The party beds down for the night in the relative comfort of the overturned carriage, Corums blaze providing welcome heat and light to chase away the eerie shadows of massacre site.
The night is deathly silent. For those on watch you sit just outside the carriage beside the fire, doing your best to keep it going and warm your frozen fingers as the temperature plummets.
The snow abates during the night for a brief period and you have a moment to reflect on how beautiful the wintery landscape is. You eye drifts from the clear night sky to the rime frosted boughs but then back to the field, where an icy hand reaches out like a claw and you are reminded of your surroundings. It is still odd to think that barely ten miles down the road, tomorrow boys will be spending their afternoons in shorts and playing in the creek to cool off from the midday sun.
A noise startles you all awake suddenly. It is a deep throated huff, followed by a throaty vocalisation. Not a growl and not a whine but somewhere in between. Whatever it is, it sounds large. You listen intently I'm case it should come closer but the heavy padding footsteps proceed away from the carriage and into the middle of the field. For a time afterward you hear crunching and slobbering sounds of eating before the footsteps fade away.
The next morning you wake, still in pain though having benefitted from a good night's rest. You emerge from the carriage and find the campsite criss crossed with massive footprints, about three times the size of a normal man though with a curious similarity to human footprints. They lead around the camp, all outside the circle of light tge fire produced before ending at the corpse of a guardsman that has now been flayed open and feasted upon. The footprints then lead into the Wood, away from the trail you followed yesterday
Nasrin examines the ground, trying to ascertain what the previous night's visitor was and if it maight be a threat today. She keeps Thorn back away from the trail so he doesn't get too excited and want to take the pack on a hunt.
After being awaken in the night Greyston didn't sleep very well, every little sound would get a reaction from him. So when he finally gets up in the morning the cold hitting him as he jumps out of the carriage and sees just what was happening outside last night. "What was that last night. I think i see some tracks."
He then looks down at the tracks and examines them. I've read about these before.
Although yeti stories are accurate in their portrayals of fierce, stealthy, and immensely strong creatures, they are not when it comes to ascribing the yeti's temperament and source. They dwell in small tribes atop their distant mountains, where they are sheltered from contact with most other races. Those with violent or cruel natures are usually forced out of tribes to live lonely lives as exiles, and without the support of a tribe such yeti are often driven to raiding lowlander settlements, thus perpetuating the myth of the yeti as a demon made flesh.
This creature has absolutely no business in Taldor, how it could have come here is a mystery and it is certainly something you need to avoid.
Well whatever it was it looks big and nasty, and probably not associated to the bandits that took the lady.
She blinks suddenly, remembering something.
You asked me about the bandits last night, I'm sorry I must have been so tired I just fell asleep. With the snowstorm and the surprise ambush it was absolute chaos. All I can say is the couple of foes I faced were our size and wearing clothing appropriate for surviving winter, furs and the like. They were covered head to toe but from the sounds they made in combat I'd assume they were humanoid
She stamps here feet to warm them inside near-frozen boots and does a final check of her gear.
We should press on, daylight is our friend and we should not spurn it with tardiness!
Corum wakes after an unsettled night. He feels better but still weak. He listens to the others as they discuss the tracks. Unconcerned, he concentrates on building the fire up and boiling some snow to make a thick porridge using some oats and dry fruit.
He swallows his pride and says hopefully. "I am still pretty beat up. Can anyone do anything about it? My ribs are broken I think."
Nasrin channels a healing spirit and helps Corum. After that, she makes sure everyone's gear is straight. While doing that she says, "Yeti are fearsome. And don't belong here. We should keep an eye out, but keep away from it."
Let's stay well away from the yeti tracks then Nasrin, we have other fights to pick today after all
Sapphire waits for Corum and Nasrin to take lead then follows in their stead, making sure Greyston and Elleross are following behind and keeping up ok.
The party breaks fast with a simple meal of stale bread and sets off, the falling snow already beginning to mount on their hoods and shoulders.
Before long you pass by the chest and the log trap. It sways gently in the breeze and a fresh dusting of snow has fallen, covering the long streaks of blood and making it seems as though nothing has happened. With something of a shudder, you pass by.
The going gets no easier and before long the snow is up to your knees and form most of you every step becomes a struggle. The snow becomes increasingly deep in this part of the forest where a windswept gully carves a path through a tree-covered ridge. A soft cascade of snow falls from an overhead branch, hissing softly as it strikes the ground.
Yellow eyes briefly flicker in the snow. The creature hiding is almost invisible in the white surroundings. It has a dragon’s head filled with sharp teeth, and two arms ending in grasping claws. A cloud of greenish vapor wafts from its gaping maw.
He turns to look at Sapphire as she explains what happened. "Their working with the witch, from what we've seen so far i don't think they're just common bandits."
---
"Nasrin is right these are Yeti tracks, I've no idea how it would come to be here it has to be more of witch magic. We have to get to the bottom of this." Standing he looks back at the tracks and the body of the guard. I hope we don't meet that thing out there in the snow He shudders.
Greyston trudges on through the snow, his legs ache from all the extra energy needed to move so slowly through the snow. "After this i never want to look at snow again. I never want to think about it, i used to complained about it being too hot. But this cold! I don't know how you could live in this." He look to the two in front.
Corum marches through the snow without hindrance. He was born to such conditions and hisnpowerful legs carry him through it like a battering ram. He has his sword sheathed at his side and his large shield strapped to his back. The buckler is strapped to his left forearm and he uses the haft of his bardiche as a walking pole. The wicked looking axe head gleams in yhe morning light.
As he ploughs through the snow his eyes constantly scan their surroundings. He has learned a painful lesson and does not wish to repeat it.
Perception
For a moment a movement catches his eye and he stops to watch snow falling off an overladen branch. He waits for a long moment to make sure it was not caused by some beast or foe then turns to continue on his way. He responds to Greyston. 'I grew up in the Crown of the World. It is a frozen land, like this every day. You can't choose where you are born. You just have to live with it."
Waking early, Elleross forces himself to get up and move about warming up slowly and painfully.
His whole body aches and in places he never knew could ache.
Lighting his pipe he smokes a little as he pulls out his spell book and casts his eyes over it, preparing for the day.
Corum, you still have the potion. Use it whenever you need to use it he says the the hurt warrior.
As ready as he will ever be he pulls on his pack and follows the others.
[Ooc]As we are trudging so slowly, would it slow us down any to parallell the trail rather than walk on it? It just occured to me that if the enemy mines the road, GET OFF THE ROAD! lol. We can have Nasrin and Thorn work the trail to keep us on track. The goodnthing is that even if we do hut a trap it hits one or two and not all...
Continuing to case her eyes around, trying to focus on potential threats proves difficult with the light reflecting from all the snow around the party.
How are you two doing? she asks Elleross and Greyston
Whilst we'll try and make good time it's important we rest when we need to, don't be afraid to say and think you're letting anyone down. We'll need everyone at full strength when time comes to take the lady back!
Nasrin sees the predator hiding near the hissing snowfall. Was it snow that hissed? Her instincts kick in and she gives a command to Thorn while she herself leaps into action. "Attack!" She moves towards the thing trying to close the distance as quickly as she can.
Snuffling every so often in the snow, Thorn runs with the girl, Rabbits? Hunt!? No! Danger! He follows the girl and when he catches the smell of the thing he realizes it may be time to drag it down and eat it. I hope it tastes like rabbit! He long stride carry him away from the girl, and around the thing hidden in the snow.
@before the ttack
Greyston slow keeps moving as Sapphire speaks to him. "A rest would be nice, but the way those two keep moving i don't think we'll be stopping soon. Thanks for asking Sapphire, we will get her back and find the men who left you to die."
---
Hearing Nasrins shout of attack, Greyston quickly pulls out a bomb ready to mix and throw it as he scans their surroundings unable to spot what the woman is running towards. "I don't see it. The snow doesn't make it any easier!"
Corum stops as Nasrin shouts. Turning to look in the direction she runs he is unabke to see what has caused her to charge. He hefts his pole axe ready to leap into action at the first sign of danger.
Nasrin is a bit surprised, maybe more than the snow-dragon at it's slowness. She seizes the chance to make good on the inertia. Her scimitar up and slicing downward as she shifts to her right and closes the distance.
for
The tree that snow-dragon was hiding under seems determined to see her fail as her swing is caught by a branch and shunted to nothing.
Thorn smells the thing in the snow and closes to it, charging in at the last minute to bring it down.
for and
When a creature detects a scent, the exact location of the source is not revealed—only its presence somewhere within range. The creature can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. When the creature is within 5 feet of the source, it pinpoints the source’s location.
Elleross looks on perplexed as Nasrin calls out her command to the wolf Thorn
I can't see a damn thing in this snow he thinks as he moves forward as quickly as he can towards them.
Corum, sapphire? What's happening? Can you see what it is? he asks the alchemist as he sees him pull a flask out.
The snow explodes in a sudden spray and a long,ice-white lizard with a mouth full of wicked teeth bursts out. It snaps at Nasrin but she is ready for the attack and steps aside easily.
Following the shouted warning and burst of snow where the lizard has attacked from, Sapphire is immediately moving. Drawing her blade in a fluid motion, she seems to dance across the snow unhindered by the frosty footing.
Coming at the lizard from the side, she uses her momentum to add power to the first attack, driving the tip of her blade in to the lizard's side and using her off hand to push the hilt deeper...
As the snow erupts Corum begins charging forward. The lizard snaps at Nasrin and a cold rage descends on him. He sprints forward, bardiche held high. 5 feet from the thing' s side he skids to a halt and in the same motion brings the terrible axe down with incredible force. At the samw time he screams a blood curdling battle cry.
Rage and charge
Damage
Hesitant in his use of a bomb Greyston puts it away and draws his crossbow and loads it, the cold bites at his fingers as he tries his hardest to load.
Corum and Sapphire both land heavy blows, slicing deep into the creatures flesh and staining the snow crimson beneath it. It cries out in pain, a fine green mist rising from its throat as it does so.
Finally in position, Nasrin and Thorn attack in tandem.
for
Her blade struggles to find purchase, but does draw blood.
Thorn lunges in lowand snaps at the thing.
for and
His teeth dig in, but he lacks the size to drag the thing down.
As the creature reels from Corum and Sapphires deadly assault, it exposes it's soft underbelly to Thorn who gleefully darts forward and tears at the tasty flesh, spilling it's guts across the frozen ground.
This is an arctic tatzlwyrm and like the yeti, far from its native habitat
Nasrin is right. With your bardiche your damage should be:
Normal +4
Normal and PA +4 +3
Rage +7
Rage and Pa +7 +3
Maintaining her ready stance for a few more seconds, eyes scanning around for further threats, Sapphire finally puts up her blade when nothing else leaps out at the group.
Wiping her sword off in the snow, Sapphire turns to survey the other members of the party
I didn't see it injure anyone, I take it we are all ok? That was good spotting Nasrin, if it had a chance to get the drop on us I feel that fight would have gone very differently, so bravo to you and Thorn
Returning to her place behind Nasrin and Corum, she waits until they move off and keeps pace easily, checking behind every so often to make sure Elleross and Greyston are ok.
Corum laughs triumphantly and kneels next to the lizard. He draws his dagger and begins removing several teeth and claws. "Good kill that. Well spotted Nasrin. My grandgather used to hunt these. They can be very dangerous. This wyrm is way too far south though. Something is really wrong if arcitc beasts are venturing this far south."
He wraps the teeth in a rag and puts them in his pack. Picking up his bardiche and moves on marching off the path through the thick snow at the roadside.
Greyston lets out a sigh as he see's the beast beaten, puttign away his crossbow he looks around checking everyone is still with them and up. "That was quick, I'm glad you spotted it Nasrin. It's a Tatzlwyrms, primeval relatives of true dragons." He says moving closer and drawing his dagger like Corum. "I've read of their intelligence nothing like that of a dragon, but their known to understand commands in Draconic. As their also known to build complex lairs and rudimentary traps." He waits for Corum to take his trophy, then cuts away a few scales and drains some blood into a vial.
"Extremely rare just like the Yeti in these parts. These parts will go help with something im hoping to brew up that could help us." Packing his samples away he then looks back at the group. "I'm starting to think they weren't brought here, but maybe there is an open portal that their flowing through? Or a part of the north was moved here? There are so many explanations."
Elleross relaxes as the wolf darts in and finishes the lizard.
I agree with Greyston, there is no way these creatures migrated here he says as he watches Corum take his trophies their presence here is obviously not natural, a planar portal could very well be spilling this cold and it's denizens into the area, if that is true it makes this place a lot more dangerous. Who knows what else is lurking around here he says keep your keen eyes peeled Nasrin, you did well to spot that beast
"More luck than skill." Nasrin returns to the march, irritated by how unnatural this place has become. Still, she does what she can to keep everyone safe.