Rikiru Lifts Rerdahl to sit him against a tree, rather than face down in the snow. "That was...harrowing, to say the least. We need to take shelter and tend all these wounds." He then searches the area for his missing kunai.
Asric nods. "We may need to head back to town." He looks around at the fallen snow. "If we can make it. Otherwise, yes, we need to take shelter."
Asric helps the others to their feet. "We should get moving. The sooner we get back to town, the sooner we can rest."
Rikiru looks to the sky, catching a snowflake in his hand. "Agreed. Let us return, before the weather itself decides to ambush us."
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 18th Earstus at 1:00 am - current moon cycle: new moon
Once the party agrees to travel back to the village, you begin your long trek through the snow. You reach the massacre site, snow has built up here even more so than before. You reach the main road and travel back to the village. You notice that the snow is getting even closer to the village, earlier it was 8 miles away and now it's 6.
What would you like to do?
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 18th Earstus at 1:00 am - current moon cycle: new moon
The location is Heldren
Once the party agrees to travel back to the village, you begin your long trek through the snow. You reach the massacre site, snow has built up here even more so than before. You reach the main road and travel back to the village. You notice that the snow is getting even closer to the village, earlier it was 8 miles away and now it's 6.
What would you like to do?
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Rerdahl thinks as he struggles to stay conscious on the long walk back to town. As they approach it he remembers that there is no inn. "Others are hurt besides me. Maybe we should try the apothecary? Or the temple? If I can rest I can ready a couple of spells to cure wounds, but it'll probable take at least two days worth of what I can do to heal us."
Asric shrugs his shoulders. "No inn. But perhaps we can stay at the armory. Nobody else was using it. At least for the night."
"Just ... pick a place ... please," says Mina. "I won't argue." She seems barely able to stand.
"The armory will do. We need little space and the town is not under siege...so long as we are undisturbed it will be fine. You do have suitable bedding in your packs, do you not?"
"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 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, as she was well adapted and well equipped from her home area. Steadily she moved into the cold until she saw someone in front of her. By looking closer, she regonized not one, but four humanoids apparently coming towards her. From her perspective they were moving quite slow. Too slow even for the circumstances. For a brief moment she considered to turn around and avoid the strangers. But what if they need help? "It's the right thing to do!" She discussed with herself.
She moved forward towards them with a steady pace. "Heeeey! Over here!" As the group finally noticed here, they were startled. A big orc woman and a 2 ton bison are not what they would ever expect to find here.
"Do you need help? You look quite aweful, you lot!" She looked at a young woman that was barely able to stand and gave her two of her berries. "Eat those. You will quickly feel better."
Behind the frail woman was a large humanoid rat supporting another very weak one. So far he has only heard of these rat-people, but never met one. "Bloody Rovagug!" she swore. "Let me take him!" She shouldered the Ratfolk easily.
Mina hesitates at the sight of the massive orc woman and her MUCH more massive "friend," but she takes the offered berries. "Thank you," she says. "What's the worst that can happen, I suppose."
To her amazement, though, she immediately feels better. She's still in a fair amount of pain, but she no longer feels on the verge of passing out again.
"Thank you," she says again, though more earnestly than before. She looks to see if she can help any of her companions.
"What is your name?" she asks the orc.
Rikiru's free hand goes to the blade at his belt as he's approached; he watches closely as the massive stranger lifts Rerdahl with ease, muscles coiled for any sign of hostility. He relaxes only slightly as Mina's posture steadies, listening intently.
"Oh, poor little thing. Let me ease your pain." She touches Rerdahl's forehead softly and speaks a few cryptic words in a rough language.
Go ahead and make your way to where you want to stay and set up for the night.
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 18th Earstus at 1:15 am - current moon cycle: new moon
The location is Heldren - Armory
A dirt path winds its way up a low hill west of town to the single door of this square stone tower. The tower is 30 feet high, with battlements on its roof and arrow slits along its walls. It is completely open on the inside, with no interior floors-just a wooden staircase running along the walls to the roof. The tower serves as Heldren's armory and a place of refuge for the villagers in case the village is ever attacked. In times of peace, the tower is usually unoccupied, but a selection of simple arms and armor-crossbows, bolts, spears, javelins, as well as a few suits of leather armor, padded armor, and light wooden shields-is stored inside for the militia.
You arrive at the armory. As before, it appears to be unoccupied aside from the occasional russle of feathers from owls hunting in the dark and returning to their nests inside the armory.
"Is this your place? Seems strange..." Durra barely fit through the door with her massive frame and she had really big trouble with Brugh. But a bit of pushing and sweet-talking the bison helped to get him in, too.
She then counted, what berries she had left. She hadn't eaten herself today and was really hungry. So was Brugh. She took two from her stash and had one left. "Anybody wants the last berry? Helps ease some pain and stills any hunger you might have.
Anyway. You guys need to rest, we take first watch."
"If there's one of those berries left, I'll certainly take one," Asric says wearily.
"It's not really our place, but it seems to be available. I'll take the second watch, then."
"I'll join you for second watch, Asric," says Mina. "I hope it's a quiet night."
"Third watch it is, then," Rikiru comments, setting his pack down and fishing out a bedroll. "Perhaps tomorrow we can better prepare."
"I'll drink to that," says Mina, preparing her own bedroll. As it fully unrolls, it gives off a very faint scent of jasmine.
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 18th Earstus at 2:00 am - current moon cycle: new moon
The location is Heldren - Armory
Your party sets up for camp and begins watches.
1. Durra & Companion 4 hrs
2. Mina & Asric 4 hrs
3. Rerdahl & Rikiru 4 hrs
The evening/morning uneventful. Despite the approaching snow, it’s still relatively warm here. No signs of danger. You all wake up rested. You spend an hour to prepare/commune.
The date is 4713 AR on Oathday, 18th Earstus at 3:00 pm - current moon cycle: waxing crescent
The location is Heldren - Armory
What do you do?
Asric opens his belt pouch and counts out his coins. "It might be worth it to invest in some healing potions, if the apothecary has any." He shakes his head. "I'm afraid I'm not able to purchase any, not unless he or she has quite a sale."
"Potions will not come cheaply; I'm certain I haven't enough for even one. I would like to resupply on weapons though. I doubt they know how to make shuriken, but perhaps they have some extra daggers..."
"Durra. My name is Durra" a loud, deep voice interrupted the conversation. "what do you need the potions for? Just rest for a while. And don't go back into the snow. Doesn't suit you."
She took out a small bag apparently filled with various berries she collected over the days, some dry, some still fresh.
She took out 7 and enchanted them. She put those in another pouch, which the others might recognize from yesterday.
"Durra... thank you for your help," says Mina. "I'm afraid we can't really rest for much longer. Someone needs our help." A thought occurs to her. "Perhaps you could come with us...?"
As Durra contemplates this, Mina reaches into her pack and pulls out a stack of sharp-edged metal stars. She hands them to Rikiru.
"Here," she says to Rikiru. "You'll likely use these better than me, anyway. Consider them a loan." She adds with a wink, "I'll collect if we live."
The party looks around and notices Rhone hasn't been with you since you arrived back into town.
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"ZZzzZZzZzZzzzZzzzzzzzzz zZzzzZZZzzzzzz"
Once Rerdahl wakes he finds a quiet 'corner' and pulls a strange bug (scorpion) from a padded satchel. He sits quietly staring at it, occasionally nodding. After a time he packs his familiar away and stands. "I've changes out my spells to include healing. Hopefully this time out we can get farther. However, this means that my main magical attack is just in my hexes, and they are fairly short range and don't last very long. I can put something to sleep if it can be affected by such magic, but it will only stay asleep for one round. If it is a dangerous foe someone will need to try to kill it quickly. The other hex is called the Evil Eye. It also effects a person's mind, but it changes their luck making them less effective in battle, clumsier avoiding a blow, less resistant to magic, etc. It also only lasts for a short while. Beyond that all I have are my cantrips. I've chosen Daze, Guidance, and Stabilize."
He gets up and moves over to the weapons here. "I guess I can leave the crossbow here again. It belongs to the town and I can gather one of them from the stash of weapons that we found. We should have brought them back to donate to the town but I was in no shape to try and carry anything. Maybe we'll be better this time when we've rescued the lady."
"Come with you? Hmm" You can see her thinking heavily. Not the easiest task for her. "Who needs your help?"
"The Lady Argentea. She was accosted by someone or something along the road. Most of her retinue were slain. At least one was frozen solid. Others were... turned," his voice drops as he says the word, "into unliving abominations. We have no idea what we're really dealing with. And the fey we encountered makes this even more strange." Asric looks around. "Where did Rhone go? He was with us when we got back to town, wasn't he?" His face has a worried look on it. Perhaps he fled. I can't say I blame him.
"You know that lady? You don't look like constables or military. Shouldn't soldiers find a lady?" You recognize her confusion about the situation.
"Well, I guess I could come with you for a while..." Durra mostly hopes to finally make some friends.
"Thanks, Rerdahl. That feels much better."
(I see nothing, but I can see it in the dark)
(+5 for cold weather clothes)
On waking, Rikiru loads up his new shuriken and checks his gear. "I did not expect anyone to have any of these; I will have to improve my aim so as not to waste them."
Mina breathes deeply at the touch of Rerdahl's healing magic. "Much better," she says warmly. "Thank you, Rerdahl."
To Durra, she adds, "I think the soldiers around here are busy. The cold weather has brought some predators into town, at least that's what I've heard." She adds a self-deprecating smile. "Whether we like it or not, we're the best chance she has of surviving."
She rolls up her bag and puts a comb through her long black hair. "Believe me, we'd be happy if you joined us, Durra. I'm certain that there will be a reward for saving her, if that helps."
Some friends would be enough reward.
"A reward? In gold? That would be nice. Brugh here really wishes for some barding. Something with bones and skulls would look nice. I could also use a saddle, I guess. Ok, I'm in." Hopefully they don't ask me to many questions. I don't like questions.
"Wonderful!" says Mina. She seems genuinely thrilled to have the extra support in the party. "Now, please excuse me for one minute," she says. "I need to call upon another friend."
She begins a series of incantations, then her body starts to move sinuously and seductively around an innocent-looking spot on the floor. With a flourish, she finishes and touches her hands to the ground. An arcane glyph forms on her head and starts glowing! An identical symbol appear on the floor -- and begins to rise on an undulating column of blue smoke.
The smoke quickly solidifies into the massive snake-like body of Mina's extraplanar, serpentine "friend," Viroté. The blazing glyph on his forehead matches that on Mina's. "Mina," he says, "I am pleassssed you are well. I wassss concerned." He looks over the assembled group, and the gold ridges on his eyebrows come together. "You are misssssing one... and you have gained otherssss."
Mina stands up. "It was nearly the end of us, for certain," she says. "Viroté, this is Durra, and her friend... Brugh, was it? And Durra, this is my good friend, Viroté. He's -- not from around here."