"Auryel, ucide!" Arvanya commands, sending Auryel toward the southern undead and assist Freyja. Remembering the reduced effect her arrows have had on such creatures, she holds the exquisite longbow in both her hands. "Bobinaj poftă de mâncare de lemn șșși de îndoire," she whispers urgently, her voice hissing like Blaze's. The wood wends and twists in her hands, stretching out like a snake in a sunny patch of grass.
______
Evelina looks towards the creatures hesitantly, remembering the last time they fought them.
"Careful where you send Auryel, Vanya...these guys kinda...well...explode. Even standin' to close to 'em gives you a real bad case of the shivers. Maybe we should try'n keep 'em at arm's length?"
Somewhat uncertainly, she draws her shortbow and fires.
Arm's length - right. Shifting her pack on her shoulder, Astrid squares off her stance and jabs out with her spear, trying to keep the undead back and cursing as the spear head glances off the ribcage. Their movements would be hampered by the snow, she knew; at least, hers certainly were. That'd force them to shift their attention to moving if they tried to get closer...and that's when she'd strike hard.
Freyja soon starts to sing and her song boosts the moral of everyone of you. Astrid prepares her longspear and stabs at the undead warrior but sadly it evades her attack.
Blaze once more sends one of her fire blasts, completely burning one of the enemies... it explodes in sharp cold fragments but not hit any of you.
Arvanya draws her bow and uses her magic while Auryel swiftly moves towards the southernmost undead and crushes it under his powerful jaws... sadly the freezing aura around the skeleton harms the wolf, as does the tine freezing fragment that penetrate his hide. The wolf cries in pain but the enemy is no more.
Evalina draws her bow and shoots but her arrow is stopped by the undead's rusted armor.
Both warriors move towards Astrid... she is quick in her reaction and soon knocks the jaw of one undead. Both enemies miss with their claws but now Astrid is surrounded by their freezing aura...
________________________________
Skeleton#1 [2 dmg; wounded (-2)]
Skeleton#2
Freyja - up
Astrid - up
Blaze - up
Arvanya - up
Auryel - up
Evelina - up
Evelina lets another arrow fly towards the creature.
Frowning, she realizes she isn't being very effective and feels her hand itching for her rapier despite her own warnings to the others.
Arvanya calls Auryel back to her side, simultaneously raising her bow and steadying her aim before releasing her arrow.
Two can play at that game, Astrid growls out as the skeleton swipes at her. The snow would make a game of tiny steps, of cat and mouse, impossible - and it wasn't her style anyway. Though the cold of their aura digs deep into her bones, she tosses her spear to the ground and lashes out with both hands, leaning all her weight into the blows.
Freyja, with her club in hand, moves to help Astrid but her attack goes wide. In close combat with the freezing skeletons, Astrid feels their aura biting through her skin. She tosses her spear away in favor of her claws, crushing both of them but feeling the freezing aura penetrating her nails and bones.
Mere seconds later both skeletons explode in a cloud of razor sharp ice fragments, hitting both Astrid and Freyja. Freyja ignores the cold entirely but Astrid feels it bite once more... the enemies are finished but Astrid is left freezing for a couple seconds while she tries to warm herself.
Astrid had thought Evelina perhaps a tad dramatic before, when the magpie had gotten a taste of the skeletons' cold aura...but as her thickened, rounded teeth begin to chatter uncontrollably, she realizes maybe the smaller woman had been right. This was highly unpleasant. Still, though, she reaches down for her spear, using it to lever herself back upward into a standing position and doing her best to walk as if her muscles aren't going into spasms of discomfort. Well...th-that's th-that, she mutters, aiming for nonchalant (though it comes out much closer to pained and miserable). We h-have to m-move on.
Arvanya merely sighs when her magic is wasted, but a crooked smile breaks out over her lips. After all, they're still alive.
"Good fighting, Astrid. Here, let me see..." She moves over to the furry woman, her hand glowing blue with restorative magic.
"There is another necromancer in woods, it seem. We have our work cut out for us, eh?"
Evelina's eyes widen with horror as Astrid lashes out at the skeletons. Rushing forward, she immediately begins fussing over Astrid's wounds. "Oh no! Are you okay! I said they explode! Didn'tcha hear me?"
However, she backs off slightly to let Arvanya see to her wounds.
Freyja moves to examine Astrid's wounds. Do you need more healing? she asks. After she checks over the undead to see if any possess anything worth picking up
Freyja looks for anything useful in the skeletons bodies but finds nothing but rusted and useless armor and scimitars. There is also no sign of anyone nearby... no necromancer or evil cleric, and no footsteps besides those created by the undead themselves.
With nowhere to go but continue ahead and no new clue about what is causing this wintery condition, you press on, resuming to follow the trail.
You walk for about four hours in a roughly strait line to the west in a gentle but constant slope amid the trees. The rocks and snow along this part of the ridge are stained a reddish brown, and many tracks, both animal and human, cross the area. Ahead of you, half buried in the snow, you find what appears to be a body.
Peering into the distance, Astrid takes in the scene from afar, keeping cautious of her surroundings. Yes - yes, it is a body. Humanoid...snow around it's pretty torn up, too. Looks like the poor bastard put a hell of a fight. But whoever they were, they came off the worse against whatever's left those tracks...Arvanya? Blaze? You said those tracks we saw before were some sort of gigantic weasel? These look like they could be the same...toes are plenty narrow enough, and the lay of the claws certainly isn't like those of the usual bigger predators.
Arvanya's feet had started to numb after hours of walking through the snow. It's almost a relief to find an excuse to halt. At least, until the nature of the obstacle becomes clear.
She trots through the snowdrifts to catch up to Astrid. "Aye," she replies. "Giant weasel is likely culprit. But to see one this far south is great mystery!"
"Wait..." Arvanya takes a moment to consider what remains of the ravaged face. "I believe this is David..no, Dryden Kepp. Townsfolk say he is hunter who is missing. He claimed to have seen this giant weasel, and went hunting for it. Seems weasel hunted him, instead?" Arvanya shivers at the thought, and from the cold.
"Be on guard, ladies. There is more danger to find in these woods."
Arvanya draws her longbow to the ready as she peers out into the trees.
Freyja moves forward asking Any other tracks? If It was only the animal that did him in then the hunter's gear should sill be with the body. She seems more interested in the evidence that the actual gear. Maybe we can take the body back to town as we return.
"Yeah...it was Dryden...crossed paths with him when I was headin' to Heldren. Talked a bit. Seemed like a nice guy..." Evelina's voice trails off as she looks down sadly, "Guess he found them weasels after all."
When you come closer to inspect the body, you notice that his well made shortbow has been snapped in half, but two engraved arrows remain. He also wears a pair of homemade snowshoes and a bloody, and ripped (but still useful), cold-weather outfit.
Auryel sniffs around and soon finds a half-buried and bloodstained pack lying half-covered by a fresh dusting of snow nearby. It holds 3 days' worth of trail rations, a half-full hip flask of strong applejack, and a journal detailing Dryden's efforts in tracking the giant weasel. The journal mentions bear traps he set at the head of Somir Valley, as well as his discovery of a strange hut and an even stranger doll inside.
Reading over Freyja's shoulder, Evelina comments, "Strange hut, huh? Think that's somethin' we should check out. Might be a base for the fey, or somethin'. Don't much like the idea of a creepy doll though. All the stories I read, that ain't ever a good thing..."
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The bow might be mended. Lets bring it along. Arvanya, you should take these arrows. As to the strange hut, that jogs a memory.
Arvanya reluctantly accepts the arrows, still uneasy about "borrowing" from the dead. "Are these spell in some way? They are beautifully engraved.."
"A doll inside a hut? Sounds like child's game! Is most strange.."
Freyja studies the arrows. The arrows are magical but it is beyond my skill to determine their exact enchantments. I feel sure they will fly more true than a normal arrow and pierce deeper also. But there is more to them that I cannot read. Perhaps someone else will be up to the task.
This hut, I do recall some details. It is a bad sign that one is here. White witches use them back in Irrisen as a way to keep informed about what is happening in its surroundings. It might be wise to stay away from this witches sentry. But it might also contain some clue we need. I am unsure how it might work but suspect it would have some way to defend itself should we try to destroy it.
Arvanya places the arrows in her quiver, noting to keep them handy for a special situation. "Well, since we have already made ourselves known, it can't hurt much more to investigate dollhouse. And as to defense, cold iron and fire has been effective so far. I imagine a doll would burn just the same, eh?" She grins and nudges Blaze playfully on the shoulder.
We know so little about what is happening...even if this doll is some sort of sentry, I think it worth the risk to get some answers, Astrid responds, the faint trace of worry in her eyes there for only a second before it turns to a distant, calculating gaze. Does it work by actually seeing, like you or I? If it sits close to a window, perhaps we could drop a blanket over it before it has a chance to see us...
You leave the body of Dryden Kepp behind and continue to move along the trail for another hour. A cold wind blows through the forest atop the ridge. Heavy snow burdens the boughs of the evergreen trees, but someone has apparently cleared the snow from a large patch of ground to dig in the pine-needle-carpeted soil. A faint scent of pine sap is present.
Suddenly, Evelina is hit on her head by what appears to be a tree trunk... she exclaims as blood runs from her brow. Besides her stand a tree-like creature, previously disguised as an ordinary pine tree, which stand on two towering trunklike legs. Its arms resemble the branches of a snow-laden conifer and it drools sap from its wicked smile...
In quick succession, Auryel and Arvanya are also attacked. The creature attacking the wolf misses its target, but the one aiming for Arvanya hits her on her belly, leaving a couple needs behind, piercing her flesh... both Evelina and Arvanya are left somewhat coated in the creature's viscous sap-like substance, which hampers their ability to move properly.
Their resin is quite sticky but can be removed by strong alcohol, strong solvent, or any amount of fire, even if doing so might harm anyone coated in it.
________________________________
Astrid - up
Arvanya - up
Auryel - up
Blaze - up
Evelina - up
Freyja - up
Frost Firs
Freyja begins to sing, inspiring courage (+1 to hit and Damage) as she draws her sword and circles around to possibly help flank.
"Ow!" Evelina exclaims rubbing her temple as she pulls her rapier and thrusts forward with a lazy blow.
Realizing the sap seems to be slowing her down, Evelina frowns and prepares for the creature to strike again. "That was real mean of you mister tree."
Arvanya gasps as the tree branch slams into her, inadvertently dropping her longbow to the ground . "Wicked trees come to life! Frost Firs! These woods are bewitched!" But Freyja's song takes hold and in only a moment she has regained her bearings.
Clicking her tongue and pointing, she directs Auryel to skirt the tree nearest him and come around its rear . The wolf growls and nips at the tree's bark as Arvanya simultaneously draws her cold iron longspear and stabs out at the very same tree.
As the creatures attack, Astrid drops her spear and once more attack with her claws. She creates deep wounds on the tree-creature but in the process also covers herself in the sticky resin, while Blaze steps back and sends a blast of fire at the southern fir, burning its resinous bark and causing the creature to scream.
Freyja moves into a flanking position and starts to sing, bolstering the general morale, but even this isn't capable of helping Evelina's clumsy stab, who misses the fir entirely.
Arvanya and Auryel manage to surround the last fir, but neither attack is able to surpass the creature's thick skin.
The firs turn their heads towards Blaze and her flames, and slowly move towards her, attacking whoever is in their way... however, perhaps too infuriated by the open flames, all their attacks meet nothing but air. Evelina tries to retaliate but her second attack isn't better than her first, even if she is able to parry the fir's slam.
________________________________
Astrid - up
Blaze - up
Freyja - up
Evelina - up
Arvanya - up
Auryel - up
Frost Fir#1 [11 dmg, wounded (-2)]
Frost Fir#2
Frost Fir#3 [4 dmg, grazed (-1)]
Flanking with Evelina, Freyja lets her song linger and attacks, chopping into the tree creature like she was chopping wood. Its a clean hit, but maybe not enough to do extra damage.
Evelina thrusts forward, trying to take advantage of the creature being distracted by Freyja's swing, but the thick goop seems to be impairing her movement significantly.
Auryel again nips at the tree's trunk but is unsure of himself and misses.
Arvanya steps in between the two trees, stabbing out with her spear and, this time, connecting.
With an opening between the two tree-creatures and Blaze facing her foe alone in the back, Astrid charges in, ducking between Arvanya and Evelina and raking with her claws.
Astrid moves in pursuit of the fir fighting Blaze and slashes it, damaging it severely. Blaze backpedals to move away, firing her blast to the sky, melting ice flakes until it disappears in the sky.
With her sharp sword, Freyja slashes the northernmost fir, dropping it to the ground... the creature bleeds resin in the snowy ground. With her most immediate enemy finished, Evelina moves to assist Blaze and pierces the fir's bark, even if her attack seems to be less effective than Astrid's and Freyja's slashing weapons.
Arvanya and Auryel once more flank the southwestern fir, combining their attacks. Arvanya manages to pierce its bark but Auryel misses once more, having difficulties against the fir's bark. In retaliation, the fir slams its resinous fist at the wolf, catching him on his shoulder, wounding him even more and coating him in resin. The other fir continues his pursuit of Blaze but she manages to duck his attack!
________________________________
Astrid - up
Blaze - up
Freyja - up
Evelina - up
Arvanya - up
Auryel - up
Frost Fir#1 [24 dmg, unconscious, dying]
Frost Fir#2 [3 dmg]
Frost Fir#3 [14 dmg, critical (-3)]
Arvanya snarls in fury as the frost fir thrashes Auryel, plunging her spearhead deep into the tree's trunk just as the wolf finds solid purchase with his teeth on one of its thicker branches.
Freyja moves to flank with Aurel, chopping at the tree hoping to drop another fir.
Evelina shift slightly, spinning around to target the fir behind her.
Lashing out again, Astrid snarls at the tree-creature. Die already! Or...whatever the f*!* freaks like you do!
Astrid moves to the fir coming for Blaze and finished it with her claw... she then turns around to face the other, but her attack goes wide. With no other opponent threatening her, Blaze moves to the south, trying to get a clear shot with her blast. Unfortunately, she is too worried about harming Auryel and she misses again.
Freyja swings her sword and the weapon cuts through the barkskin of the creature with ease, and Evelina finishes it by piercing the exact same spot. The last fir drops to the ground, bleeding away.
Ignoring the aching pain from the wound in her side, Arvanya falls to her kneews in the snow. She drops her longspear next to her bow and whistles swiftly to call Auryel's attention. As the wolf limps near she examines the red patches in his white fur. Cooing gently, she caresses the largest wound, her last reserves of magic sparking over his skin as it knits itself back together.
She sighs heavily, knowing the sticky sap will probably need to be cut from his fur.
Gathering her weapons she climbs slowly to her feet, avoiding her injured side.
"I am needing a rest, I think. Yes..." she says woozily, gripping her spear handle.
Sitting down once again, she thinks aloud on this latest threat.
"The very trees turn on us now. This is dark magic. But why would dark sorcerers come to Border Wood now, and bring winter with them? What could they want? Have they abandoned their north homes and seeking to capture other lands?"
"Yeah...I'd be okay with a break." Evelina replies as she touches her forehead with a wince and observes the blood on her hand. "Oh! Hey! Woah!" she exclaims as she sees Arvanya wobble and rushes to steady her. "Oh man. You okay? Here, come sit down on this log for a minute..."
Listening to Arvanya, Evelina thinks for a moment. "I mean...I don't know much about dark magic...or even regular magic...but trees just randomly attacking folk, well, I don't think its a gift from our fairy godmother, that's for sure!" Evelina says with a weak laugh, "As to why...I dunno. Maybe Yuln was on'ta something about that whole Yogi Babu lady coming back this year."
Breathless from her exertions and huffing loudly, Astrid growls softly and begins scratching and clawing at herself, trying to tear loose from the rapidly-hardening resin. Does the why matter? she mutters in reply to Arvanya's musings. Whatever the f$#@ is going on here, it needs to get the Hells out of my woods. And it's going to get out of here, if I've got anything to say about it.
Breathing heavy Freyja pauses to survey the scene. She casts a quick healing spell to close Evelina's wounds and comments Something had cleared the snow from this large parch of ground. Looks like the ground has been dug up. Did these fir tree things do that?
After casting her spell she will cast Detect Magic and look around, scrathing in the pine needles and on the firs.
Not really sure how to deal with Astrid's outburst, Evelina just sits down awkwardly and mumbles, "Um. Right. Sorry."
Upon receiving aid from Freyja, her face lights up again. "Thanks! That feels way better." Beginning to pick at the sap on her own body she asks, "Anyone know how to get this stuff off?"
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"Here, let me help you all..." Blaze approaches with her hand surrounded by a thin halo of fire. "A frosst fir's ressin in quite ssussceptible to fire..." Blaze then approaches Evelina and slowly passes her hand close to the sap. Slowly at first, the sap begins to get darker and harder, but then it cracks much like burnt sugar, leaving almost no trace behind.
She then turns to the others, doing the same procedure, stopping just to ask Arvanya to hold Auryel still, since animals are usually afraid of open flames. "I'm ok with us ressting now... it iss almosst dark after all. We'd need to look for a safe place to ssleep anyway, preferably after checking if the ssurrounding treess aren't more firss."
To Freyja, she continued, "The firss might indeed be the oness ressponsible for the removal of the ssnow. If I correctly remember, they need to plant their piness in soft ground to reproduce... perhapss they were ssimply protecting their offsspring. Even if they are inherently evil creaturess, it is hard not to feel bad about it..."
Freyja looks around and notes Well this area is already clear. And I'd think predators that know the area might shy away from it due to the firs. So Here sees good to me. Can we arrange these tree creatures to form a wind block and provide a little cover?
Noting that Arvanya is quite hurt still Freyja will spend some of her remaining energy to close her wounds.
"Yes, is much better, thanks you," Arvanya says to Freyja as her wounds are tended to. She tries to keep Auryel calm while Blaze burns off the resin, though the occasional growl issues from behind his bared teeth. "Shhhhhh" she offers soothingly, to no avail.
"The trees are protecting their families. It is important work." She stands, steadier now, and helps Freyja and Astrid prepare bedding for the night.
Evelina looks a little surprised as the others start setting up camp, she asks with a laugh, "Oh! You mean, like really rest? Like rest for night! I though you jus' wanted to sit down for a minute."
Clearly still brimming with energy and needing to wear herself out, Evelina shouts, "I'm gonna go find firewood!" She does search for firewood for a short while, before growing bored and returning to camp. Dropping what little she found at Astrid's feet she says. "Here you go. Hey? You wanna fight again? Like practice fight. I think I've gotten better since last time!"