Kalhar sat on a log near the edge of the fire, shucking off the last bits of his armor. As the others joked, he found himself staring off back the way they came, and their voices faded to a dull buzz and he lost himself in thought.
You have fled for far lesser reasons than this; what keeps you on this fool's errand to stop a monster?
His eyes darted back to his companions, but then away again.
I worry for them, without me. I feel like they need me.
His eyes tilted downwards, and he idly picked at this fingernails as his thoughts hung in his head for a moment.
And maybe I need them.
Sarlene moves to the campfire. I'm not doubting your abilities... she says calmly, as she ignites a tuft of wool from her scruffy cap and gives flame to the fire, ...merely offering my services to this end. Worry not, sir. You are a capable and steadfast warrior, courageous and bold, and I can start a fire with a snap of my fingers. We each have our own talents, eh?
Sarlene's eyes drift toward Kalhar at the edge of their camp. Ol' Reefclaw looks a bit somber, eh? Maybe he's mad Daegan here did all the bleeding for once. Her tone is entirely sarcastic, a smile still on her face, until she moves over to Daegan.
Her humor faded, and in a concerned tone she spoke to Daegan, Tomorrow I'll make quick work of those nasty wounds. That the bleeding has stopped is enough for now.
Sarlene offers to take the second watch as she and Jezzera share some roast stoat. When Kalhar joins their company, she asks him to take the final watch and wake them in the morning. Daegan and Axel should be allowed to rest the night.
Axel
Deadeye
Jezzera
Kalhar
Sarlene
The night proceeds, the snow continuing to fall.
While on watch, something strikes you as odd. Axel's pack is open where it wasn't earlier. Odd. A tiny floating doll sneakily moves through the trees around the camp, you only notice it just as it starts an incantation. The snow kept you from seeing better.
Will Save
Daegan smiles at Sarlene's words. Ah, I believe we've all done our share of bleeding everywhere. You've proven quite adept at patching us up, though, for which you will always have my gratitude.
At this the trapper begins preparing the ermine, taking it slowly, in part due to his injury. He works with the beast's body with something akin to reverence, examining it's musculature intently as he separates it from hide. His motions are clean and practiced. Once he has the creature's pelt, he proceeds to carve away some meat for dinner.
The doll floats at the edge of the clearing, visibly begging Kalhar to come look at something interesting.
Kalhar shakes Sarlene awake. "Watch the camp for a second, I'm going to see what she's on about." he said, the pronoun said with the ease of an old friend or family member. His curiosity piqued, he stood as soon as the girl stirred and snatched up just his shield, walking off without a second thought.
The doll points at a place in the woods and nods Kalhar on, looks like some interesting ingredients.
The doll floats idly away from Kalhar before stopping midway between the camp and the edge of the clearing. She raises her hands causing the ground to snap freeze between Sarlene and Axel.
Sarlene and Axel take 7 points of damage but are not staggered, the ground continues to be supernaturally cold
Initiative
Axel
Deadeye
Jezzera
Kalhar
Sarlene
Doll
Axel shivers in his sleep for a second before the cold finally snaps and he wakes with a start. He yelps in surprise as he finds himself covered in frost. He frantically searches around for a source of the cold. His eyes fall upon the floating doll "I should have known!"
Sarlene stirs slowly, then frightfully quick. KALHAR!!!!!
She looks to Axel, wary that he suffered the same as she had, with a look of earnest concern.
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Jezzera barely had time to react to the commotion - suddenly, his hand was in his pouch and he felt himself speaking a familiar incantation as he scattered teeth and nails of wild dogs around his friends - "Brother Coyote's blessing in this battle!"
A green haze escapes the keratin and bone, shrouding Jezzera and his teammates. "What sort of trick is this? I have heard of medicine that can compel lifeless objects to animation but never seen it before!" He barked as he withdrew his sling, preparing a bullet to launch at the floating poppet.
What is this foul sorcery!?
The doll continues facing in Axel's direction, casting again.
Axel shakes off the assault on his Senses.
Jezzera barely had time to react to the commotion - suddenly, his hand was in his pouch and he felt himself speaking a familiar incantation as he scattered teeth and nails of wild dogs around his friends - "Brother Coyote's blessing in this battle!"
A green haze escapes he keratin and bone, shrouding Jezzera and his teammates. "What sort of trick is this? I have heard of medicine that can compel lifeless objects to animation but never seen it before!" He barked as he withdrew his sling, preparing a bullet to launch at the floating poppet.
Daegan's eyes open wide at the sound of Sarlene's screams. What on earth... He sits up and he spots the floating doll, his eyes going wider. With a growl, he grabs a dagger from underneath his pillow and leaps to his feet, hurling it at the fetish. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 His eyes still gummy with sleep, the dagger goes wide, thudding softly in the snow some distance away. Standing bare chested but for the bandage on his side, the Half-Orc casts about for his bow and quiver.
What is this foul sorcery!?
D-d-damn that's ffff%%@ing c-c-cold. Sarlene can barely get the words out as her teeth chatter and she shivers violently. She scrambles away from the cold, pressing her hands to her cheeks. Her complexion returns quickly as she mumbles to herself.
Healing hex 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
She looks to Axel, wary that he suffered the same as she had, with a look of earnest concern.
"What? What's going on?"
Kalhar looks up from the plants, his ears perking at Sarlene's scream, and runs to the edge of the forest. "What? What's going on?" he asked, seemingly bewildered.
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"This feels foolish but I see no other option!" Jezzera barked, snapping his sling into a whirl. His eyes locked on the tiny doll hovering in the air. With one arm out for balance he kicked his foot back and flung his sling-arm forward, whipping his elbow straight over his shoulder - aiming directly for the floating thing's soft body. "Guide my stone, brother Fox..." Jezzera silently prayed as the bullet careened through the air.
The bullet buried itself in the doll's cotton flesh, leaving a hole the size of a copper piece. Jezzera smirked and began the process of loading another bullet into his trusty sling.
But the snow and the cold stinging his eyes betrayed him - his bullet ricocheted off of a tree far behind the doll, and he glared at it with dispapointment as he sprinkled red dust from his pouch on his sling hand
Axel scrambles to his feet, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. He begins reciting the arcane words he knows so well. The words come slowly at first as the air in front of him begins to shimmer. After a moment a small globe of translucent blue arcane energy fades into existence in front of him. Rod leaps out of Axel's jacket and bats the sphere with his tail which sends it in a direct path towards the doll, striking it in the center of mass. The doll hits the ground but floats back up and stares down the party with eerie silence.
Axel curses again, now cradling his left arm. "F@#$! doll. I rescue you from being destroyed and you try to kill me." he mutters none too quietly.
Axel, Sarlene, are you all right? Where's Kalhar?
The doll shows no emotion but charges towards Axel suddenly producing a tiny dagger to fit it's tiny stature.
The dagger slides amongst the wizard's clothing before finding purchase in his thigh muscle. It chills right to the bone.
Axel Fort Save
The cold sends him into shock and he stands rooted and expressionless.
"This feels foolish but I see no other option!" Jezzera barked, snapping his sling into a whirl. His eyes locked on the tiny doll hovering in the air. With one arm out for balance he kicked his foot back and flung his sling-arm forward, whipping his elbow straight over his shoulder - aiming directly for the floating thing's soft body. "Guide my stone, brother Fox..." Jezzera silently prayed as the bullet careened through the air.
The bullet buried itself in the doll's wooden flesh, leaving a dent the size of a copper piece. Jezzera smirked and began the process of loading another bullet into his trusty sling.
Daegan sights his bow and crouches on his bedroll to retreive it, whipping it up from the ground and drawing an arrow. Remaining crouched, he knocks the arrow and aligns his gaze with the doll. Nevermind what force has brought you upon us, you shall be felled like any other beast. He draws a breath and pulls back the bowstring, one eye locked on the malicious toy. With his slow exhale comes the swang of the string as the arrow jettisons toward its target. Embedding in the wooden doll with a thunk.
Axel, Sarlene, are you all right? Where's Kalhar?
Sarlene rustles to Axel's side, and places her hands on his arm. Let me at it, then, sir. Axel's leg, frozen and frostbitten, regains it color as Sarlene mumbles.
KALHAR!
"Stop! It's a friendly creature!" he cries, seemingly immune to the ample evidence that it is, in fact, not.
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"The tiny thing will not relent," Jezzera barked as he flicked his wrist, the sling whirling around his clenched fist. "I say we destroy it entirely once it has stopped moving... which will hopefully be shortly!"
He lunged forward and flung his arm in a wide arc over his head, releasing the hardened bullet towards the doll
==>
The stone again perforated the doll's body with a clunk and Jezzera stepped back to load his sling once more.
The stone flew through the air, and a decisive clunk was heard as it embedded itself not in the doll, but in the wooden flesh of the trees behind. Jezzera cursed his luck and began to dust his hands with red powder from his pouch.
Axel stands motionless. "Move!!" he screams in his head "Just move your legs and back away. You can do it. You can do it. You can do it..." over and over he tells himself as panic begins to creep into his mind.
Almost faster than the eye can follow, a blur of red fur burst from Axel's coat as Rod leaps out. He lands on the snow in front of his master and bares his teeth at the doll. A low growl emanates from the tiny creature as if he is attempting to scare the fetish away.
The doll backs away from Axel before a quick turn and lunge at Sarlene.
Confirm
Fort Save
Sarlene gets cut across the midsection which snap freezes holding any blood at bay. The cold threatens to stop her in her tracks but she manages to curse her way through it.
"The tiny thing will not relent," Jezzera barked as he flicked his wrist, the sling whirling around his clenched fist. "I say we destroy it entirely once it has stopped moving... which will hopefully be shortly!"
He lunged forward and flung his arm in a wide arc over his head, releasing the hardened bullet towards the doll but flies high over the tiny mark.
Kalhar! The fetish has confounded your senses! Come, strike it down, for it is the enemy! Daegan draws an arrow from the ground and centers his sights again on the doll. Shifting slightly to avoid Axel, the the trapper looses another volley at the creature. Striking it square in the forehead and adding a second protruding arrow from the wooden body.
Kalhar stands motionless and torn as his friends fight amongst themselves "Wait, hold on! Wait! There must be some sort of misunderstanding here!" he cries out, waving his free hand.
"Stop! It's a friendly creature!" he cries, seemingly immune to the ample evidence that it is, in fact, not.
ill be damned if I survive maelstrom a and pirates to be put down by a doll Sarlene steadies her gaze on Kalhar and chases after him. As she does, she ejects the cold iron dagger from her left wrist and flings it sideways at the doll. The haphazard throw buries in the snow next to the doll.
Axel stands motionless. "Move!!" he screams in his head "Just move your legs and back away. You can do it. You can do it. You can do it..." over and over he tells himself as panic begins to creep into his mind.
Almost faster than the eye can follow, a blur of red fur burst from Axel's coat as Rod leaps out. He lands on the snow in front of his master and bares his teeth at the doll. A low growl emanates from the tiny creature as if he is attempting to scare the fetish away.
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Growling in frustration, Jezzera claps his hands together, scattering red dust from his medicine bag into the air around him. "This has gone on too long already! We must strike it down, now!"
Aiming carefully, he slips another stone into his sling. It spins and spins as he raises it over his head and brings his arm down with a whoosh, sending the bullet careening through the air, aiming for the dead center of the tiny Poppet's wooden chassis.
"Come on Axel. Move!! Axel focuses with all his willpower. The ice coating the wizard begins to crack as he gains the very slightest of movement with his fingertips. "It's a start"
Sarlene ejects her other dagger, stabs her cap, and snaps her fingers against the impromptu torch. A small spark emanates, and the cap burst into flame on her blade.
I'll burn you, you damn doll. she mutters as she turns to face the doll.
The doll flourishes the dagger before leaping up and stabbing at the chest of Sarlen.
Confirm
The dagger connects and ice spreads like veins from the chilled wound. Sarlene grunts and curses in many languages and is able to hold the cold back, but faints from the exhaustion.
Growling in frustration, Jezzera claps his hands together, scattering red dust from his medicine bag into the air around him. "This has gone on too long already! We must strike it down, now!"
Aiming carefully, he slips another stone into his sling. It spins and spins as he raises it over his head and brings his arm down with a whoosh, sending the bullet careening through the air, aiming for the dead center of the tiny Poppet's wooden chassis.
The sling aims true and the rock collides with the doll's body and bouncing up and into the head shattering it and knocking the sapphire and mirror to the ground. The doll collapses and convulses as blue smoke builds around it. After the smoke dissapates, all that is left is a sapphire, the mirror, and the headless body of the doll, somehow more lifeless than before.
Kalhar blinks for a second, his eyes blurring and then unblurring, and realization washes over him. "Damn it! Damn you, you witch!" he yelled, and took three giant steps over to the doll, his armored boot slamming down on the mirror to shatter it once and for all.
"Is she alright?" he added, his head snapping to Sarlene. "I don't... I don't know what came over me. Foul magic."
As the chill consumed her and darkness descended from the edges of her vision, her gaze becomes evermore occupied by the doll - floating, unperturbed, its silver, mirrored eye staring at her. Her last thoughts are of hatred. Fear, certainly, but more than that a lust for vengeance.
Sarlene does not dream often, but when she does it is always of the sea.
She stands on the yardarm of the main topsail, the familiar voice of her captain, Actrem Ahabsson, calls out to her from the deck. Don't be an idiot, child. There's a storm coming. You'll be swept aside like fresh snow from a branch. He continues to admonish her, but his voice trails away. All she can hear is the pounding of the sea. Her gaze settles on the unending horizon. Storm clouds gather. An icy terror grips her heart.
I told you a storm was coming...
She loses her grip on the rigging.
She falls.
F~++ing storms.
Daegan tosses down his bow and rushes to the others, concern plain on his face. He reaches the group and drops to his knees, checking Sarlene's injuries. Damnit, the foul cold magic has gotten her! She will recover, but I know not when. Jezzera, do you have any medicine for our foul-mouthed friend? The Half-Oce remains at the woman's side, doing his best to tend to her wounds.
Flex time any discussions.
The rest of the night proceeds without incident.
The sun starts over the horizon cracking through the snow and trees to give a sliver of hope to the frigid cold of the morning. The trail further into the forest is as imposing as it was at the start; a shadow of travel done and travel to come; threatening to be buried by nature.
Sarlene places her hands on her dagger wounds, and with a familiar murmur her wounds freeze and restore themselves.
Sarlene stands, and curses in a variety of languages as she approaches the remains of the doll. She bends at the waist, and snaps her fingers beside some loose stuffing. A spark shoots from her fingers, and a small fire starts.
Next time, let's burn the doll sooner rather than later.
Sarlene pulls her cloak around her, pulls her goggles over her eyes, and looks out on the trail. Stephen waddles to her side.
She looks over her shoulder at her compatriots.
Let's get this s+&~ going, eh? I'm rather curious as to what demons will attempt to f+&#ing kill us today.
With a final burst of strength and willpower, Axel breaks free of the numbing cold "Holy hells!! What sort of creature was that?!"" Axel shivers violently for a moment before relaxing "I can deal with the cold in the north but that was something completely different. I felt the chill in my very bones, as if my mind was frozen as well as my flesh." He shudders again but not because of the temperature. "I'm agreeing with Jezzera on this one. Caution is our friend and anything new that makes us remotely skittish, we should destroy on the spot."
During Axel's watch, he pulls out several sheets of parchment and begins writing on them. The strokes of his quill-pen are longer and more measured out, as if he is being very careful with every drop of ink. Rod stays nearby and fetches items from Axel's pack every now and then. Near the end, Rod delivers a small vial which Axel promptly uncorks and pours over the parchment. The paper is soaked but only for a moment as it absorbs the liquid. The letters glow for a moment before fading back to regular black ink. Axel smiles with satisfaction, rolls up the scroll, and stows in up his sleeve. He cleans up his tools then wakes the next person for their watch.
Axel chuckles a bit at Sarlenes words as he finishes packing up. "Yes. I am as well. It doesn't look like they are very good at it though. If our past couple days are any sort of indication, I think we will come upon their next obstacle and we will overcome it." He hefts his pack to his shoulders while Rod perches atop it like a sentry. He smiles at Sarlene "Much in the same way as a ship crashes through countless waves, so too shall we crash through all of their plans."
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Jezzera smiles at Axel's resolve. "Your words are fierce, friend," he grins. "Courage is the better part of victory. We must only make sure our slings and spears are are strong as our conviction."
He looks down at his pouch, stuffed with odds and ends from the forest packaged into neat wads and wrapped in leaves. "The road will be shorter for our good humour."
"How much further do you figure these trolls and witches are, exactly? It seems like we've been gone a week yet, or maybe more, in this harsh cold."
He drinks his drought of endure elements for the day, and reseals the vial, putting it back into his vest.
"I hope we aren't just chasing fairy tales.", he reiterates, and lazily hefts his spear up onto his shoulder as they begin pacing forward ever on. "Or are there an infinite number of snares between us and these villains who curiously seem to know they are being followed!"
Walking forward becomes more difficult as the snow deepens piling up over 3 ft. The pace slows to an almost crawl as the snowfall quickens and obscures vision past the next person in line.
The trees disappear into the grey and replacing them as the only visual marker are a set of large footprints.
Daegan Survival
Axel Local
"Bloody snow! I can hardly see past my hands." Axel broods to himself none too quietly but stops dead in his tracks when something catches his eye. "Wait! Look!" he points to tracks deep in the snow drifts. "Based on the size and shape of these, and our previous knowledge of trolls, I'd guess our troll friend we are looking for is a moss troll. Also, these tracks would have been covered up by this blizzard so he must be close by. I've only ever read of the beasts. If I recall rightly, the ugly brutes are the size of horses but can climb trees. They also don't like fire much like their larger brethren. Keep your eyes peeled friends, he could be anywhere in this accursed weather."
As he says this, he stows his staff on his pack and pulls out a small piece of flint, a dagger, an unlit torch, and a small vial of clear liquid. He quickly lights the torch and holds it in front of himself. He then speaks some arcane words and semi solid plates of force begin to appear around Axel, catching the snow for a moment before it fades completely. Axel nods with satisfaction and readies the torch and flask. "Maybe you should stay down this time little buddy" he says to the fox perched on his shoulder. Rod just looks at the wizard for a moment to which Axel replies with a smile "I know" and the fox dives into the pack.
Daegan nods gravely and slowly stands. Aye, we should have burned it in the first place. Our adversary seems fond of laying traps for us, and they have been clever in their placement of them. He shakes his head and absently massages his side, staring at the burning doll before him. After everything that has been thrown at us, we are caught off our guard once again. Truly, we have underestimated our opponent once again.
Still shaking his head and muttering to himself, the trapper retrieves his abandoned bow and wraps it in his cloak before retiring for a few more hours of restless sleep.
The Half-Orc scowls and bends to examine the tracks in further detail, sniffing with apparent disgust. Aye, Axel, you are keen in your observation. This place has the stink of troll about it. Foul creatures. Deadeye spends a long moment looking over the prints before spitting upon them and rising. He draws his sword and gazes ahead into the softly falling snow.
A small, dark smile creeps onto his face. Come friends... today, we spill the blood of giants.