As you continue down the path, the snow and wind get worse. The trail is already slippery with sleet and the snow is 3 feet deep in most areas. The farther you go, the more snow there is, on the ground and falling from the sky. When you don't think it can get any worse, you come to a clearing. Four low igloos stand here in the snow. A well-packed trail of large footprints passes between them, heading both north and west.
"These seem a little to big, don't they?"
Covering his face with furs, Grimkell takes a few steps back to make sure he heard Elxurian well.
"Yes, they are strange, I should take a look around to see who they belong to ... if only I could avoid leaving foot prints... I wonder if the land would allow me to walk without leaving traces... "
The skald bows his head for a moment and reaches for something in pockets. He prays for a short moment before raising his head.
Grimkell then proceeds to advance on top of the snow without sinking in.
"So, do we all go together, do I call them here so we can make presentations? He finishes with a large smile."
Lex seems more than a little annoyed by the snow, reducing her maneuverability drastically. "The trip back is going to be such a pain in the ass," She grumbles, at least warm enough in her yeti coat.
The igloos are noted, the young woman peering out at them. "Yeah, they're big. So our mephit friends probably didn't make them themselves. And I'm no tracker, but those footprints look like they belong to something big, so...let's try not to get ourselves squashed."
For the first time, Nev seems mildly inconvenienced by the snow. "This storm's gotten really thick. Do you need me to take point? I'm not bothered as much."
[Ooc]I will have the map up tomorrow. Im going back to sleepy town. (Not feeling 100%; been asleep all day.)
As the snowstorm swirls around them, blocking nearly everything from sight, Llyr shouts out to the others, "We need to stay close. You can get lost in weather like this and not see someone 15 feet away from you."
"Agreed. So, do I announce ourselves? There does not seem to be any point in hiding in this snow... plus we might catch them unprepared... or used the diplomatic way of our own Jadigwa?" says Grimkell just loudly enough to be heard over the wind.
He turns to Karyne, waiting for her opinion.
"No Jadwiga is going to be happy to zhe me. I do not zhink zhat ve should try to be diplomatic. Unless it is aggressive negotiations."
She says as she pulls the cloak tighter against her skin.
"Indeed negotiations should be reserved to things that do not come in a winter package. Let's destroy whatever is in this igloos and keep moving. I wouldn't worry too much with the back trip, Lex, as once we destroy the source of unnatural cold the snow will certainly fade away pretty quickly."
Confident and merciless, you realize it never occurred to the paladin that the group could fail in their mission.
"Let's go!" She takes her sword out once again and moves for the igloo!
"Think maybe we should follow those tracks," Lex suggests, switching to her cold iron shortspear. She can't see crap in this snow - she'll not risk Lowell scouting ahead and possibly getting attacked by another mephit. The owl might not be able to even fly properly in this weather, so he was perched up on a nearby tree instead.
Elxurian takes a look on the first igloo to see if there's anything inside.
No great announcement for the heroes, that is disappointing. Well.. I will have to make this sound like a nice and smart ambush from our part. thinks Grimkell to himself.
"True, the tracks are interesting, but let's be a little more prudent." says the ulfen to Lex, clearly more interested in the tracks but trying to avoid giving to much credit to the woman.
Turning toward Llyr with a serious face.
Ready to watch my back? he asks over the sound of the wind.
The skald then proceeds to look at the igloo on their left, popping his head inside.
As Grimkell and Elxurian examine the two closest igloos, Llyr’s hackles begin to rise. As a rogue, he knows full well the dangers of being flanked and surrounded, and their current location is ideal for that kind of maneuver to be used against them. ”We should pick a side and circle around, before searching the center area.” he yells to the others, ”Don’t want Mine and Grim’s tactics used against us!”
Nev, roll perception.
The Sprites taunt Gremkell, pointing their little bows at his face. "Whats wrong, ya big dummy? Scared of two little sprites?!" They cackle as one shoots at Grimkell. The other shoots rainbows out of its fingers.
Grimkell Just closes his eyes as the brilliant lights shoot past him, unshaken by the little bastards spell. The arrow bounces off of his armor easily. Such wimpy arrows.
Nev will move up a bit and keep looking around for more baddies.
"Clear!" Calls out the paladin when checking the igloo to their right, but then the sound of other creatures draw her attention. "Whose voice was that?" She moves behind Grimkell with some difficulty.
With the snow hindering his movement, and the pth inside blocked, Llyr simply pulls out his rapier and gets ready to strike any foe who comes in range.
"Ha! We will see who is the dummy. Come and get me tiny *****" says Grimkell as he steps out of their sight on the other side of the hut's door.
The Sprites laugh. "Everyone who ever loved you was wrong!" The other sprite laughs harder. "Its too much of a coward! The sound of your urine discharges hitting the urinal sound feminine! Come and get us you cowardly woman-man!"
Elxurian sheathes her Greatsword, draws her bow and moves to the entrance of the igloo. Having line of sight of the creatures, she shots and arrow!
!
!
"Oh I have had it with these lousy fairies," Lex growls as she trudges towards the igloo's entrance after Elxurian's shot. She utters a few arcane elvish words, before flames sputter out and engulf the interior of the building.
Both dodge at the last minute, but are singed in the process.
Karyne spends the entire first round moving forward, not liking this. "Be careful, my friends."
Grimkell's face changed abruptly when the sprites called him a woman-man. Hot anger appeared in his eyes and the skald tightened his grip on his sword and shield. Shouldering Lex, the ulfen runs abruptly into the hut, lets out a yell and slashes at one of the little buggers.
Grimkell goes storming in and almost makes it to the sprites. The floor gives way, having him fall 20ft down into a pit. The sprites die laughing. "I can't believe we got the man-woman! Haha!"
Hearing Grimkell's cry, Nev moves forward and looks inside the igloo. Seeing the chaos inside, he calls back to the others, "There's two Sprites in here! They're a bit singed, but it looks like they lured Grimkell into a trap, as there's a big hole in the floor, and I can't see him. Lady Morozov, if you set this thing on fire, I'll pull him out once the fey are dead."
"...I think we just lost Grimmy!" Lex calls to the others. "Karyne, I need your help clearing these things out!" She tells her, tossing a glob of acid at one of them before shifting to the side of the igloo for cover. "Don't rush in or you'll fall in a hole! Snipe from outside!" She hisses over the howling winter winds.
Not wanting to get in the casters way, Llyr continues to watch for a flank or ambush maneuver.
Breaking the igloo would not work, as pieces of ice could fall over Grim. "Time for some fireballs, I believe!"
[ooc]We are waiting on Karyne, but since he just had a baby, Ill give the campaign till Friday and then pick it back up. It allows me to study for finals too! :)
Karyne steps forward as best she can and lets a little blast of fire from her inner reserves.
The ice of the igloo looks more like mush, but no hole forms yet.
the sprites make a run for it.
Lex misses with her thrust as the sprites fly off, but she does look at Elxurian before pressing off to try again. "Collapsing the igloo is a terrible idea when Grimmy's still trapped inside!" She shouts, imbuing her weapon with arcane energy before thrusting forward again.
Breaking the igloo would NOT work, as pieces of ice could fall over Grim.
Nev's quick stabs kill the first Sprite and narrowly miss the other. However, in avoiding him, the second Sprite flies right into Lex's blade and falls to the ground.
"Get Grim out of the hole!" shouts Llyr, trying to be heard over the gusting wind and driving snow. He then watches for any new arrivals.
Elxurian moves and drops a rope to the son of Ogmundr. "Are you alright down there?
arrgghhh, ******* sprites. Wait until I am healed . yells Grimkell in an angry tone to Elxurian.
The skald whispers a short prayer to the spirits of the land before taking the rope and climbing up. When he comes out, blood splattered on his clothes, he his clearly boiling with anger.
Alright let's take care of these frigid jadigwas now!