rRRrrrrrr. Yes, the source of this unnatural weather must be found. It is already wreaking havoc on the locals and if it spreads any further will be a serious threat to the livelihoods of the farmers in the area. That and it seems to be attracting unsavoury fey. Perhaps it is a manifestation of the First World? In any case, I suggest that if we are satisfied the Lady is safe now we finish investigating what happened here and see if there are any clues as to the weather. Then I think this is as good a place as any to rest before continuing our hunt for the source of this aberrant winter tomorrow. Grrrrr."
Dhakor nods. "Good, let's set out again tomorrow. Now if the lady is taken care of, let's see what's behind this locked door."
"Spending the night here then setting out the next morning at first light I believe is the best idea lets take the things we need. Lock the doors and store the bodies outside. Then get a good nights sleep. Knight you are welcome to stay here for the night with the lady if you wish."
"I agree, but we do need to check that last door upstairs. With all the strangeness going on I don't wish to sleep in the lodge until it is fully explored."
Kishai heads up the stairs to the final door, and waits to see if anyone joins her before opening it.
Dhakor follows Kishai up, gives the room a cursory glance, then waits in readiness next to the door.
Garrasay follows the rest of the group to examine the closed door.
Satu holds herself ready as well for whatever might be behind the door, now having caught her breath again.
Seeing that she has some backup in case of a threat, Kishai opens the door and steps through.
Morde watches everyone go upstairs to check out a unexplored room, and shrugs. Grabbing some firewood he goes and starts a fire. warming himself he waits to hear anything.
Cnut naturally gravitates toward the fire, offering his aid in starting it, content to let the others handle the last room and hear later what they find.
Dozens of small boxes, bottles, and papers fill this musty storeroom. A small iron cage sits on the top shelf, emanating a flickering light like that of a candle. The light however seems to be rather dim as it flickers.
Dhakor relaxes as the door reveals no ommediate danger.
" Plenty to go through here. " he says, looking over the papers. "And what's this?" he adds, glancing up at the cage. "Can you get that down?" he asks the towering gnoll.
What's that light in the cage? I'll get it!
Satu, wary of traps after her experience at the door takes a look for them in the room, but then goes over and reaches up for the little cage, taking it from the shelf for a closer look.
Garasay was about to simply reach up for the cage when Satu intervened. He was about to say something, but then noticed the meticulousness with which she examined the cage before touching it. He let out a low growl, it had never occurred to him that the cage may be trapped, but it was a wise precaution. These bandits had set up the spiked log and the magical trap at the river so it wasn't unreasonable that they might trap something valuable here as well.
While the others are concentrating on the cage, Kishai searches the rest of the room to see if she can find anything else of interest.
Satu doesn't think the cage or area is trapped. She reaches up to grab the cage. When you do so the light inside it brightens. So bright you're having a hard time confirming what's in the cage but it looks like a diminutive fey. As you pull it down to you can hear the tiny cage door rattle, "You let me out, they will come for you. You will all die a horrible death unless you set me free. I swear to you it will not be pleasant."
Kishai finds some items of interest.
In these boxes you find three parchment paper with writing on it, 2 bottles of a dark green liquid, a small lockbox. In a different box you find three bottles of a dark liquid and 10 flasks of alchemist’s fire.
Spellcraft
Garrasay
Cnut
Satu
The box is locked, but you have Rohkar's keys and you open it up to find 25 pp, 150 gp, 180 sp and a blue quartz diamond.
Appraise
Garrasay
Dhakor
Mordred
Kishai
Cnut
With the assistance of Cnut, Mordred is able to determine this is a "ice diamond" from Irrisen worth 100 gp. You know this kind of gem is common among the witches of Irrisen.
The two dark green liquids do not detect as magical and are not labeled.
Price 100 gp
DETAILS
Type poison (injury); Save Fortitude DC 13; Frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; Cure 1 save
EFFECT
1 Con damage
Nodding at Cnut as he assists with the fire, Morde relaxes a little and pulls out a bottle of procured ale, (I am assuming there was some sort of alcohol in this place.) and offers to Share. Kicking back he takes a moment to enjoy a little companionship knowing that these times are rare. "Sooo, Nutt? is it? Mage school must have been rough right? where did you study?" Not in the least bit interested in the gold and jewels, Morde will wait to hear what his share is. Greed he knows killed many people. myself being one of them......
Garrasay's bushy eyebrows shoot up at the threats being leveled at the group by the tiny creature. "Hrrrrrr. No need to be angry, we are not with the necromancer. We have in fact defeated him. Be patient, we will see if there is a key about to release you from your prison. Why has the bandit leader imprisoned you? gggrrrggg"
"I'm sure one of his keys must open the cage."
Once the fey is free, Dhakor asks "So, what do you know about Rhakor's plans, and his fey allies? "
Still holding the cage in hands Satu asks the curious little creature:
Who and what are you? And who will come to get us? You're so angry...and small...it's sweet.
Cnut smiles at the other man. "Cnut*, yes. My...talents come from no school, my friend. They are a legacy of my mother's family. They have always been skilled with fire magic. I can offer little explanation beyond that. It is merely what we are, the fire is a part of us." Cnut says, before falling silent as he gazes into the flames.
[ooc]*Pronounced Ca-NOOT.[/b]
"What strange weather, don't you think Brugh?" Durra was quite comfortable in the cold snow and so was her heavy friend. She has been travelling down here to see some nice weather, but then she heard the rumours about sudden snow. Quite unusal at this time. After a quick break in Heldren, she decided to investigate that phenonema. She had always like snow. After a few miles she found the border of the snowy area and decided to move forward. A few hours later, the weather got stronger, she saw some lights and what appeared to be buildings. Thre could have been tracks in the snow, too.
They moved forward towards them with a steady pace. When she saw the shadows of some figures inside, she shouted: "Heeeey! Over here!" It was quite loud in there, nobody seemed to notice her. Was that the sound of battle? She hoped not. Durra quickly brought Brugh into the stable then got back to the house and.
As the group finally noticed here, they were startled. A big orc woman stood in the door frame, big axe shouldered, several other weapons strapped to her back. But she looked surprisingely friendly with a calming smile. klick
"May I come in? It's quite cold out here!"
Kishai glares at Dhakor as he releases the little fey. "That might well have been impulsive. The others here spoke of fey harassing them throughout the woods, and they are known to be very tricky. It may have been wiser to talk to it a bit longer before just letting it go."
She studies the creature carefully, both trying to identify it and gauge its honesty.
The fey laughs maniacally, "They will come and freeze you all, maybe even rip off your heads." It continues to rattle the cage. "Yeah I see that key, that's it that's the one. Open this door! Teb will come, he will smash you!!!!"
Satu answers to Kishai.
That necromancer talked to another fey in the forest...This one seems trustworthy to me. Why else would they lock her away?
Looking at the little fey in the cage.
Allright little one, i'll let you out. We aren't like those who were here before. But you have to promise me not to run away directly and answer some question, can you?
Like who is Teb and those others you are talking about. Did they cooperate with the necromancer here? And you said freeze us, does this have anything to do with this unusual cold? And why are you in this cage in the first place?
Satu prepares to open the cage, but waits for the fey to answer her questions before.
"The other fey were working for the bandits, so I hear. And I doubt the necromancer had any kind of good reason for caging this fairy. I'm sure it will soon realise we aren't its enemies."
Garrasay heard the knock at the front door and sighed as he grumbled "Rrrrggggg. Now who is it? If we had just waited another hour or two we could have had an entire army to confront these bandits."
He ambled to the entrance and peered through the window at the newcomer. Seeing the orcish woman he became a little concerned that she might be associated with the prisoner they had handed over to the guards who had left a short time ago.
He opened the door, alert for any danger "Hello, can I help you? rrgghhghggrrr"
A big orc woman stood in the door frame, big axe shouldered, several other weapons strapped to her back. But she looked surprisingely friendly with a calming smile. click
"May I come in? It's quite cold out here!"
The shaggy gnoll sized up the orc for a moment or two before replying "Gggrrrrrrr. Its not safe in the woods as of late. It would have been better if you could have found lodging in Heldren, but since you are here it would be unkind of me to turn you away. The place is in disarray though, a group of bandits was recently defeated here."
Garrasay opens the door and stands aside, motioning for the newcomer to enter. "My name is Garrasay and this is Petal. hhrrrrrRrRR." he says, motioning to the crown of flowers on his head that rustle cheerfully.
Quietly mordred enjoys the fire, "this place must have been busier than I thought." watching everyone move about Morde shuffles uncomfortably trying to watch everyone.
"Come Orc, sit yourself by the fire." Motioning to the lady. Names Morde, by the way." handing her a smoking pipe if she wants it. "The others, are upstairs arguing with some sort of fey."
Durra was startled herself, when the gnoll opened the door. She didn't expect that. But who is she to judge.
"That's mighty fine of you. My name is Durra."
She strapped leaned the axe to the side of the chair and bowed down towards the fire warming herself.
Kishai recognizes this as a sprite. You also recognize that this sprites skin is blue which could only mean one thing, it's from Irrisen. This might make it immune or resistant to cold. Sprite
The creature shakes the cage, "I don't have to answer to you... They will come and kill you all."
The gnoll took a seat by the fire and the tangle of vines crept from his head down his arm to the table where it rested with a contented rustle. "Rrrr. This is a very poor evening to be out in the forest Durra. What brings you this way tonight of all nights. grrrRrRr"
"It is. But why is it a special night? I was investigating the snow. It shouldn't be here."
Durra took a piece of very strange looking meat out of her bag and pierced it on one of her short spears. Then she held it into the fire.
"Rrggrgrgr. Yes, the snow itself is wrong, but it seems to have also attracted an unusual amount of unsavoury fey. Since we started our own investigations we have been attacked on more than one occasion by small blue sprites of some description. It is fortunate that you have not encountered any."
Garrasay motions to the door upstairs "We have found one trapped in a cage upstairs. They seem to have vexed the bandits who used to live here as well. I don't know what the bandit leader's intentions were with the little fey, but my companions are talking with it now. Maybe it knows something about the cause of the weather. Would you care to talk with it?. rrrrrRRRRr?"
Satu looks at the angry small fey and sighs.
Look little one, i already said i let you out and as long as you don't attack us, we won't harm you at all. Promise. After all, i guess we just slew your captors, so there's a good chance we have similar interests and could be good friends. In the end, it's up to you though. I'll let you out now.
Then she opens the little door on the cage, just after making sure the door and the windows are closed.
Kishai continues to watch as Satu interacts with the fey. She's had enough experience with them to know that they are not always to be trusted.
@Garrasay "Uh. I wouldn't know how to talk to a fey. They're nasty little trickster."
When Satu opens the cage door, the fey starts to flee but then stops. "Hmmm, you let me out!" It flutters in the air then moves in closer. "You didn't have to do that. You're not like that mean man at all!"
Kishai senses the fey is greatful and is not displaying any ill intent.
Your party sets up to rest for the remainder of the day, then sets out the next morning to investigate this portal you saw marked on the map.
═══════════════
The date is 4713 AR on Fireday, 21st Earstus at 7:00 am - current moon cycle: first quarter
The Location - The High Sentinel Lodge
A bridge made of rope and wooden planks spans a narrow ravine. It's already covered in ice and snow, and it sways alarmingly in the icy winds blowing through the gorge. The turbulent waters of a fast-moving creek surge through a couple of waterfalls far below.
Not only is it snowing but it is a little windy here too.
How would you like to proceed?
Satu responds to the fey.
That's right, i'm not mean at all. Except sometimes with mean and evil people i can get pretty mean as well, but only to them. And usualy they deserve it.
Why don't you tell me your name and something about yourself? My name is Satu and i was sent here to free the captured lady down there. I'm also curious about the extraordinary winter.
------------------------------------------------
This does not look good. I have no intentions of slipping and falling down there. Does anyone know a different way? Or maybe we can tie some rope to the bridge and secure us that way. Let's have a look.
Satu goes looking wether she can tie a rope around the rope on the bridge which would secure people crossing it and provide a hold should someone fall down.
"I'm willing to give it a try. I can head across carefully with a rope and tie it on the other side to provide some additional support."
"If we do this, after I've secured it on the other side and the rest cross, could the last person untie it and bring it across to us?"
That's not really what i meant Kishai. It might work as well, but i thought we could tie a rope around the bridgerope in a loop, then the other end around us and move it along as we pass over the bridge. Is that clearer?
"That does work for slipping due to wind and ice, but what if the bridge itself breaks?"
Durra looks even more worried than the rest. Then she brings Brugh from the stables. "I guess us two have to find another way. This is Brugh. My best friend so to say."