Warily eyeing the remaining faeries, Ankih picks up his javelin and returns it to the quiver.
Making his way to Sven ,the mule and gnome in tow, he sets about keeping the big man warm until he wakes up.
" Bugsby why don't you keep an eye out. If the Fey get any closer, or shoot more arrows, use you new found crossbow and return the favor."
Bugsby nods at Ankih, excited to try out his new toy/weapon, taking the crossbow from his back and loading it with mostly numb fingers, nearly dropping the bolt as he goes through the laborious loading process.
Kalt grunts in frustration as the icy sprites move out of the range of his blade. He sheathes his sword and pulls his sling from a belt pouch, loading a stone into it and calling out to the fae-lings, in a voice full of low menace, "Two of you down, two left, and six of us. Only one way this can end, little ones."
Across the frosty clearing, he says to Bugsby, "Care to make sure they understood that?"
Bugsby grins at Kalt and relays the message in Sylvan... mostly word-for-word.
With the threat temporarily averted, Avora turns her attentions to Sven.
Hunkering down between Sven and 2 of the 3 fey, Ankih raises his shield and prepares to fend off attacks.
Realizing he left the mule uncontrolled he says to Bugsby, in a quiet voice..
" Grab the reins little one. Scarab isn't used to violence and will probably run if not controlled."
Angry at the gnomes words, all of the fae move into bow range even the one still covered in goo. The one to the south flies up into the air about 15' to avoid suffering the same fate as its brother that fled. In unison, they let fly with their frosted arrows, all aimed at the insolent gnome.
Most of the arrows strike the weatherproofing built up around the gnome, but one manages to find the gnomes exposed calf. Bugsby feels the cold seeping into his joints, limiting their movement and making normal combat maneuvers impossible.
Kalt says, "Oops. Sorry about that, Bugs." He sets his sling to whirling, then releases a stone at the nearest fae.
The gnome yelps in pain as the arrow sticks into his leg and blood flows, "Yoooowwww!" The cold seeping through his small form keeps him from doing all he wanted but he manages to aim and release the overly large but loaded crossbow at the creature to the south. The force of the release shakes the small gnome causing the muscles around his injured calf to twitch painfully and drawing a hiss of pain from Bugsby.
Seeing Bugsby with the crossbow, it suddenly, it occurs to Lachna that there are some extra crossbows on the pack animal.
"Grab th'extras an' shoot'em!" she shouts as she spends extreme effort to run over to Bugsby and Scarab. When she reaches them she drops the hammer and shield and begins looking for the extra crossbows from the trapped chest.
Avora trudges towards the larger group, hindered by the weight of her pack and her winter clothing. Her spear remains at the ready, and if any come within range, she will attack.
Ankih continues to defend himself and Sven, beginning to see movement from the ulfen.
The crossbow bolt of Bugsby flies swiftly, impaling the diminutive Fae as the last of the protoplasm freezes and falls off. Severely wounded, that one flies off to the east, retreating from the field. The remaining two fire off arrows as they cover their brothers retreat. Avora, being the closest one to their fleeing kin, the target.
Both arrows strike home, but their magics fail to impede the druid as she resists their numbing cold.
Kalts sling shot was avoided by the nimble Fae.
Bugsby shakes off the freezing chill of the arrow in his calf and reloads the crossbow with still-thawing fingers, turning and firing at one of the remaining fae with a call in their language.
Rummaging furiously through the gear in the packs, Lachna digs out one of the looted crossbows and some bolts and loads one into the mechanism.
Avora moves in the other direction, seeking out the remaining fey.
Ankih continues to defend the burly ulfen, who's eyes flutter open seeing nothing but white and limbs barely respond to his will. Kalt lets fly another sling stone at the nearest Fae, but it flies wide of the mark.
The fae continue their barrage on the woman away from the group. Both arrows again find flesh as one strikes her shoulder and the other her lower back. This time, the insidious magics of their arrows manage to overwhelm the druid, and she finds her limbs sluggish and heavy
Finally having gotten the crossbow ready, Lachna turns on the spot and fires at the fae high up in the air.
"Take that ya flighty pest!" she shouts. Then loads another bolt into the crossbow.
The bolt is on target, but it deflects off the Fae's icy hide causing no visible damage.
Yes, 2 hp. Will update stat bar when I have access to computer.
Seeing Avora's trouble. Ankih will struggle thru the snow to get in range of the faerie, and almost place himself between it and her. Before leaving the warrior's side, he will say.."Lay still great one. There may be other side effects of that spell."
" Burn in the light you ice hearted fiends. Dawnflower Starburst."
Bugsby looks worriedly at Avora, and loads and shoots the crossbow once again, "DangnabbedFae!" but the wobbling crossbow flies far to the side. He nudges Scarab with his foot, trying to urge the animal to move closer to Avora. "Gogo Scabby!" he requests of the animal.
Avora drops to her knees, borne down by the weight of the fae's icy arrows and the numerous small but fierce wounds to her person. With significant effort, she rises, but does not continue her advance. Instead, she flicks her wrist towards the remaining fae, saying, "Solas, dall."
Avora's spell flies into the face of the creature, but the bright light is quickly snuffed out by the snow. Kalt continues his sling assault at the flying Fae, striking it finally with a stone.
Sensing her weakness, the Fae continue their assault on Avora while discussing things between them.
Avora is again stuck multiple times by their tiny arrows, her conciouseness on the brink of failing her as she slowly freezes from the inside. Their arrows fired, the two remaining Fae zip off to the south, their laughter echoing through the forest.
"Begone you Demonic sprites!" Ankih shouts as they leave.
" Avora! Hold steady girl I am on my way."
He will make his way to her and cast a spell on her.
" Ahh. This cold. Makes me so weak. Sarenrae! Once more we need you."
And again....
Bowing his head Ankih wearily says...
" I am out of magic for the day. Weary beyond my means....."
and slumps down next to Avora.
Bugsby shouts after the fleeing fae, the strange tongue rolling off his lips. Finished, he turns to the others, a frown on his face as he surveys how much of a toll the battle took on their little band. "Iseveryonealive?" he asks curiously. The wave of magical healing from Ankih helps ease the ache in his wounded calf, but some residual pain remains. "Theylefttogoreporttoa Mr. Neb. Theysayiftheytellhimaboutus -thentheygettoplaywithus!" the gnome states matter of factly, hopping down and slogging slowly through the snow towards where one of the fae went down.
The gnome holds the overly large (for him) light crossbow like he's some sort of game hunter, a swagger to his step. Of course, in the deep snow, this only serves to make him look foolish, but he seems unaware of this fact as he struts importantly to inspect the fallen fae.
As the last fae flees the scene, Lachna packs the crossbow away again and reclaims her hammer and shield. Seeing that Ankih has the healing under control, and all the members of the party are back on their feet, she sees no reason to linger.
"From what ar gnomey friend here says, sounds like the little bastards'll be back afore we kin blink. Best be on our way an' make the best time we kin; fine'a place ter settle down, patch ourselves up proper, an' warm up. Sure can't be doing that out in this weather."
She adjust the scarves and coat so that her face is covered except for her eyes again, as it had fallen down with all the running about, lends a hand to any who need help standing, and does her best to encourage people to start moving again.
"Best not ter stay still too long in this type'a weather," she adds. "Ye'll be froze afore ye know it if we don't keep movin'."
She opts to keep the hammer and shield at least half ready, just in case any more pixies jump out of the trees...or something worse.
Seeing the others ready to go, Bugsby finishes examining the fae's fetishes and hustles back to Scarab, climbing up himself this time and once more burrowing himself under the heavy clothing provided earlier. He points dramatically forward, shouting, "Charge!" and then proceeds to braid Scarabs mane into intricate and lovely designs.
Avora rises unsteadily to her feet, appreciative for Ankih's ministrations.
Bugsby examines a low hanging fetish and discovers them to be remains of small animals, frozen in ice, pierced by fae arrows, and bound in leather.
As the group continues their trek southward, the game trail winds it's way through the trees and undergrowth. Hoofprints mark the underlying snow, leading in both directions.
Kalt squats down in the snow, studying not only the hoofprints and any other markings left in it, but any stray bits of thread caught on a bare branch or any other sign of his quarry. I wonder is she's resourceful enough to try to leave a trail, some sort of clues, in the hopes of someone coming looking for her. These posh types might not think of such things.
Flicking his eyes briefly to his partner, then returning his attention to the trail, he says, "It's a bit of a game king's road through here - which is strange in itself, with these summer snows. There's more animals about than there would usually be in winter, making this trickier than usual tracking. But I'll find something."
Ankih will walk alongside the gnome, patting Scarab consolingly.
As they continue walking he will rummage about and find the last light crossbow and 10 bolts. Putting these in his quiver he ties the javelins to the pack saddle and cleans up the weapon as they walk. Engrossed in his chore he is relying on the others to watch for danger.
" Bless us Sarenrae. We are in graver danger than we suspected."
Sorely tested by these winged sprites, I feel I have let you down. Show me the path Mylady, I do not want to be led astray.
Kalt and Sven examine the tracks, and determine these new tracks are that of a massive elk that seems to be wandering the area. The group continues to follow the tracks of the bandits when they notice a pronged head rise up from the nearby foliage. The beast slowly works its way over and in crude common says "He-lloow"
"Hello, my friend," Avora replies. "We mean you no harm. Who are you?"
The elk looks the group over, its shaggy winter coat covered with a dusting of snow before answering, ”Mie Mashter call-ed me Fafween. Whiy yuu here?”
"I am pleased to meet you, Fafween. We are seeking someone; one of our kind. She was taken by the winter spirits. Can you help us?"