Viktor looks at the tiny dart. "We have no reason to fight you little ones, flee now and save your own lives!" Viktor raises his shield defensively and draws his crossbow.
Ellowin shouts, "Over there!" She then looses an arrow to emphasize where she's talking about.
"I sense three magical auras, likely one for each creature attacking us." Kara's eyes continue to glow blue as she concentrates further.
Arthorion squints his eyes looking at the trees but cannot spot their foes; unable to pinpoint the menace, he runs up to the trees and uses the environment to protect his back. He holds the greatord in front of his body, ready to deflect any arrows that come his way. The lynx follows Arthorion to the trees, and also takes a defensive stand.
Daevin draws his short bow and an arrow.
"I can't see them..." he growls.
His brow furrows and he yells “Beidh sé seo baoise a bheith ar do bháis!"
Narsius must be too distracted by the snow, he doesn't see the arrows. Anyway, he quickly follows Arthorion.
Ellowin shivers in the cold, wondering what the sprites are up to now, and mutters, "Damnable sprites. They must believe this to be a place of power to protect it so. Usually they flee at the first sign of danger."
A look of confusion crosses Ellowin's face at this odd language the sprites speak, "Cén modh créatúir bhfuil tú nach mian leat an teanga a labhairt na Fey?"
Daevin signals at the group to hold. He lets his bow dip as he inhales deeply.
His voice begins in a low and gentle tenor
"Hush cinn anois daor
OH Agus incline do chluas
Mar sin, go mo cheol
Beidh tú a chloisteáil surely!
An scéal paisean
As lasair cosúil leis an ghrian,
As an Kvothe Dó Agus
milis Felurian!
Le toil iomlán
Agus cumhacht intinne
Tá na gcroí diongbháilte
Thoghairm amach draíochta
De chineál paiseanta."
His song continues, but eventually reaches its close
" Dá bhrí sin anois ar ár scéal
Ní mór teacht chun deiridh,
Mar gcroílár na Felurian
Surely raibh Bend
Chun scaoileadh an comhlacht
As dóiteáin agus dearg
'Fill ar ais go luath, Kvothe
le mo chroí agus mo leaba'"
And incline your ear
So that my song
You shall surely hear!
The tale of a passion
Of flame like the sun,
Of the Burning Kvothe
And sweet Felurian!
With will absolute
And power of mind
These hearts resolute
Summoned forth magic
Of a passionate kind.
Thus now our story
Must come to an end,
As the heart of Felurian
Surely did bend
To release the body
Of fire and red
"Return soon, Kvothe
to my heart and my bed"
Daevin's conclusion echoes through the trees.
Arthorion lowers his sword, still looking at the trees around them. He keeps his back against a tree trunk and places one hand on Zoren's head. "Well done, Daevin. And quite a beautiful melody, despite the harsh language." He then turns to the group and asks no one in particular "Did anyone get a good look a them? Were they the same sprites Viktor and I described earlier?"
"I saw nothing ..."
Narsius seems distracted, under the spell of Daevin's song.
"That was gorgeous, Daevin. I only wish I understood what you had sung..."
Kara turns to Ellowin. "Feicim gur féidir leat Gaeilge a labhairt chomh maith."
Kara's eyes return to their normal green shade. "I saw three auras from the conjuration school of magic. I wasn't able to determine the spell, though."
Turning to Arthorian, Ellowin replies, "They were sprites, though none like any I've ever encountered before. I do not know what language they spoke, but it was not that of the Fey. They did not speak Sylvan, only that harsh guttural language. I cannot tell if they were the same sprites you spoke of before, though, since you did not really describe them in much detail, and the snow fall is too thick and too dark for me to be able to see much more than their outlines in the light."
Daevin nods his head "Thank you, I don't sing often and I tend to sing in aklo even less." he says with a slightly embarrassed smile.
Viktor slowly puts his crossbow away. "Anybody hurt?"
Daevin looks at the path they were heading down and back to the group. "I don't know if they were the same fey that were described earlier as these fey seemed to mostly use tiny arrows" he says while plucking one out of his shirt, "and the other fey seemed more inclined to use magic, if I recall correctly. Granted, it could be these fey are Jacks of all trades and can use magic and bow, but if these fey could freeze us where we stood like they did with the carriage door, why hold back?"
"I don't really care who they are, as long as they stay away. I've had enough of them," Arthorion says. He then turns to Ellowin. "It looks like you are leading the way. Where to now?" The elf looks away and scans the landscape looking for any tracks that they should be following.
Kara follows the lead of the rest of the group.
Ellowin shrugs, "Fey are fickle. They usually live in the moment and do whatever amuses them at the time. Most fey have no conception of consequences for their actions, so it is almost impossible to discern what they may do at any given moment."
Turning to Daevin, she adds, "Demanding payment for passage with song, for example, after attacking us. The song was beautiful, by the way. You should teach me the words someday." She bites her lower lip and fidgets with her bow a bit after admitting to the way the song moved her, even if she did not know the words nor the language. Snapping out of it at Arthorian's demands, she looks up sharply at the elf.
This one... What drives him so? He desires to lead us, but does not seem to want the responsibility such an action might have. His friend, however, would make a good leader, but does not seem to want to lead. Perhaps that is what makes him seem like a good leader...
She nods to Arthorian and starts looking through the snow and underbrush for tracks, ignoring the passage of the sprites through the upper trees.
Viktor listens to the talk about Fey, nodding but keeping silent since he knows little of them. He picks up on the trail with Ellowin.
Kara follows behind Viktor and Ellowin, trying to keep up with their tracking skills. After a few minutes, she speaks to Viktor, trying to make small talk. "I really have no idea what you two are following..."
Viktor smiles, giving Kara a warm clap on the back. "Because this is my home and I will defend it. More importantly I have the power to defend those who cannot defend themselves; doing nothing would be the same as putting them into danger myself. Those of us who have the strength to fight have a responsibility to protect the weak. And being with a group just makes it easier."
Kara blushes, realizing she didn't speak her question clearly. "I was actually referring to the tracks we're following. I can't seem to get a hang of it."
Then, after a pause, she continues. "I'll be honest... I'm not really sure why I'm here. I don't really have any of the right kind of skills for this job. I guess when I volunteered I thought that it would be a simple search party. We go into the woods, find Lady Argenta and be home before dinner. Clearly, I was wrong." She stops to think for a second. "But even if I'm in over my head, I can't turn back now on her now. If I can help, even in a minor way, then I am in the right place."
"See there? Broken branch. You can tell it's fresh because the inside is still white instead of brown from wear. And those leaves turned up, the wet side of them is facing the sun. Normally the wet side is down to the earth, that means somebody kicked them over." He looks farther along. "People take the path of least resistance too. You can guess a few directions they would have taken. A man is more likely to follow a game trail than to wander through underbrush."
Daevin smiles and looks at Ellowin, "Thank you, that truly means a lot. I would gladly teach you. With how often I travel, I have found languages fascinating and I would enjoy learning the language you spoke to the fey, as well."
As they continue on, Daevin hears Kara's comment and looks at her and says with an understanding expression: "Don't second guess or underestimate yourself. A merry band of similarly capable people is only capable of accomplishing so much," he holds his thumb and forefinger apart. "but a group with diversity can reach the stars." he smiles.
As Daevin looks at the stag, a smile spreads across his face. Such a majestic creature. Hmm...
"A white stag... and missing an eye..."
Ellowin moves forward, slowly, making shushing sounds and holding both hands to the side, weaponless.
Viktor watches the white stag silently with a sad smile, mourning the loss of the creature's eye but appreciating the beauty.
"Well, this is a little unexpected... meeting a talking elk, that is," Ellowin says, fumbling for words. "I'm Ellowin, and I wish you peace, as well..."
Daevin cocks his head to the side and slowly approaches the stag with a calm and gentle demeanor.
I wish I actually had sugar.
Viktor tilts his head curiously at the talking stag. His hand rests gently on his weapon, but talk of peace makes him doubt this creature is an enemy. "Good day white stag. You must tell us, how did a being such as you come to be?"
Daevin inclines his head as a respectful gesture "I am Daevin Arkinfald." he smiles genuinely "What may I have the honor of calling you?"
Viktor Rusnak. Born here, spent some time at the Worldwound where I earned my paladin-hood, then spent some more time in the north before returning."