Kalhar stepped out of the building, sizing it up, his breath still a tad bit short. "...It certainly would put up a plume of smoke, though. Nobody wouldn't know something had happened. Probably best to not burn it while we're still trying to take these trolls by surprise."
The trail continues through a narrow pass, descending south and east into an icy valley. An unusual pattern of lines is scratched into the fresh snow covering the trail at the edge of the clearing.
There is something too strange about all this. Alright, no fire, that's sensible, eh? what aboot the doll?
Sarlene doesn't pay them much mind, but Stephen takes to playfully waddling along the lines as best as he can.
"Feyfolk oft make little sense," he announced, and pointed his spear to the doll. "I still say we should smash it. Nothing good can come of this. Does anyone oppose this?"
Upon closer inspection, the pattern of lines in the snow is revealed to be a warning in Common that reads, “Turn back before the winter devours you"
Kalhar frowns, and looks ahead to the path, trying his best to ignore the words at his flanks.
Gesturing towards the doll "I must admit I'm curious about this little thing. However, if it were to be counterproductive to our survival, I have no problem destroying it." Axel walks for a couple moments more appearing to be deep in thought. "What if it can be used though? Perhaps a bartering chip or an intimidation tactic against the troll or the fey." He nods decisively "I think we should keep it. If anybody is uneasy about carrying it, I'll be the one to risk my own safety instead of yours. Fair?"
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Jezzera chuckled at the cryptic words etched in the snow. "This warning comes a bit late, do you not think? Perhaps if we had seen it a few days prior we would be in a better position to heed its words." He strode on, the snow crunching beneath his boots. "Until now I had not thought about how unlikely our situation is. Up til but three days ago none of us had any knowledge of each other. Now we find ourselves risking life and limb to protect our ranks."
He scanned the horizon of the icy valley with a keen eye. "I must say these past few days have been the most interesting I have experienced of late. When I left my home to take my spirit quest I did not expect this sort of adventure." His eyes grew mellow as his thoughts drifted to home, and Clan Frost. "Where do you suppose you would be now, if our paths had not crossed?" He mused aloud to his companions.
"Warmer." he announced first, trudging along through the thick snow. "Dryer," he added, thoughts drifting to his cold socks and the fuzzy feeling that his draught had given him to dull the discomfort.
"Bored, probably."
"Besides" Axel chimes in "the cold is quite bracing. Reminds me of home. It's been far too long since I've been in this kind of weather." A grin creeps across his face despite the foreboding message in the snow. "I'm thinking, after this is all over, when we are done with this troll and mystery, I will go back home.' Axel stares at the snow but is obviously far from here in his mind. A little fox head peeks out from inside Axels coat. "What do you think Rod? I bet you miss mum's owlbear stew don't ya?" Axel smiles and scratches the little guys ears. Rod makes a happy noise and dives back into the warmth.
"Well, unlike the rest of you, I call Taldor home, and it has a tendency to be a little warmer here." he said, keeping his eyes peeled forward for signs of trouble. "Truth be told, it seems that the north seems to foster excitement and personality more than the dreary folk Taldor inspires. Maybe I'll make a pilgrimage up there one day to see what the fuss is all about."
Daegan shrugs. I, too, am used to this kind of weather... truth be told, the cold has never bothered me much. I feel quite at home in it, actually. He walks on in silence for a moment before continuing. Had I not met you lot, I imagine I would be heading back north to check on some of my traps... gathering furs and meat for sale... carrying on my father's trade, as I have done since... He trails off, ending his speech with another shrug.
Perception
Axel
Deadeye
Jezzera
Kalhar
Sarlene
As the group converses and moves on down the trail, the pattern of lines in the snow start to briefly glow, before exploding outward, showering the area in snow and ice.
Reflex
Axel
Deadeye
Jezzera
Kalhar
Sarlene
Well, without you sirs, I'd be bored as hell, gettin pissed somewhere, eh? Better I met you all.
Unlike the others, Kalhar didn't even understand what was going on when the explosion overtook them, suddenly buffeted by the chunks of ice in a flurry of cold and bashing ice. As the scene settles, he could feel a tightness in his chest, and the curious sensation of his warmth "leaking" from his body. Slipping his fingers down to his armor, his hand wrapped around a shard embedded in him, and as the ringing in his ears settled and sensation fully returned to him he came to the horrifying realization that a spike of ice had ripped clean through him, currently extending out through his back about two inches below his heart.
His right leg gave out and his knee slammed into the ground and he gave out a soft cry, and he subsequently fell to his side, gritting his teeth and squeezing his eyes in pain.
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Jezzera barely had time to call out to Kalhar before the ice and snow buffeted his body. He stumbled back, assaulted by waves of pain and dizzyness as blood mixed with snow and scraps of leather from his coat. He fell to the cold earth, his eyes open and his mouth agape, soundless, in awe of the pain, the shock, the lack of foresight.
He struggled to force a hand into his medecine bag, withdrawing a pinch of salt and the shell of a chestnut. With this he crawled over to where Sarlene fell, as she looked most worse for wear. With much effort he pulled his body along the snow and pressed the medecine into her neck, groaning, "Spirits of the wild, heal this one's ailing body."
"This is all the healing medecine I have," he grunted through gritted teeth, thin rivulets of blood trailing from the corners of his lips. "Sarlene, you must help our friends. Daegan I am less worried about, but Axel and Kalhar's wounds are critical."
Uunngg... Daegan groans as he lifts himself unsteadily out of a snow bank. Blood runs down the side of his face, running down to stain the front of his armor. Another cursed trap... our foes seem detirmined to dispatch us before we ever reach them.
He rises shakily and assesses the damage. His eyes widen at the sight of Kalhar's injuries. Dear gods... The Half-Orc rushes to the alchemist's side and drops to his knees, examining the man's wounds with concern.
The explosion of ice and snow sent Axel hurtling through the air. His projectile motion was cut short by a large tree on the opposite side of trail with a sickening crunch. He lay in the snow for a moment, making sure he wasn't, in fact, dead. The searing pain across his midsection solved that question. Axel sat up, his head barely visible to the others over the snow drifts, and called out "What in the hells was that? Everybody still alive?"
Axel shakily climbs to his feet and trudges back toward the path and his comrades. He pulls out a small vial with a light red liquid in it. He speaks a long incantation as the liquid boils momentarily then becomes clear. Axel pops off the top and downs the mixture in a single gulp with a grimace. "Ugh...that tasted horrible." He wipes his mouth and looks down at his bruised body. After a second, the dark color recedes leaving only the Axels pale skin seemingly unharmed. "Looks like it was worth it though." He says with a small grin.
Sarlene arises, stunned but well thanks to Jezzera. Gods, I should have seen that. Stupid, stupid f$$*ing girl... Sarlene curses to herself as she turns to Kalhar, Daegan, and Jezzera in turn.
Sarlene's hands move furiously over each of her fallen friends, and with an enchantment the same chill freezes their wounds and repairs them.
As she finishes over Jezzera, she shoots him a small smile. You failed to mention the state of your own wounds, eh? Brave, but do not think I will leave you to bleed. Blood so ruins the beauty of the fresh snow.
Rolling onto his back, his breathing steadied, and Sarlene's magic forced the ice out. The would sealed slowly, and he opened his eyes, his hands fumbling around his pouches. Shakily, he produced a small vial of blue liquid, and downed it in one gulp, his hand falling to his side again as the scar bubbled, bursting for a moment only to seal over almost immediately and shrink even smaller.
I cannot thank you enough, Sarlene. You have kept us on our feet many times, now, when we might have otherwise faltered. Seeing Kalhar's wounds stitching themselves together, Daegan rises and offers the alchemist his hand. Perhaps I should scout ahead a ways, keep an eye out for any further surprises.
Sarlene turns to Daegan, Aye, a more tactical approach would be delightful. Lead on, sir.
She moves slowly to Kalhar's side, and sits in the snow beside him, a supporting hand on his scarred wound. Come on, you tough old Reefclaw. We'll see worse than this before this is through, eh? I know you're not one for joking, but we need something to keep our spirits up and keep us moving forward.
Axel surveys the condition of his friends. "Are you well enough to travel? If not, we should find a place to rest soon but if so, we should press on. It seems they are expecting us and we should give them as little time to prepare as possible."
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"Friend, I have seen worse days. I recall not too long ago when I suffered at the jaws of a wurm the size of a man," Jezzera laughed. "With the four of you at my side I feel strangely bolstered. Perhaps this is the strength my elders spoke of," he spoke, his breath running short, gasping pants following his clipped words. "I am unafraid to press on, and will keep a diligent eye. Between Daegan and myself I believe we can steel ourselves against whatever hardships are yet to come, especially now that we have been reassured how dangerous the path we face is."
He picked himself up and dusted off his coat, now sporting several lovely holes and spots of damage. "Besides, we dare not tarry any further in our mission. Unless you feel unwell, we ought to continue."
Aye, onwards.
A cold wind blows through the valley, bringing a spray of sleet and broken ice. The sky ahead roils with thick, gray clouds and the sun is only a dim glow somewhere in the mist.
Deadeye halts in his tracks and throws up a cautionary hand, motioning for the others to stop and stay alert. He crouches and sniffs the air, silently drawing one of the animal bane arrow, his eyes following a fresh set of weasel prints.
The grizzled trapper's eyes settle on the treeline behind the group and he quickly motions for his companions to get behind him. He nocks the arrow and readies his bow, prepared to fire as soon as the party is clear. Come forward, beast, and we shall see who is the hunter and who is the hunted.
As soon as the path clears the arrow from Daegan's bow parts the opening, burying far into a large white weasel that was stalking in the distance. It screeches loudly and starts charging towards Daegan.
Initiative
I am Weasel!
Axel
Daegan
Jezzera
Kalhar
Sarlene
"I don't..." Axel begins to say but the snap of the bow string cuts him off.
...but the electricity discharges too soon and shocks Axel with a loud snap. Axel curses under his breath
Shit.
Shit shit shit shit shit shit just give sharks legs and let them walk around great idea gods good... Sarlene continues mumbling obscenities in a variety of languages and abundant with nautical references as she flicks the first dagger from its sheath on her wrist. She hurls the dagger overhand, and at its release triggers the second dagger to spring to her hand to her hand.
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Jezzera watched as the creature exploded from the snowy banks, his lupine eyes focused on its sinewy hide. Crushing the canine fangs between his palms, he shouted, "Let the blessing of my brothers be with us now!" A blue haze enveloped him and his cohorts, attaching itself to their weapons and their armor.
"Now, beast, behold our ranks and tremble!" came Jezzera's voice in a gutteral yawp, as he spun his sling into a frenzied whirl, snapping a stone bullet in the creature's direction
The Giant Weasel charges Daegan wildly through the snow, screeching a wounded fury. it leaps and latches onto Daegan, a spray of blood covering them both. The snowy ground carries a bloody shadow of the two.
Jezzera watched as the creature exploded from the snowy banks, his lupine eyes focused on its sinewy hide. Crushing the canine fangs between his palms, he shouted, "Let the blessing of my brothers be with us now!" A blue haze enveloped him and his cohorts, attaching itself to their weapons and their armor.
"Now, beast, behold our ranks and tremble!" came Jezzera's voice in a gutteral yawp, as he spun his sling into a frenzied whirl, snapping a stone bullet in the creature's direction that glances off the beast’s shoulder blade and careening off in another direction.
Keeping his distance from the beast, Axel begins to cast. He speaks a few short syllables before his hands begin to bristle with electrical energy. He quickly draws forth a small metal coin and flicks it at the albino creature... but the electricity discharges too soon and shocks Axel with a loud snap. Axel curses under his breath
Kalhar struggles through the snow and tries to stab the beast with a spear. Slicing through its ribs and causing the beast to screech more.
With the beast firmly clenched, Daegan draws his longsword and strikes back trying to fell the beast. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 19 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10, the beast screeches one final time as the sword pierces the heart. The lengthy last sounds of the beast grow quieter before falling into a pitiful nothing.
Sarlene may change her action.
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Jezzera stood silent and still for a moment after the Weasel's death throes ceased. He was calm - no sweat had begun to bead on his forehead, his breath had not yet begun to run short. He was stupefied by the ease with which his friends had dispatched their foe. "Well, then," he spoke at last. "It seems our friend did not expect us to meet him so fiercely. I would not have called upon the will of my spirit guides had I known our quarry would be so easily felled."
He went to the corpse and crouched near it, examining the flesh. "There is likely enough meat on this creature to make a decent meal. Shall we prepare a fire?"
Sniffing the air, he added "Do not let your guard down, however. There are still more unfriendly things in these woods, I am sure. Deadeye, will your wounds require attention?"
Daegan grimaces and wrenches his sword free of the mountain of snowy flesh, clutching his side where he was bitten. He slowly stows his weapons and examines the wound.
Aye, a fire sounds nice... I seem to still be losing blood, perhaps a moment to rest and bandage my wound are in order... His eyes wander from his injury to the corpse of the giant weasel. Gods, what a beauty. Some time to harvest the creature's hide would be quite welcome. I think I'd like to keep it for myself. He approaches the felled beast and smiles broadly, seemingly unconcerned with the blood leaking from his side.
This was a good hunt.
Sarlene stands, dagger drawn, dumbfounded by the cessation of conflict. She sheathes her blade. Damn. That was easy, eh? She sets about checking Daegan's wounds.
I can't give ya any majicks, sir. I hope this can help.
It weren't no whale, but yes, a good hunt, eh?
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"This may have been an easy fight but we should not allow our victory to cloud our judgment," the wise and dour shaman said. "Many a hunter has perished from his hubris after a great kill such as this." He made an effort to smile through his downturned countenance - "Which is not to say that we cannot celebrate a small victory."
He began to clear snow from the trail with his boots in sweeping motions, looking for sticks and branches with which to build a fire.
Returning from his search with an armful of tinder, he began to set stones around a patch of dry earth, making a medium-sized fire pit for roasting fresh Ermine. I have never partaken of Weasel before, but if they are anything like the wild cats my tribe used to hunt for sport, this meal will be quite filling." He rummaged through his pockets for flint to light the fire for several moments, almost comically. "Er, it seems that I have forgotten a critical element. Perhaps one of you has a fire-starting boon to offer?" he pondered, quizzically gesturing to his comrades.
"I certainly do." Axel looks through his pack for a moment then tosses the flint and steel to Jezzera. "I'm not sure how easy it will be to get a fire going with wet wood, but I'm sure you can handle it. I'm afraid I haven't prepared any spells today to aid in your endeavor" He smiles apologetically then sets about clearing an area for a bedroll. Rod jumps out of the pack and helps his master get set up. The fox seems almost as adept at working strings and clasps as his two legged companions. Within ten minutes, Axel has his gear set up and is sitting cross-legged on his bedroll, sketching in his journal.
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For a moment, Jezzera was taken aback by Axel's furry companion. He seemed stupefied by the presence of the small fox, but quickly shook it off and returned to the work of starting a campfire.
He struck the flint several times and eventually managed to encourage a small ember within the tinder. "It is as my tribe's old saying goes: 'where there is a will, there is a way!'"
"REALLY! The nerve! To mistake that... base creature for a noble-born Vulpes vulpes such as myself..." Fox glowered from afar. "It's enough to make a canine foam at the muzzle, if you'll pardon my frankness."
"Don't get your panties too much in a wad, Foxy," Coyote snickered, "You'll miss out on the show." He watched Jezzera from the banks as he tended the tiny fire. "How long do you suppose it'll take this rube to get a good flame going? Sheesh."
Sarlene sits back a bit, snapping her fingers while she scoops out snow to make a spot to sleep. In a sarcastic tone, she calls to Axel and Jezzera. If you need a hand, let me know, eh? With each snap, a small spark emanates from between her fingertips.
She is smiling.