Ragnar's eyes harden at the mention of the White Witches.
"Jag gör. Jag minns den Första Dottern och hennes Coven från när jag var ung. Det är hon som förbannade mitt folk. Det är hon som bär vårt scyld. Det är hon som jag söker nu."
"I do. I remember the First Daughter and her Coven from when I was young. It is she who förbannade my folk. It is she who bears our scyld. It is she who I seek now."
Scyld is a sort of spiritual and/or cultural debt, sort of like Karma.
...the significance of the word "Hava"...
Helios listens to the way Ragnar uses the world "Hava", searching his memories of his time in the Land of the Linnorm Kings for the significance. "When he uses the world 'Hava', it's an old Skald term, means like a head Daughter..." Helios scratches at his chin and thinks for a moment. "No, more like a title, like 'Firstborn' or a child of great favor."
Ragnar's eyes harden at the mention of the White Witches. "Jag gör. Jag minns den Första Dottern och hennes Coven från när jag var ung. Det är hon som förbannade mitt folk. Det är hon som bär vårt scyld. Det är hon som jag söker nu."
Brows climbing in no small measure of surprise, Helios voices his responding thought. "Oh my, now that can't be right. He doesn't even look half my age..."
...
...Skyld
He dry-washes his face, wondering if he needs any sleep. "No, I must have been mistaken on that, judging by his use of the word Skyld, I think he links himself closely to his Ulfen ancestors. Scyld is a spiritual," He pauses, hands working in circles in front of him as he searches for the right word. "Like a cultural debt that needs to be set into balance. Our rather large friend here seems to take it very personally. Good thing to find in an ally haunted by little ghost children."
The last elicits a chill down Helios' spine. "'Too much happening under this roof of stars to ignore the obvious.'" He quotes something his mother once told him. "There has to be a reason why we've been gathered together like this. Two of us with deep seeded animosity for those in services to Irrisen who willingly would combat such evil...one who's studied the type of magic for purposes of good so we can understand its workings...a shadowed man from the north who appears to bear the weight of a wronged culture on his shoulders..." He looks to Havelock as well. "Even a professor of great intelligence who can tease out the answers to some of these mysteries..." Helios marvels at the synchronicity of the moment. "I do not always adhere to such thinking, but there is a strong element of fate in this group. We've been brought together here and now, and we've been given the beginnings of a purpose."
"As I was travelling here, I was told of an organization of Taldan rangers that keeps local bandits in check. We might want to find out if something has happened to the local lodge of the Sentries.
"Yes, the High Sentinels. Perhaps Krystae and Brynjar might be able to see what they know? Do you know where they have a central meeting point?" the last Helios directs to Krystae being that she calls Helden home.
"We can certainly wait for you to brew your potion, Havelock. We may wish to acquire supplies specifically related to fighting these creatures.
"Perhaps gathering any potential supplies can be handled by myself, the Professor and Elen? If we're lucky, perhaps there is something we can acquire here." He looks meaningfully around the apothecary's shop. "Then we can finish up preparations this evening and start out a first light on the morrow?"
Lastly, the half-elf looks to Ragnar. "Oss som samlas innan du försöker avslöja ... nej, hitta en kvinna som stjäls av någon som ger trohet till de vita häxor. Kan du hjälpa oss?"
"Oh! I think he thinks you're a crow-spirit, a watcher, like some of the old clans still believe in. So you'd be a servant of the ancestral hero-gods in that case. Up to you if you want to tell him differently."[/b]
"Wha...but...no, I...that's...oh come now! He said only he and the children escaped, what children`? Where are they?"
...translate a bit for Ragnar...
"This is educated person Havelock, he is borne of the Tengu race. Maybe not the 'Watcher' you are thinking of, but he is very wise and good at puzzling...mystery. You mention small men...uhm, no, youth-like people (children) before now, where are they?"
In Taldane, Elen exclaims to Havelock and Helios, "He remembers the first daughter of the Hag! That means he's either immensely old, or has somehow been... sleeping or something for over a thousand years. I would guess the latter."
"Bah! Fate? Admit it; you're just using that as an excuse so you can start out your new story, song or book on a suitably epic scale.
I have no doubt that when whatever your flair for dramatics eventually produces, it will start with something like..."
"Even before he awoke that morning, the gallant Helios Sunstreaker knew that the day to come carried with it the promise of something truly epic.
In fact, one could say that the day was heavily fated towards greatness."
"I'm not far off am I?"
Havelock throws up his hands in mock exasperation and chuckles.
"Well, if that is how you plan on going about it, make sure you paint me as the voice of reason and common sense, or I might take exception with my portrayal.
...
Especially since one could argue that in your line-up just now, I sound more like an innocent bystander caught up in events beyond his control."
Helios chuckles a bit at the Tengu, finding that his like for him grew by the minute. "To be honest, Professor, I see you as the inquisitive solver of mysteries, and definitely in control of his fate." He smiles with genuine amusement. "As for me? No I never insert myself into the stories I tell, something about it feels less than authentic. And as for this particular tale, I have no idea how I truly fit."
It appeared to Brynjar that Ragnar has supplied the group with more information about the situation then they had, but he wasn't sure; if he didn't understand Skald then understanding this ancient form of it was not possible. The scarred warrior let the three converse with the giant and let himself sink into his own thoughts. Even with these new clues, this mystery was still far from solved and he didn't really share this wave of enthusiasm that has infected most of their group, maybe they would learn more if they talked with these sentinels that Elen mentioned, but he wasn't sure of their knowledge and their willingness to share it.
Bandits working for witches? They must be bloody desperate...its understandable why bandits would kidnap nobles, but what would witches want with a noblewoman? Brynjar crossed his arms and sat down on sturdy looking chair. The smell of medicinal herbs and alchemical concoctions still bothered him slightly but the warmness of the flame in the apothecary's fireplace outweighed that minor annoyance.
Brynjar's shadow mirrored his motion as he got up from the chair, it seems his companions were already discussing a victory they hadn't attained yet, he understood why people would do so he just hadn't partaken in such conversations before Golden Salamanders always loved to talk about what they were going to do with the pay they were going to get The red haired man approached the group in slow, neutral steps.
"If Krystae will show the way I'll see about getting more clues from these sentinels, till then lets consider what these witches want with this noblewoman" Said the two handed sword wielder, his voice rough and overly grim "Also I don't think people will enjoy hearing a tale that has me in it, I am not what you would call a hero, but if you insist on including me in your tale, I won't stop you" Continued Brynjar as he traced one of his scars with his index finger.
Catching Brynjar's confusion at the conversations in Skald, Elen fills him in on what Ragnar said.
"I hope y-you w-will be alright t-to w-work w-with me, I t-truly mean only t-to help," Elen says, still more than a little scared of the big Chelaxian.
Turning towards Elen with a blank look in his dark blue eyes, Brynjar at first remained silent, the frown that was usually seen on his face didn't deepen but it was still there nonetheless "Keep your spells trained on bandits, fey and whatever else we aim to kill and I'll do the same with my sword" Said the former mercenary who now found himself revisiting the life of a sell-sword, no emotion could be read from his voice.
"W-w-what about c-c-c-c-cures?" Elen looks concerned and bemused.
Lastly, the half-elf looks to Ragnar. ""Oss som samlas innan du försöker avslöja ... nej, hitta en kvinna som stjäls av någon som ger trohet till de vita häxor. Kan du hjälpa oss?"
"Självklart. The Coven tog många. Någon som vill alliera sig med dem måste stoppas." The big man replied earnestly. The matter seemed very cut and dry to him.
"Of course. The Coven took many. Any who would alliera with them must be stopped."
"This is educated person Havelock, he is borne of the Tengu race. Maybe not the 'Watcher' you are thinking of, but he is very wise and good at puzzling...mystery."
"Ja. Självklart. Tengu. Jag måste ha varit fel." Ragnar says with an apologetic nod toward the crow-man. It was almost painfully clear that Ragnar believed Havelock was somehow in disguise as whatever a "Tengu" was, and Ragnar was doing his best to go along with it now that Havelock's cover had nearly been blown.
"Yes. Of course. Tengu. I must have been mistaken."
"You mention small men...uhm, no, youth-like people (children) before now, where are they?"
The big man's brows raised. "Här, med oss. Du kan inte se dem?" He nodded to himself and shrugged. "Det är vettigt. De måste vara död nu."
"Here, with us. You do not see them?"
"That makes sense. They must be dead right now."
Turning back to Ragnar, Elen finds her tongue a little tied again as his eyes gaze on her, but asks him in Skald:
"W-what means 'f-förbannade'?"
Ragnar's brows knitted and he thought of a different way to phrase his thoughts. He glanced at her for a moment, then away again. "En hex. Svartaste magics."
"A hex. Blackest magics."
Then suddenly, much as he'd responded to seeing Havelock, he seemed to notice Elen and Helios' features. If he could have gotten any paler he would have. His mouth fell open and he looked at the ground and whispered in Elvish.
"વિશ્વ કીપરો! આઇ .."
"World keepers! I..."
He looked over at the Watcher and then back to the elves, then simply closed his mouth and stood as tall as he could in the small room.
"Den Kul Khan ära સંધિ och ભેટ. Min fars mægen är min också. Jag är din."
"The Kul Khan honor the Pact and the Gift. My father's mægen is mine as well. I am yours."
Elves made Earthfall at the dawn of human civilization. They were the caretakers of the entire world, and humans treated them something akin to demigods. Some time after that was the Age of Darkness. There were too few elves to fight back against the horrors that came (such as Orcs and the race of Cyclops, and the dawn of the Thasselonian empire), so Elves enlisted humans to help. Elves taught magic to humans. This was called the Gift. The Pact was the alliance between men and elves that briefly joined the two peoples as one against the tide of darkness. Elves were the scholars, nobles, teachers and innovators. Humans were the soldiers and workers. For some human cultures this was viewed as slavery, or worse. To the tribes who would become the Ulfen, it was a bond of honor that kept their culture from being destroyed.
The Pact was brokered by Kul the First and an elven emissary representing the House of Edasseril.
None of the Ulfen clans still honor the pact, but elves feature prominently in many Ulfen legends.
If Ragnar's father is Kul the First, he's either a lunatic, or he's more than 9,000 years old.
The face of Brynjar reflected back the confusion he saw on Elen's face Was she serious? His finger still tracing the scar on his face "Worry about that when someone does get injured" Said the crimson haired warrior, his voice still rough.
"But he can't be that old..." Helios whispers to himself in contemplation. What's worse, Helios old boy? That a nearly 8 ft tall man with ghostly apparitions as servants is insane? Or that he's not insane?
"Well, he's got no love for the Winter Witches of Irrisen, that's for sure." the half-elf remarks aloud to the group. "We have an ally, but I'm wondering if his time afield has...caused a fracture in his mind. Perhaps a muddying of legends and his own past brought on by his prolonged exposure." He shakes his head, arms folded across his chest. "At the very least, he believes what has now become his memories. And it makes him, an interesting person to put it lightly."
Helios relays his understanding of the history Ragnar sees himself as being a part of, marking the big Ulfen a man out of time. (See Elven History & posts in Skald above) "One thing, though, the way he speaks...his bearing...I don't think it's madness. I've seen that before when an elder in Deer Springs back east succumbed to it."
Not wanting to leave Ragnar out and for him to fully understand the dilemma in Helios' mind, the half-elf switches back to his growing understanding of old Skald. "Jag passerar längs de ord du har varit att tala med oss. En sak som jag skulle vara att säga, är att jag bara är en sammanslagning av mänskliga plus världens siare." He pauses a moment, trying to come up with the right words. Helios' stance is one of arbiter, making sure that his words are not misinterpreted. "Vänligen att förstå, I. .. inte lust fula ord ... dålig kommunikation mellan oss. Men dina ord ... din berättelse är svårt, för att vara hedrad son Kul Khan, är du till att vara 9.000 år gammal. Mycket tid har gått sedan hedrade Kul Khan gick det kalla norr. Sedan är det tal om spöke gå dig ... Jag tror dina ord, de lyfter ... de bär sanningen i mina öron. Men det är svårt för oss att förstå."
"Ally or not, it really makes no differance in either case, do you see the townsfolk letting him stay here? Not a chance, and since we found him and brought him here, they will saddle us with him either way.
He's comming with us, end of story."
"We can (and probably will) worry about his manner of speach, as well as his backstory later.
For now, let us get ready to travel.
I'll get started on my mutagen, the rest of you make whatever preparations you feel needed."
Elen speaks in elven to Ragnar.
Turning back to Krystae and Helios, Elen asks, "Can you think of any other preparations we need to make to fight these fey? I have cold iron arrows already."
The big man's brows furrow even further. He blinks at Helios and shakes his head, looking perplexed and a little worried. "Förlåt mig, sir. Jag vet inte ... vad är tusen?"
Forgive me, sir. I do not... what is thousand?
He nods to the World-Keeper Elen and replies in clear, if somewhat formal and archaic, Elven, "હા, લેડી. આ સંધિ હું પ્રથમ તેથી સંબોધવામાં સિવાય જેમ કે વિશેષાધિકૃત જીભ નોકરી નથી ખબર છતાં, તે માટે જરૂરી છે. હું misspeak જો ક્ષમા કરો. હું નવ ઉનાળો હતો ત્યારથી હું એક શિક્ષક થયું નથી."
Yes, Lady. The pact requires it, though I know not to employ such a privileged tongue unless first so addressed. Please forgive if I misspeak. I have not had a tutor since I was nine summers.
Elen will also relate what she has said to Ragnar and what he has said as well in Elven to those who do not speak it.
Ragnar shook his head.
Elen translates this for the benefit of the others.
"I am going back to my room at the inn to brew my mutagen, it will take an hour perhaps.
To avoid drawing more attention to ourselves than needed, I suggest we meet here again after all preparations are taken care of.
So, let us make a list of what we need.
Food obviously, and winterclothes...for SOME of us.
What else?"
"Don't think I could afford any winter clothes...I'll just grab some off the bandits we kill" Replied Brynjar to Havelock, his voice neutral and surprisingly calm. The dark blue eyes of the mercenary turned towards Krystae, she was being quiet and simply content with watching the interaction with Ragnar "If you know where these sentinels are we'd best see them before leaving, if you think they have any information that could help us" Brynjar leaned against the wall, planning to enjoy the warmness of this room before they had to step out into the cold once more.
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Krystae had stayed quiet, allowing the others to speak with Ragnar, as she studied the strange, large man. The inquisitor had given up on trying to make sense of the situation, she would find no rational explanation. She had began to believe Desna truly did have a hand in the gathering of these strangers here. But... If Desna indeed was behind this, why did she choose a witch to accompany Krystae? Was this a test? Some sort of trial?
At the mention of getting things moving along, they did have a noblewoman to save after all, Krystae stood once more. "Yes, I know where the sentinels are, however, the only gathering point I know for sure is in the woods to which we are headed. I believe it would be prudent for us to gather our supplies and proceed as one group. If these bandats are attacking such a well armed caravan, two travelers would seen as easy prey. You can guarantee they would attack us."
She nods to Havelock. "I say go ahead and brew your potion, professor. Once you've done so, why don't you meet the rest of us at my home." Krystae gives directions to her small home on the edge of town. "I need to gather a few items from my house before we leave."
She looks at the mercenary. "Is there anything else you can provide to aid us in the rescue attempt?"
"I have coin I can spare if cold weather gear needs to be purchased. I have little need of it myself."
Helios had a lot to contemplate, and judging by the way events were unfolding in Helden, not a lot of time in which to do it.
-------
Helios turns to the group, nodding his agreement to the plans thus far. "I'm ready whenever the group is ready. I've only to go back to the inn and collect my gear." he smiles wanly. "Haven't even had time to unpack properly, guess that's suitable."
The half elf approaches Brynjar cautiously, not wanting the warrior to perceive the move as a threat. "Listen, I'd like to acquire some cold weather gear here in Helden for you. Best thing I think for the group is that you're properly outfitted for the cold days to come." The half-elf looks to the big man hoping he'll accept.
"Yes, I know where the sentinels are, however, the only gathering point I know for sure is in the woods to which we are headed. I believe it would be prudent for us to gather our supplies and proceed as one group. If these bandats are attacking such a well armed caravan, two travelers would seen as easy prey. You can guarantee they would attack us."
She nods to Havelock. "I say go ahead and brew your potion, professor. Once you've done so, why don't you meet the rest of us at my home." Krystae gives directions to her small home on the edge of town. "I need to gather a few items from my house before we leave."
Nodding in agreement with the woman in the black cloak, Brynjar shuffled his shoulders crossed his arms and tried to consider anything they could have missed, but nothing came to him...not at the moment anyway These sentinels better have something worth hearing, the sooner we get on the trail of those bandits the higher our chances of finding them Thought the scarred man.
"I have coin I can spare if cold weather gear needs to be purchased. I have little need of it myself."
The half elf approaches Brynjar cautiously, not wanting the warrior to perceive the move as a threat. "Listen, I'd like to acquire some cold weather gear here in Helden for you. Best thing I think for the group is that you're properly outfitted for the cold days to come." The half-elf looks to the big man hoping he'll accept.
"If you all have the gold to spare, it'll be better than what I pick off the corpse of a bandit" Replied Brynjar, standing up straight and turning to face Helios and Elen "Thank you" the words seemed genuine enough, despite the gruff tone of speech.
"Cold weather gear might be a little expensive considering the unseasonable chill. Let's see what they have to offer."
"Don't worry about getting me any, I was planing on continuing further north, I have cold weather outfit, snowshoes and snowgoggles, the works."
Ragnar nodded.
After you all procure whatever equipment you desired, you head six miles south along the road, to the area Yuln described.
Retracing his trail, you come across the remains of the noblewoman’s escort on the fringes of the Border Wood.
Near the forest, the temperature grows noticeably colder. The road ahead is littered with debris and the corpses of slain humans and horses. A carriage stands in the roadway, its team of horses missing or cut free, while another overturned 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 snowy trail leads deeper into the forest.
Elen looks around for signs of unnatural or magical cold, and inspects the bodies and the statue from a distance.
Helios pulls his longbow and knocks an arrow, heading to a tree near the path so he can get a good perspective on the situation. With his half-evish eyes he takes in the surrounding area.
...heading over to the tree at the northeast corner of the map (moved my token already)
...scanning the surrounding area to ensure there's no one watching us as we survey the site.
Once in position, he'll cast Detect Magic on the snowy statue.
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Krystae to examine the area as they approach. She places her spear across her back and draws out her longbow as well. She advances towards the scene, and takes position between two trees along the northern side of the road. "Try not to disturb the scene too much, I can try to follow the tracks of the bandits after they fled."
Elen unslings her bow as well, holding it in one hand as she too casts detect magic, focusing her efforts on the wagons and bodies ahead of her.
Ragnar didn't pay much attention to the bodies. He glanced at them, but gave no reaction to them at all, like they were a normal part of the surroundings. Instead, he seemed fascinated by the wagon, moving closer to it and looking amazedly at the wheels.
Not understanding Krystae's request, he strode right through the ruined campsite.
"Ack! Krystae, you forgot we need to speak to him in Skald or Elven."
The scene of carnage did not faze the warrior, he unsheathed his two-handed weapon and walked closer to the wagons, but stopped when he saw his companions beginning to take positions. Brynjar surveyed the sight the sight, his aim was to find any marks or trails in the snow that could lead them to the attackers of this caravan. A cold breeze brushed past him but he was glad to be in appropriate garb for the weather, but it was still unpleasant, the thought of his birth mother actually being used to such an atmosphere was truly a conundrum for him How could anyone find this cold, pleasant? Putting these thoughts aside for now, the blue eyed mercenary focused once more on what lay in front of him, but made sure that he was ready to move, in case the artists of this portrait of massacre decided to return and review their work.
"Such devastation...
I do not believe we need look for survivors, and I leave tracks and such to you who knows about such things.
Ahem...I do not believe we need be stealthy either, certain members of our party tends to draw attention."
Ragnar stopped, looking down at his feet int eh snow, little barefoot prints appearing around him as he stood, dancing and kicking through the drifts. Suddenly realizing his mistake, he backed away, trying not to damage the scene any further.
"Förlåt mig, Lady Elen."
As you approach the carriage, you see that the doors are barred with what is left of a spear, from the outside.
There is an obvious track leading into the wood (at A4). Many people and horses passed through the snow in that direction.
You all hear movement inside the nearest carriage. Someone shuffling around inside, perhaps.
You don't recognize any of the dead. You do, however, recognize the heraldry on some of the dead guards.
This definitely was Lady Argentea's caravan.
Some of the dead are pricked with tiny arrows that look almost like needles.
You recognize these as weapons of small winter-touched sprites.
You feel no magical auras.
You don't feel an aura from the statue, and you don't notice anyone watching you.
In addition to the obvious track leading into the forest, you find a track of a single humanoid that first dragged itself about fifteen feet and then ran back towards Heldren.
"That coat of arms -- that's the Lady Argentea's wagon, alright. And those bodies have fey arrows in them. Do you think someone -- or something -- might be inside the wagon? I don't detect any magic."
"Something in the wagon, and it has been locked inside...did the mercenary mention wolves?
I am not sure it is a survivor you see, so if we open it, everyone should stand ready to fight."
Thinking someone is trapped inside, Ragnar walks over and opens the door to the strange and wonderful room on wheels.
When Elen sees Ragnar heading over to the door, Elen readies an action to Slumber anything that comes out that isn't an undead or otherwise immune to sleep/mind.
Helios nods affirmative to the Tengu's warning and moves to the left side of Ragnar, taking a knee in front of the fallen tree and keeping his bow at the ready, though not drawn. The half-elf doesn't want to accidentally loose an arrow should the person inside be friendly.
...he keeps his eyes trained on the wagon, his senses bent on what could be inside.
"జాగ్రత్తగా, ధైర్య రాగ్నర్ ఉండండి. ఈ స్నేహితుడా లేదా శత్రువు ఉంటే మేము కొన్ని కావు." He warns Ragnar in elvish.
Seeing the giant among them attempting to open the door of the broken down cart, Brynjar gets into fighting stance; his sword in front of him and gripped by both of his hands Guess we'll worry about the tracks that headed to the village after we see what's in there Thought Brynjar, as his frown fell even further, he'd hoped to get the carriage open when they were all ready but that was no longer an option thanks to Ragnar.
Ragnar shrugs.
Then he pulled the door open.
Ragnar pulls the doors open, revealing two dead soldiers that crawl out of the carriage.
Zombie 1:
Zombie 2:
Both fail the save, but since the ability is limited to Ragnar's level, only the first one stays under his control. Technically by RAW zombies are 2hd creature but I think that they shouldn't be treated as such for spells.
One of the zombies stands in front of Ragnar and stares blankly at him.