Munin will fly a grappling hook, that is tied with a rope, to a tree on the other side of the river. High enough in the tree such that we can swing across without touching the ice. Votun suggests Sigrun go first, because she can handle melee combat. Then, Munin can return the free end of the rope to repeat the process.
Colberg grabs coil of rope from his backpack. "This is all I got, ain't thought I'd ever need a grapple hook. Never bought one. Perhaps your right though Jorgo, I might be able to hit me a tree with an arrow. Dunno how sturdy it'd be."
"Let's get a couple of ropes over...and use them as a bridge...we will catch our death in the cold here if we hesitate...."
...that, and the fact that whatever is lurking here in the woods surely knows now that we are coming....
Jorgo grabs the rope "Give me here, ol' man! If it holds me up it can hold any of you!" says the half orc, conjuring up the courage to face the ice.
"While we are at it, Votun, would you mind hitting the ice a couple of times with your magical freezing ray you're so fond of? Maybe it'll help holding everything together..."
He waits for Votun to do his thing, then he makes for the crossing.
Votun does his thing.
Jorgo walks gingerly onto the ice after Votun mutters a few times and a bluish, cold beam springs from his finger. You hear a deep crackling sound, like the ice became much thicker in spots on the creek.
Jorgo slips!
But he gets up again and walks a little more carefully to the other side where he ties the end of the rope off to a tree.
The ice is harder to see through overall after the effects of whatever Votun did.
Votun passes second and continues to thicken the ice for everyone.
Sigrun takes her place, holding on to the rope as she makes her way across the ice.
"Hurry up priest we don't got all day. Can't be leaving you behind to get snacked on by the little fairies. Torag only knows if they'd look at you and we find you've broken in half."
After Kirridell crosses Colberg takes up the rear.
Taking care to only step where his friends have previously applied weight, Kirridell cautiously steps out on to the ice...
"I'll be right with you..."
Several times the struggling priest feels his feet slide from beneath him...and only the rope prevent calamity from befalling him.
As the last person gets close to the edge of the other side of the crossing, a large thump can be heard from the ice just crossed. A shriek of frustration and anger, although muffled, can be heard through the frozen cover. It isn't your imagination this time, you see two big, dark spots under the ice move quickly down the river.
The legs and feet of a frozen corpse jut from a pile of snow next to the trees here on the other side of the creek. The body of what looks to be a farmer. As you search through the area for clues you find a composite ongbow (+1 Str) with 12 arrows; a dagger; a masterwork handaxe; and a pouch containing 14 gp, 25 sp, and 18 cp.
His body is iced over in places, and patches of black, intensely frost-bitten skin cover his chest and face...almost in the shape of fists.
The trail begins to climb a ridgeline to the south beneath snow-laden trees. The prints of boots and horses mar the freshly fallen snow on the trail. You see three bandits further up the trail who haven't noticed you yet thanks to what sounds like quarreling. You overhear some words, noticing Lady Argentea's name and treasure.
Kirridell motions to his companions to remain quiet, "These outlaws may provide us with the information we need to locate, and to rescue, the Lady Argentea", a glimmer of hope crosses the priests' face as he briefly allows himself to believe that this may end well. "Colberg, my friend, could you sneak ahead and attempt to overhear what it is they are saying? Hopefully they may let slip the information we need"
Pausing and realising that a Plan B is nearly always required, "Of course, if it comes down to violence, let us make sure at least one of these ruffians survives."
"Colberg, sneak up there. If they spot you, I'll put them to sleep. You others need to get there quick to prevent any of them that resist from waking their companions." Votun waits and casts Sleep DC 15 on the men.
Jorgo mutters a bit under his breath. Sending Colberg to spy before attacking, and catching the bandits by surprise with magic is a sound enough plan: but after the afternoon spent walking in the snow he wouldn't have minded a little brawl to heat his blood. "I guess we could wait for the twilight, but I'm not too keen on freezing my butt keeping an eye on them"
"Fine, fine. I'll bash them in the head, but just slightly" says Jorgo to Kirridell.
The half-orc, axe in one hand and a glass vial in the other, approaches cautiously the bandit camp.
Smiling at Jorgo's unique sense of diplomacy, Kirridell moves with the half-orc, sword drawn and watching out for hidden threats.
Votun's sleep spell causes the men to quiet down one by one, then nod off. Each man falls in a different direction. One man falls face forward.
Colberg glints at Votun suspiciously for a moment, then huffs, and trundles off towards the men.
Once in the middle of the makeshift camp Colberg uses some rope one of the bandits possessed to tie them up and together.
Votun climbs up to the sleeping and hog-tied prisoners. Maybe wake one of the up to interrogate. They are bandits, so feel free to execute them."
Jorgo is NOT happy. He looks at the empty vial of mutagen in his hand, and squeezes his eyes, trying to concentrate as all the blood flows from his brain to his engorged muscles.
“Great, old man. Just great.” he says polemically to Votun “Not only I didn’t get a chance to warm myself up with a brawl, but I wasted some fine alchemical work.” he throws the empty vial in the snow. “I’m all worked up for nothing! GRAAH!” he hacks with his axe, as hard as he can, at a pine truck nearby.
“Uff.” he puffs after a few blows “I guess, to console myself, I can always proceed to the interrogation!” he cracks his knuckles “This fellers are kidnappers and bandits, they deserve a knee in the ribcage, don’t they?”
He makes sure the other two are safely tied, then gets the toughest-looking one up. He slaps him very hard in the face “Wake up, jackass! The punch fairy came visit your dreams!”
Alarmed at how quickly his friends would turn to violence against the tied bandits, Kirridell pleas for calm, "Friends, we do not yet know what these…bandits…are guilty of. Let us first attempt to establish their crimes before we judge them deserving of death."
Placing a calming hand on Jorgo's shoulder, "If you hit this man hard enough, he will tell you anything…regardless of whether it is the truth or not. My friend, such brutality…is beneath you. These people are bound and helpless in the cold and in the snow…they know we hold their lives in our hands…that should be compelling enough to establish what we need to know".
Waiting for the bandit selected by Jorgo to wake, Kirridell busies himself by checking that the unconsious men are all firmly tied.
"Wha..who...WHAT?!?! Ouch!! Not so hard...whaddya think yer doin'? OW! Ok...ok...what do you want?"
"Jorgo, my friend, let me…"
Opting for the use of reason over intimidation, Kirridell sits himself in front of the freshly woken bandit, "Aaaah, you are awake at last…..by the gods it's cold isn't it?", turning and smiling at the Half-Orc, "What do you think Jorgo? Have you ever known weather like this?".
Making himself comfortable, Kirridell continues "What's your name sir?"
"Kantrell...m'names Kantrell...father. Y-y-yes it IS cold...m'hands are freezin' in these ropes. What'd yah do to us...are they...dead?"
Better get this done quick, I don't like the look in Jorgo's eyes...and as for Votun, he's got ice for a heart...if these guys don't tell us everything we need to know, they're as good as dead....
Smiling coldly, "No, not dead....just sleeping for now..."
"So, the way that I see it Kantrell, you and your pals here have got yourself mixed up in something much bigger than you can comprehend...there are forces at work here in this forest that are deeply malevolent", pausing briefly to let his words sink in, Kirridell gestures at Jorgo and Votun then continues, "My friends here...they have you down as killers...and would dispense the appropriate justice without a moment's hesitation...but, I don't share their conviction...I have no doubt that you are a thief and, for that, you will stand trial and face punishment...but it is the Fey who have been killing in the woods"
Allowing Kantrell to briefly think that he may go free, Kirridell changes tack, "We need information...I know that you are involved in some way with the disappearance of the Lady Argentea....I would know where, I would know why and I want to know what resistance we may face", turning to face Jorgo (and praying that the half-Orc isn't ready to hit the bandit again), "Say Jorgo, how long do you think someone would last out here? In the cold and snow...not long I wouldn't have thought?"
Jorgo holds the bandit by the earlobe, squeezing hard with his strength enhanced by the mutagen.
"I reckon they won't last long, father - even less is you rip them ears off!" he jerks violently the ear of the bandit.
"Answer the good father, man... and you get to feel warm once again - in a Taldan prison, that is, but still warm and with both ears."
Seeing the man's expression as Jorgo speaks Sigrun kneels beside the tied bandits.
We should break their legs and leave them to the cold, it is what we do with criminals in the north. Come nightfall, when the cold creeps into their bones and they pray for the freezing agony to stop. That is when they will meet what they deserve.
Intimidate
After tying up the prisoners and securing them Colberg moves through the camp looking for all of their supplies.
Looks like the big orc gots this intter'gation under control, suppose I'll go and look for something to keep us alive out here. A couple of these folks ain't go no clue to the cold, especially the priest. Probably gonna have to carry him back to town before this is done.
Listening with half an ear Colberg pipes in about how long they would survive. Calling from inside one of the tents, "If they lucky they can make it back ta the farm 'fore the midnight freeze sets... but Lady Fortune is a fickle mistress." In a normal voice he adds, "'Specially ta those missin' ears, I think."
The man squeals as his earlobe feels as though it is about to burst. Tears start to flow from his eyes and then he starts weep and sob fully as Sigrun lays her battleaxe across his shins. "*sniff*snort* Stop...please...I'll tell you anything! Rohkar's behind it! I dunno anythin'! I'm just a *sob hiccup* lookout! I ain't even been back to the lodge fer a week now. They took that Lady...but them Fey...they were the one's killin' and torturin' and making examples outta her guards. We just wanted some easy money...I didn't sign up for this! I don't know nothin' 'bout no farm or farmers!! We saw the rest of Rohkar's Raiders bring that Lady back this towards the lodge up ahead. It's been rough this damned unnatural winter...half of us are sick and the rest are starvin'. Please don't do this to me...PLEASE!!!"
"A week? How often do you have contact with anyone?"
"I dunno...I dunno...They came back up a few days ago. We was s'posed to stay here and watch the path. We don't really hear from nobody...and we weren't s'posed to 'til they came and got us."
Please narrate whatever useful we can get from these guys: what's up ahead, how many, how are they armed, who is the leader, any traps, and anything that should concern adventurers trying to rescue a noble lady.
Without a big story post to regroup us, I feel we are losing this game.
Will do in a bit!
"There's ten of us down at the fort...at least there were when I was there last...a stable with some horses, and o' course there's Rohkar. He's a powerful necromancer...I seened him bring a skeleton back to life with my own eyes! Half of the guys were sick with the Chillbane shakes when we were sent out here...wouldn't be surprised if more got sick since last week. Cor...it's freezin' out here...please...a fire. Oh wait...they were talkin' about setting up a trap near the front porch. I ain't too sure what it is but knowin' Rohkar it'll be simple but nasty. Early in the mornin's yer best bet...we're all a pretty lazy bunch. Bein' a bandit don't really call for early hours."
The "camp" is three simple tents around a firepit with a couple cratelike boxes and a barrel. The other two are still asleep but shivering. There are three longswords you've collected and some foodstuffs.
The trail from the camp leads on for about one hundred feet and you can see a clearing after that and smoke rising up out of the clearing.
Quietly aside to Jorgo, "This guy is telling the truth...way I see it, we put the fear of the gods into these bandits...they'll run from these woods and give us no more trouble...the law will catch up with them soon enough."
The alternative is unpalatable and...unjust
Jorgo looks at Kirridel a bit offended “I ain’t killin’s them in cold blood, father, come on! I’m handy with a cleaver, that does not make me a butcher!” he pushes Kirridel on the shoulder, half playfully half annoyed “Sure wish we could bring them to prison, but that ain’t happening either.” he adds, making sure the three prisoners can’t hear him.
“Judging from the smoke, that place is not far away. We can leave these idiots here tied up in their tents, go do our business at the fort. When we come back, we bring them to the guards or we set them their own way with a healthy scare. Either way, I’m fine.”
“So, should we rest for the night an’ try to take the place at dawn? Do we trust this guy?”
"Yes, we need to rest. These guys can stay tied up until we return. We can decide then what to do."
The night passes event peacefully, although you hear a moan once or twice from the tent you stuffed the three bandits into. An odd sound comes from the clearing...something close to the edge of audibility. Other than that, you get a decent night's rest with a rotating watch.
The grey dawn brings with it more snow.
The next morning, with the very first lights of the dawn, Jorgo wakes up. He mixes his mutagen and his bombs, then warms up instant coffee (one of the many tricks up in his alchemical's sleeve) for everyone.
"So, dawn is here, and according to these idiots this should be the best moment to take the fort. Shall we go and see what we're dealing with?"