Wounded, Axel steps back while making a wide arc with both his arms. His hands collide and fire a grey bolt at the man in front of Kalhar The man crumples in a heap.
Jezzera very nearly growls as he sees the blood being spilt on both sides he continues to move with Axel behind Kalhar but not before letting another stone loose. This time at the only man left standing. It falls well short of reaching him.
The second man takes a shot at the woman in the low branches. It buries in the branch.
Sarlene rapidly flicks out her left-hand dagger, grips the tip of the blade in her right hand, and launches it at the only living bandit. The speed of her execution is frantic and uncontrolled, a sign of shaken nerves and excitement, but also of the exertion involved in climbing a tree and launching a sixteen-pound projectile.
Her dagger sails wide, burying itself in the snow at the bandit's feet. She curses in Hallit, but doesn't stop moving. With her dagger away, she leaps down to Daegan's side, and she draws a pinch of wool from her cap. Get back, you bastard! she yells as menacingly as possible at the bandits.
Kalhar walks forward and swings a haymaker at the Bandit. It swings wide but he drops his bow.
Axel throws another acid spalsh it misses
Jezzera hurls his last stone it swings wide
The Bandit draws his sword and swings for Kalhar before stepping back. a KLANG as it is braced by the shield.
Sarlene draws and throws her second dagger it sticks.
Kalhar swings once again
Confirm
Kalhar breaks every bone in his face as the gauntlet smashes against him.
Axel collapses in the snow gingerly touching the arrow in his thigh. After a second, he grabs it and yanks it out grunting in pain. He discards the arrow in the snow and falls back onto the snow, still red with blood. "That...that was unexpected. Now what?".
Axel wearily sits up. "Right. I almost forgot." He moves over to the half-orc "Ok..put a bandage on the wound. Some ice to quicken coagulation...' Axel seems to be talking himself through it as if he's never done this before.
Sarlene runs to Daegan.
Heal
Sir how are you?
Kalhar kicks over the body of the one he pulverized, shaking his head. "You guys run around like you're invincible, but by Abadar, these are bandits!" closing his eyes and shaking his head, he looked down at Daegan. "I hope he makes it." he announces, and leans down to the bodies of the two closest bandits, picking over them.
After the first hour - Daegan Con check
Flipping over the first one, he started rifling through pouches and removing weapons and armor. "Is everyone else going to make it alright? I guess we'll have to stop here for Daegan and you two," he said, pointing to Axel and Jezzera."We can camp for a while, and then set out tonight when the moon is high. It may help us be a little less noticeable. Potentially catch the rest of these bandits while the butchers are sleeping."
Axel seems relieved at the suggestion. "That's probably a good idea. I'll get an area so we can rest" Axel begins hobbling around clearing an area. "Sarlene, can you move Daegan over here please. He needs to stay warm to recover quickly"
3x Padded Armor, 3x shortsword, 3x shortbow, 50 arrows, 24gp, 9sp
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Jezzera felt his stomach growl as fiercely as his canine brethren. Before we set up camp and begin taking watch, I suggest we forage for supplies and small game in the immediate area, he calmly spoke. Surely I can't be the only one beginning to feel hunger pangs. Not only that, he said through a wince, but my medecine has run out and I fear soon I will be only a burden.
See, I told you they didn't want to be friends, Coyote wheezed at Dog. Dog said nothing, his face despondent. Here's hoping our golden boy doesn't starve to death out in the woods... Hehehehehe >:)
They are smart to rest. It's only going to get tougher from here, spoke the grim Wolf.
Sarlene moves Daegan to where Axel suggests. She is visibly shaken from the fight, nerves frayed, her usual smile absent. She munches solemnly on the crust of bread left from the day before.
This is as exhausting as my trip across the Inner Sea... constant... she moans.
Kalhar, will you take Daegan's watch? He needs to rest. she asks.
She and Axel move to attend to Daegan's wounds as best as they can.
Heal
Sarlene takes first watch, with Axel so they can keep an eye on their wounded friend. She taps Jezzera on the shoulder, and tells him it is time for his watch. When she finally rests her head, she immediately falls asleep, exhausted from the day's exertions. Stephen nestles in among her furs.
Jezzera's check is enough food and water for a group of 5 in these conditions.
Kalhar needs to use endure Elements again by 6pm or start making fort Saves with a +4 for stationary camp.
The current care is enough for Daegan to gain 2hp while camped.
Nothing accosts you in the night.
Prepare yourselves, prepare your Spells
The watch is uneventful as Axel and Sarlene watch over their injured friend. It's a somber rest. At least for the most part. Nearing dusk, Axel visibly brightens up and mutters to himself " About time..." Before Sarlene can ask movement catches her eye in the woods. A moment later an arctic fox springs from the snow. It's a peculiar sight because this fox has a small bag strapped onto it much like saddlebags. It bounds up to Axel and jumps into his lap. Axel gives the creature a smile "i missed you too buddy " detaches the gear, and scratches the little guys ears as it curls up in his lap.
Daegan, shakey but conscious after an hour, agrees to the other's plan. A strike by night is a wise decision. As it stands, I am no use to you, but at night, fortified with restorative magics... I would help hunt for game, but I would just be a hindrance in this condition... perhaps I could still be of use. There are four more rations in my pack, take some.
Is that a fox? Well I'll be, a fellow animal talker, eh? Sarlene says to her casting compatriot.
Daegan finally stirs. Worry yourself not sir, we'll settle it when we wake.
Sarlene awakens to a puffin pecking her on the head. Damn bird! Fine! Breakfast! She hands Stephen a salted fish from her pocket, and sits up as Stephen gobbles it whole. The two stare at each other, and Sarlene mutters a string of gibberish in Sylvan. She goes back and forth between this muttering and reading from a small book in her pocket.
After an hour or so, she stands, and moves to Daegan, murmuring an incantation in Skald. His wounds, though aided by a night of rest and care under Sarlene and Axel's watchful eyes, are still immense. The same fog creeps forth from Sarlene's hands as they pass over his wounds, and though they freeze grotesquely at first, again the ice melts away to reveal his body reformed and renewed.
Cure, light
Deadeye receives the healing with gratitude. He stretches and massages his sore muscles. My thanks, Sarlene. I feel fit to continue, but another well placed arrow will put me right back down, I think. Perhaps I should hang back a ways in our next confrontation.
He stares at the sky for a moment, looking for a hint of moon behind the clouds. We should head out soon, while we still have a chance of striking under the cover of darkness. We don't know yet how much further ahead their camp might be.
Kalhar finishes preparing his extracts for the day, drinking one immediately to cover up the whipping cold . Packing up his equipment, he adjusts his straps meticulously and looks up the path. "What my parents would think of me now, to know I had even made it this far. I know you folks might be experienced at this sort of thing, but this is a first for me. Let's not make it the last risk I take, if you know what I mean"
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Jezzera looked hard at his friend's wounds. Broken bones, bruises deep in his flesh. He knew time was not on their side. Crouching beside Deadeye, he dug into his medecine bag. My people have a saying - he said, rooting through his magical finery. "What time alone will not do, a bit of Coyote Medecine will."
Saying this, he produced from the satchel a handful of bark and tiny pouch of thick sap. Gingerly, he applied the sap to the bark, and the bark to Daegan's skin, covering his wounds. Keep still a moment.
His eyes closed, Jezzera pressed his hands into the bark. Daegan felt his flesh grow warm and the pain begin to subside.
Wondrously, the sap began to spread across the hunter's body, filling in the holes and gaps, sealing up the lacerations and knitting the fractures. Jezzera's eyes shone with a mysterious satisfaction.
You will be well. A strong pack needs a strong hunter.
Okay I'll admit that was kind of impressive, Coyote scoffed.
You pack up in the morning, eating the last of the starving local wildlife that Jezzera managed to catch last evening. You climb back up to the trail from the campsite with a more direct route than you took to find the spot. The sun is just rising in the east, sitting in Casmaron before finally making it over Taldor's Southern Range where it quickly stretches to Zimar and then finally Heldren. The snow continues to refract the light, showing off all its colors.
The trail takes you another two miles into the Border Wood. Again, you manage no better than 2 miles at the grueling pace. After climbing at least a hundred feet into the hills, the snowy trail finally levels off. In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine to the southwest spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge’s two snow-covered chimneys, and large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall. A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest toward a detached stable.
Axel looks on with a bit of envy in his eyes as the shaman heals Daegan. "You wouldn't happen to have another one of those in you would you? he says still leaning heavily on his makeshift staff. "If you don't, I will make do and be extra careful."
"It's probably a High Sentinel Lodge, probably. They used to be high-to-do lookouts against Qadiran insurgents back in the day - it is called the 'Border Wood' for a reason - but mostly they deal with local issues like bandits now. All of the veterans eventually moved on or retired, so it's largely been staffed by nearby village militiamen. Including Heldrenfolk. Could be the old man was a member, or knew of them."
He squinted ahead in the darkness, his free hand holding an unlit torch.
"Do we check out the Lodge, or the stable first?"
Lodge, I should think, eh?
Daegan pondered for a moment, scratching at his chin. Hmm... I'd say we check the stable first. Could give us an idea of what awaits us in the lodge itself. I can go scout it out... the darkness poses no hindrance to my vision, and I stand a good chance or remaining undetected should it be occupied. He adjusts the straps on his pack and peers ahead into the night, already scanning for signs of movement.
Jezzera, perhaps you have some magic that could assist in my scouting?
Daegan creeps over towards the stable, night masking him but not hindering him. A paragon of stealth he reaches the door without raising alarm. Twin doors open into this low stable, where five stalls hold three horses and a mix of loose straw. A rack of riding gear hangs on the east wall, and a cast-iron tub sits empty in the corner.
The riding tack on the eastern wall includes enough gear to equip each horse with a bit and bridle, riding saddle, and saddle bags.
Back with the group, Sarlene thinks out loud. Are we assuming that the militiamen, like that poor frozen fellow, are deceased? Or are we assuming they're hostile? Do we need to sneak into the lodge, as well?
"If our journey so far has been any indication, we must advance with the utmost caution. To be safe, we must assume the worst. We must assume the lodge has been taken over by unfriendly types. Perhaps bandits or maybe those fey creatures. Either way, once we figure out what is here, we can oust them so we finally have a nice place to sleep."
Daegan first checks the horses, being mindful not to wake them lest they make any noise. He then gives the riding gear a quick inspection, looking for any identifying badges or insignias. Satisfied, he exits the stable and creeps around the lodge, giving it a healthy berth. He stops every several feet, peering into windows and sniffing the air, doglike, for familiar scents.
Daegan notices a familiar sign, the riding gear is decked out like the dead horses back at the massacre site. Leaving, he creeps around peering into windows. The western windows are close to the chimney and reveal a large female half-orc tending the fireplace. As his circle brings him back close to the trailhead he sees through a couple of windows figures sleeping in beds. The north east room has a bed but is empty.
Perception
Axel
Jezzera
Kalhar
Sarlene
As he closes back in on the trailhead before circling the rest of the building he is directly approaching a tripwire. Jezzera is the only person to spot it/barely.
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Deadeye stop! Jezzera barked, making sure not to let his voice carry into the cabin or spook the horses. There is a trap at your feet. Look down, he indicated, you will see the wire. It is well hidden but thankfully we can avoid this one.
Walking to the trap, he drew a line in the snow demarcating the tripwire. There. We should keep our eyes sharp, it is not unreasonable to expect that there are more nearby. Proceed carefully, Kemosabe.
He stood, and wiped the snow from his hands on his coat. Did you see anything of note inside the cabin? Viable entry points, defenses, the like?
Axel eyes the write warily "let's just avoid this one. I'd like to avoid any more mishaps. Especially if we have company inside"
Good eye, Jezzera. 'No more logs.' Company motto now, I should think, eh? jokes Sarlene, quietly.
What did you see, Daegan?
Daegan pauses, slightly taken aback. By gods, that elf-man has good eyes... best pay more attention in the future, you could have alerted them all.. he thinks to himself before responding.
Aye, a few things of note. Judging by the riding gear in the stable, we're dealing with the same group of bandits from earlier. There are a few inside, all sleeping save one, a Half-Orc woman. He turns to Kalhar. How shall we proceed?
"They're all in the main building?" he asked, pondering quietly. "We could just set it on fire and wait by the door." he offered, but then quickly spoke again. "Although if she's in the building - the noblewoman - that could go bad quickly. I am quite healthy - I could knock on the door and grab the first one to come to answer it and we could brawl from there."
Axel stays silent but draws his dagger and unclips a small pouch on his belt. His face is poorly concealed apprehension.
Daegan nods gravely. I think that would be our best course of action. We should do this as quickly and quietly as possible, though, waking the others is certainly not in our best interest.
Axel's eyes brighten as a light bulb all but appears above his head. "Actually, I may have a spell for just this particular occasion. I have recently learned a spell that can magically induce slumber on relatively weak creatures. The half-orc is the only one awake you say? If we can put her to sleep we can win the fight before it even starts. What do you think?"
Slipping up to the door at a normal trudging pace, Kalhar downs one of his elixers and his body begins to morph, once again taking on it's alternate wiry and bulging form. Placing the vial back in its pouch, he put his hand up to the door as if to knock, but paused for a second. His head twitched uncomfortably as the medicine clearly revealed some side effects, and for a moment he closed his eyes, motionless as he controlled the spasms. When the opened again, they had changed color to a cold, piercing blue, and it was clear something about him had changed, moreso than the last time. He knocked on the door softly, shifting his shield up to the ready.
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Jezzera trotted swiftly and silently to the side of the barn, 15-20 feet from the door at which Kalhar knocked. Readying himslef, he took a stone in his hand and set it in its pocket, whipping the sling into a spin with a flick of his wrist. Silently, he waited for a target to approach the doorway.
If ever there was a time for you to favor my stones, brother Wolf, he thought, let it be now.
Oh wow, snorted Coyote. Talk about poor word choice.
Quite, nodded Fox.