"Well...yes, in a sense.
I was thinking of effective countermeasures against creatures like the ones that we may be facing.
Sadly, the only one I could offer takes time and money, both resources we lack."
"They are elemental creatures, so fire would be an effective threat. Their breath is freezing cold, and protection from cold could be a defense, but I do not know any magic for that other than that which is infused into my blood."
She turns to the tengu. "Havelock, do you have flammable alchemical substances you could use as a weapon?"
Helios nods as Elen explains some of the aspects of a mephit. He begins patting his pockets in an absent minded fashion as though he'd lost his tobacco pouch. Not finding anything, he drops his hands and sighs, the hint of a grin a this lips. "Oh dear me, and here I've forgotten my wand of Fireball Flinging...quite a shame."
Ragnar's brows furrow. He shakes his head.
"No, sir. I know little of devils and their ilk. My people say it is better not to speak of such creatures."
You see a ton of tracks, but it's difficult for you to make out which ones would have belonged to Lady Argentea's entourage and which ones would have been from the bandits. It is clear that a frantic melee took place here.
Brynjar is able to free the fallen captain's body and arm from the icy tomb. His cold body lies lifeless in the snow, his severed arm nearby.
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Krystae returns to the group with a sigh, her breath foggy in the cold air. "As I feared, there is too much movement in this area for me to determine what exactly happened here." She looks at the crushed ice and the body of the Taldan captain, then looks around at the rest of the bodies strewn amongst the carnage.
"Would that we had time to give them all the proper burial they deserve, but even if we did, the ground is too frozen to dig. We should return once we have completed our mission and build a pyre. I do not feel right about leaving them let thus, but our quarry will not be resting and we must catch them before they add another number to those slain this day."
She glances at the carriages... "Could we quickly put them in the carriages to protect them from scavengers?" She looks back at the others to get their opinions.
"I am afraid not lady Emerwen, as I came here in an attempt to earn money through my craft, but have been less than successful, it also means my person funds have been limited and unable to support crafting for my own personal use."
Havelock nods, glad that Krystae pointed out the need to hurry rather than stay and bury the dead.
Sensible, good thing too.
"Let us take the armor for now in case the bodies are destroyed somehow -- by scavengers as you suggest Krystae -- so that we can return it to his family if we can find them, perhaps. If the sword will aid any of us in avenging his death, I'm sure he wouldn't mind us using it. I can use such a blade -- elves, like Tengu, are trained in swordplay, but while I am proficient, I am not strong."
Elen begins working on moving the formerly-undead bodies into the carriage as Krystae suggested.
Helios steps in to help the elven woman with the grim task of collecting the dead. As he works, he begins singing softly tune he'd learned from one of his friends in the Caiden Caylean ministry.
"Two drinks more,
it's all I ask,
I'll swab up your floors,
if for only one flask.
"I go to my fathers,
the journey is long,
so why not provide the waters
to keep my soul strong?
"Surely one drink
will cause you no pain,
before you even blink,
I'll be out in the rain...
"I've had my sip for health,
for courage and for stride,
Just the one drink for the wealth
of my heart's longing wide!"
In his own way, Helios hopes to prevent the remaining bodies from gathering up from their untimely repose to unnaturally walk the land of the living.
Noding, Havelock retrieves the sword and sword belt, strapping it to his waist with a flourish.
"A dead man’s weapon used to extract a blood toll? A fitting thing indeed."
With two bodies slung over his shoulders, Brynjar made his way to the carriage, each step he took in the snow leaving an even deeper mark due to the added weight. He didn't enjoy doing this but then again he doubted anyone really enjoyed doing this sort of work, and despite how much he knew that this wouldn't add anything to their hunt of these bandits or possibly earn him more of a reward, leaving these corpses scattered around them, just didn't agree with him.
"Let us take the armor for now in case the bodies are destroyed somehow -- by scavengers as you suggest Krystae -- so that we can return it to his family if we can find them"
"I think they'll appreciate us killing whoever did this to him more than they'll appreciate a piece of metal" Said Brynjar, his words rough and clearly echoing his thoughts.
After placing the bodies within the overturned vehicle, he turned towards the professor to notice him equipping the one handed weapon "It looks good on you" He commented as he moved to the place where the tracks of their prey lead deeper into the forest "Lets go, the sooner we get to them, the less time they have to rest" Said the warrior, as he began following the tracks, that delved into the maze of wood and foliage that was before them.
"Hrm...Therein lies a problem for us, as I am not too sure how much rest they will need.
My worry is that the bandits may hang back as THEY need the rest, but the fey might move on with the captive on their own."
"We should keep our eyes peeled for a possible ambush in either case, better too be too careful than too careless."
Helios nods to both the warrior and the professor, taking out his bow and knocking an arrow as he follows along with Brynjar as he begins tracking his quarry.
As they go, the half-elf keeps a weather eye out for potential ambushes.
Ragnar just watches, not understanding any part of the discussion, intrigued and confused by the mannerisms of this strange group he had fallen in with.
The amazing room on wheels must be important. Why they were interring bodies within it, he did not know. Perhaps these fallen were important somehow. A sort of rolling cairn would be appropriate for displaying the dead.
This culture was truly wealthy beyond measure to afford such lavish funerary rights. The amazing weapon the Watcher had procured was surely proof of that.
Noticing that Helios was keeping an eye out for any possible ambushes, Brynjar decided after debating the matter with himself as they walked for a few feet; that it would be best for him to give most of his focus to the trail the bandits left and let Helios be their eyes. Brynjar knew that he was simply too used to handling everything on his own, but he also understood that if he was going to relive the idea of working with people again that he should start sometime...and Helios' actions showed that he was unlikely to stab him in the back.
"Krystae" Called Brynjar as he knelt to get a closer look at the trail before them "You know these woods better than I do, take the lead if you want and I'll bring up the rear, or I'll keep tracking them and you bring up the rear" Said the red haired mercenary as he continued studying the foot prints before him. Knowing that their formation would be more secure if either him or the law-keeper were at the back of the group, just in case their enemies succeeded at flanking them.
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Krystae moves to help the others load the deceased into the carriages, she does not feel right about leaving the dead in such a manner; however, she fully intends to return to see they receive the proper rites. Once their task is completed she gathers up all her equipment and joins the others near the bandit tracks.
"Krystae" Called Brynjar as he knelt to get a closer look at the trail before them "You know these woods better than I do, take the lead if you want and I'll bring up the rear, or I'll keep tracking them and you bring up the rear"
She nods. "Of course, I'll scout a little ahead of the group." She prepares to leave; however, she suddenly stops and turns to Ragnar with a thought.
"Ragnar, kommer jag att spana framåt av gruppen. Bo med de andra och inte ge bort min position."She hopes he understands her meaning...
After she has made her point to Ragnar, she withdraws an arrow and puts it to the string of her bow. The inquisitor stalks off into the snow quietly, watching the trail at her feet and the woods before her.
Ragnar nods and moves closer to Lady Elen.
Havelock fingers the pommel of the new blade at his hip idly as he moves with the others.
Three blades already, less of a professor and more of a duellist by now.
"I will make myself scarce for now, I'll be stalking along in the periphery, just a few yards away."
Saying so, he falls back a little, hiding amongst the trees, making sure nobody sneaks up on the group from behind.
Elen whispers to Ragnar in Elven.
Ragnar looks around, at a loss for words at first.
"I would not even know where to begin with my questions, so I stay quiet and simply watch."
As it enters the full expanse of the Border Wood, the trail passes through a small clearing among the taller trees before continuing uphill and out of sight. A large chest lies half-buried in the snow, apparently dropped or discarded by those who hastily passed this way.
Upon seeing the chest, Elen ponders, and casts a spell to detect magic on or in the chest.
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Krystae's brow furrows when she spots the large chest laying in the snow. She begins to look around, checking the wood line for any signs of enemies preparing for an ambush... "Beware, this is very strange and too happenstance to be innocent. I do not like this..."
She glances over her shoulder to Ragnar, speaking to him in Skald. "Ragnar, bo nära till häxan." She then gestures for Brynjar to come forward.
"I'll cover you, check this thing. I'll make sure no one sticks your back while you're busy." She grins at the large man.
After studying the chest from where he was standing for a few moments, Brynjar got a bit closer but still kept a fair amount of distance. Exhaling as he let his blue eyes scan the container and its surrounding area, searching for any sign of traps, he last remembered worrying about such things when he had entered that dungeon with the expedition his cousin sent him with. It wasn't the most enjoyable of memories or experiences but it had taught him what he was supposed to look for when he suspected the presence of a hidden device designed to hinder your progress or outright kill you. Almost looking to his back part way through the process, he was somehow able to halt the progression of his doubts, and focus on the task ahead of him, his mistrustful tendencies would just have to remain caged...for now.
Havelock appears behind the others as he surveys the scene.
"I would hazard a guess that this is either a trap with the chest as bait, or a simple delaying tactics..."
Either way, it is working...I HAVE to know.
Havelock, like a lot of intellectuals, were fully aware of some of the traits of his race, like curiosity and greed, but just because he know these things, doesn't mean he can control them.
Fishing out a set of pick locks, he moves over to Brynjar.
"You know, this is really more my area of expertise."
Ragnar started to nod then stopped, suddenly looking concerned. His grip tightened on his spear.
"Vilken häxa?"
"What Witch?"
Helios waves a calming gesture towards the big man out of time. "તમારા પરિપ્રેક્ષ્ય, Ragnar અલગ સૂચિતાર્થો સાથે અમારી સમય એક શબ્દો. જાદુ ઉપયોગ તેના શૈલી જૂના ના ડાકણો દ્વારા ચલાવતી હતી તે સમાન છે, પરંતુ તે Desna ની સેવા અને આ વિશ્વના સારા માં ચલાવતી હતી છે. મારા નવો મિત્ર ડર નથી."
He stops himself from turning a frown towards Krystae, knowing that she too must have a history at odds with the witches of the north. The bard was beginning to feel a kinship towards the group that he wants to foster rather than tear apart, so he begins turning over in his mind ways to do grow their bonds of friendship. If I can carry a conversation with Brynjar, I think anything is possible with respect to the rest. he thinks positively.
"Careful, Professor," the half-elf warns needlessly.
He continues to survey the surroundings, taking a knee next to a tree.
Ragnar looks at Elen with surprise on his face, but as helios explained he nodded slowly.
"প্রথম কন্যা উত্থানের আগে হাসপাতালে নেওয়ার আগেই জ্ঞানী এবং সহায়ক ছিল. দ্য প্রচুর সম্মান হয়. আমি একটি বিশ্ব কিপার আমার সম্প্রদায় পতন সৃষ্টিকারী মন্দ curses একই প্রকারের কাজ কল্পনা করতে পারবেন না."
He gave Lady Elen a small smile. "আপনার উপায় প্রথম উপায় হতে হবে."
"Before the rise of the First Daughter, the covens were wise and helpful. The were revered. I cannot imagine a World Keeper working the same sorts of evil curses that caused the fall of my people."
"Your ways must be the first ways."
Helios smiles back to the big man. "উত্থানের আগে হাসপাতালে আপনার উপায় প্রথম , Ragnar. আপনার উপায় প্রথম!"
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"I would hazard a guess that this is either a trap with the chest as bait, or a simple delaying tactics..."
Krystae nods her agreement with Havelock's assessment. "I agree, yet, I also do not like leaving an unknown at my back." When he removes his lock-picking set she almost smiles. "I apologize, Professor, I wasn't aware alchemists were skilled at picking locks. Such skills will prove quite handy I believe."
She continues to observe the area with an arrow to the string of her bow while Havelock works on the chest. When she hears the concern in Ragnar's voice about Elen she is about to answer when apparently Helios and Elen answer him. She decides she feels uncomfortable not understanding the elven words be passed back and forth. She decided at that moment to take the time to learn the language from anyone whom would be willing to teach her.
Nodding to Havelock after seeing him uncover his tools, Brynjar stepped back and made his way to the very back of the group "I'll circle the area around us" He commented tersely as his foot steps made fresh tracks in the snow that covered the ground. Hearing some of the group speaking in tongues he couldn't understand, he reasoned that they were probably explaining something to Ragnar that either related to their current situation or was a continuation of their discussion of the strange man's history.
"It would be wise, if we end up travelling together for long periods of time, to make sure all of us share a common tongue, either by teaching Ragnar and Brynjar modern Skald, or -- my admitted preference -- teaching you two humans Elven. I would be happy to help with that."
Havelok smirks (as well as a Tengu can be said to do that) and twirls his picklock.
"A professor of only alchemy wouldn't be much use in picking locks, a professor who has also studied engineering however..."
Kneeling before the chest, Havelock inspects it for a moment, looking around to see if anyone else in the party has spotted anything.
Elen feels no magical auras from the chest. Brynjar sees no sign of anyone else in the area.
Havelock moves towards the chest confident that there are no traps, and prepares to pick the lock when his foot finds a rope hidden in the snow, releasing a huge spiked log hung high in the trees. The log swings down towards the entire party in a line; only Brynjar is far enough away to avoid it, since he was off scouting. Havelock quickly dives to the ground and manages to dodge the blow. Elen was not so lucky. She is struck so hard her body flies ten feet off into the snow. Krystae, Ragnar and Helios are hit as well, though not so savagely...
miss
hit for
hit for
hit for
hit for
Elen screams and falls into the snow, bloody and unconscious. Her cat, who was nearby but out of the way of the trap, yowls as she leaps through the snow to find her mistress.
The swinging log clips Ragnar's shoulder and spins him around. Disoriented for a moment, he realizes that Lady Elen was on the ground.
He rushed to her side and shook her gently. At his touch, her wounds began to close. He seemed surprised.
Elen gasps and coughs as her eyes flutter open. "Diola lle" she murmurs in thanks, and adds a much saltier-sounding phrase in skald.
A cold breeze stalked passed Brynjar as he walked the self-made perimeter, his ears picking up nothing but the sound of shivering branches and shaking bushes. Kneeling down in an attempt to find a trace or clue of earlier, got him nothing but being an easy target for a wad snow that became too heavy for the outstretched hand of a nearby tree. Brynjar got up instantly, the cold daggers of the snow stabbing deeply into his skin, causing him to clench his teeth and release half a gasp And here I thought I was getting use to this place, its a wonder... The sudden scream that filled the air ripped him away from his mental laments and caused him to run back to the last position his companions were at.
What awaited Brynjar was a sight he had dreaded, besides Ragnar most of the party was down, and the giant was by the side of Elen, who appeared to be the most injured by this ambush. The scarred warrior looked on past the still dangling tree trunk and took notice of his three other compatriots who's injuries seemed to be less worse than the elven witch.
"If you can speak tell him to carry you and the professor and follow me!" Bellowed Brynjar as he dashed towards the party with reckless abandon, stopping next to Helios he quickly hurled him over his left shoulder, then he made his way towards the body of Krystae and swiftly carried her under his right arm and ran into the woods. Every instinct within the half-Chelaxian told him to get out of this open area, to get far away from where they were ambushed, they couldn't face who set this trap in their state, while they may not show at this very moment, Brynjar didn't plan to wait and find out.
As the log comes rushing at his head, Havelock had acted on instinct and dived aside, as the situation unfurled in his conscious brain he shuddered at how close had had come to becoming a thin red paste.
"There are times when I wouldn't mind being wrong..."
Getting to his feet he dusted himself off.
As Brynjar exploded into action, he was left somewhat flabbergasted, but he could see some sense in moving away from the area.
Greed warred with caution; he really wanted that chest, especially since it had already cost a lot of pain for the others in the party.
Turning towards Ragnar, he motions towards the chest.
If it slows you down, leave it.
I'll deal with the lady, we have to follow the others."
He then put one of Elens arms over his shoulder and started after Brynjar.
"Come on, time to chose the better part of valour!"
Elen casts Mage Armor on herself as soon as she gets a moment.
Helios looks over to Havelock from where he's kneeling next to a tree to keep an eye on the surround. In the flash of a thought, the Tengu glances down at a rope that had been previously hidden, then throws himself aside as a giant log comes hurtling down from its hiding place in the tree tops.
That looks unpleasant... Helios manages to think as the log smashes through his comrades then plows into him, clipping him from the side of the tree where he'd been crouched like a hand planer over rough-cut lumber.
The world is stars and strange twangs of musical instruments. Helios, seeing through a corona of pain, is looking up at the night sky through the canopy of trees. Didn't realize you could still see the stars with that storm blowing through...
"If you can speak tell him to carry you and the professor and follow me!" He hears a gruff voice command.
"I can speak just fine, barkeep. I'll come back inside as soon as I'm done gazing at the stars above. I'm going to write a poem for that lovely elf I met earl...whuuhh!" His words are muffled and slurred then cut off as the world spins around him and the air is crushed from his lungs. The next thing he knows he's looking at the armored back and rear of a rather large fellow as he's bounding up and down.
"I say..." Helios mumbles, still dazed. "I'd much rather be looking at the stars."
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Krystae was too busy watching their surroundings to spot the trap until it was too late. The log slams into her, knocking the air from her lungs in a loud whoosh sound. She hit the ground hard and knocked her senseless for a moment as she gasped to regain her breath. The pain in her chest told her the log had probably cracked a few ribs... She vaguely remembered hearing a scream.
So it was that she cried out in pain when Brynjar unceremoniously scoped her up off the ground and thrashed her about as he ran. When finally they were in the tree line, Krystae smacked at the Chelaxian's hand. "Put me down! I can walk on my own!" she growled at him; she was angry. Angry that she had let her guard down that much, and her pride had been hurt for being carried away from battle. Ulfen warriors did not run away.
When she looked around at the rest of the party and understood Brynjar's reasoning for gathering them away; most of them were in bad shape. Helios could barely stand on his accord. She, Ragnar, and Elen all had bleeding wounds and looked to have trampled by a giant. She glared at the log, still swaying slightly. "Cowards." she muttered as she put another arrow to her bow with a searching look.
As he and Elen joins the other at the tree line, Havelock mutters, ""ould have been nice to be wrong for a change", once more.
Then he looks around.
"You realize what this means? They EXPECTED to be followed, maybe even counted on it.
They must have realized someone escaped the massacre at the ambush site AND felt they had enough time to spare to set up a trap like that.
I except it would take a good hour for NORMAL beings to set up a tap like that."
Ragnar's eyes go wide at Lady Elen's words, and he blushes all the way up to his scalp. All around him the tittering sound of faint children's laughter can be heard.
Thankful to be given a direction, he nods to the Watcher and hoists the chest.
Ragnar easily lifts the chest. It feels like it must be empty. After he lifts it from the snow, he sees some weapons and armor that had been buried beneath it.
None of you notice anyone else nearby. The area is very calm and quiet at the moment.
Well if she has the strength to complain she shouldn't be that badly injured Placing Krystae and Helios down on the snowy ground, Brynjar unsheathed his sword and walked ahead and remained in his battle stance as senses tried to catch sight of anyone or anything that could be coming for them, but all he did find was the familiar sound of Havelock's steps getting closer, and finally the alchemist appeared before him, with Elen hanging on to his back.
A large amount of air entered Brynjar's lungs as he abandoned his battle stance and turned towards his injured party, it was then that he noticed something was amiss "Where is the giant?" He asked Havelock, his face locked in a scowl.