"You're welcome, Gabe", Aneira quietly replies.
Looking to Beck for direction as to which way they should proceed, Anee will attempt to aid him or any other who is leading the way forward.
"You're welcome, Gabe", Aneira quietly replies.
Gabryjel nods his thanks at Aneira.
"Yep, it's the little things that do you up right," he says with satisfaction.
"That tea set me up real proper-like; my thanks Miss Whitestorm," he says, saluting her with his tin cup.
"Say, next time we get into town, we may want to pick up some supplies like this. Tea's tasty, but coffee will keep just as good, and it keeps us awake a bit when we're worn out," he says taking another hot gulp.
He glances back at the travois, thinking a bit.
"I reckon we got a good haul on the gear there, but I don't figure the town'll have much cash on hand to pay us; but I'd wager that they'd be pretty eager to do some ol' fashioned bartering - arms for food ain't bad, and with it being summer back in town, they likely got plenty of food and supplies."
Gabryjel will stand up and stretch a bit, then gathers the reigns to the horse, ready to follow.
In this instance he knows his place and will simply stay at the rear of the party with the horse, bow in hand and ready to lead the horse.
"We gots a few more hours daylight where we can keep movin, cover some more ground. Anee, thanks for the help." Beck says as they ready to set off.
"Oye Gaby, can i borrow yer kit a Li'l so as ta keep us on track better? May help, what as i aint' got that kind o' all book knowings o that hash." That way i can get the MWK tool bonus.
Fort Saves for the next 4 hours for Beck, if we travel
w/ scent.
Beck's Survival for tracking +2 for Aid from anee, and +2 for the survival kit if Gabe says it's cool = 22
"Oye Gaby, can i borrow yer kit a Li'l so as ta keep us on track better? May help, what as i aint' got that kind o' all book knowings o that hash."
Gabryjel looks up suddenly from the horse.
”Oh there ain’t nothing to it, Beck,” he says, dropping the formal “mister” to Beck, as he relates fairly well to the youthful Tiefling.
He passes up the small leather-bound journal with the various notes.
”Just scan it a few moments; all the terrain stuff is marked in the beginning by page…” he thumbs quickly through the book to the section mentioning “artic terrain”, than hands it back to Beck.
”See here – it gives some neat things to keep an eye out for when we’re walking. Like here,” he says pointing to a small section.
”It says if you don’t want to be tracked easy it’s best to walk single file, to hide your numbers in the snow… Hmm…” he says for a moment, his eyes narrowing.
”Says here also, if it’s really bad weather we ought to have a rope tied between us all. That way, if we can’t see too well and the pointman is trecking along and he falls into a snow drift or ice, he’ll not drown or nothing; plus, the folks in the back won’t miss the folks in the front on account of it being dark and maybe separating by accident...”
”It also suggests that on darker nights the pointman should think about carrying a ten foot pole, so he can use it to test the snow in front for drifts… and if the snow is on top of something like a frozen pond, the pointman can find that out with the pole instead of just stepping onto ice,” he adds thoughtfully.
He glances up at Beck.
”That could also be handy if there’s more traps out there,” he says.
Looking at the others, he clears his throat nervously and hands over the book to Beck.
”Anyhow, it’s all in here,” he says quickly, then moves back to the rear of the line again.
Gabryjel watches the other for a moment, noting that Beck has the journal and it will help him with the journey.
He glances down the line for a moment.
"Say, if it's going to be tricky to see, if someone can cast a "Light" spell on my arrow, my first shot will light things up so I can see what I'm shooting at for all the rest of my shots," he says to the others while he fidgets by the horse.
"If you did the same for Mister Whitestorm's arrow, it'd mean we'd have two lights to see better with. 'Course, that'll make it easier to spot us - but after two hours of getting warm by a campfire and battle to boot, I reckon maybe stealth ain't the real worry at this point," he says glancing around at the others.
"Well.. anyhow, that's just a suggestion," he says after a bit, quickly turning back to the horse and busying himself with tightening the reigns and other gear so it doesn't slip.
"Ya'll just let me know when you're ready to head out; I'm good to go," he says from his place in the rear.
The gnome is ready to go, and will put his keen senses to work. It's clear he doesn't wish to be seen as weak link.
You all begin to trudge through the snow again. If it wasn't for the dire circumstances, it would be quite a beautiful sight. Sounds all seem muffled by the snow and the forest contains a level of tranquility that would put your heart at ease were it not for the sinister feeling of wrongness that accompanies it.
After traveling for about an hour, you come across a narrow game trail which winds its way between the trees. Looking closer you see underlying hoof prints from a large deer or elk crossing back and forth. After a few moments of looking, a pure white elk comes walking slowly out of the trees. He looks at you closely and says Why have you come into this forest?
Xanxan bows before the elk, after all, it has a crown, even if it is made of antlers "Pardon, Lord Elk, if we are intruding. I'm Xanxan Gimblewabe, and these are my friends. We're here to rescue a noblewoman and any one else in her group that might have survived. She's in terrible danger, melord Elk. We're also curious on how everything got so cold all the sudden. The snow is lovely, but the cold with it is like nothing I've ever experienced in my life."
Variel keeps a look out for any surprises while his wife and the rest of the more diplomatic do the talking. He keeps his eyes open and looking at the trees for more evil fey. This is especially true considering the narrow confines of the game trail and the closeness of the trees. If able, he will step off the path to look better into the forest around him but not if such an action scares the elk or angers it.
Perception
Aneira moved quietly forward (her weapon now lowered and by her side) as Xan spoke first to the Great White Elk.
When Xan had finished his introduction, she respectfully bowed before the noble white elk, before adding her own courteous words to those of Xan's, "Well met, Lord Elk. My name is Aneira Whitestorm. My companion, Mister Gimblewade, has spoken the truth of our presence in your forest. We were notified of a missing noblewoman and her attendants in these parts, and of heavy snows and ice. Their carriage was attacked and there was no sign of her to be had. During our own journey through the woods, we were also attacked, by Undead creatures and Winter-touched Atomie. We are curious and concerned by such unusual events at this time of year. We, duty-bound travellers, seek to peacefully pass, and, we would be grateful for your consent and guidance, if you would honour us with such."
"Say, if it's going to be tricky to see, if someone can cast a "Light" spell on my arrow, my first shot will light things up so I can see what I'm shooting at for all the rest of my shots," he says to the others while he fidgets by the horse.
Aneira moves to Gabe and touching his arrow, quietly speaks the ancient words and casts Light on it. Variel was alright for now, for he had his low-light vision that Gabe did not. Aneira was practical enough to work from priority.
The elk continues and says How did you plan on accomplishing such a daring feat?
Gabryjel watches thing unfold from the back of the crew.
He looks at the elk with real wonder and something akin to awe.
They say the Woodsman has many guises; some say he sometimes garbs himself as a Stag… but hang on a minute… this is an Elk; what the heck does that mean?
With no real knowledge of what this may mean, he merely lifts his knocked arrow into the ready position and casually aims it the elk, just in case.
Great, probably piss it off and ruin our chances, but what else can I do? I’m no good with words…
** spoiler omitted **
"Thanks Miss Whitestorm; that's darn right decent of you," he says with a friendly nod.
He looks over at Variel, his eyes flicking over the rest of the group.
"It's easy enough for elf-folk to see good in the dark; but snow's not really the same thing. Besides, even in the best circumstances they only see about maybe thirty feet farther than most of us men-folk types," he says, his fingers absently twisting in his hair as he frowns at the others.
"You'd think someone else may want to be a better shot and all, too - but hey; I can't make folk do what they don't want to do," he says with a shrug.
"Anyhow, thanks again," he says with nod, then moves back to the rear of the line.
Aneira was disturbed by what she had noticed: the elk's lips were not moving as he spoke. She slowly lifted her free hand to stay her companions from drawing any closer, hoping to protect them even in her current state of silence. She turned her head sideways for a second and looked at Variel, mouthing "Not right" (in Elven), hoping he could read her lips well enough by now.
Aneira 'casually' walked a few steps sideways (at a distance from the creature) to get a better look around the elk, to determine who may be speaking through him or near to him. Could this be the handy work of the evil Fey? Or some kind of magic?
Aneira politely smiled and continued, hoping to bide time to uncover what was going on.
"My Lord Elk, for now, we will take it as it comes, for we have yet to understand the forces at play. The great Erastil leads our path. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary in the forest? And, please excuse my boldness, but I am most curious, why do your lips not move when you speak?"
Her hand holds the crossbow more resolutely by her side, in case, she must swing it up and use it to protect herself.
Catching the tenseness in Aneira, Variel posture changes instantly. Instead of looking at the woods and possible threats from their, he focuses on the elk more acutely.
Sense motive
Perception
Know local rumors of talking elk in the woods?
Even if he can not make out the wrongness that Aneira feels, Variel will walk back next to her, hand resting on his rapier in a relaxed manner.
Inwardly, Aneira gave a quick sigh of relief, that Variel had understood her non-verbalised concern. Now, that her husband had moved and was standing beside her, she felt more at ease for she had faith in his protection and skill.
Aneira waited with a practised serene expression on her face for the white elk to answer her questions.
As he is closer now to a possible direct threat, Variel unloads the crossbow and slings it over his back. Hopefully the elk will takes this as a sign that nothing is amiss and is in fact a good thing as there is no sense of alarm. In fact Variel is freeing both hands to cast spells and attack with the rapier if he has to.
Once done with the crossbow, Variel will gently put his hand on Aneira's shoulder lending her his support and comfort.
Xanxan seems in awe of the talking Elk. He'd never seen one before after all all.
Beck chuckles and adds, "We shattered that undead abomination afore it even had a chance ta move, and dealt with them Atomie easy enough. AInt' much worried about our chances, and we'll handle anything what we find here," spinning his cudgle casually (he'd been using it as a walking stick)
to ascertain what the deal is with htis Elk, and why Anee is so concerned aside from the obvious reasons
Gabryjel watches the scene unfold for a while, saying nothing.
He leans forward a bit, his bow still ready.
”What do you make of this, Miss Venja?” he asks tentatively.
’You got some knowing on the ways of the wild; any ideas?” he says to her, continuing to watch the others grouped around the elk.
Variel recalls that there were rumors flying around of a stag that could talk and trick hunters into following false trails. This is not confirmed however as no one has actually seen the stag talk.
Beck, the elk seems like a normal elk but appears to have the gift of speech. Perhaps an awakened elk or a companion at one time would explain the phenomenon.
Aneira, you think you managed to quell the "elk's" suspicions with your smooth talk but at the last second you sense a hostility overcoming your diplomatic means. As such you are able to act in the surprise round.
Aneira
Variel
Beck
Gabe
Venja
XanXan
C1
C2
The elk looks ready to charge you Aneira and you have no real idea of where the hostile presence is. Your action in the surprise round, then the foes surprise round, then the group is up for round 1.
Surprise Round
Aneira was confounded by the mixed signals and feelings she was receiving from the White Elk. Could someone be controlling it? She did not know. It looked like it was going to charge her and she decided to slow it down by wounding it. If it proved to be innocent, she would attempt to heal it later. Erastil forgive me if I am wrong.
Lifting her loaded crossbow (it was readied earlier before they came across the Elk), she decides to fight defensively (as a standard action) and fires at the Elk, hoping she isn't making a mistake in attacking the creature at the expense of the true culprit/s.
The crossbow thuds into the elk puncturing a sizable hole near the lung. The wound is great but not enougr to drop the elk. In retaliation the elk charges you missing you with it great horns by a mere inch. Behind the elk where it was moments before, a fey appears casting a spell at Variel. The weapon the Variel has his hand on starts to shrink noticeably before Variel masters control of it and it snaps back into its correct size.
** spoiler omitted **
Beck shouts back, "Shoot the Fey!" as it is at range, he then takes a swing at the Elk.
Assuming we are still in single file, Beck uses his his move to approach the elk and get to one side, taking his cudgle in both hands and slamming it down hard
for
and Sheelah slinks around to the other side of her prey and takes a bite of it
+2 flank -1 Power Atack
for
Beck
Move approach Elk to force Sheelah to flank
Standard: hit it
Free: trivial check for Attack command
Sheelah
Move: approach elk
Standard: bite with PA and a flank.
Gabryjel will knock a Cold Iron arrow and shoot the flying Fey.
The combined efforts of Beck and Sheelah bring down the towering elk. It lays on the ground twitching as its life blood pools out. The hot blood melting the snow with a hiss.
Seeing his wife safe for the moment with the elk down, Variel draws his rapier and moves up next to the fey threatening it. Thank you Beck for helping protect my wife's life. I will not forget this.
standard to draw weapon
move 15 ft through difficult terrain next to fey.
Xanxan eyes the nearest foe, and fires out of a snowbank, popping out like a well dressed field mouse
Between the arrow and the bolt piercing the body of the fey, if falls to the ground. Before its last breath expires you all can here it say, You may have won now, cough, blood splatter, cough but nothing you do is going to prevent the eternal winter from coming upon you. gasp, cough gurgle I will be avenged by my brethren.
"Can we save the Elk? Sure, he attacked, but he TALKS!"
"Anee, was it the Elk what was talkin, or you think it were some spell o' the Fey creature?" Beck asks, taking a look at the dead fey creature attempting to determine it's species.
"Anybody else know what this thing is?" Beck asks the others
"Xan, from what I could see earlier, the Elk's lips were not moving as it spoke to me. That is when I grew worried something was wrong and asked it directly why it spoke in such a way. It did not answer me. But if it is alive, I would like to save such a magnificent creature."
Turning to Beck, "You have a particular sensitivity with animals, Beck, do you think you could attempt to calm it, so I may examine its wounds and perform a healing?" Finding Venja's eyes, "Venja, you care for our animals in Heldren, can you advise what you would do now?"
Aneira with soothing, gentle words, approaches the Elk cautiously so as to not spook it into charging again or injuring itself further.
"Lord Elk, please forgive me for wounding you during our battle with the evil Fey. If you can speak and would allow me, I would heal you before we continue on with our journey."
Aneira moves closer and waits for an answer, if any is forthcoming, hoping Beck and Venja are there beside her, aiding her.