Sun Xiao |
"What do you know about these 'winter-touched'? I'm new to these parts, but you speak of them as if they're well known legends around here."
Sun Xiao |
Sun Xiao catches a look at Chloe out of the corner of his eye.
What is she grinning about? he thinks to himself, slightly annoyed for some reason.
alexgndl |
"What do you know about these 'winter-touched'? I'm new to these parts, but you speak of them as if they're well known legends around here."
"I don't know if they're very well known around here, but in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, where I hail from, the winter-touched are well known, and feared as well. They're fey creatures who have sworn themselves to the White Witches of Irrisen, those who stole our lands from us during the Winter War. Tiny sprites no taller than the length of a man's forearm. But don't be fooled by their small stature-legends say they have taken a sliver of ice into their hearts, and their touch bears the harsh bite of winter..."
alexgndl |
Yuln grimaces a bit. "Yes, White Witches. Descendants of Baba Yaga herself. Nasty customers...I've heard tales of people just frozen in blocks of ice if they got in the way of them. You know the queen of Irrisen, Elvanna, is Baba Yaga's actual daughter, right? The queen of Irrisen and her mother...Queen of Witches. They say that every hundred years, Baba Yaga comes back and takes the current queen away, bringing a new one to rule in her place. It's happened every century for the past 1400 years."
Ghulassen Hakim |
Winter-touched... I know I've heard of them somewhere...
Ghulassen stays still, racking his brain for any extra details of the fey creatures.
"Hmm... Oh! I think I remember now. The things are...."
Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Kn. Nature: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
"Weak to fire and cold iron. All thanks to your local bard. It's fine. You can all thank me later when I save you all."
For anyone skeptical, I talked to Alex about all this and posted the outcomes for convenience on his part
Jack Cogito |
Sure. Go ahead. Can't promise that you will get more
Like that'll stop him from trying. >:]
I can't let this bard think he knows more about winter witchcraft than I. Prepare to be schooled, Ifrit!
Now then, brain, I hope your well of arcane knowledge hasn't completely dried up...
Kn. Arcane: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Kn. Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Boom. So uh...now what?
Sun Xiao |
"Does anyone else know how to use a sword like this? It's not my weapon of choice, as you can probably tell, but I can make use of it if we fight these 'winter touched' in the near future."
alexgndl |
"Ice witches, winter-touched, and royal folks disappearing this journey keeps sounding more and more dangerous. This will be fun then. Also why do winter-touched fear cold iron? I get fire. Fire melts ice, but cold iron?"
"Yes, of course cold iron. Weapon o' choice against demons, werewolves and the fey. How've you never heard of it?
Anyways, the attack happened on the road, about six miles south of here. I imagine it'll be fairly hard to miss...you might want to get moving. Who knows what those bastards might do to Lady Argentea. If the winter-touched are here, it's because a White Witch has sent them. And much, much worse is bound to follow when the White Witches get involved."
With that, he settles back onto his makeshift bed, obviously exhausted. Whether or not you have more questions, it's clear that he's too tired to really answer any more.
Jack Cogito |
Hey, did you guys know that races can have weapon proficiencies as well as classes? I certainly didn't!
So it looks like Ghulassen and I are the only ones who are proficient with longswords, and I have the higher strength, sooo...
"On second thought, give me the sword if nobody else wants it. I'm sure I can at least inconvenience the winter fey with minor cuts."
Sun Xiao |
I can. First level Fighter, proficiency in all simple and martial weapons. And I don't have the 0 BaB and only +1 Str problem Cube has.
"I asked because I was hoping one of you would be able to hold his own in a fight. If you can actually use the weapon effectively and will wade into the melee beside me, you can have it."
He holds the sword out to Jack with a raised eyebrow at his scrawny form.
Jack Cogito |
I can. First level Fighter, proficiency in all simple and martial weapons. And I don't have the 0 BaB and only +1 Str problem Cube has.
Ah...I assumed you were asking because you couldn't use it yourself. That'll teach me not to do my homework. :P
Jack looks at the sword warily.
"Ehh...never mind. You may be just a tad more capable of handling that sword than I am."
I suppose there's nothing wrong with my crossbow. But man, what I wouldn't give for a good old cognizance crystal right now...
Azor Silverborn |
"I'll just stick to my morningstar and keeping you all alive. Speaking of which we should probably go get some supplies and head out. If we wait to long the trail will go cold. HAHA cold its a pun."
Azor turns to see what is available at the apothecary. Keeping an eye out of healing potions.
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
alexgndl |
There're no healing potions, but the apothecary does have a Potion of Resist Energy (cold), as well as an alarmingly large amount of alchemist's fire. It also has a good selection of everything else an apothecary would normally sell.
There's a few of each-Antitoxin, Everburning Torch, Holy Water, Smokestick, Thunderstone, Tanglefoot Bag, Tindertwig, Acid. Standard apothecary wares.
Sun Xiao |
Sun Xiao takes a look around, outwardly stoic but mentally feeling akin to a kid in a candy store.
Calmly, he says "I'll take a Thunderstone and a flask of Alchemist's Fire. I have a feeling one or the other might come in handy."
He carefully slips them into his second bandolier, safely nestled beside his bandolier full of whiskey flasks.
alexgndl |
Tessarea Willowbark, the proprietor of the apothecary, smiles warmly at Sun Xiao. "That'll be 50gp then please, 30 for the Thunderstone and 20 for the Alchemist's Fire." Looking around at the rest of the group, she asks "Would anyone else like anything? I was just about to close up the store-I have to take care of Yuln here."
Sun Xiao |
"If everyone's done, let's get a move on. Despite the abysmal pun, Azor's right. If the trail goes cold we've got nothing."
Cyrdic Forthill |
Councilor Teppen steps forward a bit. "You'll find some bags with about a weeks' worth of food each for you outside the door-feel free to take them with you when you leave. Please though-time is of the essence."
Sorry for kind of being a bit pushy, but I kinda want to get the story moving. You guys should be fairly well equipped already, and believe me when I say that there's a crapload of loot and bonuses pretty early.
Sun Xiao |
"North is...that way." Sun Xiao says while pointing.
"So we just need to get going over here." he points again.
He shoulders his sack of food and starts walking down the road.
"Better get moving. That's a bit of a walk and we don't want to be caught out here at night if it takes us a while."
Ghulassen Hakim |
Grumbling about there being nothing relating to his craft, Ghulassen steps out of the shop, nearly trampling the bags of food. Swiftly, he grabs a bag and secures it into his possessions.
"You know, it's going to be a long walk. It surely will be more enjoyable with some music"
Perform (Percussion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Sun Xiao |
"You know, a good friend once said to me 'the only good Bard is a dead one', and I always shrugged it off as him just being a little crazy."
"Until now, anyway." he says as he rubs his temples and glares death at Ghulassen.
Sun Xiao |
"It's not in my nature to negotiate with hostage takers." Sun Xiao says drily.
"Especially not ones wielding such a deadly weapon as that blasted Tambourine. At least it's not bagpipes."
Sun Xiao |
Sun smiles nastily.
"You go on right ahead Jack. It'll be amusing to see how you handle being the first in line when a boar or an evil Fey pops out of the treeline."