@ Dorial
An ember flares like a beacon beneath the shadow of the tree in the center of town. It dims, brights, fades as it shifts lazily forward,a haphazard bee line headed towards Dorial as she approaches,
"I wondered if you'd be by tonight after all, Zephyr-girl." Rufus admits with a grin.
Simon spends the evening at the Sitting Duck, sharing drinks with friends and talking to anyone that will about the telltale scars that reveal someone was infected without knowing it by the plague lord. He makes a point to emphasize the 'without knowing it' aspect and repeats the idea that Falcon's Hollow need to help the afflicted people.
The men are happy share stories with Simon, and after a round or two nod along with his assessment. After a few more drinks, some are even willing to pull off their boots and prove their feet are worm free.
Eli points Kast towards the kitchen, where Fleur is working. "Actually, better you tell her first. I'm sure she'll fill me in."
Dorial smiles at Rufus, "I just had to come see you. Could we go somewhere.. private?"
@ Dorial
"I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Come on, I've got a place not too far. Not high market, mind you, but not dockside either, ya know." With hands as big as plates, Rufus picks Dorial up and whirls her around twice before taking her by the hand and heading off to his rooms.
"I think we should expect much what we have, I know of no unique dangers between here and there."
With that Nimeon will make his way to the Duck for a small mug of beer before retiring for the night.
Chrystosm heads off to the Rouge Lady, stopping off on the way to fashion two makeshift training swords out of scrap wood . Once there, he'll walk discreetly around to the rear of the building, trying to keep out of sight, and knock quietly on the back door.
"Hello! Hollin! Hollin, are you there?"
@ Chrystosm
After a moment, the cellar door near Chrystosm's feet opens, Hollin sticking his head out, "Chrys? Is that you?"
He doesn't wait for an answer but scrambles out quickly, carefully catching the door so it doesn't slam shut behind him. "Yessir, what can I do for you? please don't be here for Ralla, please don't be one of those guys, please don't be here for....
Eli points Kast towards the kitchen, where Fleur is working. "Actually, better you tell her first. I'm sure she'll fill me in."
Kast enters the Squawking Duck and nods at Eli.
"Fleur? Oh, thanks Eli. I can just go back there? Okay..." Kast goes back to the kitchen to find Fleur.
"Hey Fleur, you busy? It's been a weird day. Eli said I should talk to you about what happened...and maybe you'll fill him in. Say that looks good what is that...turkey?" "So anyway, we explored...blahblah...mashed potatoes?" "...really weird box...blahblah...cranberry?" "...so giving people a hot foot...blahblah...biscuits?" "...so this worm is dangling..." "...and that's where we're going next. Nimeon's dad's place."
Fleur listens quietly, nodding and putting food in front of Kast as previous offerings disappear. She gives a shudder at the description, then stops cold as Kast says he, err, the group, is going out with that awful box.
"You're leaving again? So soon? It's not, I mean, Do you think it will be months like the trip to the cemetery?" Her hands start moving faster than her mouth as she starts packing up things for him, err, the group, to take on the journey.
"You'll get hungry. Here, take some more turkey. And this red jelly, it goes alright with that and will keep well in this weather. Bread! You'll need bread, just a second, let me see... Yes, this loaf will work."
Fleur flutters around like a bird, handing Kast things to take with him. Finally, she stops, brushing a hair out of his face and wiping a bit of cranberry jelly from his cheek.
"Do be careful out there, with the druids? I know that Nimeon calls them family, but that doesn't mean they'll see you in the same light. I..." A crash from the other room distracts her from whatever she might have been saying.
"...I better get out there. Safe Journey, Kast."She turns to leave, stops, then spins back around to kiss his cheek, blushing furiously all the while. "Come home safe and soon."
Chrystosm shows Hollin the two practice swords.
"I've come to say sorry, twice, and to make good on my promise."
Gods, it feels weird saying that. Why am I so bothered?
"After that, I need to talk with all the ladies here, and I do mean talk - I'm not here for you-know-what."
You idiot. Where else are you going to get a tumble in this armpit of a town?!
"It's to do with what's been happening in the town - something they might have noticed that other people wouldn't. Now come on - I'm getting cold standing around!"
After spending a decent amount of time coaching Hollin, Chrystosm will go inside and have a word with the girls about the odd marks that have been appearing on the townsfolk.
@ Chrystosm
"Really? Really really?" Hollin is thrilled, and forgives Chrys without another thought. He takes the coaching very seriously, and occasionally seems to have someone in particular in mind when he swings, though his grin afterwards says it couldn't possibly be Chrystosm.
Inside, most of the girls are very busy, the noises obvious from the hall as Hollin leads Chrys to see Ralla. When her latest client leaves, the boy gives a respectful knock at the door before going in, "Sis? Chrys is here, says he needs to talk, just talk, about something serious in the town".
Ralla listens, her brows furrowing as he describes the box and the marks. "I don't spend a lot of time looking at the men's feet, Mr. Chrys, but I can start. I'll talk to the downstairs folks as well. They're likely to see more feet than I am, and may have a tip or two."
A small bell rings 15 minutes or so into the discussion, and she excuses herself. "Time to get back to work, I'm afraid. Hollin, please see Mr Chrys out, then straight to bed with you."
Kast accepts the food (and kiss) with a smile.
This is a pretty package, Kast thinks as he packs the package in his backpack.
"Thanks for the food...I'm sure we'll be fine. We have Nimeon with us...so what can possibly go wrong?"
Making his leave of Fleur, Kast says goodnight to Simon, Eli, and whomever else is in the common room, and makes his way to his room for the night.
On the morn, Kast will arise, go through his usual wake up routine of prayer and bardiche practice and be ready to leave in the morning.
The morning dawns gray and overcast, with a light flurry of snow falling sporadically. Kast and his bardiche are the first to appear outside of The Sitting Duck followed quickly by Nimeon and Chrystosm. Simon and Othoe appear not too much later and the five men have more than a few minutes to catch up before Dorial comes breezing up the lane from some elsewhere.
Kast stretches out and rubs his left leg, preparing for a long long long walk.
C'mon lil buddy, we have walkin' to do.
"Are you excited to see your dad, Nimeon? Do you think he'll be happy to see you?"
"I doubt he will be excited to see me Kast. Jaryd is not the most...attentive of fathers. The first place to look for him is north east of the Elder Tree. He may be in a hidden grove near there. The Greenfire Circle is fixed but he tends to move around."
With that Nimeon begins leading the group into the forest.
Othoe starts out at the head of the party and tries for a brisk pace. As the day wears however, the longer legs of his companions get the best of him and he slips to the rear.
We need steeds for this sort of trip. I'm tired of walking so much - this is why I picked a village to settle into - so I could take a break from all this walking!
*limp*
*bardichewalkingstick*
*limp*
*bardichewalkingstick*
Kast limps along, following Nimeon, keeping up as best he can. Kast admires how others can walk with their heads up, watching for danger, as they walk rather than at the treacherous ground that can catch a lame leg all too easily.
*limp*
*bardichewalkingstick*
*limp*
*bardichewalkingstick*
Sure glad the gnome is here. He's as slow as I am.
"Yo Chrystosm! I never heard what happened at the Red Laddie. How did it go?"
Not having to lead, and having spent a night in enjoyment, Dorial lingers behind those in front by a bit. Noticing Othoe's pace slowing, she speeds up a little to match pace with him.
"Are you feeling alright Othoe? Your face is a little redder than normal."
I wonder if he's sick. Poor halfling.
Chrystosm mopes along, alternately proud of himself for resisting the urge to satisfy his baser urges and furious that he missed out on an opportunity to satisfy his baser urges. He looks at Dorial out of the corner of his eye. What's *she* looking so bleedin' cheerful about, eh?
He starts upon hearing Kast mention his name.
"Eh? Oh! Nothing. They didn't feel an- , I mean, didn't see anything at all, but they'll keep an eye out"
Rassenfrassensassen conscience. Grumblemumble scholars and their murburburbur barmaids. Druids. Blue bal... Oh look! A squirrel! Hee Hee!
The day progresses,what little light there is giving way to a gathering gloom as darkening clouds pile atop on another for a chance at the heroes as they move north. A couple of hours out, the temperature begins to drop and the winds rise. The occasional flurry becomes more earnest, limiting visibility .
1Chrystosm
2Dorial
3Kast
4Nimeon
5Othoe
6Simon
Unless someone else claims it, Simon has the box.
Othoe, lacking good cold weather gear apparently, shivers as he trudges along.
I KNEW I should have taken Endure Elements! Foolish boy.
"I don't suppose anyone has a spare wrap do you? I'm getting a little cold out here. Didn't plan ahead properly I guess." Othoe frowns at his own foolishness.
"Wear this blanket Othoe, and stay by me. We need to stick together, this snow will blind us even more than the trees. Walk on the windy side of the trees, I know it sounds wrong but the snow will be clear and you can walk a little easier. Everybody keep your eyes open for shelter, if this turns against us we'll need to hole up. Caves might seem like your friend but it's far too easy for the entrance to become blocked with snow and cut off your air. We'd suffocate on our own breath and Chrys' beer farts."
Othoes thanks to Nimeon is heartfelt and he tries to stick to the windy side of the trees.
Still lingering towards the back of the group, Dorial tries the best she can to keep herself warm.
I haven't been in this part of the forest before. It's a good thing Nimeon's here.
Simon wraps himself and Llwynally in the fine cloak that Othoe made for them, and then surrounds that with a blanket to block the winds.
"Othoe, you can have the cloak you made for us, from that darkmantle creature, to help against the cold." Simon offers up the 'magical' cloak.
At the first break, Kast takes out a blanket from his backpack and wraps it around himself as he goes.
Oh yeah, mountains are cold. I believe it's because we're getting closer to the yetis and frost beasts that inhabit higher climates.
With Nimeon's help, the others are able to keep going, though that going proves slow. Simon fairs fairly well against the biting sting of the wind blown crystals of ice, due to the darkmantle skin and Llwynally's warm fur wrapped around his neck inside the makeshift cloak. Othoe and Kast, both wrapped in blankets, do nearly as well. How long that will last, though, is anyone's guess; with every step, the temperature dips and the snow fall thickens.
"Nimeon, might you have mentioned the cold before we left?" Kast asks between shivers. "Not sure this is going well."
"It's winter Kast, it gets cold."
Maybe he didn't read that?
"At any rate, we need to start looking for shelter before it gets dark. One thing I don't have is a tent, so even a cave will do at this point. We need a fire and a windbreak."
Through a break in the snow, Nimeon catches a glimpse of a light up ahead. Several more steps, then there it is again. Finally, a flash of lightning lights up the sky, highlighting the artificial lines of a man-made structure up ahead and to the left, as well as the jagged silhouette of a burned out tree almost directly opposite to the right.
We'd suffocate on our own breath and Chrys' beer farts
Chrystosm, shuffling along in his sleeping bag like a scruffy little caterpillar, brightens.
"I can fart beer? Wow!"
He screws up his face into a look of intense concentration, then stops, his mouth drooping.
"Oh. OK. That's what you meant".
Spotting the structure to the left of the party, he points at it silently.
"I see it Chrys! Let us head there, unless there are objections?"
"Nnnnn-nnnn-oooo. Llll-eeee-tttt'ssss ggggoooo-oooo," Kast stammers in reply as he begins to walk towards the light.
Othoe helps Kast limping beside him (+2 to your save Kast!) but fails it himself. He pushes hard to the light hoping for warmth and maybe some hot soup within.
Weapon Equipped = none
Conditions = none
Arcane Bond = none
Force Missile = 6/6
Wizard Spells Remaining:
0) Detect Magic, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost*, Spark
1) Burning Hands*, Magic Missile w/Topple*, Magic Missile w/Topple*
(+2 per survival success)
Holy hell is it cold out here. It's been a while since I've been in the wilds during this type of weather.
Shouting over the blowing snow and ice, "Could we head into that structure? I'm freezing and need to warm myself up!"
A quick glance at her reveals that Dorial isn't wearing any protection other than her regular clothing and armor and carries only her basic weapons and shield.
Survival
Fort Save
Kast limps towards the light.
Chrystosm loses his footing, falling head-first into a snowdrift. Encased in his sleeping bag, he's unable to get back up and instead slithers towards shelter, filling his sleeping bag with snow and ice as he does so.
"Hrrrr! Yow!"
Chrystosm slips once more, rolling down to land next to a tree in front of a small cabin. The others follow soon after, slogging through the rapidly gathering drifts.
Dark and in rough shape, the abandoned building none the less is the source of the light, an old continual flame spell still glows around the jamb of one door. The door itself hangs open, as if waiting for visitors.
"Hello the camp! May we enter?! We are peaceful!"
Nimeon casts his gaze about the parts of the interior he can see.
"Peaceful nothing, we're cold!"
Othoe goes up to the door, knocks loudly, and opens it/removes it from the doorway. That is if it's not jammed or locked.
He steps onto the threshold and looks around.
Try as he might, Simon can't master the art of wrapping either a cloak or blanket around himself. The chill of the winter's cold seeps into his bones and he shivers with each step as he approaches the cabin's door and peers inside.
"Hello? Anybody home? We're right freezing and seeking shelter, hope you don't mind a little company?"
Unless he sees anyone or anything inside the cabin, Simon will stride in and look for a fireplace and (the great fortune of) firewood which he'll glad set to blaze with a use of flaming hands.
No one answers, save the creak of some of the timbers in the wind. The cabin is small, and one side seems to have a hole in the wall, but the roof is sound for the most part, and the far wall sports a cooking hearth that appears to be intact. The light of the jamb throws dark shadows within, but the place is drier, and warmer, than outside.
"Othoe wait..."
Nimeon sighs at halfling impetuousness before moving into the cabin.
"It's very rude to enter a cabin without announcing yourself. And a good way to get hacked, shot, or eaten. Either way it seems this one is long abandoned. If we fire up the hearth and close up that hole it should shelter us without problem."
Kast picks up Chrystosm by the blanket scruff and drags him into the room after the 'gnome' and immediately looks for firewood and any firewood-like objects (like a chair, for instance).
"It's cold, man! Simon, get in here and get warm!" Kast shoos Simon inside.
"Dorial!? How are you doing?!" Kast says as he begins to kick off snow off his boots inside the cabin.
Dorial calmly walks into the cabin, her feet gliding across the snow. "I'll be fine Kast, it's just bloody cold out there." She watches as the others try and start up a fire. Finding a small spot in a corner, she goes to sit down.
"Give me about an hour and I'll make it a little more bearable for some of us. I'll only be able to provide aid to two others, though if more need it then I can forgo myself."
Simple furniture, 2 chairs and a 3-legged table fill one side of the room; tattered remains of a pallet rot in the other. Small vermin skitter and disappear into holes in the floor when Dorial settles nearby.
Othoe has spark memorized... and burning hands.
Yeah, spark's probably better. Soooo coold.
Between the furniture and the rotten pallet and Othoe's restrained use of spark a fire blazes in the fireplace in no time, illuminating the room with a warm dancing light. Outside the wind still howls and occasional flashes of lightning race neck and neck with earth shaking thunder. It is impossible to judge time by the normal light of day, though those with some other sense think it early afternoon (appx 2pm).