"Welcome back Nasrin, I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you before i got to know you better." He smiles at the savage woman, to defuse the current situation. She really could have died
"Thank you Sapphire." He hold his hand, then remembering her chains. "We better do something about that, We can't leave her here alone she will have to come with us. There must be a set of keys and her equipment around here."
Sapphire follows Nasrin's gaze and shifts her feet, slightly uncomfortable at the scrutiny. Her skin had always been paler than anyone else she'd met, but now it had a very slight bluish cast, like it was reflecting the snow and ice around it.
A warning? It would seem so, that and those undead I assume...
she indicates the now inanimate corpses.
I can't give you much to go on I'm afraid, from their size and the way they fought I suspect they were human, but with the winter clothing and the weather, let alone the blow to my head, I just can't be sure.
She listens to Greyston's words and he receives a small smile for his kindness, she tentatively shakes his hand, a remarkably strong grip considering her size.
Thank you, I would like to recover my gear if at all possible, it's likely carried off with the rest of the caravan's goods though
She adjusts the furs around her with some distaste, and glances around the wreckage of the caravan.
Did you get a chance to search and see if any supplies remain?
she begins to look around, quickly sifting the scattered remnants in the hope she'll find something usable.
While looting Lady Argentea's carriage, the bandits missed a small jewelry box under the seat.
Lady Argentea's signet ring is still inside, as are a pair of earrings worth 25 gp, a set of pearl-inlaid bracelets worth 90 gp, assorted gold and silver necklaces worth a total of 75 gp, and one sapphire pendant worth 50 gp.
Sapphire herself is unable to locate her own gear besides her spell component pouch which must have fallen from her belt and spilled open in the carriage. Among the dead are bits and pieces of equipment that the bandits either could not carry or they deemed little value.
She does notice through the driving snow, the odd shape of a statue made of ice to the south of the clearing.
Elleross echos greystons sentiments
I thought you had been killed Nasrin, but as they say fortune favours the brave. I'm glad you are ok he says to the wild girl. I'll help you look for some keys Greyston, as you say our new companion needs to get rid of her ugly jewellery he says with a slight smile, the sound of her chains clinking goes through him and he rubs at his own wrists absently as he begins to rummage through the wreckage.
I appreciate the sentiment Elleross, but I fear without hammer and anvil or a manacle key, I will be stuck like this a while. Never fear, I fight with a two handed grip anyway
she offers a tight smile, trying to put a brave face on the stark situation.
Sapphire busies herself collecting bits and pieces from the wreckage, not seeming to mind too much having to dig through layers of snow to get to the things she's after. She returns to the carriage for a few minutes, and when she emerges she's dressed in ill-fitting studded leather armor that has been further damaged by her to allow it to be worn despite her still manacled hands. The furs are draped over the armor and a longsword is belted at her hip. A ragged looking pack with one broken strap slung over a shoulder completes the scavenged appearance of her equipment.
She is also carrying a small coffer.
This looks like the lady's jewelry box, could someone else carry it till we can return it to its owner? I fear it may drop out of my pack given the damage it has sustained.
She hands over the coffer to the first person to respond.
There's an odd statue over there, worth investigating before we rest here I think
she wanders over to take a look, hand on hilt in case of any further surprises.
Nasrin and Thorn trail Sapphire over to the ice statue. She is quiet, but not aggressive.
The remains of the Taldan captain tasked with escorting Lady Argentea from Zimar back to Oppara stand here as a gruesome statue, his slain body mostly encased in ice.
There is s hideous expression of fear and pain twisted forever on his face and large chunks of ice are missing from the statue, taking with them the icy flesh beneath as if they have been carved away. You can only hope the man was dead before this fate befell him.
At the foot of the statue is one such chunk of ice containing the majority of the captain's left arm, now in hues of blue and pink from the ice and frozen blood. Still clutched in his hand is his blade, a fine weapon decorated with Taldan heraldry.
The warrior stabds quietly as the woman searches the camp. He reaches beneath his furs and feels his ribs, probong for signs of a break. The area is sore but therw is no permanent damage. He helps Nasron to her feet and nods in the direction of their newest member.
"Another blade will be useful if we come up against more of those things. She has a feel of the arcane though. Magic! I still don't like it but better it is pointed at our enemies than at us eh?"
He spots some slender yew saplings a few feet from the trail and moves across to cut some down with his hatchet. He strips them of their small branches and leaves then bends them into a loop and ties them. He secures them to his pack and turns back to the others. Seeing the quizical look on the old elf's face he smiles. "Useful in these conditions. When we camp I will try to make snowshoes."
Seeing the statue he shakes his head. "It's not the way i want to go." He examines the statue.
Sapphire whispers a quick prayer over the frozen corpse, and seeing another example of the bandit's evil cruelty, for a moment is almost overcome by her own ordeal of the last days. Summoning her anger and using it as a mental focus, she forces the emotion inwards, locking it away until she can deal with it later.
With ruthless efficiency she grabs a nearby rock and begins smashing the ice-encase sword, freeing it after a few minutes work. She holds it in front of the statue.
You have my vow I'll use your sword to end those who treated you like this
she returns to the group.
So onwards whilst the trail is fresh or do you want to rest for a while?
"Not yet. We need to sort those chains."
Corum motions for Sapphire to come and sit on the snow next to a nearby rock. When she does he stretches the chain across it's top and says. "Pull downwards." He then draws a loght pick from his belt and using the back of the head like a hammer he begins to hack at the chain. He pounds away for several minutes until eventually the chains break.
Woth the chain broken he says. "Wrap then to your wrists with some rags so they don't flail around and gice away your position. "
He then unstraps his buckler from his his pack snd offers it to her. "It is better than nothing."
That was a wise idea Corum, nicely done
she wraps her wrists in rags as suggested, much happier with her regained freedom of movement. She refuses the offered buckler politely
I've never used one of those before, I'll fight with two hands on the hilt of this
she pats the longsword.
I'm as ready as I'm going to get and eager to mete out some retribution, how about you all?
At the edge of the massacre site, an obvious trail leads between a copse of trees and over a snowy plain toward the Border Wood.
At thus temperature even with a fire, if you do not have tents and bedrooms, sleeping in the exposed air is deadly. You will have to make hourly fortitude saves that increase in difficulty each hour.
Greyston watches on as Corum strikes away at the shackles. A chill runs through him as he looks around, unsure if he heard something or if the wind and snow are playing tricks on him. But is knocked back to reality as Corums last strike on the shackles rings out.
"Good work Corum. It's good to see you out of your jewelry
Sapphire. We may need to discuss them, but now is not the time I think we are going to need your help. Let us push on, this standing around is only making me colder." He says rubbing his hands together, trying to keep warm.
Nasrin grins her wolfish grin at Sapphire's suggestion to vengeance. "To the death." She steps close to the blue woman and begins adjusting her furs to maximize their protection. Finally, she huffs, "Good enough for now."
She turns away doing a cursory check on both Greyston and Elleross to make sure they aren't wearing their protection poorly. Without another word she leads off down the trail. She keeps Thorn close as they both make their way deeper into the woods. I should be off the marked trail! The snow's too deep...
Before they leave Corum scavenges material off the back of the wagons. The rough tarpaulin will help him and Nasrin make shelters when thlley camp later.
With the cold biting at their faces and fingers, the party leave the grisly scene behind them and press on.
The trail narrows for a time, making you wonder how carriages pass this way until Corum explains that the snowdrifts must have have narrowed the way. The snow that covers the ground is pristine, leaving no tracks for you to follow but the bandits must have passed this way.
As it enters the full expanse of the Border Wood, the trail passes through a small clearing among the taller trees before continuing up hill and out of sight. After another twenty minutes of hard trekking you finally find evidence of the bandits. A large chest lies half-buried in the snow, apparently dropped or discarded by those who hastily passed this way.
Nasrin moves past the chest, but points it out. She takes up a watch for the bandits in case this is a trick. "Thorn, hunt." Her wolf takes off into the wild, searching for potential ambushers.
The trail continues deeper into the woods, the sun dappling through leaves that are slowly dying in the weather so antithetical to their prosperity.
slogging through the snow Elleross feels his pack growing heavier by the step. he leans heavily on his staff as he struggles on his limp growing more pronounced as his knee swells and becomes more and more painful.
is there anything of use in the chest? he asks breathlessly as he draws near to the chest. Seeing Nasrin ahead, watchful as ever with Thorn running point. Kneeling carefully he clears away some of the snow and opens the chest to see what lay within.
Corum moves through the snow without hindrance, a legacy from growing up in the far north. He moves casually but his eyes constantly scan the nearby foliage, looking for movement and signs of passage.
He holds his sword in his right hand and his shield covering his wounded left side. While Ellross checks the chest he takes up position on one flank, guarding their position.
Miss
Hit
Hit
Miss
Hit
Nasrin ignores the chest for now and with Thorn ever faithful by her side stalks further along the trail, her feet making neat holes in the snow, his paws barely breaking the surface.
Her eyes are fixed firmly ahead, watching every branch and bush for enemies.
There is a creak behind her as Elleros opens the chest and she turns her head, her focus broken from the trail for just a moment. Thorn's head shoots to the side, her growls, trying to warn her, his mind shooting back summers ago to a hunter's snare. But it is too late.
Nasrin's boot catches a thin wire, imperciptible in the snow and suddenly the air is filled with cracking branches and the thunder of flapping wings, birds taking to flight as death rushes down from the trees.
A thick log, studded with sharpened spikes hurtles out of the canopy smashing it's way through the party, sending them scattering into the air. The spikes tear at your flesh, ripping great holes, the log smashes your bones. The snow suddenly crimson with your blood.
Thorn leaps deftly to the side as he had with the snare and Elleros, stooping besides the chest feels the rush of air as it passes over his head. As it crashes into Corum it is sent spinning like a top and one of the spikes narrowly misses Greyston as it is knocked from it's intended trajectory. It would have torn his head from his neck and he never saw it coming.
Hit
Hit
Hit
Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other and focusing only on the trail ahead, Sapphire is unprepared for the deadfall as it comes crashing down on the group.
Smashing in to her in knocks the breath from her body and cracks several ribs, the spikes leaving her with nasty gashes up her arms. Ironically the manacles deflect some of the force, her arms would have been torn open without their presence.
She sits on the ground where she was flung, struggling for breath, the world spinning around her. Finally she gasps a ragged breath, then another, and realises she's not the only one who has been struck.
Quickly moving to Nasrin and Corum, she checks to ensure they are both conscious and able to move.
That...was unpleasant. Gods-cursed bandits, they are really trying to foil pursuit it seems.
She holds her side, sucking in air through her teeth as every breath sends needles of pain down her side.
I have no means to heal any of us more today, I'm sorry.
"That was obvious. Well hidden though." Nasrin calls Thorn and orders him to begin tracking from the spot where the deadfall was tied off. "Thorn will find a real trail, with luck."
Kneeling in the cold snow he begins to clear the chest bending to his task . The deadfall whistles past his head mere inches from death he instinctively ducks away, much too late to avoid the trap and he spins around as the cries of pain erupt around him.
Cayden must be watching over me! That was too close he says in shock as he struggles to his feet Corum, sapphire? How badly are you hurt? It's lucky you young folk are so resilient . That would have killed me he says as he moves slowly toward them, their blood seems impossibly bright as it spatters the ground around them.
And there seems to be a lot of it.
The chest is buried deep in the snow, but is empty.
Corum stands watch as Nasrin edges forward and Elleross opens the chest. He is watxhing the forest when Nasrin triggers the trap. He hears the rope snap then the forest erupts in a shower of fine snow as the spiked log swings like a deadly pendulum to ceash into the group. The warrior attempts to duck out of the way but he is not quick enough and the edge of the log smashes into him. This time his ribs crack and the breath is driven from him. He is hurled several feet theough the air to land in a bloody heap.
He lies dazed for a moment befoee the voices of his companions being him round. Thepain is terrible as he slowly rolls over onto his hands and knees. He stays like that for several minutes coughing up blood.
"That hurt." He groans then shakily gets to his feet. Using his bardiche as a walki g staff he staggers towards the others to see if they still live.
"is everyone ok?"
Greyston stands still taking in what just happened as the logs slammed in to the others in front of him. Hearing bones snap and flesh tare, he was lucky that it missed him. "What was that!" He takes a step back fall down in the snow. "These bandits... " He then sees those hit by the log in pain and quickly gets to his feet. "Who's hurt? Is everyone still conscious? It was a trap, that could have killed us all this is insane." He then help Corum to his feet. "We have to go back these wounds are too much, we have no means of healing and if i were to patch you up you would need weeks of rest to heal this type of injury."
Sapphire scans the group, looking grim
I fear our pursuit foiled at the first hurdle. If we continue in this sorry condition then we will all be slain by the next trap or ambush. It's just a matter of time. If we rest though I'll have enough magic to heal two of us. Can anyone else heal?
she looks hopeful.
Nasrin frowns, impatient. "I am no fool. You are right. We need to stop for now. Maybe the noblewoman is a valuable hostage and won't be a corpse when we catch up."
Nasrin begins working to make some appropriate shelter for the group over night.
Corum hacks and coughs up more blood. "Nasrin and I could make shelter but we aren't far from town. I say go back and recover. We can use the jewelry to buy tents and potions. The lady won't complain about losing a few baubles."
I have one light cure potion, but that is all Elleross says as he looks at his two badly injured companions one of you is welcome to have it, logically I would say Sapphire should have it so she can use her healing magic tomorrow. If she falls unconscious from her wounds she can't help us. he says rubbing his chin as he looks toward Corum.
Corum, you showed me an act of kindness before we left the village something I didn't expect from a stranger, the potion is yours to do with as you wish he says and rummaging in his pack he pulls out the vial of pale liquid,and hands it to the warrior.
if we go back to town we lose more ground on these bandits I don't know if we can afford the time. But I will follow where you folks lead, I am reliant on you out here so it is not my call to make
"Sapphire is right, There is no point risking it. We should head back to the carriage and use that as shelter, it's not that far back. While it might be abit of a squeeze but it will keep us warm bring together and we could use some of the wreckage for firewood." He says rummaging through his packing looking for some water.
"back to the carriages. We can shelter there and pick up the trail tomorrow. Sapphire. You take the potion." Corum nods his thanks to Elleross but hands the vial to the woman. He picks his fallen sword up and sheaths it then begins to make his way back to the ambush site.
Badly wounded but not beaten, the party retreats back to the carriages. By the time they get there most have barely enough strength left to gather dry wood and get a fire started, though Corum makes this last part look easy enough.
Survival: DC 15 Gain a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saves against severe weather while moving up to half your overland speed, or gain a +4 bonus if you remain stationary. You may grant the same bonus to one other character for every 1 point by which your Survival check result exceeds 15.
Nasrin spends much of the night on guard, embarrassed by her failure to make much headway against whoever attacked the caravan. She asks Sapphire, "Did you see what attacked? Simply men, or something...else?"
In the morning she will make her prayers, and get ready for the day.
Elleross watches with silent approval as Corum, hurt as he is doesn't hesitate to give the potion away. will be never cease to surprise me? He has honour this one , it must have been tempting to heal himself he must be in agony. I wish there was more I could do to help
By the time they reach the wagons he is shattered, the cold has seeped into his bones and his very blood seems frozen.
Rubbing his hands briskly he helps gather wood for the fire and after they are all as comfortable as they are going to get he sits with the others Andwarms his hands by the fire.
Eating some of his trail rations he almost doesn't mind the dried goods he is that hungry, and sated but thouroughly drained he pulls out his pipe and the tortoise shell box, filing it with tobacco he lights the pipe on the fire and draws deeply on the sweet strong smoke.
I was wondering that also Sapphire, did you see any of your assailants? Whoever left you to die like that they are sadistic and cruel, they don't seem like your run of the mill bandits he says echoing Nasrins question.
Seeing the wounded limp and winch in pain he looks down at the potion in his hand. There has to be a way to brew this without the side effects, i'm sure these people won't be happy getting accused to the poison. I have to work on this. With no way to help, Greyston decides to help those injured putting his arm around Sapphire and helping her walk. "Let me help."
Finally back at the carriage Greyston sits down by the fire the warmth starts to lull him like a warm blanket, but he sits back and listens to the others while eating his stale trail rations. Offering them out for what its worth.
Thank you for the potion, but if we're going to rest I think you should keep it. Bottled healing may be hard to come by, and could save a life tomorrow. We'll bear our wounds for now and my magic can knit some bones tomorrow.
Appreciating Greyston's help in walking back to the carriage, Sapphire still insists on collecting a few armfuls of wood from the immediate area, before gratefully collapsing on the ground for a while. She nods and happily tears in to the stale bread offered by Greyston, it's the first food she's had in a while.
Sitting with the others around the fire, letting the warmth in as she processes recent events, she sorts things in her head to dealing with the understanding that she won't die today despite her prior acceptance that she would.
Sapphire is up early studying a slim and elegantly bound book she unwraps from a small oilcloth. Once done she speaks the same words as yesterday, infusing herself with healing power. Her ribs burns and the scratches, gashes and bruises from the previous day fade away. Smiling again she asks
Who is in most grievous need? I can heal well one more time today
Fort
They labour back to the wagons where Corum and Nasrin quickly prepare the area as best they can. Corum sets to building a fire and soon has a reasonable blaze going. He takes his pick and prises several boards off the second wagon and piles them opposite the opening of the back of the overturned wagon under which they will sleep. This serves two purposes to both keep them dry ready to add to the fire as it dies down and to act as a barrier which reflexts heat back toward them, thus increasing the efficiency of the fire. A rrick his grandfather taught him a long time ago.
He spreads his bedroll on the ground and wraps his blanket around his shoulders. He is sombre as he eats his trail rations, hardly tasting the salted meat and dry fruit. He offers some to Sapphire and says aloud. "Bad day today. We need to be more csreful tomorrow. These damned people we follow are no common bandits. They expected pursuit and prepared the trail. Bad!"
Nasrin nods at Corum. "Clever. Makes me think more of Witches. This is bad. We will hunt them to thier deaths, or ours." Though grim, the feral girl does not seem sad or even upset.
As her pack is bedding down she suggests sleeping in bunches and sharing the bedding. "Give your heat to your pack, everybody stays warm."
Thorn mopes about, following the girl. I wanted Rabbit! Tired, too.