Droguk moves nearer the creature and as he does he pulls out his longspear and takes a stab at it.
Droguk rushes over as quickly as the snow allows but his spear thrust goes wide leaving the creature uninjured.
The tatzlwyrm writhes and coils in the deep snow avoiding multiple blows. Hissing it draws back and springs at Kogar, fangs bared to tear out his throat. Just as it bursts forward the confusion in the half giants eyes dissipates and a massive blade of ice forms in his hands. Kogars strike catches the creature mid-lunge, driving its head down through the snow and into the ground below where bone shatters. Even with its skull destroyed dragonkins long tail continues to whip back and forth violently before finally falling still.
The brief combat finishes almost as quickly as it started. With the creature dead the adrenaline begins to fade and the oppresive cold and dark seems to push back in. Silence, but for the falling snow, blankets the area leaving you listening to the sound of your own breath.
Cyrus' eyes widen in a mix of surprise, amazement, and not a small amount of terror as Kogar simply crushes the tatzlwyrm's head beneath his hammer.
"No small feat, felling a beast such as that with a single blow. Impressive Kogar. I fear we are nearing the point where we should rest, though, lest we begin to push ourselves. I will see if there is somewhere suitable for shelter that we can rest, if everyone finds that agreeable."
Kogar roots about in the bloodied snow for a few moments. He eventually reaches down and gives a pair of quick, powerful jerks with his arm. When you see his hands again you find one holding a long fang and what appears to be one of the beasts forelimbs. He begins binding them to his belt with a leather thong.
As the creature dies, Droguk places his weapon back up. Listening to the ranger speak, "Shelter would be wise. The cold takes no prisoners."
Cyrus immediately begins searching the near area, moving outward in a slow spiral, seeking the closest suitable shelter for the group that he can find.
Kobad just sits and shivers. trying hard to keep his hands from freezing solid.
the torch almost out. Kobad quickly gathers what he can that burns to keep a fire going. though he does not stray far as the fatigue is taking its toll.
Once Cyrus finds a campsite, Nelossë does what he can to help him get it set up. "Truer words were never spoken, Droguk. This cold is far more merciless than should be possible. It reminds me of my homeland."
|
Kogar beams a smile at everyone when Cyrus gives him praise. Quickly after he sets to work with the others making camp.
Awwww... Kogar says with the tone of someone seeing a sad puppy while looking at Kobad. He walks over and works to build a fire wall to help keep the mage warm. Using bits of fallen wood he builds a reflecting wall on the far side of the fire so that warmth isn't lost to the wind.
When that task is complete he pats the mage on the head and sets about to moving snow.
Scouting around the area of the ravine Cyrus is soon able to locate a well sheltered campsite that doesn't seem endangered by overburdened trees. With the help of the party snow is soon cleared and a fire is burning. The warm light drives back the frigid night and helps you to throw off the sense of unnatural foreboding at least for a time.
Huddled by the fire the color slowly returns to the sorcerers hands and face. After a time his teeth even cease their chattering.
Feeling as secure as is possible in such conditions your thoughts now turn to sleep after the long, exhausting journey.
As the fire burns brightly, Droguk stares into it a moment as his thoughts turn to what lays ahead for them all in hunting down the Irrisen witch.
Nelossë sees to Featherfoot's needs for the night, then sets up her bedroll halfway around the circle from Droguk, laying her glaive next to it. She says a brief prayer to Shelyn while facing North, then lies down to sleep.
Kobad remains quiet just sitting beside the fire trying to stay as warm as possible.
soon the discussion of watches comes up,
Will take final watch before dawn if you will need me he says in a dry raspy voice still feeling a bit fatigued from the cold.
he stokes the fire more with a fire blast, the flames blazing brighter and hotter.
Be it Shelyns blessing, your parties skill at setting up camp or just dumb luck the night passes without incident. From time to time you hear branches snap and occasionally trees fall but mostly just the soft whisper of snow gently falling. The fire is maintained throughout the night and thankfully holds back the worst of the cold giving you a chance to get feeling back to your fingers and toes once more. By morning you feel reasonably refreshed.
Packing up your gear you set back out once again. As the last embers of the fire are put out you immediately feel a sense of loss but you steel your resolve and pull your clothing tight about you. Making your way through the snow you soon return to the monotonous rhythm of the hike. The trail, thankfully, remains clear despite the continued snowfall and you have trouble following it.
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
After about an hour of travel you can again feel the cold pushing in against you but the heat of your exertions keeps it at bay for the moment. After a brief break you begin walking again when you notice some odd feathered fetishes hanging from the tree branches ahead. From this distance the details are hard to make out but they all seem to be black in color. Hung from straps they sway in the gentle breeze.
Droguk peers cautiously at the display. "Are any of you learned in what type of feathers those might be? I would say they are markings for a border of a tribe. But I do not know."
Cyrus gives the feathery fetishes a curious look, lightly touching one with his fingertips as he tries to think of what the importance of their presence here is.
As the party looks ahead Cyrus advances to the first tree and inspects some of the odd ornaments.
Cyrus would easily recognize these as crows feathers. Even more once you get that close you'll notice that they are in fact entire crows. They have been killed, bound with leather straps and hung in perhaps a decorative or ritualistic fashion. The bodies have been pierced multiple times by small needle like shafts. You recognize them as the same as what you found in some of the guards back on the road.
The hairs on the back of Cyrus' neck prick up as the group approaches the decorations.
"Crows...entire crows. This is some kind of strange ritual....I do not recognize from where it comes. But see here, look...the crows' bodies have multiple wounds from some needle-like weapon...like what was used on the guards on the road."
Droguk move closer to examine the dead birds. As he finishes, he looks around with narrowed eyes. "Be wary. We could have eyes upon us as we speak." Droguk pulls out his newly acquired sword. "If we are done here, let us continue, but carefully."
Kobad seems to be fareing better this day in the cold but it will not last forever.
looking over the odd ornaments hung about the tree.
Possibly a warning.
Kobad stays near Droguk for safety.
Leaving Featherfoot to stand further back, Nelossë moves into a range where she can scan the fetishes then slowly sweep the area around them.
The party advances to get a better look at the odd bundles hanging from the trees. As they do so they notice the dull glow of three points of lights in a tree further down the trail. With the breeze and snowfall it's difficult to tell if they are moving about the branches or if the movement of the branches is causing them to appear to.
Nelosses eyes glow with eldritch light for a moment as she begins scanning the area.
Keeping her detection spell active, Nelossë moves slightly toward the lights, gesturing for the others to stay back a bit.
Featherfoot nickers nervously as her mistress moves further forward.
The lights continue to glow warmly from among the tree branches.
Nelossë calls back to the rest of the group, "Those lights seem to be light drawn from magic. Two are of the evocation school of magic. The third may be the same, but I can't be certain. We should be careful." She goes back and leads Featherfoot forward with the rest of the group.
Ill at ease due to the disturbing tokens hanging from the trees the group must none the less push forward. As you push in amongst the marked trees you keep a sharp eye out.
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
Unsure of where danger might lurk you try and look in every direction at once. Ahead the three glowing lights float among the tree branches, their mystery only adding to the tension. Creeping forward through the impeding snow you start to feel as if eyes are upon you. You've just about convinced yourself it's paranoia when you hear an odd sounding twang of bow strings from all around.
? : Attack vs Nelosse -
Damage vs Nelosse -
?? : Attack vs Cyrus -
Damage vs Cyrus -
??? : Attack vs Droguk -
Damage vs Droguk -
Cyrus and Nelosse call out as they are pierced by thin needle like projectiles and a third flies by Droguk. They are easily recognizable as the same type found both at the massacre site and impaling the crows. Though the damage they cause is minimal you can feel cold creeping into the wound almost immediately threatening to dull your mind and muscles.
Perception :
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
?
??
???
Looking about for any sign of the source of the attack you find it difficult to make anything out. The snow and brush combine to block almost any trace. The more sharp eyed of you do manage to spot the attackers though and point them out to the others as the battle begins in earnest. You see what resembles small blue humanoids with wings. They are approximately 15' above the ground among the tree branches.
Init :
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
Featherfoot :
? :
?? :
??? :
Cyrus calls out to the others, pointing out the small humanoids among the tree branches a fair distance off the ground. As soon as the warning is out, he drops to one knee, in one smooth motion drawing his bow, nocking an arrow, and firing it at the neartest visible target.
The cold from your wound spreads and takes hold of your muscles making them slow to react.
The unaccustomed chill throws off your usually smooth draw and sends the arrow wide.
Nelossë, looking where Cyrus pointed, grabs her symbol of Shelyn and focuses on it for a moment, calling upon its protective powers. Once the ward is in place, she'll reach for her crossbow.
Kogar is at first confused by the sudden flurry of action but his companions calls of alarm quickly set him into motion. The chill air around him coalesces into a jagged chunk of shimmering ice which he sends flying at one of the creatures.
It strikes the tree with great force, shattering against the great branches to send razor sharp shards at the unfortunate creature.
The struck creature begins to glow until it's a small ball of light and then flies Northeast. You see the light move into the pine you passed earlier and then go out of site.
Droguk :
Nelosse :
Kobad :
Kogar:
Cyrus:
From the tree to your Southwest one of the creatures breaks cover and flies on it's insect like wings towards the group. As your eyes track it's path you see it reach out its arm and a flash of multicolored light washes over Cyrus and Droguk.
Kabad moves just enough to get the exposed enemy within 30 feet and flings a blast of flame at it from his fist.
The blast of color tears through your eyes and feels like a spike being driven into your head. Cyrus manages to hold onto consciousness despite the spells effect but behind him he hears the barbarian fall into the snow.
Unconscious for : rounds
Then blinded and stunned for :
Then stunned for one additional round
Kobads spell strikes true and the small creature shrieks in pain.
From the tree to your West a shot fires out at the sorcerer.
The projectile sinks into your arm and you feel it's cold seeping up towards your chest .
Featherfoot shuffles forward a bit to be next to her mistress.
"Come out of the trees and fight, you cowards!" Cyrus calls into the trees, nocking another arrow to loose at the closest of the diminutive targets.
The arrow flies wide of the fluttering creature. The falling snow obscuring your view and fouling your shot.
Kobad you feel the cold creep up your arm tightening your muscles and slowing your actions.
Fighting the stiffness Kobad turns to face the creature that caused the distress.
and he quickly forms a small flame in his hand and hurls it toward the creature
Nelossë calls out to one of the creatures, taunting it and trying to weave a spell to force it to focus on her instead of the others who might be more susceptible.
You feel the comforting feeling that had been on you dissipate as the Godesses protection ends. Nelosse begins chanting but you see no visible effect from her efforts.
His prior target lost in the trees Kogar turns his attention to the creature near the group sending another ball of ice it's way.
At the last moment the small humanoid flits to the side avoiding the blow. Spinning back around it lifts its bow and fire at the half giant.
It's shot goes wide disappearing into the snow as it has to pull up short to avoid a the ball of fire Kobad sends at it.
As this happens the third creature bursts from the tree to the Northwest and flies around the back of the group where it unleashes a blast of multicolored light that strikes Kobad and Kogar.
The half-giant blinks rapidly in response but seems to shrug off the effects.
Cyrus gives a grunt of frustration, tired of the snow throwing off his aim as he nocks another arrow.
"A pox on this bloody snow!"
"Featherfoot. If they come near us, take them out," Nelossë says. She takes aim with her crossbow and lets fly, but the snow throws off her aim.
Having shrugged off the creatures spell and enraged by the hurt done to his companions, Kogar forms a great icy hammer in his hand, steps forward and attacks.
The blow hits with devastating force. The creatures body is thrown like a rag doll, it's bones shattered, to fall into the snow.
Injured and now alone the remaining creature flits away using the trees and snow to cover his path.
Droguk after a minute or so you awaken finding that you can't see anything but feeling the cold snow about you. As you rise you start to see light, then shadows and finally things come back into focus.
You'll all notice that the lights in the tree faded at sometime during the fight and now you are left surrounded only by the bodies of dead crows.