The sleepy village of Heldren has rarely seen so much excitement or concern. Hunters from the nearby Boarder Wood speak of unnaturally cold weather at the height of summer that descended on the forest just days ago. Heavy snow followed, and those who returned spoke of an uneasy presence in the woods, as well as new, dangerous predators. No one knows what this event means, but the town’s soothsayer, Old Mother Theodora, claims dark times lie ahead.
As if in proof of that dire prophecy, a badly wounded mercenary arrived in town yesterday, claiming to be a bodyguard of Lady Argentea Malassene. He told the village council that the noblewoman’s escort came under attack by bandits and strange, wintry creatures near the edge of the Border Wood. He alone escaped, and Lady Argentea was dragged away into the forest. Now the townsfolk cast fearful eyes toward the snowy forest, worried what else might emerge to threaten their peaceful village.
Demona can tell from her mother's expression that, if it weren't for the broken wagon axle that has them temporarily stranded in this small hamlet, she'd have the two of them on their way without a look back. Demona can feel her own eyes rolling in reaction to Gruzel's likely response should Demona ever be foolish enough to suggest that perhaps they could risk the so-called Family Destiny in order to help these perfectly nice strangers.
After all, what better way to dispel some unnatural cold than to bring Saranrae's fire to cleanse it.
Waiting until Gruzel retires to their room in the inn to escape the brightness of the day, Demona goes in search of Arthrax...
In the Silver Stoat, Connor sat at the bar nursing a nearly empty mug of ale with a mixed expression. He'd not said more than a few words altogether since walking into the tavern though had plenty of looks to cast to one of the Stoat's tables where Xanthippe held her normal court of drooling admirers. On the other side of the bar, Kale Garimos feints a cough that draws the young man's attention to her as the Stoat's bartender and co-owner shakes her head at his look, "If'n you keep staring and don't work up the courage to talk to her, a girl isn't to know when a boy is really interested or just thinking with his smaller brain."
Connor nearly blushes at the older woman's blunt advice as he drowns the rest of his ale while muttering, "It's not like that." Kale chortles as she grabs his empty cup the moment he sets it back down on the bar top, "Well whatever you call it, Connor-boy, what brings you into town this week other than good drink, the sparkling conversation, and Heldren's many sights?"
Connor reaches down and brings up a thick burlap sack that was sitting by his feet and lays it on the table, "I found what was taking Perkin's chickens." Kale raises an eyebrow at the bundle, notably at the dampness starting to stain its bottom as the young man unties the top of the sack. The odor of rot and dried blood quickly escapes into the nearby air as a severed goblin's head leers up in death at the bartender. A sound somewhere between disgust and outrage but in the range that mostly only dogs could hear comes from behind Kale's lips as she starts vigorously motioning at Connor, "You get that thing off my bar and out of my establishment! Don't you have a lick of sense, Connor?! Really now, putting the head of some nasty little beastie like that onto my nice clean bar. Out with you! And don't you come back until you've gotten rid of it and washed your hands!"
Before the woman starts to throw tankards or bottles at him, Connor grabs the sack and hurries out on the wings of her admonishments. What is wrong with her? It is dead. Not like I'd bring a live one into town. With a sigh, the young man slings the stained sack over his shoulder and starts to head to Perkin's, Heldren's butcher, and turn over his bounty for a reward hopefully. However, as he makes his way across the town square toward the east, he notices a growing crowd outside of Heldren's town hall opposite the Silver Stoat. Naturally curious, a trait that caused his mother no end of headaches, Connor diverts his path to draw near to the back of the crowd. As he walks close, he hears several voices say, "What if they decide to attack the town?" "I knew this weather was odd but now creatures of cold stalk the woods?" "Are we going to leave the noblewoman to fend for herself? We have to do something!"
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Arthrax sits in a corner of the Silver Stoat, nursing a tankard full of goat's milk. This had been an ok job to start out with, playing protector to a domineering orc and her peculiar child with the glowing eyes. He had kept moving, playing scout, bodyguard, and hired muscle with equal zest. Now they were stuck here in this hellhole with of all things a broken wagon wheel. Stillness allowed time for thought, and he didn't want to think. He looks down at the goat's milk, wishing it were ale or something stronger. He wouldn't think after enough of it.
His brooding turns to slight amusement as he sees an interesting sight. A large man opens a sack and the bartender nearly flips out, jabbering on and on about a head and messes on her bar. Arthrax chuckles, rumbling deeply in his chest as he overhears a smattering of tavern talk. People complaining about the unnatural weather, mostly, and the abduction of some Lady. He, personally, actually is enjoying the unseasonably cool weather. It seems to be an affront to Sarenrae, and that suits Arthrax just fine. Still, his heart goes out to the missing Lady and her retinue. He might just help, if he weren't tied to his job at the moment.
Speaking of which, Arthrax spies the younger one enter through the tavern doors. He tries to slink down in his chair, turning his head slightly away from the door in a poor attempt to disguise himself.
As Feinmeir staggered into town, somewhat wary of the cold looking forest to the south, he spotted a large gathering of townsfolk. He approached crowd spotting a large man at the edge, curios of what was going on he nudged overtly large and muscular man. "Hey lad, what be going on over here?"
"Please, will everyone calm down. The weather is just a freak cold front, yes its rare to happen here at this time but I do believe it has happened before. There are no monsters roaming the Boarder Wood, though I do advise to stay out of it until the cold weather passes. Please, just return to your lives." An slightly older woman at the head of the crowd says. She's dressed in formal clothes that show some status and the others in the crowd have been looking towards her for answers. When she spoke, they didn't seem pleased with what they heard.
"But what of the guard?"
"Yeah the guard!"
"He said it was bandits!
"No you idiots it was a giant!
The crowd erupted into arguments over the stranger that had turned up. The older woman pursed her lips together before shouting, "The man is an Ulfen, a people who fight to the death for honor. If he fled he'd of coarse make it seem worse than it is but I assure you, you're all safe."
Demona yelps slightly as a large man with a rank sack plows through the tavern door as she's about to enter. She nimbly steps aside then ducks inside, peering about. It isn't hard to spot her competent, though surly, bodyguard. She plops down in the chair at his table.
"Arthrax! Let's get out of here! Mother's in her room, and she'll never know we're gone until too late. There's all sorts of weird stuff happening around here, with snow and monsters. Adventure beats sitting around this town watching moss grow."
"So I says, 'Well I don't blame your son every time a young girl is suddenly full of child before marriage, so maybe you should lay off mine when there's strange magic about!' "
Ikkis's mother had been talking for almost an hour about her recent social triumph over the gossipers and gawkers that composed most of the village's older female population, this time exploiting a rumor that a young well-to-do boy was responsible for a young well-to-do daughter's sudden disappearance to Oppara. Ikkis had stopped listening to her quite a while ago, as it was nothing he hadn't heard before: "Freak! Jinx! Djinni's Bastard!"
The jeering had gotten worse since this awful business with the snowy forests and the beasts in the woods. Beneath the jeers, there had recently been whispers that the creatures were there for him, and that the village should throw him into the woods to appease them. Others claimed that Ikkis was the one controlling them, finally taking revenge for all the mistreatment the village had shown him.
His house showed the strain of housing the unnatural. Scorch marks and water damage abounded on the floors and walls of their homely abode, and one glass of water was still half-frozen from an incident earlier today. Ikkis absent-mindedly ran his gloved finger around the rim of the glass, wondering whether he should stay home today or take that trip to the barber he'd been planning.
"Ikkis Unmar, you take your mitts off that glass this instant!" His mother exclaimed, "You don't want it to end up like our milk bottles, do you?" The milk bottles she was referring to had exploded after the milk had somehow been set to a boiling temperatures while the glass bottles themselves were practically frosted. They were still picking shards out of the front doorframe a week afterward.
"Ma, I'm going out to the barber." Ikkis dully asserted.
"Wait, Ikky," his mother began to plead, "Promise me one thing: That you'll go see Ol' Mother Theodora too." Ikkis hated Old Mother Theodora, and his mother knew it. Theodora was the first person they went to see after the incident, and the first one to make Ikkis lose hope of ever regaining his former life. She asserted that the burns were a blessing, not a curse, and that no healer in the world would ever be able to heal them.
"Ma, that crazy old ba-" he stopped protesting when he saw the look in his mother's eyes. He could see this task wasn't easy for her to ask, "Oh, alright, Gods-damnit. I'll go see that madwoman. May Gozreh give me strength to endure her." And with that, Ikkis set out to town.
The whispers and jeers were getting even worse. No one came within a ten foot radius of Ikkis for fear of his presence. Those feeling safe enough hurled words from afar, and sometimes small objects and pebbles. Ikkis was quick, though, and his leather shirt provided enough protection that he did not need to worry about these minor missiles.
As he drew himself to the town square, he saw a small mob gathering across from the Silver Stoat. "That cannot be good," Ikkis muttered to himself, and almost turned the other way when he heard an older woman's voice. Was that... Theodora? She was a mean old fool, but there's no way that she'd organize a lynch-mob. Ikkis quietly drew closer, hearing her words and those of the discontented townspeople.
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Arthrax stares into his mug, willing the young woman to go away and leave him. Another hour, at least. The damned girl woke up at the crack of dawn every day and worried him endlessly, constantly chattering on and asking him about his travels. After another few long moments, he looks up, meeting her unearthly eyes with his brown orbs.
He says nothing, just nods and drains his mug as he rises to his feet. He slaps a couple of coppers on the table. For all his outward demeanor, he is curious about the recent events and Demona has just offered him a way to sate his curiosity. He follows her out the door, his work day beginning as he assesses the area for threats to her person.
At he felt a nudge in his side, Connor looks around at eye level. Seeing nothing, he shrugs before trying to listen to the crowd again. What have I missed this week? Qadira threatening to invade again? Another prod finally draws the young man's attention to a shorter fellow standing beside him, "Hey lad, what be going on over here?"
Connor scratches his head as he shakes his head in his ignorance, "I'm not sure, Mr. Dwarf. I've only gotten back into town today. Nothing exciting was happening a few days ago when I was last here. I'm find out." With his announcement, Connor raises his voice to shout over all the rest of the crowd toward the slightly older lady who is trying to calm everyone down, Connor misjudges the level of his voice as he shouts with his question causing a temporary pause in the frenzied discussion while everyone nearby to the big youth checks themselves out for hearing loss.
Taking advantage of the momentary quit, she addresses the crowd as a whole. "Everyone please go back to your homes. We'll hold a town meeting tonight. Until then I must please ask that you disperse." The shock from Connor's shout mixed with Ionnia Teppen's authority slowly made the crowd break up. She made her way through to Connor and smiled anxiously.
"Connor, just the man I've been looking for. I'd like to get some help from you and anyone else you can think of that might be up for it. The rumors are true, something is going on in the Border Wood and its not just the cold. A young noblewoman was kidnapped by some bandits apparently along the edge of the wood. There's a man with the healers, goes by the name of Yuln Oerstag. He was one of her guards and the only survivor. Perhaps he could be of some more help." She explains to him quietly to prevent others from hearing. Only then does she notice the dwarf standing beside him.
"Might you be willing to help us, as well? You certainly not built like a farmer and we could use all the help we can."
Having gotten Arthrax to agree (at least to something), Demona giggles. Once clear of the Stoat, she glances about once for her mother, and seeing the coast is clear, grabs Arthrax's hand and starts hauling him towards the back of the crowd.
Suddenly, she's distracted by the booming voice of a large village youth and turns her head. Not looking where she's going, she plows the two of them into a leather-clad young man with leather gloves who was trying to sneak closer, and the three of them collapse in a heap.
Looking the young man in the face, Demona smiles and says, "Hey! Watch where you're going!"
Aw nuts, it's just Teppen. Ikkis thought. I really need to get my ears checked.
Before he knew what had happened, though, he was suddenly on the ground. Sharp, searing pain ran from his elbows to his fingertips as he tried to break his fall. "Watch where I'M going? How about you watch YOUR damn trajectory, you oaf?" He winces as he readjusts his gloves, even the smooth leather abrasive against his charred skin. "Not all of us can afford to be so haphazard."
I guess I shouldn't be one to talk, though. I pretty much run headlong into everything...
Speaking of which, he hadn't meant to raise his voice. Not wishing to give an air of fear or weakness in a town that didn't have the best opinion of him already, he instead quickly and awkardly stands up straight and gazes around to see that most of the crowd has dispersed.
"Who in the nine Hells are you, anyway?" he addressed to Demona, finally taking in her visage, "There weren't any half-orcs in this town, last I checked. You two aren't on your honeymoon, are you? If so, you picked a rotten time in a rotten place."
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Uncomfortable with the hand-holding for multiple reasons, Arthrax nevertheless consents to being dragged around by Demona. His eyes scan the crowd, looking for trouble. He chuckles as the crowd starts to disperse as they arrive, poor Demona's entertainment already going up in smoke. He isn't paying attention to their immediate surroundings, and also runs into the skulking man, collapsing in the heap with them.
Arthrax immediately rises to his feet, glowering down at the strange young man as though it was all his fault. His glower turns to a glare at the man's words, eyes narrowed although he remains silent on the matter. He would likely just make things worse by trying to explain his...relationship with the young woman. He extends his hand down to his ward to help her up, keeping his eyes on the other party in this little tumble.
"Sure why not I'll help while I'm here, speaking of which where is here?" Feinmeir asked. "Oh and the name is Feinmeir Azast not Mr. Dwarf lad."
Ikkis, unobservant as he is, notices Arthrax's stare: "What?"
Oh crap I just insulted this man's wife, didn't I? And he looks like he knows how to handle that battleaxe...
Ikkis attempts to regain some composure, and see if he can diffuse any disadvantageous situation he may have caused. He'd had a lot of practice at this, especially the time that he nearly set Mr. Joscari's cow on fire. The last thing he wants is a fight, not when his powers could go awry like they usually do...
"I'm sorry if I offended you, Mister. I didn't really mean that "oaf" comment towards your wife. It was mostly because... well... I've got a bit of a condition that makes my hands... fragile, and I'm afraid you two made me land straight on them. I meant no disrespect."
"Sure why not I'll help while I'm here, speaking of which where is here?" Feinmeir asked. "Oh and the name is Feinmeir Azast not Mr. Dwarf lad."
Ionnia cocked an eyebrow at Feinmeir's words. "This is Heldren. We may be small but most map makers include our town on their maps since we lie near trading routes. Surely you must have seen us on your map."
"Aye I probably would. Except I don't have a map and a wizard teleported me about a three days walk west of here. So I don't even know what country I be in." Feinmeir stated.
"Aye I probably would. Except I don't have a map and a wizard teleported me about a three days walk west of here. So I don't even know what country I be in." Feinmeir stated.
"My word," She said with a gasp. "You're lucky to have come close enough to a town like ours, i just wish it had been on better terms. As i said, this is Heldren in the proud country of Taldan and I do thank you for your help."
"His wife? Arthrax, I didn't know you were married, why didn't you ever...oh, wait a minute, you mean me?"
She pauses a moment before laughing uproariously, still lying on the ground. "Arthrax! Think of that! Think of your mother-in-law!" She grabs his forearm and lets him haul her up.
"Sorry if we hurt you. I guess none of us were looking where we were going. I'm Demona and this is my bodyguard Arthrax. And I don't know who you are, calling me a half-orc."
Connor frowns at Councillor Teppen's account of events as he holds aloft his dirty sack, "I've got to drop this off at Perkin's shop and then I'll look into it, ma'am. Bandits are never any good. Nan always said that if a man can't live off the sweat of his own brow, he shouldn't take the sweat from other men's foreheads." The young man runs a hand through his hair as he gets the look of contemplation in his eyes, "And it wouldn't do to leave a lady at the mercy of men who would take another man's perspiration."
When Mrs. Teppen addresses the curious dwarf standing nearby, Connor emerges from his daydream at the sounds of a nearby argument draws his attention. At the sight of a familiar face, Connor booms out, "Ikkis! Come over here." Connor knew Ikkis from around town though 'Ikky' was a hard person to be friends with when everyone thought him a devil given flesh. Still, as someone that has suffered his own issues with being different in the past in other towns, Connor attempted to keep a casual relationship with his fellow youth. Connor waits a moment to see if the town pariah comes close if not then Connor steps over to him, "Bandits got a lady off in the woods and Mrs. Teppen wants volunteers to save the woman. You in? Might be just the bit of heroics that gets folks off your back. For a while at least." He finally notices the half-orc woman and her human companion and gives them a dip of his head, "Sorry for cutting in, ma'am. Sir."
"Sorry if we hurt you. I guess none of us were looking where we were going. I'm Demona and this is my bodyguard Arthrax. And I don't know who you are, calling me a half-orc."
"My mistake on both parts, miss Demona. I am Ikkis Unmar, I was born and raised in this town," he gives a slight bow towards them both as Connor directs his voice-cannon in their direction:
"Ikkis! Come over here."
Ikkis grimaces a little, but continues:
"And my boisterous acquaintance over there is Connor Brisbane. What he may lack in eloquence is easily made up for in his effectiveness, determination, and good intentions. If you don't mind, I'll go- Oh, hello Connor."
By the time Ikkis had finished his sentence, the young Bloodrager had already closed the distance between the two groups.
"Bandits got a lady off in the woods and Mrs. Teppen wants volunteers to save the woman. You in? Might be just the bit of heroics that gets folks off your back. For a while at least."
Though legitimately horrified by a kidnapping so close to their sleepy town, this gives Ikkis some hope that the troubles about are mundane in nature, not something he could be blamed for. This realization, in conjunction with Brisbane's assertion of heroics, immediately gives him a new outlook on the whole situation, and he begins to respond with serious but vigorous energy:
"Bandits? Kidnapped someone? It'd be loathsome not to help. Where do we start? Where was she seen last? Were there any witnesses?"
Demona looks up and up as the huge youth barrels over. "Hello, gorgeous," she whispers a bit too loudly.
His news snaps her out of her dreaminess. "Bandits kidnapped someone? Arthrax and I will help, if we can leave now before my mother gets up. Preferably if we can be back by then, too."
She lowers her voice and leans in. "We should be careful who we tell about this, though. My mother heard from three reputable sources in town that the weird cold was caused by some local demon kid with freaky ice powers."
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Arthrax briefly contemplates snatching his hand back and allowing the woman to fall back down as she laughs. Even with her orcish heritage she was rather easy on the eyes, and her manner was infectious, but she was business. He lifts her up with hardly an effort, turning to fully face the young man they had run into. He listens to the apology and his features soften.
Almost apologetically he nods, "I apologize as well. I was a bit distracted. No harm done, I hope?"
He looks to the newcomer, unexpectedly having to look UP. He listens to the short conversation, choosing to let Demona answer the tall man's apology as he sizes him up. This one could be trouble.
He almost immediately wishes he had answered instead, as he winces at Demona's pronouncement. He truly wished to help, but his employer was the girl's mother, not the girl. "My lady, I do not think your mother would approve..."
Demona frowns at Arthrax. Turning back to Connor, she says, "Okay, I will help, and Arthrax will come along to keep me safe for fear that my mother will rip off his balls if anything happens to me."
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Arthrax again starts to contemplate, this time about a straight right to daze the young lady and then carting her off home to her mom. The crowd and good sense win the day, as he realizes this would likely be frowned upon by the general public. He makes an effort and manages to not change his facial expression at her comment, instead crossing his arms and locking his brown eyes on her glowing ones. The look is meant to be menacing, but he has his father's eyes, so it only comes off as mildly irritated.
Demona smiles at him in what she hopes is a mollifying manner. "Don't worry so much," she says as she pats the outside of his thigh, "I won't let mother have them."
She lowers her voice and leans in. "We should be careful who we tell about this, though. My mother heard from three reputable sources in town that the weird cold was caused by some local demon kid with freaky ice powers."
Oh gods, that's not going to be fun to explain...
"Okay, I will help, and Arthrax will come along to keep me safe for fear that my mother will rip off his balls if anything happens to me."
Ikkis remains silent, but postulates that he really does not want to meet this girl's mother.
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He jumps when she touches him, eyes widening at the nerve of the girl. His left eyebrow arches as he says, "I am truly relieved you have such concern for my well-being, my lady." Sarcasm oozes from every word.
He now addresses the tall man named Connor, "Good sir, how far away did these disturbances occur?"
"It happened at the edge of the woods, but we be going to check on one of the guards who made it back." Feinmeir said as he approached the group.
"Sounds good, let's go! And don't worry about that ice-guy, Demona. He most definitely doesn't have anything to do with this in any way at all. He just tends to keep to himself, tries not to freeze things or set them on fire, enjoys a good haircut once in a while..."
Ikkis nervously runs his gloved fingers across his forehead, attempting to move his hair out of his eyes. He does it gingerly enough that he doesn't feel it, but his bangs rarely ever stay where he puts them.
"...definitely nothing to worry about. At all. Ever."
There's a small pause as Ikkis remembers the task at hand.
"AAAANYWAYS, lead on Connor and... erm, I don't think I caught your name, sir. I'm ready when you are."
"I be Feinmeir Azast, I literally walked into town 10 minutes ago. They said he was at the healers so if anyone knows where that be lead the way please." Feinmeir extended a hand to Ikkis.
Connor seems to go a bit shy as Demona regards him then offers her and Arthrax's help. The young man nods his thanks, "The more the merrier, ma'am. Bandits soil their pants with bigger groups so this is good." As the questions roll in and the dwarf leaves Mrs. Teppen to walk over and join them, Connor reiterates what Feinmeir says, "According to Mrs. Teppen, the lady and her escort were hit on the edge of Border Woods, so no more than a few hours away at most. One of her guards got away and made his way into town yesterday afternoon. After spilling the beans to the council, he's been with the healers ever since. So that means a stop to the Erastil's temple or Old Mother Theodora's place, not sure which he'd be recovering at right now. You'll want to probably grab a few supplies if we have to hunt these bandits down as this could turn into an overnight rescue operation."
Connor proceeds to hold up a dirty burlap sack that is beginning to reek mighty awful as he points down the east street of the village, "First though, I've got to make a stop and drop something off. I'll meet anyone willing to brave the woods at the temple in ten minutes." Mentioning the temple, Connor points to a building two houses down on the east side of Heldren's south street.
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Arthrax cocks his head as the gloved man goes on and on about the ice-demon person. He shakes his head, clearly confused, turning his attention back to Connor. He nods in the appropriate places, turning to make his way to the temple before he hears "overnight rescue operation."
His head snaps back around, eyes widening. He looks down at Demona, giving an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
"Oh, please Arthrax. If I'm truly destined to convert all the orcs of Belkzen to worship of Saranrae, don't you think I can handle a few bandits? Either we'll be fine, or I wasn't worth guarding in the first place!"
Merisiel has arrive a few days ago to visit her friend, who just came baring in he house and grabbed merisiel by the arm
Meri, Come quick quickly. Something bad happened she told her about the wounded men resting in miss Teppen house.
Merisiel really had no time to grab anything really as both woman made their way.
As the door to Miss Teppen opened Merisiel walked in, she was dressed in lavender blue dress that didn't sow much of her pale blue skin, solid white eyes with no pupil or iris, and dark hair.
I have been told my assistance was needed here? Something about a lady and her escort being attack with only one survivor making it here?
Demona watches him go, having enough grace to look ashamed. "Uh oh, I think I might have pushed him too hard. He's a good guy, really, and he actually cares about the job, not just the money. I'll bring him around. We'll get our stuff and meet you there."
Demona goes after Arthrax, trotting to catch up with him.
"Arthrax? Wait up! I'm sorry."
"I sense the orc lass will be at toll on our minds. You two wouldn't happen to know where a dwarf can get some warmer clothes would ye?" Feinmeir asked knowing that the expedition ahead would not likely be a warm one.
Merisiel has arrive a few days ago to visit her friend, who just came baring in he house and grabbed merisiel by the arm
Meri, Come quick quickly. Something bad happened she told her about the wounded men resting in miss Teppen house.
Merisiel really had no time to grab anything really as both woman made their way.
As the door to Miss Teppen opened Merisiel walked in, she was dressed in lavender blue dress that didn't sow much of her pale blue skin, solid white eyes with no pupil or iris, and dark hair.
I have been told my assistance was needed here? Something about a lady and her escort being attack with only one survivor making it here?
A priest dressed in earthy tones with an gold stag antler bow sewed over chest and balding head welcomes you into the Temple of Erastil. He then motions you to follow him and leads you to a wing of the temple off to the side. "I am happy to have your aid, though I must warn you, he can be... difficult."
He shows you to a middle aged Ulfen who sits in a bed, beaten and bloodied with his head wrapped in linen. Yuln Oerstag turned his attention as the priest walked in with Merisiel. He sniffed the air, or at least attempted too.
"My nose may be broken but I can still smell the witch blood in you. touch me and I'll split your skull with my bear hands. I had them move me hear from that 'apothecary' because I would have nothing to do with witches. Give me the followers of a good northern god any day."
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Arthrax sighs and stops, head down, eyes forward. When he hears Demona's footsteps approach beside him he starts towards the temple again. He scowls as they approach the building, irritation crossing his features as he pushes the door open.
Finding the nearest acolyte, he says curtly, bluntly, and vaguely threatening, "The injured guard. Where is he?" His manner suggests it is not really a question, but a demand. (Assuming the acolyte is either helpful or scared and cooperates).
Clomping down the hallway, he turns into the room to witness the guard's threats to the blue-skinned woman. Chuckling with dark humor, he realizes he's not the only one having trouble with the person they are trying to help.
Realizing that Arthrax seems to want quiet for the moment, Demona gives it to him, and just follows along without speaking.
"I sense the orc lass will be at toll on our minds. You two wouldn't happen to know where a dwarf can get some warmer clothes would ye?" Feinmeir asked knowing that the expedition ahead would not likely be a warm one.
Connor points at a building on the northwest corner of the village square, "Ms. Steranus runs the general store. She might have what you need though being the middle of summer I'm not sure what her supplies of winter gear will be."
With that Connor is off down the street, stopping outside 'the Butcher of Jalrune' before entering the place. Perkin Tarimm, the halfling that owns the shop, stands on his stool behind the counter and chops away at a rack of pork ribs. Perkin looks up as the bell rings with the door opening, "Welcome to... oh, Connor, it's you. You bring me another deer to cut up for you today?" The young man shakes his head as he holds up his sack, "Not today, Perkin. Found the critter that was eating your chickens that you were complaining about last week. It was a goblin. Instead of my normal fee, how bout a couple chickens and a pork haunch in trade?" The halfling sniffs as a whiff of the sack hits his nostrils before he starts motioning to the back of the shop, "Um, very good, lad. Why don't you put it in back by the rest of the refuse and I'll examine it later. I'll wrap up your meats while you do."
A minute later after Conner has situated the sack by a pile of chicken and pig parts that were no use to anyone except to go to a compost heap, he takes the three packages from Perkin and starts to store them in his pack. The halfling watches Connor as he goes back to his butchering, "Since you must have just got back into town, Connor, have you heard the word spreading about the noble's caravan that was attacked on the road?" The young man nods as he secures his pack's straps back down, "Yeah, Mrs. Teppen wants me to lead a group out to the site and see if we can't rescue the lady from this bandits. We're about to head out." Perkin gives Connor a worried look as he chops another cut of meat from the ribs, "Is that so? Well take care of yourself, lad. Bandits are not much different from pirates. Both are known for their nasty dispositions and bloodthirsty nature." Connor nods his head at Perkin as he starts for the door, "No worries. Nan always said the bandits you know aren't nearly as terrifying as the bandits you don't. So we'll go get to know them." The door opens and shuts, filling the air with the dinging of a small bell.
A few minutes later, Connor arrives at the Temple of Erastil and heads inside to look for the others.
"HEY MA I'M GONNA NEED DAD'S STUFF, 'KAY? THANKSBYE!"
Ikkis had run home to get a shield and a few weapons for the trip. He knew he could not necessarily be relied on in melee combat, but any weapon was better than none! He grabbed a shield and all the weapons he could carry before heading back to town, not even checking to see whether his mother was actually there.
Once laden, he made it back to where the others gathered around the Ulfen guard. He stands and listens, waiting to see how the guard reacts to Merisel's offer.
The Ulfen grumbles and lets the witch attend to him. When he notices the others standing outside his room his temper flares again.
"What are the lot of you looking at?"
"You, actually," Demona. "We want to help rescue this Lady and find out why the woods have gone all wintery. Once you're done being bewitched, we'd like to hear your account of it all, and what direction the bandits took her."
"Would that I could go with you," he says with a sigh. He looks away from the group as if lost in thought. "My ancestors would ridicule my lack of valor for fleeing rather than fighting to the end. But I faced enemies that even the greatest warriors in the Linnorm Kingdoms have faltered against, though I think I slew at least one of them before they dragged Lady Argentea away. I was too busy fighting to see which way they went.
As for the bandits, it wasn't just them. We thought they were just bandits at first-outlaws who hide like wolves in the forest. They were no match for us. But then came the cold fey of the north. They appeared among us and the battle turned quickly. My people speak of the winter-touched all the time, but I never expected to meet them this far south."
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Arthrax grins inside as he listens to Demona speak. The girl was afraid of nothing, that was sure. It seemed to work in this situation, as the fellow loosened up rather quickly.
His look quickly turns to one of puzzlement. Fey-touched, what was that? The more he heard about this situation, the more he didn't like it. Then again, a noblewoman would likely offer quite a reward, if she wasn't dead already. He lets the girl and whoever else speak, since he has nothing of value to offer to the conversation at the moment.
"Can you think of a reason that such beings would want to kidnap this Lady Argentea? Did she have any enemies in the region with connections to... erm, Fey things?"
Ikkis was grasping at straws, but figured it didn't hurt to ask.