Doctor Gii, then Droguk! :) I don't suspect the zombie has long..
Gii strikes out at the remaining zombie, attempting to put it down for good. "Return to your rest," the man says in a dispassionate voice.
The zombie shrugs off the impact from the Doctor's glancing blow.
Seeing how the undead still stands, Droguk brings his sword around in an attempt to cleave it in two.
The Kelid spins around, his blade cutting a graceful arc through the air. Time seems almost to stop, seconds becoming days or perhaps weeks, as every detail of the strike flows before your eyes in slow motion. The sun glinting from the blade, sweat falling from the warriors forehead and muscle rippling to drive the blade forward. Suddenly the moments grip is ripped free and time snaps back into motion. The blade descends and cleaves the abomination almost in half. The desecrated corpse falls to the ground and moves no more.
with the last of the undead menaces gone Kobad goes to examine th bodies. looking for any signs of how they came into being and if there is any connection to this unnatural cold.
Droguk nods at the half-giant, pleased with the results of the attack himself, although, one would have a hard time telling due to his impassive demeanor.
The majority of the bodies would appear to be the groups guards but there are others, both men and women, who lack the physique of trained warriors. Some have the callused hands of the working class but the others seem more like courtiers or nobles though death blurs the distinctions such things have in life.
While you don't have a healers skill signs of violence are upon all the bodies. Many show wounds from bladed or blunt weapons but you also find that quite a few are pierced by needles and shards of ice. Signs of frostbite, which you recognize from the Ulfen back at town, are also evident.
As you all mill around the site of the attack it strikes you just how cold it is here. A chill wind gently blows onto the road from the forest to the south carrying a coating of snow with it. If you had to guess you'd say it must be almost to freezing, an astonishing fact in the midst of a Taldan summer. Those of you in cold weather clothing thank whatever intuition caused you to dress so warmly.
As you noted when you entered the area the ground is littered with perhaps a dozen or more bodies. Women, men and even a pair of horses share the bloodied ground. Two carriages sit one the road showing signs of damage from the attack. One held the undead you have just put to rest and the other lays overturned on its side. The morbid frozen corpse from which you retrieved a sword stands as if in vigil over the horrid scene.
Your breath forms clouds of mist as you exhale into the chill air and your shadows stretch long in the setting sun.
After congratulating Droguk on a blow well-placed against the final zombie, Cyrus makes a full circuit of the ambush site. Beginning with the carriage where the zombies had been locked up, the Taldan man moves from one significant location to the next, be it a place where a body or carriage came to rest. He is looking for anything that may indicate where their enemies or the Lady Argentea may have gone to. Additionally, he is looking for something that may give indication what, specifically, caused their deaths.
After making his analysis of the site, he reports his findings to his comrades, then turns his attention to the sky. "The sun will be setting soon...an hour or less, I should think. I believe we need to settle in for the night. It's going to get even colder and the weather alone is enough to make me wary of any travel in the dark. As macabre as it sounds, this wouldn't be a bad campsite if we clear it first. The cold is going to prevent any initial decay and associated smell and there is enough ground already open that we could easily all fit into the space. What does everyone else think?"
Nelossë examines the bodies of the zombies, and then wracks her brain for knowledge of the others and for a reason of the unnatural cold.
At Cyrus's talk of camping, Nelossë looks up. "Or, perhaps to preserve us against the cold, we might be able to camp in these carriages. If we punch holes in the roof, we can probably build a campfire inside one. The walls will help preserve heat, and perhaps we'd be able to get by with less firewood."
Moving on to the other bodies you glean a bit more information. Judging by the breastplate on the frozen man and the marks on the carriages you can tell that this is clearly the caravan of a Taldan noble. Most of the bodies would appear to be guards. You guess this by their build and the wounds they have taken as their armor and weapons have been stripped from them. Nine in all, including the frozen man who retains his breastplate with it's Taldan heraldry. The rest of the bodies appear to be servants and handmaidens from what you can tell. None of the bodies strikes you as the Lady Argentea that the Ulfen mentioned. Perhaps she was taken as he said.
In addition to the expected wounds from blades and blunt weapons you also find the dead have been stuck with what look like needles and shards of ice. The sight of these gruesome wounds reminds you of the spells of your homeland and your failed childhood training.
During your examination of the bodies the chill breeze turns your thoughts to the unnatural weather. After consideration you can think of no better term as it truly is unnatural. A cold snap would be one thing but to see freezing temperatures and snow this far south and this late in summer is unheard of.
The usually jovial Cyrus sets about searching the area with a stoic determination. Stepping over the mangled zombie corpses he disappears into the carriage for a few moments. When he steps out he displays a small jewelry box that holds a signet ring, a pair of earrings, a set of pearl bracelets, assorted gold and silver necklaces and a sapphire pendant. Hidden beneath a seat it would appear that it was missed when the rest of the carriage was looted.
Moving on to investigate the bodies it is clear that they too have been stripped of their possessions. Most appear to be soldiers while others display a slighter build. Their wounds include mundane cuts and bruises but you also find that some are stuck with odd needles and a few are even impaled by shards of ice. The man frozen in place wears a breastplate emblazoned with the heraldry of some Taldan house. Looking back at the jewellery box you find that the signet ring seems to match the design.
Turning his attention to the remaining carriage Cyrus climbs on top of it and opens the doors. He averts his gaze for a moment after looking inside but then resignedly climbs in without a word. When he emerges again he is carrying three bundles of expensive looking clothing. He indicates that there are dead handmaidens inside.
With the massacre scene sufficiently searched he turns his attention to the surrounding area. It is not long before he signals for the party to come to the South side of the road. There the snow holds an obvious trail leading off into the forest.
"It is a Taldane caravan. Lady Argentea is presumably some noble lady of that land, and these others her guards and retainers. Whomever set upon these people seems to be a master of frost magic. It reminds me of my homeland. There, weather such as this would be common. Here, I can think of no reason for it to be this cold other than perhaps magic. But perhaps we should give chase while we still can. The trail is getting colder, if you will pardon the pun."
Check 1 -
Primary :
Assist :
Assist :
Assist :
Check 2 -
Primary :
Assist :
Assist :
Assist :
While discussing the best course of action the group uses the dying light to take a look at the items discovered. Initially Kogar is somewhat taken by the shiny baubles but soon wanders off to investigate the trail into the woods. After much discussion and disagreement you feel that the jewellery is worth about 120gp in total. The dresses are of fine make and may bring as much as 150gp in all at a shop that would recognize their value. The weight of the jewels is of negligible but the three outfits weigh 18lbs in total.
Kobad looks up when he hears someone has found possible tracks.
He goes over to Kogar.
what have you found?
Concerned for the safety of the noble woman you press on into the forest beneath the dying light. As you make your way deeper into the forest you can feel the temperature falling rapidly. It's chill threatens to sap your strength and you pull what protection you have from it tight about you. Snow falls all around you blanketing the land and slowing your progress. Each step becomes an effort. The trees, still carrying their summer foliage, are clearly suffering from it's effects as well. Their limbs are bowed and you can see that many have broken beneath the unexpected weight.
After traveling about two hours the trail enters a small clearing before continuing uphill and out of sight. Even with the snow and gloom you easily noticed what appears to be a wooden chest half buried in the snow about fifteen feet off the side of the trail.
As they walk Kobad pulls a standard torch and with asnap of his fingers it ignites He uses the flame as a small heat source in addition to light.
Noticing the chest, "Hold," he tells the others as he moves to investigate. Pulling the chest completely out of the snow, he looks to see if it will open.
Nelossë stops Droguk before he can pull the chest out of the snow. "This may be a trap. Give me a moment to check before you open it."
Droguk points out the chest and moves to pull it free from the snow. Just before he grabs the handles the cleric places a hand on his shoulder and asks him to wait while she checks for traps. The barbarian is impatient about the delay but allows her to look about a bit.
Nelosse carefully checks the outside of the chest and surrounding area. After a moment she's about to declare things safe when she notes a rope running from the chest, hidden just below the snow, towards a nearby tree. As her eyes track up the tree they widen in surprise when she takes note of a large log with many sharpened stakes sticking out of it hanging there. From what you can tell if the trap is triggered the log would swing down and hit anyone near the chest.
Droguk grunts, yet, nods in compliance. As the aasimar finds the nasty trap, Droguk nods again in thanks. "It looks as if we were expected."
"Indeed it does." Nelossë looks at the others. "Any of you have any experience with trying to disable traps? Seems that if we try to open this it will drop yon spikey log on us."
"A likely assumption. The question then becomes this: If our quarry is in as big a hurry as they seem to have been, why would they leave anything worth carrying with them behind and take the requisite time to trap it against any pursuers?"
Kogar reaches the tree and considers the height of the log above him. While doing so he notices a rope running from the snow beneath the tree straight up the trunk to a piton that seems to hold the log in place.
"A likely assumption. The question then becomes this: If our quarry is in as big a hurry as they seem to have been, why would they leave anything worth carrying with them behind and take the requisite time to trap it against any pursuers?"
"There is probably nothing within the chest, seeing how it is nothing more than a trap. The Irrisen witch-demon and her followers could've easily have kept going, allowing one to remain behind to waste such time. Either that or bandits who set such traps to gain something from unsuspecting travelers."
Seeing what Kogar is doing, Nelossë will assist if his attack doesn't work.
Kogars throw strikes the chest putting a gouge in its top and causing it to fall backwards. As it starts to move the rope springs taunt from the snow and then falls loose again. A moment later the large log swings down, it's arc carrying it just in front of where the chest used to sit. You can easily imagine it sweeping through any group gathered there with deadly effect. Once past its target area it buries its spikes in the ground with a burst of snow and dirt.
Looking back to the chest you see that the blow has flipped it onto its back and left the top open. When you move closer to investigate you discover that the chest is indeed empty. However the torchlight reveals a cache of weapons and armor that were buried beneath it.
Kobad stayed away from the chest and the trap far to engrossed keeping warm with his portable campfire (AKA torch)
blasted cold, I thought it was summer... he mumbles shivering as the night wears on.
Nelossë will also take the chain shirt and the dagger and put them into Featherfoot's saddlebags, then continue leading the horse after Kogar!.
Concerned but in good spirits having avoided the trap left to guard the hidden weapons cache you press on into the night. The deep snow continues to hamper your movements making progress slow. The cold chills even those accustomed to it and bites into those with less protection.
Hour 2 : DC 11
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
Kobad :
Kobad especially seems to suffer. As you push on his teeth begin to chatter and he holds the torch closer for what warmth it can provide. by the end of an hour he's noticeably willing his way forward.
After a mile of walking through the snowy darkness that feels more like two or three you reach a section of forest where a wind swept gully carves it's way through a tree covered ridge. The snow here is even deeper, nearly waist high for most of you, making you look forward to climbing back up onto the ridge line.
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
Suddenly a large serpentine shape lunges out at Kogar in a burst of snow and fangs.
Bite vs. FF AC
Damage
Grapple
The creatures powerful jaws close around the half giants shoulder but it's fangs can't find purchase on his armor. It swiftly coils for another strike.
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
? :
The creature springs forward again attacking the suprised Kogar.
Bite vs. FF AC
Damage
Grapple
But again it misses the mark. Hissing in frustration it's eyes smolder with unrestrained hunger and malice.
Kobad shiverinbg even more than before his lips turning blue from the cold
what I wouldn;t give to be by the forge right now
then suddenly the creature attacks
Kobad doesn't even take the time to figuire out what it is he just knows it means to eat him.
stumbling back Kobad thows out his fist and shoots forth a blast of fire toward the creature.
the heat from the ray does well to help warm himself if even for a brief instant.
The area is bathed in an angry red light as Kobads ray of fire strikes the reptilian creature blackening some of it's white scales.
Featherfoot rears up in surprise and fear at the creatures sudden vicious attack. Despite the presence of the large predator the loyal horses training holds and it awaits it's mistresses direction.
Nelossë gives Featherfoot the whistle to join the attack, but the horse is unsure, and stays back from the serpentine creature.
Cursing, Nelossë shifts forward herself and stabs at the creature with her glaive, wracking her mind to try and identify if it's something she's heard of before.
Nelosse stabs forward at the creature but is unable to land the blow against the creatures writhing body. Meanwhile Featherfoot holds his ground.
Nelossë calls out, "Don't let it get you in its coils. Arctic Tatzlwyrms can sap your strength just by breathing on you."
Cyrus moves with the others in silence, his eyes constantly moving back and forth as he tried to keep aware of his surroundings. When they begin going through the deep ravine, a sense of danger crept up the back of his neck.
Suddenly, the snow burst from behind him, certainly validating the sense of danger he had felt! Cyrus turns and makes his way toward the creature as fast as he could move through the snow, maneuvering into a position where he could be flanking the foe with another member of the group, drawing his falchion and bringing the weapon down on the coils of the serpentine thing.
Cyrus moves to aid in the attack, his strange footware keeping him above the worst of the snow. His sword comes down flashing in the torchlight but as with the glaive it is unable to contact the twisting creature.