Gabryjel moves over to the bandit captain with his ax.
"He's dead - or he will be," he says grimly.
Knowing some casters can Feign Death with vile sorcery, Gabryjel takes his ax and brains the fallen warrior.
Just before he strikes, he pauses a moment -
"Anyone got a problem with that?" he says in an almost rhetorical way.
Turning to Venja Variel gives her a tired smile. That sounds like a plan Venja and I thank you. But as Anee says, I am sure she will have me fixed up and ready in to time in the morning.
Taking Anee's hand Variel lets some some of the pain go away. Eyes twinkling at the idea of a nice warm bath, yes dear, once these bodies are disposed of I will come back and you can cleanse my wounds. Of course tht might have to wait as Venja suggests we still have to secure and search the rest of the lodge to make sure there are no other threats or problems here.
"I have checked his condition and the bandit leader is dead, Gabe."
Aneira takes the things she has found on his body, especially the unholy symbol, and moves them to the table to join any other things discovered on the bodies of the other bandits. She would see the unholy symbol destroyed for good. "Some one should burn the wooden unholy symbol as well", she says quietly to Gabeor any other companions close by.
She does show Xan the keys and alike.
"The others are capable of securing the lodge and Venja has offered to search upstairs. You can sit and rest after you are done hauling the bodies and burning them."
There is a tone now in Aneira's voice that Variel is familiar with it. She fears he will push himself too much or get injured anew.
Though Aneira has informed him that the bandit is dead; that does not deter Gabryjel from being sure in a more direct manner with his weapon.
After it is done, Gabryjel moves to stoop and scrape the pulped brains from his ax; wiping the brain matter on the clothes of the body. His boots move through the morass on the floor made up of the ooze that spilled from the eviscerated bowels which have tumbled out of bellies of the gutted bandits; their innards leaking putrid smelling rot and dung onto the floors.
The acrid smell of ozone from where the magical attacks that Variel had done crackled on the burnt flesh, and the bodies are peppered with holes and slashes still dripping with carmine.
He looks at the Whitestorms and shakes his head, than he moves to the half-orc with renewed energy.
”Oye – you know the score here, eh? There was a hostage we came to find; well, where’d you boss stash her?” he says in a somewhat blunt tone.
As he waits for an answer he turns to the others.
"Ya'll want to settle up with this one, I'll be going back outside and check on the horse and our gear. No knowing what happened to it during the ruckus.” he says.
”Than I’m taking a general sweep of the grounds outside, just to be sure,” he adds.
”Anyone coming with me?” he says to the others.
As he moves to the door, he pauses, as if thinking.
”It’s less than eight hours back to the town; but it’s less than an hour before nightfall.”
”We find this lass and sack out tonight like Miss Venja said, but tomorrow we fetch her back with all the gear we can – collect the bounty and sell the loot and we should be fine on coin for the next couple months. Though I reckon we’ll want to report what we found here to them back home so they know the score,” he says.
Venja you start searching the lodge and find that there is one door upstairs that is closed. Upon opening it you see a caged fey similar to the ones that ambushed the group in the woods earlier. When it sees you it starts begging for release. You have come to free me, Vrixx. Oh thank you for saving me from that nasty traitor of a man. Thank you oh so very much.
Bluff You get the feeling it is just trying to get you to free him so he can be off to warn others about you the dirty evil sniveling little swine that he is.
The cage has a padlock on it the same color as one of the keys downstairs. Also in the room with your detect magic up you find...
Rohkar has hidden three scrolls if lesser animate dead (2 HD) in this storeroom, as well as 2 doses greenblood oil and a small lockbox containing 37 pp, 220 gp, 270
sp, and a blue quartz "ice diamond" from lrrisen worth 150 gp that he took from Vrixx. Rohkar has also stockpiled three oils of magic weapon and 10 flasks of alchemist's fire
Gabe as you check on the horse and gear they both appear to be fine if a little cold and wet in the still falling snow.
Variel understand the tone and reason behind it from his wife. Smiling to ease the worry he nods. Ok after the bodies are done and if there are no more surprises I will submit to your ministrations. First let me haul some water into the tub and warm it at least so I can take a bath before you start in on me.
Responding to Gabe, watch it out there. That thing that Xanxan saw might still be there. It hasn't attack us at all yet it hasn't helped us either. Just be careful.
"No objections to making sure that one's dead, I can tell you."
He begins looking about and when the fae is discovered, he pauses and tilts his head.
You have come to free me, Vrixx. Oh thank you for saving me from that nasty traitor of a man. Thank you oh so very much.
Xanxan laughs, "And have you fly off and go squeal on us? I think not."
Gabe as you check on the horse and gear they both appear to be fine if a little cold and wet in the still falling snow.
To Gabe, Aneira quietly but tiredly says, "Tacey said earlier that she did not know where Rohkar had taken the Lady Argentea. She believed he had her secured on the upper floor."
Running a hand over the loose wisps of hair on her face, Anee continued, "I shall speak with Tacey again."
"Tacey, are there hiding places inside this lodge (or within the perimeter) where the lady could be kept prisoner? We must find her and I ask for your aid."
Responding to Gabe, watch it out there. That thing that Xanxan saw might still be there. It hasn't attack us at all yet it hasn't helped us either. Just be careful.
"Aye," he says with a brisk nod.
"Thanks," he adds after a pause, but his tone sincere.
He turns to Sheelah, Beck and Xanxan.
"Anyone want to come outside and give me some back-up or cover?" he adds to the others.
He pauses and thinks a moment; than retrieves two flasks of "Alchemist Fire" from whatever kit is closest - just in case the "blue ice monster" attacks.
To Gabe, Aneira quietly but tiredly says, "Tacey said earlier that she did not know where Rohkar had taken the Lady Argentea. She believed he had her secured on the upper floor."
"Sure she did; but maybe she wasn't telling the straight word on account of her boss was still alive and she was afraid of him coming for her if she gave things away. Now that he's dead; maybe she'll get her memory back," he says, speaking with a polite tone to Aneira, his eyes deliberately avoiding the half-orc.
There is a stable just south of the lodge that is fully stocked for horses.
Variel is bringing the zombies outsid and burning them away from the lodge to completely destroy them.
Tacey has given all the information she has on the bandits. Namely she just joined them and was forced to cook for them. She never saw a lady but heard talk of a hostage and kidnapping.
Loot listed already from bandits and Rohkar earlier.
With your search modifiers for passive checks you will find under the bear rug in the other room a trap door that Tacey knew nothing about.
Thanks Aneira and GM - I missed the post about the bandits earlier.
Gabryjel will caution Variel on burning bodies and point out that burning flesh stinks badly and smokes heavily, especially if it's damp. He suggests that a bright bonfire with lots of smoke which could be seen for many miles and possible draw unwanted attention from other bandits in the surrounding terrain - hence his own plan of destroying the heads and leaving them in the snow for now.
He will move the horse to the stables; take off its gear and give it a good rub-down and brush out any of the problems in its mane or hair in general. He'll make sure its properly fed and watered as well before he checks to see if it is warm.
After that he'll come back inside - I'm assuming that may take me a while to do; but it will give Gabryjel the chance to calm down from the fight and mellow out a bit.
If by that time the others haven't Taken 20 via Perception to search the whole building, than Gabryjel will do it than himself.
When/if the hostage is found, he'll go from there.
Venja nods in support of Xan's comment to the fae. "Sorry Vrixx, not gonna happen. However, if you prove yourself of value to us, who knows. What others of your kind lurk in the wilderness here?"
"Gabe, there is a hidden door under the bear rug in the other room. Maybe bring Xan, once he has returned from upstairs, with you and see what lies beneath."
She hands Gabe the set of 3 keys she had discovered on Rohkar's body during her search.
Xanxan nods to Venja, "I think I hear my name being called..."
Assuming Gabe and he check out the hidden door under the bear rug as Aneira suggests...
When Gabryjel gets back he looks at the others.
"Horse is taken care of; there's a stable out back and its fully stocked. We can move the gear pretty easy in the morning."
When he hears about a hidden door, his eyes widen and than narrow.
"Huh. I guess no one sweeps under the rugs much around here," he adds with a grunt.
Taking a breath he watches Xanxan check it for traps and go to work.
"Nice work, Gimblewade," he says sincerely to Xanxan.
He glances up at Variel and Aneira, and notices they are still wounded fairly heavily.
"Ya'll may want to step back or out of the way - trap or no, if we open that hatch and find another one of them Walker's in it, it'll likely hop and attack hard; it could be any of us that get's pinched; but I'm feeling pretty healthy now if you need someone to stand in front," he says with glance at the others.
Aneira watched as Xan worked on examining the door for traps and working the lock and Gabe stood nearby, ready to act if anything came out from under the floor.
Aneira had already begun backing away from the hatch to a suitable distance, guiding Variel by the hand, when Gabe mentioned they should move a safe distance away. She was well aware that neither of them could take another hit without succumbing, and she did not want that. She was grateful Gabe realised that, as well.
"Tacey, move back, too. Michael would be most upset with me if you were injured further." Once they were done with this task, Aneira would ask the group to permit Tacey to leave and join the other two free bandits camped for the night out in the snow. Tacey had aided them in fighting the Undead and deserved her freedom.
Reverting her attention to Gabe,
"We are safely away now, Gabe. Please be careful. Xan, you too."
Aneira watched keenly, hoping that it was only the Lady Argentea they found, alive, in the space below the floorboards.
After Gabryjel is finished with the horse, he comes inside; his face thoughtful.
When he gets inside, he studies the others, especially Tacey, for a while.
Than he moves over to Aneira.
”Sorry I was pissed earlier – all that crap got my blood up is all. Didn’t mean nothing by it,” he says to her with a polite nod.
He turns a glance toward the half-orc, studying her face intently.
Than he gestures to the gear that’s strewn on the floor that the others are collecting.
”We each get a cut of this haul, but I reckon you earned a cut, too. I’ll let the others figure out the particulars, though – but you did all right by me here, I’m satisfied and I ain’t got no trouble with you anymore.”
He nods at her, trying to communicate both thankfulness and foster some positive feelings.
”Anyhow, the thing is - you did good and I appreciate it,” he says to her seriously.
Than he moves about the business of helping the others get things organized and ordered.
"Nice work, Gimblewabe," he says sincerely to Xanxan.
"We are safely away now, Gabe. Please be careful. Xan, you too."
"Thank ye both, and I will..." He assures them.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Searching the rest of the lodge a chest is found that matches one of the keys on the key ring. The chest currently holds a gold ingot engraved with the Taldan royal seal (worth 50 gp), a spyglass stolen from a captain out of Cassomir, a silver lady's ring (worth 25 gp), three shards of tiger's eye gemstones taken from a Qadiran merchant (worth 10 gp each), a fine pair ofleather riding boots of elven make (worth 15 gp), a silver dagger with a hidden compartment in the hilt (Perception DC 20 to find) containing i dose of small centipede poison, and a leather portfolio containing several pieces of parchment, including a scroll of endure elements, two scrolls of magic weapon, and a scroll of unseen servant.
They acknowledges the offer from Aneira and gives that funny smile and blush. If thatis the case then I can be there before nightfall. Good luck to you. She heads to her room unlocks a chest, grabs her gear and heads out before anyone else has a chance to stop her.
----------------------------
Vrixx looks at you all and starts foaming at the mouth. Never will I tell on my master. They will find you and suck the marrow from your bones. They will feast on your flesh.
---------------------------
Xanxan looks the door over and does not find any traps. Even without the use of the key he is able to bypass the lock and open the door. Inside is a cellar filled with boxes and crates. Huddled in one corner is Lady Argentea asleep.
Also need everyone to make a fort save against disease.
Variel
. Huddled in one corner is Lady Argentea asleep.
Xanxan smiles and nudges the woman lightly. "Pardon, I would wake the fair lady with a kiss, but you might find that rude."
Never will I tell on my master. They will find you and suck the marrow from your bones. They will feast on your flesh.
Gabryjel looks at the creature with flat eyes.
"Does anyone give a damn if I just kill him now?" he asks the general room.
Unless anyone has a problem with that; he will literally just kill the creature flat-out.
If anyone disagrees, he'll shrug and leave it to them.
Xanxan looks the door over and does not find any traps. Even without the use of the key he is able to bypass the lock and open the door. Inside is a cellar filled with boxes and crates. Huddled in one corner is Lady Argentea asleep.
Meanwhile....
Gabryjel gets to the bottom of the room and sees the resting form of the hostage.
He bends down to the woman and sees that she's asleep and not dead, relaxing a bit.
Seeing that she's asleep, he grabs a blanket and throws it over her, nudging her gently awake.
"Evening ma'am - Name's Kazimierz; former Scout of the Taldan infantry - we're here to rescue you," he says in a polite voice, than glances up at the hatch above him.
"Medic!" he calls out, hoping that one of his comrades can give the lady a better once-over than he can.
Aneira gave a polite nod of her head to Gabe upon his return and apology. In soft voice she replied, "I understand, Gabe. Thank you for the apology. I hope the fresh air outside helped to calm your elevated spirits."
When Tacey took up the offer to leave and join Michael and Slim Jon who were camped 15 minutes down the road, Aneira assented with a nod, wishing her good luck, and if the half-orc did take some of the gold with her, she would have agreed to a cut.
When Gabe offered to investigate the cellar and asked for a light, Aneira carefully and slowly moved forward (due to her injuries) and cast on his weapon so he could see in the darkness below.
When Gabe shouted up for a healer, and the group's other healer, Venja, was otherwise occupied examining the upper floor, Aneira moved forward again and called out to Gabe, "Please being the Lady Argentea out, Gabe, for I cannot get down there easily at present and I shall examine her. If I require another medical opinion, I shall call Venja down for assistance."
Aneira readied her healing kit in case it was needed to clean and bandage any injuries she discovered on the lady.
If necessary, Aneira will softly speak calming words to the lady, hoping to sway any reservations or fears she has of them and their purpose in the lodge.
Following Aneira's request, Gabryjel will wait for the lady to get up and follow him up stairs. If she doesn't get up on her own, or if she cannot get up on her own, than he will grab her and carry her up with him to put her upstairs for Aneira to examine.
Venja comes downstairs and advises those present about he presence of Vrixx and his request, her denial and his rant.
Gabe and Xanxan approach Lady Argentea and carefully wake her up. In the glow of the light spell you can see she is disheveled and has had a rough go of it. She looks at you a moment and then realizes that you are not Rohkar nor dressed in the apparel of the bandits. Gaining her feet she looks steady enough to walk. I thank you for saving me but let us get out of here and into the light so I can see my rescuers better. Once up the stairs Aneira has a chance to check her health. At First Lady Argentea fusses for you to desist but then submits. Aneira you find that outside of needing a bath and some small scrapes and bruises she is in good health.
I am really unharmed and could have been much worse off then I was. It seems that Rohkar was afraid of hurting me as he referred to a Teb that wanted me for other reasons. Who this Teb is I don't know for sure. Rohkar was talking to this ice creature, Izoze I believe the name was, about orders from Teb. Something about keeping the portal open so reinforcements could arrive.
-------------------------------
Tacey barely hears the offer of splitting the goods as she doesn't want to be around you any longer than necessary. Besides, she knows a good deal when she sees it and taking her chance to leave before anything else happens or she is blamed outright for anything else.
-------------------------------
The door closed on Vrixx, Venja can still hear oaths and curses coming from the fey now shut in the dark. She heads downstairs in time to see Lady Argentea come out from the cellar. Hearing the news Gabe heads upstairs and opens the door on the fey with bow drawn ready to snuff out the life of the fey creature.
Seeing the lady is in need of a bath, the gnome bows, "Allow me, Lady Argenta." A flash of magic, and the lady and her clothes are clean as a whistle.
Venja cautions Gabe quietly as they pass each other. "Anee with her silver tongue and wise ways might be able to wrench information from the creature. Please don't slay it out of hand until someone better than I at diplomacy can approach him. He is well-contained and going nowhere for the time being."
Relieved that the Lady Argentea was safe and well with just some scratches and bruises, Aneira moved back to Variel's side as Xan cast his magic on the lady and her form and clothing were restored to pristine condition.
Noting that Venja had returned to the lower floor and advised them of the fey creature she had discovered and questioned above, Aneira listened intently and quietly contemplated on what they would do with the creature as letting him go was not an option and was glad that Venja was wise enough to have seen through Vrixx's lies.
To the group, she quietly enquired, "Would you like me to go upstairs to this Vrixx and question him some more this evening? I realise he is a crafty and cunning fellow, but it is perhaps worth another try? Venja would you join me again or has he vexed you enough with his ranting? Do you believe him dangerous? I cannot withstand another attack at this time, my friend."
To Gabe, she turned and asked softly, "And what of the ice fey in the tree Xan spotted earlier? Do you think it will give us trouble tonight?"
Aneira's thoughts were full with concern. She wanted to see to Variel's wounds before they retired for the night (and her own). But if her companions deemed it important to get information from the fey now, then she would do her best with Vrixx.
"He made no offensive action against me, so my guess is that he may not be capable without his little bow and arrows. But I will go with you if you wish. I'm not sure I can do anything to help, but I will try,"
Anee whispered something for Variel's ears only and then nodded to Venja, ready to climb the stairs to the imprisoned fey, leaving the Lady Argentea in the capable hands of the males in the party.
Upon instruction from Venja on where she had discovered the creature, Aneira collected herself and put a smile on her face. She opened the door and spied the cage with the fey who appeared similar to the ones who previously attacked them in the woods.
Aneira's voice was gentle and friendly, hoping to coax the creature into some compliance or some such (at least reduce his hostility toward them). She put a warm smile on her face and she drew a little closer to the cage, but not too close.
"Hello, Vrixx. I wonder if you would kind enough to answer some of my questions, for you seem like a clever fellow. We have heard that Izoze was awaiting on instruction from Teb in relation to keeping the portal open so reinforcements could come through. Can you tell us about this portal, where it is and how many are expected to come through?"
+2 = 29 (with Venja's aid)
+2 = 16 (with Venja's aid)
Venja attempts to assist Aneira with her diplomacy. "Please answer our questions, and perhaps we can discuss a future for you that does not include being caged."
Venja cautions Gabe quietly as they pass each other. "Anee with her silver tongue and wise ways might be able to wrench information from the creature. Please don't slay it out of hand until someone better than I at diplomacy can approach him. He is well-contained and going nowhere for the time being."
Gabryjel nods at Venja's words. He relents from slaying the Fey outright and turns away.
”Alright, I’ll let it live; but it better watch it’s mouth,” he says with a steely gaze toward the upper floors where the slavering creature is caged and raving, but he doesn’t go up there, instead he leaves the others to deal with it.
To Gabe, she turned and asked softly, "And what of the ice fey in the tree Xan spotted earlier? Do you think it will give us trouble tonight?"
He glances at the window a bit, as if thinking.
”I reckon it’ll be alright, I hope,” he says eventually.
”We dragged the bodies out and dealt with them; than I took the horse to the stables and took care of him, was out there for about an hour – than walked the perimeter and scouted it out for a bit – didn’t see nothing in all that time and the little thing didn’t do nothing to attack…”
Despite his brief words, his face suggested that he is thinking about that for some time.
Meanwhile Gabryjel moves about the room; he gathers up all the remaining gear and moves into it a heap and begins to package it into separate bundles; with armor and weapons in each bundle, easily ready to move and sell.
When this is done he moves to find the kitchen area and begins to take down various items and starts to prepare a hot meal for the company. During his time in the service he often did work making meals for the men in a company – he’s used to cooking large meals for a small company of soldiers.
As he works he looks over at the others.
”Right, we saved the hostage; killed the bandits, and pinched a lot of loot besides,” he says in a brisk voice.
”I reckon we sack out now and in the morning we need to head back home and tell the council-folk that there’s bandits up here. We can sell the findings in town and re-equip as needed if we got to head out again. We got knowledge of the terrain, we can help scout this place for others if we need to.”
He looks at the Lady who is in the room occasionally, but he doesn’t say much to her – if anything. He’s comfortable doing what he needs to get things done.
When the meal is finished he brings the food over and serves it to the others, the entire time he still seems to be thoughtful.
After the meal he pushes back his plate and gets up and moves outside quietly.
He stares into the darkness, trying to remember where the last place the ice creature was.
He moves as close as he can to this place, moving quietly.
He has in his hands a small bowl filled with steaming water and he watches it quickly frost on the edge of the bowl, ice crystals slowly stretching their fingers over the edge of the crockery as he sits there thinking.
He leaves the growing ice as an offering to the ice creature; he doesn’t know what they eat, but he knows that Fey enjoy offerings of food and drink to pacify them. As he waits to watch it crystallize, he sings softly – the song is about the air and sky; the heavens and wind and the snowfall of the frozen lands; of the mammoth lords and frost drakes; of griffon riders and castles in the clouds – tales of snow and frost and wind and ice to help pacify the creature if it can understand him.
Of course, he doesn’t expect that the creature can understand him, but he hopes the offering of fresh ice given and the tone of his voice will mellow the creature somewhat.
Despite his callous way with the Fey upstairs, Gabryjel honors and respects the Fey folk generally and doesn’t want to see them suffer if it can be helped. He hopes that his tone and offering will encourage the creature to leave them in peace – he doesn’t expect it to simply fly off, but he hopes that it will leave them in peace if he leaves it in peace.
lot has happened. I'll post in the morning with stuff...
Xanxan seems perfectly happy to chatter with the noble woman, "Your clothes are clean now, but I do think there might be a tear here and there. Let me know if you'd like and I'd mend them. Oh, if we were at my shop I could give you a new outfit proper. But listen to me go on, you must still be quite shaken with the loss of good folks, do forgive a rambling tailor."
I don't know Gabe wouldn't it be better to go together when all are ready in the morning? I am sure that Lady Argentea will want to go along back to Heldn and she would be safer if we all went. i appreciate your wanting to hurry along but lets not rush things.
As for tonight, do we need to set up a watch or should we just lock and bar the doors and have us all get a good nights sleep?
Vrixx smiles when the door opens again in the hopes that you will free him Aneira. However it quickly curdles when Venja shows up. You left me in here. You left me. How dare you do that. If Izoze found out about this she would freeze your blood and eat it for candy.
Turning back to Aneira with a different attitude altogether. Gone is the foaming at the mouth like it never happened. Free me please from this injustice. All I wanted was to come through the portal and enjoy the eternal winter spreading through this land. It will be a glorious day when that happens and we can enjoy it together.
---------------------
Gabe there is no sign of the creature that Xanxan mentioned earlier.
--------------------
Lady Argentea nods and thanks you Xanxan for the cleaning. indeed, once we return on the morrow I will need a suitable outfit to wear.