Knowing it's trapped, the panicked Western Bear strikes out with a flurry of claws and teeth fighting for it's life.
---------------------------------------------
The Eastern bear struggles against Aengus' grip after recovering from being stunned.
(fail)
(fail)
Florr walks closer to the bear with Aengus on its back. She touches her amulet, says a quiet word, then touches the bear.
Two short bolts of lightning spring from her fingertips and sizzle around the bear's head for a second before they fizzle into short bursts of light that fade quickly.
Florr walks closer to the bear with Aengus on its back. She touches her amulet, says a quiet word, then touches the bear.
[dice=Twinned Shocking grasp]1d20+4
Two short bolts of lightning spring from her fingertips and sizzle around the bear's head for a second before they fizzle into short bursts of light that fade quickly.
[dice=Damage]2d8
The smell of burnt fur fills the air and the bear is still.
The driver prys the crowbow open again and drops in a bolt and fires a bolt into the other bear.
The bears breathing becomes labored and painful.
Rurik sprints, ducking and weaving between obstables to arrive next to Erazire.
He bangs on his shield to get the bears attention.
"HYAA! NYAA! HEY!"
*Bonk Clang*
Grombar waits for an opening and comes downward with both tomahawks between the bear's shoulder blades.
Nikolai giggles which may be slightly unsettling. He shouldn't be having this much fun but hey, at least he's on your side. He makes his way northward (move plus dash cunning action).
He takes aim at the western bear.
The bear lets out a moan into the cold dusk air and falls still in Aengus' grip.
The snow is really piling up.
Florr rushes up to the driver of the cart. "Hi, I'm Florr. We all need to get out of these woods and to Haven's Cross. This storm is getting worse. Can we use your cart to get there faster? I can offer you some apples and fish jerky. We all need to get out of this storm as soon as possible."
"Thank you for your help. I was on my way to Haven's Cross, thus snow just came out if no where.. Guess I should have left Voski when the wife said.."
He looks to the animated horses.
"You're welcome to anything you find in my cart. I'm a general goods dealer, I was going to do a last minute delivery to Mercy's to hold him over through winter."
Grit squints into the storm to the South West. We're still at least two days out from Haven's Cross. That's if we March straight through. "
Looking back towards the group" Not sure everyone's done a forced March in the snow, or would be up for it now."
He picks up a quiver of arrows from the cart and rummages through a crate. He throws a pumpkin down to the dinosaur, it breaks and is eaten in two bites.
" Least we won't starve. "
"Oh that's great, we are all going to the same place! I say we head out." She looks around to the rest of the party. "Yeah?"
She walks slowly towards the animated horses, holding out an apple. She makes some friendly horsey noises and is very cautious.
The horses stare straight ahead.
"If I'm not mistaken, I think the Rubrum Grima is closer. If we March until morning we could make it there to take shelter and prepare. But the snow will be higher when we leave and there's no sign of it stopping.. "
Seems to me that in order to survive we need food and shelter. Looks like we have some food. I think we should get to the closest shelter.
The body of the Bugbears let's off steam as it's hit blood melts into the snow. But the snow is quickly dusting making the crimson fade and gently disappear.
Grombar seems antsy and unsure.
He guts the eastern bear and starts separating the think soft fur from the meat."Pelt is a bit worse for wear, meats good. No sense..."
He trails off.
Aengus crosses his arms after pulling on his Friars cowl over his head.
"I'm ready for either plan, though I'm not sure how much snow will fall between there and Haven's Cross by the time we'd be leaving. It'll make our trip longer.."
Rurik straightens his armor and stows his shield and pick.
"You know...I wouldn't call that."
He kicks the body.
"I wouldn't call that your average highway man brigand."
"The sssooner I rest, the sssooner I can fight again. To the manor, sssay I."
"I wouldn't call that your average highway man brigand."
"Then what would he want with average things?"
He looks to the driver, "Anything we should know?" He glances at Rurik then back to the driver, "We're with the Haven's Cross guild you know. Your safe now."
Florr agrees with Erazire. "We have provisions to last us a bit, and this kind gentleman says we can help ourselves. I say we head to Rubrim Grima as well. And didn't Old Bill say he was setting up some sort of magical portal there? I can't recall the details.... Anyone remember?"
She glances at Grombar and his gutted bear. "You almost done there? Were you doing both bears?"
She looks at Rurik and the bugbear body. "My guess is that he was just looking for trouble. Do you know him?" she asks the driver.
She stows her bow and the apples. "Now, how are we going to get this cart moving? I tried offering the horses an apple, but they don't seem to be behaving like horses that are alive." She glances at Aengus. "Maybe you could make yourself big and pull the cart?" Then she looks at Erazire. "You are strong too, maybe you could help?"
"That's what I'm saying Florr. You're telling me someone out in a storm with two extremely well trained bears and passion for NECROMANCY was just wandering around a blizzard looking to hustle some..general sundries and dry goods?"
"Something smells bad."
"And I think we should go right to Haven's Cross. This cart may not even pull through this snow if it gets much higher. "
"I vote Haven's Cross."
".... Grima."
Erazire mulls over what Rurik says while helping himself to some of the food from the cart. "I'll help pull the cart," he says, clearly not excited about it.
The Dinosaur starts rummaging through the cart.
Florr agrees with Erazire. "We have provisions to last us a bit, and this kind gentleman says we can help ourselves. I say we head to Rubrim Grima as well. And didn't Old Bill say he was setting up some sort of magical portal there? I can't recall the details.... Anyone remember?"
She glances at Grombar and his gutted bear. "You almost done there? Were you doing both bears?"
She looks at Rurik and the bugbear body. "My guess is that he was just looking for trouble. Do you know him?" she asks the driver.
She stows her bow and the apples. "Now, how are we going to get this cart moving? I tried offering the horses an apple, but they don't seem to be behaving like horses that are alive." She glances at Aengus. "Maybe you could make yourself big and pull the cart?" Then she looks at Erazire. "You are strong too, maybe you could help?"
"Bill is quite a sentimental and does like magic portals... But I'd haven't a clue how to use it..."
So it's 4 voting for Grima and 2 for Haven's Cross... And I didn't catch your name sir.. How do you vote? "
"That's what I'm saying Florr. You're telling me someone out in a storm with two extremely well trained bears and passion for NECROMANCY was just wandering around a blizzard looking to hustle some..general sundries and dry goods?"
"Something smells bad."
"And I think we should go right to Haven's Cross. This cart may not even pull through this snow if it gets much higher. "
"Yeah, no reason for this thing to be robbing a grocer. I'm convinced to go straight to Haven's Cross. We got food an (he looks at the driver) plenty to burn to stay warm. Lets get going. I'll start taking inventory."
We got food an (he looks at the driver) plenty to burn to stay warm.
"I wouldn't call that your average highway man brigand.""Then what would he want with average things?"
He looks to the driver, "Anything we should know?" He glances at Rurik then back to the driver, "We're with the Haven's Cross guild you know. Your safe now."
[Dice=persuation]1d20+4
He nods and smiles. "I keep it loaded, don't take it personal." the crossbow *KETHUNK*
"Your guess is as good as mine. I don't have any I think a man like that would be interested in."
The driver narrows his eyes.
"I vote Haven's Cross."
"It sounds like it three for the Manor and four for Haven's Cross. Another 30 hours or so without real rest or shelter may be more than some can bear and we're still another 12 or so from the mansion... Not to mention the trip back.. "
"have any swayed? Grombar?"
Nikolai finds:
Four bags of Flour.
Four bags of Barley.
Three bags of potatoes.
1 small crate of pumpkins
1 small crate of Carrots
1 small crate of Cabbages
24 jars of applesauce
24 jars stewed tomatoes
6 clay jugs of mead
3 Long Bows
1 Short Bow
5 quivers of arrows for short bows
5 quivers of arrows for long bows
1 quiver of crossbow bolts
2 spools of ropes
2 shovels
1 pickax
a dozen clay bowls
5 knives
You also find a book entitled "A History of the Holgirr Mountains Part 1"
Some crude drawings of a naked woman
4 bags of pipe tobacco
A half drunk bottle of wine.
3 Blankets
2 Rugs
4 pairs of boots
Grombar finishes with the bear largely during the conversation, he's clearly using practiced hands. He drapes the bear skin fur side down over a car railing despite the two scorched handprints and the arrow hole.
Aengus helps him quarter the bear and they tie ropes around the wrists (ankles?) of the bear meat and Grombar says some words over the bear.
"You were bewitched by evil. I hope we gave you and your ilk a noble death, befitting a warrior."
He looks up.
"I'm ready to make the trip to Haven's Cross. By the way that Dinosaur is working through our produce, we won't have much soon. I'm sure it won't eat the meat."
"If what Florr says is true..."
he strokes his beard with two hands and gives a wise pout.
"Perhaps it makes sense to send some to Haven's Cross and those needing rest and shelter to The Manor. We'd be able to activate Bill's magic with Bill to save everyone the trip back."
"In that case I change my vote. I'll head to Haven's Cross."
Gritnarr turns his nose at the bear meat and grabs a burlap sack from the cart and fills it with vegetables. He places the food in front of the dinosaur and places a hand on the beast's cheek.
"You'll always eat first. But stay out of the cart." He motions to the cart.
He picks fletchings from the arrows with his teeth to trim them.
"A bit shoddy.." he fires a test shots while the party chats and trims and whittles the arrow shafts with the knife he took from Rurik.
He looks at the companions making a mental list of who's going and staying.
"I'll head to the manor and wait with the others. No telling what we'll find there."
He looks to Grit as if to say "Are you alright?"
Grit nods.
He gives a final pleading glance to say "Are you sure?"
And Grit nods.
Rurik searches the body of the Bugbear. He produces A tome, a ring, a cloak clasp, and a wand.
"These are magical." He holds the tomb pinched between his index and thumb letting it dangle like a stinking fish. It's bound in skin and is ringed with humanoid teeth and knucklebones.
There's also an inkwell filled with a thick crimson substance and a small brush.
Guldar approaches Erazire and places his hand upon his shoulder.
"You weathered quite an assault from the strongest bear. Thank you."
He takes the silver chain off from around his neck, it's interlocked silver rings begin to float and a gentle golden mist spills out faintly finding it's way to your wounds.
He approaches the horses. He speaks an incantation.
The horses vaporize, their ash blows away mixing with the snow.
"Poor creatures...."
"I'll join the group going to Haven's Cross. I miss my daughter. I'll speak with Bill."
Nikolai signals for Florr to come over.
"Are you all prepared supply wise?"
He begins to empty out a bag of potatoes in a corner of the cart.
"Here I want you to take something."
He tips his backpack over emptying its contents into the potato bag. You hear several dozen more clumps and clinks than you think a halfling sized backpack should be able to produce. He then holds it out to her.
"We can split some of this food up. Carry it in this. It can hold more than it looks. I hid in it once so I could..."
He remembers who he is talking too and that Rurik may be listening and starts again abruptly but shakily,
"Well, I'm expecting it returned to me in a few days."
He then turns to the rest of the group in a much clearer voice,
"Anyone so much as peek into this potato sack and you'll end up like that one," he says gesturing to the bugbear.
Florr takes the knapsack, grinning. "Nikolai my friend, what a great idea! I'll be giving it back to you in a few days. You have my word." She pats him on the back, very friendly like.
She asks the cart driver, "Is this your personal book on the Holgirr Mountains, or is it for sale? I have a friend who is off adventuring that would enjoy it. I'd like to buy it if I can!"
"Let's split this food up. We need to get moving in our separate directions," she says urgently, looking up at the snowy sky. "So Rurik and I are going to the Manor? Erazire, want to come too? You are tough but you seem like you could use a rest. Plus I can show you around! I'm excited to see what progress has been made there."
"It's my book, but I've read it many times. I'd be willing to offer a trade. We can talk more on the trip if you'd like. We should leave soon. Traveling without rest ain't easy."
"Ready. Let usss leave at once."
The walk is directly into the wind. You try to shield your faces, but there is little you can do. After nearly a day away, moving and fighting you're getting to be tired. The darkness is almost absolute, with only brief glimpses of a faint moon.
Rurik holds his shield the best he can to shelter Erazire and Florr from the winds. The air whistles as it passes it's edge.
He drinks a jug of mead and gulps a jar of tomatoes being careful to keep his beard clean.
"So, Erazire. You grow up around here, in the North Lands?"
Florr feels the wind in her face but doesn't feel the cold. She listens to Rurik and Erazire talk and thinks about saddling up Storm Surge and galloping across the plains.......
Rurik holds his shield the best he can to shelter Erazire and Florr from the winds. The air whistles as it passes it's edge.
He drinks a jug of mead and gulps a jar of tomatoes being careful to keep his beard clean.
"So, Erazire. You grow up around here, in the North Lands?"
Erazire turns to face Rurik. "No. I come from the Sssouth. My tribe hailsss...," he pauses for a moment, looking into the distance and then shaking his head, "hailed from what you would call The Desert of The Forsaken. Hot daysss and cold nightsss, but never as cold at thisss." He abruptly stops speaking. It's clear he doesn't want to talk any more about his homeland. He tries to change the subject to the Deepflagons. "Where do you come from, Rurik?"
Erazire passes passive DC check.
Florr feels the wind in her face but doesn't feel the cold. She listens to Rurik and Erazire talk and thinks about saddling up Storm Surge and galloping across the plains.......
[dice=Con Save]1d20+1
[dice=Con Save Adv from Boots of Endure Elements]1d20+1
While you've done your fare share of hard days and rough nights on ships and recently. The weather doesn't bother you in the least but it's the length of time going without sleep is really getting to you. Especially after two hard battles and daring rescues.
Rurik holds his shield the best he can to shelter Erazire and Florr from the winds. The air whistles as it passes it's edge.
He drinks a jug of mead and gulps a jar of tomatoes being careful to keep his beard clean.
"So, Erazire. You grow up around here, in the North Lands?"
Erazire turns to face Rurik. "No. I come from the Sssouth. My tribe hailsss...," he pauses for a moment, looking into the distance and then shaking his head, "hailed from what you would call The Desert of The Forsaken. Hot daysss and cold nightsss, but never as cold at thisss." He abruptly stops speaking. It's clear he doesn't want to talk any more about his homeland. He tries to change the subject to the Deepflagons. "Where do you come from, Rurik?"
Erazire passes passive DC check.
"Oh, sorry I...I was born in the Towers of Doriast, in the Holgirr Mountains Northwest of here. I'm a proud Dorian dwarf."
You've been traveling about two days without rest, mostly in the snow,when you see the hill with the Manor ahead. There looks to be a large pile of garbage outside and there's smoke coming from the chimney.
"We are here! Let's go!" Florr musters the last of her strength to keep getting to the Manor.