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The elderly woman nods, as if she was recalling the questions from long-lost memories.
"Noble goals, Sir elf. You are right to think that the source of the chaos is in the Border Wood, though it is not its origin. Chaos propagates in ripples, a chain of consequences. However, I feel that all is not lost yet, and ones as brave as you may save us all."
"As for the frost poisoning this land, I feel that it is alien, foreign, that it doesn't belong here. The winter-touched fey who came with the cold are creatures of the First World, so I wouldn't be surprised if you discovered that this phenomenon extends much further from Golarion's boundaries. Yet its true source is murky, impossible to see."
Letting the ominous words sink in your minds, she beams a sudden smile at you. "Another scone, dear?"
"Yes!" says suddenly the wizard, stopping his scribble in his notebook. When he sees the others eye him, he blushes and eventually goes on, more quietly: "Do you know anything about a hunter named Dryden Kepp?"
Stian nods, picks up a scone, and begins absently eating, his beard catching stray crumbs. "Though you may not know the source, do you have an inclination of which way to go?"
Virgil remains oddly quiet listening to the conversation and politely eating a scone, clearly not sure how to talk to the woman.
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"My dear, I would go straight to the heart of the cold if I were you. Assuming that the fey come from the source of it, they could be questioned or their tracks could be followed to find the source of this hoarfrost."
Then she turns to Thorgull, nodding gently. "Everyone knows him. I'm afraid he disappeared in the Border Woods not so long ago, chasing beasts we haven't heard of here since centuries ago. Dryden is too hot-headed for his own good, though, and I fear the worst for him."
"Can you tell us what the man looks like? Do you know where we could find weapons in cold iron to harm the feys?"
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"Cold iron is not so common around here, unfortunately, though you could always ask Isker Euphram, our local smithy. Since you're asking, I do have a few trinkets that may be useful to you. There's no point for an old woman like me to keep them, whereas brisk young men like you could make good use of it, and maybe save this community. Here, take them. Repay me by coming back once you've dealt with this unnatural cold and tell me your tale."
Old Mother Theodora hands Thorgull a scroll of sleep and a gnarled oak wand with a command word carved on it, cinders.
"As for Dryden Kepp's appearance, look for a gruff man with many scars on the face and poor manners. Chances are that'll be him."
Old Mother Theodora gladly answers any last questions you might have, then politely suggests she's tired and must rest, sending you on your way.
A quick visit at Isker's Smithy reveals that he only has about a dozen magical sling bullets made of cold iron for sale , which he will gladly part with for the hefty price of 86 gold pieces per bullet. He also has a suit of masterwork banded mail for sale, a relic of his army days.
You also catch glimpse of the smithy's daughter, a girl in her early twenties with stunning looks. She barely looks at you as she leaves the house, but she definitely addresses a wink at Virgil before doing so, with a slight becoming smile. From the looks of it, she's headed for the Silver Stoat.
Thorgull bows, blushing "Thank you, thank you! I didn't ask for so much! Be sure we'll come back and tell you what happened after the adventure!" then he takes the two objects and store them in his backpack.
"Yes, thank you for your kindnesses."
Zadok does not hesitate to follow the girl to the Silver Stoat.
Stian gives a nods to the old woman. "Your aid is much appreciated."
Watching the girl leave....Stian shakes his head and steals an envious glace toward Virgil. "Why do they always like the girly men..."
He glances to his companions. "Shall we take our leave?"
Oblivious to the situation, Thorgull raises his head from the book he's reading. "To where?"
"Yes, I think it is about time we made our way to the Border Wood."
Vigil briefly notices the girl and quickly returns the smile.
"I just need to grab something from the Stoat."
The duelist quickly follows the woman towards the Stoat, hoping to locate her.
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Zadok raises his eyebrows at Virgil but simply says, "Fine. Find us when you are done and we'll see what we can accomplish in the woods."
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Virgil follows the gorgeous woman into the Silver Stoat, where he sees her seated at a table, surrounded with three apparent suitors. She smiles and fawns, yet shows no apparent favor to any of them. The girl subtly addresses at Virgil a brief battering of eyelash.
Kale the innkeeper cannot help but notice what's going on, and nudges Virgil. "Ye took a shine in our Xanthippe, aye? Ye'd better be careful, she's as skilled with her fists and hammer as she is with her beautiful eyes. Here, take a drink, it's on the house." she says, handing the swashbuckler a pint of the Three Devils Ale with a light-hearted chuckle.
Virgil accepts the drink, with a polite nod.
"Too kind barkeep."
Intrigued by the woman and her apparent variety of skills, the duellist makes his way to her table, paying no heed to the fawning suitors.
"A pleasure to meet you Xanthippe. I couldn't help but notice your attentions outside. My name is Virgil Ardelean, formerly of the University of Lepidstadt. May I join you?"
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Xanthippe turns to the duelist, a slight smile on her lips.
"My, a gentleman in Heldren! Surprises abound. Please do sit, Virgil, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance. Sarek, will you please leave your chair to that gentleman? You would be a sweetheart." says the woman with a cajoling smile.
The man she addressed reluctantly stands up, meets Virgil eye-to-eye with a wrathful gaze before nodding and going away. Xanthippe continues:
"It isn't everyday that we receive such esteemed guests from abroad. But today hardly qualifies as everyday, with the current events and all. Tell me, Virgil, what did you come to seek here? Surely a man of your stature has more important business to do?"
Virgil takes the seat, managing to ignore its previous occupant.
"Quite the opposite. A man like me has every reason to be here. I'm a man with something to prove and a responsibility to use my skills and position to help those under my care."
The swordsman turns the question back on the woman.
"How has a woman as beautiful and skilled as yourself remained attached to one location?"
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"I guess I love the local ale too much!" she jests, apparently disregarding the compliment. "Actually, I haven't finished my apprenticeship at my father's forge. He says I'm gifted, so I might only leave when I become a companion in my trade. Until then, I'm stuck here. Don't misunderstand me though, Heldren is a great place, and I'm not one for big cities. I just think that some change would be nice. Let's drink to that! To change!"
After a few ales, she offers to take a walk into town to get some fresh air, to the great dismay of her other suitors. Virgil catches up with his companions a few hours later, unknowingly bearing two straws of barley in his hair.
Half-sleeping on his book, Thorgull brusquely gets on his feet at Virgil's approach. "There... There he is! Erm... You still had supplies to buy? Shall we... go now?" he says timidly.
Zadok makes his way to Sarek, the man who was coerced to give up his seat. He puts his hand on the man's shoulder and says, "Are you prepared for the Coming, my friend? Let me tell you about Yog-Sothoth...."
Hearing the woman's exclamation, Zadok cuts his conversation short and joins in the chorus. "To change! Continual shifting and perpetual chaos shall abound!"
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As Zadok shouts his toast, many villagers raise an eyebrow, wondering what madness took the elf. Shrugging, they go back to their mugs of ale.
Once everyone's ready, the party finally starts heading south on the road to reach the Border Wood. According to Yuln's indication, the attack on Lady Argentea’s caravan took place approximately 6 miles south of Heldren. None of the intervening territory has been affected by the wintry weather over the Border Wood yet, though the air grows noticeably cooler the closer you come to the forest’s edge. Once you pass inside the tree line where the pocket of winter begins, however, the weather proves much worse, with temperatures below freezing and falling snow.
Near the forest, the temperature grows noticeably colder. The road ahead is littered with debris and the corpses of slain humans and horses. A carriage stands in the roadway, its team of horses missing or cut free, while another overturned carriage lies sprawled and broken next to the tree line. To the south, more bodies have fallen around what appears to be a statue of ice. A snowy trail leads deeper into the forest.
Thorgull is interested in the statue of ice and doesn't seem to notice the bodies on the floor.
"I think there might be someone in that carriage, we need to help them!
Virgil draws his rapier and moves through the bodies, checking to see if any of them are still alive or hold anything of use, gradually moving towards the carriage.
Stian nods, draws his bow and hurries to the carriage.
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Thorgull takes a special interest in the ice statues, which seem quite realistic indeed! Only moments later does he realize that the statue is the actual body of a Taldan captain now enceased in ice in a gruesome way, set as an example for everyone to behold. An expert eye can discern that one of the chunks of ice contains the captain's arm, still grasping a finely-wrought rapier with the guard wrought as a lion's head, Taldor's emblem. Moreover, the frozen man still wears a breastplate that appears to be in good condition and also of excellent quality.
On his way to the carriage, Stian observes the ground carefully, only to find many footsteps and traces of a hectic battle that took place here. A trail appears to go straight into the Border Wood, easy to follow in the heavy snow.
The trapper removes the lance closing the carriage, and the doors sing open, only to let a sinister moan out. Whatever poor creature emitting these sounds appear a second later, half-frozen dead arms stretched towards Stian's throat, eager to pry the trapper's brains out of his skull!
Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. Thorgull, Zadok, Stian, Virgil
2. The walking dead
Hearing the moaning behind him, Thorgull turns around quickly and shouts in a frightful yet informative tone of voice, stating the obvious: "Beware, they are zombies!"
Then, he takes a 5' step and points at the nearest zombie, clumsily using a spell that fades in the wind.
"Σατνας οψειχ Ωθυδ!"
"Zombies in the Border Wood!" Zadok yells as the arm reaches out of the carriage. "What fantastic madness! Hack them apart! Slice off their limbs!"
Zadok then fails to follow his own advice and pulls out a bow and moves off into the trees.
Seeing the undead rise, Stian takes a step backward and fires his bow at the northern one.
Virgil draws his rapier, still eyeing the fine quality weapon on the captain.
"Remind me to get that when we're finished with these."
With his blade drawn, the duelist readies himself for the undead.
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Stian's arrow pierces one of the zombie's thick flesh, yet it seems hardly efficient. One of the zombies lunges at Zadok while the other one is eager to taste Stian's brains. Its eagerness must be too great for he stumbles on the fresh snow and misses the ranger completely. His companion, however, bruises Zadok badly.
Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Thorgull, Zadok, Stian, Virgil
2. Z-z-z-zombies!
"Virgil! Step up and defend Zadok!" Stian bellows. Seeing his arrow's ineffectiveness, he drops his bow, and draws his axe as he moves over and waits for Virgil to flank the northern zombie, then hacks at the undead.
"Dammit!"
Virgil curses under his breath as he drops his rapier, moving his dagger as he takes up a flank opposite Stian. Once in position, the young man slashes at the undead with the short blade.
If this is successful, he will riposte;
Thorgull moves on his left, searching clumsily for his crossbow, which he eventually draws.
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Zadok withdraws from the fight, not wishing to risk his skin against the walking dead. He takes refuge behind Stian, hoping the zombies will attack his ranger companion before they finish him off.
Virgil and Stian start working as real team mates, acting together towards their goal - bringing down one of the zombies. Their blades both cut through the dead flesh with variable efficiency.
Thorgull fumbles for his crossbow, but his nervousness doesn't allow him to let loose a bolt yet.
The hacked zombie continues his onslaught on Stian, slamming into him hard.
At the same time, the other undead takes a step towards Virgil and attempts to attack the nimble duelist, only to find his blow parried and counterattacked! However, the riposte misses.
Initiative - round 3 - bold may act!
1. Thorgull, Zadok, Stian, Virgil
2. Z-z-z-zombies!
Stian grunts from the pain of the injury and hacks at the zombie again.
Relieved by the zombie's death, Thorgull moves forward and shoots a bolt at the remaining zombie.
for
Zadok looks paler than usual but he leans up against a snowy tree trunk and chants a few words to the nameless spaces between the stars.
Stian continues trying to hack the zombie to pieces!
Virgil flinches as the blow knocks the wind out of him.
"Be careful, these things pack a punch."
Undeterred by the attack, Virgil slices again with the dagger.
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"Let... Let go of him!" says vainly Thorgull to the zombie.
After remembering that zombies are... zombies, Thogull holds himself together and fires a bolt from his crossbow.
for
Seeing Virgil so wounded, Zadok moves to heal the man.
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Zadok heals Virgil's wounds, however they prove to be very deep and the oracle's spell isn't able to close them completely.
The zombie slams again with his cold limbs, both desperate and famished. Desna must be smiling to the young swashbuckler, for the heavy blow misses him!
Initiative - round 4 - bold may act!
1. Thorgull, Zadok, Stian, Virgil
2. Z-z-z-zombie!