Helgash smiles as their opponent took the time to speak to them - he expects it to be enough to allow Beck to recover - "If you even so much as blink towards our companion, your life will be extinguished even before you can raise your weapon - you have lost" - again his voice is calm - "Surrender, and you shall live. Any other chosen path will lead to your demise" - he speaks calmly.
Beck +1/2 level in cold
Helgash
Jetro
Duardlara
Venja
rogue
The rogue shrugs his shoulders. You come in here and provoke my men and myself yet have the gall to think that I should trust you. Go to hell.
Quicker than you can react you hear an audible click as a dagger shoots from his sleeves into his hand. Plunging it down he brings the dagger across Beck's neck viscously as blood pools outward just as Beck heals from the life link from Helgash.
attack for
crit confirm for
acrobatics
He then moves through Helgash to get outside where he is a sitting duck for the party to turn him into a pincushion or worse.
Sheelah eats the rogue. Chews him up and rips him to pieces. SHe'll bite you if you try to stop her...
Jetro is exasperated. Iffen we just finished him off we would have avoided that, Now Beck is dead and we still don't know anything.
Duardlara curses under her breath at the man's speed, but he's too quick and out the door before she can fire. She moves to the doorway and takes her shot .
Venja drops down to the ground at Beck's side, her 10' locks of hair strewn about her, forgotten in her shock and grief... she grabs the tiefling and hugs him to her breast and rocks with him, weeping.
Sheelah gives a keening wail as she slumps down and lays on Beck's unmoving form. she gives a growl should anyone try to move his body and barely lets Venja hold Beck as well.
As the crying continues and the last of the threat has expired the group waits for a long while in the fish shack not knowing what to do. After a long time a faint scratching sound can be heard. At first you pay no attention to it but after a while you realize it is coming from inside the shack. Opening the second door in the room, you see a bound and gagged man rubbing his bindings against a rough corner of the wall trying to break the ropes enough to escape.
Jetro removes the man's gag. Just who are you?
The man breathes deeply as the gag is removed and you can see signs of perspiration on his forehead as he was furiously trying to free himself. Seeing that you are not the same man as before he rasies his bound arms to you, The name is Ringeirr. Please get these off before those damnable ogres and that thief come back. then we can go and talk someplace safe. I have a place nearby that we can hide up in if we need to.
Duardlara, very uncomfortable with the grief-stricken scene, is all too happy to join Jetro in investigating the sound. As they head back, she murmurs, "The uncle. He was supposed to be in here."
Pulling her dagger, she pauses, "We met the thief and his ogres. I have to say, we didn't enjoy it much and we're in a pretty sour mood. Any proof that you are who you say you are? We have a friend in Waldsby that says she has an uncle up here by that name - give me her name."
He looks up at you hopefully, Nadya, she sent you to find me? Why would she do such a thing? I thought she was safe at home with her daughter and 2 sons. I haven't visited them of late as I have been busy here. Please tell me how are they.
Searching the rogue, the 2 ogres, and the building yields...
on the rogue...+i studded leather, +1 rapier, dagger, mwk light crossbow
with 10 bolts, ring of protection +i, cold-weather outfit, Quickrunner's shirt, key, mwk thieves' tools, gold necklace worth 50 gp, 87 gp
ogres each had hide armor and large ogre hooks along with 34 gp
On the table is a bag of coins that looks exactly like Helgash's with his coins inside.
Inside the room where the rogue came from is a locker under the bed.
The man speaks, but Helgash is not listening, instead staring at Beck - he does not understand how any of this could have happened - "He was too fast. could not react in time" - he speaks alone, kneeling down next to Sheelah, as if apologizing - "He should be alive" - his voice is unwavering, but filled with sadness as he stares at Venja - "He deserved to be alive. I would have given my life for Beck"
He just stands there, waiting for Sheelah to calm down, trying to appease the magnificent beast. He does acknowledge the presence of Ringeirr - "We do need to speak with you, so I will ask you to come with us, but I will not leave my friend and companion lying here for whomever to come next - he deserves a proper burial, so if you could direct us to a cemetery, I would thank you"
Venja nods blankly at Helgash's words, but not willing to relinquish her friend's form to being carried away just yet, she just clings to him, weeping. "Oh, Beck, Beck... my friend... would that I had the power to bring you back... I would give anything... "
Jetro will cut the man loose. She is doing fine, considering the circumstances. You'll have to talk to her about that though. We best get a move on when we can so that we don't draw the wrong attention.
The elf nods at the man's response. "Yes, she sent us. We'll explain later. How far is your hiding place?" She points at their dead companion and the dead rogue. "We need to honor one and hide the other."
She looks at the others, "We should take the rogue's body and gear, leave the ogres and theirs, to make it look like he's cut and run, abandoned his post. I suspect he wasn't the boss."
She will look at the footlocker, but I don't think we want to take the time to check it for traps or try to unlock it right now.
Ringeirr looks at Jetro quizzically at his response but does not press further as time may be of the essence. I thought that rogue was the leader but if you are thinking he was not then lets go before news of this gets out.
Taking the footlocker with you and carrying Beck as sacredly as possible you follow Ringeirr for about 5 minutes to another small shack that he opens up and lets you in. Inside is a small 2 room building sparsely furnished but it does have a coal brazier to keep it warm, something that is out of place usually. We should be safe here. Please let me help you with him and lay him on the cot in the other room. It is the least I can do for him who helped save me and hopefully more possibly. There is no cemetery around here that would take him as we cremate our dead on specific days. Only then is there a fire allowed hot enough to do the proper rites and rituals. I am sorry but here will have to do for now.
Sheelah accompanies you quietly, her wailing having stopped for now. When Beck is brought on the cot she places herself in front of the doorway protecting his body still.
Jetro keeps an eye out the window and lets Helgash and Venha do the talking.
Duardlara keeps busy to keep herself from dwelling on Beck's death.
She sets herself up to study the footlocker, casting light on the tip of an arrow and getting in close to the mechanism of the lock and other areas that might harbor a trap.
Satisfied she has done everything she can, she prepares to disable the trap , open it using the key they found on the dead rogue, or pick the lock.
Duardlara takes a close look at the locker and finds that it is indeed locked. Using the key from the dead rogue you open the lock and start to lift the lid. Unfortunately you did not see the trigger release on the left hand side that needed to be pushed to prevent the needle hidden within from jabbing out. Duardlara's right hand gets a quick little jolt from the needle as it stabs her.
for damage and a DC 14 fort (poison) save please
Inside the locker can be found a wand of spider climb (21 charges), a small pouch of 5 rubies each valued at 50gp, 203 gp in assorted coins, a silver mirror intricately designed to look like two naked lovers with arms entwined on top and legs entwined on the bottom worth 125gp. All of Ringeirr's gear is there as well the most notable is an amulet of natural armor and other assorted gear of 450gp in value.
Jetro glances over at Ringeirr. Well besides this mess we have now there seems to be a bunch of other trouble that brought us here. My friends here found out that the winter witches are trying to harness the power of some other witch and her special hut is in Whitethrone. Nadya told us that you could help us get into the city since it is under martial law.
She sets the items out of the locker other than the mirror, which she replaced into the locker and closes it. At the questioning look she might get, she says, "In case someone's scrying through it."
She studies the runes on the wand, "The spell appears to be spider climb." She looks at the witch, "Is this something you can utilize?"
"Not something I can use, I think... perhaps you should keep it, hon."
That would be pretty useful for an archer that can use it, just walk up a wall and you are out of stabbing range.
Ringeirr looks at you with a wierd look on his face. Where have you been for the last year. Everyone has heard the rumors that Queen Elvana has captured Baba Yaga somehow and taken control of her Dancing Hut. How such a thing has come to pass I do not know as legend has it that Babay Yaga is the most powerful of witches ever. It is true though that the Dancing Hut is in whitethrone. I saw it with my very eyes when they were bringing it in. Since then though I do not know where it is located but heard that it is on display as a sign of Queen Elvana's power.
As to helping you get inside the city...well that has gotten much tougher over the last 2 years. The normal guard has been replaced by the Queen's Winter guard. They patrol the streets and have unmatched authority over almost everyone. The only group that could equal their power and give them pause would be if you were members of the nobility itself. It would not have to be the ruling class from Whitethrone but from another city. These nobility have a tendency to dress in exotic fashions and use a variety of strange customs. If we could pass you off as a group of them that would simplify things. However, we would need papers to correctly identify yourselves and even then it may not work, he adds as he looks at the more outlandish of people before him, namely Helgash. You are going to cause attention to be drawn to yourself unless we figure out someway of making you blend in with the crowd.
Been out of touch.[/ooc][b]So I didn't hear a thing about this Yaga being caught, but the other folks here really need to get in. So where can we get these papers?
That is gong to be a real trick to find someone to make the papers appear legitimate in order to pass any scrutiny if you are stopped. At this point he gets up and walks to the door and windows peering out of each to make sure that there is no one close enough to hear the conversation.
Whispering as well to hide his words he begins to tell more than you guessed looking at him. What I am about to tell you not even Nadya knows. I am only telling you this for 2 reasons. First you saved me from the fish camp guards and second I believe that your goals, while not directly in line with mine, are close enough that your success would be our success.
Years ago I had a family. We lived a quiet peaceful life here on the outskirts of Whitethrone. It was hard work but honest and we were happy. One day guards came and took my wife and daughter. they did not tell me why or what was to happen to them. When I tried to reach out for them I was knocked unconscious. I never saw them again since that day. I searched and searched for answers but the closest I got was it was reported that some fish that I caught spoiled and was served to the queen by accident. I was blamed for the deed and my family taken as punishment. That is the way life is here. they don't go after you they go after your family to make the rest of your life a nightmare.
In my searching I found ways to get in and out of Whitethrone. I could sneak in and hide without a trace. During this time I stumbled upon an underground shrine to Milani. There a cult was established by a priest of Milani called the Heralds of Summer Return. They work to help extricate those unfortunate enough to fall under the eye of the queen or her Winter Guard. I have been a part of that group since. A member of that group is a master forger who can create almost any paperwork required given enough time. I would bring you to him so that he can help you. Once that is accomplished then I believe that you will have as great a chance to move about the city as possible.
How our goals coincide is what happens afterwards. You are looking for the Hut and the priestess of Milani may be able to help you. I could arrange a meeting for you to meet with her. In exchange for helping you though she will need you to help her as well. What this help may take the form of I do not know as I am not in the inner circle of the group.
Sounds reasonable, how soon can we get moven?
Well that all depends on what you are planning to do with your friend over there. he says pointing to where Beckis laying. What are your thoughts about that?
"Thank you so much for what assistance you can offer, good man. Takes us to this priestess and the forger then and we will bargain for their assistance."
Sheelah perks up at the mention of Beck's name and nuzzles the Teifling's cooling corpse, then pads over to listen to the conversation.
Hmmm..That is a difficult question. Ground is pretty frozen so if we are going to send him on his way to the hereafter,we'll have to cremate. Unless Venja and Helgash have an idea for something else.
Duardlara frowns, but speaks up for the first time. "With the aid of a gifted cleric, we would bring him back. But as you know, we don't know anyone with that power around here." Quizzically, she looks at him, "Is your priestess of Milani so gifted?"
Helgash had been morose, but he perks up at Duardlara's words - "Would she be able to...?" - he adds, eyes flaring.
"Thank you so much for what assistance you can offer, good man. Takes us to this priestess and the forger then and we will bargain for their assistance."
Now ma'am I don't mean to put a stop to your plans, but we can't just go waltzing into the city. In fact it would be almost impossible to go to her first as you need those papers if you are to have a chance in Whitethrone. No, once we try to get into Whitethrone the first stop we must go to first is the gentleman who can forge your papers. Even then the route we would need to take is quite dangerous for a group as this. I normally use a small passage in the side of the city walls that leads to the Howling District. Once inside the walls themselves though we are still in danger of the occupants. Papers first then maybe seek a meeting with the priestess. Although there might be a way to bring her here for the briefest of moments.
Duardlara frowns, but speaks up for the first time. "With the aid of a gifted cleric, we would bring him back. But as you know, we don't know anyone with that power around here." Quizzically, she looks at him, "Is your priestess of Milani so gifted?"
Well now, I don't know about anything that fancy or powerful. I now that she is strong in her faith and has performed many miracles. I know that she protects the place with spells to prevent infiltration by outside people. It is something that she does once a year and is a great drain on her to do so. As to bring back the dead though, that I have never seen her do nor heard of her doing so. It may be possible but that is something that you would have to ask her about.
Although his description is quite vague you gather enough that what he is talking about is a hallow spell with a zone of truth attached to it.
The Howlings is a district in Whitethrone that is composed primarily of Winter wolves. Ironically it is one of the few locations that winterwolves are permitted to take on the guise of humans and walk upright.
"She would appear to be very powerful, indeed."
Well we might as well get started getting to her so we can find out what she can do for poor Beck. Let's see about those papers.
Oh, I see... I misunderstood... I thought we would be meeting up with this forger and the priestess outside the city. By all means - let's get started sneaking into the city so we can get our papers and ask the priestess for some assistance as well. Thank you Rangierr for doing this for us."