Shaking the cobwebs out, Droguk is visibly not pleased with being so easily dispatched from the fight. Ready to put it behind him, "Let us press on, we've wasted enough time," he says, quite annoyed, as he grabs his sword and continues on.
Droguk lifts himself up off the ground and the rest of the party keeps their eyes on the trees surrounding them. As seconds turn to minutes and the attacks don't resume you begin to let yourselves relax a bit. After taking a moment to shift your gear back into place you resume your march through the snow.
Droguk
Nelosse
Kogar
Dmg
Kobad
Dmg
Cyrus
Featherfoot
Dmg
Again the ever present cold creeps into joints and muscles. It would seem the exertions of the earlier attack have only made you feel it that much more. Kogar, Kobad and Featherfoot are most effected. The half giant manages to shake off the effects but both Kobad and the loyal horse seem to be suffering the climates effects.
As these effects become apparent you notice hoof prints following a game trail that crosses your path. Looking off to your left you see a great stag standing perhaps thirty feet way. Snow has settled upon it's back and antlers making for a majestic sight. You stare at each other for a moment before it tosses it's head and approaches. Stopping about twenty feet away it says, "This forest has become dangerous of late, what brings you here?"
Bluff
Droguk steps up toward the stag, "We are following the trail of an Irrisen demon witch. She and her band slaughtered innocents and must pay."
The stag stands statue like, only the fog of it's breath and slight turns of its head as it looks over the party breaking its stillness. "I have not seen such a creature in the forest though it would go far to explain the weather. Bringing such a creature to justice seems a mighty task. Pardon my saying but you seem an...eclectic group. What strengths do you carry to bring revenge to a witch?"
Nelossë will cast a few spells before stepping forward to speak to the strange stag. "We carry fire, and our strength of arms. We have the power of my goddess behind us, should we need it. We have spells, and stranger powers besides magic. What manner of creature are you"
The stag turns its head to face Nelosse. "That is some power indeed priestess." After a pause it continues "As to myself, I suppose I am as I appear to be. No more, no less." Resuming it's prior question it asks, "So it is revenge that carries you forward into this frozen woodland? I find it a hard notion to understand, such emotion is not commonly known among my kind."
During the first round of focusing you detect the presence of some kind of magic(s).
"It is not revenge that motivates us, great stag, but concern for our homeland and her people. A noblewoman has gone missing, by the name of Lady Argentea, and we were tasked with seeking her out and returning her to her home.
Also, an unnatural cold has settled on our land, bringing with it snow and creatures that are not natural to our country. We seek to discover what is causing this strange weather and, if possible, how we may reverse it. Many may suffer and possibly be killed if we cannot turn things back to right."
I just want damn blanket! says the shivering barely moving sorcerer.
"It is indeed odd weather my friend but nature finds a balance. Perhaps a quirk of the winds or a chill blast from the north. In time I'm sure the warmth of summer will return."
Again the creature pauses this time looking at Kobad.
"As to the noble woman I have seen other humans passing this way with an oddly dressed woman among them. Perhaps I could...but no you're friend here is near frozen as I imagine you all are. Why not head back to town. As I said I'm sure the snows will pass and you have lives among your own kind to lead why trouble yourselves here?"
Second round of focus : You sense one faint magical aura.
You can give me a K:Arcana roll if you have it to identify the auras school next round if you'd like.
Kobad stand there shivering during the conversation eventually getting too cold he looks about for something burnable like a dead log or something.
once found he shoots a blast of fire at it to ignite the log and starts to warm himself.
continue your chit-chat, I'll be fine for a bit, I vote go to town of course.
The stag makes a somewhat ungraceful sideways jump back at the sudden appearance of the flames but quickly regains it's poise.
"We will not be heading back. Allowing something like this to happen allows it to happen again and again. I will not allow the town to be subject to such. We will find the prisoner, rescue her, and make sure the demon witch pays for her actions." Droguk narrows his eyes at the creature. "Why are you so easy to dismiss us back? I pray you do not work for the demon witch, for your sake." The grip on his sword gets a little bit tighter.
"Friend, this cold is much more unnatural than what a mere chill blast from the north could do. Something has changed the weather and made it much colder than it should be. You seem to have some interest in turning us back along our path. Where did you see these others heading?"
The stag stamps in place a bit, "I meant no offense. If my concern for your safety intruded on your sense of honor then I apologize. The others I spoke of made the trail that you now follow, heading deep into the forest. I do not know their final destination but I do know where their trail heads into the steeper ridges. They took a circuitous route so they could cross Wishbone creek at a ford but as it is frozen there is no need to make the longer journey. If you desire I will lead you directly to where I last found their path."
After concentrating a bit more you are able to realize that the magic you sense seems to be located on the stags shoulders just behind his neck. Using the enhanced senses granted by your spell and your own knowledge you are able to feel the illusory nature of the faint aura.
As you consider this you notice something else. When the stag speaks its breath doesn't quite sync up with the words. It's almost impossible to detect but you're sure it's the case.
"No offense was taken, I assure you. I was merely curious that you seemed intent on us turning back. Our mission is one of rescue, and in such things, time is of the essence. Especially with a cold like this covering the area. But perhaps you could lead us to this place?" As she speaks, Nelossë is going to move toward the stag to see if she can get a better view of whatever is causing that aura, ideally without arousing suspicion. As she asks the last question, she'll turn and check with the rest of the group to see their reactions.
As you speak with the stag you wrack your mind for spells that allow for the creation of sound. You are aware of a few illusion spells that could be used to such effect. Ghost Sound can produce sounds at a distance though perhaps not so clearly as to hold a conversation. Ventriloquism would certainly allow for such an effect. Magic Mouth allows for messages to be given but is a more instantaneous effect. It might be possible to shape a Major Image to do such a thing.
Circling a bit closer to the stag you aren't able to discover any more about the location of the aura than previously. It seems to be situated on the stags back just behind it's neck.
"Of course. You are indeed folk of great bravery to risk yourselves so. Truly you should be commended and I will be honored to guide you. Come let us be off then."
With that the stag turns to the Northwest, leaving the trail you've been on, and begins heading off into the pristine snow that blankets the forest. After walking twenty feet or so it pauses and looks back to see if you are following.
Droguk leans in slightly toward the others, "I do not trust this beast," he firmly states. He looks at the stag for a moment, studying it, and then scans the area for any sight of a possible ambush.
Kobad grabs a piece of the burning log as a torch and takes it with him and uses the fire to try and keep warm as he continues along.
all I asked for was a blanket. had set fire to the forest instead. I swear....he stop right there realizing that he was speaking out loud.
Nelossë also leans in close. "I do not know what to think of this one. He bears the signs of illusory magic emanating from behind his neck, but I cannot make out the source. It is possible that the stag is an illusion, or that he is a bearer for something that allows another to speak through his mouth. I'm curious where he would lead us to, but Lady Argentea's safety is more important. Do we follow?"
Turning back to the stag, Nelossë will call out, "A moment, if you wouldn't mind satisfying my curiosity. How is it that a stag such as yourself comes to speak?"
"I suppose I have just always been able to do so. I know that it makes me different from most of my fellows but is an ability I have had for as long as I can remember. Shall we move on then or would you prefer to rest a bit first?"
You don't see anything out of the ordinary in your surroundings but you do notice something about the stag when it speaks. Although hard to perceive it would appear that there are times where the puffs of mist it's breathing cause don't overlap with its speech. During it's last statements it's exhalation seems to end on the word "bit" rather than "first".
Kobad is cradling the small flame like a life preserver. every so often re igniting it (using Spark spell). his movements are slow and he is having some difficulty keeping up. but he pushes onward.
Droguk leans back in, "This creature is off. It is a trap. If we follow, it may take us to the demon witch that's responsible for the kidnapped woman, which walks us straight into an ambush. Either that or it may lead us further away from our target. I say we follow our own path. If it reacts in any way to our disliking, we kill it." He raises back up, keeping a wary eye on the creature.
Cyrus listens carefully to the views of the rest of the group, casting a wary look back towards the beast that is offering to assist them, sizing it up, trying to see if he gets the same sense of danger from it as the Droguk and Nelossë have expressed.
Cyrus narrows his eyes as he looks carefully at the stag, then turns his attention back to the others. "You're right..something is off. Watch it's breathing when it speaks. The mist from it's breath doesn't match it's speech. There is some trickery here."
"I may have an idea. Give me just a moment, and I may be able to find a reason for the odd magical aura and the breathing."
Walking slowly toward the stag, Nelossë says, "I was wondering about something. You bear the mark of magic about you, and I was wondering if I might take a quick look at the source of the magic. May I approach you?"
Droguk nods as he keeps his attention on the beast.
The stag turns back towards the group. "Of course." it says awaiting Nelosses approach.
Nelossë approaches the stag and moves beside it, examining the back of its neck and the area immediately behind its neck along its back. She'll also part the fur in various places to see if she can identify the source of the magical aura she detected.
The stag stands as still as ever watching Nelosse approaching. Reaching the creature she starts to move around it when it suddenly rises up and then lunges forward attempting to gore her with its antlers.
The strength of the blow pushes the dagger like antlers past Nelosses armor, finding flesh beneath.
Droguk
Nelosse
Kogar
Kobad
Cyrus
Featherfoot
Stag
?
Nelossë stumbles backward, murmuring an incantation to her goddess for protection, then drawing her glaive. "Oof. Next time, that's not going to be so easy."
Nelossë stumbles backward, cursing, then belatedly calls upon her goddess for a ward against further attacks.
As Nelosse steps back the snow causes her to stumble giving the stag an opportunity to strike out again.
The cleric is able to avoid the blow however.
Cyrus makes his way forward through the snow; knowing how ineffective his ranged attacks have been thus far, and not wanting to waste any more arrows, Cyrus makes his way forward through the snow as best he can, drawing his falchion as he moves to intercept any attack the stag might make against him before he can fully close the distance.
Droguk makes his way next to the stag and attacks.
Cyrus and Droguk swiftly move forward to assist Nelosse. Droguk reaches the beast first and brings down his sword with lethal force. With a spray of blood the stag falls to the ground motionless.
A high pitched scream rises from just next to where the stag was. The words are unintelligible but their unseen source suddenly appears as it attacks the barbarian.
The revealed fey creature, hovering just in front of you, stabs into your thigh painfully.
Kobad still feeling the strain of the cold manages to trudge forward a bit and musters the energy to release a bolt of fire at the Imp
The bolt goes wide but the creature does turn his rage twisted features in your direction, clearly a bit unnerved by the display of fire.
Unable to see much from his current position Kogar trudges forward summing a icy maul to his hands.
"Let your hand guide this man's steel in ridding this place of the ugliness of hatred," Nelossë murmurs as she places a hand on Cyrus's shoulder. Then she whistles, calling to Featherfoot. "Come, defend us from this sprite."
Perhaps confused by the sudden combat, death of the stag and appearance of the creature Featherfoot doesn't understand Nelosses cues. She instinctively moves towards her mistress though in response to her calls.
Cyrus trudges forward through the snow, closing the remaining distance between himself and the fey creature, giving a loud cry of battle as he strikes with his falchion!
The falchion strikes the creature with significant force digging deeply into its flesh, though perhaps not as deeply as you might expect. Though wounded it continues to hold its position.
As the fey creature is revealed, "Irrisen demon!" Droguk drops his sword and pulls out his axe, attempting to bring the creature down in one fell swoop.