Well Elleross, what you have been able to unlock is truly a marvel. I would guess the ability to channel is more to do with the faith and connection a priest has with their god rather than the energies of spells specifically. she muses
Perhaps Corum is right, our blades may prevail as an alternative solution. Steel yourselves, let's find out what so scared that hunter...
she follows Corum in to the hut.
Corum nods and marches toward the hut. He taps the floor with his bardiche as he goes,mindful of the risk of bear traps. He reaches the base of the tree and begins to climb up to the hut.
Nodding he pulls out a bomb staring off ahead to the hut he readies himself. I hope thats all they have to throw at us, our old memories and demons.
Beyond the menhirs, a small hut stands on four legs, each one a single tree trunk whose gnarled roots resemble the toes of a giant bird.
The hut is constructed of heavy logs with a patchwork roof of shaved bark shingles. Inside the hut's open doorway, a small figure sits on a carved wooden chair, staring lifelessly across the clearing at the trail on the other side.
The figure is a small porcelain doll with blonde hair tied in bunches and an oddly aged face. The eyes are also strange and somewhat disturbing - one is a small blue gemstone and the other a mirror the size of a coin. Though it bears that old crone-like face and the dress is different, it bears a resemblance to the girl you saw flashing through the stones.
Nasrin's stomach churns as she sees the familiar hut. "Witches' hut. Be ready." The feral girl tightens the grip on her sword and follows close on Corum's heels. She shoos Thorn away from her.
Looking into the hut she is shocked to see the doll, is that thing a doll or something left by the witches? Nasrin's unease holds on while she looks at the odd-eyed doll staring past her into the wilderness.
"Check the doll for magic Elleross, Everyone else spread out lets not get caught unready." He says hefting a bomb in one hand and scanning the room.
Beyond the doll, the far wall is open to the woods beyond and the occasional flurry of snow drifts in to gather in the corners. The trail continues into the woods toward the Somir Valley
"Weird! Looks like there's nothing but this doll here. Watch my back. I'll check."
Corum steps up the the cabin and enters, his bardiche at the ready. He looks around the room to see if there is anything else of note there.
Perception
He moves toward the chair carefully and looks down at the doll. Reaching out he gingerly attempts to pick it up. "Ugly looking thing..." heutters to himself.
Corum reaches out to pick up the doll, he stares at the weird, old face, the reflective eyes that dance with light....
....and remarks how light it is when he holds it.
The doll sags limply to one side in the warrior's big hands.
Following behind the others he steels himself as he approaches the rocks looking nervously from one to the other.
mercifully this time he sees nothing inside them and as he moves past he breathes deeply, unconsciously he had been holding his breath waiting for the stones to animate again
Moving into the creepy hut he looks at the strange doll and it's sinister appearance sets his nerves on edge .
Corum wait don't .... he hisses as the warrior brazenly strides up and picks up the doll.
Somewhat relieved that nothing happened he moves forward and again searches the area for any sign of magic
I will Greyston, give me a moment and I will know if there is any magic present he says and again casts the simple detection spell focusing on the doll.
Frowning in concentration he focuses on the area outside the hut trying to determine what kind of magic is present .
you should be careful with things like that Corum, that could have been a trap of some kind. he says gesturing to the doll.
thankfully it wasn't, there are no magical auras within the hut but there is something up ahead on the trail. Give me a few moments and I will know more he says as he gazes out along the trail.
Corum drops the doll and turns to the old elf. "I don't know much sbout magic so I will be guided by you in these matters. I will be careful in future. What do you see out there?"
He motions in the direction of the trail that Elleross is so intently studying then grips his poleaxe and stands ready in case anything approaches from that direction.
"No magic on the doll?" He quickly looks behind him feeling unnerved as he looks for the spirit of the girl. "This is creeping me out, i guess we look what is giving the magical aura." He then steps up beside Elleross.
thats ok Corum, but if we have the time and can examine something before we pick it up I think it wise to do so. he says with a slight smile I can't see anything through this damnable snow but there is something out there. Further along the trail. I can feel it. he says in reply as he continues to concentrate on the area.
As Greyston moves up beside him he replies.
maybe it is just a doll after all but this place is putting me on edge also my friend. Something is not right here, why is this hut even here ? With no back wall in it? It is more than a little strange and it gives me a very bad feeling
"This whole place stinks." Nasrin steps back outside and waits.
there is a definate magical aura out there it is moderate in strength and comes from the Abjuation school of magic.
It could be some kind of protective barrier or possibly a creature with some protection magic cast upon it.
We need to be ready when we continue onwards he says as the spell reveals more details of what is ahead of them.
"We've got to find out what's happening, but that little girl... i don't think we've seen the last of her. We should take the doll? Maybe if we take it out of the hut?"
you are right Greyston, she is still here somewhere. This doll is some kind of effigy, it is here for a reason. I don't like the thought of taking it with us, Why don't we take it outside and burn it. he says if this object is holding the girls spirit here then destroying it may release her.
Once it is done we can find the source of the magic up ahead.
Corum nods and kicks the doll out of the hut. He takes a flask of oil from his pack and his flint and steel. Stepping outside he pours a splash of oil onto the doll then squats down and usinga little tinde he strikes a spark and sets it alight. Standing up he grips his bardiche and steps back from the small fire in a readied stance.
"Let's see what happens now." He says to Elleross.
As Corum raises his boot to kick the doll into the wintery scene beyond the hut, it's head suddenly spins around, the mirror eye reflecting the light and temporarily dazzling the Barbarian.
With fast, puppet-like movements, it drags itself to its feet and stares back at the group, a cheerful smile spreading across its face.
Hey! it says in a sing song voice. D'ya wanna build s snowman?
The doll twirls on one toe as a child might and the hut is filled with sudden, freezing ai. Hoary frost crawls along the wooden boards and seeps into your bones.
Sapphire watches with interest as the others talk about the doll, taking it all in, then as the doll rescues itself from the fire her mouth hangs open in amazement as it speaks.
The sudden cold washes through her, snapping her in to action, she rushes forward and brings her longsword slashing through the air at the doll, already trailing with arcane energy as it seeks its wooden target
Watching as Corum heads for the doll, it's sudden animation sends chills down Greystons spine.
The freezing cold washes over him fast but his time in the cold has prepared him well as he shakes it off and mixes the reactions for him bomb and lobs it at her.
hp 11/16
Fort
Corum watches in revulsion as the doll comes to life. It fixes them with it's glassy stare and the temperature plummets. The cold seeps into him causing muscles to cramp but he is of the North and the cold has no hold over him. His rage manifests and he raises his axe high and brings it down on the doll a vicious overhead slash.
Attack
Dam
Clutching at his chest as the fridgid air freezes him to his bones Elleross cries out as the doll animates and attacks them , it's sing song voice sending shivers down his spine.
we must destroy that accursed thing! he gasps as he casts a simple spell, filling his hand with a globule of acid he flings it toward the doll.
Hp 6 / 12
Greyston tries to aim through the throng of his friends but the doll is tiny and he cries out as the bomb flies through the air and bursts on the wall instead of on the little creature itself.
Success
Nasrin moves in, hoping to end this thing as soon as possible. She swings and though she connects, it is hardly more than a glancing blow.
Thorn runs in to the opposite corner of the girl and tries to pull down the thing that has everyone's attention.
Corum and Sapphire dash forward, slamming their weapons down toward the doll but it moves with a childlike grace and with a smile that never fades, dances aside both blows.
The old wizard conjures a small globule of acid in his hand, it sizzles against the glove of his cold weather outfit and in his haste for it not to burn through completely, he throws it at the doll, only to see it splash against the wooden boards of the wall.
Nasrin however moves in and slashes with her blade, taking a nick out of the doll's wooden arm, whilst Thorn's teeth snap on nothing but cold air.
The doll takes a quick, dainty step back out of the hut and into the snow.
Hey, you're mean! My name's Thora - why dontcha wanna play? it says, with eerie glee.
Then, with another twirl, it begins to rise slowly into the air, out of the big mean folks' reach.
The interior of the hut remains deathly cold, the frost still clinging to every surface and making the air ragged in your throats.
Trying desperately to avoid the conflagration caused by Greyston's bomb Elleross flinches back trying to shield himself but it is a futile gesture.
The numbing cold coupled with the snowshoes strapped to his feet conspire against him and the full force of the blast slams into him and he cries out in agony as his flesh begins to burn, the skin peeling away as burning liquid sears him down to the bone.
One side of his face becomes a blistered, blackened ruin and he begins to scream the pain intense and immediate.
AAAAARRGGGHHH! ......nnnnnngg the old elfs horrific cry of agony suddenly dies away as he collapses to the ground his clothing smouldering in the freezing air and the stench of burning flesh filling the hut.
Hp -2 / 12
Sapphire stares in frustration at the doll as it avoids her attack and then moves out of reach, black curses are on her lips as Greyston's bomb lands at her feet. All thought aside she throws herself towards the door to avoid the blast.
Having avoided some of the blast, she rises to her feet slightly singed then feels the cold try to get her in its grasp once more.
Seeing Elleross drop to the floor the curses do tumble from her lips, she grabs the wizard by his tunic and drags him out of the freezing hut and in to the snow, intent on using the infusion Greyston had given her earlier, but for now she was out of time.
Greyston shouts out as he see's his bomb miss the doll and explodes at Sapphires the explosion hitting Elleross and seeing him fall. "No! I'm sorry! Elleross?! I can't help i just cause more damage, Sapphire im sorry." He stands over Elleross and Sapphire unsure of what to do but knows he can't use his bombs again.
He runs out of the hut
hp - 7/16
Sapphire drags the dying elf out of the hut and his unconscious body tumbles off the edge of the structure and he sprawls face down into the deep snow.
He finds himself in the marble arboretum attached to the main structure of his memory palace, here the flora and fauna are diverse and varied, all manor of plants fill the enclosure and impossibly species that would grow in vastly different climates thrive here.
Moving along one of many gravelled pathways, this one he notes absently is lined with smooth rounded pebbles like those that a fast flowing stream might have eroded over many years.
He comes to the great pool in the centre of the garden and sitting on the edge of the low marble wall he reaches up and feels his own face, one side feels hot to the touch and he leans over the pool and gazes at his reflection in the clear water, several brightly coloured koi Carp lazily glide around the pool and he smiles.
Cupping the cool water in his hands he splashes it onto his face and the heat fades a little.
Looking across at the end of the pool a pristine white marble statue depicting gozreh's female form reaching out over the water her open hand forming a spout from which a constant stream of water tumbles down into the pool.
He is weary for some unknown reason and moving around to the statue he sits on an iron wood bench beside the exquisite carving and rests his head on the cool marble.
Somewhere in his mind he knows he is dying but he cannot summon the energy to stand again, instead he feels the cool marble against his cheek and closes his eyes as the music of the water tumbling behind him and the sweet calls of a dozen exotic birds that flit around the pool lull him into a deep slumber that he may not awaken from .....
Reflex
Corym tries to shield his eyes as the bomb explodes. He sabes his sight but his arm is badly burned in the process. He sees the doll move outside and races after it.
Nasrin steps back out of the hut and throws down her shield. She begins clambering up the side of the hut, looking to get up to where she can strike the doll again.
The party scrambles to get out of the frigid air and watches as the frost within the hut melts away as quickly as it was conjured
Meanwhile, unable to reach the doll Nasrin tries to scale the building but with her thick gloves on finds it difficult to get any purchase.
Hey, big meanie. the doll says to Corum from her floating position Why don't you stop these other meanies getting me and come play? My brothers will be back any second and we can make snow angels!
Thorn lashes out at the doll as it flits away into the sky.
Sapphire grabs Greyston's leather flask from her belt, pulling the cap with her teeth and pouring it in to Elleross' mouth.
...Come on...come on!
Elleross rasping breaths come in burbling short gasps as he struggles to cling to life . Sapphire pours the potion down his throat and waits anxiously.
Looking down at his ruined face, she can see the blistered raw flesh weeping clear fluid from the alchemical burn . the potion seems to have had little effect on him his wounds still look terrible but his chest continues to rise and fall and his breathing seems to be more regular and less laboured than before.
He groans weakly but doesn't regain consciousness.
Hp 0 / 12