"There's nothing else we can do for these poor souls," Mara sighs resignedly. "Let's see if we can rescue your Lady Argentea."
Mara follows her companions down the trail, moving easily across the snowy terrain.
Rolly slowly stalks the trail, keeping his axe at the ready. "Keep alert, everyone. We don't know what happened, an' an ambush could come from anywhere!"
Rolly will take 10 on Survival and Perception checks (16 in each) as he follows the trail.
The trio makes their way through the woods, while Rolly adeptly follows the trail through the snow. After about an hours walk, the trail ascends a hill and over the crest. At the base of the hill, adjacent to the path, the group spots a large chest, half buried in the snow.
Ben takes a good look around before stepping toward the chest.
Perception:
If he deems the coast clear, he'll search the chest for traps if any kind.
Perception:
Ben takes a good look around before stepping toward the chest.
Perception: 1d20+4
If he deems the coast clear, he'll search the chest for traps if any kind.
Perception: 1d20+4+1
The coast seems clear and the chest appears trap free.
"Let's 'ave a look here...", Ben says, rubbing his hands together before opening the chest.
Ben swings the chest open and is disappointed to find it empty. More disappointing, however, is the audible click sound that comes from the lid when opened. Snow sprays into the air as ropes behind the chest are pulled taut, extending farther into the forest. In an instant, a large wooden log comes spinning out of the trees, straight at the party!
Attack on Ben
Damage
Attack on Mara
Damage
Attack on Rolly
Damage
Battered and bloody, Mara struggles to lift herself from the ground - dazedly wondering how she wound up sprawled upon the snowy surface.
"Oh, sod it all!", Ben curses as he hits the ground just in time to avoid the log. He jogs over to Mara and Rolly. "Bloody sorry, gov! Damn thing looked clean 'fore I popped it!"
"Arrrghh!" Rolly picks himself off the ground after the log smacks him square in the face ...
In their travels, Thoros and Franz have found themselves moving south through the Boarderwood. It's been slow going to say the least. The thick under brush was bad enough, but now you've begun to encounter snow!
Their thoughts go back to the old barkeep in Oppara that told them this would be a shortcut.
"No reason ta follow that old road!! Thass where the bandits'll getcha!! Cut through the Boarderwood, its easier travellin, and'll cut day off yer trip!"
And to think, you even tipped the crazy old coot.
You're both napped back to reality though when you hear the sound of breaking branches, followed instantly by shouting and a howl of pain.
Alerted by the sounds of a possible confrontation, Franz pulls on a string that is attached to the leather cover that concealed his weapon, while simultaneously reaching for the shaft of the two-bladed sword with his other hand. The former mercenary settled into his usual battle stance; which involved tipping one of the blade's forward while the other was diagonally facing the ground.
I should have stuck to the old road thoughts of regret began to sneak into his mind No sense in mulling over that now He snapped himself away from the thoughts and feelings of regret and focused on his current situation. Franz reasoned that it was best to approach the source of the sound slowly and peak at whatever was causing this disturbance.
After silently motioning for Thoros to stay in his position and provide cover fire, the black haired man began to step forward as quietly as he could, while hoping that his presence would not be noticed.
Just as Franz steps away, Thoros mutters a quick word and reaches out and touches him.
Franz peers between two snow covered bushes and sees one human male, a human women and a dwarven male. The dwarf is holding his face, obviously in pain, the women is on the ground, struggling to regain her feet. The man is crouching in front of a chest, half buried in the snow, unscathed. A large log is dangling lazily in the air, certainly the cause of all the ruckus.
Remaining behind the cover of the bushes, Franz begins to ponder the situation Three people that look injured, I am not an expert but they seem to really hurt He peered from between the natural hiding place once more to try and catch anything that he could have possibly missed. When his eyes fell on the log, and he noted how it was still dangling, he reached a conclusion that this is probably not a trap to lure in people who would seek to help the injured.
Franz looked back to his traveling companion and motioned him to follow, then he walked past the bush. Despite his dispensing of a stealthy approach he still walked at a slightly hurried pace, this was to avoid getting winded in case he was wrong and his previous assessment was in fact the truth. The mercenary continued walking until he reached the woman, but made sure that the uninjured man was still within sight, he knelt down next to the injured woman, his weapon still held by his right hand.
"Where is the closest town? I can take you there" He spoke in a loud enough voice for the man by the chest to hear, hoping that this would alleviate any suspicions he might have about a large, armed man approaching them.
Thoros begins to follow Franz, realizing by his behavior that the situation he's about to see isn't totally safe. Upon pushing his way past the bush Franz hid behind, he notices the people. The rest of the situation blends into the background as his practiced eye notices the wounded.
"Perhaps I can be of more efficient service. A trap is no good, if no one is here to deal with the aftermath, correct? Franz, perhaps you should make sure we aren't to be attacked, please?
Grabbing his holy symbol from his cloak pocket, Thoros mutters a few words and glances upwards. A pulse of holy power radiates outward from him.
Thoros realizes that his first attempt didn't do nearly enough good, so he mutters a few more words as he glances upward.
Feeling the weakness of the holy power flowing through his body, Thoros kneels between the wounded and stares toward the sky, flakes of snow hitting him the face as he says, "Erastil hear my plea!
Feeling a more powerful thrum of holy power through him, Thoros grins.
"Well let's see what Erastil's blessing has done for you two."
Thoros examines the two injured people.
"Hrm, dwarf, you appear to be hale and healthy, except for what I am sure to be is a massive headache and a nice bruise that should show up in a bit. Young lady, I see you might could use some more healing, I have a couple ways to accomplish this. If we are safe, I can use my minor healing cantrip. If we are about to be attacked, I'll use a more powerful one. Perhaps we should see what my companion thinks?"
With that, Thoros stands and looks to Franz for his answer.
Upon receiving the question from Thoros Franz walks away and begins circling the area of the wounded at a careful and steady pace, turning his head from right to left in hopes of catching the sight of any possible enemies or dangers, he was glad there was still some hours in the day, as he was no expert look out and looking for an enemy at night when your not particularly skilled at doing would be of little use.
Franz makes a circuit around the area and finds it to be clear.
Ben stands from his position by the chest, looking between Mara and Rolly, picking up his spear.
"Just what the bloody hell are you two about, gov? If yer here to take yer log back, we're done with it- but drop the good samaritan routine, eh? We ain't about to turn on back just 'cause you're givin' us an excuse to be on our way."
Surprise was the last thing on Franz' mind when he witnessed the attitude of the man holding the spear, he would be distrustful strangers who would suddenly appear to help after he's been attacked. The black haired man sighed and kept his distance, knowing that the best way to deal with a distrustful person is to give him all the space he needs. The former mercenary turned his head in Thoros' direction.
"It seems the area is clear Thoros" Spoke Franz, his voice calm and only loud enough for the group of people around him to hear. Franz' green eyes shifted to the spear wielder once more Should I try to explain the situation to him? Would he listen? the two-bladed sword wielder began to seek out a possible solution to this problem Maybe if I explain to him why we cannot be bandits he'll calm himself He finally resigned himself to try and explain their situation, to hopefully avoid any unneeded confrontations.
"If I was the owner of this log, I would not bother to kneel and check on my victims, I would approach the woman first as she appeared to be the one with the heaviest injuries, stab her quickly as I make a run for the dwarf and then it would only be you, me and my friend here" Spoke Franz, his voice eerily peaceful as he explained how he would go about murdering people who had just been ambushed by a trap "But lucky for you, we are not, we are travelers that happened to be passing by when we heard sounds coming from this direction" He continued his voice still holding the same tone of speech.
"You are right about one thing though, I am hardly a good person" Said the former mercenary as he kept a careful watch over the man who had just addressed them.
Thoros nods to Franz, thankful the young mercenary was able to determine no immediate danger.
"Looks like we have a slight impasse here. I've healed your companions, but the lady needs some more healing. As you could not have missed, I did so without a by your leave or any thought to my own safety. In addition, had I wanted to bring you harm, I am quite certain at least 2 of you would be dead. Even I couldn't miss the two people laying on the ground. And I am just a mere cleric of Erastil. So, as my martial trainer at the temple was found of saying, 'Simmer down, no one needs to hear you pretend your meaner than you are.' Now, it looks like the immediate area is clear. Would you like me to continue seeing to your wounds or should my companion and I try to find the road? And by the way, remind me to box that old woman's ears next we meet."
Thoros grins at Franz, then stares at the three others for their answer.
After the energy is channeled, Rolly stands up and rubs his head. He holds his axe warily though. "What ya be sayin' makes sense, I 'spose. But then, Ben 'n I've been attacked by bandits before that acted like friends first and waited 'til our backs were turned. Ya coulda been hopin' the trap killed us an' didn't wanna fight us when ya noticed we weren't. 'Course, ya likely wouldn't 've healed us up then.
"If yer really not the ones who set this here log, then whatever ya can do ta help Mara'd be appreciated. I'm thinkin' my wounds 're healed 'cept fer this poundin' headache. We can't be goin' back to town, though, onna count we're followin' this here trail. We think someone we know was takin' by ... by somethin', anyway."
Letting one of the ends of his unusual weapon rest on the ground, Franz listens as the dwarf vaguely explains why they can't head back to town, despite the injuries they had taken. The former mercenary did not know these people, their quest were not his own, his true goal lies in Heldren, but nonetheless he would give the matter some thought before deciding on what course of action he should go with. Franz left hand began clenching into a fist and then slowly bloomed into a semi open palm, the process went as the black haired man pondered the options before him.
I have no business with these people or their quest, helping arrive to the closest town would not take too much of my time but this could His eyes scanned the three strangers once more But I am a stranger here, and an armed stranger asking questions would cause suspicion, but if I help them find their friend I will no longer be a stranger, simply another part of this band that have probably been operating here for a while, but first I must find out what it is they do here Thought the mercenary as he arrived at what could possibly be his chosen path.
"What is it that you do in this area? Are you mercenaries? Bounty hunters?" Asked the green eyed warrior, his voice serious and only loud enough for them to hear.
Ben frowns, but adjusts his tone after Rolly speaks up.
"Somethin' like that. There's a turned out carriage down the road, we're looking fer the sods what did the deed, neh?"
Ben: Perception check please.
Perception:
Perception: 1d20+4
It occurs to Ben, that when he looked into the chest, the bottom of it was deeper than the snow. It seems the chest is partially buried in the ground, not just the snow.
Ben looks distractedly back into the chest.
"Hey, govs. Reckon there's a secret compartment in this chest 'ere... Why don't you all get clear in case of another "accident" and I'll take a look and see what's here?"
Once everyone is back down the road a bit, Ben looks over the chest, searching for the false bottom.
Perception:
Disable Device:
Ben finds no false bottom in the chest, but does realize that there is a hollow below the chest itself. Once he determines that all traps have been set off, he pulls the container up out of the ground, revealing a four foot deep hole. Within what seem to be some of the spoils of the caravan raid.
with a total of 25 bolts.
"Young lady, I see you might could use some more healing, I have a couple ways to accomplish this. If we are safe, I can use my minor healing cantrip. If we are about to be attacked, I'll use a more powerful one. Perhaps we should see what my companion thinks?"
"Thank you, goodsir," Mara replies gratefully, climbing to her feet with the priest's support. "By the blessings of Old Deadeye and your timely intervention my wounds are mostly healed, although like Rolly I still have a pounding headache."
"My name is Mara Garimos, by the way. My parents own the Silver Stoat tavern in the village of Heldren, which isn't far from here. I'm sure my parents would be willing to put you up for the night in return for the assistance you just gave us. We should be able to get back to the village before dark." As Mara speaks, a large raven flutters down from a tree branch and alights on her shoulder, studying the two newcomers with perceptive, beady eyes.
Watching Ben tinkering with the chest once more, Franz assumed that that is what unleashed the log at these adventurers in the first place, so he calmly took a few steps back in case anything did go wrong...again. To his relief and surprise it seems that the spear wielder was able to figure out the puzzle behind this box and seemed to left a container that was buried under the chest it self.
Before the warrior could step closer to see what is it that the rogue has uncovered, he notices something fly past him, not getting a very good luck from the angle of his sight, he immediately turns his head towards the gliding frame and recognizes it to be a raven Just a raven... He thought as he followed its flight path with his eyes, what surprised him was where it decided to end its flight.
"You keep a curious pet" Said the former mercenary to Mara, his voice still measured and devoid of any alarmed tone. Her introduction still lingered in his mind If she is who she claims she is, I would be glad to accept a free night at an inn, I doubt she is lying, but it is best to insure that other lodgings are available once I reach the town As he pondered his options of lodging in Heldren, he caught sight of something even more peculiar than the raven's landing on the young woman's shoulder, the black feathered bird appeared to be studying both chandler and him, feeling a little alarmed by this he stared back at it with a scanning gaze of his own.
"Village?" Thoros asks, "I thought you were on the trail of some friends or some such? Are you planning on heading to the village, now? I mean, my companion and I were hoping to find a village for the night, but you seemed to be on a mission of your own. Although a mission that seems in trouble with your lack of healing abilities...." Thoros' voice just fades away at the end.
Thoros looks at Franz looking at the raven, then says, "As my companion mentioned, my name is Thoros Chandler, cleric of Erastil and I've been sent to the area to ascertain the rumors of cold creeping in to the area. As you know, it seems a bit early for winter's approach."
"Young lady, I see you might could use some more healing, I have a couple ways to accomplish this. If we are safe, I can use my minor healing cantrip. If we are about to be attacked, I'll use a more powerful one. Perhaps we should see what my companion thinks?""Thank you, goodsir," Mara replies gratefully, climbing to her feet with the priest's support. "By the blessings of Old Deadeye and your timely intervention my wounds are mostly healed, although like Rolly I still have a pounding headache."
"My name is Mara Garimos, by the way. My parents own the Silver Stoat tavern in the village of Heldren, which isn't far from here. I'm sure my parents would be willing to put you up for the night in return for the assistance you just gave us. We should be able to get back to the village before dark." As Mara speaks, a large raven flutters down from a tree branch and alights on her shoulder, studying the two newcomers with perceptive, beady eyes.
Rolly looks at Mara quizzically, then responds, "Well, then, thank ya Mara fer yer help. And you others, too. Ben, ya comin with me or goin' back ta town wit them? Either way, if we don't follow the trail now, I'm 'fraid fer what might happen to the Lady. So I'm goin' on. Good afternoon to ya all." Rolly looks around for the trail, then starts to follow it again. Slowly.
The trail is still fairly easy to follow, but with the falling snows, it won't stay that way forever. You could probably make camp for a bit at some point, but it seems that going back to town isn't much of an option.
"You keep a curious pet" Said the former mercenary to Mara, his voice still measured and devoid of any alarmed tone.
"Oh, he's not my pet," Mara replies offhandedly.
"Well, then, thank ya Mara fer yer help. And you others, too. Ben, ya comin with me or goin' back ta town wit them? Either way, if we don't follow the trail now, I'm 'fraid fer what might happen to the Lady. So I'm goin' on. Good afternoon to ya all." Rolly looks around for the trail, then starts to follow it again. Slowly.
Mara gives Rolly a narrow-eyed look full of stubbornness. "Well, if you're not going back then I'm not going back, Rolly Skullsplitter. Muninn can guide them to the village if they want to go and tell my parents what happened."
The raven perched on Mara's shoulder give out a loud "CAW!" that sounds almost like a short laugh a the young woman's words.
"As my companion mentioned, my name is Thoros Chandler, cleric of Erastil and I've been sent to the area to ascertain the rumors of cold creeping in to the area. As you know, it seems a bit early for winter's approach."
"Well, whatever's causing this strange cold seems to be related somehow to the disappearance of their 'Lady'," Mara replies, pointing toward Rolly and Ben. "Maybe you should come with us if you want to get to the bottom of what's going on."
"Then I shall go with your group."
Thoros looks over at Franz.
"Lead on Skullsplitter, I'll bring up the rear" Said Franz as he waited for the rest of the party to walk on ahead of him before he followed suit. In his mind it was only strategically sound to have their most martially familiar members at the front and the back in case of a head on attack or an ambush.
The dwarf seems to have seen his shares of battles, he should be able to handle himself, its the other two that puzzle me His studious glances shifted from the raven to the three strangers he has just been introduced to The spear wielder is obviously confident in his abilities and is carrying what looks to be a whole armory, but he seems to be more of a scout than a front line soldier, the young woman is the biggest mystery of all she does not seem to be physically strong, a wizard or sorcerer perhaps? Franz noticed that he was falling into his old habit of over analyzing the company he was with, but its a habit he was honestly happy to have "Are you an arcane specialist Garimos?" He asked, his tone of speech indicating genuine curiosity, he was familiar with wizards, but he has never worked with sorcerers before and had heard rumors of their recklessness and lack of control.
"I'm with ya, old son. You know that. There's some gear here to pick through, if you bloods care to. I've taken a shine to that hauberk, there, but I'm willin' to give first pick to you boys so we're square for the healing."
Franz walks over to the pile of loot and gives it a quick look "Nothing in there I could make use of, the chain shirt would do you well" Commented Franz "we'll carry anything we can't use and sell it once we make our way to the village" He continued.
"Are you an arcane specialist Garimos?"
"You can call me Mara. The folks in Heldren have taken to calling me 'Sister Mara' since I became the apprentice of our local wise woman, Old Mother Theodora. I wouldn't exactly call myself an 'arcane specialist', but I've learned a bit of magic from Mother Theodora."
"So what brings you to our neck of the woods?" she asks the mercenary.
"I'll take the dagger, it might come a time when having something sharp and pointy would be a good thing."
"Mother Theodora, is she a cleric or priestess?'
"Understood Gar...Mara" Franz Hesitated at the last part, which broke the tune of seriousness that shaped his voice.
"So what brings you to our neck of the woods?" she asks the mercenary.
At first the black haired man remained silent for several moments, considering just how much of his situation he should reveal, while it was unlikely that this young woman would have any connections with the ones that are hunting him down, it never hurt to be careful.
"I am looking for a very close relative of mine" He answered, his measured tone of speech reforming to its original state.
"Mother Theodora, is she a cleric or priestess?'
"Oh, neither. She's just a wise woman and healer. An herbalist and soothsayer. I guess you'd call her multi-talented," Mara replies to Thoros' query.
"So what brings you to our neck of the woods?" she asks the mercenary.
"I am looking for a very close relative of mine" He answered, his measured tone of speech reforming to its original state.
"Oh, are they in Heldren? What's their name? I may know them."
"Oh, are they in Heldren? What's their name? I may know them."
The thought of the possibility of getting information on his daughter almost made forego any and all precautions, he even didn't notice his mouth was part way open until a few moments later when he decided to think on exactly what he should tell her There would be little harm in telling her the name of my daughter, if only I had the name of the merchant, she would most likely recognize it more than the name of a little girl...maybe her mother left the merchant as well" He rubbed his temple with his left hand and then brought the hand by his side and began opening it and closing it at a relaxed pace.
"Her name is Lina Dilaan, last I heard she was living with her mother who is married to a merchant who at some point operated from Heldren or was originally born there" Franz revealed as much as he deemed safe, but still he felt a feeling of dread and danger, as if the the shadows trees and rocks had listeners and conspirators hiding within them, ready to use anything the mercenary reveals.
"It's not getting any lighter here, Rolly you want to lead us on following the trail? I have a feeling we'll be camping soon, unless we can all see in the dark, as well as the dwarf. As we camp, I'll use my last prepared spells to heal any wounds and provide any help I might. Erastil will provide me with new spells in the morn."
Rolly seems impatient with all the chatter. "Glad to have ya all with us, but let's put this chatter to on th' road, eh? An' yeah, I'm tryin' to lead us, so let's go!"
As before, Rolly will take 10 on Survival and Perception.