As you follow the trail it leads back towards the caravan site. About 50ft or so the trail breaks off and some leads straight into the Border Wood and some joins the tracks at the massacre.
The path leading into the Border Wood from the massacre site has many more different sets of footsteps and drag marks than the trail that went off-road just before the caravan site.
As it enters the full expanse of the Border Wood, the trail passes through a small clearing among the taller trees before continuing uphill and out of sight. A large chest lies half-buried in the snow, apparently dropped or discarded by those who hastily passed this way.
"We're on the right track. Let's keep going." Votun says.
«Mmm. Votun's right, we got little time to spare... but me mom always told me not to waste resources. And since no one here strikes me as a master lockbreaker...»
Jorgo grabs his axe lets it fall on the lock, then again, then again, demolishing the chest lock blow after blow.
If something inside gets broken, eh, too bad. Would've gone wasted anyway if we had left the chest there untouched.
You see a rope in the undergrowth near the chest which is taut and runs up a nearby tree.
Votun is no where near the chest. Having no skill nor desire to open the chest.
"Let's not encumber ourselves with unnecessary weight...if there is nothing of immediate help towards our rescue mission, I suggest we cover this chest in foliage and return to it when the Dansby's and Lady Argentea are safe"
Again we find ourselves distracted by riches...and succumbing to the temptation to steal
Jorgo stops his axe mid-air. «Oh!» he exclaims as he sees a cable running from the chest to a nearby tree «So I guess this may be a trap… good thing the older folks are wiser and take a moment to make me watch before I hit.» he shrugs and gives a crooked smile at Votun, a bit embarrassed at his own exuberance.
«I guess we lack the time or skill to disarm it…» he puts his axe back on his back «So back to following tracks.»
I’ll have these bandits pay for taunting me into making a fool of myself, too, then…
Sigrun watches at Jorgo pounds away at the chest, nodding as the trap is dicovered.
"Fortune rarely comes without a fight. If it looks to esasy it probably is." she says, once again crouching to study the tracks.
As you follow the trail deeper into the Border Wood, the air is getting noticeably colder. So cold, in fact, it feels like it is freezing cold. Vegetation along the way confirms this suspicion as you see gnarled and withered bushes, skinny trees with icicle leaves, and deeper snow.
The snow has become a point of nuisance, making it difficult to walk through without slowing down. Your bodies aren't responding as quickly or as well as normal.
Snow drifts have banked up on one side of the trail, over a foot high, with 8 inches of snow covering most of the rest of the ground. Snow is still falling making it difficult to see.
Munin, you see in the side of one of the snow drifts a hole big enough for a creature. In fact, as you look closer, you see two red eyes inside the hole...
Squawk! "Beady red eyes under the snow!" Munin squawks and flies toward a high branch.
Kirridell watches the raven spiral and screech in the snow...
This weather...if it spreads...it will destroy the livelihoods of all who live near here
The cleric pulls his collar higher around his neck and prays for warmer weather....
Votun understands the warning of Munin and steps back from the identified snow drift. "Watch out there!" he shouts to everyone.
Sigrun dons the snowshoes, unslinging Votun's from her back and handing them to him. Though wearing the least clothing of the group she seems completely unaffected by the cold.
Rugged Northerner
Benefit: You treat extreme cold conditions as severe cold, and severe cold as cold weather conditions. You are not impacted at all by normal cold weather conditions. In addition, you do not become fatigued by frostbite or hypothermia.
Jorgo shivers as the temperature lowers.
Gorum curse me! he thinks Next time Tess offers to pay me with one of her formulas, I'll stay way from combat tricks and pick a nice "warm belly extract" or something like that. Brrr...
He then turns towards Votun «What was that? Did that bird see something?» Jorgo squints, trying to look under the snow, in the direction Votun pointed at.
You've heard tell of a rarely seen creature called a tatzlwyrm that resides in forests, like a small dragon, but in the frozen north there are whispers and texts that talk of a snow bound tatzlwyrm. This could definitely be what it is, especially with the tunneled into snow drift.
Knowledge Nature
"Aye, what the bird see? Can't see anything over the damn snow drifts. Curse these short legs!"
"Well if it hasn't attacked us, let's go. It certainly isn't a bandit, a farmer, or a winter witch." Votun says ready to go wearing his snowshoes.
«Nay, if I remember Clancy's stories correctly, that thing might just be a pony-sized snow dragon. Of the rather dangerous sort.» Jorgo adjusts his hold on the axe, just to be sure «In another situation, I'd be glad to rid the woods of a nasty beast like that - but I'm still screwed up by those bugs, and the terrain would be all in his favor.»
«I think staying clear of it is the best course of action... just... whoever is in the rearguard, keep an eye out, would'ya? You never know this thing has an appetite and decides to follow us...»
"Agreed. We should keep moving."
"Onward it is." Colberg moves around the hole giving it hopefully a wide enough berth of 40 ft. before picking the trail back up.
---------------------------------------------
Jorgo follows the trackers, keeping an eye on the rearguard.
Muttering a prayer asking Iomedae to keep his companions warm, Kirridell trudges on through the snow.
The cleric notices a numb feeling in his feet as ice starts to build up around his boots...
The cold chills Kirridell to his very core...every step seems harder as the rising winds blows snow and ice into his face...the drifting snow feels deeper and deeper - almost inviting Kirridell to lie down, to rest, to sleep....
...just not sure I can carry on...but must be strong, my God wills that justice be done...and it will be...
As you continue warily walking the path, you notice that feathered bundles and strange fetishes hang from the lowest branches of the trees in this part of the forest, swaying and shifting in the wind. All are stuck through with small pins holding pieces of leather bound around them.
You notice a faint light moving around the nearest tree to the left of the path. It is a very small light and moves quickly.
Perception
"Hrmmmm, not liking the look o this place at all. Keep yer eyes open fer any nasties comin this way."
Colberg pulls out his longsword to prod one of the things hanging on a tree. As he pokes it he mumbles under his breath. "What has Charon got planned for us ta'night?"
Knowledge Nature
Survival
A frown crosses Sigrun's face as she looks at the fetishes and feathers.
«Ah! Don't ask me» Jorgo replies to Colberg «Don't think I recall ever seeing stuff like that... it would give me a chill down my spine, if I wasn't freezing already.»
The fetishes are shaped into horrific renditions of crows...using actual crow parts. Feathers, wings, bones, and pieces of leather come together into a grisly picture. From the look of it, an entire murder of crows has been transformed into sick caricatures of themselves.
You feel very illusion magic coming from 3 separate trees, well away from each other (about 60ft apart each).
The faint lights and fetishes.
You identify the spell in each of the trees as dancing lights.
Votun watches and listens for a couple of minutes trying to detect the caster of the one minute duration spell. He nonverbally signals to the group be quiet and listen, too.
As you watch for a few moments, whatever you saw or felt seems to have disappeared. To Votun though, the presence lingers, but is not as strong as it was.
"Let us press on...this damnable cold will be the death of us if we linger too long...", if Kirridell had ever displayed a sense of humour or joviality, it has disappeared as the frost has set in....