After hearing Yuln's tale Mordred pulls out one of his cold iron throwing axes. making a small slice in his hand he says "Be At rest my friend, I will find the Lady On my honor for you while you are bedridden. Only at my death will I stop. " the Mordred holds out his hand to finish the pact.
In addition " Is there anything that the lady would reconize as coming from you where she will trust us? "
"Thank you, Steinolf. I will be able to pay you back once I have the chance to do some work in town. Shall we head to the apothecary now?
At the General Store:
“Yes, that is a great idea. I would love to meet this Ulfen guard. You know, I am half Ulfen and I have heard many things about these glorious warriors. I am excited to meet one in person.” Trying to hold it back, Steinolf seems almost Getty at the opportunity to meet this man.
“Oh, the gold? Don’t worry about it. There was a reason the gods sent us here together. You had no coin, and I did. It was fate.”
Heading to the Apothecary:
“You know in all of my journies I have been meaning to head north to the Lands of the Mammoth Lords... but, I have always had a contract come up where I couldn’t exactly make it.”
Walking into the apothecary, Steinolf looks around seeing if anyone is in this entry room. If he doesn’t see anyone he knocks on the door; “Hello?” Once someone appears; “Good afternoon! Not to be a bother, but you have a Ulfen guard in your care. We have heard that he is on the mend and don’t want to disturb him, but we are investigating several recent strange occurrences. We believe that it is important to meet with him. Is he awake by chance or should we come back?”
Gavinia gives a slight bow. "My thanks again, my friend, and may Alseta bless you."
"My journeys, too, have been tending to the north, although I have been content to take my time thus far. I was not expecting to meet with the cold quite so soon."
The location is Heldren - Willowbark Apothecary
Steinolf and Gavinia, you see a number of people in the Apothecary when you arrive. A number of the faces you recognize. Tessaraea greets you and points to the back where the others are questioning an Ulfen man.
Yuln responds to Mordred, "The Taldan symbol, she will be open to anyone who shows her that and offers to help her. She is very kind hearted, I'm sure she will welcome any rescue."
“The others?” Walking into the room, Steinolf sees Mordred standing over the Ulfen with a throwing axe. “Woah, what is going on here!?!?”
Gavinia rests a steadying hand on Steinolf's back. "Be easy, Steinolf. There seems to be no hostility here."
Gavinia does not sense any ill intent from Yuln. He does seem concerned for the lady. He is healed for the most part, his wounds are bandaged already and seem to be done well.
At the smithy, you know they don't sell weapons or armor. They only shoe horses and small metal jobs like that. If you want a weapon made, he does not have Cold Iron available and it will take a long time for him to produce, time you may not have.
Mordred looks at the young fighter “nothing to fear , I have given my pledge to help find the lady. That is all “ with that morde squizes his hands to let blood drop on the floor.
“ did you find anything of interest at the temple , my lady cleric ?” with that morde tells the other two about what Yuln said.
Gavinia briefly relays what Steinolf and she have learned. "The priest told us that the Sentinels have a lodge deep in the woods. We should check there at some point to see if anything has happened to them. We purchased a map of the woods from the store - it should help us with the major landmarks, even with all the snow. We also have some cold weather gear."
"I already have a cold weather outfit, Yuln mentioned Fey. Does anyone else have cold Iron weapons? I have fought fey before, especially those cursed by evil, they can be wicked."
"Aerrrrr. Thank you Yuln. We will see what we can do to get your Lady back."
He turns to the others that have arrived. "Grr. Yes, cold weather outfits sound like a good idea. How much do I owe you for this? You have a map you say? That will also be useful."
Garrasay looks over the group "Should we get the one with the fox? He sounded like he was concerned with the safety of the residents here, perhaps he would be interested in helping as well."
The vine suddenly rustled in surprise and indignation. It crept across his shoulders and back again before crawling into his backpack. Garrasy sighed "hrrrrr. Ignore Petals, he seems to have taken exception to Yukiharu's companion."
After an some additional time at the tavern proved fruitless the two made their way to the statue in the square to try and meet up with the others. A couple of them seemed to know the area rather well.
Garrasay heads to the statue and greets Yukiharu with a big toothy grin. "Grrr. Have you found anything? We have discovered that the caravan transporting the noblewoman was attacked by bandits and cold fey folk. They dragged her away into the woods. We are going to the site of the ambush now if you would like to join us."
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 17th Earstus at 4:00 pm - current moon cycle: new moon
The location is The Border Wood - Massacre Site
The party sets off towards the location Yuln informed you of. After an 8 mile walk down the road near the forest, the temperature grows noticeably colder. You start to see snow, you continue walking down the road for another mile as your movement has slowed due to the rising snow levels. The snow fall thickens and your vision becomes more obscured. The road ahead is littered with debris and the corpses of slain humans and horses. A carriage stands in the roadway, its team of horses missing or cut free, while another overturned carriage lies sprawled and broken next to the tree line. To the south, more bodies have fallen around what appears to be a statue of ice. A snowy trail leads deeper into the forest.
Weather Rules - Snow & Heavy Snow
Current Map:
The Massacre Site
As we reach the cold
“My mind must be slipping with all that is going on. But I purchased extra winter gear. It seems like it is getting colder and can imagine what we will be facing. If anyone needs the equipment I have two extra sets.”
Steinolf offers up two sets of Winter Outfits to those who need it.
Map of Heldren & Border Woods
As we reach the site
“Look at this place... this was an ambush! We aren’t dealing with regular bandits.” Hearing the noises coming from the carriage, Steinolf rushes over to help. “Hold on in there, we are here to help! We are friends from Heldren!” Steinolf rushes to open the doors, pulling the spear free.
Gavinia puts on the cold weather gear as they reach the snow.
---
As signs of the massacre site come into view, she draws a dagger and scans the treeline warily as they approach closer.
At the edge of the massacre, she starts to head along the road toward the face-down driver. But at Steinolf's shout, she changes direction towards the upright carriage.
On the way once the snow starts Morde looks up and just takes in the beauty of it, " So Peaceful and beautiful you could almost forget its not natural." Morde thinks back Of knights running through forest charging after a unknown enemy..... Stop! that now! the images of his "other" life flash through him in a matter of moments, anyone looking wouldn't notice anything but his hands squeezing on his weapon.
@garrasay- "So does a cold outfit work for you?", he says with a smirk.
@steinoff- "No thank you, I have my own." Morde starts putting on his outfit. Looking over Steinhoff. "Do you have a weapon against a fey?" If Steinhoff doesn't, Morde will offer one of his throwing axes to Steinhoff. (its cold iron)
"Stop!, Steinhoff. You don't know what's in there, don't you think its odd that they left a person here, but killed everyone else. Lets get into position first and try to talk to it though the door." with that Morde follows closely to the wagon trying to get into position.
Garrasay takes the largest of the winter coats and squeezes into it. The seams of the coat strain against his broad shoulders. "yarrl. I am accustom to warmer climes, thank you."
At the site, he examines the remains and tries to determine if the tracks are good enough for him to follow.
At the sound of the activity in the wagon he moves over to the door. With Mrodred's cautious words he draws his flail. "Hgrrrr. Whenever you are ready." as he motions to the door next to Steinoff.
Garrasay, you are able to easily follow the tracks. They seem to be following a trail that isn’t wide enough to be a road but seems to be well traveled nonetheless. The recent snowfall is covering up what human and horse tracks you can see. It doesn't look like there has been any recent traveling, at least within the last few days.
"What did you hear?" Gavinia asks as she trudges up to join the party around the carriage.
Accepting the hospitality for the spare coat Yuki puts it on as they walk. As they get to the site and Steinolf heads for the carriage, Yuki decides to walk towards them at a leasurly pace keeping with Gavinia while they take in the sites of the massacre around them.
Steinolf pulling the spear free gives pause as he hears his companions speak. Holding the door shut with his shield he speaks out; “Who’s inside? Name yourself! We are friends from Heldren and mean you no harm.
As he is listening he pulls out his Battle Axe
Initiative
Steinolf Stone
Garrasy
Gavinia Hornsten
Yukiharu
Mordred
Creatures
No surprise round! You pull out the spear and you can feel the pressure of something pushing on it as you hear moans from inside.
Combat Tracker
Round 1
20.00 - Creatures
16.04 - Steinolf Stone
14.03 - Yukiharu
14.01 - Mordred
9.00 - Garrasy
4.02 - Gavinia Hornsten
Creature 1 pushes up against the closed doors & Steinolf Stone DC 14 (FF CMD)
With success this creature pushes the doors open and Steinolf back 1 square as it Bull Rushes out.
You see a walking corpse that wears a torn handmaidens dress, its flesh rotting off its bones as it stumbles forward, arms outstretched.
A second creature moves forward behind it still inside the carriage.
That triggers Mordreds readied action and changes your initiative position if you take it.
Next up, Steinolf Stone.
Knowledge (Religion)
Gavinia Hornsten
"Damn, the undead !" Morde lashes out with a Powerful stroke of his Greataxe, hoping for the best. Even though he expected something like this Morde is unprepared for the stink that waifs out from the place which throws off his attack.
Mordred hits the first zombie as it busts out of the carriage and it takes some damage but it is still up and moving forward onto Steinolf.
Gavinia quickly scans the group's weapons. "Slice their flesh to hurt them! Bashing and poking won't phase them!" she warns. "Garrasay, would you like one of my daggers?"
She slices at the zombie with her dagger.
She offers the gory dagger to Garrasay. "This is a good one." she remarks.
Gavinia grips her dagger and watches the zombie closely, preparing to strike at it when it leaves the carriage.
Getting pushed back by the door Steinolf lets off a curse in Skald. Once he sees what was strong enough to push him out of the way he rushes to action. “Curesed monstrosity! Time for you to return to your grave!!”
Steinolf Stone strikes the first zombie with both his axe and shield. His axe hit was enough to kill the zombie.
Up next, Yukiharu!
Zombies, in the middle of a summer heavy summer snow. This must mean that magic is definitely afoot! Unprepared by the undead nature of their assailant, he pulls out his crossbow and loads a bolt into it.
Up next, Garrasy.
Garrasay snarls as the rotted corpses shamble out of the wagon. "GrrrwrrrL!"
Unfortunately the snow stops him from moving into a position where he can easily attack the undead. He eschews the offered dagger and moves to a point just to Gavinia's right where he utters an arcane spell.
Garrasy hits the undead with an acid spash and it takes the damage but is still alive.
However, Gavinia Hornsten steps in with a critical hit and finishes the second undead.
Out of Combat!
Gavinia bends down and wipes her dagger clean on the zombie's dress, taking a moment to inspect the bodies and peer inside the carriage.
"This was a nasty trap.", she frowns. "They must have barred the zombies in to attack whomever came to investigate, or worse, locked these poor girls in before they turned. Either way, it was a cruel person who did this."
She stands back up and peers around suspiciously at the other corpses. "We should carefully check the other bodies to make sure they've left no other surprises for us."
She stamps through the snow back towards the facedown driver, warily inspecting any corpses on the way.
Gavinia finds that these women had their throats slit. They have other lacerations on them but you can guess they caused that to themselves while locked in there for a few days. You don't think the drive will rise as a zombie.
Morde goes to look at the broken chests to see if anything was missed during the attack (at location 1) to see if there is anything of interest,. morde also looks at the others "Do we have time to Bury the dead?"
The broken chests and boxes strewn across the ground contain the handmaidens' spare clothing, including three courtier's outfits. Everything else seems to have been looted.
Appraise
Steinolf Stone
Garrasy
Gavinia Hornsten
Yukiharu
Mordred
None of you know the full value of these 3 outfits but they are well made.
Gavinia gives the driver a quick search as she answers Mordred.
"Yes, we should try to lay them to rest if we can. Although it might be difficult to dig in the ground underneath all this snow.
Having inspected the driver, Gavinia turns and heads to examine the man encased in ice.
Looking at the wagon and the other belongings scattered about.
“I think Gavinia may be right, its very cold and digging might not work out. But we could gather things and burn the dead. It is an honorable passing into the next life.”
Once finished, Steinolf joins Gavinia in expecting the iced man.
Relaxing a little with the commotion settling back down Yuki lowers his crossbow while keeping a grip on it. 'We could always let the snow bury them. I think the wildlife would appreciate it; whenever the snow decides to go away. Oh, wait. Right, undead. Yeah no; nevermind. Oooh, what chu looking at over here?'
Morde scrunches his nose at Yuki's suggestion, "It would be dishonorable to let carrion feed on helpless corpses, where I do understand the need for a quick pace I agree with Master Steinhoff. Burning I think, will be sufficient." with that while others are searching out the other locations Morde will gather the dead with Stein. when he does he will not disturb the corpse until after each has been examined.
he will say a prayer over the dead, "May whatever gods you believe in see you to your final rest." Morde has a slight shiver remembering his time in the afterlife before being returned to this world.
"Rrrggrr. Evil lurks in the woods. These handmaidens did not deserve this fate, it it was a simple kidnapping there would be no need for this cruelty. Someone with a sinister bent was involved."
Garrasy shuffles about in the snow a bit. "It is going to be difficult moving through all this, and it is bound to get worse the longer we tarry. If you insist on tending to the fallen, lets do it quickly. If you have a spare axe I can assist in gathering wood. rrrr."
Garrasay hacks wood from the wagons as it is the most likely to be the driest. He helps build a pyre, but says nothing over the deceased.
Morde goes to the fallen driver (location #2) searching him and looking for any other clues before placing the body on the pier if possible.
At the man encased in ice, Gavinia studies the man. "Was he killed before being covered in ice, or is the ice from a spell that killed him? How and when were his arms removed?"
"Does anyone know what sort of magic could do this?" she asks her companions.
She then looks over the man's longsword, checking it for quality or any distinguishing marks.
"We should remove the ice before cremating him. I would also like to check him over - there may be some clue on him that whoever did this could not remove. A fire will melt the ice, but I might have a quicker way."
She rummages through her pack and pulls out a leather bag, from which she takes a chisel and mallet. "I normally use these on stone, but they should work just as well on ice."
----
"Alseta guide your souls as they travel from this realm to the next."
Gavinia Hornsten knows this man was frozen solid by magic. You see that the longsword is a of masterwork quality made with cold iron and has the Taldan symbol on the haft. Gavinia spends some time chipping away at the man. You don’t think any of these people were noble themselves.