Ionnia brings the group to Isker's Smithy. Isker, a large middle-aged man with a warrior's set of scars, works some iron on his anvil, the ringing of steel on steel filling the space. His teenaged daughter Xanthippe stands by the quenching barrel with a set of tongs, her comely face smudged with ash and sweat, a strand of reddish hair peeking from under a kerchief.
Isker stops pounding and hands the piece of red-hot metal to Xanthippe, who drenches it in the barrel. He turns to greet the party, an odd leather bag dangling from his chin, concealing his large beard.
"Councilor Ionnia, what brings you hither?"
"Isker, do you have any items of cold iron available?"
The large smith strokes the bag about his beard.
"It is not an easy process. I do not work it myself, the 'cold iron' is usually mined deep underground, and the dwarves guard their craft secrets jealously. Still..."
He wanders over to a back door.
"I'll be back. Xanthippe! Bring our guests some summerwine!"
The young woman soon returns with glasses of summerwine , and gives them to those who wish some. Isker returns from the back area.
"I checked the miscellany in the armory storage. I found 20 cold iron sling bullets and a cold iron dagger. That is all I have on hand."
Councilor Ionnia nods
"That will have to do. I will authorize village funds to buy them."
She turns to the party
"I am sorry we don't have more to give, but we are not prepared for this sort of fight."
Jeydavu politely accepts a glass from Xanthippe. When Isker returns with the weapons, Jeydavu says, "Thank you Master Isker. These items will aid us greatly."
Turning to Councilor Ionnia, Jeydavu asks, "Are we ever truly prepared when evil comes knocking. These weapons will help. I don't want to see those evil witches spread farther than they already have. I am ready to go and root these fey out of these woods."
Finally turning to his new partners. "Are you ready to join me? I say we go now. If you have any other preparations, I suggest you do it quick. We do not have time to spare!"
To the stricken Ulfen, Gaelin says, "I would be proud to use this sword to fell the foul creatures that assaulted your caravan."
Gaelin nods to Jaydavu. "I will join you in investigating this malign turn of events. I did not go to the tavern today equipped for journey and battle, however I can make myself ready in an hour's time."
Jeydavu puts the cold iron dagger into his belt. "Understandable Gaelin. Shall we meet again outside of the Silver Stoat in about an hour?"
"These cold fey, if they like the cold, maybe fire or acid is a better weapon. Is there a place in town we we can purchase alchemist fire and acid?"
Tama quietly takes the cold iron arrowheads, making a note to fasten them to some of her arrows later.
Councilor Ionnia nods to Jeydavu
"The Willow bark Apothecary should be able to provide any basic alchemical items"
"Thank you Councilor Ionnia." He asks the others, "We can buy 3 bottles of acid and three flasks of alchemist fire for about 80 gp. Do you agree or are there other items you will think will help us more? I can go pick up the supplies while you gather your things."
"Perhaps they could have a potion of healing as well. This venture promises to be perilous," Gaelin suggests.
The group makes last minute preparations to leave Heldren and ride for the Border Wood. After buying the last supplies they ride off heading for the winter-bewitched wood.
Penelopy rides with them on a roan mare. They make quick time along the wide road. Soon a cool breeze comes coursing past them, a discordant note in summer's song.
Ahead the Border Wood looms. Even at a kilometer's distance the air begins to cool. A gleam of snowdrifts show beneath skeletal trees
The party turns a corner of the road and comes upon a grisly sight in the unnatural snowscape. A scatter of bodies lie sprawled about two carriages. One carriage is still upright, the traces that once held its horses cut. Taldane heraldry can be seen on its door. The other carriage is overturned off the road.
Jeydavu draws his scimitar and approaches carefully. He keeps his eyes and ears open for anything that may still be lurking.
Jeydavu:
Tama pulls an arrow from her quiver, readying her bow.
Gaelin draws his greatsword and approaches carefully.
As the group approaches the sound of weak thudding can be heard from the upright carriage. No other sound or movement can be discerned
Gaelin nears the carriage and speaks in a low, reassuring tone to whoever is inside: "Who is in there? You are safe now; we are going to get you out."
Gaelin hears a low moan and the thumping increases
"They could be gagged," Gaelin says to the others, "Or it could be a trap. Be ready for anything." He looks for a way to open the carriage.
The broken haft of a spear has been wedged in the carriage's door handles. It should be easy to remove
Penelopy comes to Gaelin's side, a long dagger unsheathed
"I'll be behind the carriage door in case of trouble" She whispers
She positions herself to be in the blind spot of anyone disembarking
Gaelen pulls the heft of the spear from its place, never letting go of his sword in the other hand.
The spear haft wrenches free. As soon as the impediment is gone, the doors swing wide to reveal two ghastly horrors. A pair of what look to be Ulfen mercenaries emerge. Their bodies near a number of puckered wounds, with frozen blood staining their furs. They shuffle towards Gaelin, soft moans escaping from their dead lips
Gaelin jumps back with a gasp when he sees what is in the carriage. "Look lively!" he calls out to his allies. He holds his greatsword in front of him.
Tristan:
The recent rumors of sorcerous winter had piqued Tristan's natural curiosity. He knew the Borderwood, at least the part near Heldren well. After collecting his gear for an extended stay outside town, he departed.
He hid as the group of strangers and that tavern wench Penelopy went by. He thought he had seen a few of the others before in town, but he didn't know their names. But, having dealt with prejudice before he preferred to watch folks from a unobserved spot rather than reveal himself immediately.
. As he hurried up to keep track of them he rounds a corner of the road and spies the overturned carriages and corpses. The big Ulfen-looking fellow ... Maelin? Garlan? was taking something from between the doors. Tristan gasps involuntarily as he sees the two undead horrors emerge. The big Ulfen readies his sword as the walking corpses shamble towards him
Initiatives rd 1:
Zombies: 13
Tama 7
Penelopy: 7
Tristan: 5
Gaelin 5
Jeydavu: 5
The zombies sight on Gaelin and move towards him moaning
The shambling horrors try to close, but Gaelin nimbly avoids their clumsy efforts.
Penelpoy appears from behind one of the thrown-open carriage doors and drives a knife into one of the zombie's back
The knife slides into the frozen flesh, but seems to have little effect
Tristan unconsciously makes a sign against evil, then makes best speed towards the group. His horse is clearly disturbed by the undead abominations, so he dismounts about 30 feet away and sets himself in a defensive posture. He shouts to the others, "What happened here?"
"Undead, by the look of it," the large Ulfen calls to the newcomer. With a great heave, he swings his sword at the thing that attacked him.
Gaelin's great sword cleaves through one of the zombie's attacking him. Black sluggish blood splatters the snow as the bisected undead falls
Jeydavu barks a command in druidic to his moose. He and the moose spread out to get an advantage and move to attack the remaining zombie.
,
,
Between Jeydavu and Chtonthoth, the second zombie is outclassed. The large moose gores the undead, While Jeydau's scimitar neatly cracks its skull. It falls into the snow, truly dead this time
Penelopy peers into the carriage
"Nothing else" she whispers
She looks over at Tristan
"'Lo Tris. What brings you out this way? We were just at the apothecary's before we set out. You collecting herbs?"
"I, uh, must have just missed you." Close enough to the truth anyway. "I heard what was going on. Thought I might be able to help."
Gaelin takes a careful look at the carriage and it's surroundings, looking for any other signs of the people who accompanied the carriage.
Jeydavu examines the zombie corpses to determine if they are people associated with the carriage who turned or zombies that attacked the carriage.
"It is curious that the zombies were locked in the carriage. I wonder who locked them in there?" he says out loud.
Jeydavu
Gaelin takes a careful look at the carriage and it's surroundings, looking for any other signs of the people who accompanied the carriage.
[dice=Perception]1d20+5
Gaelin notes several corpses in the snow, including one that seems to be frozen upright.
"Tristan, right?" Gaelin asks to the newcomer. The refined manners and careful grooming jars with the oversized proportions of the imposing Ulfen. You have no doubt seen him in the village before (he tends to stick out in a crowd - in Taldor, at any rate); he is known to reside in a cottage with a swordmistress outside the village, but comes in occasionally for supplies or simply to take a pint at the tavern. "What brings you here? If you are lending a hand, you are most welcome."
As he speaks, he continues to survey the site, taking a particular interest in the frozen remains. He looks closely at the upright figure.
"Yes. I'm afraid I don't know your name." Tristan investigates the remains, looking particularly for any signs of how they died. "I know a little about unnatural magics and thought I might be able to help." A scowl crosses his face when he speaks of magic.
The blond-haired warrior straightens up as he remembers his manners. "Gaelin Northvein. Pleasure to formally make your acquaintance."