The tool shed is empty, but has neatly arranged tools. Axes, shovels, picks and other useful tools, many of which likely help build the lodge behind you.
"Well that's done it!" Kat growls with intense dissatisfaction from where she is bent over looking up the chimney the fey had taken as its escape route.
"Hope he's not going for 'is friends. Where'd the others get off ta?"
"Think we should wait for the others before we go down there," Tursk says to Vic as he stares at the entrance to the cellar.
I investigate the other 2 stables to see why they are empty. What is kept in these things or are they just extra?
I will gather them and we can head down as a group.
Vic tracks down the others to lead them to the final unexplored area.
"Well that's done it!" Kat growls with intense dissatisfaction from where she is bent over looking up the chimney the fey had taken as its escape route.
"Hope he's not going for 'is friends. Where'd the others get off ta?"
Barl shrugs. "Oh well. We'll just squish 'em if they come back. I think everyone else is looking outside. Let's not miss out on the action!" Barl grabs Kat by the arm and runs out to see what the hub bub is by the cellar door.
A strange look passes Kat's features as Barl touches her arm, but she shrugs it away. "Yeah, okay," she sighs, then follows Barl.
Vic sees the Barl and Kat exit the house.
Over here! Let me gather up Jack and we can meet at the cellar door, eh.
Vic rushes off to the stables.
C'mon, Jack, we have a root cellar to investigate.
After returning to Tursk, he motions to the cellar door and asks,
Is it locked?
The two stalls Look like they have not been used recently, it could be that whoever built the place had more horses than the bandits or that it was built with extra in mind. There are three horses here and it is well stocked for their care.
The cellar is barred from the outside, two large impressive slabs of wood. when you unbar it and fling open the door into the darkness you hear muffled cries. Steeping into the dark Cellar you see one side sits a dark alter, with it and the floor stained with blood. The other side, thrown in cages meant for beasts, you see a woman in tatted Garments, with a few cuts and a black eye. In another cage you see a badly beaten elf,also gagged and tied thrown on the cold floor of the cage.
Off to the side some barrels and chests lay.Likely supplies.
The half-elf raises his head when he sees you, smiling warmly through his gag as though to offer you a friendly greeting.
Tursk casts a light spell on his shield.
"Be at ease. We're here to help you," Tursk says to the elf.
He then tries the key they got off the Norgorberan Priest on the cage.
to heal the badly injured.
As an action, you present your holy symbol and evoke healing energy that can restore a number of hit points equal to five times your cleric level. Choose any creatures within 30 feet of you, and divide those hit points among them. This feature can restore a creature to no more than half of its hit point maximum. You can’t use this feature on an undead or a construct.
Vic smiles at the lady.
Consider yourself rescued by your knights in shining armor, mi'lady.
He bends his knee in a flourishing deep bow.
Tursk then moved over to the cage holding Lady Argentea and opened her cell. He gently prodded the noblewoman's arm, unsure of the protocol in such a situation.
"Lady Argentea, we are here to rescue you."
"Who are you? One of her guards?" Kat asks the elven prisoner.
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Barl stands tall behind Tursk and the kneeling Vic, dual biceps flexing in an impressive statuesque display. He imagines a column of light shines upon him and small birds flit around his head.
As he sees the their bonds, Barl drops out of his ridiculous pose.
"Oh, you're tied up.." He'll head into the cage and cut the ropes and gags with his dagger.
"Hello!" says the half-elf with a not entirely appropriate level of cheerfulness. "My name is Arranis. I'm a wandering cleric of Sarenrae, whose wanderings went a bit sour recently. Ah well, I knew I'd be rescued if I courageously just sat here and waited long enough. Looks like I was right! I'll let Miss Lady introduce herself."
Arannis turns his smile to the Lady.
"Lady isn't her name. It's her title. She's a noblewoman," Tursk gently corrected the half-elf.
"Are you able to channel healing magic, Arannis? If so, it might be best if we give you a chance to pray for spells before we leave here. My power is all but spent."
The half-elf nods. "I do indeed have some healing magic. My holy symbols and other gear should be here in the cellar's boxes somewhere..."
The Lady removes her gag and stretches her hands. She shivers in the cold as this celler is barely warmer than the outside "I am Lady Argentea Malassene." She says as she stands "Have you captured the bandits and those vile creatures that murdered my servants?"
"Errr.. Captured?" Barl scratches his head and looks to Tursk. "Did we leave any of those guys alive?"
I do say, Mi'Lady. Boulder here is quite right. I do not believe we spared the life of any abductors. I would think that vengeance would be welcomed.
"We killed most of them, my Lady. We offered them a chance to surrender you peacefully but they chose not to take it. We spared one for the knowledge of your wherabouts and another to avoid unnecessary bloodshed," Tursk answered with a shrug.
"What's done is done. And we must leave soon."
She nods "Very well, dead is dead. Did you get the fey? Did you stop the portal?" She asks, still shivering in the cold.
What portal? What fey?
Arranis looks up from where he's been rummaging through boxes in search of his personal effects.
"Wait, what?" he asks. "Portal? Is that something to do with how we were going to be sacrifices?"
There was some sort of captured pixie in the house. I freed it in exchange for information to find you, my Lady. Don't know about any portals, though," Tursk says, his tone unapologetic.
Kat looks obviously confused as she glances from person to person. "Portal? Sacrifice? We juss came to rescue the kidnapped Lady. Maybe someone should start at the beginning here..."
The lady stands there shivering."If the lodging is secure maybe we can go inside? The fey, they work for a troll who is the key to this unseasonable weather. It guards, maybe controls a portal to somewhere cold, it is that portal that makes all this" She says waving to her icy breath.
"Alright well let's get you inside to warm you up." Barls eyes widen as if a great revelation had just come to him. "Hey there is this great stew that the bandit had going! You're going to love it.." The big man continues to ramble on about the stew as he walks toward the lodge.
"Stew?!" Arannis exclaims cheerily as he hefts his backpack and staff. "Sign me up!" The half-elf follows Barl toward the food, almost skipping with elation.
Vic heads back inside with the others.
Where have you last seen this Troll, and where might we find him and the portal?
Kat follows the others back into the hut, though she kept looking over her shoulder into the forest. Oddly, the thought of stew was no longer as appetizing and did not hold the same appeal as it had just a short while ago, and she couldn't really say why.
Once inside, in the great chamber( the dinning area had a great deal of blood and bodies still) Lady Malassene tells you what she knows, Barl happily enjoys his venison stew, that half orc could cook.
"I have not seen this..Tobknocker? The troll, I have only seen its foul minions. One of them froze by men to the bone, it looked like a walking pile of ice. I heard it and the bandit leader speak. They have some plan, I know not what it is but it spoke of forever winter. The last I saw of it before they threw me in that hole, was it and its underlings vanishing down that tail outback"
There is indeed a tail leading deeper into the woods, you saw it while outside.
Well, should we try to pick up the trail to the portal?
"I would dearly like some payback for our loss today. But I think we have a duty to see Lady Argentea back to Heldren -- and to bury our dead," Tursk said finishing quietly.
Barl nods in agreement. "Let's get our Lady here and Helen back to Heldren. Then we can find this Troll and kick his butt back through his portal."
Arannis smiles.
"Your compassion and devotion is admirable, all of you. As thanks for the rescue, I'd be happy to assist in both endeavors, regardless of the order in which they're done. However, you're all about as badly beaten as I am, some of you even more. You look exhausted as well. Wander out like this, and you'll neither defeat a troll nor get anyone home safely. I can see you're eager to do right by your companions, but throwing your lives away helps no one. I recommend resting for the night, then embarking in the morning."
Tursk sighs.
"Yes. That is wisest. We'll rest the night and leave first thing tomorrow. Anything else would be folly."
"If there is a horse, I can make my way back to the town. But if you have dead to bury, we can travel in the morning. I would speak with your council. I am glad however, you are willing to end this threat"
The next morning you make for Heldren, after placing the dead bandits in a shallow grave. Which, was hard digging in the frozen earth. A heard snow had fallen the night before, it was as the harshest winter known was setting in.
The Lady says little, but urges you onward to the town for supplies, so she an speak with the council. You have three horses, for supplies treasure and Helen's body. You make good time, with the way known and nothing seeming to attack you, but you feel as if you are being watched.
You make the town sometime after midday, the lady plans to speak with the council and you may join her, or attended other matters.
I would like to attend you at the meeting with the Council, M'Lady.
First thing, Barl heads directly to The Stoat to boast of the groups accomplishments and revel in free drinks. Afterward, since Barl isn't very good at sitting still for long, he'll volunteer to shovel out peoples homes and shops.
Having not visited Heldren before, the wandering Arannis takes the opportunity to see the sights and get to know the town as he waits for word of what might come next. When his sightseeing overlaps with Barl's tavern tales, he interjects a few embellishments here and there in favor of all the rescuers.
Tursk takes Helen's body to the temple to begin the funerary rites. He tells the others that the service will be at dusk.
Kat accompanies Tursk to the temple. Even if she did tend to chide Kat a lot, she had been a friend. Worse, she had likely mostly gone to make sure Kat didn't get into trouble, a fact over which Katarina could not suppress a twinge of guilt as she follows along behind the cleric.
With only vic to accompany her to speak with the council. They are lead by Ionnia Teppen and seem unsettled by the ladies words. They speak among themselves, The Lady seems to urge them to action. Ionnia speaks to Victor. "You and your companions are willing to handle this threat yes?
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At the silver stout, Barl has his chance to regal those within with his tale, and take a few drinks as they listen to his version of how the bandits where taken down. Arannis, seeing the town lacks many sites, ends up hearing and maybe adding to the tale.
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The Temple of Erastil, is overseen by Elder Natharen Safander and his Qadiran wife,Zaarida. They are saddened to learn of Helen's passing and Natharen sends runners to take care of some arrangements before he is summoned for the council meeting. He leaves his wife to attend Helen's body