|
Inga grips the talismans tightly in her hand as she considers Grunjar's inquiry.
She looks down at them in her hand then back at Grunjar indifferently.
I don't see why not. These must have belonged to the warriors that fought here.
She closes her hand around the talismans and shakes her hand as if trying to remember something, then looks over at the tree where they found the arrowheads.
The arrowheads.
She mumbles under her breath.
One of the ancestors of the Coalbraids' survived and returned to Frostbreach to tell his tale of what happened. They said he returned with the truth. I'm starting to think not is all what it seems.
Humph.
She sighs in disappointment.
I was so tired and nervous while speaking with the Coalbraids, I was unsure of what to ask. Now I have more questions.
Inga looks around anxiously.
She sees Junia and Jeeves patiently waiting near the sleigh.
We should get this ritual underway. After Myth, Lorian, Ryu, and Luci finish with their investigations, of course.
Klaus bends down and picks up a fistful of snow, then packs it between both hands.
Snowball fight while we wait? Just like when we were children, Inga?
He says with a wry playful grin.
|
"The ritual, of course, of course. As you wish, countess. Any precautions or spells to cast before we begin?"
"Tag, you're it!"
Klaus stands motionless, momentarily stunned, after feeling a thud on his back and a puff of snow blowing over his shoulders. He turns slowly just in time to see Grunjar lowering his sling.
Klaus looks down at the snowball in his hand then glowers at Grunjar. With a snarl, he hurls the snowball.
His throw is awkward but still hits with a soft thud.
Klaus bursts out in hearty laughter.
Bwaaa-hah-haha!!!
Junia and Jeeves see the shenanigans happening and begin hurling snowballs at each other.
|
|
A snowball whizzes past Inga's head as she's studying the area of the effigy.
She stands up with a wrathful look.
Klaus! Grunjar! Children!!!
Stop it this moment!
Inga shouts with her fists on her hips.
This is not the time to horse around. We have serious matters at hand.
Klaus, in mid throw, drops the snowball and droops his snout in shame.
Klaus. Come here... Now.
She says, clenching her teeth and pointing at the ground next to her. Klaus walks over, slowly, tail between his legs.
She takes a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She watches the children climb back into the sleigh, scorned looks across their faces.
After settling down, her voice becomes more calm.
Lucifer, dear. Take these talismans. I believe they are not cursed. I already have three of these.
She holds out the thin silver chain around her neck and jingles the three small charms attached.
If any of you wish to wear them, decide who gets which. Or, If you believe they are cursed, keep them somewhere safe until we get back to Absalom.
I'm ready to perform the ritual. Grunjar... What do I need to do?
|
|
"In my culture, the spirits are in everything around you. Maybe ask them what really happened here?" Ryuunosukle suggested as he started to spin the nodachi in case a snowball fight started.
That's what I hope to do. Get any answers we can. I'll be ready to calm the spirit if it is hostile.
Should everyone stand behind me or in a circle around the effigy sight here?
|
|
Inga shouts with her fists on her hips.
This is not the time to horse around. We have serious matters at hand.
With a wink Grunjar says: "Don't worry, countess. It was just a little payback for the scare he gave me earlier..."
I'm ready to perform the ritual. Grunjar... What do I need to do?
Grunjar gives Inga a puzzled look. I told her literally fifteen minutes ago... is something wrong with her hearing?
"Well, as I said before, you have to light a candle and burn three of your hairs with it. Then we need a piece of ice carved like a dragon’s tooth and cover it with salt. Finally, you have to hold it above the flame while reciting Kolvi’s name five times."
Grunjar starts giving orders.
"Rally, we need the candles and the salt for the ritual now.
Myth, could you get us that frozen waterskin from the sleigh?
And if anyone here feels gifted with ice carving, please step up. We need the little block of ice to look as close as possible like a dragon's tooth before we can start the ritual."
|
Here you go... Rallas hands over the items to Grunjar after seemingly sticking his whole arm into his haversack and rummaging around for them.
Does the tooth have to be anatomically correct? I'm no artisan...but I do know about carving things up... he says joingly as he gets out his prybar which shifts into an icepick after a moment.
|
Rallas playfully jabs Myth in the shoulder.
See? I told you they might be special... he says with a snicker.
Myth shrugs. "I was looking more at the damage to the tree than to the arrows...perhaps I should give them a look as well..."
He looks at the arrowheads more closely to see if he can discern anything about them...
If any snowballs come his way, he'll deftly dodge 'em...
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Myth finds nothing remarkable about the old arrowheads, they are simply of Coalbraid manufacture.
Inga, having suitably scolded the 'children', solemnly sets to work on the ritual to contact the spirit of Kolvi. She lights a candle and burns three of her hairs. Then, Rallas hands her the dragon's tooth that he carved from the ice and Inga salts it. Finally, she holds the salted tooth over the flame of the candle and importunes the Jarlsblood Witch...
The air grows still.
Then, all of a sudden, the snow falls thick and fast, obscuring your vision. The wind howls, and amidst the snowstorm you make out a shape. A woman approaches you, fierce and beautiful, with red hair and clad in a long white gown.
, ha! a-ha-ha-ha! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
The beautiful woman throws a snowball at Inga, catching the Countess full-on. "Ha-ha! You don't really believe all that nonsense do you? I liked you better when you were playing snowballs! Come on!"
She gathers another handful of snow.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As the pathfinders begin to return fire, the 'witch' laughs. "Oh, it is ON!"
Snowball fight!
Myth
Grunjar
Rallas
Witch
Lucifer
Klaus
Inga
Ryuunosuke
Klaus growls menacingly at the ghost as it materializes. He crouches into a threatening stance, ready to lash out if it attempts any harm to Inga or his friends.
Suddenly, the ghost witch cackles with glee as she tosses a snowball at Inga.
He reaches out and catches the snowball just before it hits Inga.
He glares at the witch in bewilderment.
As the pathfinders begin to return fire, the 'witch' laughs.
"Oh, it is ON!"
He quickly scoops up an armload of snow and lobs fist-sized snowballs at the witch.
Haha! This is more like it!
|
|
With fear in her eyes, but standing strong, Inga flinches as the snowball heads straight at her before being blocked by Klaus' quick arm.
She stares in shock at the witch, speechless.
Memories of her as a little girl playing in the snow flashes through her mind. She glances around to see her companions laughing as they toss snowballs. With a smile, she picks up a handful of snow, packs it, and returns fire.
I never thought I would need to consider casting calm spirit to stop a ghost from throwing snowballs!
She shouts with laughter.
As she's giggling between blocking incoming snowballs or tossing snowballs back at Kolvi, she calls out to the witch.
We really do... Haha! ...need to talk... Woo! ...to you! Eek!
She almost falls backwards in the snow from laughter.
Peering out from the sleigh, Junia and Jeeves stare with mouths agape, watching the 'adults' have a snowball fight with a ghost.
Good arm, Rallas!
|
|
Myth looks to the others. "These arrowheads were made by the Coalbraids," he informs his companions as the snowball fight breaks out...
Seeing the beautiful woman appear tossing snowballs, Myth is the picture of chivalry.
"Allow me to come to your aid, m'Lady, you appear to be outnumbered," he says as he sends a snowball at Rallas...
...while dodging any that come his way...
Myth and the witch team up, but are still outmatched. Myth lands a good shot on Rallas, but Rallas sends a storm of snowballs at the witch with superlative accuracy. She gasps and giggles as she gets hit.
Grunjar catches the witch in the side of the head with his first slingshot. "Hey! that's cheating!" she says, retaliating with an accurate shot of her own. The witch lands good solid hits on Rallas and Lucifer but Klaus just bats her snowballs out of the air, getting dusted with snow powder in the process.
Lucifer and Ryuunosuke join the fun, and get in several good hits, Klaus enjoys himself mightily and even Inga gets in on the act, imploring the witch to parley in between her own giggles.
Knowledge (nature) DC14
"Alright, alright, truce!" calls the witch. "You win! Ha, ha! You're much more fun than the usual sort who come here. Now, you wanted to talk? So talk!"
When a truce is called, Klaus falls on his back into the snow. He waves his arms and legs a few times then stands and carefully steps out of the impression he left. The impression appears to be a large humanoid figure with wings, and horns where Klaus' tall canine ears stamped into the snow.
He points down to show off his handiwork.
Haha! Look! I made a Snow Demon!
"Tail?" says the witch, blushing furiously. "What about my tail?! YOU have pointy ears! And... and... and an ugly nose!" She answers, her laughter replaced with anger.
Now that Rallas has pointed it out, you all notice the tip of a long bushy fox-like tail poking out from under the witch's dress.
DC19
DC24
|
|
"I am sorry that he offended you." Ryuunosuke said. "We do not wish to disturb you but we are trying to understand what happened here about two centuries ago and since you live in the area, you might have seen things happen, both good and bad that might point us in the right direction in getting to the bottom of it." he said, trying to remember the diplomacy that the owner of the caravan used when conduction trade negotiations.
|
|
Inga brushes off the snow covering her. She regains her composure and looks at the witch with a puzzled look.
Well, for one...I noticed you have a tail...could you enlighten us?
You're no witch or ghost at all.
She thinks for a moment.The snowballs would have gone right through you if you were a ghost. Please, you must explain what is going on.
You're a huldra -not a ghostly spirit at all. I beg of you to explain yourself. Why such a grand charade?
It is quite rare to encounter a benevolent spirit.
Klaus says as he takes a vigilant stance behind Inga. He glances back towards the children in the sleigh.
Junia's spirit, the boy named Grishan, is the only one I can think of that hasn't tried to kill us. This is very strange.
He says quietly to Inga as he keeps an eye on the "witch".
I did have a lot of fun throwing snowballs.
He adds with a grin.
I could break your nose for you.
Klaus says jokingly as he puts up his dukes.
The huldra scowls as you try to placate her. When Lucifer mentions her tail again the long brush swishes from side to side and it seems as if the angry fey might attack. She takes a deep breath.
"It's a very ugly nose."
"And of course I'm not a ghost! I am Olisarra, and this is my territory. Well, mine and Moss-on-South-Trees" she nods towards the white elk who still grazes a short distance away. "But we get along. I pose as the Witch when people from Frostbreach come here. It's just a bit of fun. They never ask the truth of what happened; they come to beg favours.
You are different.
I was here, when Kolvi killed King Alvard." Olisarra speaks the old king's name with obvious distaste. "I will tell you what happened. Alvard pleaded with the creatures of the wild to help him hunt a linnorm that had appeared here. Moss-on-South-Trees heard his cries, and I helped broker a deal between the two to grant Alvard permission to wander the ijiraq’s lands, help in finding the dragon, and fortune in his fight against it. Alvard in turn promised future concessions that he never honoured. When the warrior Kolvi set out into the forest, she showed proper respect, yet the king taunted his past benefactors by daring to enter Moss-on-South-Trees' territory once more. The ijiraq called down a terrible blizzard, and here Kolvi repelled the king and his companions, beheading the king with her sword."
|
|
"Greetings Olisarra, I am Minara Ryuunosuke." Ryuunosuke said.
"Forgive me as I do not know much about nature, but it sounds like King Alvard renounced his word when he failed to honor his end of the deal and then reentered Moss-on-South-Trees' domain. Through his actions, the King caused suffering on his people. I have not heard of an ijiraq and from your description, he is the white elk we see before us. What was the original bargain that struck between the two so that we might be able to correct the King's error?" he asked.
"Alvard never had any honour; his promises longsince broken by him and his people. The details are no longer important. You would seek to atone, but you are not any of you of Alvard's line, nor even ulfen. Are you in their employ?”
Olisarra answers, whilst the white elk watches.
|
|
Ryuunosuke thought for a moment. "No, not employed by them. Although we are not of Alvard's line or Ulfen, we believe that Kolvi was murdered while trying to protect others. The story we got was that Kolvi, the so-called Jarlsblood Witch had aspired to become a linnorm king and the reigning king followed after her. The blizzard being summoned by Moss-on-South-Trees ties in with that and sounds like Kolvi was not an actual ice witch. We might be wrong but this squabble between the Trolltooths and Coalbraids has gone on long enough, and if we can fix things, then it might go towards repairing the distrust that has occurred in the area. " he said
|
|
It is a pleasure to meet you, Olissara. I am Inga Blücher. And this is Klaus.
The phantom nods respectfully.
No, none of us have any relation to Alvard or Kolvi. We are trying to restore the peace between the two families. If we had some physical proof of Alvard's actions, it would make our job much easier.
Inga looks at the woman with an idea.
Would you be willing to travel back to Frostbreach and tell your story to the townsfolk?
Olisarra laughs. “No, Kolvi was no ice-witch. She was a warrior through and through. Her sword bore enchantments and was forged of cold iron, but that was the limit of her magic. I suspect the king’s companions saw the magic of Moss-on-South-Trees firsthand.” She then scowls as if remembering something. “Or they lied.”
"I might venture into Frostbreach with you, but... the Ulfen people would not trust the word of fey. No matter how intriguing I find humanoid cultures, there is a gap in how we understand each other. To the people of Frostbreach, I am merely a capricious forest spirit and Moss-on-South-Trees is a malevolent elk." Olisarra pauses, thinking.
"Physical proof will serve you better, Inga. There are abandoned catacombs miles from here that the Ulfen people have forgotten, yet we have used them rarely to hide away that which need not be found. Both Kolvi and the king’s corpse lie there. I removed the effigy, for it was no way to remember a warrior. If you wish to see them for yourself,” she trails off and looks to the ijiraq for a moment, “you could do so. I can provide you a token to see through the illusions that hide it. I warn you, though, we have not used it for several human generations, and those hills feel increasingly... troubled.”
|
|
Ryunnosuke turned towards Olisarra and then Moss-on-South-Trees, doing a deep respectful bow to both of them. "Returning Kolvi to her family for proper burial will be the least that we can to to settle things, along with returning King Alvard. Not sure on the effigy, maybe dispose of it? " he said.
"I wonder however, why preserve King Alvard since he broke his word to Moss-on-South-Trees? he asked.