Sturion keeps the crossbow trained at the snowbank, precisely where Izore flew into it.
Urga attacks with his falchion.
Urgas blow strikes flesh, and suddenly izore staggers up out of the snow, clutching the falchion inserted in his side in pain and surprise.
no izore not die. Winter queen promised.
And then he expires.
Combat over
actions?
Sturion reaches up to scratch at his beard.
Ahh...hmm.
Rikael looks down at the creature, and then to Agatha.
The winter Queen? Does that tell you anything?
He then starts searching the thing for whatever it had.
"Winter Queen?" Thorn echoes before helping the rest of the party cross the bridge and then following himself.
Sildur moves to join the others, his sorcerous wounds causing him to wince with every step, "Ill news. This isn't the work of some splinter faction. If that creature spoke true, the full might of Irrisen lies behind this plot."
He looks around at the landscape on this side of the bridge, "Be wary. If that was Izoze I believe there was mention of a troll in his service. It cannot be too far. Remember your alchemist's fire."
Dru pads along behind his master, stopping to sniff at a drop of blood that slips from Sildur's cloak...
Sildur the trail lies ahead, with no sign of any threat at this time. I assume after a quick search (nothing) was found the party advances along the trail
I'll be right back.
Sturion takes Tom back to the lodge, where he pickets him, and grabs vegetables from storage, placing them within reach...he taps a quick pint, and then hurries back once the mug is dry. He bundles up the stuff he's taking, pulling everything heavy but his armor off, and sends it over on a rope, before slowly, painstakingly crossing the rope bridge himself.
Sildur nods his thanks to the witch, "Lets hope once is all that is required then."
The ulfen sighs a little at Sturion's caution but helps with the rope all the same. Better safe than sorry. Dwarves are rather...dense.
Rikael sheathes his rapier and retrieves his chakram, then makes his way to help Sturion finish crossing. Once he dwarf has completed his life threatening, harrowing journey, Rikael faces the rest of the group and sighs.
What would Irrisen want with this place though? What would be the purpose of plunging this forest into a terrible winter? We need to find out more, and that... thing only raised more questions than answers.
He takes a swig of alchohol from his flask and pats Dru on the head, thinking to himself before talking again.
Well, we know there has to be something here they want, or they wouldn't have done any of this. Has anyone ever heard of something like this coming from Irrisen? Perhaps an old legend or story could prove useful in clues.
Urga shakes his head, "I know nothing of Irrisen. But I do have experience with evil, such as these witches. If I've learned one thing, it is that evil needs no rationale for cruelty. Depravity is an end in itself."
"It's starting to snow harder. Let us be on our way."
Having seen everyone else cross the bridge, Thorn steps onto the bride and crosses it himself, rejoining the rest on the bridge.
Whispers of the spirts float around him, some offering congratuations. Some Jeering his party's action and others offering suppport and consolations....
Rikael nods at Urga's words, taking the more experienced man's wisdom in. He then follows the group, pulling his heavy cloak tight around him, the chill of the snow magnified by the chill running though his spine by the evil just discussed.
The trail continues through the wood, and the snow keeps falling, though it lightens somewhat. For about half a mile you travel from the bridge with no encounters, yet you all start to feel that the forest is too quiet. There is no birdsong, or movement save yourselves and the falling snow.
When you reach half a mile you see in front of you the corpse of a man, slumped over in the snow, his body mauled as if by a powerful beast.
know nature DC13 please
Sildur squints at the corpse apprehensively, unwilling to approach any closer than he must.
Urga guards the perimeter.
Sturion gets a good grip on his hammer, and steps up close to the body, looking around.
Rikael assists Urga in guarding the perimeter, his rapier out and ready for a fight.
"By the merciful gods and spirits around. Dryden?" Thorn rushes forward and begins clearing snow. Examining the now cold corpse of someone he knew well. Someone who taught a young Thorn the tricks of being a hunter, sharing his wealth of traps to a young and impressionable child.
The spirits remain silent, they see that Thorn has once again suffered yet another loss and thus stays near offering their own brand of support and paying respects in their own way.
Sildur, you think he was killed by an animal of some sort, fairly big. You also notice his pack which seems to contain gear.
Thorn, you see that drydens bow has been snapped, and you realise the much the same details as Sildur
Sildur kneels in the snow next to Thorn and the body, "I am sorry Thorn. Your friend's passing is yet another reason we must put an end to this foul plot."
He sniffs at the apple jack before handing it to Rikael, "Here my friend, this should keep your spirits up for what is to come."
Taking the journal gently, Sildur flips to the last pages and reads carefully, hoping to find something to indicate what sort of beast Dryden had been hunting?
Dru sniffs at the bear trap warily. Letting out a low groan, he shuffles behind Sildur.
Thorn mutters "Aye." whether it was directed in answer to Sildur or the spirit it is unclear but he does retrieve the arrows.
"He was killed by some unnatural beast, we must hunt it down before it hunts somebody else!" He declares even as he settles the arrows in his quiver and checks his bow. He also retrieves Dryden's bow string if able to.
"The beast's spoor must still be around here."
Urga nods solemnly at Thorn, "Lead on brother."
Rikael takes the applejack uneasily, and looks around.
What did the journal say? Did he run afoul of the fey as well?
"No. None of that." Thorn states even as he leads the way towards where he believes the creature to lair. He also requests to read Dryden's journal once Sildur is done with it.
"What Dryden encountered were moving trees, an abandoned house with a talking doll and that he was setting traps further ahead. We'll need to be careful as Dryden is quite a skilled trapper." he continues without missing a beat.
"The beast he was hunting was apparently a giant weasel that knows how to play dead. It's also wounded." adding the last as an aferthought.
Sildur frowns as he reads the journal, passing it to Thorn he holds his tongue until the other man has finished, "Indeed. If this large beast is indeed a weasel it will not be an easy hunt, wounded or no. I can only assume the trees have something to do with the fey. The talking doll stinks of their lot as well...though perhaps not the same as the ones we are seeking."
Leaving Thorn to take point, Sildur follows behind, sling held at the ready.
Thorn, apart from the closed beartrap near you, you don't see any others at the moment. The trail continues. The lightly falling snow stops for a time, but the sky seems threatening (survival rolls for weather prediction for more info). You travel for about another 300 yards or so, and move into a small clearing. In the center of the clearing is a large snow drift, unusual as is stands by itself, and appears manmade not natural. The wind moans in the surrounding trees. The blood trail leads into the drift, and continues out the other side. Is the drift more recent than the blood?
"We should be on our way. Can you follow the trail of the weasel, Thorn?"
Though not good at this, Sturion keeps his eyes scanning as the group moves.
"Hold a moment.", Sildur cautions the others before sending a sling bullet slamming into the middle of the unusual snow drift, "I don't much like the looks of this..."
The sling stones impact the drift, with little obvious impact.
Perception checks please.