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Exiel looks down upon the lady, the celestial blood in his veins allowing his eyes to easily adjust to the gloom below. Satisfied that they have found the one they were meant to rescue, he executes a courtly bow and addresses her politely in deference to her station.
"Milady, we have followed your abducters on behalf of one Yuln Oerstag, who fought valiantly to bring word of your capture and to send help. We are here, on account of his loyalty and sense of duty, to bear you safely back to Heldren. Unfortunately, his captain fell in battle, but I bear the arms and armor of both men to rescue you in their names."
The disheveled noblewoman stands to attention, trying not to let her surroundings affect her noble status. "I am Lady Argentea Masse and from what I hear, Yuln has done well to inform you of my...situation. I thank thee all for my rescue. Is he well? Alive?" She aches to stand up and you can see she still has some open wounds, which have veen bandaged. "I will assume you have dealt with my captors. I hope they died painfully for assaulting and kidnapping a Taldan. Well, if you could fetch me some warm clothes, I'd reckon I'm going to have to march home in this foul weather. Speaking of that, there's a larger threat you hero types may be interested in. During my time in captivity, I heard there were extremely dangerous winter creatures at the center of the unseasonable weather with whom these bandits were allied. There's a blue female ice mephit known as Izoze. She was leading the fey when my carriage was ambushed. She should be around here. I also heard mention of another, one I've never seen: a leader, Teb Knotten. So it appears you still have work to do." She pauses, "Oh and I'm assuming you will want a reward. As soon as I am back in town, I will make arrangements so you are all rewarded handsomely. Anything else before I leave?" Lady Argentea grimaces in pain, as she struggles to walk.
Vesna smiles at the Lady Argentea's spirit. This was no coddled, fluff of a noblewoman. "Lady Argentea, I'm very pleased to meet you. I'm Vesna Kania. I believe I can help with those injuries you have." She curtsies and bows her head in deference. Then Vesna moves up and touches the woman's injuries, leaving a cool sensation on her skin. The wounds begin to heal.
"M'lady, there may still be bandits out there. We should probably escort you back. And we can talk of what else you might have heard. Do you know what they wanted with you?"
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"We shall certainly escort you back, milady," Exiel declares firmly, though in a softened tone in deference to Lady Argentea's station. "It would be churlish of us to expect you to walk back alone in this cold."
As he speaks, Exiel pulls the enchanted cloak from his shoulders and gently puts it around the shivering woman. "This cloak is enchanted to protect one from the cold, and should keep you warm on the way back to Heldren."
"Before we head back, however, it might be prudent to comb the rest of this building to make sure we have thoroughly removed any threats. I would hate to find an arrow in my back whilst we make our way back to Heldren. Milady, if you could make yourself comfortable by the fireplace whilst we finish up here, I'd be much obliged."
Vesna shrugs. "Probably prudent, Exiel. This Izoze Ice mephit sounds like she may be in the building somewhere."
I agree and advocate our checking of the immediate area, the lodge itself is clear already it seems though. Perhaps we should get moving whilst we still have the light? We may still be able to make Heldren by midnight if we hurry...
Lady Argentea happily and graciously accepts Vesna's healing. "I do have information for you, some plans I overheard. But I would feel more comfortable sharing the news when I am back in the safety of Heldren."
The party searches the rest of the lodge but no more threats, not even the mentioned Izoze can be found. You lead the noblewoman back to Heldren. She is quiet through the trip, wrapping herself in her cloak to keep warm. It is clear she is trying to maintain some dignity.
"Of course, m'lady. Right away." Vesna nods to Marek to lead them back. The girl seems to fuss over the noblewoman some as they head back seeming quite like a lady's attendant. It's a bit of odd sight for a woman as self assured as Vesna has been.
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With Marek in the lead, the party makes it uneventfully back to Heldren with Lady Argentea, arriving in the night. Members of the town council congratulate the party on their efforts. Lady Argentea makes arrangements for the party to be paid 500 gp (100 each) for your bravery. She then heads to see Yuln Oerstag. The party follows and Exiel returns the northern warrior's sword. After the party receives their congratulations, Lady Argentea tells you she needs to take care of political matters and that she will meet with you first thing in the morning to relate to you the information she knows. She recommends that you go spend one last warm night in Heldren partying, as it may be your last warm night in a while. With those ominous words, she leaves you till the morning.
The party disperses, each going their separate ways and promising to meet in the morning. Marek heads to the tavern (with Vesna?) and draws much attention from the locals, with drinks toasted in his honor. Many of Heldren's commoners bombard the 2 party members with questions about the cooling temperatures, the snow, how long this unnatural winter will last, about the future of their crops, and tens of other questions the party has no answers to.
Merick sits near a shadowed wall in a corner of the tavern, nursing a goat's milk. When he didn't have another job set up and only a few coins, he always nursed them. He didn't sit in the dark because he liked to be suspicious and mysterious, but because it discouraged strangers who ultimately were looking for free drinks that he couldn't buy.
He notices the one (two) person(s) wander in. They matched some of the descriptions Yuln had been telling him about earlier in the day. Seems like they had gone on some half-crazy mission to rescue a noblewoman here in this irregular weather. To be honest, he was enjoying the cold, but even a simple man like Merick realized this would likely prove to be a serious problem soon, with no crops to grow in the frost.
He continues to sip as the regulars bombard the people with their questions. There would likely be a lot of caravan work here soon, with the unnatural season making the region turn to outside for food. He wouldn't have to wait long for work.
The tavern door opens and Vesna enters. She had been in several taverns in her life and this one seemed no different. Likewise, the attention she received as she entered was quite the same, though perhaps this time for slightly different reasons. She had already met several people who knew of the blonde girl with the auburn lock. One woman had assumed she was one of the Lady's attendants. A little boy thought her a warrior. A older man had claimed she was a princess. As if, Vesna thought with a chuckle to herself. It might be fun to be a princess, but not one of those sniveling fairytale ones. Much more fun to be the evil queen. Pity she loses all the time.
She tosses back her cloak casually. She had worn it more out of custom and habit than need even as the weather was turning colder every hour. Underneath was a rich blue, form fitting top with a deep neckline and a brown knee length skirt. Her clothes stood in marked contrast to most of those who were bundling up with furs near the fire. Vesna spots Marek drinking at one table and goes to join the man. She catches a couple of looks from the men at the nearby tables and smiles at them. How long had it been since she'd paid for a drink? I doubt I'll break the streak tonight.
The group around Marek's table parts to let her through, and she takes her seat across from the man. "Well, it would seem like we've brought a bit of excitement to the place, hmm?"
Merick's eyes widen slightly at the entrance of the exotic woman. He had of course been given her description, but in person she was even more...breathtaking. And she knew it, too, he could tell that at a glance. Maybe he would think again about Yuln's statement, that he should join these would-be adventurer's and help out with whatever was going on. He could always find another caravan to join, if needed, and perhaps helping out this region would help him finally cope with his internal struggles.
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Marek smiles and nods as Vesna sits down. He was just showing off his barely healed frostbites, as to emphasize the his tales of the frozen lands. Any other day the hunter would blend in completely in this tavern, impossible to pick out among the locals.
But today, he has the undivided attention of the crowd. The locals soak in his stories of the freezing cold and the walking dead, of wicked fey and savage bandits, and of the rescue of the noblewoman. And with each pitcher of ale, the story just gets wilder.
"Well, the folks here love a good story. And what we have seen these past days are beyond their wildest dreams" he answers to Vesna. "Or nightmares...", he continues, with a face much more serious. "Hold my seat, will you? I need to get some more drinks... Would you like something?", the hunter asks, getting up. And now, really for the first time this evening he looks around the tavern, and spots some unfamiliar faces.
For a moment Marek stares at the armored man in the corner, analyzing the man. Then he raises his almost-empty pitcher. "Cheers", he mutters and walks to the bar. More strangers... Attracted by these odd times, I'm sure. This time at least they are a little less striking than the last lot...
Vesna crosses her legs and nods at the Ranger. Wine, perhaps. Something sweet." She follows his gaze to the armored man in the corner. Likely another one hoping to make a name for himself. Hopefully he doesn't end up like the Lady's knights.
She glances around the room smiling politely as people complement her. When they finally press her for a demonstration, she sighs. "Oh alright, but just this once." She touches a man's cup, and it begins to shine brightly like a torch. She makes a seated bow graciously at the gasps and applause. She catches the man in the corner's glance again and winks at him.
He raises his tankard of milk in response to the ranger wordlessly, nodding respectfully.
He is amused by the trick, chuckling softly, before the lady winks at him. The right side of his lip curls up in a cynical half-smile, but he gets up to approach, anyway.
"My lady, I hear your mission was a success. Pray tell, what happened out there? Is there more to it than mere bandits?"
"It's always more than mere bandits, sweetie." Vesna smiles sweetly at the man. "But they were quite embarrassed being bested by an simple girl." She grins, but then angles her head toward Marek at the bar. "Oh, ok he might have helped too."
She glances down at his drink and wrinkles her nose. "Goat's milk? Are you with child or something? That's what my stepmother used to make pregnant women drink. Don't the other squires make fun of you enough already?" She giggles lightly.
An arched brow accompanies his half smile as he responds, "Something tells me you are far from simple, my lady, and that your smile is likely far from your only weapon." He looks to the ranger and back, nodding to her. The man seemed like he knew his way around a blade or a bow.
"The other squires used to, until they went home sporting bloody noses and broken bones." He swirls his drink self-consciously before continuing, "it helps me to concentrate and think clearly, as I clearly must around you, my lady." It was true...the alternative was to drench himself in alcohol and not think at all.
Kharia leans her longspear against the outside wall of the tavern before heading inside. She whistles a song of worship as she enters the tavern, tapping her boots at the entrance to knock the dust off. She smiles at the general revelry, orders food and drink at the bar, and lifts a glass to Marek when he passes her at the bar.
Vesna rolls her eyes. "A brute and a flatterer. My heart swoons."
"Now stop it with the 'my lady'. My name is Vesna."
"I save my brute for when the flatter fails." He chuckles at her sarcasm, taking a seat across from her.
"Alright, my l...Vesna. My friend Yuln, the Ulfen guard, told me I should check with you and your crew about possibly helping with whatever is going on around here. Seeing as how I recently became available for such work, I decided to pursue said activity."
Kharia turns to Marek when he approaches the bar. "Those are quite the frostbite scars, friend. How did you come by them?"
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"It is cold in the Border Wood. Very, very cold..." Marek answers, looking at his blackened fingers. He seems to be lost in his thought for a moment, then shivers and snaps back to present. He looks at Kharia, and smiles. "Another new face in our humble village. Welcome! What brings you here?" Marek says, handing a pitcher to Kharia.
Kharia takes the pitcher graciously, pours to her cup, and sets it on the counter. She pats her butterfly-shaped holy symbol on its string of wooden beads and says, "Just a wayfarer, following the lead of the lady. A frozen forest is a curious idea in the midst of summer - when you heal, will you be going back there? It is something I would very much like to see."
"Yuln? The Lady's guard? My friend Exiel used his sword to help free Lady Argentea. I've never met him myself, but...I hear he's a good man. Marek met him, I think." She looks up to see the Ranger speaking to a tall dark-haired girl. "Well, perhaps he can make friends after all! A bit of fame might do him well." She waves the Ranger back over.
Turning back to the man, she says, "Well, now, friend of Yuln. Do I just call you 'Goat's milk' or do you have a name?"
"Aye. He was taking her abduction hard and personal."
Merick snorts in amusement at her comment, before answering, "Merick Renarin, if you please. Goat's milk is a good drink, not a good name."
"Doubtful a good name, but definitely not a good drink." She wrinkles her nose just at the thought. "Well, how formal, Merick. Vesna Kania, then. If Yuln vouches for you, then perhaps you should join us tomorrow morning. The Lady has some information she believes is important though she's resting tonight."
One of the inn's patrons marches up to Vesna, a middle-aged man of 40 years and a little drunk. He's careful not to get too close on account of Merick's size, and yells, "Yer light show was pretty, lady, but we're all here, trying to wonder when this damn cold is gonna end! Isn't that right? Maybe you two northerners don't mind the chilling wind in the middle of the summer, but the rest of us do. We got crops that need to be planted and there ain't nothing gonna grow in this weather!" He has the inn's attention, as everyone has shut up to listen to the patron. The innkeeper yells out, "Calm down, Vulgren." But Vulgren continues, pointing at Marek and Vesna. "You two been out there, and I hears you saved the noblewoman. That's great! But what of the rest of us?? Just because we ain't got her coins don't mean our problems don't mean as much! Please! I got a wife and 2 kids to support and my farm is my livelihood. When is this winter going to end?"
"Forgive me, I am used to introducing myself to employers, not companions. Merick will do nicely, or Rick, to reduce confusion. I am definitely curious and would be happy to join your group." He smiles at her as the fellow wanders up.
He looks to the farmer and back again to Vesna, not necessarily confused, but clearly caught up in a conversation he has nothing to contribute to, at the moment. He decides to cross his arms next to the lovely woman, making it clear that her space bubble definitely needs to remain uncrowded lest the patrons edge in.
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"Easy there, Vulgren. You haven't been there, you don't know. The cold here is nothing compared to down there in Border Wood." Marek steps in front of Vulgren, keeping his voice calm, almost quiet.
"But I'll go. This is my home, too. And I want it safe as much as you do. But you can't demand these strangers to freeze themselves for you. All we can do is ask."
Having said that, he turns towards Vesna, Merick and Kharia. "So what it'll be, Vesna? Had enough of warm taverns? Want to go back to the heart of winter? And your new friend? And you, Miss Wayfarer, you just said you wanted to see the frozen forest. How will answer this mans call for help?", the hunter calls, finding his voice getting louder toward the end.
Uh, I'm getting talky. Maybe this ought to be my last ale, before I do something embarrassing...
Vesna levels a gaze at the man as he rants. She takes a deep breath and waits a few seconds after he finishes. "I have no idea when this will end. But don't think it isn't affecting us too. I might not feel the cold as much, but it won't feed me. I'd starve just like the rest of you."
She turns to Marek. "Yes, it's getting a bit too warm in here."
Vesna rises and faces the crowd. "Look, I don't know what the hell is going on in the Border Wood, but I'm willing to venture back to find out. The noblewoman might know something since she was there so long. Marek and I will do our best to figure this out." She glances at Meirck and the woman. "And if you two want to come along, I won't stop you. But until we do stop it, you all need to prepare for the worst. This unnatural cold doesn't seem to be letting up."
She looks at the faces full of genuine fear. Mother, if you're behind this, I swear, I'll stop you.
This journey would likely prove interesting, and a pleasant or at least busy distraction from his normal brooding. He nods to Marek, then to Vesna, letting the gesture be his answer.
Kharia knocks back the remainder of her cup, then stands and stretches. "Too good an opportunity to pass up! My name's Kharia, and I look forward to seeing what I can do to help your town. Now, where might a stranger rest for the night? I'll also need to grab a couple supplies in the morning before we are off."
Just as the patron's speech ends, a tall man in a winter cloak enters. His appearance is overshadowed by the townsman's exhortation and few take any notice of him. He takes this opportunity to search for the hearth in order to warm himself after coming in from the unnatural cold. On his way, he stops at the bar and orders a strong drink to fortify himself for that time that it takes for the fire to fight off his chill.
Seeing a shortage of available chairs, he approaches your table and says "Well met, all. Do you have room for a weary traveler?"
Vesna looks at the thin man. "Really? You're mistaking me for an innkeeper's wife? I'm just everything to everyone today aren't I?" She brushes back her hair in annoyance. She points to the fat innkeeper coming out of the kitchen. "There's your innkeeper. But you'd best hurry. With the cold out, everyone is trying to get a room. It seems Heldren is popular this time of year. And, no, I will not be anyone's bunkmate."
Nonplussed Delweir responds "I meant, do you have room at this table? The inn seems quite crowded tonight and this looks like the only available chair."
Vesna pauses, stunned as his response. She bites her lip, realizing the tirade she had given over a miscommunication. "Oh, um, sure. Sorry." As the man sits, an awkward silence falls.
And Vesna seems to need to fill it. "So, you're travelling? And you stopped in Heldren with this nasty weather? Where are you headed?" She takes a glass of wine from a passing barmaid.
A sheepish smile crosses Delweir's face before he responds. "My journey is toward Irissen, as implausible as that sounds. The caravan that I traveled with turned west yesterday and this is the nearest settlement that I could find. The crew of the caravan thought that I was joking about going to Irrisen. All the way up until yesterday no one believed me when I told them where I was headed."
"Of course, I did not know until recently that the weather had turned...unnatural for this time of year. This does complicate things."
"Are you natives of Heldren?"
Merick gets a crestfallen look, mocking of course, at Vesna's announcement of no bedmate. He looks over the newest arrival, nodding in greeting. Lightly armed, no callouses on the hands. A spellcaster of some sort.
"Nay, sir, I also arrived recently. I believe Vesna and Marek here have been here long enough to offer relevant information."
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"I do live here, yes." Marek studies the man for a moment in silence, and then continues.
"You've got quite a walk ahead of you, if you're heading for Irrisen. But if you want to practice your steps in snow and ice, you're welcome to join us to the Border Wood. At least you're dressed for the weather already." The hunter, now visibly drunk, smirks at his own comment.
Kharia does her best to gently slide a flagon of water in front of Marek, while pulling any remaining pitchers from his vicinity and taking them back to the bar.
"Now that'd be a sight to see - a land of perpetual winter! I wonder what grows there for them to eat?
"Yes, I realize that my journey is far from complete. In fact, I was hoping to find traveling companions for the rest of the way to Irissen."
To Kharia he replies "Hmm, I never stopped to consider that."
Vulgren quietly calms down when he sees the heroes step up and volunteer to help out. "I'm sorry, just worried about ma kin, dat's all." He goes home, a little tipsy. The night passes, with the new strangers getting acquainted with Marek and Vesna.
The next morning, the dwarf, the paladin, and the female sorcerer have departed on personal matters. You all meet first thing in the morn with Lady Argentea, who has been watching over the still sorely wounded Yuln. "Greeting my rescuers and your new traveling companions. You will need all the help you can find. There were more than bandits involved in my kidnapping. They were assisted by winter fey and a blue female ice mephit known as Izoze. Rohkar was just a bandit leader but I overhead them talking that they reported to another, their true leader, Teb Knotten, a cruel sadistic creature. They aim to bring about an eternal winter! From what I gathered they are conducting some magic ritual or such in the center of the Border Wood, west of the lodge. Now that you have rested, I urge you to go there at once and stop this foul ritual. The council leaders of Heldren are in agreement that you should all stop this. I know it's a huge responsibility. Will you accept?"
Yuln, still confined to his bed, reaches for his MW cold iron longsword and offers it to Merick. "You're going to need this against those blasted fey!"
Merick's eyes widen at the gift as he reaches forward to take the sword. "My thanks, Yuln. I will try to do the blade justice, in your honor." He nods, then awaits his companions decision, as he just made his.
Delweir silently takes in the conversation and wonders what these folk did on behalf of this Taldan woman. Since he sees no alternative means of gaining traveling companions, he decides to accompany them on their mission against the mephit and her bandit minion. In truth, he is excited at the prospect of seeing being from another plane.
Vesna ticks off the important points. "Winter fey, Ice Mephit, Teb Knotten, Eternal Winter, Magic Ritual." She shakes her head and seems slightly sad. She talks somewhat to herself. "This type of magical interference can't be allowed to go on. The people of Heldren are going to suffer if we can't put a stop to it."
He looks up at the the Lady. "We'll go back out there, m'lady. If they Winter fey are up to some trickery, we'll stop them."
"Aye, I look forward to the task! Ow, to see about some warmer clothes..."
Kharia makes a quick trip to the general store to see if there happens to be another set of warm clothes for winter travel, purchases them, then rejoins the party.
"I,too, will need to re-equip." Merick quickly travels to the general store, looking to exchange his explorer's outfit for some coin and use it to help purchase a cold weather outfit.