Hassan it was healing only. Hassan, I was under the impression that Inquisitors operated much like bards in regards to spellcasting. That is, once they learn a spell, that is what they know. They have a very limited amount of spells they know but can cast them without preparation. At Second level Hassan would know 5 level 0 spells that he can cast at will and 3 level 1 spells that he can cast twice per day.
After scouting outside in the morning and seeing the dead horses, Kirrak tell the others
”Leaving the Lady here is not an option. Nor sending her back with the Half-Orc.” then he turn to both ”Tenpenny, we could use your help in this, you know then more than us, and you have already proved a honorable and fierce fighter. Join us in this endeavor and you have my word when we return to Heldren, only good things I’ll say about you.” the he turn to the Lady ”You says you have some training? You should also come with us, staying here is not an option, this is not a safe place for one or two people alone, and your help could turn things in our favor. Besides, you would get first hand a chance to avenge yourself against those that wishes you harm.”
Tenpenny blanches a bit and says You want me to go fight those things? You saw how effective I was against Izoze, and she ain't even the worst of them! Rohkar was scared of Teb...SCARED. I ain't seen him scared of anyone ever.
Argentea says I'll come along, but you must arm me.
Sven moves for a moment to defend Tenpenny, but pauses momentarily, trying to discern the intentions of Gauthier. If it is a threat to guide her, then Sven doesn't want to blow his attempt. But he's not certain she deserves the punishment being outlined, not after she aided the party earlier.
"There are plenty of suits of armor here, if you don't mind wearing the shell of a dead man." he says instead, to Lady Argentea. "And the weapons that Rohkar weilded were of high quality. We would gladly arm you."
Sven sighs loudly at the news of the frozen horses. "Would have been nice to have their legs. But perhaps we can have some breakfast? I have never eaten horse." he muses with a broad grin.
Tenpenny replies to Gauthier I ain't did nothin here but cook! Rokhar ain't took me to kidnap the lady and I tole him I didn't wanna be no part of that. They already had this place when I got here, I ain't did nothing!
Argentea nods her approval at Sven's remarks.
What i am saying is that we should take the lady with us. She can't stay here by herself and we can't spend 2 days to escort her back. We can't let that ice fey reinforcing his defenses and finding new allies. My advice is that we continue searching for the cause of this deadly winter.
Once Gauthier relents about Tenpenny facing the noose she volunteers a little information I, uh, maybe know where they are now. I hears things ya know, places and whatnot. Rohkar talked about the Somir Valley alot. That mean anything to you.
The barbarian furrows his brow at the name. He had seen it somewhere, but isn't sure where. He doesn't recall anything about it, just the image of it.
"Upstairs." He finally blurts out, an answer to the question no one heard him ask. "The map upstairs said something about Somir Valley. Anyone more familiar with the area care to take a look. Lady Argentea perhaps?"
Indeed, Sven you still look wounded from yesterday's fight. she says gently touching him on the cheek and letting her power course trough his body.
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From the gathered loot, Hassan retrieves the MW Handaxe and MW light crossbow and 15 bolts. Additionally, he finds a suitable outfit of leather armor for the Lady Argentea.
"I would guess you have some skill with this simple weapons, lady. If you can prefer a sword instead of this axe, we have both long and short blades."
He begins to instruct her in the use of the crossbow and basics of martial combat.
To Tenpenny:"Do you require any supplying? It appears you can take care of yourself, and we did not take any of your gear from your room."
With that said, and the plan decided, Hassan is ready to set out for the Somir Valley.
"Thank you." Sven replies with a modicum of humility, suddenly noting the matted blood in his hair and beard. He had been so exhausted that sleep came before he could deal with such things.
Feeling almost back to full strength now, Sven excuses himself for a moment to clean up. He soon returns with blood removed and beard and hair braided anew.
"I'll grab the map." He says, stomping upstairs to acquire it, then returning with a fresh motivation. "I am ready to depart now as well."
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As they leave, he looks for a moment where he may quietly acknowledge his failure to protect Merisiel. "I must follow the woman in blue, and I let her fall. If I may still follow, I will do better."
The strix continues to pay attention to what everyone is saying. Not much he can add at this moment.
The party travels three hours in a meandering route. They follow Gauthier and Kirraak's lead and Sven's map.
Hour 1, Meri and Argentea takes 5 non lethal
Hour 2, Sven, Winter and Tenpenny take 2 non lethal
Sven takes 5 nonlethal,
The party stumbles across a scene.
The rocks and snow along this part of the ridge are stained a reddish brown and many tracks, both animal and human cross the area.
Look over there there is a body with some stuff on him she says casting a detect magic
The cold bites deep through Sven's muscle and flesh. He grits his teeth and hunches his shoulders beneath the furs, but continues to feel it sapping his strength. He tries to mask his discomfort, however, after making such a big scene about the 'lack of real cold' earlier.
Eager for a chance to stretch his muscles, hoping to do more than walk, he nods at the mention of a body and backpack--trudging through the snow to investigate as he draws his longsword as well.
"There are arrows here," he says of the massacred body, "they look to be Cold Iron like the others, as well a..AA!" Sven leaps back in the snow, scrambling backwards on all fours to get clear of the body. "There are runes on some of them!" He exclaims with a cough, composing himself. "I would not touch them before we interpret them. There also seemed to be a bow of sorts and a nice blade, but I didn't get to inspect closer."
He is much more cautious in inspecting the backpack, and much more joyous of what he discovers. "Brandy!" He calls back to the others, a broad grin stretched across his face. "Food and a journal as well... let's see what our friends were after."
Assuming no one has any objections, Sven will look at the most recent entries in the Journal. He'll also look for anything at the beginning that might give an idea of who these people were.
The journal is for a man named Dryden Kepp, the journal is mostly mundane stuff but you glean a few details. He was once a soldier in the Taldan army. He was an avid hunter and a week ago he spotted a giant white weasel in the Wood. He went to town to tell about it but no one believed him, as he as a reputation as a local drunk. He tracked the Weasel into the wood. His last two entries talk about some bear traps he set for the creature in a pass into the Somir Valley and a strange hut guarded by a "strange little girl". The journal gives pretty explicit directions to the hut and bear traps area. Anyone with Survival ranks or Kn:Geography ranks can find the way.
Where he failed and lost his life we shall prevail, and continue so long Kirraak doesn't shoot me again she says with a smile
Sven shares the information he finds in the journal. "It would be easy to find it with the directions he gives. But we'll need to watch out for bear traps, and weasels... oh, and little girls. Something seems very unsettling about her."
Sounds like a fey or a halfling druid Sven.
The party continues on and soon comes to a pass that Gauthier identifies as being the one mentioned in Kepp's journal.
Bloody animal tracks mark the snow where the trail descends from the ridge above.
Not very keen on the idea of losing a leg to a trap, Sven has been watchful for these "bear traps" since they entered the valley described in the journal. He manages to notice three of them before they are sprung, and points them out to the others.
"Watch your step." He says with a grin, "And keep them in mind if the weasel shows up... we may be able to use them."
Being careful to not fall in the traps, the strix try to disarm then.
"Let me try something..."
Kirraak easily disarms the traps and they can now be taken. Intentions to move on or stop and rest? You can still investigate the strange shack and child.
”We should check this ‘strange little child’ the diary says. It can be an ally or an enemy, he have not yet travelled a long distance.” he stops a bit then says ”Give Lady Merisiel the cloak we found, is should protect her from this could, and she can swap with Lady Argentea if she needs.” then looking at the others he says ”I’ll take the well-made sword we found for now, that and the arrows that can hurt those strange creatures, I’m sure I can fire then even better now, It should not be a problem if someone is exchanging blows with it.”
to follow directions to the hut.
Sven watches with his head tilted slightly as the Strix masterfully manipulates the bear traps. There's an impressive amount of finesse there!
"I agree, let us see this 'child'." He remarks with a bit of apprehension. In truth, he fears that it really is a child, which frightens him a bit. But he works hard to mask that fear. "Perhaps someone else should approach the the hut first. I have a tendency to frighten children."
The party travels another half hour until they reach a strange clearing
Lady Argentea complains about how cold it is and how she can no longer feel her feet. Winter whines as the cold saps her strength.
More than a dozen boulder-sized chunks of ice litter the clearing ahead where a strange hut sits perched on tree trunks atop a raised mound of snow-covered earth.
A young blonde haired Ulfen girl appears among the ice boulders and says I'm sorry! Don't hurt me! I never meant to call you names! she looks on the verge of tears and about to flee into maze of ice boulders.
Surprised by the girl Kirraak try to calm her down ”No one here is going to hurt you miss. Unless you attack us first. There’s no need to flee, if there’s any problem, we can help you fix it.”
Sven is... conflicted. Something about this girl really frightens him. But there his something reminiscent of home in her ulfen features, and the need to help something that appears so innocent.
"Who are you talking to?" He asks, "We have no conflict with you. You may speak with us from a distance if it helps you feel safer. Who are you and what has you frightened?"
Responding to Sven's question the child says Nazhena Vasilliovna, she scares me. Please don't let her take me. and then runs into the ice block maze.
"Nazhena Vasilliovna is the name of a mid ranking Jadwiga from Irrisen. At least that is what I've heard."
Hassan moves into the ice boulders and the girl stops about 20 feet from him and says Please don't keep me here, it's so cold. I miss my momma!