Once again with the snow playing havoc with her aim, Nasrins knife goes skittering into the winter wilderness. She dimly wonders if she will be able to find it again once this is over.
As the Barbarian reaches the otherside he rips it's weapon from its scabbard but he begins to feel a severe chill within him, a deep cold that he realises has settled on his armor and now burns against his exposed flesh beneath.
Clinging to the rope rail for dear life as Corum thunders past, Sapphire takes another few steps towards the other side.
Hearing the fighting just ahead Greyston slowly steps over the bridge he feels it sway as the wind picks it up for a moment. Don't look down. He repeats to himself, as he locks his gaze forward.
The warrior gains the far side of the bridge in time to see Nasrin throw a dagger at a flying fey. He shouts a challenge and the fey gestures toward him. Suddenly the pell takes effect and the chill begins to seep into his bones. The warrior's natural haediness minimises the effect but something does happen. The attack triggers the primal instinct within him and the white heat of battle frenzy descends on him. Charging forward he leaps and hding the bardiche in both hsnds near the base of the haft he aims a mighty overhand blow, trying to destroy the fey with a single attack.
Charge and rage
Damage
Corum dashes forward and with a mighty swing slashes his bardiche at the blue-skinned horror and watching with grim satisfaction as the blade bites deeply into the creature's wing, almost severing it completely from it's body.
Within an inhuman cry of pain, the thing flaps awkwardly, sending a rain of blood cascading down on to the bright snow.
It retreats quickly, flying back through the snow and trees until it is lost from sight.
Elleross visible relaxes as the big barbarian seems to accept what he has said and as he puts it he doesn't see Elleross as the murdering type though from Elleross experience as a judge he would normally point out that it is the unassuming normal seeming folk who usually commit the worst crimes.
in the eyes of the law I am a murderer Corum though I thank you for believing me he says and he listens respectfully as the warrior suddenly pours out his heart . He can see it is difficult for him and the old Elf feels a certain kinship with him and no little sympathy .
I was a judge for a long time Corum and before that I worked as a prosecuter I dealt with many cases. Trust me when I say that I do not believe you to be a murderer either. I dont doubt that what you say is true but if this man "went for you" as you put it then despite your rage it was self defence, the outcome is irrelevant. you killed him yes but I would say you did not set out to do it. He did attack you after all dont forget that. Plus you were still a minor at the time and he an adult he says as his mind automatically starts looking at the tale from the point of view of the law and evidence that would substantiate claims .
in any case Corum I am glad to have met you, you have a noble streak in you which I find quite remarkable given the history you have told you could so easily have walked a different path given your hardships. he says come on , we had best re join the others. I won't mention anything you have told me Corum, not until younwantbthem to know
@ the bridge
As he stands alone amid the snow and howling wind he peers across the bridge for any signs or sound of the others .
there's nothing for it , I have to cross he thinks as Greyston disappears from view and gathering his courage he edges out over the bridge, one hand clamped tightly to the rope he refuses to look down and concentrates, putting one foot carefully in front of the other.
Eventually after an age he can see the others through the snow and breathes a sigh of relief.
Stepping into the snow again on the other side he makes his way over to them.
Nas? Are you ok? What happened? he asks noticing the bright blood stains in the snow.
Nasrin snarls as the thing flies away. "Thanks." She sets to searching for her knives.
"Fey, Old Wolf. Corum chased it off at the end of his axe." As if to illustrate she motions to the bloody spray on the snow.
As the fey flees Corum turns to Nasrin and Thorn. His rage dissipates as quickly as it came and he feels slightly drained as he always does after he gets the red mist. He approaches his comrade and claps her on the back. "You're welcome. I thought there might have been more. We could hunt it when the oters get here. That blood will be easy to follow. Like running down a wounded mountain lion. Be dangerous when cornered though."
He watches as the others make their way across the treacherous bridge and Nasrin searches for her lost throwing knives. He leans on his poleaxe and smiles as they eventually catch up.
"Damned fey! only one of them though. We should push on in case it returns with more of them."
Turning around he scans the area and considers which way to go. He pulls the rolled up map, taken from the lodge the night before, from his pack and studies it for a moment.
Knowledge geography
Survival
The warrior smiles at the old judge's kind words. "Lawman eh? Who'd have thought it. Must have been bad for you in prison."
He listens in silence as the judge talks about self defence. When Elleross suggests they rejoin the others he nods. "Nasrin knows some of what I told you but thanks for keeping it to yourself. Don't know what the others wil think. Anyway, we should get some sleep and I need to her that map from upstairs."
As he follows the elder out of the kitchen he thinks to himself. You are wrong about one thing old timer: I had murder in mind, that bastard was going to die by my hand. His actions that night just sped things along.
After retrieving the map he settles into his bedroll near the fire, his new bardiche close at hand. He regards the dull grey metal of its wicked crescent blade and for a long time is lost in thought before sleep finally claims him.
Finally making his way over, though he hears the end of the fight before he ever see's Corum and Nasin. "Fey? strange there being only one but we're over here now... Did we grab everything we needed off the horses?"
Sapphire finally makes it over the bridge, face nearly white. Glancing around she sounds relieved
Nasrin I'm glad you're ok! she notes the blood on the floor.
Nicely done, are we tracking it or moving on to the spot on the map?
Elleross smiles thinly as Corum says "must have been bad for you"
Turning he looks over his shoulder at the warrior
the third night I was inside a few of the inmates I had helped put away paid me a visit, they beat me within an inch of my life. I had four broken ribs, my arm was fractured in two places and I was a bloody mess.
They dragged me to the iron door of my cell and they slammed it on my leg a half dozen times before the noise brought the guards.
My leg has never healed properly, but it was a blessing in disguise because in the weeks I spent in that infirmary I met someone. Someone a lot like you my friend. he says as he makes his way back to the main room and his thoughts turn to the hulking brute he called friend, the inmate they called Mad Dog. But saving his life in that infirmary saved his own life more times than he cared to remember.
@the bridge
no Greyston the horses still have a lot of equipment on them. We should try and bring them across. Nasrin how are you with horses? Could you lead them across and keep them from bolting? he asks the wild girl hoping she is as good with other animals as she is with her companion Thorne
Nasrin grins at Corum, "I have the wrong weapons for fighting these flying, hiding fey." She considers her abilities and figures maybe a helpful stirge could change the fey's feeling of invulnerability. She then spends a considerable bit of time crisscrossing the snow recovering her daggers.
Nasrin looks at the bridge. Looks at Elleross and says, "I could try, or we could leave them here. We don't need them. We have three strong backs and the horses might make it harder to move when we need to."
Rope , 100 feet. 20lbs
10 x pitons 5 lbs
10 x iron spikes 10lbs
Hammer 2lbs
5 torches 5 lbs
Watching the girl search for her daggers he considers her words.
Nas can you use a crossbow? I am not very good with the one I bought. You may be able to put it to better use ? he asks her.
if you are sure we can do without the horses Nasrin then I guess you should see what you want to take from them. I can't carry the items I purchased so i will leave them
In the lodge unless anyone wants them. We should stable the horses before we leave we may need them again he says to them and waits to see what they decide.
"Looks like we're back to trudging through the snow Elleros, while these lot seem to have no problem." He looks at the others In the group. "Let's grab what we need, stable the horses and head for the markings on the map."
Nasrin explains, "My faith says no to machines. No crossbow." As they stable and unload the horses she takes some of the gear off of the pack horse. She loads the spikes, pitons, hammer and torches into her pack and hands the heavy coil of rope to Corum. "Is that all we needed from the horse?" She leads the horses into individual stalls, and sets out plenty of hay for them. We should be back to get them out of here. But, if we leave them outside, they'll freeze...
"Corum, did the thing fly off towards the marked spot?"
I'm happy to carry any additional gear, I'm stronger than I look Sapphire winks.
Glancing over the map and acknowledging Corum's foresight in actually taking it from the lodge, Sapphire confirms her own and Nasrin's thoughts
Yes the fey flew off in the direction we wish to go, let's be off and moving quick so it has no time to plan an ambush
Once everyone has acknowledged they are ready, Sapphire leads off, following the usual order where she scouts to the side.
Returning to the main room Elleross re lights his pipe and taking a comfortable seat by the a small side table he takes out some parchment and an ink pen and begins to enchant the scroll. Transferring his unfinished spell into it.
@the bridge
Elleross smiles at Greyston.
I suppose it was inevitable Greyston, it's going to be hard going but we will make it I have no doubt he says as he shoulders his now even heavier pack after he transferred several items from his second backpack on the horse into his own.
Once they stable the horses and re cross the icy bridge he checks the straps on his snowshoes and follows after Corum and the others.
these damn fey will have plenty of time to be prepared for us I am sure, and I doubt we will like the surprises they have for us he thinks to himself as he hurries after the others as fast as he can.
The horses are obstinate when they realise they are being restabled. They huff and stamp their feet but after some persuasion they take residence in the stalls.
Whilst this is happening, Corum voices his concerns over the blood trail and how quickly it is being obliterated by the falling snow.
For now though, it is bright and red and stands starkly against the white background. Corum leads the party through the dense wood and thick snow, Elleros and Greyston struggling through as best they can.
After about five hundred yards of hard slog, the blood trail begins to dry up to a few drops and then a few feet more, nothing. The creature is lost in the wind.
But Thorn growls low in his throat at something beyond your vision. Nasrin has learnt to trust his instincts and warns the others to be ready.
The snow around you suddenly erupts as three skeletons, remnants of flesh frozen to their cracked and blackened bones, broken swords grasped in their claw-like bony hands.
Heroes = 13
Heroes get an additional +1 for Nasrin's improved init feat.
Enemy = 12
"More of the same we fought in the cabin?!" Greyston takes out a bomb and trudges through the snow to get a better view.
Nasrin and Thorn react as one to the skeleton's appearance. The wolf tears through the fresh powder to get around the bone's flank and the girl moving right into close combat with the undead thing. Her sword rising and singing as it moves, Nasrin's blade nearly flies from her hand as Greyston's bomb flies wide of the target, it's flash making the girl flinch.
Arriving opposite the skeleton Thorn does what his instinct and training insist he should do. He bites at the thing!
The skeleton's femur crunches into grit in the mouth as he pulls back, dragging the thing of it's feet.
With the snow still interfering with Greystons ability to aim effectively, he watches in horror as his throw is misjudged and the bomb sails wide of its mark detonating on the ground between Corum and the Skeleton, splashing both with sticky burning oil.
Sapphire swears as the snow erupts around her, as her companions move to engage the new threat, she breaks in to a sprint across the snow. Drawing her blade as she moves she releases some of her energy in to it, and it hums through the air as she brings it down hard on the skeleton already being assaulted by Nasrin and Thorn.
Elleross hurries after Greyston
And he notices there are more of the undead, ahead of him he can just make out the hideous shape of another skeleton through the thick snow fall.
there are more coming! Perturbare, Immortui, Mortuum !he speaks the words clearly and raising his hand a shaft of brilliant light streaks through the snow toward the undead .
Clw
As soon as the skeletons erupt from the snow Corum drops the tent and spins to attack the nearest one. Suddenly a flash of fire and his leg is covered by flame. The pain is momentary as he is engulfed in the primordial rage of his fore fathers. He ignores the fire and leaps at yhe nearest skeleton.
Bardiche
Damage
Relfex
Thorn rips into the Skeleton, his teeth clamping onto it's leg and pulling it clean off.Sapphire dashes forward to the second creature slicing it's skull from its spine with a perfect horizontal slash even as Corum smashes it's sternum to pieces with his heavy blade.
The undead erupt in a shower of ice as the thread of unlike keeping them animate is severed.
Elleros warns the others of the last remaining Skeleton even as his beam of energy flies wide.
Unable to charge across the frozen ground, the Skeleton staggers toward Sapphire, it's progress inexorable, and slashes at her with its broken sword.
saphire watch out! he calls as he sees the last skeleton move towards her.
raising his hand again he sends a shaft of brilliant light streaking through the snow toward the undead .
Fighting off the chill of the frozen men, Nasrin closes the distance to the skeleton Sapphire is fighting. Her blade comes swinging finding purchase and notching the thing's ribs slightly.
Thorn engaged in the chase circles around to get behind the remaining skeleton. His bite does not land, but his position should help his packmates.
Having destroyed one skeleton Corum spins away as it explodes and charges the last one and smashes his poleaxe down on it's head.
Reflex
Charge and rage
Dam
Corum dashes across the open snow and smashes the skeleton to splinters, causing yet another of the icy explosions.
Reflex
Corum's bardiche smashes thrpugh the skeleton, splintering bone ans cauaing it to explode in a spray of icy shards. He raises his left arm to shield his face amd several small bits of bone embed in his exposed wrist.
He pulls them free with his teeth and spits them to one side with a wolfish grin. He calms down and sits on a nearby rock to bind his wounds.
"Those things. Easy to kill but a pain if you are close to one when it goes. Greyston. Can you mske any more of these?" he geatures to the flask of healing potion the alchemist gave him. And drinks it down.
"That was my last one."
Clw
He takes a piece of jerky from his pack and stands. He takes a bite then looks around for the trail they were following. "Everyone ok the continue. I'm getting tired of these ambushes. I want to find whatever is marked on this map amd get this over with.
Using his poleaxe as a walking pole he sets off again, chewing the jerky while dragging the rolled up tenr behind him. Thus he leads them further into the frozen wilderness.
Sapphire snarls and slashes savagely at the skeleton
Nasrin grunts her assent to Corum's suggestion of haste. She then busies herself with a quick request of the spirits. They accept and some of the frozen and bruised parts of her become whole again.
Her cold blood allowing her to shake off the worst of it, Sapphire stills winces as the skeleton's blade drags across her ribs, bruising her with the force of impact.
It seems not only the bandits are find of ambushes
"I'm sorry about that Corum... I misjudged my aim and splashed you. It wont happen again, you don't need to be expecting hits from me and the enemy. I won't have anymore tell tomorrow, i had some trouble brewing last night and i gave my only other one to Sapphire." He looks down at the bomb in his hand. Its not only enemies i can kill with these.
"Could it mean we're getting closer to the witch? does this seem like their magic?" He looks to the others.