Thorn yelps with the crashing ringing sound then settles into a low crouch waiting.
As the party shakes off the effect of the explosion, you notice for the first time that the trail runs across a stream, frozen solid by the plummeting temperature.
Sapphire is knocked off her feet again and cracks her head on the bole of a tree as she falls. She lies on the ground for a moment, ears ringing with the impact, before she unsteadily claws her way upright once more.
I am so very over these little gifts they keep leaving us, and rather than dissuade me it's making me more resolute to hunt down each and every one of them so they pay for the misery they have inflicted on us...
@ the sprites
Coming round slowly Elleross opens his eyes and finds himself staring up into the grey snow leaden sky, the steady downfall of flakes settling on his skin and melting slightly.
With a groan he rubs at his eyes the effects of the colourspray still lingering
Forcing himself to sit upright and with Corums help he gets back on his feet
that was unpleasant to say the least, such a simple spell and yet so devastating. I've never experienced the effects of it personally until now. he says groggily thank you youngster, I think I would have struggled to get back up with these damn furs dragging me down he says with a smile.
@the snowman
Lagging behind the others as they plod on through the snow Elleross counts himself lucky he struggles so much in the snow.
As the snowman explodes outwards he throws up his hands in a useless gesture to ward off the blast, fortunately the shock wave knocks him down but doesn't cause any lasting damage and for the second time that day he finds himself flat on his back staring up at the sky.
gods above! Is everyone alright? he asks as he once again struggles upright .
I find myself thinking along the same lines Sapphire, these creatures are a nasty dangerous bunch and won't stop harassing us until they are dead or we are the old elf says as he picks up his staff.
Nasrin, are you ok? How is your... How is Thorn? He was the closest to that trap he asks the wild girl concerned for her wolf with which she clearly has a very close bond.
Sapphire regards the river with suspicion, pointing out to the others the clearly visible legs jutting out from the bush on the other side.
I suggest we cross two at a time and watch those bushes and the trees, evidently something around here is hostile, and whatever it is the snowman has told it more prey is here...
She'll have her sword handy and wait for a partner to cross with, then edge out nice and slowly, walking to the other side and waiting for everyone else before investigating the body.
After a moment, Nasrin calls Thorn back to her and checks him for injury. He seems to be a bit bruised around the chest and head, but still strong. She gives him lots of kisses and finally a treat of deer jerky. "He is fine." Nasrin gives a slight smile, thankful for the old man's concern.
To Sapphire, "Me and you. Then Elleros and Grey. Finally Corum." The crossing itself seems to take forever as Nasrin places each step carefully to keep from slipping on the ice.
Greyston watches the explosion from the back, ducking down as it goes of expected a lot more. "We're all still up, thats good."[/b]
--
Greyston nods, the cold affecting his need to add anything to the conversation and is just happy to keep moving. He looks to Elloross and locks his arm in his. "I don't want either of us falling in that, hold me up and i'll hold you."
"Definitely not normal." Nasrin steps up onto the far bank and waits, listening and looking for enemies or traps.
As the party moves over the wide river, Nasrin notices a sudden movement benaeath the surface. For a brief moment she thinks it is the darting of fish but the hope is all too short lived.
The ice beneath your feet bucks and cracks with a sound like a hundred branches breaking. Great plates of ice sheer apart as two creatures, misshapen blocks of ice themselves, haul their way through the ice.
The treacherous ice gives way under Nasrin's feet. As she tries to scramble clear, she make no progress and is dumped unceremoniously into the freezing water. She loses no time in trying to scramble back out. Even with her ward against the cold, she knows better than to be wet in weather like this.
Nasrin flounders on the edge of the ice hole.
Thorn turns and barrels towards the thing that comes from the ice, doing his best to protect the girl.
for and
Thorn bites down on the icy creature, his teeth crunching through the things leg. He tastes blood, not realising it is his own as shards of ice cut into the roof of his mouth. The blood only angers him further and he tries to haul the thing to the ground only to find it is stronger than the deer he is so used to felling.
@ Greyston
that's fine with me Greyston, i don't want to break a leg out here.
Take it slow and we should cross fine he replies to the young elf and grips his arm.
As they start across the slippery ice Elleross idly wonders if it will he thick enough to support their weight, and if not he doesn't rate his chances in the freezing water, weighed down by his furs he would surely drown .
He is snapped out of his thoughts as the ice explodes and the two fierce ice creatures haul themselves out if the frozen stream.
Corum, sapphire you need to destroy these things quickly. Nasrin is in the water we have to get her out! he calls out urgently and releasing his grip on Greyston he pulls his cross bow from his belt and with fumbling fingers he cocks it and sets a bolt in place ready to fire.
Seeing Nasrin fall into the water Corum knows she has only minutes to live in these temperatures. A cold fury descends on him and he charges the nearest ice creature. He screams as he slashes at it with a mighty overhand stroke.
Cold iron sword.
Damage
Though she heard Elleross' warning cry, it is too late, the uneven footing proves too much and Sapphire simply drops straight through the cracked ice in to the freezing water.
The water is a far cry from the placid lake she learned to swim in, clawing at the ragged sides of the hole she scrabbles back up, eyes blazing in anger and focused on the creature in front of her. Her anger focuses like a pinpoint of energy flowing down her arm and infusing the longsword she holds.
With a shouted, wordless cry, she steps forward and brings her fury to bear on the ice monster.
Euron quickly reaches for a bomb, knowing its the only thing he can do right now he lobs it at the creature on its own. Not wanting to hurt anyone. "Elleross is right, Corum you have to help her out!"
Corum charges across the ice. His footing, normally so sure, fails him at the last moment as he slips on a slick patch of ice. The tumble isn’t enough for him to fall but he has to adjust his swing to block an incoming attack. The creature’s icy arm crashes down onto his sword blade sending chips of ice scattering into his face. His own retaliatory slash is clumsy as a result and slices nothing but air.
Greyston bites at his gloves and rips them from his hands, giving his the dexterity in his fingers to deftly mix a series of chemicals in a small vial which he then tosses at one of the ice-men. The mixture explodes on the creature, cracking it’s body from shoulder to hip. The mixture clings to it and with a wailing moan it begins to melt.
Sapphire stumbles backward as the ice begins to crack beneath her, a long seam appearing inches to her right. She ties to leap back away from it but her foot is already caught and the inevitable seems to happen in slow motion as she tumbles backward and the world is suddenly turned upside down in a flash of white and blue. The water knocks the air from her lungs in an instant and as she scrambles back to solid ground she is wracked with shudders as her sodden clothes cling to her slight frame.
The melting ice elemental takes a staggering step forward toward Corum, bring both arms down in a hammer-like motion, seeking to batter the human into submission.
Hit
and
The other meanwhile grabs at the furry beast chewing at it’s extremities. It wraps both icy hands around it’s throat and wrenches, looking to break it’s neck! But Thorn is too canny for such a thing and slips from the creature's grasp before it can gather any purchase.
Miss
and
Fort
The force of the blow staggers Corum and he grits his teeth in pain. He is made of stern stuff thpugh and the pain fuels his rage. Despite reeling from the mighty blow he hacks at the creature, his sword arcing under its upraised arm to slam into its side.
Attack
Damage
Sapphire dances over the cracked ice, blade darting at the ice creature and attempting to hack a chunk of ice away from its shoulder.
Unfortunately the sword simply bounces off the hardened surface of the monster.
Raising the crossbow to his shoulder the old elf holds his breath and preys as he aims at the icy creature looming over Sapphire and gently he squeezes the trigger.
Ac 11
Hp 6 /7
Thorn pulls back from the frozen thing, confused about how it stayed on its feet. Thorn lunges in again trying to get a better grasp of a leg.
for and a
However, his attack is sluggish and the icy thing shifts away easily.
Nasrin continues to flounder in the stream.
Corum smashes his blade through the ice creature. Though well crafted, it is like a hammer against this icy creature and the barbarian howls like an animal as he smashes the creature into shards.
Elleros fires through the snow in hope more than anything but is satisfied to see a large chunk of the creature break off.
Sapphire and Thorn both engage the remaining elemental but as the numbing cold begins to sink into her bones, Nasrin finds it impossible to crawl out of the watery hole.
Greyston puts away his vials and takes out his crossbow aiming it at the same one just just blew up and fires.
Despite the hail of bolts and the desperate attacks of the party, the icy creature remains standing and once again lashes out, this time at Sap[hire.
Miss
But despite her chilled condition she is able to easily duck beneath the wild swing.
Corum roars defiance and charges the second ice creature. He closes quickly and stabs his sword into its torso. The blade grinds against the ice as it enters. He twists his body to the side and using this pivot and his powerful arms braced across his own chest as a lever he wrenches the blade out sideways leaving a huge rent in the thing's torso.
Sword
Dam
Once again Corums brute force proves the most effective method of dealing with these creatures and his blade smashes the remaining elemental to pieces.
As the ice creature falls Corum shouts triumphantly and then realises Nasrin is still in the water. He takes a rope drom his backpack and throws it to her. As soon as she grabs it he begins hauling her out of the freezing water.
He then sprints to the bank and begins making a fire. "We can go no further today. They need fire and shelter. If they don't warm up they will die!"
The biting cold of Sapphires sodden clothes sets in almost immediately. Her limbs shudder with involuntary movements and she can barely talk.
As Corum builds the fire he shouts. "You two. Get over here by the fire and get out of those wet clothes. Everyone else give them your blankets and bedrolls."
He removrshis blanket and hangs it over his bardiche, which is driven into the icy ground near the fire. He tells Sapphire to wrap up in it and moves off to get more wood.
Glad of both the barbarian's skill-at-arms and outdoorsmanship, Sapphire does as she's told, trusting to his advice to serve her well in surviving.
Forgoing modesty for speed, she stabs her sword in to the ground in case it is needed whilst she isn't wearing her scabbard, then shrugs out of her winter clothing and wraps herself in the blanket as quickly as possible.
Almost surprised at herself, Sapphire finds her teeth chattering madly. She frowns as if her body is betraying her.
Th..th..thanks..ss..ss.. is all she can manage.
Sapphire stands shivering in the winter blanket, the cold is unbearable, almost incomprehensible but she focussed her will to just stand and wait whilst Corum builds the fire.
Sapphire feels tired all of a sudden, so very tired. It would be the easiest thing in the world to just curl up and sleep....
Marshaling every ounce of self-control she has, Sapphire focuses on Corum's movements building the fire. Gazing, analyzing, pushing all thoughts of cold far away from her. She sees only the man's fingers building a tent of wood, soaking the kindling in oil so it catches quickly from the tinder, the placement of the smaller branches. All of it precise, measured, and likely given hardly any thought to by the hulking barbarian, he must have built fires a thousand times, it was like watching a master at work creating an example of his art, a one-time piece just for her, to be destroyed in exchange for prolonging her life.
Slowly she waited for the heat from the fire to banish the cold from her bones, teeth continuing to rattle and further words impossible for now.
Seeing Sapphire uncontrollable shaking he quickly heads over to her, ignoring her nudity he takes of his coat the cold hitting him hard but he wraps it around to frozen girl and then hugs her. "I'm sorry but we have to keep you warm." He looks towards Corum the situation a little awkward. "Get that fire going!"
Watching the raging warrior smash the elemental to pieces He clips the crossbow to his belt And moves as quickly as he can towards Corum and the others.
As sapphire rids herself of the freezing wet clothes and her armour he limps slightly as he runs toward her.
Dropping his pack to the ground he barely notices her nakedness, it is an irrelevance given the situation. He does however note how strong and fit she appears, her long lean muscles betraying her skills with her weapons.
she will need her strength now he thinks with a shiver
Pulling out his spare clothing he offers them to her urgently.
Greyston is right, put these on The coat and blanket isn't enough. they aren't the warmest garments but they are dry and relatively clean. Wrap the blanket around you and climb inside my bedroll when you are ready he says concerned at the colour of her skin and her involuntary shivering. He lays his bedroll beside the fire Corum is nursing to life.
you did well back there Corum and once again you show your worth in these bitter conditions. Will she be ok do you think? he asks the man.
Looking at Nasrin he can see she is wet through but shows no signs of the cold.
lucky she has protected herself, this could have been so much worse. If we all fell in we would all die tonight I think he thinks to himself
Unable to do much but shiver to start with, after half an hour of being wrapped with multiple blankets in front of the fire, Sapphire is warm enough to speak her thanks
That was gallant of you all, I appreciate your quick thinking
she smiles then in genuine gratitude to all, before turning to Nasrin
Whatever trick you used for staying warm in that water, I'd be interested to learn it if you're able to do so!
Ensuring her clothes are propped next to the fire on sticks to dry, she asks
So are we ready to move on or are we resting longer here?