GM Rennai's Reign of Winter (Inactive)

Game Master Rennaivx

Without losing too much time, you all are able to make set up camp in the middle of the clearing, using the dead firs as a grizzly protection against cover. At least it kind of worked, since you were visited by no wild animals during the night. Blaze took some firewood from Shiny and soon after there was a bright and war fire to warm you during the cold night... it was really getting colder and colder.

The next day arrives with a lot of wind and to few sunlight... it might even rain until the end of the day and taking in consideration the unusual winter pocket, it might even turn into a snowstorm.

Any morning RP before we move on?

Freyja's dreams were troubled by vague reaching tree branches and she woke more than once to add a log to the coals of the dying fire. She knew she was more "used" to cold that most of her friends but this cold was creeping into her bones it seemed. In the morning she uncharacteristically did not want to leave her warm blankets and get on with the day.

But rise she did, and before the others. And soon and a cheery but small fire burning. Hot tea and warm creamed wheat for breakfast, with dried beef of course. she offered as she shook each of her companions awake. And warm water for washing up if you hurry.

She'd spent years camping in the Border Wood, only a thin piece of canvas between her and the elements...but Astrid had never been this cold. And though Blaze had cleared away the resin enough so she could move around, the smell still lingered in her hair, around her nails, in the folds of her cloak... Every time she turns in her bedroll, she catches another whiff of the sharp odor, and in her dreams the shock and surprise of the trees' attack begins anew.

So, characteristically, she arises grumpy and half-snarling, dark circles under her eyes and shaggy hair standing nearly on end. She accepts Freyja's offer of breakfast wordlessly, filling her tin cup with tea and huddling close to the fire. Hunched under her blanket, scowling over a cup and bowl, bits of dried resin still in her hair...it's clear Astrid's not having much in the way of fun. Finally, she speaks, her voice even huskier than usual with a bit of rasp to it. We'll have to be careful. Sky the way it is, we're like as not going to get hit by a snowstorm. Not the kind for a romantic Longnight romp, either - heavy enough and you might as well be blind. Whatever we do, we've got to stick close.

Evelina sleeps soundly through the night. So, when Freyja starts shaking her she lets out a rather tragic whining noise and seems to retreat even further into her blanket. From inside borderline incomprehensible mumbling can be heard, followed by snoring. Eventually she does get up, rubbing her eyes and plodding over to bathe. Letting out a yelp, she exclaims, "The water's cold!" However, in the name of maintaining her personal appearance, she suffers through it and eventually joins the others for breakfast.

Listening to Astrid, while still shivering from her bath, she lets out a groan. "Y'know, I always thought snow was s'posed to be fun...but I'm gettin right sick of it!" Sighing, she asks the others, "So what's the plan for today? Find that creepy doll?"

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As soon as she wakes, Arvanya busies herself trying to defrost her eyelashes, which have frozen together and prevented her from opening her eyes.

"This is new experience," she grumbles, huffing into her closed hands and rubbing her face vigorously. "I do not remember ever feeling so cold! Thank the stars for Auryel!" She pats her wolf good-naturedly on his head, but he is up and shaking off the snow that accumulated on his fur with little regard for the icy weather. He sniffs a nearby fir and hikes his leg against it, a cloud of steam billowing where he pees.

Arvanya draws closer to the fire, clutching a cup of Freyja's tea as though it were her most prized possession on earth. "Th-th-thank you," she stutters through frozen, chapped lips.

"Yes," she responds to Astrid's warnings, "I have heard of oceans of snow that swallow people whole, like sinking ship. What is word in common...drift? Maybe snow will give us easy way to sneak up on doll, eh?"

Despite herself, Astrid can't help but chuckle slightly at Arvanya's comment. Snowball, she chimes in. Throw a giant snowball over it from a window, and we're free to explore, right? Her face splits in a good-natured smile at the jest, and it's clear it's kindly meant.

Evelina who had still be waking up, suddenly gets a big grin on her face. "Snowballs! That sounds like fun! Can I do it! My aim's pretty good!"

Scooping up a handful of snow and patting it into a ball, she hurls it towards a nearby tree.

1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 4 = 4

Frowning as it seems to fall far short of her target, she turns to the others, "Don't worry! I'll practice!"

Leaving the improvised camp behind, you continue your trip to the center of the winter pocket. About an hour after leaving the dead firs behind, you notice bloody animal tracks marking the snow where the trail descends from the ridge above.

You also notice a couple sprung bear traps along the trail, as well as two that are not yet triggered, just in time to prevent Auryel from stepping in one of them. Recording the words present on Dryden's journal, this place must be the head of Somir Valley.

Before you are able to do anything about the bear traps, you hear she sound desperate steps, much like if someone, or something, is running towards you from the northwest. Focusing your attention, you discern two types of sound: one coming from some sort of feline and other from a larger creature, probably the elusive weasel.

A couple more seconds and you can see, through the falling snow, a cat-like humanoid running as fast as he can in the heavy snow, coming directly towards the traps, and just behind him a massive, mostly-white weasel moving smoothly across the ground, almost slithering like a snake, before pouncing with teeth bared and barely missing the cat-like humanoid.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Maybe some small bear or badger? Freyja guesses.

When the to creatures come into view she adds Or maybe a giant weasel! That cat person is leading it towards the traps. Calling out to the person being chased she says Watch out for the bear traps! She then begins to sing an inspiring song and moves forward to stand just north of Astrid, her sword drawn.

7th level, when I can inspire as a move action, seems so far away.:)

Don't worry Freyja, that buff is so nice it's totally worth the action!"

K(nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

"No...." Arvanya says quietly as she tenses and flips her head around. "The weasel."

Just then the cat-man leaps onto the scene, hotly pursued by the very creature whose name Arvanya has just uttered. "By the stars, speak and it shall be so!" She spits to rid herself of the name. There is power in words. Her mother had often said.

Before she can stop him, Auryel is off and running toward the weasel (or the catfolk?), hopping to and fro as he navigates the hidden snow drifts. He comes to a halt between his friends and the weasel, growling mencingly. Double move for Auryel.

"Auryell!" Arvanya cries as he draws the attention of the weasel. She shifts to the left to avoid the cat man and stay in line of Auryel, then nocks and arrow and lets it fly.

Vanya ranged, IC: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 81d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
arrow recovery (low loses): 1d2 ⇒ 1 lost

"Hey, big ugly!" she calls, waving her hand to distract the weasel and keep it off of the cat and wolf. She also reaches for her next arrow.

The day had not been going well for Cithembi.

It wasn't that the snow bothered him--its charm had not yet worn off, for to him, a native of Garund's warmest regions, it was a new delight, a beautiful new sight, a new and strange sensation. Discovering that he had to melt his water to drink it, however, had not been so pleasant, even for the irrepressibly cheerful catfolk.

And when he'd found a large and hungry predator... well, that had been even less pleasant.

It seemed, however, that his luck had once again come to his rescue, assuming these strangers were the rescuing sort. They were speaking, but he was... a bit too distracted to read their lips at the moment. He was... fairly certain the archer was pointing that arrow at the hungry beast behind him, though.

Speaking of the weasel, he couldn't hear its footfalls, but that last bite was close enough that he felt its hot breath on his hand!

"Greetings!" he shouted, while continuing to run through the snow as fast as he could while glancing back at his pursuer. He was out of breath from plowing through snow, and his words were interspersed with deep breaths. "I fear... I cannot hear you, but... I would be... most grateful to... not be eaten... by this fellow... behind me!"

He weaves around the bear trap and manages to reach one of the strangers. Unless the weasel gets an attack of opportunity and has grab...

Withdraw towards the party if possible in difficult terrain, otherwise he's taking the attack of opportunity and double moving. (I can't remember if withdrawing works in difficult terrain)

Never having seen a talking cat man before, Evelina stops and does a double take. "Oh...uh hey. You ain't a trick right? Like the talking moose or the snowman than exploded?" However, before she can listen for a response she looks behind him and exclaims, "ARGH! What the hell is that thing!?!

Looking to the others, she asks, "Uh...guys...what are we...?" However, once she notices the traps, she catches on, "Oh! Now I get it!...Yeah get over here you big...dumb...thing!"

Moving up next to Astrid, she pull her bow off her back and lets an arrow fly.

Shortbow Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

A - another one gifted with beast-blood? Besides her own mentors, Astrid had never seen another person who shared her gift - and it seemed this man was even more advanced than she at using the gift, for him to take animal form so completely! There could be so much to learn from one so skilled...but she knew there were those who let their animal side run too free. Let it take over them, let the viciousness and wildness master them rather than bending their impulses to their will...could the degree of his transformation be a sign that he was truly more animal than man?

There was only one way to find out. And his greeting had seemed friendly enough.

Rushing forward with her spear, Astrid sets herself near the traps and bellows out a loud challenge, trying to catch the giant weasel's attention. With any luck, it would get bitten by the fearsome metal teeth - and even if it didn't, she'd be at hand to aim a blow. Get behind me! she barks, jerking her head backward so the cat-man could catch her meaning.

Move action to get where I'm at on the map, ready a standard action to attack when the weasel gets in range.

Blaze moves southwest to better aim at the weasel but she misses, fearing to hit the cat-man. Freyja starts to sing as both the cat-man and the weasel come closer. Even with her inspiring song, both Evelina and Arvany miss with their arrows.

The cat-man comes closer and easily evades the bear traps. The weasel seems to not notice the rest of you, keeping his eyes only on the cat-man.

Ignoring Auryel, the weasel moves straight to the bear trap, receiving a nasty bite from both the wolf and the iron jaws of the trap. It winces in pain. Trying to take advantage of its state and hoping not to hit the cat-man, Astrid spins her spear, but doing so she its her own belly. The weasel tries to bite the cat-man but he is quick to react, blocking the bite with his shield.

Blaze wastes not her second shot, and soon you can smell the scent of burnt flesh and hair.

________________________________

Arvanya blinks as the implications of a talking cat begin to form, but there is no time for wasting. Quick as a cat :) she secures her next arrow and sends it whistling through the icy air.

Auryel continues his assault on the weasel, just as Arvanya battles the deepening snow to skirt the perimeter of the fight, eyeing an opening for her next shot.

Vanya ranged, IC, PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 161d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9
arrow recovery if miss: 1d2 ⇒ 2 reclaimed
Auryel bite, IC: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 111d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

Auryel standard attack, arvanya shoots and moves west.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Giving up on her bow, Evelina pulls out her rapier and tries to approach the creature deftly, without making herself a target. However, the snow severely hampers her movement and she stumbles into the creature. Turning reflexively, she tries to protect herself from the creature's retribution, before thrusting her rapier towards the creature.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7

Moved myself for my last move action. I had forgotten I can move myself.

Freyja steps up and attacks.

MW Longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 251d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7

Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 141d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Doubling over from the blow to her gut, Astrid growls and straightens back up, brandishing her spear. Again she stabs forward, trying to make contact with the maddened beast, though the pain in her middle threatens to take her breath away.

This is what I get for forgetting to pre-roll my readied attack roll. ;) Attacking.

Spear attack, damage: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 201d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

Oh... Cithembi can't hear bard song! XD That hadn't occurred to me before...

Seeing the strangers converge on the creature hunting him, Cithembi turns, too, just in time to block the weasel's bite with his little buckler. With it so close, he dares not try magic, and so pulls out his spear and stabs at it, instead.

Spear stab!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The poor beast is no match for you... in quick succession, Freyja slashes the creature, severing a couple tendons on its left paw, Evalina pierces its chest, probably hitting some vital organ judging by the amount of blood that sprayed when she removed her rapier, Arvanya pierced its flank and when the weasel was already falling to the ground, Astrid pierces its skull with her spear!

When the cat-man draws his spear, all he finds is a dead beast looking him with empty eyes...

Combat is over... poor weasel!

Evelina lets out a deep sigh as she leans forward on her knees. "Oh phew! We ended that fast. I'm glad them traps were here..."

Standing up straight she turns to face their new companion. "Hey there mister cat. You alright? It didn't hurt you or nothing, did it?" Pausing to scratch her head as she doesn't get an immediate response, she asks again, "Are you hurt? Did it hurt you?" Not realizing that he can't hear her, she asks the others, "Do you think he maybe hit his head or something?"

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Cithembi stands there for a moment panting, looking at the dead weasel in front of him. That... had been far too close. Still, he was alive, and perhaps something good would come of this.

He is completely oblivious to Evelina speaking until he turns to start speaking himself and sees her lips moving. "Oh!" He exclaims. "My apologies with my thanks! You see, Cithembi's ears do not work." He flicks his (shortened) ear and grins as he speaks, and it's clear from the uneven volume of his speech that he himself is not quite aware of how he sounds.

"I can, however, read your words on your lips--but only if I watch them!" He chuckles a bit at the obviousness of his statement. "But I have not introduced myself! I am Cithembi, and I bless the stars that led us to cross paths just now! I would have been in quite the hot water without you."

He pauses a moment, grinning good-naturedly, then realizes he might need to explain one more thing. "As I said, I can read words on lips, and so if you wish to speak and have me understand, you need only get my attention first."

Out of combat, I'll generally assume Cithembi can follow conversations unless they're going too fast or there's some reason he wouldn't be watching--like if you explicitly say you don't signal to him. Otherwise I'll assume you're getting his attention before speaking. In combat... well, I imagine his deafness will be more of a problem then. XD Sound good?

Oh, also, appearance. Cithembi is pretty well bundled up in warm clothing right now, with only his head uncovered (his hood fell down while he was running). He has leopard-spotted fur, his head is feline, and one of his ears is shorter than the other--the top quarter-inch or so of it has been sliced off.

As Freyja's song lingers in the frigid air the bard looks in wonder at the cat-man. Songs come to life. she states. Catching on Cithembi's disability she gets his attention with a wave before continuing. I'd only heard legends of your race. It is a fine thing to meet one in the, well, fur. she offers the newcomer her hand and her eyes twinkle in friendship offered.

It must indeed be the skein of fate woven by Shelyn herself that brought you to us even as we hunted this beast. Now you surely have a tale to tell that places you at this very spot in this unnatural winter in this wood. I'd hear it from you even as I tend to any wounds you might have.

Even after the weasel falls, Auryel's hackles remain raised in alarm and he growls and snaps toward the cat-man. Arvanya instinctively drops her bow and dives for the wolf, grasping him around the neck and shushing him as she pulls him close in an effort to keep him under control.

Handle Animal (Auryel): 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 4 = 28

He continues to glare at Cithembi but does not advance upon him. Arvanya cautiously reclaims her bow and climbs to her feet, slowly approaching the newcomer from the side so that he can see her coming. Had she ever met a cat-folk before? All manner of exotic beasts had found their way into the circus act, and she had sometimes even wondered if the animal trainer Yeosef was himself part bull. And later, traveling the fey-haunted Fangwoods of Nirmathas, she would swear she had seen a were-rat. And, of course, she had recently met Astrid...

But never a cat-folk! But oh, how she loves the sight of him! The spots, the eyes, his little ears! The noises he makes, and how he must read lips!

She waits but a moment for the others to greet him before giving a little wave. "I am sorry for wolf," she says, pouting and pointing toward Auryel. "He is very scared to see big weasel, and also he must think you are cat. Well, you are cat, but..." Words fail as she comes close and instinctively reaches to touch Cithembi. "May I?" she asks, her hand frozen in mid-air. Tag Cithembi

Cithembi takes Freyja's offered hand and gives it a friendly shake. "Indeed, I bless Desna that my wanderings brought me across your path," he replies, still grinning. "You see, I am star-blessed--or at least I think so." He winks, as if letting her in on a joke. "I am no priest, but I can call on a few blessings when I have need--but just now, thanks to you, I am unharmed. For how I got here, well... I had never seen snow before."

He waits a moment, then laughs. "Yes, there is more than that, though it is true. I had a dream of walking here, and I have always followed my dreams. I would have appreciated knowing the weasel wouldn't eat me, but..." He shrugs.

Then he sees Arvanya's wave, and turns his attention to her, reading her words from her lips. "Ah, well, I was also very scared to see the big weasel, so I think I can forgive him for being nervous..."

Cithembi trails off as she reaches out to him, then smiles wider when he realizes what she wants. "Ah, you wonder how it feels? Yes, go on, go on! Just... briefly now, yes? I know I am strange to you, but," he chuckles, "This is strange to me, you see?"

She touches his him behind his ear, begins to scratch. She actually issues a little purr as though she were coaxing a feral cat. She catches herself, hoping the others didn't notice, then draws her hand back with a smile.

And a follower of Desna, too? She likes him even more for that. "My name is Arvanya. My wolf is Auryel. We are Varisians, also strangers to this land, and also starry-eyed travelers who walk under Desna's moon and sky."

When Evelina realizes the man is deaf, her cheeks turn a little pink. "Oh...I'm sorry..." she mutters, before worrying that she still isn't being clear. Speaking overly loud and slow, she repeats, "I'M... SORRY... I DIDN'T .... REALIZE... YOU... COULDN'T... HEAR... ME." Overly animating every word she speaks with matching gestures, she continues, "MY... NAME... IS... EVELINA... IT... IS... NICE... TO... MEET... YOU!"

However, quickly getting distracted, she looks over at Arvanya. "You worship Desna. Huh, that's funny. I never knew..."

Someone please tell her to stop and talk like a normal person. This is hard to type... :p

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Cithembi waits for Arvanya to finish with the same grin that's been on his face (in assorted variations) since he started speaking with the group. "Ah, it is good to meet other 'starry-eyed travelers' here!" he exclaims. "Arvanya and Auryel, it is good to meet you."

Then Evelina gets his attention. "And it is good to meet you, too, Evelina. Do not worry! I am quite used to it. In fact, I am so practiced in it that you need not speak quite so slowly. It is easier now for me to read your words at normal speed than slower, since I am used to it, you see?"

Perhaps too accepting of the ways of Fate Freyja nods at the dream explanation adding only Dreams are powerful. Once introductions are made the bard asks Well now that you are here, walking in the woods of your dreams, what shall you do? These woods are quite dangerous and I fear that giant weasel will be a minor threat compared to what we seek. You might be safer on your own than with us...

"Ah, that does bring the question--what is it that you seek?" Cithembi replies. "Surely a well-armed group like yourself is not here simply to see the snow?"

Evelina apologizes once more. "Oh...sorry....I just know I can talk kinda fast sometimes without realizing it...an' I don't alway talk proper like Freyja can..."

However, when he asks about what they are doing out here, she immediately beams. "Oh! We're adventurers!" She pauses on for a second with a big grin on her face, before continuing to explain, "So like, we jus' got done rescuing this noblewoman. We had to fight through bandits and fairies and snowmen, but we did it! We rescued her! In fact did so good that the townsfolk asked us to help them again! So now we are on a super important mission! We are investigating this whole crazy weather thing! So we are tracking down this creepy doll thing that we think the fey are using to curse the fair lands of Taldor with eternal winter!" Realizing she maybe got a little carried away, she clarifies, "Well...um...I mean I don't think the doll is causing the winter...they are just using it to like spy on us or somethin'...but still..."

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"Oh, I see," Cithembi says, nodding. There seems to be a sparkle to his eyes at this news. "Then perhaps there is a reason for Cithembi's dream, yes? Perhaps I am meant to travel with you, to use Desna's blessings to fight against this eternal winter!" He seems rather excited by this prospect.

With spear in her hand and a foe to fight, Astrid's confidence had brimmed over...but now that the thrill of the fight has ebbed, the look in her eyes suggests it's been replaced with trepidation. As the others surge forward to introduce themselves, the hulking Ulfen woman stands back, scratching almost self-consciously at a patch of fur on her neck; it's only after the hubbub has died down some that she chimes in, waving slightly to get Cithembi's attention. It will be good to fight along another so...blessed as you are, she ventures forth. I never thought to meet another like me in these woods. Is it an ancestor's gift you carry on, or your own? Were you born with the power, or did you receive it later?

We can keep going if you want, Toothy - we can keep the conversation going in sidebar. Busy couple of days!

Mmmmmm, delicious misunderstanding. :)

Cithembi smiles at Astrid. "Ah, you are also blessed by Desna? Wonderful! For myself, I believe it was when I was young that I received my blessing. I was exploring some ruins, you see, but they, ah, became more ruined while I was standing upon them."

He chuckles a bit. "My mother always said I was why humans have that proverb about cats and curiosity! 'Curiosity killed the cat', yes? Well, perhaps it is because I am catfolk, not a cat, but more likely it was Desna's luck upon me that saved my life. I lost only a bit of ear," he flicks his shortened ear as he speaks, "That was also when I lost my hearing, but Desna's blessings have been good to me, so I think it a fair trade."

Not being particularly knowledgable on the subject of religion, Evelina mostly stays out of the discussion. Instead, in a truly rare sight, she looks as if the wheels of her brain are spinning. Wait. I thought Astrid worshipped a different god...Gooram? Gurem? Garam? Goreem? Gore...something...Maybe I was wrong, though...or maybe Gore-whatever and Desna are more similar than I thought. Suddenly Evelina gets a slightly alarmed look on her face. Can god's read minds? Is he going to get mad that I called him Gore-whatever? Hey...uh...you...if you can hear me. Um. Sorry about that...

I'm fine with moving forward.

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Freyja smiles at the misunderstanding but does nothing to correct it, believing it will correct itself in time. Perhaps that was the reason for your dream Cithembi. We certainly cannot take you back to town right now so your choices are to continue on you own or join with, at least for now.

The bard then turns to the dead animal. It would be a shame to not harvest such a beautiful pelt. Do you think we can skin it?

Moving on after getting the pelt. :)

"If you will have me, Cithembi shall travel with you!" the catfolk declares. "As for the pelt... perhaps I might help with that?"

I have survival trained, though Astrid has better. I could roll aid another if needed?

You're right - no sense in leaving it behind. Astrid kneels down and gets to work, accepting Cithembi's help with skinning the massive creature. As the two work, she can't help but steal more glances at the cat-man as he works carefully over the giant weasel corpse. Standing in ruins? Maybe he means he was attacked there by a were...were-cat, I suppose it would be? But...then what's Desna got to do with it?

Nervously, she waves to him again as they finish up their task. Tell me...tell me more about how you received your gifts. To tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure how a bite to the ear would leave you deaf in both...or was it the course of your affliction taking over that did it? My first changes were a bit traumatizing, too, but not to such degree... Tag Cithembi.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Survival to aid another: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Cithembi proves an able assistant in skinning the weasel, though he keeps having to look at Astrid to read her lips.

"I... was not bitten," he says, frowning slightly in confusion. "I know not exactly what happened, but... let me begin again. I was simply exploring some old ruins on a beautiful, starry night. I climbed up on top of an old tower to look at the sky, when the ruins beneath me gave way. Praise be to Desna, I suffered nothing worse than the loss of my ear-tip and a hard knock on the head, but while I was lying there dazed, I had my eyes fixed on the stars, and..."

He trails off, his gaze distant. "I cannot quite describe what happened, but when I awoke from being knocked silly from smacking my head on a rock, I saw the stars, and... well, I felt almost like I was out there in them for a brief moment." He smiles. "It was wonderful, wonderful enough that it took me some time to realize how uncomfortable lying on the fallen stones was. It was a little while later before I realized I could no longer hear."

He shrugs slightly. "It was a bit difficult, at first, but I have always been quick to learn, and it was not long before I discovered I could call on Desna's blessings to heal and make light and other such gifts, so I hardly considered it a bad trade."

Cithembi looks over at Astrid again. "I do not understand what you speak of with changes, friend. What is this you speak of?"

"The stars are full of surprises for us all," Arvanya mumbles, still spellbound by Cithembi. "My own mama says...used to say, that they can guide us on a path, but what they do once we arrive is great mystery."

After Astrid and Cithembi skin the giant weasel with ease, you resume your journey and investigation to the center of this mysterious winter pocket. A couple more hours walking amid old trees and falling snow, you spot more than a dozen boulder-sized chunks of ice littering a clearing ahead where a strange hut sits perched on tree trunks atop a raised mound of snow-covered earth.

The falling snow keeps you from being sure if there is anyone inside the wooden hut but, at least so far, it seems to be abandoned. Further investigation would be needed to make sure.

That think is creepy. Who put it way out here? Does it really spy on those who pass by? Maybe we can approach it from the back and just burn it or something.

I figure Astrid and I can continue our fun little discussion in spoilers if desired. :)

Cithembi watches Freyja's lips then nods in agreement, his face uncharacteristically solemn. "It is strange indeed, and if you have been warned of it we should be full of caution. But it would seem the ice could cover our approach, yes?" A bit of his customary grin started to creep back into his expression. "Cithembi would rather not be getting snow in his fur any higher than he has to!"

I'm guessing the snow off of the trail is piled deeper than the snow on the trail, right?

Evelina nods, "Yeah! That's a good idea! We'll use the ice to get closer!" Point up the the top of the hill she adds, "Maybe someone really sneaky could even use the trees to check the back..."

"Dollhouse story looks like is real, eh?" Arvanya whispers seriously when the hut comes into view. "I can try sneak to its back." She draws her longbow and steps lightly toward the snowdrift. "Unless someone has better idea."

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

You are indeed correct, Cithembi, but in terms of rules, there is no difference in movement.

As Arvanya starts to move silently, she is surprised by a shivering young Ulfen girl who suddenly appears amid the ice boulders. Between blond and redhead, the small girl has pigtails and small freckles under her blue eyes. She wears a simple brown dress and carries an ugly stuffed bunny by its ears.

The girl is visibly scared and even steps back when she notices you. "I'm scarred... I want my mommy..."

I'm guessing you'll roll any relevant check on my behalf, Frosty? How far away from the others am I?

Arvanya pauses with one fur-lined boot mid-air. A small gasp escapes her frozen lips as her hand tightens around the grip of her longbow. Her instinct is to raise the weapon threateningly; however, this is only a...child? It wouldn't do to threaten a small child--best to appear as non-threatening as possible.

Of course, that's the same behavior she'd exhibit toward a bear.

"Is alright," she whispers uncertainly, glancing around for the presence of others. "We find your mama, mmm? What you are doing in woods all alone? Is not safe place."

The hairs stand up on the back of her neck when the bard sees the young girl. This seems so out of place that she is immediately suspicious.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Suspecting some ruse she will cast Detect magic and move close enough to examine the girl.

Evelina also moves closer looking concerned for the lost child. Noticing Freyja's trepidation. "Whatcha actin' like that for? She just a scared little girl..."

Sorry Freyja...sometimes its just too much fun to avoid the obvious horror trope. Evelina does have a wisdom of 8 after all... ;)

"I'm sorry! Don't hurt me! I never meant to call you names!" She says as she steps back. "I did not want to come, so why you brought me here?" She answers before she runs away. Evelina is able to see that the girl did not disappeared, she simply moved deeper inside the 'ice maze'. She leaves no trail in the snow, though... perhaps she is just too small for this...

Introduced the girl into the map and updated your positioning.