Mina steps closer to the bandit, a cold smile on her face. "You poor man. I gave you a chance to be polite," she says. "And you squandered my good will." She plays with the tip of her dagger. "It's all gone now. And like the red vipers of Cheliax, I like to play with my prey."
"You want me to punch him back to sleep?" Durra ignores the prisoner but speaks directly to Mina.
"Far worse things will happen to you if you proceed forward. It's best you just let me go and go on your merry way out of these woods." He kicks around more. He doesn't seem that intimidated.
Durra reacts to the uncooperative and tied up bandit.
Durra knocks him unconscious again.
Mina tsk-tsks the newly unconscious bandit. "Probably for the best," she says. "Let's keeping following the tracks."
Rikiru shrugs. "Some men just won't be reasoned with, I suppose."
On observing Brugh's steady, lumbering gait for a moment, an idea strikes Rikiru; with a short series of hops and scrambles, he attempts to stand atop the great beast's back to get a better view of the area...
...but between the wind and possibly Brugh's discontent, it apparently doesn't work out...
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 19th Earstus at 2:00 pm - current moon cycle: waxing crescent
The Location is Heldren - The Sentinel Lodge
After climbing at least a hundred feet into the hills, the snowy trail finally levels off. In a clearing among the trees you see a large wooden lodge. Smoke rises from the lodge's two snow-covered chimneys, and large woodpile is stacked against the outer wall. A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north. Several tracks lead southwest.
"Rerdahl, my dear," whispers Mina, "do you think you can peek through one of those porch windows without being seen?"
"Is that a stable or something over there? Let's go take a look while Rerdahl pokes around."
"Allow me."
Rikiru slinks through the snow and up to the porch, slowly lifting his head up to the window...
As Rikiru starts to make her way over to the porch he seems to feel a string pull at his ankles as you suddenly realized you sprung a trap that no one saw. A loud crash of pots and pans fall to the porch. Not only that a bolt comes flying at you. FF AC 15
19-20/x2
Hits
piercing damage
What would you like to do?
"What was that? Where is the little guy?" Durra readied her axe.
"Well, it was a good idea while it lasted," says Mina. "Let's move in." She starts moving forward, muttering arcane syllables as she does so.
Now that Rerdahl moves up with suspicion you notice that the crossbow is mounted to the top of the eves here just over the porch and you don't think it's going to reset unless someone manual des it. However the loud crash the pots and pans gave out ring in your ears and you're confident those inside also heard it.
Rikiru twists with the bolt but still feels the sting as it rakes his arm, nearly biting his tongue to keep from cursing. He scurries up to the wall of the cabin to take cover, staying out of sight of the windows and door. He draws his wakizashi and pulls out a kunai with his other hand, pressing up against the wood of the building.
Brugh was rattled by the sound of the pots. Durra calmed him and kept ready for anything.
Mina completes her summoning, and a brown, shaggy dog (similar to a briard) appears in the spot near where Rikiru triggered the trap. The dog just stands there, happily wagging its tail and staring at the shack.
Mina stays perfectly still.
Your party waits and hides but nothing happens.
"Nobody home? Should we go in? It's getting cold. Anyone seen stables?"
Rikiru nods. "Let's see." He then moves carefully to the door, slower this time, eyes darting about, nose sniffing the air, feet gingerly sweeping the floor after each step.
Asric walks over to the stables to see if any horses are present. "Perhaps they've ridden out."
Mina walks forward and scratches the patiently waiting dog's head, though she doesn't take her eyes off the door. "Hmmm, maybe," she says in reply to Asric. She then follows Rikiru, staying about 15 feet behind him.
You approach the stables. You find twin doors open into this low stable, where five stalls hold three horses and a mix of loose straw. A rack of riding gear hangs on the east wall, and a cast-iron tub sits empty in the corner.
"I assume we check the other buildings, too, don't we?" Durra addressed the group and then looked at Brugh. "Does anyone have objections, if I put Brugh in a stall, while we're here? He has earned a nice warm place."
"Well, at least it will be easier to get back to town with the horses." Asric opens one of the stable doors for Brugh.
Brugh is a bit big for the stables but he squeezes in. The horses neigh with discomfort.
Mina, accompanied by her dog, examines the outside of the main building. She's looking for signs of recent activity, such as disturbances in the snow.
Blade in hand, Rikiru stands to the side of the door as he opens it, the sting in his shoulder bringing all his training to the forefront of his mind.
Asric raises his shield as he moves towards the main structure.
You don't see anything to alert you.
"Let's go in. It's getting cold."
Your party moves over to the door. A wooden roof extends over this wide porch. Double doors provide access to the lodge itself. Two small glass windows are set in the walls to either side of the doors. Curtains are drawn and you can't see inside.
The door is locked when you check it.
Rikiru blinks at the lock, then reaches into his pack for his tools. "give me a moment."
"Can we... just break it in?" says Mina. "It is rather cold out, and we're standing here like snowmen. Durra or Asric, do you mind...?"
Durra & Asric both attempt to break open the door but fail to.
Asric rubs his shoulder. "Perhaps we can try a window instead," he suggests.