After healing Beck and being satisfied that Xan and Beck would be alright for the time being, Aneira picked up her pack and crossbow (putting the 3 bolts she retrieved into their quiver) and moved into her usual position toward the back of the line, ready to march forward.
With a resigned face Xanxan takes a last long look at the excellent fur of the weasel. Hitching his pack he moves to the front of the group and continues on the long trek through the snow. For 2 hours the group travels through the snow as it continues to fall around them. The amount of snow is becoming alarming as it is beginning to impede the party even more so. The temperature continues to fall requiring those that are not under and endure elements spell to make 2 more fort saves to resist the cold temperature at DC 17 and 18 respectively.
Soon thereafter the group reaches the summit of the range of hills. According to the map you should all be descending into the Somir Valley. At the point where the trail finishes it ascent is suppose to be a small clearing. Instead more than a dozen boulder sized chunks of ice litter the clearing ahead. Barely discernible through the driving snow and the boulders of ice a hut is seen in the background perched on tree trunks atop a raised mound of snow covered earth.
map, boulders are impassible, snow is still double cost unless you have an ability that negates it.
fort saves for Variel
DC 17
DC 18
Variel feels the weather start to creep in on him. If it wasn't for the warm clothing that they brought with them he would be suffering from frostbite and hypothermia right now. As it was he wasn't sure how much farther they should go before starting a fire and warming up for a bit. It was just after noon yet the weather was impossible to fight against in this situation.
Looks like that fellow was right about the hut as well. Gods rest his soul. Wonder about the rest of it though in his journal. Think there is any validity to his reaction to this place?
"There's no reason to suspect he lied or misstated anything until we know better. Caution is the order of the day, yes? Just in case..."
Despite her resistance to the cold, she pulls her shawl closer about her shoulders and tighter around her neck.
In soft voice, Aneira replied to her husband's question, "We have encountered some strange things since we left Heldren. I would not discount Dryden's reactions, as stated in the journal."
Gabryjel looks at the area for a bit, studying it as best as he can.
Wonder about the rest of it though in his journal. Think there is any validity to his reaction to this place?
He looks at Variel for a bit.
”Who knows. This whole thing stinks of sorcery. When magic’s involved it can mess with you, you know?”
”He may be balls-accurate on everything he saw, or maybe half of it’s all just witchery twisting his brain. Hell, I don’t know, I didn’t read it,” he says with a shrug.
He looks back to the hut, eyeing it suspiciously and wonders if there are more guards inside like the fortress they passed earlier.
”Anyhow, the point is – there’s a hut there. That said, I can move around and hug the trees and offer cover fire if you want to move in low and quiet,” he says looking steadily at Variel.
”I can go round the north side or hug the east side. If things look ugly; I’ll pick a place. You make a dash back toward where I’m standing and I’ll do what I can to put anyone down that’s chasing you and any who take point.”
"Or we move in two-by-two and offer in staggered intervals; melee in front, followed by ranged, followed by casters in the rear."
He looks at the snow fall.
"Pick your poison," he says eyeing the elf for a bit.
"I should probably sneak up and look for traps, don't you think? Magic may not be my forte, but I've still a better chance than most."
"I should probably sneak up and look for traps, don't you think? Magic may not be my forte, but I've still a better chance than most."
Gabryjel glances at the gnome.
"You do that, we may lose you in the snow," he says, but sincerely, not sarcastically.
He brushes off some snow from his hood.
"We seen plenty of magic so far with the gods damned snow. But I reckon that hut's just another outpost or basecamp, like the one we saw earlier."
"That said, the lads inside are more likely to have cold steel to back 'em rather than witchcraft."
"If they were Fey folk the snow wouldn't piss 'em off, so they wouldn't need a hut."
He glances at it again.
"That's made by men; so it's likely guarded by men. Anyhow, that's my guess," he adds.
"But if you go up, I'll back you; either with this," he says hefting his bow "Or these," he says gesturing to his sidearms hanging from his belt.
"But I ain't going to let you do that alone."
Both options sound good to me. Gabe you can still take the north path while Xanxan creeps forward looking for traps. Beck can accompany him using his survival abilities. I can hang back in the middle with Aneira to rush to either area where needed. Venja can hang in the back with us or proceed with Gabe as to not have him by himself. Of course this is only if you want to go forward as such.
Variel kicks a small mound of snow nearby stubbing his toe on a piece of ice buried there. Not used to such unusual cold weather his numbing toes barely feel it.
Gabrjyel turns from the area and listens to Variel a moment.
Both options sound good to me. Gabe you can still take the north path while Xanxan creeps forward looking for traps. Beck can accompany him using his survival abilities. I can hang back in the middle with Aneira to rush to either area where needed. Venja can hang in the back with us or proceed with Gabe as to not have him by himself. Of course this is only if you want to go forward as such.
He nods briskly.
”Sounds good to me.”
He glances around.
”I’ll take Miss Venja to that point there; if she's willing to come with me," he says gesturing through the snow toward the northern ridge.
”That place is big enough to house maybe four or five lads easy,” he says turning back to the whiteness and squinting at it.
”Don’t be a cowboy out there, you know? If things go south, break for the trees, we’ll offer over as you’re legging it, and we’ll come in hard if it gets real ugly.”
He claps Variel on the arm.
”Alright, as soon as you’re good to go, let’s do this,” he says to the elf.
The gnome nods, "This could take a bit, I suppose. Pardon." And he moves forward, trying to move as quietly as possible. Oddly, with the yeti cloak on, he at least can blend a bit better with the snow. He tries to use the boulders themselves as cover
Gabryjel drops a knee with his bow ready.
He looks across to Xanxan and watches him fairly disappear into the whiteness...
[ooc]Everyone gets a +2 to their survival check for the cold if they don't have a cold weather outfit, as that doesn't stack
Beck's save
Sheelah's Saves
So I guess Sheelah is fatiegued, not really any way around that. Var would i be able to get/make cold weather outfit for Sheelah so she gets the bigger bonus or no?
Beck moves to E:23 and gives the Defend command so she will protect Xanxan and she moves with him to F:24.
Aneira watches from her current position, hoping to spy anything out of the ordinary and call out a warning to those moving forward to scout and/or defend.
The group separates slightly with Gabe taking the northern approach with Venja. Beck and Xanxan start to move into and through the boulders of ice while Variel and Aneira stay back to offer assistance in either direction. As soon as Xanxan reaches the first ice boulder, the group sees a strange sight even through the driving snow. A little foreign girl is standing there. She appears to be shivering in the cold lsot and confused. Seeing you she lets out a squeal I'm sorry. Don't hurt me! I never meant to call you names! With that she appears ready to duck behind another boulder.
The gnome raises a brow to see if she's some sort of illusion, or a trick They are dealing with fae, and where there are fae, there are tricks and traps aplenty. Does she cast a proper shadow, does her voice cut through the wind unnaturally? All these and more are good questions to ask "My name is Xanxan Gimblewabe, who are you?"
The group separates slightly with Gabe taking the northern approach with Venja. Beck and Xanxan start to move into and through the boulders of ice while Variel and Aneira stay back to offer assistance in either direction. As soon as Xanxan reaches the first ice boulder, the group sees a strange sight even through the driving snow. A little foreign girl is standing there. She appears to be shivering in the cold lsot and confused. Seeing you she lets out a squeal I'm sorry. Don't hurt me! I never meant to call you names! With that she appears ready to duck behind another boulder.
Venja casts detect magic as she looks in the direction of the small child like figure... Hopefully she will come out from behind the rock so the spell will be effective on her...
Xanxan realizes his thought she was an illusion was way off and takes an apologetic tone, "I'm sorry if I scared you. I know I must look frightening in this outfit. Maybe I can help you?"
I'll leave the talking to you and delay my action till i see Aniera speak, as she's elegant and Beck looks like a satyr-reject
Aneira wonders why a little girl would be out in such heavy snow, alone.
Looking about the snow and ice boulders, as Xan speaks with the little girl, Aneira attempts to get a sense of the child and that of her honesty. Aneira is a little suspicious of the situation; knowing the Fey could be adept tricksters.
Calling out to the girl in a steady manner, "We mean you no harm, child. Where are your parents?"
Gabryjel will simply prep a "ready action".
If it looks like she's attacking, or will attack or tries to cast a spell, he'll shoot her.
Aneira you get none of the unease you would normally feel were this girl lying to you or trying to deceive you.
Venja your magic detection reveals that there is magic in the area south of you but it is too soon to tell exactly where from. It could be from the girl or from your own party members.
Gabe I see r readied action but as she is not taking any offensive actions I am continuing to have you hold.
----------------------
As Xanxan first speaks to the child the look of terror on her face is momentarily repressed as she answers the adult in front of her. My name is Thora Petska.. The terror immediately comes back as she fears she may have said something wrong to a stranger and hurries away to behind another ice boulder. (I,22)
Venja moves a bit closer, maybe 15 feet or so, placing herself hopefully safely between Beck and Variel, trying to determine where exactly the magic aura is coming from...concentrating on the area to the south of her.
"Very nice to meet you, Thora," but the girl is already scooting off. He looks to Aneira as if to say 'sorry, your turn'.
Aneira loaded a bolt into her crossbow (move action) and took a 5 ft step, to stand beside Variel (she's now @ D:26). Having seen Xan's look when the child ran off again, in low voice, she says to any close enough to hear, "In the journal, Dryden was beset by visions of a child. Then he saw the hut and the strange doll with the one blue eye and felt an unnatural chill and fled. I don't like this. I did not get a sense that Thora was lying, but we have been tricked before by the Fey. We should not draw too close."
That may be true but if she needs help then who are we to just stand here. It may be a trap or a trick, but I will not let that prevent me from helping the girl.. Variel will advance forward with Aneira and Xanxan if they so choose to move forward.
That may be true but if she needs help then who are we to just stand here. It may be a trap or a trick, but I will not let that prevent me from helping the girl..
Gabryjel hears Variel's words and sighs.
Hearing Aneira's comments about not trusting the child, Gabryjel's heart agrees.
"Hell, if she needs help; she needs to spell it out what she wants first. I mean, what help does she need exactly? And how long will it take? We already got issues and she sure don't act like a girl who's in trouble by playing these games. Meantime, the snow ain't stopping anytime soon... " he says with a wary voice.
They said she's being honest, but so what? Hell, the kid may be outta her mind; and it's not a lie if she really believes what she's saying, even if she's been tricked...
As the girl seems to be leading them closer to the building, Gabryjel notices the party is strung out among rough terrain.
Suspecting an ambush awaits them in or near the house, Gabryjel will move a little closer to the house, keeping it in his sites and maintaining cover.
Her usual light blue eyes turned a silver-grey. Aneira was taken aback by Variel's response. That he would not heed a warning or even give her concerns more than a second thought before brushing them swiftly aside stung her heart and pride.
She had attempted to warn the others of her misgivings. That's all she could do. Their subsequent actions were theirs alone.
Beck will move to F:21 and Sheelah will continue to pad along with Xanxan and defen him till getting other orders
Her usual light blue eyes turned a silver-grey. Aneira was taken aback by Variel's response. That he would not heed a warning or even give her concerns more than a second thought before brushing them swiftly aside stung her heart and pride.
She had attempted to warn the others of her misgivings. That's all she could do. Their subsequent actions were theirs alone.
Gabryjel's eyes flick back to Aneira.
It seems as if she was hanging back; but he's not sure why, though he nods grimly to himself...
Smart - good tactics.
His eyes move to look over the rest of the crew.
We put all our healers in a tight cluster and they got another sorcerer who tosses out a Fireball in the middle and it'll light up both Venja and Aneira and maybe Beck, too.
His gaze swings back to Aneira.
She keeps back like that and she can stay safe if the others need healing...
Though she may only be delaying for a moment - we'll have to see what happens next...
Something Aneira had said suddenly makes Gabryjel's blood chill even more.
She said one blue eye and one not... what has different color eyes?
His own eyes narrow.
Changeling...
He thinks about all he heard about Changelings and he spits into the snow.
Changelings are witch-kin... daughters of hags... hags can use spells to bend the mind... and hags like man-flesh...
Gods damn!
Variel saw the reflection in Aneira's eyes and mentally scolded himself for being harsher than he intended. He trusted his wife's judgment when it came to such matters yet the sight of a lost young girl pulled at his heart as well. Stepping back to stay next to his wife Variel leans close toher, I am sorry dar. I really am. Just something about this unnerves me so. It isn't fear as worry for the little girl. I guess I am getting softer and thinking about if we had a girl that was lost is all. Not used to having the softer feelings I guess. Variel reaches out a hand and gives Aniera a squeeze to show that he did not mean any harm in his words or actions and that all was still right between them.
Venja continues to hang back somewhat behind the others, but does move up slightly, to keep the magic auras in range... waiting until she can separate one from another and determine if any of the auras originate with the child.
Stepping back to stay next to his wife Variel leans close toher. Variel reaches out a hand and gives Aniera a squeeze to show that he did not mean any harm in his words or actions and that all was still right between them.
Gabryjel's eyes flick between their primary fighter and his wife; and than he turns his gaze back back to the forward position where Beck, Xanxan and Venja are now in the open, though they may have some cover behind some rocks...
Xanxan moves forward again.... and tries to go as quiet as he can while doing so, using a boulder to hide behind.
Variel saw the reflection in Aneira's eyes and mentally scolded himself for being harsher than he intended. He trusted his wife's judgment when it came to such matters yet the sight of a lost young girl pulled at his heart as well. Stepping back to stay next to his wife Variel leans close to her, I am sorry dear. I really am. Just something about this unnerves me so. It isn't fear as worry for the little girl. I guess I am getting softer and thinking about if we had a girl that was lost is all. Not used to having the softer feelings I guess. Variel reaches out a hand and gives Aneira a squeeze to show that he did not mean any harm in his words or actions and that all was still right between them.
Aneira listened to Variel's quiet explanation and accepted his apology with a gentle nod. In soft reply, "I will try to get through to her, husband. I will only move forward a little and not draw too close." She looked down at his hand on her shoulder and then looked around at her companions (or what she could see of them). Unlike Variel, she did not believe the child was an innocent soul lost in the woods, or that her words would have any effect on the strange child hiding behind the ice boulder. Still, for her companions' sake, Aneira moved cautiously forward to F:25, her loaded crossbow ready for any trickery, her eyes taking in the ice and surroundings in case of trap and she began talking to the child, gently.
"We mean you no harm, child. Where are your parents? Why are you out here, alone?"
GAbe continues his trek around the north hoping to spy out any surprises. Fro where he is at nothing alarming is noted but the driving snow is making it hard to see what if anything may be in the hut.
Venja continues her concentration while moving slightly to better detail the area with her magical detection. Thus far into her search she only notices that Xanxan has some powerful magic and the rest are not giving any indication of magic items.
Xanxan, Beck and Sheilah move cautiously forward looking for traps but do not find any thus far. They have a good view of the girl who seems to be about 8 years old with blonde hair and a blue hat on.
Variel stays next to his wife as she moves farther up calling out to Thora. The little girl turns towards the voice and shouts back. Please don't keep me here. Its so cold. I miss my mother. My mother is back home in Waldsby but I can't get out of here. Again after her response she moves farther along the ice boulder maze as if looking for a way to go. The look on her face is again one of terror and panic but it is not directed at you.
Beck moves to i:21 trying to keep an eye out for threats as sheelah still follows Xanxan
With loaded crossbow in hand, Aneira moves to H:23 (using the ice boulder for cover and will be 15ft from the girl) and attempts to get the child to stop running from them.
In as gentle a voice as she can muster under the circumstances, Aneira beseeches the girl to listen (and wondering why she keeps running),
"Thora, please stop running and hiding. Come to us and we will attempt to return you to your Mother and safety. We offer you our protection."
Oddly, Xanxan does not follow the girl, though he feels sympathy for her, instead he moves in a mostly different line to see what he can uncover there.
Waldsby is in the far northern reaches of Irresen. It would have taken the child months to travel here without magical aid. What she is doing here, and why she wouldn't remember such a journey is baffling.
Know geo
Venja moves forward a bit (to F23) still watching the girl to make sure she radiates no magic.
Gabryjel will move to F:15; weapons out and ready. He will try to maintain cover behind the rocks from any enemy who may come out of the house.
The wary among the group spread out covering as much area as possible while still maintaining sight lines to each other. Gabe, now that you are this close and in this line you can see in the hut better. Inside you see a strange doll that resembles the child. The doll has one bright blue eye that must be a sapphire. Xanxan goes prallel to the child hoping to cut off any avenue that the child might take. Venja still does not notice any magic on the child at this time. Beck, Variel and Aneira keep pace with the child but don't come any nearer. Aneira is still able to call out and talk to the child offering protection and comfort. In response the child yells back, I don't want your stupid doll! I want to go home! Take me back! You can't protect me from Nazhena!
Round 4
All of a sudden the child stops moving backwards and actually takes a step closer to you. Her eyes focus solely on the group for the first time and the scared look is replaced with concern. I have to get away and you should too before they see you. RUN!!! The child disappears from sight instantly.
The large boulders of ice seem to flicker with movement inside of them. Also it seems that the wind died down for the briefest moment while you saw the flicker.
[ooc]If you made the check roll init yourself. If you get above a 10 you get a surprise action. If you do not get above 10 don't worry about taking any actions...[evil GM laugh]