[
Their business settled, the party prepares to depart once again for the Border Wood. The burly Yuln Oerstag allows Yagello to keep his sword, although he cannot stop a painful guffaw after Yagello reveals the shrunken condition of the blade. Caelia gratefully accepts Cervin's donation, promising to personally see that it is put to good use. Her mood and demeanor are much lighter now that she is working in the temple again, despite the chilly weather and associated threat of starvation.
Finally, the party heads to Old Mother Theoora's house. After they arrived at town, no one in the party had seen the druid. The crone opens the door quietly at the knocks, and grimly shakes her head. "Aishe is not yet ready to move on. Her beloved Growler has been laid to rest, but her soul still remains entangled with Aishe. I'm afraid I cannot allow her to leave in this state, she will be of no use to you." The old woman takes a short breath, the condensation clearly visible in the cold morning air. "I am doing all I can, and I'm sure Caelia will come by as well to encourage her, but this process takes time. If she is ready, I will send her after you. My guidance will ensure she will find you if it is meant to be. But you all must move on for now, for the sake of Heldren."
The woman turns to Arkady. "I know you don't have the same innate gift of magic as my Aishe, but you have the senses to know what in this world is beyond the comprehension of most. This cold is not a natural phenomenon. Although I predicted this cold, there is a powerful and wicked force behind it, beyond my sight. Stop it soon, before it grows too powerful!" The woman closes the door again, leaving the five men on the road.
The road back to the lodge is mostly unremarkable. The path remains easy to follow, and the party retraces their steps past reminders of their prior encounters, which are all covered with a fresh dusting of snow. At regular intervals along the way, Arkady occasionally feels a strange sensation of being watched, but every time he looks about, he sees only creaking tree limbs, drifting snow, or the occasional small rabbit or blackbird. He is not certain if these feelings are Old Mother Theodora watching over them, something sinister, or just his imagination.
Once the party reaches the lodge without event, they approach the bridge on the far side. The rope and wooden crossing is obviously made for less harsh weather and is covered in ice and snow. Swaying from side to side, it appears to be the only crossing over the frigid rapids below.
After speaking with Old Mother Theodora, the group begins to make their way back into the snow. As they walk, Arkady reveals the morning's reading.
"The cards were again troubled this morning. I saw the same signs of wickedness and turmoil for the people of Heldren, but while reading for my personal state, I drew an odd combination. I always do one draw for myself, then another for Rom. For myself, I drew the Twin followed by the Locksmith and the Hidden Truth. For Rom, I again drew the Twin, followed by the Rabbit Prince and the Lost. I fear he and I are both in for some changes soon. I can't say exactly what, though I have some suspicions about my own. Do please help me watch out for Rom, and if you see either of us behaving oddly, please speak up."
As the group travels back to the lodge, Arkady can't shake the feeling that they are being watched. Periodically, he sets Rom down and lets him dart about in the snow, hoping perhaps the hare can flush out whatever is following them.
Once they reach the lodge, he checks the area for any signs of magic, either residual spells or any of the fey lurking around. He nods to the others once he feels the place is safe.
Cervin listens intently to Arkady. "Well, change is painful - whether it be for better or for ill. Stay strong."
Upon reaching the rickety bridge Cervin lets out a groan.
"Exactly what we don't want to deal with. Anybody good with ropes and whatever else holds bridges up to see if it will support our weight? Failing that we can send people across from the lightest to the heaviest with a rope around his waist."
Daegan trudges along, occasionally reaching absently behind himself to run a finger down the edge of his new greataxe, a motion typically followed by a grunt or small smile. As Cervin had said, it was not the chosen weapon of Gorum... but if there was hewing to be had, there should be no issue. Daegan had said as much to Cervin when he was presented with the weapon, and thanked him for it.
Arkady's talk of changes and odd behavior is worrying to Daegan. There was enough odd behavior in the world around them already. He nods at Arkady's request. "We will be sure to say something. Hopefully the cause and nature of your changes is benevolent."
Upon seeing the bridge and the formidable rapids below, Daegan's expression morphs into one of unease. "I can assist with the bridge-holding, though I'm no rope expert. It would most likely be bad for both us and the bridge if I were to cross first."
As the party sets out once again for the Border Wood, Yagello is resplendent in his appearance. Daegan's magical hearing and a night of rest did wonders for his constitution, and he has regained the old spring in his step. His face and head are freshly shaven, and he wears a new set of cold weather garments.
He frowns upon seeing the condition of the bridge though. "We could of used one of the women here or Growler, someone light enough to test these timbers..."He pauses and gulps hard when mentioning Aishe's late companion.
"I'm afraid I have no knowledge of construction methods either. How about you Igmar? Otherwise, Cervin's idea sounds reasonable. I gather Arkady should be the lightest among us?"
"I apologize, my friend. I know very little of such things. I think Cervin's plan is as sound as any, and I'm willing to help in any way I can."
"Right!" Cervin looks over Igmar and Arkady. "Hrm, I agree. Arkady should weight the least. Congratulations friend, you've been volunteered!"
With that Cervin pulls out his silk rope and forms a loop to tie around Arkady's waist.
"Alright, remember that you are secured and just go slow. I think the greatest hazard is the bridge moving instead of collapsing. So if we're careful it should be fine."
"Well, to be perfectly honest, Rom here is the lightest of all..."
"If he can get across first and loop it around a tree, that would give another level of support before I go out."
"But without anything for him to loop it around, I guess it is down to me."
Cervin glances down at the rabbit and then out over the land.
"We'd have the rope diagonally across the bridge - not too useful. I was just thinking we loop the rope around you and hold on here. That way if you slip we can haul you back in. I think the biggest risk here is the bridge moving around in the wind and the ice. No need to rig it to collapse, the faeries are in this direction and they're allies who can fly."
"Alright, let's see what we can do here."
Once tied off, Arkady says a quick prayer to Desna before starting across.
Cervin grabs onto the rope and digs in, passing it to the other companions to hold on in case the worst happens.
Arkady starts across the bridge, but the slippery ice covering the planks make it difficult to remain upright, and Arkady quickly falls through the ropes. Cervin and the others hold the rope taut, though, and Arkady keeps most of his body on the bridge. After he catches his breath, he slowly gets up and proceeds along the bridge again.
Now weary of the ice patches, Arkady moves cautiously and slowly over the remaining span, and makes it to the other side safely.
Catching his breath on the other side, Arkady feels the sensation of being watched again, but as he looks around, he again sees nothing of note. Shaking his head, he stifles a cough. By chance, Yagello coughs at the same time.
"<cough>Well, I guess it was inevitable to catch cold in all of this ... Which way now?"
"Alright... guess I'm next."
Cervin heads over to the bridge and opts to take it very slowly, creeping along and keeping a low centre of balance.
Wary of the enemy ambushing Arkaday on other side, Yagello follows Cervin across the bridge, quickly getting his bearings as soon as he crosses.
Igmar makes his way slowly across the bridge, noticeably nervous of the possibility of falling.
This leaves Daegan the last to cross. He sighs, concerned about the effects his size and the weight of his armor and accoutrements might have on the bridge. He takes a steadying breadth, places one foot on the bridge as a test, and then makes his way slowly across the bridge, as the others had done.
Once Daegan reaches the other side, he exhales audibly.
Yagello sees Arkady briefly look up in the air, and follow his gaze, but does not see anything in the trees either.
Once the party crosses to the other side, the markings of a well-used trail continue westward. The trail continues on a slight incline upwards, with occasional views of the water down below to the north. Soon the trees surround the trail again, though, and the forest stands deathly quiet. Even the wind has grown still as snow softly falls through the stark branches overhead.
There are too many tracks on the main trail to identify individuals, but at one point a set of tracks that are human in size but oddly misshapen appear to cross the trail. The tracks appear fresh, making it obvious the source is still nearby.
Yagello raises his hand cautiously and points into the snow ahead. "Fresh tracks straight ahead. They look human, but something's not quite right about the shape. Let me take a closer look..."
He continues to whisper, "I say we follow them. We may get further answers about our plight here."
As the tracks are identified as fresh, Arkady quietly speaks the words that surround his body with invisible force. He then resumes peering between his fingers to watch for any magical auras, nodding to Yagello.
Yagello studies the tracks carefully. There appear to be two sets, and while the prints appear to belong to human-sized creatures based on their size and depth, whatever left them appears to be dragging their feet, ruining any clean prints in the process.
Arkady peers around, but does not notice any auras within range. Nodding to the group silently, Yagello leads the party quietly along the tracks, where they lead around a copse of snow-laden trees. Yagello is fairly certain that the source is just beyond the copse, about fifty feet away, but the forest is deathly silent. Arkady has not seen anything peering through his finger and thumb.
Cervin nocks an arrow and whispers a small prayer to Erastil, which causes his eyes to flash with holy light for a moment. He then begins to scan the area intently, moving to his usual position at the back of the party.
After concentrating for a few moments, Cervin senses two distinct evil auras somewhere just beyond the trees, both faint.
Igmar studies the the tracks as well, hoping to provide some insight.
As the party gets closer, Igmar pulls out his heavy pick and shield before looking to his companions for some direction.
Cervin raises two fingers and points them beyond the trees. "Two evil auras. The snow may have masked our approach... or there's an ambush waiting ahead. I think we proceed with caution - Yagello, can you move a bit ahead as quietly as you can?"
Cervin's voice is little more than a whisper as he speaks with the rest of the group.
Yagello nods silently in Cervin's direction and slowly begins advancing on the tree stand 50 feet away. Noting that the tracks were too large for fey, he draws his elven curve blade and admires the recently shined metal for a moment.
Arkady sets Rom down in the snow near Yagello and indicates he should follow the ranger. Quietly he says, "I'll have Rom move up, hopefully he'll be able to give me a feeling of what's ahead."
The wizard puts his quarterstaff into the sling on his backpack, loads his crossbow, and prepares to follow.
Yagello makes his way around the trees, Rom hopping through the snow silently. As they round the corner, Yagello sees two living skeletons, dragging their skeletal feet through the snow. Similar to the deadly skeletal foes the party encountered inside the lodge the day before, they both glow with a pale blue light. Unlike those skeletons, though, their scraps of clothing and weapons appear foreign-looking and ancient. The long-broken scimitars barely strapped to their waists hint at a Qadiran origin.
The skeletons appear oblivious to Yagello, wandering through the snow aimlessly, making slow but steady progress through the deep snow. They are working their way away from the party, but Yagello could easily catch their attention if he wanted to.
Sensing apprehension but not immediate danger from his familiar, Arkady nods at the others and prepares to follow.
Daegan casts an eye out from side to side, concerned about what evil they may be encountering out here. Certainly he would not like to be caught with the rapids at their backs.
He draws his greataxe and holds it at the ready, keeping himself near enough to Arkady to intercept if something ambushes them, but not immediately in front. He does not trust himself to keep out of sight of their enemies.
Yagello leaves the skeletons alone for now and retraces his steps back to his comrades. Whispering quietly, he says, "Two more of those frost-touched skeletons, like back at the lodge. We can't ignore them, or they'll just attack another group of travelers. Fighting them hand to hand is no good as Daegan and I learned firsthand, so we'll have to use missile weapons."
He puts away his blade as he says this and readies his shortbow.
Cervin grimaces. "Damn things. This snow is going to make shooting difficult and there's no flesh on them for an arrow to take hold. But the alternative is slugging at one with a tree branch. I suppose our best bet is just to ambush them and take them down as fast as we can."
He looks at the group. "So, bows and crossbows out and let's hope we don't miss."
Nodding gravely to Cervin, Yagello leads the others back on the footpath, stopping at the farthest range possible. He moves quietly through the thick snow before raising his shortbow and firing at the nearest skeleton.
Distracted by the falling snow, his arrow flies widely off the mark, and Yagello curses harshly under his breath.
Upon hearing what's ahead, Igmar puts his pick back in his belt and pulls out one of the flasks from a pouch strapped to his waist.
The amazingly bad luck continues as Arkady's bolt also flies off into the snow. Cursing, he moves behind the tree for cover, and reaches out to touch Yagello's shoulder.
Cervin manages to sneak around the skeletons to the west and crouches by a tree, trying to spot their white forms through the falling snow before he looses an arrow.
Arkady (29)
Igmar (19)
Skeletons (16)
Yagello (16)
Cervin (16)
Daegan (7)
Trying to stay quiet, Igmar moves forward at a steady pace, and when he's in range, he lobs the flask toward the nearest skeleton.
Daegan is woefully under prepared for the advent of more skeletons, lacking ranged weaponry of his own. Still, someone has to intervene when their attention is drawn, and it seems that that is to be Daegan's role.
In the moment before combat breaks out, he blesses his axe with the spell he used on the fight with the raiders, running his holy symbol along the length of the blade.
Igmar's hurled flask shatters on the near skeleton, and the blue aura is overwhelmed by the flames that quickly spread over the bones. Seeing Igmar as their closest target, they trudge through the snow to converge on the dwarf. They both get close enough to get a swipe in with their bony hands. The nearest one still covered with the alchemical fire, oblivious to the blackening effects.
Igmar manages to duck their blows, but he can feel the overwhelming cold seeping from their bodies and into his skin.
Worry crosses Yagello's face as he sees Igmar surrounded by the frost skeletons. I need to help my friend before he's overwhelmed by their unearthly cold! He moves through the snow as fast as he can, firing one more arrow at the injured skeleton.
Another arrow flies harmlessly into the snow!!!!
Cervin scowls as he stares down at the skeletons, firing arrows as fast as he can.