As usual, Zses seems unaffected by the cold. Seating on the Slaygon, he will think about what waited for them up ahead.
I feel like we're getting close... I hope a snowstorm doesn't break out when we're getting near the portal. I imagine it will be well guarded, and bad weather will only make things worse,
Silence frowned as they continued on, the cold air on the edge of really bothering him, and he could tell poor Charger and the horses were really getting down by the weather.
"At this rate the horses wont make it too long, I hope we find this damn portal soon!" He said to his allies on the Slaygon, scowling through all the white. At least there were quite a few horses to pull the slaygon.
"M-m-m-me t-too..."
Blik will say, unable to get warm since the doll's icy attack.
As the group continues onward Neverhome returns to his withdrawn state that he carried himself with when he first came to the inn. For those aware of the magic protecting him from the cold they get the feeling that even without the cloak he wouldn't pay much attention to the deathly chill as he is now.
Hold! the weasel!
He cried and pointed kicking Mule into motion to attack it!
Blik will get out his new sling and load a bullet, but peer closely at the animal, curious about it's wounds.
Seeing it's been noticed, the Giant Weasel tears violently into Silence's mount! After raking Mule with a claw, it buries its sharp teeth into the horse's chest and latches on, trying to bring him to the ground.
Surprise round over
"Weasel? Zses ask a second before turning his attention where Silence was pointing, only to see Mule assaulted by the animal.
"You..." Zses starts before moving a little closer to the creature.
()
"You better let Mule go and get out of our way, because my friend Crow just needed a new coat." the witch will eye* the weasel up and down, as if mentally taking measures for the soon-to-be coat. He will then give a satisfied laugh** "Yes, you will do just fine!"
*
**
Meanwhile, Crow will fly off of Neverhome hood and support Zses's statement "My coat! My own coat!"
Hobbes hops off the cart while drawing his sword. He moves forward next to the weasel.
Neverhome will follow Hobbes lead, hopping off the cart and drawing his sword as he approaches the overgrown varmint.
"Poor thing, don't worry, you won't be hurting much longer..."
Blik will send off a shot from his sling, trying to out the beast out of its misery.
"Let go of Mule you stupid pile of fur!"
The feline samukitteh growled ears laid back as he deftly slid from the horseback and tried to hack the damnable thing off his mount and friend.
His swing was far too tentitive however with the large furred beast on his friend.
The weasel seems relatively unaffected by Zes's comment. I guess it doesn't speak Common . Ignoring Mule's frantic struggles, it proceeds to pull the horse to the ground . As his horse falls, Silence deftly leaps off .
New Round
Hobbes starts attacking the weasel.
Zses gulps as he prepares to cast his new power at the Weasel. It didn't work out the last two times, and he wasn't even sure what it did, but he felt that was the correct thing to do.
Please work please work please work
"त्वं गच्छ अरत्रा लक्ष्मी परितुदति यू!"
After a second, he will also give an unnerving laugh to scare the beast.
Neverhome was starting to get annoyed with everything in the forest trying to eat them.
Blik will reload and send another sling bullet flying, jumping up onto his seat.
Stupid dumb weasel!Let go of my friend!"
He added with another growl, real worry for his friend and mount Mule. He took a measured strike at the creature.
The weasel whines in pain under the barrage of attacks. It tries to keep hold of Mule - and succeed for a brief second - but then its mouth involuntarily opens, and the horse is able to slip free . It appears to be in very rough shape.
New Round
"You can blame your own arrogance for your demise." Neverhome will solemnly say as he raises his sword again.
So that's what it does? Hmmm...
Zses will gaze* satisfied at the weasel, and then add while gesturing towards it "Well well, looks like it's time for you to go to the tanner, you oversized, stretched mouse!"
Sure that the weasel was done for and that their path to the portal was now clear, Zses will give a victorious laugh.
With Neverhome's blow, the Weasel goes limp and falls to the ground.
Taking a moment to scan the area to see if anything else wants to eat them, he doesn't find anything he'll put away his sword and begin skinning and salvaging meat from the Weasel's corpse.
As he goes about his work he'll ask aloud, "Mule will be alright, won't he?"
Silence was noticibly well Silent as he did his best to provide succor to his bleeding companion. He was frowning no scowling really.
And it's a Heal DC 15 to stop the bleeding so get someone to assist (or use curative magic).
Hobbes draws the wand and walks over to heal the brave Mule.
"Here, I'll help!" Zses will say as he rushes to help Silence.
When they're done healing and tanning, Zses will urge the group to move on "We'd better hurry. The closer we shut the Winter Portal down, the better. If the giant weasel, the mantis, the frostfirs and everything else came from a portal that's been open from only some days, our enemies could assemble an army given the time."
Neverhome's able to gather enough hide to make a stylish small-sized cloak . However, this comes at the expense of food-collecting, and he's only able to preserve some of the meat .
Moving on (with a partially-healed Mule), you finally enter the Somir Valley. The snowfall has been slowly lightening - which is a good thing, as the sun is going down. .
"Well, at least it's not snowing." Zses will grin.
"Do you want to search and attack the portal this night? I can't see in the dark, but I can provide light." he will add, snapping his finger to materialize 4 greyish orbs . Despite their appearance, they will move to the corners of the Slaygon and provide a warm, bright light.
"Anyway, I'd prefer if we don't rest and strike as soon as possible. Sleeping would only make us vulnerable, give them time to call other reinforcements from the portal or simply make them spot us. I can still use most of the spells I memorized this morning..." Zses will tell the party the spells he still has available.
"I can use Enlarge Person. It will last enough for a fight, and make one of us way bigger and stronger, but also more easy to hit. Lyosha, I think you'll be the one that gets more benefits from it..."
"And the one that will look scarier" Crow will add from Neverhome's hood.
"Obviously. I also memorized a Silent Image. It doesn't do actually anything, but it creates a partially stationary illusory image of anything. With some ingenuity, it could turn the tables for us" Zses will stop for a second to ponder "Let's do it like this: if I'm casting a spell by speaking in common, I'm casting Silent Image, ok? In this way I'm making you know that the spell I'm casting is only an illusion."
Before Zses could continue, Crow's shadow started to flicker and multiply as he spoke with a deep voice "It's best if we prepare as best as we can. I can lend my aid if you need someone to scout. The bond between Zsestrian and me lets us feel our mutual emotions, and he can cast the Message spell on two other people. It should be very useful indeed"
Then Crow voice will turn back to normal as fast as it changed in the first place "So, scouting?" he will croak.
"Yea, let's do this now. Make an image that distracts whatever is in there would work."
Still coated in chunky red salsa from his weasel harvesting Neverhome will merely scratch his head as Zsestrian goes on about his spells. "Not quite sure how to feel about being turned into Giant, but if it helps..."
They had finally reached their destination it would seem, and he was ready for it, Charger still was bothered by wounds, by the samurai horse Was stoic and prepared to do his duty as was the feline. He gave the warhorse a firm pat on the neck and looked about to his companions than nodded.
"we do not know what horrors lie here at this portal my friends, but this is not our final hour. If the evil that is invading these lands here is strong, too strong for us to prevail at this moment, we can retreat, and return better rested and perhaps with additional aid. Their is no dishonor in retreating from a battle you can not win, not when one can still win the day better rested and prepared."
He added making sure his new friends understood then readied himself, pulling out the naginata to keep his enemies at range until it came time for the general melee.
It's several hours past sunset by the time you reach the area marked on the Sentinel's Map. As you travel, the snowfall steadily increases until you're caught in a blizzard. As you trudge through 4ft deep snow, you can barely make out several igloos.
Hobbes is glad to be riding in the Swagon as he would not be able to see much above the snow almost as tall as he is. "Let's see if they got any friendlies in them." He says pointing to the igloos.
Zses will stand up and move closer to the edge of the Slaygon, commanding the : he will position one of the lights on top of the cart of the slaygon, another in front of the horses, and the last two in upper-right and upper-left position from the light in front of the horses, like a Y. Also, he will cast and keep up in front of the Slaygon. "Let's hope this helps with the visibility."
Getting up Neverhome will quietly address the group, "I'll go first." before dipping over the side of the slaygon and moving about on all fours to try and distribute his weight evenly.
Before going far he'll turn his head slightly to address Crow, "When we get there, unless they're offering drinks, go tell the others."
"Lyosha, wait a second." Zses will say before Neverhome jump off the cart. Interrupting his he will point at both Crow and Lyosha and cast .
He will give an encouraging smile to Lyosha, nod, and then resume casting in front of the Slaygon.