"No, they'll recover with time and care. Or when we rest and are able to cast spells again. I am glad you're alright -- I felt how the dark energy weakened you when I was trying to stabilize you. Krystae, I'm afraid the lady we are seeking isn't here. We may need to continue the hunt."
Ragnar simply nodded to Keeper Helios and stood watch between the group and where Helios was investigating the hidden door. He was quite impressed with the bear skin. Whoever killed that beast was quite the hunter. He hoped the bear wouldn't too cold when it woke up without its skin. Bears were temperamental enough already.
Looking closer, you are able to see that the caged fey is indeed a winter touched. It demands that you release it.
Helios opens the trap door and descends down the ladder mounted underneath. A half-dozen boxes and barrels take up the majority of this underground cellar. A rough blanket lies spread on the floor in the southeast corner next to a bowl of half-eaten food. You see an attractive, if not very clean human woman with long brown hair dressed in a soiled green lady's gown.
Seeing Helios begin his descent, she calls out in a voice loud enough for all of you to hear, "Leave me alone, you brigand! When my father finds out what you and your ignorant band have done you'll pay for your crimes!" Helios is able to tell that she is somewhat injured.
Havelock, having been busy just thinking, suddenly stops and...blinks.
I do not know how I know, but something significant just changed..
"Let you out? Desna weeps! Why should we do that?"
Helios quickly sheaths his rapier and holds up his hands. "My Lady Argentea Malassene? It is I, Helios Sunstreaker." He speaks gently and holds up his hands palms forward to confirm he means no harm. "You may remember me, I was one of the storytellers at the last Harvest Day festival. I told the tale of Sir Heironious Bloat..." The half-elf stops himself and waves away what he was about to say. "More to the point, milady, my comrades and I are here to rescue you."
Considering the level of magic he'd seen thus far, and fearing a trap, he continues to let his spell search out any anomalies.
Did my Detect Magic pick up anything down here?
Droviz' laboured breathing gradually changes to... gentle snoring. It seems the masked warrior has passed his personal nadir and is now resting comfortably.
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Krystae takes a moment to recover while the others go to search the rest of the building. She retrieves her fallen bow and spear while keeping an eye on Droviz and Brynjar, all the while looking at their fallen enemies. She had hoped the keep at least one of the bandits alive to question; however, the damnable necromancer had ended all their lives with his foul magics that had also taken down Krystae.
She walks over to where the masked fighter lay, staring at him for a few moments. She remembers him from the darkness of her dreams... so odd for him to be there... She then wanders over to Brynjar and kneels next to the warrior, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Stay strong, Brynjar. We have witches to hunt."
Finally she turns to see the simple giant standing nearby, looking at the bear skin rug. "Ragnar, hjälp mig dumpa dessa organ utanför? Vi kommer att lämna dem för vargarna. Var försiktig med de sjuka."
Ragnar nodded. Wolves were a good idea. They were always hungry. When the bandits woke up again they'd have their hands full with them.
Dragging the bodies two at a time with no more disgust or revulsion than a lumberjack hauling wood, the giant man made short work of the task.
A subtle movement of fingers from Brynjar's right hand was all that could be noticed of the fainted warrior. Even in unconsciousness his expression was a mixture of dourness and sternness, but the sound of his breathing was all that could be heard from his gruff voice now. It seems that serenity was still not within Brynjar's reach.
Helios detects no magical auras. Lady Argentea seems visibly relieved, and climbs up out of the cellar, desperate for a bit of fresh air.
"Well it's about time someone came. There is a much greater threat than Rohkar’s Raiders in the Border Wood—extremely dangerous winter creatures at the center of the unseasonable weather with whom the bandits are allied." She describes the winter-touched fey who attacked her caravan, as well as Izoze, and though she’s never met him, she overheard her captors mention the name of their leader, Teb Knotten.
The imprisoned sprite looks at Elen indignantly. "Because Rohkar threw me in here. I am a prisoner, unjustly locked away. Have pity on a poor innocent fey..."
"So...the lady is found, now to take her back to safety..."
Havelock rests his beak in one hand, slowly tapping the clawed tips along it as he ponders.
"The options are easy, stay or leave, but each comes with it's own set of problems.
If we stay we have a defensible position, we have supplies and we have a good place to rest up.
But we are also in a place known to the bandits, and at least one escaped to possibly bring reinforcements.
Leaving means we need to carry some of our members, which will slow us down considerably, plus it will not allow our comrades to recover, and leaves us open for an ambush.
But it also allows us to put more distance between ourselves and an unknown number of attackers intent on recapturing the lady Argentea."
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Krystae begins to search through the fallen bandits, looking to see what items of use they can find on the fallen enemies. Once they have been relieved of any potentially valuable items, weapons, etc... She will assist Ragnar is dragging the bodies out of the cabin and into the cold.
She dumps them about 20' into the wooded area, in the hopes any wolves or other scavengers will gorge themselves upon the dead. When she returns she hears the unknown voice of a woman and suddenly sees Lady Argentea coming up from the basement. "M'lady." She gives an awkward curtsy before turning back to the grim task of clearing the dead.
Once completed with her task, she sits down at the table breathing heavily and rubbing her still sore jaw. "We can't travel in this weather with both of them unconscious. I think we should hold up here until they are both healed and awake. We have shelter and a defensible position. We can reinforce the doors against attack if there are indeed anymore bandits out there..."
"Yes, quite correct Mamzel Stormcrow, In addition, and please do not be offended here Lady Argentea, but if they had wanted you dead I doubt you would still be alive, and as such, we can at least be sure they will not try to burn us alive."
Like I wanted to, but that wouldn't be...heh..tactful to mention right now...
"How many bandits could this place house? We might draw some conclusions if we examine what is to be found here.
Mind, we know for an undisputable fact that it was not just human bandits attacking..."
Helios gives a hand to the Lady as they ascend the ladder. He smiles broadly upon seeing Krystae up and about, thankful for the Tengu's healing potion.
"If I may, this studious name-giver is Professor Havelock," Helios waves to the elven sorceress, "And this is Elen of the Elvish realms and a potent user of the arcane..." Then to the big man, "Our resident mystic, Ragnar, an invaluable source of strength and insights..." Then he smiles warmly towards the Inquisitor. "And Krystae Stormcrow, a fixture and stalwart resident of the fair village of Heldren."
Then seeing the fallen forms of the two warriors Helios frowns. He moves first to Droviz, taking a knee next to him and checking his pulse. He's pleased to see it stronger than when he'd left him last. The bard attempts to rouse the mysterious warrior by lifting him to a seated position. "Come now Master Droviz, on your feet, mate..." He gives the masked man a shake.
Back to the Lady he finishes introductions. "These brave fighters are Brynjar and Droviz, who gave all they had to see you free."
"I agree with my comrades, it might not be wise to travel with our wounded. But that may depend upon what resources we can draw from this place." Helios considers for a moment. "Are there any other items we can use to rouse Brynjar and Droviz?"
As of in answer to his thought he nods to the bear skin. "There's crates and such down there. Might be some healing implements?" He heads down there and conducts a thorough search.
"Zzzz*snrg*zz-whzzit?" Droviz slurs, sounding rather confused when being manhandled. "Breakfast time a'rea'y?"
The masked warrior looks around, appearing a bit confused. When he hears the introduction to the Lady Argentea, he staggers to his feet.
"Ah, yeah," he says, managing a sloppy salute. "Well, not quite my all, seeing as I'm alive, but I gave my some, High Lady, my some."
Droviz looks around. "So. We're all alive an' they're all dead? That's a victory, then. Who's up for a beer?"
"Real healing items would require magic, if someone possesses a cantrip to detect such things, I have the pallet to discern the functions."
Droviz blinks innocently.
"Well, I'm no wizard," he says, modestly, "but you get a bit of an eye for magic muck after a while, don't you? There's tells. I don't mind looking about for a bit."
"Let me have a look at that chest over there..."
Getting a furtive look in his eyes, Havelock begins to examine the chest for traps.
Each of the bandits has the following: padded armor, buckler, short sword, shortbow with 20 arrows, 8 gp, 5 sp
Rohkar has the following:
greenblood
oil (1), oil of taggit (2); Other Gear mwk studded leather,
dagger, light crossbow with 10 bolts, mwk short sword,
, mwk thieves’ tools, ring of
keys (key to trap door in area H7, chest in H11, and cage
in area H16), stolen spellbook (contains alarm, chill touch,
expeditious retreat, feather fall, identify, locate object, and ray
of enfeeblement), wooden symbol, 15 gp, and a cloak with a magical aura.
The cloak is identified as a cloak of the yeti (see page 60)
This heavy cloak is crafted from
shaggy white yeti fur. When the cloak’s
hood is pulled up over the wearer’s
head, it takes on a semblance of its
arctic namesake’s fearsome visage.
Northern warriors value its ability to
ward against the chill of winter, as
well as the protection it provides in
combat. The cloak of the yeti provides
a constant endure elements effect in cold weather (it has no
effect in hot weather). In battle, the cloak wraps around the
wearer, granting a +1 natural armor bonus. In addition, with
the hood drawn over the wearer’s head, the cloak grants a +2
competence bonus on Intimidate skill checks.
The wooden symbol is an unholy symbol of Norgorber, a god of thievery and assassination.
Downstairs Helios finds some dried fish, cheap wine and various other provisions, but nothing of use for healing.
Havelock does not find any traps.
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Krystae casts a minor spell that will allow her to see magical auras and notices the white cloak glowing...
She picks up the cloak and examines it closely... After a few moments she vaguely recalls hearing her father tell stories about yeti cloaks and how they were prized possessions back home. "A yeti cloak! My father spoke of these, they protect its wearer in battle and from the cold! It is even said that when the hood is donned your enemies will see the fabled creature staring at them!"
The other items hold little value to Krystae, however, she points out the tools to Havelock. "Professor, perhaps this could aid you in opening the locked chest?"
She looks back at Brynjar, still laying on the floor. She sighs in frustration at not knowing how to help him... the inquisitor is more skilled in harming, not healing; however, she vows to learn the skills to heal as well.
She spots the open door leading into one of the private rooms. "Ragnar, du hjälpa mig att flytta Brynjar in i detta rum här?" She walks over towards the fallen barbarian and carefully takes hold of his feet.
Ragnar nodded and carefully lifted Brynjar to move him where Krystae bid.
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"ah, keys. That should make this easier."
Havelock pockets the thieves tools at the same time as he uses the keys to unlock the chest.
Elen looks into the chest eagerly as Havelock opens it, but looks crestfallen when no potions or healing kits are found within it.
"There was another chest, let's try the key or those tools, shall we?"
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"Oh, ah...you saw me take those eh? Ah well...yes, let's have a look and see if there are any way to get that chest open as well."
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Krystae and Ragnar carefully carry Brynjar and lay him gingerly down in the bed of the room just north of the fireplace "Kan ni hjälpa mig att ta bort hans rustning?"
She starts to remove his scale mail, careful not to further injure her friend. "Don't you dare die, you stubborn, angry fool. I've lost too many people today that I call friend; you'll not be another."
There was little to no movement from Brynjar as he was carried and placed on the bed. His breathing seemed stable, but besides that there was no reaction, and no change in his still furrowed brow that made it appear that he was still strongly linked to the murderous rage that possessed him in the last battle.
"Is there any chance of a hot meal around here?" Droviz asks as he gingerly sits down on the first chair he finds. "I'm all for looting, but if we're staying the night, I say we fortify up and chow down."
Elen looks Droviz over. "I'm amazed you're even able to stand right now. You should lay down, and I'll see about dressing your wounds as soon as we take care of brynjar."
When the next chest is opened, Elen seizes the healing kit and the potion, and quickly casts detect magic.
"Hmm, not sure about the potion. What do you think, Professor?" she asks as she hands Havelock the potion. Checking the healing kit, she sees that it has about half of its supplies remaining.
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"Valuable, but not at this moment. It has the ability to restore lesser none wound related damage to a body or mind.
Things like excessive fatigue, sickness, the after effect of poison or illness...and some people use it as a cure for a hangover."
Ragnar didn't fully understand the language yet, but some words stood out. Once it was determined that they were safe and his companions were hungry, the big man drug out the wyrm-skin and unrolled it, revealing the gutted chunk of meat inside.
Using the fire place in the main area and the table near where they had done battle, Ragnar lay a cooking iron in the fire, cut the meat from the bones, and seared it to perfection. As he worked the meat moved itself from his cutting block to a prep plate and rolled itself in pepper. It was as though he had two or three sets of extra invisible hands helping him. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he was preparing a meal on a blood-slpattered table amid still-twitching corpses.
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While Ragnar tends to cooking the group's dinner, Krystae assists Elen in applying aid to the wounded warrior. While healing was never her favorite focus during her training, she remembers some of it with the elven witch's direction.
Initially Krystae was quiet, not saying much, though a heavy tension hung between them. She watches Elen apply her skills, her visage constantly switching between brooding and reluctance is saying something. After a while she clears her throat... "Witch, I... I want to thank you for saving my life."
The night passes uneventfully. In the morning Helios is weak from fever and his entire body is shaking (fatigued and sickened). The rest of you seem to have avoided the illness for now.
Droviz seems a bit more lively in the morning, though still very lethargic after yesterday's injury-fest.
"I feel like having one of them vacations," the masked warrior says as he sprawls on the floor. "Gaah! What I wouldn't give for a healing potion right now."
While Ragnar tends to cooking the group's dinner, Krystae assists Elen in applying aid to the wounded warrior. While healing was never her favorite focus during her training, she remembers some of it with the elven witch's direction. Initially Krystae was quiet, not saying much, though a heavy tension hung between them. She watches Elen apply her skills, her visage constantly switching between brooding and reluctance is saying something. After a while she clears her throat... "Witch, I... I want to thank you for saving my life."
Elen smiles gently at Krystae and murmurs a simple, "You're welcome," as they continue to work.
Her night is fitful and marred by disturbing dreams, including one of a dark figure on a horse that makes her awaken, shivering despite the fire in the hearth.
In the morning, she consults with Havelock and Ragnar before communing with Frostwhiskers. "We need to heal our friends and ourselves," she says. "I can prepare two curing spells and have a remaining reserve of magic for the day. What are you able to do, Havelock? "
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...maybe I should let the GM roll this if he NPCs Helios? That was horrible!
"The same amount. Of course, it will leave me fully tapped out as far as concoctions go, but I will still have my sword arm and my bombs, so I do not mind much."
Elen sees Helios suffering and tells him to stay in bed for now. Brewing a medicinal herbal tea with the plants in the kitchen and herbs in the healing kit, she gives him a large tankard of it with instructions to make sure he drinks all of it.
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As Elen speaks the arcane words and calls forth positive energy to knit Brynjar's damaged flesh, she sees the wounded man's eyes flutter open. "Brynjar? Can you hear me? How do you feel?"
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