Ruso
Next door to the store is Isker's Smithy. Despite the brisk air, the smith is working in the open air forge, shirtless. He is a large a man as you have ever seen, with massive upper body and arms. The shop is stacked with many items of a pastoral nature: horseshoes, plowshares, small axes and the like. There is a section in the back with some basic weapons lying about. In a case at the front lie some iron bullets fit for a sling and a handsome set of banded mail with the lion of Taldor scrolled on its breastplate.
The smith keeps up his pounding, but Ruso is greeted by his daughter, who says. "Welcome sir, is there something we can do to be of assistance?"
My mention was any mundane (as in everyday) equipment in the Core Rulebook.
"Thank you ma'am. I'll take them all." Irina pays for the clothing and picks up the crate, and leaves the store.
"Ooooo... That is going to be very necessary for those of us not from the North. Thank you Irina."
After arriving at the smithy. "Ahhh yes. So there are a small group of us going hunting both a "Troll" and a reported group of bandits who ambushed the carriages and guards who where here in Heldren earlier. Would you have anything here in your shop that might give us some advantage as we take on these tasks?"
Skyne counts his change twice, then packs away the smaller items and thanks Irina. Once dressed in the thicker clothing, he steps outside to wait for Ruso's return. This 'Jack' is going to be a problem, rushing off unprepared like a kid with his first hard-on. Irina seems okay though, if a bit nosy. But what about the rest?
Ruso
The girl eyes open in wonder at your words "Trolls and bandits here? I mean the snow is one thing, but that's not like Heldren. Let's get my father." She leads you to the forge where the bulky smith, Isker, is shaping a steel ring perhaps for a barrel.
As the girl explains your needs to the father he sets down his massive hammer and squints at you with one eye, fingering his thick mustache absently with one large finger. "Need weapons you say? Trolls and such? Can't say I've got much more than simple weapons here. Should be enough for bandits and the like, but trolls...who can say?" He shows you to the back room where many different well-made but simple weapons are laid out. "Made these for the militia, but no sense I won't sell them to you as needed. Could make some simple armor as well given enough time, but sounds like you don't have that luxury right now."
Finally Isker shows you the masterwork banded mail and the box of iron stones. "This armor was mine when I was in the service. I've kept it in good shape, and would part with it for the right price. Traded for these sling bullets long ago, they are made of cold iron, which is supposed to be good against fey and demons. These are supposedly enchanted as well, but I've never had a need to find out."
There are 10 cold iron bullets in the case.
Peltra wraps herself up in one of the heavy cloaks and gives her mace a few practice swings. "We know the bandits have a prisoner, we'd best head there first."
Jack isn't sure he needs much in the way of cold clothes, but he will take them (and pay his share) because surely it would be more comfortable. Having grabbed a scythe at the farm, he is ready to go in search of the others, once this man's safety is accounted for.
"Thank you, Inira, for the clothing."
Irina glares at Skyne as he counts the his change twice. I may be only a barmaid, but I'm an honest one. She flounces off in a huff, not that she expects him to notice, and takes a set of clothing to Jack.
"Put it on. It will keep you warm." She smiles kindly to him, and takes the money he offers for the purchase of the clothing.
She hands another set of clothing to Peltra. "Was he able to to tell you what happened? There's a prisoner?"
Sensing there no more questions for Yuln, Elder Safander urges the man to sleep, and brings you into his study for a moment. There he opens a lavishly decorated cubic box, revealing four potion bottles. "You gave one of these to a wounded stranger, and as such, Erastil demands that I return one to you. It is a curative potion, of limited nature. There are 2 other like it here, and a 4th potion that will return lost vitality or strength or wisdom, depending upon need. I will let you borrow these, but you must agree to return them, or their kind in value or coin when you return. Perhaps a little more for the kindness of Old Deadeye? Further, I can protect two of you from the cold weather for the rest of the day if He grants me the power. This I give freely, as you are acting in the best interest of others. Would you like this blessing or these items?"
Jack nods in agreement to Elder Safander's terms.
Ruso slips back into the church after having found out a bit of what is available in town. "Well there a few things here in town that could be of use but they won't just let use barrow them. However if we need them I am sure they can be temporarily aquirred for our use."
"I would be glad to accept your offered blessing. I am not built for this kind of cold unlike those from the north."
"Now, if we want to wait to start our pursuit later I can try to obtain anything we might need but can not afford at the moment. I am sure the shopkeeps will accept payment later." he says with a bit of smirk. "There is some well made cold iron sling bullets and a suit of banded mail available here in town if anyone needs them."
"I have some bolts with cold iron heads, and also some silver-tipped ones. In a pinch, we could use them like daggers."
Wulfgang asks the shop keeper. "Do you have cold forged iron hand axes?"
Back at the Temple of Erastil
Elder Safander hands the ornate box to Jack and shares his protection from the elements with Ruso. He is as surprised as anyone to see the wounded Yuln in the doorway, sword in hand.
Would dat I could't go vif you." he says with a grimace that indicates the pain he is still in. "My fodders shame me for fleeing radder den fighting to ent. But I face enemies dat even de greatest varriors in Linnorm Kingdom haf faltered ven facing. I tink I slew at least one 'fore dey make off vif Lady Argentea. If I can't go vif you to safe lady, then at least my blade can go. Take it and use to get revench." He offers the cold-iron longsword to whichever of you is nearest. Worn from the exertion, the wounded Ulfen man staggers and nearly falls. He is helped ack to bed by the good father as you make your exit.
"Thank you for the return of the potion. Erastil's blessing are truly for us all. We will return the potions or pay for them when we return. I promise this." Irina takes one of the curative potions, and the restorative one. Carefully tucking both into her backpack.
"Are we ready to go. It will be dark if we wait much longer. We can eat on the way." She holds up the lunch package.
"It has been some time since I used a sword, but I will take this with honor, and hope it won't be needed."
Jack straps on the sword.
Skyne cracks his neck back and forth, then grips his quarterstaff like a walking stick. "I suppose it's time."
Why the heck are we doing this? This must be what that crazy old preacher meant, when he said boredom was Asmodeus' playground. At least it'll make for a great story, though. Nobody will call me weak after this.
Ruso shrugs on the winter gear after promising to make good on his debt. "Let's get this over and done with so that we can get back to somewhere warm."
Warm enough in the new winter outfits and hefting their gear, the group heads off towards the Border Wood, where the main road from Zimar passes through the edge of the forest. The dark clouds south of Heldren seem to be building still and the wintry weather has not let up. The wind blows flakes of snow around your heads in dizzying displays, but you press on. As you near the woods, the temperature begins to drop noticeably, and the snow on the ground grows deeper and harder to traverse.
On foot, the trip to woods takes about two and half hours. Irina shares lunch, which was packed by her boss, Kale Garimos earlier in the day. The road is quiet due to the odd weather, and you don't pass or meet anyone else coming or going along the road. It's not long before you are at the edge of the woods, the rise of High Ridge before you to the southwest. The Sharpened Hills, along the border with Qadira also appear to be in the storm, layers of ice and snow covering their jagged tops.
From a distance, you can see where the trouble occurred. A carriage still stands in the roadway, it's team of horses missing or cut free. Another overturned carriage lies sprawled and broken next to the tree line. As you get closer, you can see the road and surrounding area are littered with debris and the corpses of slain horses and humans. To the south, more bodies have fallen around what appears to be a statue of ice. A snowy trail leads deeper into the forest.
Skyne ignores the bodies, going straight to the still upright carriage. These definitely weren't normal bandits. Maybe they weren't bandits at all, and left behind some valuables.
Ruso begins slipping among the bodies and carriages looking for signs of the attackers so that someone might attempt to track them or possibly even identify who or what attacked this group. He does this until he comes to the frozen individual at which point he stops and studies the frozen figure.
Looking for any loose valuables.
Looking at the frozen individual.
DC 5 to follow any tracks found in the snow.
Peltra looks about to see if there are any more survivors.
The group splits up to search the ambush site, mainly for survivors. Looking inside the spilled over carriage, Peltra sees the corpse of the large matronly lady-in-waiting that was riding with the missing noblewoman in Heldren. The misshapen form of her head indicates she was killed in the accident.
The broken chests and boxes strewn across the ground contain the Lady's belongings, including her trousseau. Spilled on the ground in the fresh snow, Ruso finds three courtier outfits that he would assume would fetch a fair price in any city in the realm. Maybe as much as 90gp in total to buy.
The bodies that Peltra kneels to check all appear dead. One is covered in tiny arrows, like the ones that had hit Yuln. The other body is cut by dozens of shards of ice and has bled out profusely.
Irina notices the outfits on the ground as she is looking around for information. I wonder if anyone would notice me taking one. It's not like they are going to be worth anything laying on the ground like that. She snaps up one of the fancy outfits and quickly puts it in her pack. Then she moves up within ten feet of the statue and studies it.
She looks over her shoulder to see if anyone is watching, and begins to murmur and move her hands in subtle movements.
Cast Detect Magic on the Statue
Skyne taps Wulfgang on the shoulder, points to the carriage, and then to his ear. He then starts backing away quietly, toward the rest of the group.
Ruso plucks the outfits off of the ground. No sense in not trying make a bit of a profit off this venture. He casually stuffs two outfits into his pack before carrying on with his original plan.
Jack draws his bow and watches around the perimeter. "Why kill these people but leave valuables?"
Jack draws his bow and watches around the perimeter. "Why kill these people but leave valuables?"
Skyne starts backing away from the upright carriage, motioning at Wulfgang.
Ruso scoops two of the gowns and stuffs them into his pack, handing one to Irina.
As Irina gets closer to the statue, she recognizes with horror that its no statue at all. Instead the figure is the gruesome remains of the proud captain that many of you saw riding through Heldren yesterday. He still wears the shiny breastplate with Taldan heraldry emblazoned upon it, but he is now quite dead, his body mostly encased in ice. Around the upright form are several small blocks of ice, each containing a frozen body part. One of the blocks contains the captain's right arm which still clasps a finely made longsword.
Irina divines no magical dweomers on or around the "statue"
"I don't think they were attacked by bandits. This is something worse, I can feel it." Peltra mutters a quick prayer to Pharasma and taps her forehead.
Once out of earshot from the carriage, Skyne waves for everyone to gather. "Someone, or thing, is still moving around in that carriage." Oh, sure. He gets some fancy clothing, and all I find is another victim to worry about.
Peltra nods and takes position behind Wulfgang.
Seeing several others stacking up by the carriage door Ruso shouts "Wait just a moment and let me make sure it wasn't rigged to injure anyone!"
Ruso sets his pack down and moves over to the carriage door. With a keen eye and a very delicate touch he intently stares at the door and brushes ever so lightly over it with his finger tips.
Irina creeps back to the group, and lets them know what she saw. "That's not a statue. That's the remains of the Captain that rode through town. His real nice sword is still laying there still held by his hand in a block of ice. Poor man. I wonder if it's that fancy kind of metal like the one Jack has."
Skyne loads his crossbow and looks for some cover far enough back from the carriage door to be safe, but still in range.
Ruso does not find any traps on the carriage door. He determines it would be a fairly easy thing to remove the spear-haft blocking the carriage door. No trick to it at all really. The elf does hear another thud from inside.
Skyne loads his crossbow (normal bolt?) and stands behind a fallen tree trunk which provides good cover while giving a clear line-of-sight to the carriage door, just in case whoever is inside appears harmful.
Peltra moves up behind Wulfgang interested. Jack keeps his bow drawn, watching for more signs of ambush around the edges of the site. Irina is still looking at the "statue".
Irina moves next to Peltra and waits to see what comes out of the carriage.
Ruso steps aside as Wulfgang yanks on the carriage door. "Careful. I heard something thud inside." Ruso watches to make sure that whatever is inside does come leaping out at himself and gives a smirk as he realizes that Wulfgang is actually struggling to open a simple carriage door. All that brawn and seemingly no common sense to go with it. What a shame.
Wulfgang removes the spear shaft which is pinning the doors of the upright carriage closed as Ruso calls out a warning. As soon as the handle is removed, the door flies open with a crash, knocking the fighter off-balance a bit. From inside the carriage stumbles another Ulfen warrior, a gaping wound filled with congealed and frozen blood in his neck. His eyes have a far-away look to them. From inside, you can see two more mortally wounded warriors stagger to the open door.