Noticing her allies collapsing, Lanyssa gets a little nervous and tries to go all in, attacking the ice elemental with a loud cry.
"Yaaaaaaahhhhh!"
Lurruk can't help but appreciate the female with the deadly falchion. He redoubles his effort swinging his own longsword.
Grey sees Grevious fall, but can't get to her until there are less creatures fighting her...
Unwilling to open a hole in her so far effective defenses she continues whiping her staff around to deflect the oncoming blows, while sidling away from the preponderance of foes. Full defense, 5 foot step
Faethara keeps her balance as she swings, and it doesn't take a genius to realize they're not in a great spot. She draws a finger down the flat of her sword, and it hums with imbued arcane magic.
She takes a swing at the elemental before her.
"You dare?!" Fryja shouted at the pixie. "You raise you hand to a those of royal blood?!" She snapped at him. Fryja may not agree with the way have family ran things but she still had pride in her royal blood.
Using the anger that the pixie brought forth Fryja gripped her staff tightly and brought it around on the elemental before her.
greivous pants heavily, first the lay lines had sent too mush energy, then she took a blow far too greivous to move, she remains still, acting unconscious...
Into the Border Wood -
Freyr's strike slices between Fryja and the reeling Grievous ending the threat of the thing as the magic holding it together has been overcome and it shatters into ice that scatters across the icy river.
Hendra and Grievous both slide down onto the cold ice, overcome from the blows they have taken from these ice hearted enemies.
Lanyssa's blade shaves off a significant amount of frost from the enemy threatening her. Lurruk's strike is hard but unfortunately off the mark as he falls to the ice his feet betraying his bladework.
Faethara flanks and threatens the ice elemental as Lanyssa steps back from it to support Grievous.
Frjya seeing the Red Elemental break away before her, spins o her heel and attacks the creature that has already been struck several times her indignation at being struck by creatures that served at her beck and call when home makes her step light as air, as if the ice were dirt beneath her feet. Her staff slams down on the head of the creature, shattering it like its now destroyed cousin was shattered by her brother.
Two of the four foes have been destroyed, the fey creature, seeing the tide turned against it flees into the woods as fast as its wings can carry it directing the final elemental to provide it cover!
Charging at Freyr its fists bounce off of the mans armor leaving it vulnerable to attack.
"It's running back to its masters. So much for the element of surprise I suppose..." He raises his blade again and brings it down on the elemental before him.
Grey keeps up her frenzied parries.
LAnyssa tries to be careful not to trample Grevious, but go around her instead...
...so she ends up flanking the ice elemental and slashing it with her falchion.
"Damn fairy!" Faethara curses, and swings at the last of the elementals.
"Damn... backstabbing... coward.... ca.... ann....ot... run ... far... enough."
So saying, the mostly comatose drow woman marks the retreating fey form in her memory.
Lurruk stands up carefully and tries to move around toward the elemental.
...And promptly falls back down. Beauty squawks from above and Lurruk curses.
Into the Border Wood -
As the rest of the group struggles to find their feet, Lanyssa brings the last of the ice creatures down!
Hendra eyes the fey that struck her invisibly but is having a hard time keeping her feet beneath her.
"I don't know about any of you, but I'm pretty well beaten to hell," Freyr says, rolling his shoulders. "If we want to catch the sprite before it escapes, I suggest we go quickly. Otherwise, I suggest we retreat. If we encounter any more resistance in the woods, we're dead. And even if we don't, we're in no shape to fight the bandits."
Unfortunately I have no more healing for either of our two grievously wounded companions. I agree that at least both of them should be escorted back. I also somehow doubt that the sister would continue without the brother.
However, I am somewhat surprised that the small Fey seemed to know the twins and would like an explanation....
"I too believe we've taken enough for today. Let's go back and lick our wounds while some of the people here explain what's this all about."
Having said that, Lanyssa goes back to the Hobgoblin, which seems in a worse state than the dark elf, and murmurs a praying.
Lanyssa helps everyone on the trail back to the town.
Grey realizes she can still heal the hobgoblin as well. Ah whoops got so caught up in the fight I forgot...
"Have fey stabber scent. Can track... tomorrow. Assuming live that long." Hendra gives her companions a weak smile as she pulls down her mask. "Make easier... to see... if still breathing. Also townfolk... should know... what has been discovered... know... to avoid... area... for now."
The drow woman slowly stands, using her scythe as an improvised walking stick.
"Hate... impose... on anyone... but might... need a shoulder... to lean against... on way back."
"How far is it back to town?" Lurruk offers an arm to Hendra. "You fight well and deserve my assistance."
"I am unhurt, I can take point on the way back. The fairy was flying back in the direction from which we came," Faethara notes, and considers it. "I wonder, Lurruk, might your bird be smart enough to carry a note back to the town ahead of us?"
Hendra gratefully takes the half-orc's arm, leaning heavy on it.
"Thanks. If.... less wounded... would hunt down... backstabbing... little... twerp.... now. As is, would.... just ... arrive to ... bleed on it." A weak smile crosses her face as she adds, "Not enough... cold iron... in diet. Would not... have... desired effect."
She coughs up a bit of blood as she laughs at her own poor joke.
"I agree with Freyr, we should return and rest." Frjya agreed with a nod. "Hmm, Faethara did you think the fairy will try to attack the town? They can play tricks but they don't normally go after the whole town. They would just pick one family or person to torment." She explained with a shrug.
"We can explain when we're not in danger of being ambushed again," Freyr says with a sigh. It seems that they're not going to have the luxury of privacy at the moment. "Because one good punch is likely to lay me out for a while. I'm more than a little light headed honestly..."
As she is healed, the hobgoblin curses foully in goblinoid, making sure not to leave any dought that the fey's mother had indeed done many a nasty things. Now! she says, struggling to stand, still wary from the lay-line surge. I think I'm out for a bit.... About ... Ah give me five minutes and I'll be back, but by the gods I feel like my bones where cooked and put back in me... she growls, checking her wounds. Ah! Bruise... isnt that bad... she smiles. Least it wherent fire!
Out From the Border Wood
The hour begins to grow late and the shadows long as the investigators make their way back through the Border Wood destined for Heldren.
DC 25
Faethara
Lanyssa
Grievous
Grey
Hendra
Freyr
Fryja
Lurruk
The trip through the forest this time is an uneventful one, the horse that the fey was using as cover wandered away during the battle and you have not seen since.
Finally the group exits the woods by the ambush site which is still undisturbed, the fiery ruins of the carriage appear to have long since burned out. The road north beckons...
I wish to head home. I can put some of you up on the floor, but you are likely to be more comfortable if you have coin to spend at the inn.
"I leave that decision to you sister," Freyr mentally whispers. "I believe you're carrying all of our remaining coin."
"We've enough for an inn room" Fryja told mentally. "We'll be fine though we may have to share the room."
"Heading back sounds like a fair plan." Fryja agreed.
"Shall we bring the wounded back to your shop, Grey? Then we can take care of them in the morning and be prepared to continue."
Hendra mumbles something about having a room provided for her as part of her contract as they slowly walk south.
"Doubt... innkeeper... wishes... blood... on sheets. Then... was not... that civil... perhaps... worth... trouble."
I think it would be best for them to go see the local medicine woman, as she may have better accommodations for them, but I am also willing to offer my abode, humble as it is.
Heldren
The investigators return to Heldren bruised and battered but alive as night falls on the town.
Hendra insists on writing a quick message to Councilor Teppin upon reaching town.
"Must.... report... part of .... contract."
"Councilor,
"Found definitive evidence of fey involvement. The carriage of the Lady Malassene was destroyed. No evidence of the Lady among the dead, but her guards were slain to the man. We recovered some of their affects. We also encountered a troll on the outskirts of the snow.
"Due to these hazards, I strongly recommend keeping all towsnfolk away from the area until further notice. The fey are using trickery and traps that are likely to kill anyone not prepared for them.
Regards,
Hendra Krammier"
After ensuring that whomever has it will get it into Teppin's hands immediately, Hendra silently allows herself to be guided wherever her companions feel she has the best chance of recovering from her wounds.
"Best not to have separate rooms anyway. It's too easy to ambush someone alone in a room." He walks slowly back to town, his wounds slowing him a fair bit, though he feels a bit better than some of the others. "Anywhere I can lie down is fine by me. I'm used to sleeping in rough places."
After internally debating for a moment, Faethara offers to takes Hendra's note to Councilor Teppin. "Afterwards, I will take up in the inn to-night, I do not need much rest; come morning, we may discuss the next move."
Lanyssa offers to accompany Faethara. "I'll go with you. After all, we're heading to the same place afterwards, and who knows if the fey has some agents in town that might try to prevent us from informing, or whatever." Lanyssa hasn't got tons of knowledge about feys.
The Next Day - Outskirts of the Border Wood
Leaving Heldren on pins and needles due to the confirmation of the danger to the small town only several miles away, healed and recovered the investigators return to the ambush site of Lady Malassene carriage. Overnight some of the corpses were visited by wilderness scavengers.
No human scavengers appeared to have come by to loot what little remains. The woods beckon you to investigate within once more. Unfortunately, the tracks through the snow fresh from the previous day have been covered by snowfall...
Freyr sighs as he examines the trail, but most of the tracks seem to be filled in. "I miss having the Winter Wolves to do the tracking," he mutters, half to himself. He stands up and looks back at the group. "I suppose you're still curious about what all of this is. I believe my sister and I can explain the basics, but let's get on the trail before we start talking. The longer we're tarry, the more chance there is of something happening to the lady."
Faethara's coat is a little warm for right now, but when the cold hits she'll be ready for it. She, too, looks for tracks, but for lack of training doesn't pick up on what somebody else may see. As it is, she stands back and lets one of the people who actually know what they're doing take a crack at it.
Feeling much better with a full night's rest and the healing of the town's medicine woman, Hendra strides off confidently.
"Come. This way. Time for revenge, rescue, completion of contract. Be prepared."
Lurruk can see that Hendra doesn't need any help with tracking, but he offers it anyway. Something about the dark elf fascinates him- maybe it's her strange mannerisms, maybe it's her ruthless efficiency.
Well, let's hear your story then, Freyr!" requests Lurruk once they get underway.
Lanyssa discreetly looks for some footprints, but doesn't seem to find any. With a silent complaint, she follows the drow and the other half-orc.
"Where does one start..." Fryja said with a sigh as the made their way. "Tell me, do any of you know how the noble families of Irrisen are named?" She asked them as they made their was on the trail.
"Uh... no idea."
Greivous sighs, smoke trailing from her pipe. Afraid not... she says.
My tribe fought them, didn't study them.