Well let me go check on him and see if he is up for guests. He is still in pretty bad shape. I'll be right back. He walks away and returns a few moments later. He will speak with you, but only two. The room is small and he's not up to too many guests.
Kilain says Ill stay out here. Kjell, Hedrick...go ahead.
Vitali was keen to speak with the northman but as his Companions from the Northwestern Lands want to do the talking he merely nods perking his ears to hear what the man has to tell.
Vitali here has the gift of gab. We should bring him along with us. He thinks of questions other men wouldn't and is a bit of an investigator by nature."
He can go in my place, but be sure to find out everything.
No that would not be wise. Vitali reponds to Kjell. You are a northman as well he will more likely speak with you. Me I am from Brevoy and maybe not looked upon so favorably
I am fine either way. Come, hedrick, let's get what we can from 'im.
Kjell walks to where the Northman is recuperating.
Kjell and Hedrick enter the small room which contains a rather large man. Yuln turns his head toward the door as you both enter. He half smiles. Well, well. Brothers of the north here to pay me a visit. What can I do for you today friends of the northlands?. The man has yellowish-white hair and beard, gray eyes, a blackened nose, fingers and toes. You've seen this before and know it as severe frostbite.
Brother, I am Kjell of Clan Carlufsen. How did you come by such wounds?
As he tries to get comfortable in his bed, pain overtakes him. After a few moments he answers you It be a mixture of the snow and the damn winter touched fey creatures of the north. The closer you get to the Border Wood the more snow you be findin!
Yuln continues his story, We fought a group of bandits at first and had em on the run. They were no match for us, but then came the cold fey of the north. They appeared among us and the battle turned quickly. My people speak of the winter-touched all the time, but I never expected to meet them this far south. They slaughtered everyone in the caravan cept me and Lady Argentea. They dragged her off into the woods and I, I was gonna go after her, but as you can see fer yerselves, I had no chance of saving her. So I pushed meself to get to the closest town fer help. The councilor here, she be a good lass and said she'd find help. Is that what ye's here fer, to help?
Cold fey, this far south, brother? That is a worry. It may be that we can aid this Lady Argentea, but do ya know why they took 'er?
Heal Check
"Yuln, if you would allow me to, I think I could ease some of your pain. I can get you proped up and stretch out your limbs and apply a poltace to your face where the skin has been biten by the cold."
"The council woman did indeed speak with us, I am willing to add my bow and blade, but we must know what we are facing in order to make a successful rescue attempt. We fought an ogre yesterday that I am certain comes from our homelands. The fact that you said these monsters just appeared smacks of Winter Witchery, did you see one? Did you hear anything said?"
The healers would have probably gave him some alewady
No, I would remember seeing one of them filthy ice bredin whores! These things we fought were Fey creatures who have sworn themselves to the White Witches of Irrisen, those who stole our lands from us during the Winter War. Tiny sprites no taller than the length of a man’s forearm. But don’t be fooled by their small stature. Legends say they have taken a sliver of ice into their hearts, and their touch bears the harsh bite of winter.
Kilain sat out in the vestibule, keeping an eye on the door outside, arms folded across his barrel chest. Warhammer resting on the ground, handle up. Shield sitting against the wall to his left.
He glanced at Gray who seemed to be listening at the door Hedrick and Kjell had gone through and he smiled....
"You fought well and I believe you when you said you had no choice but to leave. Had you died needlessly we would not know the fate of your lady and the lives all all here would have been put at risk having no warning of who is behind this. The evil fey have threatened all of the name giving people of the north for 1400 years. Indeed, I personally trained to battle the vermin for over a century, they are not to be taken lightly even when you have made preparations to face them. I am guessing you and the other guards were dressed for the summer like conditions these southerners call fall and winter."
"Your honor is intact Yuln and I know if you were in a condition to do so you would lead us at the head of the rescue party, but now I need you to give me an accurate guess at their numbers, tactics and direction of travel. Did they seem to focus on capturing the lady or was she just an opportunity to take someone hostage?"
Thank you good elf fer yer kind words. I indeed would be on this quest ta get the lady back if not fer me condition.. He pauses for a few moments to gather his thoughts, then continues. There numbers be unknown ta me, they could have hundreds in the Border Wood. There were at least six that attacked us with those cowardly bandits! That much I can be sure of.
Ta fight them you need cold iron weapons and burning flame. Both burn them, and both are weapons they fear. Are ye sure yer from the north? If ye are then this you should know! You prolly don't even own a cold iron weapon do ye? Well if I can be with yas ta save Lady Argentea, the least I can do is send ye off with a fightin chance.. He points to his equipment in a corner at the foot of his bed. Take that there blade with ye. It will serve ye good, but I want it back if ye live ta do so.
As far as direction, they headed south into the wood. There must be tracks ta follow. Them bandits can fly ya know!
They took her alive so they must have a plan fer her, just not sure of whit it could be. Please, do what yas can and rescue the good lady. If the white witches of the north are involved, no good can come from them takin her with them. with all that said he relaxes into his bed. Good luck to yas, brothers of the north
"Bandits working with ice imps!? That does not bode well, these southerners don't know with what kind of evil the consort. Do you know the location of their camp?. . . Thank you for the equipment. We will make use of it and see that it is returned to you, should we make it back. Heh, when we make it back that is, and I will see if the good council woman can provide us with any cold iron arrows as well. Rest well and heal well, we will need more stout hearts on outside if the Queen of Witches has chosen to expand her realm down to the south."
Having eavesdropped on the conversation Vitali decides it wise to see what he can gather about Lady Argentea and any sightings of ice Fae in the village. While it's still a bit early he makes his way to the Inn and decides now is as good a time as any to buy the locals a few drinks to get them talking.
Rumors heard while asking around and enjoying beverages.
-Everyone says the weather is unseasonably cold for midsummer—it even snowed in the Border Wood! Most suspect magic is involved, and some fear Qadiran agents played a role in it.
-Old Man Dansby claims that someone keeps stealing from his fields. His farm lies closest to the Border Wood, where half his crops have died from an icy frost and the rest have been carried off.
-A farmer’s son took ill a few days ago after falling through the ice over Wishbone Creek. The boy said he spotted a white stag in the forest—and heard it talking—then tried to follow it.
Vitali returns to the group after a few too many rounds and relays the rumors he'd heard.
To me, or maybe today better for you a good course of... course of action should be speaking to this farmer's son and then to explore the bo... hick border wood... tomorow once I've slept a bit and found myself a cold iron sword... hick
Hearing the company would likely need specialized gear if they chose to pursue this...
distraction,
Grey nodded amiably to Kilain, noted as Vitali made his way to the closest ale house & collected Soggy as he looked about for a Smithy &/or Apothecary shop.
Isker's Smithy turns up 10 cold iron sling bullets (60gp 2sp)and a suit of MW banded mail.
Willowbark Apothecary has a potion of resist cold (300gp)
General Store has a ring of force shield (8500gp)and an arrow magnet (600gp)
Doubt this small a town has had much dealin's with northern fey, and so it's not likely we be findin much in the way of Weapons forged with iron mined from the mountains belly. Cold Iron be rare even in the Five Kings Mountains.
said Kilain as he sobered up and thought of what was to come. It be easier to find things from fire hereabouts.
That's what it means sir!
"Well it looks like we are left with few options. We have a cold iron sword on loan, we can get 10 cold iron bullets, so unless we all want to load a sling bullet in a sock we are going to have to resort to torches and flaming arrows. Luckily the bandits should be normal flesh and blood."
I'll be takin' that sword, if there are no objections?
Grey looks from Kjell to the sword to himself, his gaze lingering over the length of the sword as he then looks from his shoes up his not-at-all-considerable height. Grey then turns his gaze back to Kjell, his eyebrow raised sardonically.
I believe a cold iron weapon deals normal damage it just bypasses the resistance of the creature attacked. so it's a 1d8 damage.
Ok, so...Long Sword.
Kilain chuckled at the thought of Grey trying to use that sword and he stood and stretched. so we purchase as many torches as we can find, and see about some of them Tindertwigs I think they be called.
He grabs up his shield and hammer and heads for the door.
Perhaps we can get some of them firebombs too
I'll be takin' that sword, if there are no objections?
Sorry I was cutting and pasting from the PDF and adding a bit of my own text as well. Didn't realize the type of weapon wasn't mentioned.
"No complaints from me. I think we all would prefer the comfort of having the the blade in our own hand, but you do appear to be the quintessential Ulfen warrior. sigh . . . I hope this doesn't become a disastrous rescue attempt, but I guess the sooner we start the better. Good dwarf I would remind you however that our human allies cannot see well in the dark, in fact none of us can see as well as you can."
I have no use for such a large blade Vitali replies to Kjell.
You gather 17 tinder twigs (17gp) and 14 torches (14sp)
"Lamp oil & strong spirits might also serve, we can find no more...
volatile, agents." Grey interjects as the companions discuss the gear which might be useful. "If sight in darkness is needful, I have a trick or two...
Well, I have trick that can assist."
"I'd prefer not to reveal it within the town however..."
Lamp oil is available at the General Store (10) 1 sp each
Alchemist Fire is available as well (12) 20gp each
Kilain disperses the torches and tindertwigs to who might need them.
"It might be well to lace our waterskins with spirit to be certain they don't freeze as well..."
"Kilain, I understand there is a minor magic that allows one to generate enough of a spark to light a fire. Would your deity be averse to granting you such a boon?"
Aye The Greybeard can grant me the prayer. Itd hinder me ability to read magics if I do ask for it though. If ye think it wiser Ill pray for it on the morrow.
Jarrek looks around sympathetically. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I have a schedule to keep. With the many stops I have to make before arriving in Oppara, I need two well trained guards to get me there. I know you need to get this stone there as well, but I just can't wait for you to figure out what's going on here.
Kylma looks around at the group. May I make a suggestion Jarrek?
Jarrek responds, What's on your mind Kylma?
Since we need to get to Oppara soon, and there is important work to be done here, why don't I go in place of Hedrick. I can handle the dangers of the road as well as he.
Dorvren pipes in, And I can go in place of Vitali. I feel the need to see this stone to Oppara as well.
Jarrek responds, I have no issues with this proposal if Hedrick and Vitali do not mind.
"Well I had hoped we would have you two with us for the rescue to be honest. . . . Jarrek, you have been a most generous employer, more of a friend really, and I have enjoyed sharing the road with you. I of course plan to link back up with you, but anything involving the White Witches, well they tend to get complicated. I hope you can understand, but I feel honor bound to see this one out. It is a personal one."
"Also don't forget snowshoes everyone."
Vitali had never wanted to be a Caravan guard. He wanted to be an adventurer, a famed explorer and uncover grand mysteries such as the one unfolding before them now. He'd just left _Opara afew weeks ago so it could wait a few more if need be.
Truth be told I think I'd make a lousy guard Jarrek! I think you will be better served traveling on without me!
Kilain looks puzzled. There be special shoes for snow?
He ppauses for a second then continues hrrrrrmmmm. Bet they be waterproof. that be it
Grey nods his head in acquiescence to Kylma & Dorven's wishes, stepping forward to embrace both his friends before parting. He also seems confused at the concept of special shoes for snow. "Shall we away then?"