"An exquisite weapon!" Arvanya runs her hand along the polished, lacquered body of the longbow. "Let us make better use of it now than poor farmer Dansby." She collects the arrows and places them in her quiver, then replaces her own bow in favor of the newfound weapon.
Looting from the dead... She thinks back to the circus, those late nights after the performances when members of her extended family would gather under their tents, counting their money and appraising hordes of equipment that seemed to magically appear. As Arvanya grew older (and perhaps wiser), she began to suspect where these items came from, but her parents took pains to keep the truth from her as long as possible. She had often wondered if she would have grown up to join their ranks, pilfering in the night. Holding the longbow now, she feels a strange combination of guilt and pride. Would her parents be proud of her now, fulfilling her gypsy heritage?
Arvanya continues in her thoughts until, ahead, Astrid stops short, sniffing the air.
Warming up and once again becoming aware of her surrounding once more, Evelina noticing the dead body and lets out a gasp. Looking somewhat upset, she asks the others, "Why are they doing this? Hurting all this people that ain't done nothing to them...its just all so...wrong..."
Rubbing her hands together for warmth, Evelina looks around for Astrid, remembering that the woman has seemed badly injured by the elementals. As she approaches to ask if she is alright, she notices her starting off at something in the distance. Whispering, she asks, What? What is is?
"We would have to crosss somewhere. These creaturess seemed set to dog uss wherever we tried."
Warming up and once again becoming aware of her surrounding once more, Evelina noticing the dead body and lets out a gasp. Looking somewhat upset, she asks the others, "Why are they doing this? Hurting all this people that ain't done nothing to them...its just all so...wrong..."
"It iss their way. If our foess are the White Witchess of Irrisen, they are evil conquerorss who rule through fear. They will terrorize those they wish to control." Blaze speaks with a flat certainty, as if she expected no less.
~~~
When Astrid pauses, Blaze pulls up her hood and closes her cloak around her out of habit. "Are we nearing thiss lodge you mentioned?" She asks, speaking low.
Using her sword Freyja lops off a pine branch heavy with needle and as Evelina strips the bard brushes her body with these needles both drying and warming up her skin just a little from the friction. You do not live in the north all your life without learning a few tricks. she explains. She then helps Evelina get re-dressed pausing only to take in the scars on Blaze's skin. Rather than pretending she did not see she acknowledges the scars saying We all bear scars. Some are more visible than others. They make us who we are.
After this emergency is handled Freyja asks Who is hurt? and recommends the party heal up as best as possible before advancing. Seeing Arvanya with a new bow Frejya says it suits you Arvanya. I am glad you have found a weapon that pleases you. Who shall claim this fine hand axe?
Sword out, the bard pauses to look at her companions for a plan. She seems eager to strike these men as they appear to be bandits. But she also realizes that they may not be allied with the witches of the cold or their creatures and therefor could be allies. Her readied posture says clearly that she will not miss this opportunity to act.
Bow drawn, Arvanya slips into the shadows of a nearby cypress trees, motioning for auryel to follow. She keeps her arrow trained on the nearest man in case there's trouble.
Finally noticing what the others are looking at, Evelina moves next to Arvanya. Reaching for her own bow, she also trains an arrow towards the possible enemy, waiting to see how events turn out.
Evelina's weariness is apparent, as she can barely pull back the bow string.
With seemingly little concern for her safety Freyja begins to sing a song of chance meetings and friends made along the road. She steps out to where she is easier to spot, and while her sword is drawn it points to the ground. As she sings her song greets the bandits and asks the men "Fate has thrown us together on this cold and icy road, and none may deny fate. But choices are still left to men and we may choose to become allies foes. I do not know which the gods prefer and am ready to deliver aid to a friend in need or cold steel to an enemy who would ambush on the road." Her eyes seek motive among the bandits and she stands confidently though she is alone. She hopes at at least gives them pause.
Astrid stops short, testing the air with her broader-than-usual nose. Men, she whispers, motioning for everyone to stop. Their intent is unclear, but there are few wandering through these woods idly with this winter. Be wary. As Freyja approaches to greet their mystery guests, Astrid holds back for a moment, then lumbers up behind Freyja, her heavy boots crunching through the snow drifts. She is courageous, but if these men be a threat, she should not have to face them alone.
Letting the singer take the lead, Astrid stands silently just behind and to Freyja's side. Standing with arms crossed, she taps her long claws subtly (or what she hopes is subtly) against her thick arm, hoping her presence and bulk helps to back up Freyja's bold approach. If they be friends, a show of strength makes us more apt allies; if they be foes, perhaps it will cow they away from confrontation.
Arvanya and Auryel are able to stealthily move along the trees, nearing the men ahead, an arrow ready in her bow. As she comes closer, and still undetected, she is able to overhear them complaining about how they are unlucky about being here in the cold while the others are in the warm lodge with the new "Sweet piece of ass" while another one is angry that a Rohkar is denying them some fun.
As Freyja steps forward, followed close by Astrid, the men are initially startled by their sudden appearance but soon give them broad smiles. "Hey guys, looks like our luck changed! Let Rohkar have the lady for himself... we've got some fresh meat here and I'm not intending to share with those f&%%ers in the lodge!" With a maddened laugh the man start to draw their swords.
Soon after, an arrow flies from amid the trees and hits one of them in the guts, dropping to the ground. The others, too focused on Freyja, fail to notice their severely wounded companion.
________________________________
Freyja - up
Arvanya - up
Auryel - up
Blaze - up
Evelina - up
Astrid - up
Raiders#1
Raiders#2
Raiders#3
Raiders#4
Raiders#5 [9 dmg; unconscious, dying]
Freyja has mixed emotions about these men. On the one hand she is now clear about who and what they are. On the other she is always hesitant to kill. Still Singing she gestures and mixes her arcane words of power into her song and a patch of grease appears under the closest 4 brigands. Cut them down. she says, having made up her mind. After casting her spell she advances to stand adjacent to a (hopefully prone) enemy. If no enemy is prone she will stop 5' farther back.
The two raiders to the north fall into the ground when the snow gets suddenly slippery as ice.
Evelina shudders as she listens to the men speak and for once it isn't because of the cold. The matron of the orphanage had always warned the young girls about men like this and Evelina's only other brief encounter of this type had been one of the few times in her life she had been grateful to be underestimated. Fearing for Freyja, she plows through the snow, but cannot quite reach the bard. With her bow still drawn, she raises it and takes fire at one of the standing men, adrenaline overcoming weariness as the arrow this time flies straight.
Arvanya narrows her eyes at the vulgar language, then grunts contentedly as her arrow finds its mark in the man's chest. With a flick of her hand she sends Auryel forward through the snow as she calmly nocks another arrow, aiming for the man who still stands. The moment she releases the arrow, she knows he will not be standing much longer.
"Surrender now!" She calls to the men who lie in a pool of Freyja's conjured oil. "We are wolves, all, and very hungry for snack."
Blaze bares sharp, white teeth which stand out in bright contrast to her blue-grey skin and dark lips. Dropping her hood and allowing her cloak to fall back from her shoulders like a cape revealing her scantily clad form, she moves forward. Suddenly consumed with a protective instinct, she shoulders ahead of Evelina after she has let her arrow fly, putting herself between the men and the swordswoman. Locking yellow eyes on the lead man in challenge, she reaches out with her hands as well as her spirit and gathers power. Sparks bloom out of the air and surge into the tiefling with a roaring rush.
At the man's crude greeting, Astrid's suspicions are confirmed - lumbering through the snow, she interposes herself between Freyja and the brigands, a rough snarl escaping her distended mouth as the patches of hair on her neck and hands bristle. But a thought niggles at the back of her mind. A new "sweet piece of ass"...could these be the ones who kidnapped the Lady?
Freyja moves forward and, after finishing her signs and arcane words, creates a thin layer of slippery ice under the bandits' feet, causing the two to the north fall into the ground. Arnya sends Auryel forward and soon after another arrow flies from her bow... the arrow and the wolf hit the same bandit almost simultaneously and in the blink of an eye another one of them falls into the ground, punctured by an arrow and with terrible wound on his right arm.
Blaze also moves forward, gathering elemental energy around her, melting and evaporating the falling snow around her. Soon after Evelina sends an arrow at the last standing bandit, hitting him in his knee, and Astrid moves forward to protect Freyja, her sharp claws threatening the prone bandits.
Showing a completely lack of tactical knowledge, fear for their failure, or even a sick desire to get their hands on you, the bandits don't surrender. One of them tries to get on his feet but meets Astrid's claw, slashing across his chest and face and soon falls back into the ground, bleeding profusely. The one with an arrow on his leg tries to leave the slippery area but soon falls as well and gets on his feet again. The bandit closer to Auryel also tries to get up and fight but the wolf wastes no time and rips another throat open. The last bandit, seeing the dire situation, raises his hands, surrendering, after getting on his feet. "Ok sweet cheeks, no more, we surrender..."
Evelina darts around Blaze's protective stance with surprising speed, determined to reach the fight. She arrives next to Freyja and Astrid, with her rapier drawn, just as the bandit surrenders. With adrenaline still pumping she points her rapier towards then man and shouts at him, "A woman! You mentioned another woman! Where is she!?! What have you done with her!?!"
However, with her lungs not having fully recovered from the shock of falling in ice water, her voice cracks and the anger she is feeling inside is not accurately communicated by the volume she is able to achieve.
Marching forward sword drawn and an enraged look on her face. Sweet cheeks?She takes a swing at the man but turns the blade at the last moment so that if it connects it would not cut. You obviously need a lesson in surrendering. Want to try that again with more respect or shall I actually cut you next time?
All powered up and no where to go with it, Blaze steps closer to the surrendered man and unleashes a bright flare before his eyes. Hoping to disorient him at least and keep his ogling eyes off her friends.
"You underestimate uss again if you think we will allow a rapist to go on hiss merry way. You will answer the lady'ss question, quickly now, or I will disarm you, permanently. And I do not mean your sword..." Her dark lips quirk into an amused smile as her gaze drops to the man's crotch and lingers there a moment, leaving no confusion over her meaning.
Arvanya emerges gently from the treeline, her posture mimicking a bashful doe. She steps delicately over the gnarled tree roots and protruding rocks, pausing near Astrid. She whistles and Auryel appears by her side. Her eyes dart between the fallen men, taking in their wounds and trying to determine who among them still breathes.
She kisses the tips of her fingers, whispering the names of various animals from her childhood. Stavrai the chimpanzee, Merceea the parrot, Povlo the pony. Each name escapes as a cloud in the frosty air, and Arvanya imagines she sees the face of each within. Each name stirs a gentle memory that warms her heart. And with each name, her own heart connects with those of the fallen men, drawing them back from death's door.
She draws a third arrow, aiming it directly at the lone survivor. "Speak." She commands him softly.
It is unlikely that you will leave this cold place alive Freyja agrees with Blaze. We heard your boasts. What possible reason do we have to let you live?
Then again, if you tell us what all you know of the lodge and its occupants we might be persuaded to let you live. Holding the black blade close to the man's throat she adds But your information had better be valuable.
With the issue of interrogation well in hand, Astrid sets herself once again as a lookout, eyes scanning the surroundings as her nostrils twitch to take in the crisp air. Best to answer them, she adds softly. You'll find us a bit less sweet upset.
The man wounded in the leg almost laughs at Evelina's attempt to intimidate him and at Freyja's clumsy attack, perhaps even considering it was a mistake to surrender. This opinion soon changes at the bright explosion in front of him... he covers his eyes in pain, struggling to focus, and at Blaze's suggestion he moves back, shaken by her words and intentions.
Unable to properly focus Freyja, the raider looks in her general direction before answering her. "I... I... can give you information! Right, I'll talk..." The other raider, the one severely wounded but still conscious, tries to intercede, spitting blood. "Shut the f@++ up, Gorb! They'll kill us!"
"No, YOU shut up! I'm done with this s+%$! You want to keep your ass frozen it is your problem but I'm telling these girls what they want and then I'm leaving this hellish place! Ok ladies... guess what, yes, we have a hostage with us, a high born lady that is being held in the lodge by Rohkar. We took the lodge from the Sentinels a couple days ago with the help of those blasted fey... that is it! I'm on my way now... Are you coming Jass?" The bandit steps back, looking from you to the other bandit.
Evelina's cheeks turn slightly pink as the bandit laugh at her anger. So, she is grateful when others step in, even if her mouth does drop at Blaze's threat. Goodness. Is she serious? Laughing nervously, she thinks, Well, I have to hand it to her. That got him talking really fast...
As the bandit spills everything, Evelina turns to the others and asks, "Sounds like Lady Argentea is at the lodge and bandits took it over like we thought." Eyes full of concern, she exclaims, "We gotta get there fast! We can't leave her there! Gods only know what those men might be doin' to her!" Remembering the bandits, she adds, "..and I guess we have to figure what to do with these guys..."
Arvanya keeps her arrow aimed on the confessing raider. "You were promised life, not freedom. He will warn the others. We should bind them, gag them, tie them to a tree." Arvanya offers. "Killing them seems unnecessary. They are badly wounded already, and cold may claim them before we return. If they survive, we march them back to town."
Blaze nods in agreement with Arvanya. "Indeed, I only promised what I would do if you did not speak. But since you have, you need not fear that. You have been in the cold a long time, yess? If you do not warm yourself, you will not make it far. I can help with that." She moves closer to him and lays a bare, warm hand upon any of his exposed flesh at his face or throat, letting him feel the heat from her skin. She looks around for a large stone to heat up like Astrid had done to keep the bedrolls warm.
"If your information provess worthwhile, we will return for you and make certain you survive thiss. So it iss best you tell uss everything that will aid uss to return soon. How many will be on guard? Are there any trapss or defensess set up? How iss the lady restrained?"
Astrid examines the tip of her spear in the daytime light. And how many inside not on guard, who the watchers could call upon? Where in the lodge is the Lady kept? When you last saw her, did she live? Let us hope so...after all, your fate rests with hers now. The cold iron spear tip shaves at the edge of her elongated claw-like nails, sharpening the wicked points even further. Should you call out from outside the lodge, would others come out to your aid? The question comes out both a proposed strategy...and a veiled threat.
The bandit spits on the ground and looks around, clearly looking for a way to escape. Seeing none and also Astrid's spear and Arvanya's arrow pointed at him, the man sighs and accepts his fate, answering your questions. "The lodge is still a couple miles away and aside from us, there are a dozen more raiders, without counting our cook and boss, Rohkar, even if a couple of them are actually sick... we are not really organized so I'm not sure how many of them will be on guard." He looks at the other survivor, seeing his disapprove but keeps talking. "We keep a trap just before arriving at the lodge who serves both as a weapon and as an alarm... and your lady is being held in the cellar... happy?"
Freyja frowns at the man. No. Tell us more of this trap. Is there more thane one way into this lodge? And what of the fey? Are none at the lodge?
The man frowns. "Well, there is just one trail that leads to the lodge and then another one which leads to the center of these woods... we are in a forest so you are not required to walk solely by the trails... feel free to leave the trail behind and use the trees nearby and no trap will ever spring, well, unless some hunter used some bear traps but we can only hope..." He allows himself a smile before continuing. "About the blasted faeries, nah, they keep to their business and we keep to ours, and we are both happy to not mettle with each other... there are no fey inside the lodge and I'd be surprised if they'd come to aid if any of us asked... not even if Rohkar is the one asking I think."
Arvanya checks to ensure that the others are keeping a close eye on their captive, then lowers her bow. She drops her pack to the ground, digging through it until she emerges triumphant, a length of hemp rope grasped in her hands. "Evelina, will you help me bind them to these trees here?" She addresses the raider again as she knots the rope around his wrists, then ties it tightly under his arms and around the tree trunk. "We return for you, but only if we rescue our friend. So for your sake I hope you haven't lied to us. We don't like liars. But my friend Auryel here, he loves them. Taste delicious." She laughs softly as Auryel licks his paw, oblivious to the joke.
She then moves regards the unconscious men still lying on the ground. "I think we are needing more rope, eh?"
Freyja is goo with the plan to leave the trail once the group is closer to the lodge. We need to stick to the trail until we are closer. I cannot stomach the though of what all they might be doing to the lady so let us make what haste we can.
Evelina looks at the rope somewhat hesitantly. There's a good chance these guys are going to freeze to death or get eaten by a bear or something... Looking the men up and down and remembering their comments about Lady Argentea, she sighs, I guess they didn't really leave us a choice. We can't take them with us and we can't let them go.... Giving Arvanya a nod, she takes the other end and quietly helps her tie the men to the trunk.
While the others ready to tie them up, Blaze makes what preparations she can to aid in keeping the men warm enough until they can return for them. A fire was not a good option, but she finds as many stones as she can and piles them up, gathering power and then heating them with her fan of flames. She uses as much of the men's own gear, such as blankets and bedrolls to lay a cushioning and insulating layer between the hot rocks and the men. She checks their hands for signs of frost bite and does what she can to warm them and increase the circulation before leaving them tied.
Searching the raiders, Blaze finds no blankets or bedrolls, clearly suggesting that they weren't planning on camping in the outside and that the lodge must be close. What she does find are the men equipment consisting of five sets of padded armor, buckler, short sword, shorbow with 20 arrows, and a total of 40 pieces of gold and 25 pieces of silver. Arvanya and Evelina successfully tie the men up around a big tree trunk.
Without losing any more time, you leave the raiders behind and continue following the trail, moving south and then southwest. Like earlier and the day before, the snow continues to fall but you feel no drop in the temperature. After two hours the trail changes suddenly west, always rising since you left the creek with the elementals.
After climbing at least a hundred feet into the hills, the snowy trail finally levels off. In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge's two snow-covered chimneys, and large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall, besides a small porch with double-doors. A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest toward a detached stable. The trail continues around and contours the left side of the building.
At Arvanya's words, you leave the trail behind and venture into the woods around the lodge and thus avoiding the trap, wherever it is located. By doing so, you also notice another small building to the left and another porch, bigger this time, with another double-doors. No alarms are raised so far.
Avrora counts the arrows collected from the raiders. They are of fine construction, their fletching formed from the gray feathers of wild turkey. She aims one toward a nearby tree trunk, testing the strength of its shaft. She tucks them neatly into her own quiver.
As they step off into the woods, Arvanya clicks her tongue to draw Auryel's attention. She coos softly, imitating the call of an owl. The yellow hue of the wolf's eyes glow even more vividly for an instant, his movement becoming more limber and swift.
Soon the sprawling complex of High Sentinel Lodge comes into view. She raises a finger to her lips, advising caution to her companions. Her bow drawn, she steps alongside Auryel in their silent dance, as they have done countless mornings before. Usually they hunt squirrels and foxes. Today, they're after something far more dangerous.
She points to the small shed nearest to them, raising her eyebrows to indicate the question: Should we start there?
Liking the idea of starting with the outbuildings Freyja nods her head. She allows the hunter to lead off but the bard follows next. She is not as skilled some of the group and hopes the distance and the walls of the buildings will mask the sound of her approach. As the group moves forward she tries to spot potential sentries.
Warming up as they travel and knowing they must be close to Lady Argentea, Evelina begins to regain some of her enthusiasm. Most of this renewed vigor is spent asking Blaze if she is too cold now that they have swapped clothes, about every ten to fifteen minutes.
Once they see the lodge and Arvanya begins scouting ahead. Evelina drops her voice and tries to move more quietly. However, while her natural tread is light and fast, her attention to detail is not the best, causing several loud snapping noises as she manages to step on seemingly every branch along her path.
Blaze loads and carries the light crossbow she took from the weapon's cache the day before as they slip up on the lodge, it's bulk feeling awkward in her hands.
The small shed reveals itself as a small outhouse, the door frozen shut. A small hammer hands by a rope from its upper eaves to chip away the ice and provide access. It appears to not have been used in the last hour or so by the amount of ice.
You see or hear no signs of an alarm being raised... it appears you are still undetected.
Spear in hand, Astrid creeps toward the outbuilding, walking carefully to keep her steps as quiet as possible. Having used a prayer of healing upon leaving the men behind , her injuries no longer impede her movement, but still she half-holds her breath, cautious of drawing notice. When she sees the layer of ice on the outhouse door, she lets her breath go slightly, a white puff in the cold air. No concern, she whispers to her nearest companion. No one's used those doors for an hour at least, and if someone is inside by strange chance, they won't join us easily breaking through it.
Arvanya nods her agreement to Astrid. Giving one last, suspicious appraisal of the outhouse, she nods toward the backdoor. Signaling Auryel to stay with the palm of her hand, she turns toward the building. Crouched low, she hurries across the snow, seeking cover in the corner of the lodge adjacent to the back porch. Here she skulks, listening for signs of life nearby.
We could wait here for someone to come out to use the privy and ambush them. It can't be much longer until someone will need to answer nature's call. Freyja suggests. But I do not like delaying either... She looks to her friends for their thoughts.
Arvanya moves swiftly, the sound of her steps diminished by years of experience and the fluffy snow. There is no sign of an alarm.
Arvanya stands flat against the wall, listening intently to the sounds emerging from the Lodge as she struggled to hear over her own heart pounding in her ears. Having gained the information she needs, she ducks and returns to her allies in the same manner that she came.
"Multiple men inside," she whispers softly, pointing to the north room. "They talk like...how you say.... morons, but mention ransom. This means Lady Argentea lives, eh? Also," she continues, pointing to the southern room. "More men inside there, but lots of coughing. Sound like sickness. Bad news for them. Make them vulnerable."
Astrid nods with satisfaction at Arvanya's report. We should enter as close to these sick ones as we can. Less of a challenge... Here, she looks, for a moment, almost pouty. ...but plenty should still remain for each of us to find some worthy opponent.
Listening to the two other women propose alternate courses of action, Arvanya tilts her head to the side, nodding toward Astrid.
"Maybe yes, is better we simply walk in." Arvanya agrees. "But this will draw attention quickly, and then we are attacked by strong enemies while we fight weaker ones. Maybe better to fight strong men first?"
"We could try and wait a little while to get the jump on someone...but I don't know if we should wait too long...the sooner we can get Lady Argentea out of there, the better." Evelina listens as the others speak, seeming uncertain of the course of action. However, she nods with Arvanya's final statement. "I think your right. We still have the drop on em now. We could lose that if we muck around to much..."