Igmar taps Cervin on the shoulder and asks to speak with him quietly for a moment.
"I think there's more to this that meets the eye. He too readily gave us information—I think he's trying to hide important information by seeming to tell us more than expected."
Cervin kneels down by the bird, smiling.
"Friend bird, I think there's more to your story. Your eyes see things that we may not and our lives are in continual danger as we draw nearer to the portal. I am certain there is more you know."
The crow looks around briefly before proceeding "All right. I can tell you a bit more about the creatures I have seen coming to and from the portal. While I cannot see the portal itself, the ones that have come through have been traveling all across these woods of yours, and the larger ones are east to spot from afar."
The crow struggles a bit against its bonds. "But I want a gesture of goodwill before I tell you everything. Telling you about what you will face will make me plenty of enemies among the Irriseni, so untie me first. Once I can stretch my wings again, I'll tell you what I know." The bird caws once to punctuate the point.
Yagello feels pity for the tied up bird creature but decides to discuss the matter with his friends first.
He whispers, "Any caged bird will dart for the skies at the first given opportunity. This creature has revealed much information already but perhaps we should question it a bit further. Let's loosen its bonds just a smidgen, but not enough where it could escape just yet."
"I agree ... ravens and crows are tricksters. Give an inch and they'll take a mile. Give it one wing, and if the information it provides is worthwhile..."
A brief spasm of coughing interrupts the wizard. Once it passes, he finishes, "... then it earns its freedom."
"To put it plainly, although I respect and in fact admire the cunning and intelligence you have, we cannot risk letting you go until we know as much as you. I understand we may place you in danger, but many lives are at risk. We also have no intention of telling anyone you were captured or said anything. It would be an affront to your dignity and to mine."
The crow looks around again, as if worried that someone is watching. It drops down to a whisper, so the party has to lean in close to hear. "All right. I feel like I should be rewarded for this. I wasn't the only one following you. Somewhere out there is a blue-skinned fey with disgusting leathery wings and icy breath." The crow shrugs its wings. "Unlike feathery friendly me, I've seen her hunting other animals in these woods, turning them into solid blocks of ice. Just for her own amusement! I've kept my distance, but I've seen her watching you over the past few days. I'm not sure what she's waiting for, but she can't be far now."
"But she's not the leader of the fey here. There's someone in charge, waiting either outside the portal or on the other side. I've seen the Irriseni fey from all over trek back to the portal in groups before dispersing once again into the woods. The snow and wind has been too heavy there, though, so I don't know who it actually is."
Yagello scrutinizes the bird, and concludes that it is finally telling the whole truth. However, he wasn't aware that the bird was keeping secrets in the first place, so Yagello isn't very certain of his abilities to read the face of this magical creature.
Igmar thinks for a moment, trying to recall any stories of blue-skinned fey.
Cervin winces as he hears about the party being followed. "I was always better at being hunter than prey. This must be that Izoze we heard so much about. I'm content and we should get moving if we're being followed. Anything else?"
Arkady nods. "I believe the bird has made good on its promise, so we should as well." He looks directly at the raven and adds, "I would recommend you find somewhere far from here to take up residence."
Yagello also thinks back, trying to remember any stories of the fey from his travels throughout Taldor.
A strange grin comes over his face as he turns to Cervin. "Don't fret my friend. With a little preparation and planning, we shall turn the tables on this foe and become the hunters once again. And what a glorious hunt it shall be!"
He continues to smile as he prepares to set out, ready to put all of his knowledge and training to the ultimate test.
"Yes! Yes! Let me go now, and I will leave you!" The bird becomes more high-pitched again, crowing in frustration.
Cervin unties the bird to let it free.
"Godspeed." With that he turns to the others. "I get the impression it isn't friends with the fey, but if we're being followed by this icebreath fey Izoze, then we must be doubly vigilant. Let's move."
Arkady nods in agreement, once again shivering too hard to speak.
The crow takes off immediately, flies a circle around the group, looking down as if about to say something, then turns and heads into the snow and fog.
The party continues along the path, although with the deep drifts of snow, low visibility and gusting winds walking has become quite exhausting. Thankfully many sets of tracks, even obscured by the snow, leave a clear path to follow through the valley.
After another hour or two of hiking, the white fog begins to darken with approaching night. There are copses of trees here and there to take some shelter, but there is still no sign of any followers that the men can detect.
Arkady notes the darkening sky and says, "I'm not sure if pressing on in the dark would be better or worse than trying to hole up for the night. As sick as I am, I'm worried some of you might get sick as well if we stop. What do the rest of you think?"
Yagello stops for a moment and thoughtfully rubs the growing stubble on his face and head. "Arkady, you are not well, and these lands are not best for taking shelter. Plus we are still being stalked by that flying fey, if we are too believe everything we've been told."
He continues after a slight pause, "Our sword arms are strong, so I suggest we press onward."
Nonetheless, he surveys the area, looking for an appropriate campsite if the party so decides.
"Let us continue. I can sense we are nearing our goal."
The party continues onwards along the trail, as it slowly turns northwards again. To continue, Arkady is forced to use a spell to light the way forwards. After another hour of walking darkness begins falling in earnest. A few minutes later, the trees fall away at either side of the path into some kind of clearing. The snow has become deep, anywhere from two to four feet high in places, making movement extremely difficult. The snow falls heavily as well, reducing vision to an arm's length away. A frigid breeze blows directly into the faces of the men.
"This bloody forest. I recommend we stop. We are ripe prey for an ambush right now and I'm less than useless in this weather. Any chance for shelter, Yagello?"
Cervin is obviously miserable and weary as he continues to slog behind the group, not complaining until now.
His earlier confidence rapidly draining away, Yagello shares Cervin's misery at this overwhelming winter blast. He is a tall man yet stumbles through snow almost chest high in spots. He is cold, wet, and a bit unsure of his bearings.
Swatting his hand in front of him, he peers through the blowing snow, trying to find shelter. As he does this, he says a quiet prayer, though not to any deity.
"Dearest mother, help me in my time of need. Guide me with your keen senses and a heart warm enough to melt all of this unnatural snow..."
Arkady keeps the light spell active, for what small good it does. Despite the magic warding him against the cold, he continues to shiver. He says nothing, just keeping up with the others and praying silently to Desna.
Cervin does his best to help out Yagello to find a good spot to rest but is unable to see much of anything in the blowing snow.
The snow is blowing heavily now, making it difficult for Yagello or Cervin to see anywhere to make camp. Inching tentatively forwards into the cold, they find two curved walls of ice just inside the clearing.
Calling out to the rest of the group, Yagello shouts through the howling winds,"There's no shelter for us here! But behold, I think we've found the portal!
He draws his elven curve blade and inches forward, watching for any movement from inside the clearing.
Cerin almost walks right into the ice wall. He lets out a slow breath and then unhooks his longbow from his shoulder before nocking an arrow. Turning around, he nods over to his companions and speaks in a low voice.
"Friends, we're here. Old Deadeye is with us - we're fighting for a great deal here and we shall not fall. Arkady, it may be a good idea to detect magic to watch for fey tricks."
With that, Cervin starts creeping forward with Yagello.
Arkady once again peers through his fingers, barely able to get the incantation out clearly through his chattering teeth. He inches along behind the others, watching for any signs of magical observation.
Yagello and Cervin inch forwards cautiously, following the outside of the icy walls. The wall gives away to a low doorway made of ice as well. Inside, a winter blanket, a pile of furs, and a small wooden chest take up most of the floor space in this cramped igloo. A small hole has been cut into the low ceiling to allow smoke to escape, but no fire has been lit.
Meanwhile, Arkady detects a pair of faint auras, but just as he locates them somewhere towards the west, they move north into the middle of the clearing and out of the range of his spell.
In the blowing snow, Yagello and Cervin are barely visible with Arkady's light.
Following close behind Igmar, Arkady calls out to Cervin and Yagello (as quietly as current conditions allow) to warn them of the somewhere to the northwest.
Suddenly, a loud crack cuts through the wind, and the unmistakeable smell of ashes and and tinder make it obvious that someone threw a thunderstone at the igloo.
Cervin manages to withstand the blast of the thunderstone and has his bow in hand, ready to fire. He stares around wildly, trying to find something to shoot.
Yagello deftly avoids the effects of the thunderstone, yelling loudly, "AMBUSH! DEFEND YOURSELVES!" He grips his elven curve blade tightly, spinning on his heals and trying to find the source of the attack.
Despite the chill deep in his bones, Arkady's preternatural senses warn him of the coming danger. Without knowing why, he shouts, "Watch out!" and moves quickly away from the igloo.
After the blast, he quietly thanks Desna for the warning, then prepares for battle. With a word, he is surrounded by a thin armor of force; he then reaches into his pack for a scroll.
Igmar is stunned a bit from the blast, his ears ringing.
Arkady
Daegan
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Arkady recognizes some high-pitched voice shouting about intruders in broken Giant, before it turns to chanting. The entire party can hear the chanting, somewhere to the northwest and high up in the air. As Cervin and Yagello peer through the snow, a bird emerges where there was only snow before, attacking the two at the front.
Although the bird takes Yagello by surprise, the ranger easily dodges the blows.
Arkady moves around to use the small building for cover and reads his scroll. Speaking the words, he reaches out toward Cervin's bow, which briefly glows as the magic enters it.
Cervin grins fiercely over at Arkady and looses two arrows at the bird.
Taken aback by the sudden attack, Yagello shields his face from the screeching eagle. He avoids its sharp talons and deadly bite through sheer instinct and readies a powerful response.
Igmar's figures that any chance of a stealthy approach has been foiled at this point, and his rumbling voice takes over the landscape, only slightly flat to a trained ear.
A blast of wind comes from the south, and a billowing form of a cloud flies at Igmar from the South.
The form slams Igmar back, much to his surprise. He cries out in pain, but only Igmar turns fast enough to get a slash in. Where the half-orc swings, though, only air remains, and the form disappears into the billowing snow before anyone else has a chance to react.
Yagello swings at the bird, but the agile bird easily dodges his clumsy maneuver. Cervin manages to fire two quick arrows, though, and one of them hits the bird cleanly. As the arrow pierces the bird, it disappears instantly, as if it was never there. As if in response to Cervin's disbelief, another bird appears in nearly the same place, attacking Yagello once again.
The bird is unable to stay in place, and gets one bite in before flying onwards above the igloo.
Far above, the party can still hear the chanting. However, adding to this lone voice is a chattering of high-pitched laughing, coming from all around the party, including behind them. Although they cannot see anyone, the feeling or being surrounded is difficult to shake off.
"I'm starting to REALLY hate this snow!" yells Cervin. "That's it, I'm finding out who is casting the damn spells."
With that Cervin plunges forwards towards the sound of chanting.
Cervin moves towards the sounds of the chanting, until it is coming . Squinting upwards through the blowing snow, he thinks he sees a fluttering of blue-white dragonfly wings.
Cervin tries to aim upwards in the blowing snow and fires off a cold iron arrow.
"Found the caster! Right above me!"
Arkady follows Cervin's voice, trying to find the caster. He prepares to throw an acid blob if he can find it.
Dumbfounded at the disappearance of the first eagle and then appearance of the second one, Yagello nonetheless brushes off the bird's attack. Locking his feet in the snow, he swings hard as the eagle flies past him.
He sees Cervin move forward and cries out to the paladin, "Cervin, we're being attacked on all sides! We need to form a perimeter maybe using the north side of the hut as protection for our flank!"
Yagello slices the bird clean in two, and it too disappears instantly, as if it was never there. Yagello catches himself from falling deeply into the snow, and moves forwards.
Two of the blue-skinned sprites that the party had encountered earlier in the woods fly in from the west. Obviously blinded by the snow as much as the party, they nearly run right into Cervin before the both briefly back up to try point their fingers towards Cervin, Arkady and Yagello as beams of color dazzle the three.
Higher above, the fey that is out of reach stops chanting, and takes a stone from one hand, placing it into a sling and firing it at Cervin, shouting in a strange language.
The stone hits Cervin cleanly, and the paladin is surprised at the force that it hits him with. At the point where the stone hit him, it becomes surprisingly cold.
Igmar continues his song as he keeps with the group, making him easy to find in the blowing snow. Daegan moves to attack one of the sprites with his longsword.
The winged creature easily sidesteps the half-orc's massive blade by floating to one side.
Seeing his death incoming Cervin shouts out a somewhat incoherent prayer to Erastil and shields his eyes, somehow he manages to resist the colour sprays and the frozen stone. As he continues to pray, part of his wound closes up.
Unable to get out of melee range and refusing to drop his magic bow, Cervin grits his teeth and fires off some arrows right into one of the fey beside him.
Sensing the fey's magic just in time, Arkady is able to avert his eyes from the dazzling colors.
"One of them just called out to more, and just to make things even better, he's speaking the language of Giants. Be prepared!"
As he speaks, he shudders once, then flicks his fingers, sending another spray of acid toward the fey.
Amazingly, Yagello resists the fey's magic as well, but now they've gotten him angry. He surges forward, swinging his sword savagely from side to side.
"AWAY WITH YOU, ACCURSED FEY!"
Arkady misses the nimble fey, but Cervin picks one off with his arrow, and Yagello charges in to take care of the other one.
A moment later, a large shadow emerges from the north. The mist parts to reveal a large and lanky humanoid with a long snout and
This large and lanky moss-colored humanoid has an elongated, toothy snout and appears to be covered in bits of lichens and fungi. The creature takes one sniff, and roars at Yagello.
From the south, the elemental flies in once again to swipe at Igmar. The dwarf raises his voice in song to steel himself against the assault.
Igmar is taken aback by another heavy blow, but this time he returns this favor with two quick swipes. Despite the fact that the creature is made of air, the dwarf connects and deals significant damage to the elemental before it flies off.
As if to not give the party a break, a blue leathery creature flies in from the the direction of the elemental, and claws at Igmar.
Igmar staggers from the below, feeling about to pass out as the creature cackles.
As if afraid of being forgotten, the remaining tiny fey above slings another stone at Cervin.
This stone goes wide, falling harmlessly in the snow on the ground. Cervin can see the creature above as it laughs at him.
Igmar and Daegan take a quick glance at each other before attacking the blue-skinned creature in front of them, before it flies away like the elemental.
Igmar misses the creature completely, and while Daegan connects, it is only a glancing blow. Sensing an opportunity, the blue skinned creature tries to hover in place, swiping first at Igmar, then at Daegan.
Igmar falls, and the creature swipes her second claw at Daegan, which connects as well.
The large beast takes a pause to guffaw.