The cold I am used to, in a manner, it doesn't bother me much either, snow on the other hand... I have a habit of getting a little stuck in it. Haven't yet mastered walking across it. So yes, snow shoes help. I have plenty of cold weather gear but I can't believe I forgot the shoes.
Varian looks around a bit embarrassed
"Good luck finding any this far south," Raseri mutters as she drags her armor over the long sleeved tunic she had donned, "This is Taldor. Having more than a dusting on the ground is considered a blizzard here."
Seeing Sevante throw together some "useable" snow shoes. Caladrel tries to do the same.
"You are quite resourceful, perhaps I might be able to construct something myself. Never tried this though, so we'll see what happens."
Caladrel carefully peels some sections of tree bark. Trying to shape them, from memory, to the general size of snowshoes. Then uses some vines, woven together as a means to connect the shoes to his leather boots.
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Varian watches and attempts to do the same.
he mutters and huffs as he manages to destroy more nature than the weird winter has. Finally he huffs and throws the material he gathered to the ground.
See, this is why I travel and fight for others. I can tell you about books, I know many magical things and I can wield a blade better than most. But I am NOT a craftsman
he crosses his hands infront of his chest in slight irritation from his recent failure.
Hmph, see, not hero material, can't even make some bloody shoes.
Sevante moves over next to Caladrel. "Just something I picked up from my father... but if you wove those vines more like this it might better spread your weight. Though this vine might be the wrong kind."
..........
After, you guys are done making snowshoes for those that need them, you head deeper into the forest and come upon the Massacre site:
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.
Caladrel moves cautiously to the wreckage in the road. He will try an look around for any possible clues.
"This must be the place. Before we run off into the woods, hold off for a moment. I wanna see if there anything useful, perhaps a clue."
Raseri cautiously moves up to the first wagon, the borrowed cold iron sword out and ready.
Grandma Mable follows along watching to woods and anywhere else she thinks of.
"What ever attacked could still be watching"
"We may possibly have a survivor. Mable, can you come here and see if they need some medical attention. If we can save them, they may be able to provide some valuable information."
Raseri moves to the other carriage, her eyes hard as she goes to see what horrors are in it.
When you go over to the upright carriage, you see that both sides of it are barred shut with spears. At this range, the groaning is also clearer but still indistinct. The Carriage doors creak as they bend slightly from something pushing against them from the other side.
Varian follows behind when he hears of the possible survivor he is relieved but wary.
must have been hard surviving this cold so badly injured.
He continues to scan the area looking for trouble.
Grandma hobbles over to the carriage.
"Quickly open the carriage.We will save those we can!"
"Who said he survived. Sometimes the dead grow restless when they die from winter's bite." Raseri, it seems, may be a bit paranoid, taking her axe in gloved hands, she knocks the spear loose and steps back.
As the spear falls to the ground, a thud announces the opening of the carriage doors as two figures smash against them and fall to the ground. The indistinct groaning you were hearing turns into the long deathless moans of the undead as the first two corpses stand up and a third peers out of the carriage. Each corpse given unnatural animation appears to be the undead remains of some of the slain mercenaries, each with barely recognizable company's insignia on their completely shredded armor.
Initiative Order: Zombie 3, Sevante, Varian, Caladrel, Zombie 1, Mable, Zombie 2, Raseri
Round 1
Zombie 3 pushes his way out of the carriage and past Zombie 1, right in front of Mable, slowly reaching for her throat.
Round 1
Sevante, surveying the scene from a distance, jumps as the zombies pop-up and rushes closer to the zombie closest to Raseri. He pauses a moment as he draws his rapier...
Varian reacts quickly as always,moving closer to the new threat, he speaks several arcane words and raises his hand, a strange liquid erupts and flies onto the area where the zombies are standing.
Round 1
Standard: Hex (evil eye) Zombie right of Mable. -2 AC
Move: Cackle. +1 round to Evil Eye
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"Mable! Look out!"
"மர்ம, சக்திவாய்ந்த ஒன்று ... என் எதிரி பலவீனப்படுத்தவும் சாதகமாக வழங்க."
As Caladrel completes his incantation, He points a finger at the zombie next to Mable. His blues eyes intensify with a red glow for an instant, then return to normal. Knowing his patron has granted his request, Caladrel lets out a maniacle chuckle.
Zombies 1 and 3 fall prone. Some how Zombie 2 is still standing on the slippery surface.
....Zombie 3 shrugs off your hex.
Round 1
Initiative Order Reminder: Zombie 3, Sevante, Varian, Caladrel, Zombie 1, Mable, Zombie 2, Raseri
Zombie 1 tries to grapple Raseri while prone.
The Zombie ineffectively grasps at your boots Raseri. End of Zombie's turn.
Grandma jabs her walking stick at the standing zombie
Then she takes a step back behind Raseri.
Grandma jabs her walking stick at the standing zombie
[dice=Spear]1d20+2
[dice=Damage]1d8+2 Then she takes a step back behind Raseri.
You quickly stab your spear at the still standing zombie, but you miscalculate and hit empty air.
Raseri takes her axe in both hands and brings it down hard on the zombie's head.
"Damned witchcrafted horror."
The Zombie's head is sliced in two from the sheer weight of your swing. The body starts to flail around feebly for a few short moments before falling still, putting the creature to rest.
Round 1
Initiative Order Reminder: Zombie 3, Sevante, Varian, Caladrel, Zombie 1, Mable, Zombie 2, Raseri
Zombie 2 tries to move towards you...
And starts to slip and slide unsteadily on its feet....
But somehow stays standing.
Raseri wrenches the head of her axe free from the head of the corpse and swings at the other undead monster reaching for her and her companions, cleaving its head from its shoulders.
"Is this it? All they think it will take to stop me is a rotting corpse?"
Another Zombie's moans are silenced by Raseri, its body laying in a heap next to its slain companion in undeath.
Round 2
Initiative Order Reminder: Zombie 3, Sevante, Varian, Caladrel, Zombie 1, Mable, Zombie 2, Raseri
Sevante moves up next to the final zombie and tries to distract the thing from his ally's next attack.
Round 2
Standard: Hex (evil eye) Zombie right of Mable. -2 AC
Move: Cackle. +1 round to Evil Eye hex
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Caladrel turns his gaze and index finger to Zombie 2.
"மர்ம, சக்திவாய்ந்த ஒன்று ... என் எதிரி பலவீனப்படுத்தவும் சாதகமாக வழங்க."
As Caladrel completes his incantation, once again his blues eyes intensify with a red glow for an instant, then return to normal.
Knowing his patron has granted his request, Caladrel follows with a devious laugh.
"Hey!? Raseri, we don't know this is the work of witches. Let's not jump to hasty conclusions."
Before anyone else is able to do anything, everyone hears the raucous cawing of a crow from a nearby tree.
Grandma looks very embaressed as she removes the cosy from the end of her walking stick then attacks again.
and seems to fail wildly but hits nothing.
After Caladrel once again succeeds in unnerving moore than just the single remaining zombie, Sevante rushes up to it and with a twist and a flick tries to get the lumbering monster to turn and create an opening for Grandma Mable. If the old lady was going to get stuck in combat the least he could do was help her shine.
Varrian moves up next to the remaining undead, attempting to strike him.
Round 2
Initiative Order Reminder: Zombie 3, Sevante, Varian, Caladrel, Zombie 1, Mable, Zombie 2, Raseri
Action Order: Varian (Moves and attacks), Caladrel (Evil Eye, Cackle), Sevante (Aid Another), and Mable (Moves and Attacks).
Varian: The attack glances off the Zombie's wrecked armor.
Caladrel:
Evil Eye's duration is decreased to 2 rounds.
Sevante: Your "attack" succeeds in distracting the Zombie.
Mable: When you attack, your wild swings seems to take it in the shoulder and do some damage, but it seems to shrug off most of it.
Current Initiative Order: Zombie 3, Varian, Caladrel, Sevante, Zombie 1, Mable, Zombie 2, Raseri
Zombie 2 attacks Varian with its fists, flailing wildly.
The Zombie connects with one of its fists, heavily bruising Varian's chest.
Rasrei skirts around the grease patch and lines up her strike on the last zombie.
The Zombie is decapitated and it's body falls to the ground. All Zombie's have been laid to rest.
Not but a few seconds after the last Zombie is slain, the cawing of the Crow becomes louder, and changes into something akin to laughter.
"Oh ho hoh! So it seems that you beat that fool Rohkar's puppets have you? What esteemed adventurers we have here and competent in combat too," The voice says mockingly.
You turn in the direction of the voice to find that it belongs, surprisingly, to a Crow. The Crow is perched in a tree next to the still upright carriage, just out of reach of melee weapons and laughs at anyone who shows any surprise as to its vocal ability.
"Don't be alarmed... or really I don't care if you are, I'm not here to fight you. I just came for a shiny bauble that just so happens to be in that carriage there." It points at the upright carriage with its beak and taps one of its claws in an impatient manner.
"Funny, I thought crows did not speak," Raseri growls. She turns to face the cawing crow and glares at it.
"I felt as if something was trying to burrow into my mind, was that you or your master? Best speak quickly, my patience grows thin."
"Ah, that was me young one, but I have no ill will towards any of you. I was simply trying to bring things to their conclusion faster so-to-speak. I thought Rohkar had made some of his stronger pets and thought they would take you easily, but I see now that I was wrong and it seems that he was just leaving a warning to those to come. As to a master, I have none. I don't serve winter, but simply live in it. Now, how about that shiny?" The Crow continues its impatient claw tapping and crooks its head to the side, but makes no move off the tree or towards the carriage.
"Forgive our lack of courtesy, after all, we were just fending off an assault of undead. My name is Caladrel." Caladrel bows respectfully. "Before we consider providing you your trinket, would you indulge us is some answers to a few obvious inquiries? Who or what are you my feathered friend? What is the importance of the bauble you seek and who is Rohkar?"
Raseri cleans her axe before putting it back through the ring on her belt.
"Wouldn't this bauble you are bargaining with rightfully belong to the missing Lady Argentea? I took Yuln's oath as my own and that means I will defend her life and property, elf."