Porablum looks at the moose, then at the strange elf they'd just met who said not to fight the elk, and she waits to see what the elk does.
Erystelle attempts to speak with animals to the elk.
The elf speaks and high pitched bugling sounds come out.
He then motions to the trees and chirping sounds issue forth.
Hjorleaf nods his thanks at the elf for the healing. He then looks to the elk and then just motions towards the side of the clearing.
Not sure what the elf is saying and with a voice that is too soft for someone so large...
***In Skald***
Just let it go...it has earned a right to live another day.
and with those words he nods his head to the elk and again gestures to the side of the clearing.
Go on...run free
the moose holds up short when the elf starts speaking to it.
it is hesitant, as it hasn't quite decided if you're friends, but you did save it. it replies
[b]this land is older than any of us. no one has met its maker. I do not know who made this green food grow, it but it drew me here. danger found me here, so i will not be staying long. you should leave too
Let us leave this place soon...
He then looks to the worgs.
...not before we take care of these guys.
”Yes, we need to be leaving as quickly as possible, but we should take the meat. I wouldn’t bother with the skins unless you have reason for wanting the skins of the White Throne’s minions in your possession.”
The elf says drawing his elven hunting knife and a game bag from his pack.
”Get the back straps, that’s the best cut of wolf.”
True...backstrap is good on most animals.
Hjorleaf looks to the gnome.
Little Nisse...come, you will like the meat...
he looks to the cold that is outside their current location.
We do not waste anything in the north. The land is not kind to those that do not prepare and are not worthy of its bounty. She is a harsh mistress. Take what you can and I will carry the rest.
"Oh, I have no idea how to skin or butcher a wolf. Never learned how. If you wrap the meat up, I can probably carry some, though."
with guidance from Hjorleaf, the group is able to take several good cuts of meat from the worgs. luckily it is so cold here that you will be able to use at least some of it, but without a way to treat or preserve the meat you only take with you what could be eaten in a few days' time.
Once you are done with the animals, Nadya leads the way again.
soon you see a small town in the distance. smoke rises from several chimneys, and you can hear the sounds of people going about their day. the town looks pretty small compared to most places, probably similar in size to Waldsby and Heldren.
"We're coming up on Ellsprin Nadya informs you. i know some folks here, and will be leaving my boys here while we take the last leg of our journey to Whitethrone. there isn't much here, but if you need any simple supplies we can probably stock up here
Agreed...we restock and move on to Whitethrone.
"Oh, it looks very nice and peaceful here. Seems quiet."
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”I find my peace out in the deep wilds, but what you see before you is the opportunity for a more interesting social life at the expense of oppression and danger.”
”There are many good people down there, some collaborate with the enemy to eat, all have a hard life, but there are some joys left to them.”
The elf says a bit stoically.
A few moments later he shifts his mood to one of interest.
” Hjorleaf, Son of Asvidr, where did you learn your warcraft? That blow you landed on the Warg was well struck. To say the least.”
moving towards the town, the group chats with each other about the previous fight and what they need in the little town.
as you approach the town, you pass by a solitary wooden house on the outskirts of town, partially surrounded by evergreen trees and shrubs. a thin column of smoke rises from the chimney, but there is not other sign of life from within, and the shutters are closed.
as if to mock Porablum's comment about everything being peaceful, fifteen feet in front of the small house lies a body, face-down in the snow. it is not moving and the snow all around it is stained red with blood.
Erystelle whispers, ”For example.”
The elf looks around and listens.
If he does not sense any danger he will move to the body and carefully look it over before checking for signs of life and cause of death.
Porablum gets a sad look on her face. "Apparently not so peaceful..." She also looks around before joining Erystelle in checking the body.
” Hjorleaf, Son of Asvidr, where did you learn your warcraft? That blow you landed on the Warg was well struck. To say the least.”
The large man smiles and waves his hand around the landscape.
This beautiful land is the best teacher. It is unrelenting and unforgiving. It cares not for who you are or who you think you are. It treats everyone and everything the same. You learn from it, respect it...or you die. Simple and to the point.He slows his pace as he looks again at the landscape.
The Varg teach us that life is harsh. To survive, one must be respectful of that which the land give us and strong to withstand its wrath.
HJorleaf stops when the body comes into view. His eyes lift up and roam the horizon looking for source of this situation. His words are slow and direct as he keeps scanning the area
Little nisse...Do you think you can help Erystelle with that person. By mindful of tracks. We may be able to learn something from them.
”I find my peace out in the deep wilds, but what you see before you is the opportunity for a more interesting social life at the expense of oppression and danger.”
"Yes, everything here feels so wild, beautiful and dangerous at the same time. But Erystelle, I don't know how many of southerners will take this exchange though." The half-elf smiles for a second as he tries to forget all the past events and enjoy the scenery.
Easlis halts as soon as Hjorleaf did, leaving the elf and the gnome to inspect the victim.
Somewhat uneased he asks "Have you spotted anyone else?"
you spot small footprints (as in a small-sized humanoid) that move from the body towards the house, but stop abruptly about 15 feet in front of the building.
Porablum moves to help check on the body and as she does, she spots some movement behind the shutters over the window
a voice calls out from the window
"Get back! it's still out there! I don't know what it is but it is dangerous!
At the sound of the warning, Hjorleaf's ax appears in his hand. Moving it about as he scans the area for threats.
Hjorleaf moves towards the house and the mysterious small humanoid.
Something move that way...heading for the house.
"Bar the window! We can handle ourselves." Easlis responded trying to figure out what creature the Ulfen was hunting. I hope
Following the human's example, Easlis takes the longbow off his back and gazes at the trail of footsteps, not knowing what to expect. As he mutters an incantation his eyes glow blue for a second.
The elf stands straight, draws his slender, but wickedly sharp with his right hand. A small magical flame ignites in his left open palm. A sense of serene calm falls over his features as he waits for the attacker to reveal itself.
”Don’t forget to look up.”
the group prepares for trouble at the warning of the person inside the house. Easlis does not detect any magic, but something does jump out and attack!
surprise round
a small creature becomes visible, stabbing Hjorleaf with a rapier
Round 1
the creature moves incredibly fast, zipping past Hjorleaf and moving to Erystelle, stabbing at the elf as well, but missing
a second enemy appears from within a tree, a small thing that appears to be made of sticks. it stabs at Porablum with a tiny spear made of wood that seems to be growing out of the creature
the whole party may act!
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Erystelle HP: 34/34 - AC: 17/14/14 Status:
Porablum HP: 19/28 - AC: 17/13/15 Status:
Easlis: HP: 32/32 - AC: 16/11/15 Status:
Hjorleaf HP: 31/40 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCS:
Small fey HP:?? | AC: ??
Stick creature HP:?? | AC: ??
The elf pulls back from the swift attacker who misses him and responds in kind. The elf thrusts his sword with practiced precision.
He calls out in the syllabic language of the Fey.
Porablum yelps as she gets attacked. Stepping back from the stick-thing, she yells at it,
"That's not nice! What do you think you're doing, attacking us like this! You should be ashamed! I'm gonna make you take a nap!"
Porablum casts a spell firing a coruscating cone of colors at the stick-thing. Then she pulls out her mace.
"I was wondering when you would catch up to us."
Easlis says firing an arrow at the creature made of sticks. He passes Porablum and gets closer to the apparent safety of the house.
Stepping away from the attack, Hjorleaf growls in frustration.
Time to play Kubb.
Closing the gap between him an his attack, the large man drags his weapon along the snow and then brings it up in an swing aimed at the sky.
Hjorleaf looks at the creature wondering how badly he hurt it.
Porablum fires off a blaze of colors, washing over the twigjack
the creature falls down, stunned asleep and blind
Easlis shoots it for good measure
Hjorleaf and Erystelle move to attack the speedy fey
they both manage to hit it through a blurring effect around it. their weapons seem less effective than normal however.
the fey stabs at Hjorleaf and then backs away into the bushes.
the whole aprty may act
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Erystelle HP: 34/34 - AC: 17/14/14 Status:
Porablum HP: 19/28 - AC: 17/13/15 Status:
Easlis: HP: 32/32 - AC: 16/11/15 Status:
Hjorleaf HP: 28/40 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCS:
Small fey HP:-14 | AC: <24
Stick creature HP:-3 | AC: 19? | asleep, blind, stunned
Stepping forward, Hjorleaf swings again.
I am going use your spine to clean my teeth.
Porablum yells at the twig creature,
”Serves you right for your rudeness!”
Porablum then casts a spell to help her allies.
Seeing how ineffective the fight with the fey is turning out to be, Easlis hurries towards the house entrance and knocks on the door with his fist.
"Open up! Don't let us fight these things out in the open."
Hjorleaf roars in anger towards the house as he see the magus abandon the group.
You pathetic little s$!#. You better run far and fast...when I am done with this little f%*& here, I am going to kill you. Oh how the mighty scorcher of the Pale tower, catcher of bandits and necromancers runs like a coward to leave his companions behind. I am going to cut that lying tongue of yours out and use it to wipe my ass. Never earned those names and gave them to yourself to placate your delicate sense of worth. You are f#@@ing dead.
The elf hurls a bolt of fire at their attacker!
”Let’s see how you react to this.”
The banging on the door gets louder after the magus looks over his shoulder nervously: "Unlock it quicker! They have taken what was left of his mind."
Hjorleaf looks to the others as the continue to to fight.
...so says the coward who ran and left his companions behind.
Easlis and Hjorleaf yell at each other as Easlis moves to the door. the door is locked and Easlis hears the voice from inside yell out
No way, I can't let that thing in here! it already killed my husband! it's too fast
Hjorleaf misses the creature with his axe. Erystelle almost hits it with a blast of fire, but pulls too far to the left to avoid hitting Hjorleaf
the twigjack remains stunned on the ground
the fey chases after Easlis, spinning away from Hjorleaf and slashing at Easlis. it then keeps moving past Easlis to the corner of the house.
Global Condition: None |
Global Condition:
Erystelle HP: 34/34 - AC: 17/14/14 Status:
Porablum HP: 19/28 - AC: 17/13/15 Status:
Easlis: HP: 29/32 - AC: 16/11/15 Status:
Hjorleaf HP: 28/40 - AC: 16/12/14 Status:NPCS:
Small fey HP:-14 | AC: <24
Stick creature HP:-3 | AC: 19? | asleep, blind, stunned
Gotta love these fey, huh?
The voice comes out squeaky, but resolute. A small gnome, with red hair and beard, comes running from the forest. The small steps on the snow get light up as his hands start shining in fire. He stops around 30 feet northeast of the target, then lets an empowered fire blast fly.
The sudden appearance of another gnome causes Porablum a moment of confusion. He then shoots fire at one of the creatures, and Porablum calls out,
"I don't know who you are, but I like your style! Let's finish these things off!"
Porablum uses her rope to tie up the twigjack - it was unconscious, after all, and therefore not right to attack it.
out of nowhere a second (third if you count Bazikian) gnome appears and blasts the fey with a powerful gout of fire! the thing didn't stand a chance and was completely unprepared. it is scorched and falls to the ground, finally still and very blackened.
Porablum ties town the twigjack who is still out of commission.
end of combat
”That was one hell of an entrance Pyromancer and a welcome one at that.”
The elf bows to the newcomer gnome.
Walking over towards Porablum he asks,
”Were these Fey pursuing you prior to my joining your party?”
Erystelle looks over the attackers trying to determine if they wear anything showing their Allegiance.
Timm blinks and puts up a smile, looking at the group which was under attack. He seems to be somewhat burned - or maybe, tense - due to the effort to conjure fire, yet it's clear he's more concerned on checking on them.
Hey there! Nice to meet you, despite the circumstances. Are you okay? - he asks Erystelle and the others, slowly approaching, still a little not fully trusting anyone - And I can't understand you, my dear!
He completes it towards Porablum, not being able to speak Celestial.
My name is Timm Tones! - he finally introduces himself, sounding a little more on the maniac side than friendly, especially given his clear predilection for burning things.
Seeing the newcomer incinerate the fey creature brings a nod of thanks.
His feature turn from grateful to anger as he turns to the Magus. While the others are talking to the new Gnome, the large human approaches the Magus.
Hjorleaf places himself between the house and the distant town. Moving purposely towards the magus, gripping his ax as he walks.
He points in the direction of the wilderness.
You have to the count of three to start running.If you do not...then I will punish you for the crime of cowardice in the face of the enemy. One...two
...three
Hjorleaf increases his pace as he move quickly to strike at the Magus.
"Very nice to meet you, Timm! No, I don't think these fey were chasing us previously - at least, not that I remember. I'm Porablum Flapzit!" she says, in perfect Taldane. "Are you from around here, or did you journey to Irrisen as well?"
Seeing what was happening between Hjorleaf and Easlis, she says, "Oh dear."
Hurrying across the snow - Timm will see that she doesn't leave any tracks as she does - she reaches up and touches Hjorleaf's elbow. "Maybe we should give him a chance to explain? I know some fey can bewitch the mind, and I'd rather you not kill him without giving him a chance to explain. Please?"
You abandoned us to save yourself. I will give you a chance to run and be an outlaw.
He points in the direction of the wilderness.
You have to the count of three to start running. If you do not...then I will punish you for the crime of cowardice in the face of the enemy. One...two
The half-elf turns to the Ulfen and tries to restrain himself keeping his composure.
"If you wouldn't have been that frenzied in the fight you would have seen that you were fighting ineffectively against these creatures. A far better way would have been to use the safety of the house and attack them from inside. We were lucky that there weren't more of them and that Tom Tom here came to our rescue."
When hearing about punishment and the counting starting Easlis frowns menacingly, drops the bow to the ground: "If this is how it's going to be...". The magus blows towards the Hjorleaf.
Seeing that the Magus had no intention of becoming an outlaw , Hjorleaf lets his initial attack continue and when the Magus begins to cast a spell, the large man swings his weapon again.
The elf erupts in an ever expanding Obscuring Mist trying to block the would be combatants from coming to blows.
”I don’t know why he ran, but anyone who is an enemy of the witches in this land is a ally, any ally is hard to come by.”
”The witches won’t even have to hunt you down, you look ready to kill one another on your own.”
”This land has more enemies than friends. Some of those enemies you can slay with brute force and blade, others can only be harmed by magic, all cause you harm.”
”That’s why we are here together. I cannot stand on the front lines, but I doubt you can heal an almost detached leg Hjorleaf. I don’t know you all very well, but I think Easlis if early in his power and is vulnerable until he grows into them. If I am not incorrect, Porablum has life and Fey magic that is blossoming for her as well.”
”As for myself, my people and I have become little better than thieves once princes in our own lands. Survival and avoidance have become our way of life, many believe the only purpose in life is to exist a bit longer before the inevitable end comes for us, living scattered and isolated at the fringes.”
”Fate has brung us and now Timm together. Together we are greater than our single selves, together we have the powers, strength and skills to allow us to spit in the witches eyes.”
”Or do you prefer to continue and doom all of your peoples while your ancestors look down with horror and disgust at this squandered opportunity for greatness and vengeance?”
After the hex washes over him Hjorleaf counters the magus' attack with his own. Seeing him stagger back bleeding from a gaping hole in his chest brings a smile to his face.
Hearing the words from the others makes him shake his head.
He grows at the magus.
You will do well to never cross my path again.
and with those words he turns and walks away from the group. He makes his way to the village never to be seen again.
after weeks of infighting and needling each other, the magus and the fighter finally come to blows. Hjorleaf leaves Easlis bleeding on the ground, and walks away. Porablum looks on, shocked. stunned, she walks away from the scene, tears in her eyes.
Erystelle and the newcomer stare at each other for a few seconds, not entirely sure what just happened. Timm still has his hand out in introduction, completely forgotten now.