The group recovers from the battle and sets off on its way up the trail, maintaining their established marching order. The journey is relatively easy, with little new snow to make walking harder.
After a short distance, Thorn comes across a stream that has been frozen over by the current cold weather. A human-sized snowman stands in the middle of the trail before, right before the ice. A crude wooden sign leans against the snowman and bears the words “Trespassers Turn Back.” written in Taldane.
It is getting close to 900 AM.
Temperature is about 30 degrees (F).
Wind is blowing intermittently.
Snow falls occasionally.
Izumi approaches the battle scene with the destroyed carriages carefully, trying to make sure she does not disturb the scene. Turning to Sturion, she says "This is where we first found evidence that Yuln was not just telling stories. These carriages were attacked and the crew appeared to have been slaughtered or carried off. There were a few animated corpses left behind, but they did not cause any of us to fall."
After letting Sturion investigate the area, she points to the head of the trail, "The rest of the group went that way up that trail. I have no idea how far they went. Are you ready to follow?"
Sildur halts a ways back from the snowman , "I grow tired of these fey and their games. We should make sure the snowman isn't another trap of some sort."
Retrieving his sling, Sildur drops a ball into the pocket and providing there are no objections from the others, launches it at the snowman.
Sturion taps the keg on the side of Tom's packsaddle for another mug of dwarven stout.
Aye, lady...it seems they'll be needin' a protector...an' since the clan's all gone...I'll be lookin' for someone worthy of protectin'.
Sturion looks over the scene again as he drinks from the mug...hoping the keg will last until the next good watering hole...
Rikael draws Feybane yet another time and sighs.
Well, given our history in this forest so far, I'm just going to go ahead and assume that there is a frozen body in there. Anyone see anything else besides a creepy snowman?
Urga growls, "Yet more fey trickery I'm sure. Watch our flanks - it may be a diversion."
Urga scans the perimeter woods:
Perception:
Urga unlimbers his crossbow and fires on the snowman.
Attack: Damage:
You stand off a far distance from the snowman, trying to avoid any trickery.
Urga and Sildur fire their weapons at the snowman, with no obvious effect.
You do not notice anything unusual with the snowman. It appears to be made of packed snow.
It is difficult to pinpoint the reason, but something does not seem right with the statue. You think it needs further investigation but you cannot say exactly what has caused your concern.
Izumi watches Sturion and gasps, "I hardly think this is the time for ale. Shall we start up the trail?"
Sildur raises an eyebrow as the bullet and bolt slam into the snowman, "I guess not...Agatha, can you tell from here if they might have laid an enchantment upon it?"
Impatient, Dru moves ahead of Sildur. Closing another 10ft towards the river before pacing back and forth watching the snowman.
Urga shoulders the crossbow and readies his falchion, "It appears to be just packed snow."
The party shifts positions while Agatha takes a few minutes to examine the statue magically.
You do not find anything unusual, at least not unusual compared to what you have seen over the last two days.
There are auras of illusion and evocation around the statue. The magic looks as strong or stronger than you would be capable of casting. You would need to get closer to investigate more completely but that would clearly involve some risk.
Rikael casts a dark look at the snowman while lighting a torch. Once the flames flare up, he shifts his grip, holding the torch like a club.
Damn these fey... Always with tricks and foul magic. Haven't they ever heard of a proper sword fight?
He tries to look farther down the path
Sildur frowns, "These fey are denizens of another world entirely. Our concepts of honor are as alien to them as they to us..."
Cautious and silent, Thorn searches the area leading to the snowman for traps. The fey had already proven themselves as wily tricksters. Holding up a hand to stay the others, he proceeds to slowly and methodically check the trail leading up to the snowman. Alert for dangers and of course Fey.
As Thorn advances, Sildur moves forward to within 30ft of the snowman to provide support if needed.
Dru stays just ahead of his master, ready to move in.
Sturion downs the mug, puts it up, shrugs, and heads off down the trail the group left.
Urga shrugs, "Let's just go around it. We can cut through the woods and cross a little further upstream."
The ulfen seems hesitant, "The last trap they laid for us held a bounty underneath. I'd like to at least get an idea of what trickery they have wrought here before moving on..."
Urga scowls at the druid, "We're not here for loot. It's not worth risking your life."
The druid nods, "You're correct of course, lets give it a wide birth."
He looks at the others, "Any objections? Thorn, can you lead us around?"
We best be wary, even if we go wide to try and avoid a fight. They are smart, smarter than I've expected. They could have trapped the entire area just in case we did this exact thing.
He looks around warily, and tightens his grip on his torch.
Of course, who's to say if we leave this snowman here, it won't follow us and try to kill us in the middle if the night?
Sildur shrugs, "If it were animate, I imagine shooting it would have provoked a response of some sort. Though simply pushing it over might not be so bad. In the end it's your skin, do what you believe is prudent Rikael, Dru and I will back you up if you get into trouble."
Dru grunts at Rikael and rubs against his leg encouragingly.
As Thorn approaches the snowman, he finds nothing unusual on the trail.
A save against illusion isn't really appropriate here.
Sildur is about 30' away from the snowman and Thorn is, assumedly, closer. Where is everybody else?
Izumi and Sturion start up the trail. The snow varies in depth from 1 to 6 inches. The trail is mostly clear and easy to follow. After traveling up the path for some distance, they see a spiked log hanging from ropes that covers the middle of the path. Just beyond that, there is a pile of splintered and lacquered wood.
"What an odd combination of things," says Izumi. "What do you make of this, Sturion?"
It is just after 900 AM.
Temperature is about 30 degrees (F).
Wind is blowing intermittently.
Snow fall has stopped.
Alright.... If you guys are going to back me up, I'll poke it with a stick. Seems like a good idea, I guess.
Rikael searches for a really long stick for a few seconds, trying to find one at least five or six feet long.
Upon finding one, he'll move to five feet away and poke the snowman, hard, in the midsection.
Rikael hacks a long branch off of a tree and cuts a point in one end. He walks toward the snowman with the intent to poke it with the stick.
When Rikael gets about 15 feet away from the snowman it speaks with a disembodied voice, "Can’t you read? The sign says turn back!
Now get lost!". The speech is in Taldane, with a somewhat heavy accent.
Urga takes a defensive crouch, but will hold his ground, "There's no need to disturb it. You may trigger some sort of alarm. We can always circle back and take care of it later."
You did not see the spell being cast, but you do know that some wizards are able to make objects talk via a spell called Magic Mouth.
Most everybody takes up a defensive position. Since the first time the snowman spoke, it has made no further actions or speeches.
Please move Rikael to within five feet.
Rikael strikes the snowman with the pointed stick, right in the midsection.
I grow weary if your trickery! Reveal yourself so we can annihilate you like we have your foul companions, fey!
Sildur readies another sling bullet and he and Dru edge to within 20ft of the snowman, ready to act.
As Rikael gets to within poking range of the snowman, it screams and lets out a lets out a sound like thunder.
The concussion and volume of the sound tears at Rikael's organs, causing damage to his body.
Rikael stunned for 1 round!
The noise alerts two guardians that have been left at the crossing.
You do not see the guardians. Make your starting moves.
"Rikael!!! Are you alright?" A concerned Thorn calls out to his companion as he draws his hooked lance and takes a defensive position.
Urga moves up and tajes a defensive position between Rikael and the river.
Round 1
Sildur curses loudly in Skald. Motioning Dru forward he moves up near Rikael and Urga, "Do you need healing Rikael, that concussion looked brutal."
He readies his sling to fire if an enemy appears.
Dru moves towards the snowman, prepared to defend the crossing.
Rikael drops his stick, staggers backward, and then throws up all over the snow.
I'm.... Ugggghhhhh.....alright.....Hurrrrrrggggghhhhh..... I'll.....get my feet in a second....
Thorn takes up a defensive position.
Rikael staggers and tries to recover from the deafening sound.
Dru and Urga move up to protect Rikael.
Sildur prepares his sling.
Agatha moves up and gives Urga some magical help.
Two creatures that look to be made of moving ice emerge out of the river and move up onto the bank.
They look to be ice elementals from the plane of water.
The elementals use cold attacks and are vulnerable to fire.
When Sildur sees the creatures emerge from the river, he fires his sling bullet at the one in the lead. The sling bullet hits the one in the lead and causes some ice to break off of the creature.
Szassh moves up onto the bank and attacks Sildur. . The elemental misses Sildur completely
Skrikks glides up the ice to Urga and tries to hit him. . The elemental scores a solid hit on Urga, damaging him.
Urga grits his teeth and fights through the cold.
Rikael takes a five foot step while drawing Feybane.
I'M GETTING TIRED OF THESE TRICKS! CAYDEN PRESERVE ME!
He swings viciously with his weapon, his eyes wild and his anger and frustration evident on his face.