Muscles flexing, Llyr leaps over the elemental, snow falling off the ulfen as he easily makes it past the outstretched claws. Pinning it between himself and Lex, he slashes at the beast. "Lex, if you wait for me to move into position, it'll help us both!"
Grimkell approaches the others, still reciting, he draws his sword. The rythm of the saga seem to follow those of the swords and spears the others use, seeming to lend strenght to everyblow.
Behind his allies' line,the skald waits to see an opening in which to enter battle.
- Immunity to bleed, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
- Not subject to critical hits or flanking. Does not take additional damage from precision-based attacks, such as sneak attack.
Karyne: Whats the -4 for on your attack roll?
Lex:immune.
Karyne: Whats the -4 for on your attack roll?
The remaining elemental turns its head towards Lex.
Its blow hits hard in the thigh, but not as cold as you were expecting.
Seeing the first creature break and fall under Elxurian's sword, Grimkell wads throught the snow toward the last creature standing. Doing so, he brushes pass Nev.
While still reciting, the skald attacks the creature, intertwining warcries and lines from the epic poem.
Llyr continues his assault on the elemental, and finding no vital points to strike, just lashes out at the foe.
"Before you try anything funny!"
Seeing the other elemental is surrounded already, Elxurian steps on the dead elemental body (if it's still there) and brings her sword top to bottom at the snowman.
!
Llyr slashes and hacks as the ice elemental, the life seems to be sucked out of it. When Llyr is finished, the ice elemental has been carved into a beautiful swan ice statue.
[/ooc] End combat [/ooc]
"GNK!" The magus stumbles from the blow, staggering around and gritting her teeth. She's in bad shape, both for the hypothermia that she's feeling and what she's pretty sure is a cracked rib. "Hate you...so much..." She growls, defiantly thrusting her spear once more at the creature. She stabs it dead center, letting out a roar of both pain and anger as she shoves it through its body.
She blinks as the elemental she was stabbing is now roughly carved up to look like a swan, before growling and yanking it out, using it as leverage to push herself up to her feet, wincing.
"Okay, yeah, I'm done. No way I can keep going on like this without a rest," She states, her face paled and lips starting to turn blue.
"Lex, are you alright?" She takes a quick look around, to assure there's no more enemies coming at them, then sheathes her sword and moves to support Lex. "That's it folks, we cannot proceed anymore, so let's look for a camping spot, right?"
Llyr watches as Lex vents her frustration and anger upon the remnants of the elemental. "Well, those were a surprise. Do we want to rest on this side of the river or try and cross?" Looking across the stream, he begins assessing how best they might cross when the time comes.
"I recommend staying on this side of the river, as it seems to be clear of ambushes at the moment. Shall I gather firewood while someone prepares a suitable campsite?"
Grimkell stops his attack once the swan looking corpse of the elemental is destroyed by Lex's last attack. He takes a look around, then sheaths his sword. Noticing that Lex seems pretty shaky, he approaches her.
Turing toward Nev: "Can you heal her?"
Llyr nods in agreement that it is time to rest for the evening. "While not a great woodsman, I can help one who is. I definitely think setting up a campsite and starting a fire is a top priority."
Lex is irritable, but not stubborn enough to refuse any sort of magical healing. She's surprised when the handsome bard comes to her and presses his hand against her side. She stays still for a moment, letting him heal the damage. The chill and fatigue is still there, but at least it seems that she can move normally again. She gets back up to her feet, pulling her fur hat down more snugly on her head.
"...Thanks." She mutters her gratitude begrudgingly, still sore about events at the tavern. "...D-Don't think I'm n-not still mad at y-you," She added before trudging through the snow, hoping to get into shelter and warm up properly - how was it this cold? Completely unseasonal.
"If I am here, zhere is never a concern for zhere to be a fire," with that she creates a bolt of fire and begins to repeatedly toss it at the ground, melting them a clear area to make a camp. She expects this to take time, but she knows it will help everyone be more comfortable. Except maybe Nev.
Turing toward Nev: "Can you heal her?"
"Unfortunately, my magical energy has run out for today. As long as we're not attacked in the night, I'll be recharged tomorrow if anyone is still in need."
humm, they seem so out of place here, camping in the snow... I guess I will have to take charge.
"Lady Morozov, no need to melt the whole area, if you only melt the centre for us to built a fire we should be alright. I will pile up the remaining snow and build a wall around the camp, even if it's only 4 feet high, it will help cut the wind.
Also, as my father has tought me, snow can make a perfect bed and keep us from the cold, we simply need to put a few branches over it to avoid getting wet. Lord Morvinus, wood would be perfect, both for burning and also to make our beds? Preferably sapplings for the bed. Lex, Elxurian, help me with the snow wall."
Grimkell uses his shield as a shovel to move the snow.
Lex really doesn't know what do to here - she misses the warm caravan wagons with their woodstoves. She just helps to push the snow up into walls to keep out the wind, wanting to hurry so they can all sit down and be warmed up. "One potion - one potion of Endure Elements, that's all I want right now..." She grumbles as she sits down in the new clearing, taking a torch out of her pack and setting it alight, before planting it firmly in front of her. She huddles close to it, trying to get warmer.
"We stopping for the day, or are we continuing on after I get the feeling in my fingers back?" She asks, thinking it over. "We don't want to take the bandits on if we're all exhausted and out of spells."
"Of course, Grimkell." Nev starts looking for branches for the fire.
You find plenty of firewood and, with Karynes amazingly convenient ability to create fire out of snow, it takes only 30 minutes to get a fire up and going. Grimkell's little wall of snow does indeed extend four feet up and you are all now living comfortably in a convertible igloo. :)
Grimkell makes himself a bed with a small mound of snow topped with pine branches. Once he his done, he sits on it to warm himself by the fire. Waiting for the others to settle down, he takes out his lyre and start playing. The song is soothing and reminds people of the warm inn they were in last night.
Ahhhh, the best time of day, when I get to know the future heroes of the epic I am composing...
Settling down with his bedroll and blankets, a bit further away than he'd like, allowing the girls to have priority locations, he quietly listens to Grimkell's song. Feeling the fatigue and strain of the day threatening to drive him into slumber, he pipes up quickly, "I feel we should have watches. These woods are dangerous enough in the day, I fear to think what might lurk in the darkness. Now I don't pretend to know about everyone, but I do know I can see better than most in the darkness as long as there is fire or moon light. I know we have some spellcasters too, and if memory serves, they like to get a nice long rest to refresh their magical reserves. I'm thinking something along the lines of three watches; Karyne and Grimkell during the evening, Elxurian and myself for the over night, and then Lex and Nev for the morning. How does that suit everyone?"
"I can take first or last watch, whatever's most convenient. Probably be best for me to be awake during the coldest part of the night, though. I'll make sure the fire doesn't die."
"I'll take last watch. Should use it to prepare my spells as well," Lex comments, feeling better now that she's close to warm and roaring fire. "Unlike the naturally gifted, I had to learn the arcane arts the hard way," She adds, glancing over at Karyne with a hint of jealousy.
She looks back over at Grimkell, her anger at him starting to die a bit thanks to his assistance in healing. Maybe she could forgive his comments, considering that she hadn't really shown much of a use so far in the grand scheme of things. She'd have to prepare a selection of spells in the morning that were more suitable, as well as use her quarterstaff - she'd risk it, considering how terrible she'd been with a spear.
"I'm getting some sleep now," She states, unfurling her bedroll and laying down, drawing a blanket over her and closing her eyes, before opening one up. "I best not wake up to wandering hands," She warns, before trying to sleep correctly.
"A brillant idea Grimkell son of Ogmundr."
Elxurian looks somehow pale, probably from the cold, but helps Grimkell to make the Iglu. She unloads some of her equipment, specially the firewood, protecting it with the backpack, and also takes her weapons away, leaving her Greatsword sheath at hand's reach.
"Sure, I can take the middle watch. It's not a problem for me to wake up during the night. Before we sleep and get refreshed, does anyone have a healing spell they could spare?" She looks at her leg, pulling the left sleeve of her pants up. There a enormous purple bruise at the lower part of her thigh, from where some blood has already dried out (or frozen out). Crazy or not, she let her sleeve fall, covering the bruise, then takes some snow and apply it to the wound. "It will be better by the morrow."
"Zhere is nozhing I can do for your vounds, Lady Elxurian, unfortunately," she says this as she pulls her cloak tighter against her and looks to each of the men of the group to see if any of them are going to offer her their own cloak and is slightly disappointed not to find one that is offering such. She sets her pack down and shuffles things about, finally pulling out a bedroll after tossing the cooking pot aside. "If anyone needs a pot, I vould turn mine over to you. Zhe shopkeeper made me take it vhen I bought zhis backpack."
The music from the lyre becomes more and more soft, transforming into a lullaby. As the music changes, Grimkell walks over to Elxurian and sits next to her.
"I am sure Nev will be able to heal you in the morning."
He takes a pause for a moment, trying to remember something.
"So, you are a paladin? What is a paladin exactly, it is not something found in our legends... Also, you are exceptionnaly strong for a woman, is it that you are not fully human? What brought your to Heldren." the skald says softly, the first question being slowly pronounce but the others coming in a quick succession.
Grimkell's eyes have flared into life and he his staring at Elxurian, waiting to have an answer.
Elxurian smiles, her face reddening at the approach of the bard. She makes sure her leg is completely covered by her pants, and answer his question:
"Why, thanks, I took some hard training, forgoing some of the more intellectual ones. I got quite a sword arm, two actually." She laughs. "But seriously, although I trained very hard I believe I could not have gotten to this point were not my blood. You see, I have angelic blood coursing through my veins, and it is said in my family we can get pretty strong, and also we have some things that differ from humans" - she points at the snow patch over her leg, and you realize that should be burning a little - "At least that's what I've heard, cause I've seen anyone in the family that looks strong as me... I'm what they call an Aasimar."
"You are one zhe Angelborn, Lady Elxurian? Zhat is very interesting. You seem to hide it vell. Do you find people treat you differently vhen zhey find out?" She is curious for her own reasons.
She looks at Lady Karyne with her outmatching eyes.
"Nah, I don't hide it, just happens that we are pretty much like humans. It is said that a full blooded Aasimar don't need to learn the celestial language, it comes from the blood, but that was not my case. I actually needed to study it to learn, but it was kinda easy. Besides, they look at my eyes and start to pay more attention to me, wondering what is wrong... so it's easier to find something after a while. And I don't go around with a torch, and humans don't see in the dark, but I just don't care."
Llyr’s ears twitch as Elxurian brings up her heritage, Bloody hells, I’ve got a Lord, a Lady, and an Angel with me on this mission, not to mention a Skald who thinks all the world is a bloody story book and queen b!~~!, whine, and moan. There better be some good coin in this for all the headaches I’m going to have before this mission is done. I’m not a bloody hero is some Skald’s story, nor do I want to be. They make prime targets for anyone thinking to make a name for themselves as the one who bested the great hero.” Rolling over under his blanket, he does his best to focus on sleep, as his watch will arrive much sooner than he’d like.
Grimkell seems distant for a while, trying to think of the implications of Elxurian's origins.
"ohhhH, so you are like a Valkyrie's daugther? That does explain a lot... So, what is a paladin again?"
It is obvious that Grimkell's move is now the complete opposite of how it was this morning. In his curiosity, he almost sounds like a child, whereas for the whole day he seem stern and serious.
Now that you're closer you can see that she is indeed pretty, but her hair cover most of her features and part of the left side of her left face. That did not prevent you from seeing her left cheek made a minor weird movement, like a spasm, once.
Her demeanor is not shy, just the opposite. She is comfortable speaking to you, as if you had a normal conversation with an old friend, and it seems different than the one she had in the Inn, if you cared to pay attention. Apparently she doesn't care much about you being too close, and maybe, just maybe, that's because one with dark intentions would think twice before approaching a strong armored woman with a Greatsword.
"Ha ha! Valkyrie's daughter! That's a good one. I've heard legends about Valkyries, but never imagine I could have the blood of one. I'm not much like them, by the way. I have had my dark moments," - she puts a hand over her left eyebrow, partially covering her purple eye - "but now I try as best as I can to be a good Paladin, to fight the good fight. A Paladin is what you hear in the stories and much more. It's one who dedicates his sword and life to the battle against evil. But dedication sometimes is not enough. You have to practice, pray and study a lot. You need experience in the field, against evil forces, but since you're not experienced in the beginning, your task is even harder, and the risk to your life is imminent. You come looking for rumors about a evil hag and find the whole place frozen!" She looks around, just to confirm her argument. "But if you excuse me, I've got to get some sleep to let this leg rest."
She smiles and give two taps on your knee, getting up and detaching her own bedroll from the top of the backpack.
"Sweet dreams of battles and glory."
Grimkell goes on playing until everyone is asleep except him and Karyne. He offers his blanket for the sorceress to warm up during the guard duty. Yet, he impolitely takes it back when his guard duty his over. When this time comes, he wakes up Llyr and then goes to sleep. Undoing his armor.
During his watch Llyr constantly walks along the edge of the partial igloo, using his shadow and backlighting from the fire to allow him to see clearly even in the overnight hours. One common mistake people make is to try and look through the fire and see people in the darkness. All it does is ruin your nightvision. He does not seek out much conversation with Elxurian, feeling she has been questioned enough for one day, but will respond if she approaches him. On the 6th cycle of wood, he nudges Nev away, hoping he or Elxurian will away Lex for her watch. Snuggling back into his blankets he keeps his armor on, as it does not hinder his ability to sleep, and now warm, the metal rings serve as an extra heat source against the cold.
Nev puts a hand to his spear when awakened but quickly relaxes when he sees it's just Llyr. He quietly nudges Lex awake, checks the firewood stock, and sets himself up for his time on watch. If he notices Karyne shivering in her sleep, he'll gently lay his cloak over her but otherwise he'll simply keep an eye on the woods and stoke the fire when necessary.
Nothing creepy or sneaky tries to kill you in the night, and you get relatively good sleep, considering you're in a winder horrorland. When you awake, the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and there are legs and feet of a frozen corpse in a pile of snow next to the trees about 10 feet away from you. Because of how late it was when you began to make camp, you must have been too occupied or tired and freezing to notice. TIME FOR BREAKFAST!
Lex yawns as she gets up, rubbing her eyes and glancing at the new travelers she's with on this quest to rescue a noblewoman. She goes to open up her spellbook to study while going on the last watch - always a good thing to multitask, and she was an early riser.
It's only as she finishes up with her tome that she takes notice of the frozen corpse, staring for a few minutes, before starting to kick everyone else awake. "Rise and shine!" She comments, tossing another log on the dying fire. "Just so you know, there's a dead body right over there, if anyone wants to check it out."
The magus instead goes into her trail rations, taking out some jerked chicken and nibbling on it, along with a hard tack biscuit and drawing water from her skin after warming it up by the fire.