter fey falls bloody and broken to the white snow covering the ground.
Wulfgang then moves closer to the next foe, Green Sprite, but he must spend enough time moving that he cannot get off an attack.
Skyne moves across the path, covering his allies still with the illusory but very real appearing mist.
Irina stands her ground she cackles, and then she gives the Evil Eye to green again.
Decorated Trees - Round 4 - continued
Cackling such that hair stands up on the back of your necks, Irina does not re-enter the protective mist, but instead continues to pelt Green Sprite with her curses. This time however the effect is less than before, and while the defenses of the fey are weakened, it is only for an instant.
Retreating just out of reach of Jack's longsword, Red Sprite tries to put the whammy on the ranger once again, casting her dazing spell, which roots Jack to the spot, dazed.
Ruso sweeps out of the mist and thrusts his rapier at the tiny fey as he tries to end one more threat.
"If you just flit away now you would spare your life and if you tell the others to do the same that would be just as well."
"Duh..."
Decorated Trees - Round 4 - concluded
As Jack stands in dazed stillness due to the sprites power, Ruso gets another stabbing attack in on Green, but the attack misses.
End of Round 4
Decorated Trees - Round 5
23 Gar Yellow (5hp dmg)
20 Shor Green (evil eye, -2 attacks, 6 rounds, -2 AC, 1 round)
15 Wulfgang (1 NL)
11 Irina
9 Skyne (2 NL)
7 Peltra
7 Vosi Red (6hp dmg)
6 Ruso (2 NL)
6 Jack (dazed)
Having taken a couple of hits from Peltra already, Yellow Sprite moves 5' away, and fires her tiny bow at the oracle, taking a defensive stance after the shot is sent flying but it misses barely.
With the witch's hexes causing him issues, Green Sprite flits backwards out of the way of the brutes, then sends a dazing spell at Wulfgang but it has no effect.
Peltra continues to press her attacks against Yellow Sprite, swinging her mace in anger once again. But he is able to dodge behind a tree branch, and Peltra comes up empty.
Skyne continues shaping the mist and blowing it forward, keeping himself and Jack hidden.
Standard Concentrate on silent image
Decorated Trees - Round 5 - continued
As Skyne moves southward, bringing the mist with him, he covers the now dazed Jack and nears Red Sprite.
On the other side of the battlefield, Wulfgang lets rip a mighty blow aimed at another of the fey. Normally, this attack would've fallen short even with Peltra's blessing on the group, but because of Irina's anti-warding witchcraft, the fey is magically slowed just enough for the blade of the viking warriors axe to be its death knell. It falls broken to the ground.
Irina moves into the brush, and gives the yellow sprite the Evil Eye.
Decorated Trees- Round 5 - continued
Moving off the path and into the deep snow, Irina continues to spread her hexes around, again weakening the defenses of the Yellow Sprite.
Seeing a pair of her allies fallen, Red Sprite begins to glow, her luminescence soon meshing with the Dancing Lights she summons. Swirling the several balls of light around in a flurry, they then all fly off to the south, until they are lost from view. She has fled the battle at a speed you will be hard pressed to match over the snowy ground.
Ruso quickly rushes towards the remaining sprite. "Hold on! We are coming!"
Jack double moves towards the sprites, but it is hard going.
Decorated Trees - Round 5- concluded
With just one foe left on the battlefield, both Jack and Ruso rush that direction as much as the heavy snow piles allow them to move.
End of Round 5
Decorated Trees - Round 6 - concluded
Following the lead of the other living sprite, Yellow high-tails it out of the combat zone, flying up above the tree tops and out of sight as quickly as her little wings can take her.
End of Combat
"This blasted white stuff makes getting around so difficult. I really wish there was a way we could mitigate that problem." Ruso huffs out as the last sprite flies off. "Hopefully we will find something useful for just such a thing along this path. For now though lets press on and see what is up ahead."
Leaving the area with the crow-feather fetishes behind, the party moves on. After about 30 minutes more of trekking through the snow in a generally uphill direction, heading mainly west, perhaps a bit north, the group runs across a game trail that crosses the main path. The narrow game trail winds its way through the trees and undergrowth here. Hoofprints mark the underlying snow, heading in both directions.
As you trudge forward, the sound of something coming down the trail catches your ears over the wind. Looking that direction, you see a magnificent white elk with a massive rack of antlers striding effortlessly through the snow towards you. Instead of bounding away as you expect from a herd animal, this elk continues to walk forward as if your presence was of no consequence. You are all startled when the elk speaks the Common tongue in a clear, resonant voice. "Well met travelers. What brings you into my woods in such weather as this?"
Irina moves to the front of the group amazed at the talking elk. "We are trying to find a young woman who has been taken, and find out why the weather is so cold. It's not supposed to snow this hard this far south. Can you help us?"
"I did see a lone hunter pass this way some time back, but I am fairly certain he was not a girl. Are you certain she came this way? If she were in my woods, I would know it."
The white elk stamps the ground with one paw, turning over the snow and looking for anything green underneath. "Why are so interested in this girl and this weather? I find it quite amenable."
"The reason for the interest is that it is apparent to us that the girl was kidnapped. The guards that had been protecting her where ambushed, killed, and some of their dead bodies brought into unlife to fight anyone who followed. Also the guard captain had been frozen into a single solid block of ice. Thus far we have only been able to follow the trail left by those who have taken her and it has lead us to here."
"Currently the weather should be quite warm her in southern Taldor but as you can obviously see it is not. The unseasonable weather has also brought with it things only seen in the lands to the north or so my compatriots tell me. Creatures that many here in this part of the world have never seen and have no idea how to combat. The snow is a whole other problem. It hampers our ability to move and gives great advantage to those who are at home in it."
"That is why we are here and what has us interested."
"The weather is beautiful. The white snow makes me smile. As my friend said, it makes it difficult for us to move, and it's not normal for this part of the world. Are you from around here?"
"I am from many places," the mighty elk says to Irina. "I do not think the weather strange, but agree that it is beautiful." he says in answer to Wulfgang's query.
To Ruso, the great creature says, "A girl taken against her will is certainly cause for heroes to attend to. What makes you and your companions so sure they can defeat her captors, if a guard captain and his men failed? It seems you have asked for a task that may be bigger than you are. Rather than freezing and dying in this place, maybe you should return to your homes until summer returns? I am happy to lead you back to the road, if you like."
Jack looks around, wondering if there are other talking animals about.
Jack begins scouting the rest of the woods, looking for any other animals that speak, but while he sees a snowshoe hare and a flock of doves, none speak except a snowy owl which cries, "Whoooo?" before fluttering off in search of small prey.
Ruso tries to subtly signal Irina that something is not right about this talking animal. "Fish lips! We can't turn back."
As Ruso seems to indicate tere is something wrong with this scene, his actions are interpreted correctly by another. The same resonant voice calls out some gibberish words, and the stag lowers its fearsome rack of antlers and advances towards the knot of heroes, ready to attack.
Barely visible on the back of the white stag is a diminutive blue-skinned fey creature, with a pair of gossamer dragonfly wings and a needle-like rapier.
Talking Stag - Round 1
21 Irina
18 Ruso
18 Jack
13 Wulfgang
12 Peltra
9 Fawfein
4 Stag
Ruso squints just slightly at the tiny blue creature. "Who and what are you?" Ruso grips the hilt of his rapier ready to spring into action if the need arises.
The small fey creature laughs bitterly. "If you think I will tell you my name, you are more foolish than you appear. True names have power after all. I am your death, and that's all you need know."
"If death is what you desire than so be it." Ruso draws his rapier and moves to engage the fey. Please for the love of the Gods let Wulfgang be able to quickly drop that stag.
"The spell was Speak with Animals. We can assume the stag isn't a figment." Irina moves closer and gives the blue creature the Evil Eye.
Jack moves to protect Irina, stepping in front of her and drawing his bow.
Talking Stag - Round 1 - continued
21 Irina
18 Ruso
18 Jack
13 Wulfgang
12 Peltra
9 Fawfein
6 Skyne
4 Stag
Irina discerns the casting of the fey creature, and steps forward. She then aims her Evil Eye on the small atomie, successfully lessening his combat effectiveness.
Rushing forward, Ruso draws his rapier.
Ever protective of Irina, Jack pushes past the young witch, readying his bow as he guards her.
Telling the others what he know of the atomie's abilities, Wulfgang rushes forward, his axe chopping a great wound in the mighty stag.
Stepping around Skyne, Peltra withdraws her sling, loads a stone, and sends it flying at the stag but the bullet sails high, missing the target.
The small fey chants another spell-like ability, flies off the back of the stag, heading right for Wulfgang, avoiding his attack as it gets right up close and reaches for the warrior's greataxe. The atomie is able to touch the axe, which starts to shrink before Wulfgang jerks it away. The movement is quick enough that the blade returns and remains normal sized.