Finlogan stands with his new companion at the ceremony. His colorless white hair, indigo eyes, and pointed ears distinguish his elven lineage, while his strong torso and relatively large hands show his humanness. He wears a chain shirt under ordinary traveler's clothes and shoulders a quiver of arrows and a backpack with a hunting trap and coil of hempen rope strapped to it. His weapon’s harness carries a longsword, longbow, and shield. Around his neck, he wears a large bear claw on a leather necklace.
The handsome half-elf follows Cole and takes his customary drag position keeping the other companions between the rangers. When Cole stops, Finlogan moves between Rankev and Venssa and says, "Thanks Venssa for the goodberry. It will keep me from hunting for us along the way."
Then, he clears his throat and says, "Venssa, let me introduce you to Rankev Vargidan. Rankev, this is my friend Venssa. She is a druid who lives near town." A bit of emphasis is on the word friend.
After the social requirements, Fin walks over to Aldelenna and accepts the brandy with a gracious smile and nod. Then, he stashes the bottle in an inside pocket of his vest. "I think Cole should carry the healing drought. He likes to go first."
In response to Cole, Fin replies, "You lead. I'll take drag. Keep the other three between us."
When they start to move again, Finlogan attempts to travel quietly and keep an eye out for any followers and the trail.
The path that Cole and Venssa set is not the one on the map, not exactly. That one follows paths, and, you suppose, that's not surprising. Often this quest is followed by the Mayor and dignitaries of the town. Protected to be sure, by Arnama, or Captain Wisslo, but dignitaries nonetheless—ill-equipped to follow narrow, unmarked foot trails or trust to the sun for navigation.
With so much build up to the day, towards the prospect of adventure, it's hard not to be excited. And yet it is nearly winter. While Venssa has lived in the wilds all her life, and seems not to notice, even Arnama's trained rangers are feeling the chill. Aldelenna's cloak is warm, but it does not seem to do much when the winter winds blow, seeming to rake through the cloth as though it wasn't there.
Perhaps Fin seems most distracted. Taking up the rear, his usual confident steps seem uncertain. His steps, trained to be so careful, still leave a trail—too much of one, even to his eye. He watches the woods carefully, but is so distracted that more than once he stumbles into small branches.
And yet the sun continues to shine, the sky a brilliant blue, as you make progress towards your goal. Where your map takes you toward the Broken Glade first, the direct route is more firmly south, to the Gray Lake. It means saved time, and, according to both rangers, more time to make a proper camp.
Soon it is quiet that is the enemy. While Venssa revels in it, for her silence is filled with the quiet conversations of the small animals, Cole and Fin are, perhaps, too practiced at patrolling and the urgent quiet that sometimes brings.
Rankev and Aldelenna have seldom been into the wild, and never quite this far out. The silence is ominous because it is not silent. There is the rustling of wind, the stirring of branches, the calls of the wild animals, the crack of a branch under an armored boot.
It's hard to remember that this part is easy. Patrols sometimes reach the Broken Glade, but once you go much past that, you will be beyond the easy reach of your home, and beyond the common patrols. Distance scouts are sometimes sent to the north and the west, towards Belkzen and the danger there, but to the south there is only the wood, and if Molthune were to become a true danger as far north as Kassen, you'd know it from dispatches before ever a scout was sent into the Fangwood.
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Rankev feels quite a rush at being handed the token of favor. Red crawls up his chest, past his cheeks, to the top of his head. At a signal Attero begins putting stones in a circle.
"And for you, a token. To remember me by," having little left to call his own, he takes one of his dwindling gold pieces and tosses it to her.
"And so, we now the difference between the fire of other people," he says, launching a fire bolt into the air. It rises rises rises, and at last burns out. "This is others, a flash of lightning that flashing and fades in the starry sky. But this...this is Power."
Attero had completed the circle and puled large chunks of fallen wood in it. It was not a good fire, for it had no kindling, no small twigs to hold a small flame and feed it to a pyre. There were only large chunks of fuel, and some random timber he had found.
"This...is Power," Rankev says, launching a firebolt into the wood, setting the thing alight into a warm, burning pile. "Power is a thing that burns long and hot, and keeps you warm in the cold wind. And it's important to be warm, now."
Rankev grabs her behind the neck and kisses her fiercely. Then he turns and walks away, Attero in tow.
"Because...winter is coming."
As he left, his servants met him at the village limits and serenely filed into line, Attero with his calm assuredness, Rick with his hulking silence, and Hanse with eyes alight with wonder and energy. Each carried a bundle of Power's things, because for him to be burdened would just be...weird.
Rankev smiled politely at the introductions, but otherwise kept his own council. His tongue could get him in trouble when he was in new situations, so he preferred to be quiet as he grew accustomed.
"Do you think it will become cold? Perhaps snow?" he at last asks politely, trying to break the silence.
Glancing nervously about at every hint of unfamiliar noise, and pulling her cloak tight about her to try and stave off the cold, biting, wintry wind, Aldelenna follows the path that Cole and Venssa cut as best she can. Grateful, she is ever so grateful, that her good friend Finlogan is guarding her rear, well, the rear anyway. As they journey progresses, her nerves get the best of her and she pulls the crossbow, Rankev's gift, from her belt and holds it at the ready, not necessarily afraid, but certainly not comfortable this far from home. This is adventure. She tells herself. This, here, cold, noise, forest, friends, yes, even fear, this is exactly what you thought you wanted. She turns quickly at a sudden and strange noise, but sees Fin shake his head out of the corner of her eye. And so she finally speaks, both to answer Rankev, and to make plain her growing unsettled spirit. I'm certain this is all easy and familiar to you Finny, but for me, it is neither easy, nor familiar. I will do my best, and I harbor no delusions that it will get any easier. I know it is a difficult road ahead, but it will take time for me to become at home here, as I'm sure it did for you. Sweet gods, I hope it doesn't snow!" She finally speaks in answer to Rankev's questions.
The sun slowly descends in the sky, bringing with it ominous clouds that look strange accompanying a sky that is half crystal clear. It also makes for a beautiful sunset, but the threat of rain is very real and it quickly becomes clear to to your rangers that you will not make it to the Gray Lake tonight.
No one is surprised that Rankev could not bear to be without servants. However none of you expected the servants steps to be so light or careful... these were military men, and in Nirmathas that means some basic level of ranger training. Surprisingly they stay out of the way, make little noise, and simply quietly shadow Rankev much as they do in town.
Dress in lighter layers, Rankev. You can shed 'em until you are comfortable.
Cole continues to lead the party onward with occassional instruction from Venssa. The longer they travel, the more familiar he becomes with the path forward. There is no chance for them the get lost now, and thd group moves with ease ovet the terrain.
Venssa winces once again as someone in the party stumbles or steps right on a dry twig. Their nattering about the weather, keeping warm, the "difficult" path and the general whinging has worn down the usually calm and cheery gnome.
Sniffing the air and watching the few animals the group has not scared away, Venessa can tell that there will be a light snow this evening. With that in mind, and mentally exhausted travelling with all these people, she begins to hunt for a good spot to stay the night. Normally she could ask shelter from the local wildlife, but with half the town following her, she must try to find a place to fit them all.
Survival: (Finding a campsite)
Nature: (Weather knowledge)
Perception: (Looking for anything out of the ordinary at the campsite)
"Here is a good place for all of you to spend the night. The pines will keep the worst of the wind from you, but it does look like it will either snow, or a heavy frost will settle over night. I am sure Fin and Cole can show you how to prepare you site to best keep you warm. There is also a little stream just behind the pines with fresh water. Here, these are the last of my berries. They will loose their potency tomorrow morning, so I suggest you eat them now...they might also take away some of your aches and pains."
This feels like a great speech from Vanssa, and she is a little embarrassed to have spoken so long, but they need to know what is happening. She looks over the hoard and awaits any questions or comments.
By the time Fin stashed the brandy from Aldelenna, the half-elf could not believe that Rankev did not introduce his servants. They were people not cattle. So, he moves closer to the three servants and introduces himself and his companions to them, "And, it appears you'll be traveling the quest with us as well. In addition to Venssa, I'm Finlogan. That's Cole. And, you must know Aldelenna."
Finlogan watches Venssa look for a good campsite and study the weather, as she had taught him. But, he couldn't offer any suggestions. "Thanks, Venssa. Really appreciate your guidance." He finally eats the goodberry for maximum effectiveness.
As they make camp, Finlogan gets near Aldelenna. Making eye contact and sly grin, he starts to unpack and slowly make camp, showing her how to prepare her bedroll and gear without verbal instruction, so she can follow along. He doesn't want to instruct her like a student, but he wants her to be comfortable during the night under the stars.
Cole and Fin fall into a regular routine of gathering wood, establishing a perimeter and setting up camp.
Cole uses this as a teaching moment for Rankev and Aldelenna. He drmonstrates with Fin's assistance the proper way to set up thd camp, and expands on Venssa's instruction concerning thd appropriate location.
We will need to set up a watch in shifts as well. I'll be takin' a shift. We need at least two other volunteers.
Finlogan focuses on Aldelenna and lets Cole teach Rankev.
When Cole mentions, Fin replies, "I can take a night watch." Cole understood that Fin's darkvision gave him an advantage then.
"I will watch during the morning. I would not want those not use to this to suffer unnecessarily. They will need their strength for the next part of the journey."
She eyes the others as if judging if they will even survive the night...
Venssa's predictions for the weather prove accurate, and before evening flurries have started. It's a dry snow, small flakes that melt quickly and do not stick, and yet it reinforces the winter winds and the cold.
You've found a nice sheltered space, surrounded by thicket on three sides, providing shelter from the wind. The ground is level and at least you won't need to sleep on rocks.
As you settle in and make camp, the winds pick up again. Even with the sheltered sides, it's colder than you expected.
Cole takes the first watch, and after 2-3 hours, wakes Fin, and immediately falls into a deep slumber.
As you settle into camp and Cole starts the fire, the sounds of day give way to the more haunting sounds of night. The hooting of owls, the distant howl of a wolf...
These are ordinary sounds for the wood, but to Aldelenna and Rankev they are stark reminders that they are far from the comforts of Kassen.
Cole... perhaps it's just the distraction of civilians, or the presence of young lady. Perhaps the cold has chilled you just a bit too much, but your eyes struggle to adjust to the light of the fire, and there is too much inky blackness in the night.
As she readies for bed, Venssa listens to the sounds of the night...and something does not seem right. After a few moments she finally figures it out.
"Fin, the wolves! They should not be this far from their own territory. The old bear by the lake usually keeps they away from this area...so why are they hunting this close...it is not natural. Be wary!"
At Venssa's warning, Finlogan peers out into the darkness and actively listens for how close the wolves are.
He removes his hunting trap from his backpack and sets it on the left side of the entrance of the thicket leaving room to bypass it on the right. The half-elf stakes it to the ground, in order to pin its quarry to the spot. Then, he camouflages the trap.
When this is done, he quietly whispers to his traveling companions, "if we have to retreat, before my trap is sprung, stay on the right side to retreat for our camp. Remember Retreat on the Right side." The Ranger emphasizes the aRs. Arnama had taught him to create a simple way to remember where is trap was hidden. He hoped his traveling companions could remember.
"Otherwise, if we have to defend our camp, Cole and I will block the entrance. Everyone else stays back and ensure nothing gets through those thickets." He readies his longsword and shield for easy reach and settles in to rest.
Cole draws his battle axe, and he stands shoulder to shoulder with Fin.
There are a few howls, too close, and then an ominous sickening silence. You wait, Cole and Fin shoulder to shoulder, and then there is a rush of dark black and gray, barely visible in the dark until it reaches the scant light of the fire.
A sickening snap and a piteous howl tell the truth of Finlogan's skills—his trap has struck!
Four wolves rush at you. These are lean, growling creatures of the wild. Their teeth are white, sharp, and snapping fiercely. Fin's trap has caught one tight by it's rear leg, and it howl's and struggles, pulling at the trap on its chain. Blood, almost black in the darkness, runs down the lighter fur of its leg and it howls again, pained, and turns furious yellow eyes on the party, pulling harder.
Initiative roles:
Current turn: Rankev
It pays to be prepared! With timely warning from Venssa and Fin's quick thinking trap, the wolves streak like gray blurs into camp, only to find you ready for them. One is struck immediately by Fin's trap, whinging horrifically into the night as it pulls against the hard iron jaws of the trap.
Rankev, the sorcerer that had only days before been dressed in finery, is now only in simple homespun clothes. But as the wolves surge into the clearing, you think he must have a healthy survival instinct, as he immediately begins muttering in an arcane tongue.
Rankev's fingers twist and twirl and spin and then as casually as he might order a wine glass from a servant he tosses a mote of fire at one of the clearly visible wolves that have rushed Cole and Fin.
Rankev's bolt strikes true, the bolt of fire darting across the clearing to strike one of the wolves solidly in the side. There's a flare as fur is singed and burned away, and then an audible sound of flesh sizzling. The wolf screams in a horrid combination of a howl and a yelp as magic burns away at its insides. Its eyes grow dull and it looks up and Fin, bares its teeth and growls, deep in its belly.
Current turn: Finlogan
Finlogan grins when his trap hits and then wildly smiles when Rankev's fire bolt sizzles the wolf. The half-elf is pleasantly surprised at the Vardigan's usefulness. But, Venssa's teachings of animal behavior scream in his mind when the wounded wolf does not flee. What is going on?
Comfortable in his shield wall with Cole, Finlogan swings at the cooked wolf hoping to put it down. He connects and slices into its shoulder spraying red blood.
Finlogan's sword connects and hits the consistency of cooked meat rather than the expected toughness of muscle and bone. He slices deep, and as his sword rips through the flesh on its exit, the cooked wolf falls still.
Finlogan has no time to celebrate his strike, as a snapped jaw from a wolf reminds him that there are still two ready to pull him apart, and one yet yowling as it pulls at the trap.
Current turn: Cole
Cole attacks the closest wolf before him with his Battleaxe.
Cole's strike is clean and sure. He's uncertain how to feel about that, as he is covered with gore as he neatly cleaves the head of one of the wolves clean off as it leaps at him.
Current turn: Venssa
Making camp with the threat of cold was both exhilarating and tense, but Finlogan's careful showmanship helped her feel more at ease. That she made her bedroll lie right next to his was meant to be her indicator of appreciation, and also an indicator to the rest of the group where the majority of her affections now rest. Being awoken mid-night by her wary companions was much more frightening than exhilarating, though. Yet, this is what you wanted. This is why you wanted to be one of the chosen so badly. You cannot shy away from conflict, simply use what you are capable of to help. She tells herself.
Seeing Fin's trap, Rankev's magic, and Cole's blade even the odds, Aldelenna already feels more sure, confident, ready. Seeing the thin and hungry nature of the wolves, she decides perhaps giving them the illusion of an easier meal would be better than anything else she can do. She pulls her ready dulcimer from the strap at her side, and plucks the quiet chords of magic that call together illusory sound. Her Minor Illusion spell creates the sound of a wounded deer, just on the edge outer edge of their campsite's thicket of bramble.
Quickly casting a spell to strengthen her staff and enchant it, Venssa moves forward and swings at one of the remaining wolves.
Attack:
Damage:
Venssa strikes at the wolf , using her small wooden staff, but as its comrades have fallen, it has grown more frenetic in its movements, snapping and biting, and Venssa is unable to get a solid strike in.
The trapped wolf pulls at the length of chain, desperate to escape from the bloody steel jaws that Fin has it trapped within.
Despite its struggles, all it manages to do is tear the flesh of its leg worse. It growls and howls in pain.
The wolf in front of Fin and Cole leaps savagely at Finlogan, snapping its jaws at Fin's legs.
It's jaws close on Fin's leg just as he pulls his leg away. It tears at the padding, and Fin feels the pressure of sharp teeth, but he yanks his leg away—barely in time.
Round 1 ENDS
Round 2 Current turn: Rankev
Current turn: Group 1
already acted: no one
still to act: Rankev, Finlogan, Cole, Venssa, Aldelenna
Venssa again tries to strike the wolf attacking Cole and Fin
Attack:
Damage:
Cole attacks the wolf before him and Fin with his Battleaxe. In the event it was killed by Venssa's attack, then I will slidd to the trapped wolf to put it out of its misery.
Venssa murmurs a few prayers over her walking stick and strikes at the wolf. It's a solid blow, right where the creature's neck meets its skull. It falls, twitches, and grows still.
Cole wastes no time stepping forward. As injured as it is, the last wolf stands little chance of survival, and it has only made that worse pulling at the injured leg in the trap. Starving and bleeding, Cole does the only thing he can do, striking sure to put the beast out of its misery.
The sounds of combat give way to the hooting of an owl, and the whisper of rustling leaves in frozen wind.
The attack is over. As your adrenaline fades, the cold of winter rushes over you, as though stronger, and fine flakes of drifting snow float through the scant canopy of mostly leafless trees, reminding you that winter is too close.
Your clothes smell of the stink of death, and blood, and Fin and Cole are both too well aware that you have little time before the corpses begin their decay and bring worse predators your way.
"Well that was all disturbing and frightening. Thank you all so much for your protection!" Aldelenna says as she mentally dismisses her failed illusory sound, and gathers her cloak tight about her to fend off the frigid wind. She looks to Fin and asks, What's the best thing to do with the corpses? Bury them?" Then, thinking a moment, she says, "If you're capable, you should skin them, a good wolf pelt is worth a decent amount of coin to the right buyer." She then looks to Rankev, smiles, and says, "You'd look fairly regal, I daresay, wearing a nice wolf-pelt cloak."
Venssa looks at Aldelenna in disbelief.
"Skin them...are you daft? These poor sick creatures have hardly any pelt left on them. They were starving, and that is why they attacked us. Their fur is falling off in clumps and is good for nothing, poor creatures. We should drag them off a ways from the camp, no sense in burying they, scavengers will only dig them up again. Speaking of which, get that blood cleaned up as well..else we will have more beast visiting us tonight."
Venssa seems to come alive and most certainly seems to be in her element.
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Rankev executes a high, formal bow at Aldelenna. "Indeed! Then I could call myself Master of the Hunt!
Truly, Venssa?" Rankev asks, looking hurt. "Is there naught to salvage on any of them? Not even a single wolf steak? I've heard it can be frightful stringy, but I've ever had curiosity to try one.
Cole, you are a man of the woods. Given enough time, is there aught that could be salvaged from thine kills, of either meat or pelt?
If you require it, I could have my servants build the fire high, to ward off scavengers and give you room to work by!"
Rankev looks the bodies over, and gives helpful advice in their evaluation.
Rankev, it's more important to clean up the mess and get some rest. I will move the carcasses away from camp and wash the blood off in the stream. The rest could help by bringing water to the camp to wash away the blood on the ground and clean up in the stream after.
Cole nods to Venssa and begins to drag the dead wolves away.
Venssa rakes her glare of contempt towards Rankev.
"If you are looking for a a good way to poison yourself, then please go ahead and take some of this animal's meat. "
She wanders off to help clean the blood from the area as much as possible and to speak with some of the local fauna to see if they might have more insight on the actions of these wolves.
You hadn't actually started the long rest so you should be fine.
Finlogan nods and replies to Adlelenna after Venssa, "we should drag to corpses into the woods away from our camp and water. And the pelts and steaks are not worth the trouble. Venssa's goodberries will sustain us, and wolf meat is not so great, even when fattened. Needs lots of roasting and good sauces."
The half-elf cleans his blade on some matted fur before sheathing it and then retrieves his hunting trap. He scraps the gore from it with dry leaves and sticks and secures it to his backpack.
Following Cole's comments, Finlogan suggests, "Let's be careful with the water. Don't get wetter than you can dry off, because damp clothes will sap the warmth from you."
After Rankev's last comment, there appears to be a lull in the back and forth, "Cole, you still got first watch? I've second. Venssa, third. Everyone else, please get some rest, because we've a got a long walk tomorrow, and we'll need our energy."
He gets comfortable on his bedroll and then clears his throat. "Good job everyone. That was dangerous, and no one was injured. Even Arnama would have been proud of us. G'night."
For Cole, the watch is hardest. In the aftermath of the attack, its hard not to be overly vigilant, and yet the fire still lights only so far. Every noise of the wild is heightened, and when Fin finally nudges him, gesturing silently to the comfort of a bedroll, Cole is glad for it.
The night is frigid, but the drifting flakes have mostly stopped. Finlogan scans the wood in the scattered pattern Arnama taught. Section by section in a seemingly random order, so that a spy watching might be caught unawares.
It was hard not to wonder how Arnama became quite so paranoid. But Fin's watch, too, passes without incident, and Venssa takes his place, sitting upon a nicely rounded stone as though it was a cozy chair in her den. Actually, having sat in her burrow, it wasn't a bad analogy.
Living in the wild left Venssa no stranger to the cold, and when the fire died down to embers, Venssa let it die. The embers were still warm enough, and cold embers were safer to bury for her friends in the wood than hot ones. For Venssa the night was not less lonely than the day. Already the small beasts of the wood were awake, and what need had she to watch, when they were there to warn her?
Instead, comforted by the many tiny voices of friends, Venssa watched until the morning.
She looked at the sky as light fought against clouds at the horizon. It would be warmer today, but the rain would come, and that would make it seem so very cold. They would need to make good time. If they could reach this crypt, they might at least dry off and have warmth by a fire with proper shelter.
Slowly, the folk of Kassen began to wake. Would she ever be comfortable among them?
The bird to whom she posed the question seemed confused, and then flew off.
You wake and the lingering smell is not too bad. Cole caught the worst of the gore though, and even some light washing in the stream was not enough to keep him from starting to smell.
The sky is ominous this morning, and the wind whips through the camp, but the cold is not so bitter as yesterday.
Cole and Venssa both seem confident that the Gray Lake is close, perhaps only a couple more hours from camp. From there the entry to the Crypt is an easy march, you might reach it as early as mid-afternoon.
Rankev's servants busily munch on their rations, even as they take turns cleaning up first their own gear, and once he's awake, Rankev's gear as well.
It's impossible to completely erase the blood soaked spot where Cole severed the head of the wolf attacking him, but now that daylight is available to assist, Cole and Finlogan complete a cleanup of the battle at camp automatically, without even discussing it.
The sun slowly begins to rise in the sky, fighting an ominous bank of clouds.
"We must hurry or you will be caught in the rain. The lake is close, and beyond that your crypt, but let us make haste...we can eat while we walk."
The gnome, having no equipment to speak of, tries to hurry the party along.
Cole continues to lead on with Venssa.
From her position near the rear of their line, one hand on her loaded crossbow, Aldelenna, with zero formal wilderness training whatsoever, sucks the tip of her index finger and holds it up to the breeze, feeling the direction and force of the wind. "Yeah, it's definitely going to rain... Perhaps we should quick march? I'd rather not be caught without shelter in a downpour." She takes a look at her now filthy, once-white, cotton blouse, and realizes, if it rains, the garment will be darn near transparent, and showing her goodies to all three of these gentleman at once is quite a bit more than she bargained for. She turns and looks at Fin and says, "Remind me to buy a nice leather coat as soon as possible. This cloak is decent, but I'm realizing traveling requires some heavier weather gear."
Perception:
Survival:
Looking at the woman, she mutters in gnomish.
"Hullu nainen, kerroin vain, että se satoi ja että meidän pitäisi kiirehtiä. Bah, toivon, että hän on enemmän apua, kun pääsemme tähän kirottuun hautaan, kuin hän on ollut toistaiseksi! Mitä Fin näkee hänessä ... hyvin, muuten kuin hän on kaunis ... ja pitkä ... ja haistaa kivaa ... gah! Mitä mahdollisuuksia minulla on!"
"Silly woman, I just told them it was going to rain and that we should hurry. Bah, I hope she is more help once we get to this cursed tomb than she has been so far! What does Fin see in her...well, other than she is beautiful...and tall...and smell nice...gah! What chance do I hold against that!"
Walking on, looking a little sad, Venssa picks the best path to get them to the lake in the swiftest manner.
The trees begin, gradually, to thin, and the ground is covered with a light covering of grass, lush as though it has missed the message that winter is upon you. The grass spreads into a clearing, massive, leading almost to the shore of a wide, calm lake, reflecting the roiling gray of the cloud cover. A heavy fog lingers over the center of the lake, and you cannot make out the far shore.
A dark, cloaked form lies near the water.
Cole approaches to dark form cautiously while drawing his Batyleaxe.