"Fat lot of good it did you, huh?" Cyrus says without even looking at the man, walking over to where the winter wolf has fallen. Kneeling in the snow beside it, he checks the color of its eyes once more to be certain he wasn't mistaken earlier.
Upon confirmation of them being different colors, Cyrus reaches for his belt, then hangs his head. [b]"I would forget the thing on the trip I actually need it on..." he mutters, then looks over to Nadya and the others. "Don't suppose any of you would have a skinning knife, would you? Seems I left mine at Nadya's."
"Your terms are acceptable." the man states. "We were to accompany Norgrimm" he inclines his head towards the dead wolf"who was ordered to scout the area about the Pale Tower for a group of armed adventurers. We took you for them and were ordered to attack."
Droguk looks over to Cyrus before turning back to the rangers. "Who was it that gave you this order?"
Natasza remains at their backs, ready to give Tough the order to attack.
"Norgrimm was in command of our company. I don't know which White Witch gave him his orders though."
Nadya moves to Cyrus, drawing a sharp curve bladed knife as she approaches. Kneeling next to him she quietly asks, "What is it?"
Cyrus reaches up to take the knife, thanking Nadya for allowing him to use it. Turning the blade in his hand, he pauses to explain his actions.
"There are old tales of winter wolves...I'm sure you've heard them before, too. That a rare few of them have differently-colored eyes and that those can be skinned for a rimepelt...a special fur that allows one to take on the form of a winter wolf for as long as the magics will last. If what we were told about the status of these animals in Whitethrone is true, I can imagine being able to turn into one would be very useful there."
Droguk turns to the others, "It is as I thought. There could be several of the Irrisen demons looking for us. If there is anything any of you wish to ask, do so now. Otherwise, it is time for them to go."
"Nadya, how far are we from Whiterun at this point? Are there any closer settlements than the capital?"
"There is the city of Ytterjorna perhaps four days away and only a bit out of our way. It will take us another week to reach Whitethrone itself." she says quietly to Cyrus, her eyes jumping to the two men in the near distance to be sure they aren't listening.
Seeing no further questions being asked one of the hunters says, "If that is all you would ask then we would be on our way."
Droguk looks over at the hunters, "You are free to go. But know this: If we meet on the opposite side of the battlefield again, talk will no longer be an option," he states as a matter of fact. "You have been warned."
No longer paying them any mind, Droguk turns to the arrows buried within him. He removes them through gritted teeth, one by one. After removing the last one, he turns his attention to the group. "Let us continue on. We've wasted enough time."
The hunters withdraw with an eye to the party as they do so. after a few moments they are lost to view and shortly after the falcon takes to the air. Wheeling about a few times as it climbs it finally heads off to the northeast.
Natasha watches the two rangers work at the wolfs body for a few moments before she begins an aloof review of the parties wounds.
Finding many wounded Natasha begins to tend to them. What her bedside manner lacks her magical abilities more than make up for.
With that done the party regroups and continues along. The rest of the days journey passes without incident as does the night. Early in the next morning however you come upon a rough wooden cabin just inside a small wood. There is no activity outside but a lazy stream of smoke rises from the chimney.
Deciding it would be better to not raise any suspicions or alarms by sneaking about, Cyrus raises his hands to his mouth and calls aloud,"Ho, the cabin! Anyone home?"
After a few moments you see the heavy wooden door open a bit and someone looking out towards you. Another moment passes and a woman steps out. Even from this distance her red hair and striking beauty are evident.
"Hello travelers, what business brings you to my home?" she asks not unkindly but with clear reservation.
"No business. We are simply passing through," Droguk responds plainly.
Kobad steps forward, While what my rather muscular friend here says is true, We would be much obliged if you may let us come in and warm up a bit? he asks the lovely lady.
a friendly smile accompanies the request.
"I suppose a bit of a breather wouldn't hurt." Cyrus answers, a brief flicker of surprise crossing his features at seeing the cabin's occupant before he glances over to Nadya. "How about it? Up for a rest?"
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"Sounds like a plan, for your fingers are turning mighty blue there, southerners." Natasza says while walking around in her simple garments.
"If you don't mind, however, I will stay outside with Tough. We have some meditating to do, and some folks don't like animals inside their house."
The woman gazes at you for a few moments before seeming to make up her mind.
"Perhaps fate has seen fit that we find each other. I offer the hospitality of my house but I'm afraid you will find it less than it usually is. You see my husband Finngarth has been taken..." The woman's voice breaks a bit as emotion plays across her face. She manages to regain some of her composure though her grief is evident, "by a troll. You seem a capable group. Will he help us? The cave in which it dwells is not long journey."
Droguk stares at the woman stoically a moment before responding. "We will help. Are you to lead us to this cave? Or simply give us a direction in which to travel?"
Relief is evident on her face as your offer of help. "Thank you! I know it is much I ask and hospitality should not come with such a price but I can not abandon him to such a fate or see him go unavenged if fate has already called." She sniffles a bit at the last statement but maintains a brave front.
"The cave is just west of here, perhaps a mile. I will guide you if you."
After a short journey, difficult more for the miles you've already traveled today rather than the local terrain, you reach a depression between two hills that descends to where you can see an opening in the earth. In the open perhaps two-hundred feet away you see a humanoid creature, it's upper torso covered in some kind of mossy vegetation, moving about. The creature carries a battle axe in one hand but seems unaware of your presence.
"There! There is the troll!" the woman whispers.
Droguk nods, acknowledging he sees it. "Let us move closer. When we are withing striking range, those of you that can draw its attention with ranged weapons, do so. We will bring the creature to us. And remain wary of our surroundings." Droguk pulls out his greatsword and heads toward the troll, keeping an eye out for a possible ambush and/or traps.
Natasza and Tough look up as the party leave the hut, and decide to follow, given her curious nature. They kept a distance though, seeing if they were not followed or anything. She couldn't help cast a detect magic and try to see if there was any magical influence on them, but as she found nothing, being not smart enough or being too far away, she started getting closer to the group.
When the woman whispered that there was a troll, she started looking, and trying to think of natural weaknesses she could abuse.
Upon reaching the troll's lair you pause for a moment to consider the creature. The first thing you realize is that it's not a troll. While certainly a large specimen of humanity, this is most certainly a man. The moss covering him does perplex you for a moment but then the horrific realization of what it is comes to you, a mindslaver mold.
You don't know much about this vile plant beyond that it has the ability to dominate it's prey and then infest them. Once attached it lives off the fluids of it's slaved host and will eventually kill all but the strongest if not removed.
Don't have know arcana, so TEN is max.
Can I still get the Fireborn's attention?
Natasza tries to attract the attention of Kobad, while walking.She nods and whispers for him to come closer, and walk behind the rest.
Cyrus follows the others to the location of the troll, and though tired, he seems glad for the opportunity to help a local in need. Both on the way and when they spot the creature, Cyrus tries to remember what he can of moss trolls and size it up, paying particular attention to any physical resemblance it may have to a moss troll; after all, he, Droguk, and Kobad had actually killed one of them before stepping into the winter portal, so discerning a resemblance shouldn't be terribly difficult.
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This terrifying plant, spoken of by some Ulfen travelers you once met, is said to be able to control the minds of it's victims whom it infests and feeds off of. If not forcefully removed the plant will eventually kill weaker hosts while those stronger may be subject to years of slavery.
As if that weren't bad enough the creature is resistant to spells and acid and can shoot spores that drain a persons very will. All together a vile horror of the north you'd hoped never to encounter.
"It's not a troll at all..." Cyrus realizes with horror. "It's a mindslaver mold! Woman, I don't think your husband was kidnapped by the thing, your husband IS this thing! If he's not rescued from it soon it could kill him!"
Droguk stops, glances from Cyrus to the woman and then back to Cyrus. "How do we stop it, Landwarden, without killing him?"
"What...but..." the woman seems confused and then peers intently at the creature. "Finngarth? No....Eldest have mercy! We have to help him." The sudden realization seems about to set the woman running into the clearing.
Natasza tries to attract the attention of Kobad, while walking.She nods and whispers for him to come closer, and walk behind the rest.
** spoiler omitted **
Kobaad nods, wondering exactly she sees. Kobad closes his eyes for a brief second and when he opens them, his pupils burn like tiny flames.
he analyzes the auras he sees, guided by Natasza's prompting to see what she saw.
"If it is mindslaver mold then it has to be removed. It's easily done, or so I hear, when the abomination is dead. If it's still alive I've heard that it can be pulled off though that can be dangerous for whomever it's got hold of. Other than that it won't let go until it wants to." Nadya whispers.
"I don't want to harm her husband. He is a victim of this thing as much as if it had been a real troll that was holding him hostage. Though...maybe if we try to focus on just knocking him unconscious it would leave him alone?"
Nodding at Cyrus, he looks to the others, "We will use the flat of our blades. Let's go." Droguk heads toward the mold man, wondering if he is already too far gone.
Making their decision the party advances towards the beleaguered man.
It's alien senses alerting it to the parties presence the strange mold covering the mans shoulders convulses a bit and fires a spore at Droguk.
The spore pod hits and bursts into a cloud of dust but seems to have no ill effects.
Droguk moves toward the mold man, feeling a bit awkward as he attacks with the flat of his blade.
Cyrus and Droguk both advance quickly and land heavy blows with pummels and flats of their blades. The man is rocked by the attacks but keeps his feet. His glazed stare turns towards his attackers.
Back at the woodline Natasha mutters, "Well if that's what you wanted, there's an easier way.". Her whisper of "Sleep" seems to carry on the wind as she glares at the man.
Immediately the mans eyes close and he falls to the ground breathing heavily.
"What do we do now?" Natasza mutters to herself, trying to think of any lore of nature that can tell her how to remove it quickly.